The Lockdown

6th Place 14-17 Category Junior Authors Short Story Contest 2009
 
by Tess Porteous
   
Death has always fascinated me. Being dead and not feeling anything. Not having to feel emotions or pain. Never feeling upset, and never feeling joy. Death, which is where I wanted to be at this time in my life.

*

“We have gathered here today in loving memory of Anne Swan. Friends, family, everyone she knew. Let us pray. Dear Father, please bless this soul coming to you“. The priest continued on but my sobs drowned out his voice. Why did this have to happen to me? Why? Why did this have to happen to Anne? “Amen” said the priest. An elderly women got up on stage that I recognized as Anne’s neighbour. “Anne was always so full of life. She played many sports and always gave 110% in everything she did. I don’t know why the lord would take her out of our lives“. Again her voice got cut off from my crying. I couldn’t take this much longer. “That ends the ceremony” said the priest. I ran out into the blinding sun and wiped the tears from my eyes. Why Anne? Why?

*

“Hey Anne!” I called down the hallway. “Liz!” she called back and ran towards me pulling me in to a hug. “How was your trip?” she asked. “Good too short” I said. “Well we better get to class” I said sarcastically enthusiastic. Anne laughed and pulled me down the hall. “Wait I want to fix my hair” I said. “Ugh fine” Anne said. I pulled Anne into the girls washroom. “That’s better” I said after pulling my hair back into a neat ponytail. “Okay now let’s go to class” Anne said. “Okay hold on” I said rummaging around in my bag for my phone. I finally found it and put it on silent. “Liz...Do you hear that?” Anne said sounding terrified. “What’s wrong?” I asked. I put my head up against the door and heard people screaming. Then I heard what Anne was talking about, a gunshot. I stared Anne directly in the eyes and saw her fear. “Lock the door” I said firmly. Just then the door flung open and there stood Mark Wells holding a gun in his hands. “Mark please don’t kill us” I said.

*

I went and sat in the grass to clear my head. How could this be happening? “Hey Liz?” I heard a familiar voice say. “Oh hey John. Sorry I’m kind of a mess right now” I said. “Yeah I can tell” he said kneeling down and wiping a tear off my cheek and pulling me into a hug. This made me cry harder. “I don’t get why this happened to her“ I said but was cut off by John. “Shhh it’s going to be okay. Liz I’m right here don’t cry”. John always knew just what to say.

*

“Who said anything about killing anyone?” Mark said with a smirk on his face. He inched closer to Anne and I. “GET AWAY FROM US” Anne screamed. Mark pretended he hadn’t heard her and moved forward once again. I was stunned. I couldn’t move my feet. He pointed the gun at Anne and felt around for the trigger. “NO” I screamed at Mark. “Why shouldn’t I?” Mark asked like my answer would change who he shot. “If you’re going to shoot anyone, shoot me Mark. Shoot me.” “Well I’m going to kill one of you so you better speak fast Anne before the police come.”

*

Everyone loved Anne, me...not so much. I did have a few other friends, but they weren’t the same as Anne. Anne always knew what to say when I was upset. She was always there for me. She was my best friend. She always had been and she always will be. I love her like a sister.

*

“Just shoot me Mark” Anne said as her voice cracked. Anne didn’t deserve to go through this. I stood in front of her and looked Mark directly in the eyes. “Mark you don’t have to kill either of us. It doesn’t have to be like this. You can put down the gun and walk away. Stop while you still can!” “Liz move or else I will blow your head off”. I was stuck to the spot though. I couldn’t let Anne die. She deserved to live, not me. “Mark shoot me!” I yelled in a loud voice. I heard the blow of the gun felt a pain in my chest and fell to the ground.

*

Anne deserved to live not me. That’s why I let Mark shoot me. She had a better life to live than I did. As I am telling you this I am up in heaven. John is my grandfather who passed away years and years ago before I was born. But since I didn’t know him in my life I got to know him up here in Heaven. Yes, Anne did die today. Not of being shot though...of old age. I loved Anne and I couldn’t see her die. I ended my life for her and it was the best decision I ever made. Anne had a long happy life. She married and had three children and had no regrets, just how it should’ve been. Anne would be coming up to join me in heaven. I hadn’t seen her in years but it will be great. As for Mark, he shot himself after he shot me. Anne was left all alone in the bathroom until police found her in shock from seeing two dead bodies on the ground. Anne is an amazing person. She deserved life more than I ever did.

The End

Tess writes...

What inspired me to write this story was the lock down of Columbine and all those kids who lost their lives in that terrible event.

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