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Tamara felt adrenaline coursing through her body. She felt her pulse racing, her breathing shallow, and her thoughts disjointed. Her legs were still shaky; she couldn't tell if it was from running through the school hallways or from the fear that insisted on consuming her.
The sounds of gunshots and screams still echoed in her ears, buzzing incessantly, like a reminder of the terror that had unfolded in seconds. The chaos and panic were almost erased by the survival instinct that took hold of her when she realized what was happening: a school shooting.
– We need to call the police, Leah. – Tamara whispered to her friend.
The teenager then fixed her gaze on Leah. Her friend's large brown eyes were filled with restrained tears, and terror was etched on her face, so similar to Nyla's. Her hands trembled at her sides, her body seeming too rigid, paralyzed by fear.
– Hey, Leah. Look at me. – Tamara cupped her friend's face in her hands, whispering her words, afraid of drawing too much attention. – We're safe here in the locker room. We're protected, we'll be okay. Do you trust me?
The teenager nodded in agreement.
– I trust you, Tam, but I'm scared. – she whispered, letting the tears fall.
– I'll keep you safe until our parents come in here to save us. – Tamara pulled her friend into a hug.
Deep down, the teenager was just as scared as Leah. She knew that locker room might not protect them for long, and the silence in the hallway outside was just a bad feeling she couldn't express at that moment. Tamara needed to be strong, or they wouldn't go home.
– Do you have your cell phone with you? We need to call emergency services.
The brunette nodded, carefully opening her backpack in search of the device.
– Where's yours, Tam? – she whispered.
– It broke when I dropped it as soon as we heard the first... gunshots – she whispered, clutching her phone with the black screen.
– Here 's my cell phone. The battery is dying.
Tamara held the device with trembling hands. Before calling emergency services, the teenager put her cell phone on silent and quickly dialed the numbers that Tim would never let her forget.
“911, what is your emergency?"
“I… I’m at school. We need help.” she whispered, feeling the lump in her throat that held back the tears she was holding back “We heard some gunshots, there were a lot of people running. We’re scared.”
“Breathe with me. What school do you go to?”
“Rise Kohyang High School. I... I'm hiding in the girls' locker room.”
“What’s your name, darling?”
“Tamara. Tamara Chen Bradford.”
“Are you hurt, Tamara?”
The teenager looked at Leah, shaking her head on the phone.
“No…” she replied, her voice trembling “My friend Leah and I are fine. We heard a lot of screaming.”
“You’re doing very well.” the voice encouraged “Keep talking to me, Tamara. Help is already on its way.”
And at that moment, they heard a noise from outside the locker room. The noise sounded like footsteps; someone seemed to be walking carefree through the school hallways, without fear of being caught.
Tamara felt her heart pounding in her chest, her eyes scanning the locker room for an explanation of the sound she heard, while Leah's cold hand held hers tightly, demonstrating all the fear she felt.
“Someone is approaching.” Tamara whispered into the phone, her eyes filled with tears “He’s here!”
“Tamara, be quiet and stay on the line with...”
Before the voice could finish the sentence, Tamara stared at the device, overcome with panic.
– The battery... The battery died. Damn it!
Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and her throat burned from the tears she was holding back. Fear mercilessly gripped her body, freezing her steps and paralyzing her actions. She felt trapped on the floor and too small in that huge, cold locker room.
Tamara knew she needed to do something for her survival, but at that moment, she simply closed her eyes and focused on the safest and most comforting place in her life: her parents.
Their smiles that morning were the first thing that dominated her thoughts. Despite the time that had passed, they still maintained the same routine every morning: Tim making warm pancakes, Lucy braiding her hair, and Kojo begging for scratches behind his ears like a spoiled little boy. It was sweet, familiar, and carried the sense of belonging that Tamara had always longed for.
Still with her eyes closed, her breathing slowly softened as the lethargy in her body dissipated through her pores. Tamara felt her heart calm like a balm with just that memory of them. The fear was still there, a constant reminder that she was in danger, but it no longer paralyzed her, because she knew she had a place to return to. Her home.
