" Hey hey now, were still playing. Let's not get found by Miss Janet okay? " she quietly says and she looks at the furniture and then to the fifteen children crouched down and huddled together like a pack of mochis.
" everyone keep quiet, Miss Janet has good hearing remeber?" with the help of her flashlight, she could see how terrified they were and some children nodded, some put their hand over their mouth to cover their breathing. Her heart breaks seeing them terrified, they probably know by now, they were smart children, still she tried to act as if it was just a game.
" I'm going to make a perfect hiding spot where no one can find you, dont move and don't talk okay?" She quietly lifts the empty drawers and shelves to block them, then turned off her flashlight.
She was thankful that the operator stayed with her even though she had busied herself with something else.
" Hello Miss Braunstein?" The operator calls her in a worried voice.
" Yes, I'm --- I'm still here " She grabs a wooden chair that was supposed feel heavy on her hands but found the strength she didn't know she had, the furniture was easier to lift suddenly. She slowly goes into the side of the door, if the policies arrived then it would be a relief but if worst comes to worst then, she needs to fight back.
" if you hear anything outside the door, don't open yet Miss Braunstein, dispatched S.W.A.T had yet to enter the building," the operator says, Veronica's pupils widen. Did this situation turned to worst? Was there a terrorist? Is there a bomb involved?
" stay with me Miss and you'll be fine " she says with a slight tremble in her voice, Veronica thinks the operator is calming herself and the teacher almost laughed.
Veronica was about to reply but her voice was caught on her tongue.
She heard something.
Footstep? It was too heavy.
Clink.
She heard it above the stairs, her heart started beating loudly and it rings in her ears.
Clink.
Metal. Chains. She guessed.
Clink. Clink.
She didn't want to speak and leans her back on the wall, she turn her phone volume to one and listened to the other side of the door.
Clink. Clink.
Metal chains and something heavy, there were more than 2 person outside. Walking. Walking down the stairs, the sound of chains shaking eerily accompanied the footsteps.
And then it stops in front the door.
Veronica's heart was so loud and beating hardly underneath her skin, it felt like it was about to break her rib. She quietly breath in and out. She was just a small petite working adult whose only line of defense was a wooden door and her weapon a wooden chair. She hoped that the adrenaline could at least help her if she needed to use force.
Shhhk. The sound of the door being scratched and then the knob was being twisted.
Sshk Sshk. They're trying to open the door, Veronica guessed, she tried to calm herself and lifted the chair.
Veronica could only silently pray that someone-- anyone--- would come and protect the children if she couldn't in the end. She was close to tears and felt, she was too young to die.
Clack. The sound of the door being unlocked and the door opens.
Veronica suck the air and tighten her hold on the chair.
She sees a person's figure and without any hesitation, swings the furniture as hard and fast as she can.
BANG!!
Rodriigo had immediately split the team in threes and quietly commanded them to disperse into the building.
The information of their mission today had been relayed while they sat in their vehicle headed towards Carter Academy. It was supposedly handed to police until their higher ups had assigned this to them after learning that they got an urgent call from powerful families, frantically calling their superiors to send the S.W.A.T as it was a place their children was being held captive and in danger.
They couldn't waste anytime seeing how General Coltrane had personally commanded them and immediate order. The team had learned the building structure and also got the information of the victim who called for help.
A female teacher with her students hiding in the second building, the stairs found in the far east side of the first floor, they're inside the basement.
Smart, but knowing the terrorists that their handling, they would know where to find them.
" Prioritize the safety of citizen, especially the children. If there's any sign of threat then don't hesitate to shoot. " Rodriigo calmly ordered them, with his imposing aura and sharp gaze, they didn't dare make a sound. He securely place a dagger behind and tighten his leather glove around his hand, before holding his gun.
" did I make myself clear?" His deep voice was the only sound inside the vehicle, the rest of his team straightened their back and replied in a loud voices.
"Yes Sir!!! "
The vehicle arrived and they immediately ran out , their feets were quick as one moment they were outside the crowded street filled with police cars and ambulance. The people had watched far away with curiosity as they open their phones to record the commotion, looking at the scene behind the yellow tapes and police.
They entered the perimeter and already found bodies that needed medical attention, they proceed to go further and leave two to retrieve the victims.
They split at the second building, sending six to search on the floor above while Rodriigo and two of his subordinates quietly searched further the end of the east side, looking for the stairs that would lead them to the remaining identified victims.
Their footsteps where light and they were able to arrive near the stairs in a matter of minute, but as soon as they were close. They heard the sound of metal and Rodriigo lifts his hands and motions for the two towards the side of the wall.
Knowing their Captain had a plan in this situation, they followed but also had their vigilance up. Rodriigo had crouched down and aimed his gun forward and finally had visuals to the targets.
Four Adult Men. The ones that escaped maximum prison. The one the authorities had been looking for in the past 5 months, were busy picking up the lock inside the wooden door. They had an inhumane smile on their faces knowing there was a person inside, scared and unarmed. They casual clothes and it made them look like your regular uncles around, but the scars aroun their faces could give away their real beings.
Rodriigo was ready to fire the moment they successfully opened the door. The other two aimed perfectly at the ones behind.
They suddenly hear a crash and the unexpected happens.
" ARGH" Pained shouts from the ones getting hit were heard by everyone in the building.
Caught off guard, the two in front got hit by the edge of the chairs leg painfully, as it went straight to their face and head. The impact made them stagger back and a small brunette, who looks like she can't even lift a table, manage to knock down two tall and heavy men with another swing of a wooden chair. She looked scared yet her eyes were full of determination, her eyes set to bring these poeple down were clear and his jaw clenched.
She was ready to bring these people down to death with her.
The two S.W.A.T memebers had frozen in their place for a second before regaining their senses as they heard a shot from their Captain..
Rodriigo calmly decapitated two and when their location was caught, he immediately jumps down from the railing.
He lands just in front of the woman with a loud thump, and he stood in a protective stance before he immediately strode forward, his shoulder snapping as he unloaded the MP5 automatic with red-dot from his back and shooting the remaining suspects that tried to move, he precisely shot their thighs, making them unable to move but stagger back and howl in pain.
They couldn't act the moment the short woman emerge from the shadows with a fierce look on her small face, and followed by unnoticed shots that were perfectly fired to injure them. It was too fast.
" FCK " One of the injured person had a bleeding head from the impact of the woman's sudden beating.
Rodriigo looked up and motion to take care of the scoundrels. The two men, shamed for not taking care of the last two person, immediately ran down to apprehend the criminals. One of them had relayed their situation on his communication device.
The captain of the S.W.A.T looks back to see the victims and retrieve them. His gaze fall to the petite woman and she looked so dazed, her eyes stared at the criminals for a moment before she finally feel her tense muscles replaced the adrenaline rush in her system.
" I'm... still alive? "