Ride or die

I don't think I've ever liked school, but right now I hate it with a burning passion. Not because of the homework or exams, not even because of the rude teachers, but because it's putting the people I love in danger. Shots ring through the corridors, the screaming pierces my ears. I wave of students crash down on me, everyone scrambling to safety. I get thrown under. Why isn't she back yet? I curl myself in a ball, squeezing my eyes shut. I cry out as a foot lands on my arm, waiting out the tide. Familiar faces, people I once called friends, now don't give me a second look. They storm past me, the fear has disfigured their carefully-curated, kind personalities. Now, in all this mess, I can see people's real selves. The ugly truth. The waves turn into a stream on students. I get up off the ground. Suddenly there's an explosion and the school is left in darkness. I yelp, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness.

Where is she? I head towards the bathroom, the sound of shots being fired ring through the corridor. Against all my instincts, I keep walking. My body trembles with each step, my brain screams at me to turn around but I refuse to forget about her. I refuse to leave her here because if anything happens to her, it'll be all my fault.

"Amaya, what are you doing here?" I jump, spinning around to see Kaiden, my eyes widen at the state of his shirt. A sob leaves me involuntarily, it only becomes real when you see it with your own two eyes. I guess some part of me was hoping it was just a scare, just a few kids shooting school property with no intent to kill. It's funny how reality hits you, like a bullet to the head. "Don't worry." He lets out a strained chuckle. "I think it missed most of my major organs." I've never really talked to him, he's just my annoying lab partner who always manages to knock over something - yet he's the only person who's worried about me right now. "You know, usually you'd run away from the loud noises." He winces, holding his side. The blood seeps through his shirt. I should get him to safety, but I can't forget about Faye.

"I have to find Faye. Have you seen her?" I look at the corridor, empty. If Faye was here she'd be all optimistic, she'd probably say something like, 'at least it isn't filled with dead bodies,' that's why I need to get to her before they do. A person like her needs to survive. Kayden shakes his head. "You should probably go, I'll see you outside in a bit." I don't know if I'm reassuring him or myself, a little bit of both I think.

"What if she's already outside?" He suggests. "It's too dangerous. I always saw you as a mad scientist, but maybe you're just crazy." I know, maybe I am. I walk into the abandoned bathroom, leaving him behind me before he can stop me. It's taking all my willpower to keep myself from running away, I can't risk him talking me out of this. Apparently, when there's a shooting everyone forgets the social normalcies. He runs in after me, well more like stumbles. "Wait, at least take this." He hands me an object, I find it hard to pinpoint what it is in the dark. It feel the sharp end, it's a scalpel. "You were late for biology, I was waiting to dissect a frog." Despite the circumstances, I smile. Suddenly, screams break out just outside the bathroom.

"They're here." I whisper, my lip trembles, I can't think. Kayden seems to be in a better mental state than I am. He pulls me into a bathroom stall, we stand on top of the toilet seat. A shot hits the toilet stall next to us. My whole body shakes. He presses his hands to my ears, blocking out some of the noise. We both squeeze are eyes shut, awaiting the inevitable. Eventually, he slowly pulls away from me. "Are they gone?" He nods. We step down, I steel myself to go outside.

"It's not too late, we can turn back." He says weakly, he's moments away from unconsciousness. I take his hand and place the scalpel in it.

"Take it and run, don't look back. I'll find Faye and we'll both come get you." I promise him. He shakes his head, but he's in too much pain to answer. Maybe it's a spur of the moment decision or maybe I'm just overcome with emotions. Perhaps it's the fact that he's the only person who actually seems to care about me. Without a second thought, I cup his face with both my hands. Our lips crash together. A tear leaks into the mix, I pull away and wipe my eyes. He stares at me blankly. "See you later." I take off before I can stop myself. Then I hear it, footsteps behind me, I don't look back. I run, I take off in any direction I can. Bullets are fired, getting closer and closer to me. I scramble in the dark, taking the steps. Climbing to the rooftop. I open the door, only when I'm met with the night sky do I realize I've cornered myself. It's been hours since school was supposed to be over. The door opens, that's when I see her. Her blonde hair and blue eyes, relief eases my body. I start walking towards her. My arms outstretched, that is until I see it. A machine intended to kill, in the hands of my best friend, a gun. I falter. "Faye."

"What are you doing here?" She drops the gun. I look at it, she follows my eyes. "Oh one of them dropped it, I used it to survive." With that, I run towards her, I can't believe I doubted her. She doesn't even know how to aim. I hug her, throwing my arms around her waist. Looking over her shoulder, my heart sinks. Guns, all pointed at my head. I try to pull away, she only holds me tighter.

"Faye, we need to run!" I yelp, but her arms are squeezing the life out of me. That's when I feel it, hot tears on my shoulder. "Faye?" The realization hits me again.

"You should've ran, Amaya. You brought this on yourself." She sobs. "Don't worry, it'll all be over soon. It'll be over in a minute." All those movie nights, study sessions, midnight snacks, calls lasting for hours, sleepovers, they play in my head. How did I not notice it? Suddenly, the door swings open. Kayden. A cold sweat builds up on his brow, he looks moments away from passing out. Scalpel in hand, he holds it out as a threat. Guns versus scalpel, did he really think this out? Well, who am I to judge. The sky starts to cry, even it pities us.

"Run! Leave, Kayden!" I yell, choking on my sobs. "She's with them! Just go!" I try to calm myself down, think rationally. All of a sudden, he shakes his head, his eyes boring into mine.

"You don't get to do that. Kiss me and then run away." He throws it, right at Faye. My body takes over, I spin around. It lands on me, piercing my skin. I still want to protect her, I still want to protect the girl who taught me how to pick a lock and climb a fence. The girl who cried whenever she felt under pressure. Shots are fired, but not at me.

"Kayden!" I cry. Faye's arms weaken, I throw her away from me. I run towards Kayden. "We'll get help! I promise! I'm so sorry!" The cries come from somewhere deep inside me. He stares up at me, tears in his eyes, he slowly tilts my head towards him. He pulls my face towards him. This time, salty tears from both of us leak into the mix. He pulls away.

"This isn't your fault." He reaches behind me, he yanks the scalpel out, I cry out in pain. He places it in my hand, the sight of my own blood doesn't disgust me as it would've an hour ago. "Fight." Before I can respond, he closes his eyes for the last time. With weak legs and a blurred vision, I stand up to face Faye. She stands on the edge of the building. No, she can't just leave. Not after everything she's done. I run towards her, but I'm too late, she throws herself down. I reach out into the darkness, my hand finding hers, instead of taking it, she pulls me down with her. Death approaches us, as we tear through the darkness. She closes her eyes, I can't hate her. I know she has to be somewhere in there, the Faye that has been with me all these years. That's why, in these last few minutes, I pull her close.

"I forgive you." And with that I stab the scalpel into her flesh, she cries out. My blood mixes with hers. "I forgive you and I love you but I hope you don't die peacefully. Not after what you've done. I care about you too much to let you pity yourself. Die in pain, die for all those who killed you. Die knowing you ruined lives. Die knowing you hurt everyone. Die knowing I love you. I hope that last one causes you the most pain."