Nation

Chapter 24 - Tensions arising

I scrunched my eyes up trying to rid my head of the image.

I could feel some of the lukewarm blood that had splattered onto my face. The thick, red liquid mixed with the steady stream of tears cascading down my cheeks.

The rotting floorboards were now stained with Darius' blood.

His body, now limp, fell heavily to the floor with a clatter.

It wasn't me, however, who got the worst of the view. Gen was standing behind him when he was shot, and so she was covered in his blood. From what I could tell, it looked like Darius had taken a bullet that was meant for Gen.

The silence in the attic now was unbearable.

Sometimes, in situations of great sadness or surprise, a moment can last longer than a moment, and be infinate until actual time shackles you back to seconds, minutes, and hours. Now was one of those moments.

Even Matt seemed to be surprised that he had actually shot him, as his eyes were wide and his mouth agape.

Then, an overwhelming look of humanity blanketed him entirely, and he fell to his knees, sobbing.

Gen let out a heart breaking sob, also kneeling on the floor next to the lifeless body. She took Darius' hand in both of hers and started wailing great screams in what sounded to be a mixture of sadness and anger.

She took Darius' hand and pressed it to the side of her face, like she was trying to keep the last shreds of him alive with her.

"What have I become?" A gravelly voice slit the silence. The noise was unwelcome, as we all stared at him in horror and repulse.

Matt lifted the gun to his head, and yet another shot rang out.

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So in the end, Bekka's Dad got thrown in jail for the murder of Matt. Turns out Matt didn't shoot himself, but Bekka's Dad, who had been hibernating in the corner with his daughter, had done the deed.

Evan got thrown in the slammer for the rest of his sorry little life on account of enslavement, assault, and a whole load of other stuff he was wanted for. Murder, robbery, you know the stuff.

Fliss, Steve, Gen, and Kian all turned out fine in the end. Gen suffered from Post Traumatic Stress disorder, which she soon got over like the trooper she is.

Of course, Darius' parents were devestated to hear the news of their son's untimely death. The funeral was heartbreaking, and nobody brought up the actual incident to any of us, which I suppose we should have been grateful for. But I knew they were all dying to ask.

Me? Well, when I flew back to England, it all turned around for me.

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I refused to speak to my parents for a few weeks on account of them sending me to that God-awful place. And sending me there wrongfully, no less.

I moved in with my Nan, who was living on her own after my Grandad died a few years back. She lives in a small cottage on the outskirts of town, which was nice.

Obviously, the media swarmed over the incident like flies to honey. Everyone in school knew who I was and suddenly wanted to be friend with me for some reason. I couldn't be done with that, so I ditched the group of fakes and latched onto Johnny's crew. They didn't treat me much differently, which was exactly what I wanted.

The boyfriend was dealt with, of course. He wasn't happy about it, but how many people can say they are loving life in an alcoholics rehabilitation clinic?

I wanted to forget the whole ordeal, but equally I didn't. It gave me the backbone to look at my problems in the grand scheme of things and look at things with a whole new perspective.

So, me and Johnny, did we get together? Of course we did.

It was what Darius wanted.

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"Tell me about him."

"Who?"

"This Johnny kid. Tell me about him."

Darius and Kassy struggled to keep their voices down with the others asleep. The room seemed awfully eerie, yet stuffy at the same time.

Kassy's mind clouded over with adoration for the boy that had kept her grounded for the past years.

"He's about 5 foot 8. No, 9. No, definately 9. He's so kind, he just puts up with things. He puts up with me. You'd get along with him great, Darius, you're alike. He's so kind, and he just can't do enough for me and the rest of his little crew. He works at Starbuck's in town and gets me mates rates on most drinks, which is a plus. But he usually buys me coffee in the morning anyway. He says to not worry about paying him back, but when I see him on a Friday, I sneak a fiver into his wallet. Although, it always seems to find it's way back in my purse. He's a right cheeky sod, but you can't help but like him. His Mum and Dad are lovely, but I don't really see them much. They always seem to be on business." Kassy grinned in memory of her best friend.

"He sounds great, Kass. Does he look after you?"

"Absolutely. Can't do enough for me."

"Don't let him go, Kass."

Kassy turned her head to face Darius, with an eyebrow raised.

"How do you mean?"

"When we get out of here- because we will get out of here- you have to snap him up. Because if he's as great as he sounds, he's hot property, if you get me. You'll regret it if you don't, Kass. I can promise you that much. But you can tell him from me to look after you or I'll be on his case. Alright?" Darius instructed, only halfway joking.

"Alright." Kassy replied.

She let out a yawn, and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Go to sleep, Kass."

"Okay. Goodnight, Darius."

Kassy drifted off almost immediately, and when Darius was sure she was asleep, he turned to look at her and sighed.

"This Johnny kid is one lucky bastard." He whispered to nobody in particular.

He kissed Kassy's forehead, then leaned his head on hers.

"One lucky bastard."

The end.