Breaking from her thoughts, Tamara opened her eyes in fright as she heard a noise growing louder and more constant. Someone seemed to be getting too close.
– Tam, he... he's getting closer. – Leah's voice was thick with fear.
***
"911, what is your emergency?"
The voice from the emergency dispatch center echoed through the loudspeaker in the meeting room inside the Los Angeles department. This was no ordinary situation, Lucy knew that.
Police officers, detectives, sergeants, and the Metropolitan Police team occupied all the space they usually used for their morning briefing. Commander Grey had gathered everyone for this particular operation, making it clear that it needed to be a joint effort between the Mid-Wilshire police and other city security teams to contain the crowd, rescue, and protect not only the teenagers but everyone who attended the school under attack.
“I… I’m at school. We need help.” another voice echoed through the space, and Lucy would recognize it anywhere “We heard some gunshots, there were a lot of people running. We’re scared.”
Her hairs stood on end when she heard that frightened voice. It was slowly dawning on Lucy. Gunshots. People running. Fear. Attack. Tamara.
The attack took place at his daughter's school.
At that moment, her surroundings faded into the background, the voices on the emergency call sounded like unintelligible buzzing, and everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Her heart pounded in her chest like never before, a thin layer of fear seemed to slowly envelop her body, and her thoughts were clouded only by scenarios of Tamara in danger.
The lump in her throat grew, and the air felt thin. She needed to get out of there and go find Tamara; as a mother, that seemed to be the only option, but as a police officer and sergeant, Lucy knew she needed to stay sane and focused for everything to go well. For Tamara to return safely to her arms.
The teenager who helped Lucy become the best version of herself. Loving Tamara was liberating, it was as gentle as an afternoon breeze, and it was everything she needed – even if she didn't know it before. It was like the oxygen she needed to breathe every day, and they were taking that away from her, draining all her vital energy by putting her little girl at risk.
Lucy was pulled from her thoughts by a warm hand encircling hers. Tim.
Those blue eyes stared at her, filled with fury and fear, something Lucy hadn't seen in a long time. The furrow between her eyebrows seemed to tighten as the seconds ticked by, and Lucy knew that Tim needed her at that moment, just as much as she needed him, because they would both handle the situation in completely different ways. And that was a great danger.
Tim held her hand in a strong, steady grip, a reminder that they were in this together, and the gentle caress of his thumb on the back of her hand signaled that they would be okay, even if he didn't need to say it aloud. They never did.
“Are you hurt, Tamara?”
The voice asked again, and Lucy longed for that answer.
“No…” Lucy felt Tim loosen his grip on her hand after their daughter’s response “My friend Leah and I are fine. We heard a lot of screaming.”
At that moment, Lucy placed her hand on Nyla's shoulder beside her, gently stroking it.
– Our girls are together, Nyla. – she whispered – They'll be alright.
– We need to rescue them, Lucy. – Nyla replied firmly. – They, Henry, and Jack will return to us safely, as will all those other children.
“Keep talking to me, Tamara. Help is already on its way.”
The next moment, the noise that Tamara and Leah heard echoed throughout the meeting room, causing Lucy to quickly squeeze Tim's hand.
– Tim... – she let the words die, dreading what was to come.
– Something is wrong. – Angela's desperate voice broke the silence.
“Someone is approaching.” Tamara’s tearful voice whispered “He’s here!”
He found them. Tamara was no longer safe.
The worst was about to happen, and in the meeting room, the deafening silence seemed to await the high-pitched sound echoing through the call, signaling the end.
“Tamara, be quiet and stay on the line with...”
The call ended, silence lingering throughout the meeting room, leaving everyone under a tense aura, staring at Commander Grey in search of answers.
– That's all we have. – the commander said sadly, glancing over his agents. – The dispatch center notified us that we received more calls for help from the same location. Gunshots, screams, people running, but no information on the number of suspects or their descriptions. The other security teams are already on their way to the school; let's join them and rescue our children.
