The Last Bell

Disclamer: These are my characters, if you want to use them then just ask. It\'s not like they have much of a personality anyway.

This would be my first story, so please be nice to me!

The Last Bell

I was sitting quietly in third hour staring out the window. Mrs. Elzinga was
lecturing the class on how to form wire into a ring. She twirled the wire around
the needle-nose pliers. I watched her, soaking in everything she was saying.
Mrs. Elzinga was my favorite teacher and she was my neighbor. She was
there the day that I was born. Mrs. Elzinga had a son, Ray, that was my age. We
were actually born two days apart. We had been friends since as long as I can
remember.
“Okay, now this project will be due next Friday. It will be counted as part of
your final exam,” Mrs. Elzinga said as she finished the ring.
The next five minutes were spent in my trying to master making a spiral in
wire. I was on my fourth try when it happened.
Mr. Altas, the principle, raced into the room and yelled, “Everyone clear out
of this room now! Go to Miss Day’s room and listen to her. Mrs. Elzinga lock up
the room once everyone is out of the room.”
Mrs. Elzinga just looked at him, “Mr. A, why?”
“Just get them to Miss Day’s room and I will explain on the way,” he replied
out of breath. “Hurry,” he hissed as we filed out of the room.
Mr. A almost ran towards the room, whispering to Mrs. Elzinga on the way.
We were quickly locked in the room and were told to get under the desks. Mine
happened to be the closest to the door. I looked out the window next to the
door and saw Mr. A sprint down the hall followed by two more teachers.
“Mrs. Elzinga, what’s going on?” said a girl from across the room.
“Don’t panic,” she said softly and calmly, “Three boys brought guns to
school. They are upstairs right now,” she paused as many girls gasped or even
screamed a little. “They have killed two students and have wounded many
more.”
One of the girls started to cry softly.
“I have called the police,” Miss Day said softly, “They are coming as we
speak.”
Just then I heard a gun shot and someone screamed. I closed my eyes and
clenched my jaw, thinking. I know that I had just started karate class three
months ago, but I had learned a lot. If one of them came into this room I could
try and stop them but if two came I knew that I had no chance. Although I
would have to try.
Someone pounded on the door and I jumped up, ready for anything.
Through the window I saw Ray, red faced. I opened the door quickly and closed
and locked it once he was in the room.
“Alex!” He hugged me quickly, “Mom?” he said softly, “Are you in here?”
Mrs. Elzinga charged out of under a desk and hit him on the shoulder,
“Raymond James Elzinga! What are you doing running around the halls when
someone has a gun!”
“Mom,” He hugged her as I heard another gun shot. Mrs. Elzinga pushed
me and Ray under two desks then she got under a third. I heard shouting and it
got louder.
My heart started pumping as I saw a shot-gun come into view. It aimed at
the lock on the door and shot. The lock was blown off and there was a hole in
the door. Most of the girls screamed when the shot was heard.
Then a guy dressed in black walked in. He looked right at me and I froze,
my early thoughts of fighting gone. He pointed the gun at my head.
I thought my life would end right there. Thoughts flashed thought my head,
things I hadn’t done, things I hadn’t said. I tried to remember the last time that
I had told my parents that I loved them. I wondered what my parent’s life would
be like without me.
“Identify yourself,” he demanded.
I looked away form the barrel of the gun and saw a black ski mask.
“Identify yourself,” he said louder as he pushed the gun at my head.
“Alex ... Alexandra Turner,” I replied, my voice shaking.
“Alex,” he said as he grabbed my arm.
Ray jumped out from under the desk, “Let go of her!” he shouted.
“Back off,” he pointed the gun at Ray as he pulled me out of the room.
He slammed the door and then pushed me against the wall. He pulled of his
mask and stared at me with bright blue eyes. I blinked a few times.
The boy that stood before me was the last person that I expected to see.
His name was Rob. Rob was a quiet kid that could be a little weird at times. He
