Blue

Chapter Six

Safiya had never imagined the stench of blood and the way it could permeate through airways, snatching on to her and swearing away anything not tainted by the iron smell. She hadn't expected it to feel so thick as it curled up around her legs or to stain everything about her with red. When she closed her eyes, she saw dark red and a vibrant shade of ice blue.

Those eyes burned in her memory as she knew they would in her dreams. If she were ever given the chance to fall into another, she was sure they would kindle just as bright as they did in reality.

She gasped for air, searching for anything not laced with death but it was impossible to find. Not here. Her arms were limp, hands dipped in the puddle of blood but she rested her head against James's chest. He had no idea how much it meant to her that he did not whisper lies of how it was going to be okay, of how they would get through this. It wasn't going to be okay and even if they got through this, their marred lives would have an irrevocable stain that would span longer than their last breath.

How could one ever smile again after that?

Whether she kept her eyes open or clasped shut, Safiya saw the red and blue and she couldn't decide which was worse. No longer did she squeeze Maya's hand. The thought of feeling her skin begin to run cold drew a shuddering gag from her lips. They had loved to cuddle up next to each other during their movie watching sleepovers, her touch always thriving with warmth. If that were gone, her heat, her feeling, it would hit her with another blow of reality. There was only so much she could take.

When James spoke, it was like an anchor had fallen through her red sea, knocking her into place. "She will have justice."

Pulling away from him, Safiya stole a glance into his eyes. His brows were furrowed, lines creasing his forehead. "If not from me, then someone else will bring it for her.

"But I won't sit around and wait for someone to step up."

At this, James stood to his feet. A tremble cascaded through his body but his shaking hands balled into fists. "I'll come back," was all he said before he began his stride through the hallway into the direction of Maya's murderer.

~

Every gunshot spilled another inch into rising their waves of terror. Soon it would surface all the way up to their chins.

Becca had her arms around Sophie, one of her students whose sobs pounded against the hand she placed over her mouth. Before this she had never laid a finger on a student but something about this day brought a severity. It was important to stay quiet, to not draw attention to their classroom. If they could do this, then they could make it until authorities arrived. They had to be on the way now.

Eleven gunshots.

Each one was counted for and each could be the means of another innocent death. There was no way to know unless she ventured into the hallways. The thought could have drowned her but instead she shushed Sophie while giving her a gentle squeeze. It would only come to that if it were in her students' best interests.

Many of them were stricken with tears and each one added to the blue wave. Others were dubbed to silence and unfocused eyes. A few gnawed at their nails alone while others pressed against each other to keep from withering away into screams. They were the rock wall that they each held onto desperately, the one that they climbed and climbed in their hopes to reach the end.

It had been two minutes since the gun had last fired. Becca counted down each second, savoring every one. If no one were to ever pull the trigger again, she could've stayed there, chanting numbers within her head for the rest her life. If it were a way to keep them safe, she would stay until her skin had folds and her hair had gone white, to when she could no longer draw another thought. Even then Becca would find a way to keep counting and warding away the next shot.