Wade's gruff voice, dictating instructions to the entire department, grew increasingly quieter for Lucy; at that moment, her head was flooded with thoughts that came without permission.
Was Tamara alive? Were she and Leah still safe in the locker room? Who found them?
Questions plagued both Lucy and Tim; dozens of unanswered questions fueled that unbearable pain. Lucy's eyes were filled with tears, and Tim didn't seem far behind. They were parents; they loved that little girl, and being in the dark like this terrified them in a frightening way.
But Tamara was strong, intelligent, and cautious. She was skilled, wise, and had been trained for moments like this. Tim's obsession with her safety a few months ago, teaching her self-defense and survival skills for a dangerous situation, would ensure his little girl stayed alive. They needed to believe that.
Lucy felt Tim wiping away the tear that was running down her cheek. At that moment, protocols, superiors, and rules mattered little; Lucy and Tim were parents above all else. They would stay together, united by a purpose, being each other's strength in that moment, as they always had been.
– T.'s okay, babe. – he whispered, clinging to that hope.
– You made sure she knew what to do.
– We guarantee it, Lucy.
– I need her in my arms, Tim. – Lucy confessed.
– And we will! – Tim assured her, wiping away a few more of her tears. – Tamara is strong and determined. She must be scared, but she knows we'll never give up on finding her." He finished, holding her hand. "We'll find our little girl and bring her and the others home safely.
Lucy nodded.
– She's safe, Lucy.
– Safe.
***
– We need to find Jack and Henry. – Leah whispered, seeing Tamara shake her head in disagreement.
– We have to stay here, Leah. – the teenager countered, whispering as well – We're safe here in the locker room.
– Tam. – Leah held her friend's shoulders – The last thing we are is safe here. You saw it yourself! Those desperate boys managed to get here to the locker room without any problem.
Tamara absorbed those words in silence.
– This place won't protect us if someone with bad intentions shows up. – Leah added.
– Dad said we need to find a place to hide and stay quiet while we wait for help. – Tamara pointed to her surroundings.
– Mom said that too. But neither she nor Uncle Tim are here, Tam. – Leah's voice sounded sad – And you know this isn't the best place for us to stay.
– But it's risky to go out. – Tamara objected again.
Leah sighed heavily.
– Our friends are out there, Tam. – Leah argued, her eyes glistening with tears – We need to find them so we can stay together until our parents get here.
– What if someone finds us? What if... What if that person has a gun?
Tamara was scared. Damn! She was trembling with fear.
Staying and waiting for help seemed like the most correct and prudent choice. Being in the locker room gave her a false sense of security, as if she could control the situation and remain calm.
Tamara knew she was in the dark and hated it, but her friend was right. Leah, Jack, and Henry had been inseparable long before she appeared, and now, more recently, she had become a vital member of that group. Being together at that moment seemed the right thing to do, even if it meant putting themselves in danger.
– It's a risk we need to take.
– Okay. Let's find them, Leah. – Tamara finally gave in – Where do you think Jack and Henry are?
– I don't think it's too far. – Leah whispered thoughtfully – They were with us in the cafeteria when we heard the gunshots. We lost track of them when we ran here.
– What do we have near this locker room that could serve as shelter for them? – Tamara looked towards the locker room exit, searching for answers – Aunt Angela and Uncle John must have instructed them as our parents did.
– To the right we have the restrooms and right after that the men's locker room. Do you think they might be there?
Tamara nodded.
She could see her friend's big brown eyes reflecting all the panic she felt. Leah was as strong as her mother, but she was also just a little girl like her, scared, frightened, and wanting to feel protected and safe again.
– I think... I think we can start with the bathrooms. – Tamara suggested – They might have hidden in the stalls.
This time, Leah nodded, putting her dead cell phone in her pants pocket.
– Do you... Do you think they're okay?
– We need to believe that's true, Tam. – Leah sniffled, wiping her tear-stained face.
