What Was, What Is, What Can Be

Chapter 2

Justin gasped as he felt a hot, searing, pain. His hand went to the side of his head. Bringing it back down, he looked at it, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His hand was covered in red. Without warning, Justin crumpled, his eyes closed.

"Oh my God! Justin!" Daphne cried.

Milton blinked. He couldn't believe that Justin had jumped in front of Daphne like he had. He knew nobody loved him enough to do that. Before he or Brian could do anything else, the classroom door slammed against the wall, splinters of wood and plaster flying everywhere. The SWAT team burst in, their weapons raised and poised. Brian and Milton shared a look. It was time. Time to put the final part of their plan into motion. Both boys raised their guns, aiming right at the SWAT team.

The seasoned officers could see the truth in the two teenagers’ eyes. The young men had no intention of making it out alive. Within a minute, the standoff was over. Brian and Milton were on the floor, dead.

One of the SWAT members immediately used his vest radio to call the paramedics to enter the room. The classroom was suddenly a swarm of activity. Brian and Milton's bodies were being zipped into two black bodybags. The other students were being checked on. Myra was pronounced dead at the scene. Two paramedics were trying to get Justin stabilized when his heart stopped.

"He's in cardiac arrest!" said one of the paramedics as he started CPR. He pushed on Justin's chest while the other one blew air into Justin's lungs via an airbag.

Another paramedic tried to get Daphne to move away from Justin, so she could quickly be looked over. But Daphne wasn't having any of it. "No!" Daphne snapped at the female EMT. "I'm not going to leave my friend's side!"

The EMT sighed but gave up trying to get the young girl to move. She looked her over where they were. All that she could find wrong with the young African-American was a slightly high blood pressure reading. But that was to be expected after the ordeal that she had faced.

"He's back!" said the dark-haired EMT that had been forcing air into Justin's lungs.

"Let's get him onto the stretcher. We need to get him to the hospital ASAP," responded the other paramedic that had been working on getting Justin's heart started.

When Debbie, Michael, Ted, Emmett and Brian arrived at Saint James Academy, they were engulfed in chaos. Students and adults were crying. The police was trying to keep everyone calm. Parents were desperately looking for their children. Several ambulances were there, their sirens blaring. A few minutes after arriving, Ted said, "There's Daphne."

"DAPHNE!" shouted Debbie.

Daphe's head snapped up, from where it was laying against her mother's shoulder, her dark eyes looking slightly glazed. When she recognized who they were, she hurried over to them, her parents following.

"What happened, sweetie?" asked Emmett.

Daphne answered, her voice cracking as tears rolled down her face. "Brian and Milton came in. Shooting. Me, Justin and some other students hid in a classroom. It was one of the designated areas, in case of an... e-emergency. They found us. They ki-killed Myra. Milton was going to shoot me, but Justin got in front of me. He was shot. In the head." Daphne’s body shook with her sobs. "His heart stopped but they got it started again. They wouldn't let me go with him. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor went."

Debbie wrapped the young girl in a hug. "He'll be fine," Debbie said as much to reassure herself as to reassure Daphne.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AT THE HOSPITAL

Within an hour, everyone was sitting in the waiting room of Allegheny General Hospital, waiting on word about Justin. Justin's parents, Craig and Jennifer, were sitting with Daphne and her parents. The Liberty Avenue gang was sitting a little off to the side. Craig had made it abundantly clear that they weren't welcome to sit with them. Everyone had noticed that Brian was being very quiet.

Lindsay reached over and grasped his hand. "He'll be alright, Brian."

Brian looked at Lindsay, not even caring that his eyes were wet with tears. His silence said more than words ever could. He was in love with Justin and he was worried to death. He vowed to himself that if Justin survived, he would make sure that the young blond knew, everyday, how much he was cherished. How much he meant to him.

A doctor with graying hair walked into the waiting room. "Family of Justin Taylor?" he called out. They all stood up. Craig shot a dirty look at the Liberty Avenue gang before looking at the doctor. "Well?" he demanded.

"Maybe we should talk in private," the doctor suggested.

"Just tell us! How's my baby?!" cried Jennifer.

"He's in a coma, Mrs. Taylor."

Jennifer stumbled back and flopped down into one of the hospital chairs. "A c-coma?" she stuttered.

The doctor, whose nametag read Dr. Bates, nodded.

"Will he... wake up?" questioned Debbie.

Dr. Bates sighed. "We can't accurately determine that as of right now. He was shot in the head. And there have been cases where the person wakes up. Most of the time, it's years later. He could wake up days, months, years from now. Or, he might never wake up at all." A short pause. "And, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, you need to recognize the fact that if he does wake up, Justin might not be the same boy that you all knew."
 

Return to What Was