{This story delves into dark psychological themes, including trauma, violence, existential dread, and societal critique. It contains graphic depictions and unsettling content designed to evoke fear and discomfort. Reader discretion is strongly advised.}
"My name is Alan Andrews, you may be wondering why I'm here today in front of all of you. Members of the press, my teachers, adults, and even fellow students like me, I am one of the few survivors of the Gispellen School Shooting. Four weeks ago, terror struck all of us alike.
I watched my fellow students and teachers be killed in front of me, and I sustained injuries that left me in a coma for three weeks. I have no problem speaking in front of you today because this is a message to everyone, whether you're an adult or a child.
People died that day because of the way you all have run our systems, my friends are dead because of you, the one student who stood up for everyone and faced the shooter is dead because of you. I witnessed a tragedy on the same level as multiple other major events in our history, 9/11, the U.S. Challenger exploding, and many more.
This could have been avoided if you had listened when students reached out for help, this could have been avoided if you had stood up for those below you, and this all could have been avoided if you weren't more obsessed with lining your pockets with money.
I have one simple message to all of you, fuck you and what you stand for. This isn't the country of the free. Liberty, and justice for all? Don't make me laugh! You ignored students who reached out for help, you ignored and beat those who went against your system!
What happened wasn't right, it was cruel and unjust. My friends are dead, and while it's the shooter's fault, it's just as much yours. How many lives must be lost before you enforce proper laws and take care of the younger generation?
You've failed us, every single one of us. My friend gave his life to try and put an end to all of this, while you were too scared to make a proper step inside. That's all I have to say, I'll be taking my leave now."
The speech left reporters, adults, and all those listening in shock. Nobody could say anything to refute what he said, but the look of seriousness, of hatred, of animosity in his eyes spoke more than anything else could have. He was right, what happened was a tragedy and unfolded in ways that should never have been brought.
*Back to the beginning...*
"Sayers!" I shouted, looking at his eyes peering through the wall as I showered. Even when I showered, he never gave me a break, regardless of what was happening. He blinked, his lava-colored eyes shining brightly, then disappeared. "Damn!"
"Don't you have school today?" He asked, his voice dark and serious. I glanced at the clock in the bathroom while drying off, "6:00 am." My eyes went wide, I practically threw my towel around my body and started to dress quickly.
By the time I managed to throw on my shoes, it was almost Six-ten in the morning. "Sayers! Why didn't you warn me?" I asked, putting on my bag and sprinting out of the door, making sure to lock it.
"It's fun watching you panic, plus, why should I? Not like you being late affects me," He said with a laugh, I looked over to him, but like usual, all I could see was his lava-like eyes. "It's been sixteen years, and you're still focused on trying to see all of me?"
"Well, if I knew what you looked like, it'd finally be my turn to insult you!" I shouted, jumping over a fence, and quickly returning to my sprint. His eyes kept pace with me, and his dark laugh jutted through the air.
"I'd snap your neck." He put bluntly, no longer laughing. My legs went faster, throwing my body forward with enough force for my eyes to start watering in response to the intense wind. "Your face looks like a baboon's ass when you run like that."
"Shut up!" I yelled, ignoring the looks of the people I ran past. Like most people, they probably thought I was talking to myself, only I was able to see him for whatever reason. "Crap, I forgot to call dad!"
I pulled out my phone and dialed his number quickly, my fingers becoming numb from the cold wind. It rang, once, twice, thrice, then went to voicemail. "Hey, Dad. I know you're probably asleep but I'm on my way to school. I love you, be safe, I'll be home by 2!" I hung up and continued to run, my school finally coming into view at six-thirty am.
The bright blue walls that towered far above the lamp posts came into view first, then the tinted windows big enough to take up most of the front wall, finally, I could see all three floors. I ran through the gate a quarter-mile from the school and finally made it to the office.
"That still takes so much out of me," I gasped, trying to get my heartbeat and breathing steady as I fell onto the floor. I looked over to the lady at the front desk and waved, she waved back with a smile and then returned to her computer screen.
"How's the future track star's stomach holding up? Hmm? Still panting after a light jog?" Sayers asked sarcastically, sounding as if he was speaking in my ear. I waved him away, stood up, and finally put on my ID.
"Just in time, Oliver. Your first period starts in a few minutes though, I'd hurry!" The lady at the front desk, Ms. Ezra reminded me. "Ah, before I forget, catch!"
She threw an energy bar at me, which I caught, and said thank you to her, before unwrapping it and running down the hall. "Have to love winter, you're already sweating, but freezing too!" He laughed, his voice echoing down the hallway. I ignored him, and focused on getting to class, my sneakers creating a slap sound against the tile floor.
I threw open the door, creating an even louder creak, and walked in. The class stared at me silently, watching me sit down as the teacher started speaking. "Glad you could join us, two minutes after the late bell, Mr. Oliver."
"I'm sorry! Got a bit held up by the weather," I attempted, still gasping for air. Sayers stared at him, looked at me, then stared at the girls in the class.
"I wish I could snap his neck. How's the lonely life, eh Oli? Come on Olive Oil, eh? Still lonely with no chance of a future?" Sayers said sarcastically, looking at a girl in the class, Jess. "Hey, wait. Something feels...Off? My connection to negative emotions is never this strong."
I ignored him again, focusing on taking notes. He was probably playing tricks on me again. The rest of the period went by pretty fast, and the class change for the next period started at Seven-thirty, five minutes before it had been an hour since school started.
I sat down in my next class, the bell rang, and then, it fell silent. For just a split second, I saw Sayers's full body. He was wearing a full black suit, then it went back to normal before I could see anything else. "I have to break my own rule this time, there's no way I saw that wrong!" I thought, beckoning Sayers to come over.
The moment he got next to me, the clock struck Seven-thirty-five. A deafening bang bounced around the walls of the school, before reaching my ears and making me fall over. I looked up, clutching my sensitive ears, only to see the teacher frozen. He didn't move, he stood still, his mouth left open in an O-shape.
Hour 1- To be continued