– So they're okay! We'll be okay. – Tamara reinforced, holding one of Leah's hands – Are you ready?
– I think so. – the girl sighed heavily, looking fearfully towards the exit.
– I'm going to leave my cell phone here. – Tamara placed the device on the bench where they were sitting – Mom will know it's mine and that we were here.
Taking one last look around, the girls walked silently towards the door.
– And please, Tam. – Leah stopped abruptly before they could cross the threshold – No heroics. No trying to save everyone. No separating us. The plan is to find the boys and get to safety. You need to go back to Aunt Lucy and Uncle Tim.
Tamara looked into those pleading eyes and replied:
– I promise, Leah. I'll stay safe.
***
Wearing a bulletproof vest and holding a gun, Lucy had the plan memorized. She was focused, determined, and, like the others, had one goal: to find the suspects, control the situation, and rescue the victims safely.
Following instructions, the Mid-Wilshire team would enter together to cover the same area inside the building. She looked at Nyla and Angela, wearing bulletproof vests and with their guns on their belts, discussing something about the school's layout. Even dressed in their professional masks, Lucy could see the fear that shrouded them both. Their closed expressions prevented most of them from seeing their real concern and the dread of not having the situation under control. After all, these were their children inside that school, and no parenting book had taught them how to handle what was about to happen.
Not far from there, Lucy saw Tim intently putting on his vest. His gestures were quick and stiff, and even under his white t-shirt, she could see how tense he was. At that moment, he didn't need to tell her about his fear; Lucy could read through his clear eyes how terrified Tim was of being in the dark, especially regarding Tamara.
Tim was born to be a father. His pores exuded that essence of care, love, and admiration when he spoke about Tamara. She was his greatest pride. Tamara was meant to be theirs from the moment her petulant answers, ironic smile, and lack of confidence crossed paths with Lucy, Tim, and an old orange car. And they weren't ready to let her go, under any circumstances.
The thought made her shudder.
They needed Tamara back safely in their arms. She wanted to smell the floral scent of her hair when she hugged her, hear her call her "Mommy" dozens of times a day, and cover her with kisses, making it clear how loved she was. Lucy needed to tell her she loved her.
– Team 1. – Grey's gruff voice called out through the crowd of police officers surrounding the school. – Are you ready to go in?
They confirmed it, exchanging glances with each other.
– Let's go into the east side of the building, where the girls are. – Angela instructed – We'll follow the rules until we get there.
– We're going to rescue them and look for Jack, Henry, and the others. – Nyla finished, drawing her weapon.
– Team 2 will be entering shortly. Stay safe inside.
Grey asked, watching his team walk towards the tall building.
He would never say it aloud, but that emergency call had frightened him like it hadn't in years. He was the commander; his duty was always to be concerned about the safety of any civilian, but above all, he was a friend, a colleague, a father, and especially a grandfather to four children who were inside that building. He had watched them grow up and run between the desks in his department – however much he pretended not to see – and it was inevitable and human to feel that a part of him was desperate at the possibility of losing them forever in that attack.
Wade took a deep breath. His thoughts had been sabotaging him constantly that morning, but he knew his best officers were going to rescue those children. Tamara had made their and Leah's location clear in that call to emergency services; he knew they would be safe there until his team found them.
Meanwhile, outside the building, Commander Grey was unaware that they were no longer in the locker room and that their safety was now compromised.
***
They walked cautiously down the school building's hallway. The silence reverberated off the walls, making the soles of their shoes echo through the space. Quickly they covered the east side, as ordered, finding some students hiding in the area they passed through, guiding them to a safe exit.
–The women's locker room is on the right. – Angela pointed to the door.
– Chen, cover for me.
Tim stepped forward, opening the door and scanning the room with his eyes. Empty.
– Leah. Tamara. – they called.
– Look everywhere. They need to be here. – Tim ordered, and they quickly separated.
