When I Remember

Part One of Three:Inside the Classroom

This morning started out like any other.

I woke up by my alarm.

Took my medicine.

Then wasted some time sleeping.

When I got to school I stopped to eat breakfast with most of my friends. We all talked about dinner, family, and God knows what else. I could hardly keep track any more.
My first period was math and that went off without a hitch... So did second... And third... Then fourth rolled around.
We were in there for twenty minutes. Our teacher was going on about inflation. It was a normal day. A boring one. I was sitting at my desk and passing notes to Alexa.
A scream erupts from the room across the hall. The entire class jumps in their seats. Including me. We were all startled by it. Not the scream itself... But what was in it... Something wasn't right.
There was a bang that was most likely a door slamming open. There was more screaming. One scream stood out from the rest.It sounded painful. Everyone's eyes were locked on the door. One boy in the middle of the room laughs nervously.
"What's going on? " Aron's voice cuts through the screaming from beyond our door... And the silence from within.
"Everybody just stay calm! I'll call the front office. " He turns to the phone and starts dialing. His voice only soothed the welling tension in the room for the best of two seconds.
"What do you think it is? " Time seems to drag on as a shriek sounded from the hallway. It sounded completely inhuman.
"Maybe a fight? " Alexa responded to my question. I nod and laugh slightly.
"Wonder who would fight in the middle of class..." Silence falls between us and the class as the teacher hangs up the phone.
"No one answered..., " He mumbles to himself, "OK, I'm going to go outside and make sure everything's OK. "
Silence ensues our sub as he strides to the door in confidence. He cracks the door open and I notice the slight shake in his hand and the small breath he takes before leaving the room.
Everybody begins to talk and some leaned out of their seats to see out the door before it's closed. Mr. Hope, our substitute, slips out the door and leaves it slightly ajar.
"Do you think it's a shooting? " Michaela Clark says as panic edges her voice.
"Don't be stupid we haven't hear any gun shots!" David Edwards says.
"What else could it be? " Michaela questions like it's a certainty.
"Should I call my mom?"
"What's going on? "
"Where's the teacher?"
"I wanna go home! " Questions flowed from around the room. None were answered and no one moved.
The questions and noise that had filled the room was immediately silenced as an ear piercing scream rang out from the room across the hall. At that instant everyone was having a staring contest with the door.
"Is that Mr. Hope? " Kayla Simmons whispered. A high pitch hysterical laughing began to mix with the screams. It sounded a bit out of place for the scene.
"We should go help him. " She included after a minute of silence.
"Do you want to go out there? " Weston retorts in a low voice.
"Well we can't just sit here! " Kayla says. There was a dull silence as the screaming died out. Wet slapping sounds came from where the screams used to be. Giggling accompanied the odd sounds from the hall way.
"Alexa, Do you hear that? " I whisper under my breath. She was too focused on the conversation to hear me.
"Shut up Weston! Everything's OK!" Kayla begins to shout. Then everyone else joined.
"Everyone shut up!!!" I was surprised by the sound of my own voice rising above the others.
"Does anybody have a weapon? " I didn't know what I was doing... I didn't know what I was saying...
"I have a pencil. "
"I have a stapler. "
"I have a switch blade. " I hesitate and blink slowly.
"Why... In school? "
"... What do you want it for anyway? " A shriek sounded in the difference. Somewhere farther away. I get to my feet and walk to David.
"Hand it over. " I say sternly.
"No. " Attitude dripped from his voice.
"OK, then you can go out there and help. " I point to the door.
"Are you serious? " My stare sharpens.
"I'm dead serious. " His gaze lowers to his book bag.
"You better bring it back. " I roll my eyes as he reaches to get it.
"Sure, whatever. " He places the knife in my hand and I pocket it.
"Thanks. " My voice was excessively sweet sounding. I turn back to the door and walk past my seat and begin to stand.
"I'm going with you. " Alexa grabbed my sleeve and began to stand.
"No, you're not, just stay here. I'll be back." She sits back down as she frowns slightly and nods.
I go to the door and freeze. Somewhere in the back of my mind I notice everyone freeze with me.
In slow motion I see my hand reached out. Every thought that crossed my mind lead to a million bad endings. But, still, I continued.
My hand pushes the door open...
And I see...