Late Thursday morning, the entire campus was buzzing with activity. Students come and go, attending classes, studying at the library, eating at the cafeterias and enjoying the nice weather outside.
But inside media ethics class, my face became a picture of worry and anxiety. What if last night's nightmare came true?
"Christine looks a little nervous," Erin commented. "She is just sitting down motionless all day."
Michelle approached me hoping to snap myself out of it.
"Christine, don't tell me you're still thinking about that frightening dream of yours," Michelle said sternly.
"It was nothing," I finally replied after merely pausing for a few minutes. "Now would you mind facing the professor instead of me?"
Michelle reluctantly went back to her seat and gazed towards the professor.
"Writing a blog may look easy, but it is not," the professor lectured to the class. "There have been a few notable bloggers who were criticized for writing libelous statements against a particular institution. It is not inappropriate to speak your own mind. What is wrong being the fact that you took a step too far in berating your subject."
Just as the professor continued his lecture, however, the entire class heard a fire alarm. We hid under the desk thinking that it was an earthquake.
"Attention everyone," the public address system blared through the speakers. "A violent incident is taking place within the campus. We advise you to find a safe place to duck and cover."
At that moment I knew something was about to unfold. The haunting refrain from last night's dream must be rearing its ugly head.
Michelle and I left the classroom for a moment to check on the incident. Hiding at a nearby restaurant, we saw two familiar faces on the street: one with a gun on her hand holding the other hostage.
The person holding the gun turned out to be Corinna, while the hostage was Francesca. It seemed like Corinna was out for revenge.
"Don't move, or I'll shoot this lady," Corinna screamed to the frightened audience. ""Get down."
"This is getting out of hand," I commented to Michelle. "My dream sequence the other night was similar to what is happening today, only this time it was Francesca who was the victim."
"Isn't she supposed to be off-limits within the campus?" Michelle responded. "Weren't you and Francesca able to successfully kick her out?"
"We both did Michelle," I replied grimly. "But for whatever reason, she is directly doing this for retribution. She could not stand getting forcefully expelled in this school."
Just then, the police arrived on the scene and promptly pointed their guns toward Corinna. Undaunted, she directed her gun deep into Francesca's head.
"Drop your guns, or I'll shoot you all," Corinna yelled at the cops.
As the cops dropped their guns to the ground and knelt, Corinna pointed her gun to the stunned audience in hopes of warning them. Shortly after, she pointed it back to Francesca's head.
"What the hell are you doing? Francesca screamed in fear. "Get me out of here."
"Shut up!!!" Corinna angrily roared back. "This is payback for what you and Christine did to me the other day. This is all your fault. You're the main reason why I'm a pathetic failure now."
"I'm begging you," Francesca shouted frantically. "Let go of me. You're taking this a little too far. What you're doing is wrong."
"Wrong?" Corinna retorted. "You caused me so much pain and agony for many years. While you soaked in those accomplishments in elementary and high school, I stood on the corner wondering why failure always runs through me. It incensed me so much. And now I'm about to take you to hell."
"Corinna, just stop!!!" Francesca begged. "Please drop your gun and let go. Your jealousy isn't cutting it. Just move on with your life and forget about me."
"I said SHUT UP!!!" Corinna said as she threatened to place her gun deep into Francesca's head. "If you say another damn word, I'm going to blow your head off."
At that moment I stepped in, my conscience unable to take it anymore. Michelle tried to restrain me but to no avail.
"Corinna let go of Francesca," I yelled at her. "If you want to gain your revenge, just take it on me."
"Christine what are you doing?" Michelle freaked out at me. "Don't tell me you're willing to sacrifice yourself."
I stretched both of my arms in hopes of gaining Corinna's attention. She then circled around while I looked on at her.
"Let go of Francesca and take me instead," I ordered Corinna. "Just let go of her."
"And now we have Christine playing the role of hero," Corinna screamed shrilly. "Do you desperately want to join Francesca in hell too?"
After pausing for a brief moment, I made one last plea to Corinna.
"I'm begging you. Let go."
Corinna hesitated for a few minutes. After a period of time, however, she reluctantly dropped her gun while crying in front of me.
"Damn it all," Corinna shouted back. "If you want to free Francesca so bad then fine. Now I must capture you."
Just as Corinna let Francesca go and forcibly seized my arm, Michelle jumped from behind in hopes of restraining her. But in doing so she received a gunshot on the right arm while Francesca and I managed to escape from harm.
"Michelle!!!" I screamed in horror as me and Francesca looked on.
Fortunately, the cops cornered Corinna and pulled the gun out of her hands. They handcuffed and escorted her to the police car.
But Michelle was severely wounded. She was laying on the ground holding her bloodied right arm.
"Call the doctors," Francesca frantically screamed. "We require help out here."
I rushed in and cradled Michelle's head. But as the guards ran desperately to find the school doctors, she gradually slipped into unconsciousness.
"Michelle, please don't die," I cried out. "We need you."
The doctors soon arrived and placed Michelle on the stretcher. At the ambulance en route to the hospital, Francesca and I sat beside her with a pained look of worry and concern.
Inside, the two of us sobbed together. We just witnessed a heroic deed from one of our most beloved friends, but at what cost?