Lucy searched among the tall cabinets, calling out the girls' names. The more time passed and the less sign they had of Tamara and Leah, the more anguish consumed her. Tamara's voice saying "he's here" hammered incessantly in her mind. She was in danger, Lucy felt it.
– Free. – said Angela and Tim, approaching each other.
– It's free here too. – Lucy added.
– I found something. – Nyla's voice came from the background, full of hope – It's a cell phone; it was on the farthest bench. It seems to be broken.
Lucy picked up the device and smiled. Tamara. That green phone case and the accessories hanging from it were unmistakable to her. It was a silly thing they bought together when the teenager kept her company while shopping, days after Tamara moved in with Lucy and Tim. It was something special.
– It's Tamara's cell phone. – Lucy replied – She must have left it to let us know you were here.
– And they decided to leave. – Tim finished, frustrated, his eyes sweeping around the locker room – Why?
– And where did they go?
– We need to keep going. Staying here wondering won't help us find them. They probably haven't gone very far.
Angela took the lead, ready to walk towards the exit after the others confirmed their presence, when a series of gunshots made her freeze in place, followed by terrified screams. Judging by the high-pitched sound, the shots weren't far from the locker room, so they could have hit anyone, including her children.
– No! No, no.
– Oh my God!
***
– Henry and Jack are nowhere to be found, Tam. – Leah whispered.
They walked aimlessly down the building's hallway. They had searched for their friends in the nearest bathroom and locker room, but found no sign of the boys, only people so consumed by fear that they insisted, unsuccessfully, that they not leave.
– I wonder if something happened to them?
– No, Tam! – Leah stopped abruptly, turning to her friend – Nothing happened to them! We need to stay positive and keep searching.
Tamara wiped her eyes with the back of her hand before the tears could fall. She was tired and scared; time seemed to stand still in there, and that terror would never end. Tamara wished none of this was happening; she wanted to be walking down the school hallways to attend any class with her classmates, recording videos for ClipTok while waiting for class to start, or just be anywhere else but there.
– Hey. We're going to make it. – Leah hugged her friend, holding back her own tears.
– I just want my parents, Leah. I want Kojo, my home, and to be safe again.
– I want that too, Tam. And we can't just stand here doing that, okay?
Tamara nodded, wiping away the stubborn tears that insisted on wetting her cheeks.
– Let's follow this corridor and try every open door. They might be behind one of them.
They resumed walking cautiously. With each step, the corridor seemed to grow longer and narrower, like a labyrinth with no way out. The hope of finding their friends dwindled step by step, fueling the fear that slowly consumed them throughout that morning.
– Did you hear? – Tamara froze in place, holding her friend's hand.
Leah nodded in fear, unable to make a sound.
– Those sound like footsteps." Tamara looked at Leah, startled – Someone's approaching.
– Not again, Tam. – the girl whispered, feeling the tears begin to stream down her face silently again – We can't stay here.
– If we run, we'll attract more attention. – Tamara said in a panic.
She felt the vein in her neck throb with the rapidity of her pulse. Air didn't reach her lungs because she had held her breath with each approaching footstep. Slowly, the sole of her shoe against the ground grew louder, a subtle torture of what was to come.
Her hand gripped Leah's tightly, connecting them in that final moment. When the sound grew loud enough, Tamara closed her eyes, unable to see who appeared around the corner.
Tamara felt her heart pounding so fast it hurt. Her hearing was sharper, and the footsteps on the floor seemed to hurt her eardrums, indicating that danger was near. Tamara closed her eyes more tightly, fighting against the thousands of thoughts that dominated her mind.
Would that be the end? Was that all it took, fighting her whole life to survive, and when she found someone like her parents who made her want to live – and not just survive – the breath of life would be taken from her?
The footsteps seemed to be right in front of her, and Tamara waited for the sharp click of a gunshot, but it never came.
– Tam. Leah!
The voice called out to them in unison, and that was enough for Tamara to open her eyes without fear.
In front of them stood Jack and Henry, looking at them with relief.
– Oh my God! You're here! – Leah said, hugging Henry tightly, breathing a sigh of relief in the boy's arms.
– Are you all right?
– We're okay. – Tamara answered Jack's question, who was looking at her to check if she wasn't physically hurt – I'm fine, Jack. – she reassured him, moving closer to him. – I promise.
Jack nodded, smiling at her, unable to break eye contact with Tamara.
– What are you guys doing here? – Henry asked, approaching his friends and breaking their bubble.
– We were looking for you. We hid in the locker room, but it's not safe there.
– We were looking for you too. We got separated when we left the cafeteria. – Henry said, holding Leah's hand as if he wasn't ready to lose her again.
– We need to find a place to hide, we're easy targets here in the hallway. – Jack observed, looking around thoughtfully.
Tamara shuddered at the sound of that. Easy targets. She was just a little girl and had already lost so much. The thought made her reason and analyze the place they were in within the school; she couldn't let anyone take more people from her life. Her brain worked quickly, just like Jack's; they looked around for something to hide behind.
– We can use the caretaker's room. – Tamara concluded, looking at her friends – It's not far from here and it will keep us safe.
– Good idea, Cariño. – Tamara's nickname came out of Jack's mouth proudly, the boy's eyes shining at her like stars lighting up the dark sky.
– Come on, L." Henry called, taking Leah's hand and leading the way.
Carefully, the four hurried to the caretaker's room. The place wasn't far, but the fear of being caught made the journey agonizing ordeal. They slowly passed through closed doors, and Tamara wondered if someone was inside, sheltering from the dangers outside.
– The caretaker's office is down the hall, it's not very far.
Henry whispered to Leah beside him, turning his face back to look at Jack and Tamara who were following them. Tamara saw her friend's large, clear eyes, filled with relief, turn to questioning and then panic as he looked at something behind them.
Then the sound.
A dry thud echoed at the end of the corridor. Gunshots.
They froze.
The world seemed to shrink in that instant. The air grew heavy, difficult to breathe. Tamara followed Henry's gaze behind her, noticing the silhouette slowly emerging at the end of the corridor. A figure standing still, motionless for a second too long to be a coincidence.
The shooter.
– No… – Leah murmured, almost a sob.
The shooter's eyes met Tamara's. There was no hurry, no apparent anger in him, only a frighteningly focused attention. The shooter was like one of them, a teenager. Tamara felt her legs give way and panic rising like a scream stuck in her throat.
– Go... slowly... – Jack whispered, but neither of them could move.
The shooter stepped forward. Confident, with a weak smile and a clear goal.
– Go! Go!" Tamara shouted.
Instinct took over. And they ran.
The hallway became a blur of fear. Yellow lights flickered, some off and others buzzing too loudly in the heavy silence. Sneakers slipped on the floor smelling of cleaning products, backpacks banged against backs as they ran, and breathing became erratic.
Behind them, danger still existed, but ahead there was a chance of survival.
The caretaker's room appeared as if by magic before their eyes. They went inside.
The door slammed shut too hard. The sound echoed through the small space, muffled by shelves full of products, stacked buckets, and brooms leaning against the wall. The smell was strong, chemical, almost burning the nose.
Tamara turned the key with trembling hands, the metal making too much noise for the silence that followed.
– Is it locked? – Henry asked, his voice almost nonexistent, and she nodded, unable to speak.
They huddled together in the corner. Tamara held her breath, as if that would make her invisible, but her heart was beating so hard it seemed to betray their presence there, and stubborn tears streamed down her face without permission.
The seconds passed heavily, endlessly.
And then footsteps. Slow footsteps on the other side of the door.
The sound was clear now, impossible to ignore.
– He... He followed us.
Tamara put her hand to her mouth to stifle her sobs.
The footsteps stopped right in front of the door. Beneath it, the shadow of the shooter could be seen, as if mocking them, feeding on their fear and panic.
Suddenly, the absolute silence that hurt the ears was broken by a sharp thud against the wooden door. It trembled.
– No... no... – Leah murmured, tears streaming freely.
Another impact reverberated through the door. Followed by a third. Louder.
Dust fell from the top of the door, and the shelves above them vibrated from the brute force. The door wouldn't hold for much longer.
Tamara felt her body pulled closer to Jack, and his terrified eyes seemed to say that this was the end. Not even the sound of the impacts against the door could drown out the uneven sound of Jack's breathing against her skin. It was a breath of air laden with fear, but it brought Tamara back to the reality that she was still alive.
Then the door gave way, and a sound that none of them would forget was heard.
A gunshot.
The bang was deafening in that small space, and screams of panic echoed through the air.
Tamara felt her body thrown backward by the impact, losing strength and the air escaping her lungs. The cold floor of the janitor's room received her too quickly, and the pain arrived excruciatingly. The voices of her friends sounded distant at that moment, as if she were underwater. Tamara blinked slowly, trying to focus on the shelves above her, but the light seemed too bright, calling to her.
– Tamara. – someone called desperately, but her mouth wouldn't obey.
The body felt heavy, strange, as if it no longer belonged to her.
And then the memories came.
Her parents were in the kitchen, close by without realizing it, on one of the first days she arrived at their house. The yellow light enveloped everything. Kojo lay at her feet, welcoming her. Tim was leaning over the stove, focused on making his favorite recipe – which she would only discover later. Lucy leaned against the sink, observing calmly, with a slight smile on her face. A brief touch on her back, an automatic gesture, full of intimacy. Nothing extraordinary, just presence.
They seemed safe there. Whole. As if that small space was enough to protect everything that mattered. It was there that Tamara longed to return.
The image slowly dissolved. A sob escaped the girl's throat.
The surrounding noise grew more distant and irrelevant. Tamara felt tears welling up, not from pain, but from a deep longing for Tim and Lucy.
The cold began to spread, disconnected from the rest of her body. She was fighting to stay alive.
***
Firm, quick footsteps filled the hallway. Their presence made the atmosphere heavy, the air stifled, and their voices sounded like a controlling presence.
A short command. Dry. Fierce. And then the noise that ended it all.
The shooter's shadow fell out of sight through the broken door. There were no more footsteps or threats, only the dull thud of the fallen body, leaving no room for further action.
– It's safe! – Angela shouted, stepping out of her position.
Immediately, Lucy approached the janitor's room, weapon still in hand and her entire body functioning automatically, as years of patrolling had instilled in her.
The smell was the first thing that hit her, cleaning products mixed with something metallic. The space was too small, too claustrophobic. There were marks on the door, a broken doorknob, and clear signs that danger had been there seconds before.
– The place is clean. – someone said behind her.
But Lucy's body still didn't believe it.
Her eyes scanned the room quickly, trained, and then she saw the teenagers huddled in the corner, four bodies too close together, trying to occupy as little space as possible in the world. The four teenagers she knew very well.
That was when the air left Lucy's lungs.
Those worn-out Converse All Stars, she'd recognize those sneakers anywhere.
The surrounding sounds seemed to fade away. The radio on her shoulder crackled, someone reporting that the second shooter had been neutralized, but none of that mattered. The training yelled to keep your distance, assess safety, call for medical support. But her motherly side ignored all of that.
She knelt down quickly, sensing Tim's presence drawing closer to them.
– Hey, Bunny. – her voice came out lower than she intended.
Tamara slowly lifted her face. Her eyes were wide, wet with tears, the kind of look no mother should ever see on her own daughter's face. The bright red caught her attention; there was enough blood on the teenager's arm to make Lucy's heart skip a beat.
– Mommy… – the little girl whispered tearfully – Daddy. I was so scared.
That broke Lucy and Tim.
No amount of training had prepared Lucy for this. She felt like her world was collapsing around her and there was nothing she could do. Seeing her daughter in that situation awakened something Lucy had never felt before: the overwhelming fear of losing her little girl forever. She couldn't bear to be in a world without the person who had made her see everything differently.
Tamara arrived like a hurricane, disrupting their lives, interrupting their routines, and taking up space in their hearts without asking permission. Tamara carried a heavy burden, a cruel past, and a great deal of distrust when she allowed them into her life. Lucy liked to think of her as the missing piece in their lives, always a complement, never a burden – as other families had made her feel.
Tim could already feel his bile rising in his throat. He was furious with the universe, he wanted to scream until his throat was dry and let out all that rage. He had always promised to protect Tamara, and now, seeing her in that state, wounded and broken, was as if he were failing. Failing as a husband. Failing as a father. Failing as a man. Failing them.
Tamara still had the sweet gaze of a child, hope bathing in her eyes, and a whole life ahead of her. And someone was stealing that from her, bringing more trauma to her already short life. What if they had arrived a minute later? What if the shot had been fatal? What if they hadn't been able to stop the shooter?
The weight of "what if" fell entirely on his shoulders. However, they were there now, and Tim would make sure it never happened again. He would always look out for her safety. Forever.
– We're here now, Bunny. You're safe. – Tim said calmly, gently wiping the tears from Tamara's face.
With trembling hands, Lucy examined her daughter's arm, confirming what her eyes had seen: the wound was only superficial, a grazing shot. Nothing that could explain the overwhelming panic rising in her throat now.
It was a close call. The thought hit me like a punch.
Lucy closed her eyes for a second, resting her forehead against Tamara's, completely forgetting that she was still wearing her vest, badge, and had a gun on her belt.
– You're with me and Daddy now. – she said tenderly, stroking the girl's face – We're not going anywhere without you."
Behind them, in slow motion, Lucy could see Nyla and Angela supporting the other teenagers. She registered this from afar; with the professional part of her mind that was still functioning, she knew they were taking care of them.
But that little girl in their arms belonged to them. To her and Tim. No one would take them away from there.
– My arm hurts, mommy.
– I know, Bunny. The paramedics are already on their way. – she comforted, still holding Tamara while Tim put on his suit to stop the bleeding – Hang in there, my little girl.
– You were very brave, T. – Tim called to the sleepy girl – We received your emergency call, and mom found your cell phone in the locker room.
Tamara smiled at him, seeking comfort in her father's hand with her uninjured arm.
– You guided us here, my little one. – he finished, affectionately kissing the back of the teenager's hand.
In the background, they could hear the voices of the paramedics arriving.
– I did what you taught me, daddy. Ask for help, hide, and wait for you.
– We'll always find you, Bunny.
One of the paramedics appeared at the door shortly afterward, and only then were they able to move away enough to let the professional work.
– Where... where are the others? – Tamara asked, too weak to lift her head from the cold ground.
– Aunt Angela and Aunt Nyla are with them, my love. – Lucy stroked her hair, seeing the pain in her daughter's face – The paramedics need to examine them too.
Tamara nodded in response, feeling cared for and loved in her parents' arms. With her mother's caress in her hair, sleep slowly overtook Tamara, weighing down her eyes and blurring her vision.
– You can rest, Bunny. – Lucy instructed, slowly running her finger across the girl's face – They'll bring a stretcher soon to take you to the hospital for a more thorough examination.
– Will you stay with me? – she asked sleepily.
– We're not going to leave your side, my love. – she replied affectionately. – Daddy and I will stay here watching over your sleep.
– We'll take care of you, Bunny. – Tim finished, still holding Tamara's hand, a reminder that brought him back to the reality that she was alive.
– You are the best parents.
– Sleep, my love. Mommy and Daddy love you.
– I love you guys too. So much.
– You are safe now.
Lucy took a deep breath, for the first time since it all began, watching the girl drift off to sleep.
Their eyes met Tim's. Now soft and relieved. The tension of worry still weighed on their shoulders, but they would be alright as long as they stayed together. The shooter had already been neutralized, the threat was over, and in that small room lay their greatest treasure.
Lucy then extended her hand, placing it on Tamara and Tim's joined hands, and held them tightly.
Tamara was safe.