would get picked on by others once in a while. I had even stuck up for him now
and then.
“Alex,” he said, “Julian has lost it. You need to talk to him!” He slammed his
fist on the wall, “He’s forcing me and Nick to do this. Damn Alex, I killed a kid. I
don’t know what to do. He says that if Nick and I don’t do this then he will kill us
and our families.”
Julian, this was all Julian’s idea? It didn’t make sense that he would be a
killer, he sat in the back of class and just wished to be ignored. No one ever
bothered him and he didn’t bother anyone. He didn’t do sports or he wasn’t in
any clubs.
“Where is he Rob?” My voice sounded calmer than I was.
“He’s in the gym right now. He said he wanted revenge on the gym
teacher,” he pointed in the direction of the gym.
“Rob, what are you going to do?” I chose my words carefully.
“I don’t know, all right?”
“Come with me.”
“I can’t Alex, I just can’t. He expects me to --” he trailed off.
“Just shoot the gun at a wall or something, you don’t have to shoot anyone,
Rob,” I started to walk down the hall towards the gym. I heard another gun shot
and froze again, “Rob,” I said softly, “Find Nick, tell him that he doesn’t have to
do this. Find Mr. A, a councilor or someone and tell them what Julian is doing to
you and Nick. They will understand ... just ditch the gun first.”
I started walking again and I heard the bell ring. I looked at the clock and
saw that third hour was over. I took a deep breath and walked slowly towards
the gym again.
“Alex,” Rob said, “Be careful, Okay? I don’t want anything happening to you
because I sent you to Julian.”
“Don’t worry, Rob. I’ll be fine,” I turned and smiled at him. I figured this
would be the last time that I saw him.
I reached the gym door and slowly pushed it open. There was a girl
huddled against the wall right there. Many people were laying on the gym floor.
Some were crying, some were bleeding.
I cringed when I saw all the blood. The teacher was sitting against the
bleachers, his shoulder bleeding. A kid dressed in black was standing over the
teacher, staring at him.
“Nick,” I said softly though the door.
He flinched and flipped around, his gun pointing at me. I didn’t really know
what I was doing, I felt numb as I opened the door further to the gym.
“Stop Alex. Stay right there,” his gun shook.
“Nick, how long have you known me? Since like third grade right?” I slowly
made my way toward him, trying not to look at all the blood on the floor.
I heard whimpering and looked down to see a girl and a boy hugging. The
boy’s shirt was wrapped around the girl’s stomach and he had his hand over a
dark red spot. I smiled weakly at him and he smiled back at me.
“Alex, stop it!” his voice was now shaking.
“Nick. Why are you doing this?” I pointed toward the girl, “Why?”
“You don’t understand!” He shot the gun in my direction and I heard
screaming.
“Nick, I know what Julian is doing to you. He’s controlling you. Nick don’t
listen to him. Talk to someone, tell them what he’s doing to you,” I was within a
foot of the tip of his gun.
“Nick,” yelled Rob, “Stop it!”
I turned to see Rob standing with Mr. A and Mr. Brown, a councilor.
“Alex,” Rob said, “Go find Julian, I’ll talk with Nick.”
“No!” roared Nick as he pointed one gun at Rob and one at me, “Shit!” he
yelled at shot at Rob.
There was more screaming and I heard Mr. A’s scream. I looked quickly and
glanced away. He was bleeding badly from his thigh. Rob rushed Nick as I
turned and ran to Mr. A. Mr. Brown was already pressing his hand against the
wound. I took off my sweatshirt and tied it around Mr. A’s leg, tightly.
“I’m going to find Julian,” I smiled as bravely as I could as Mr. A hissed.
Mr. Brown looked at me like he might never see me again. I stood quickly,
not wanting to see the look in his eyes.
I left the gym, wondering around the school, looking for Julian. I heard
some gun shots and screams from the cafeteria. I raced that way, not caring
what would happen to me. I was certain that I was going to die, I just hoped
that I could help someone else.
I reached the cafeteria and heard yelling. I peaked around the corner and
saw Julian. He was wearing three guns on straps and had a machine gun in his
left hand. I leaned against the wall.
I felt numb to the world around me. My heart had stopped pumping a long
time ago, it was now steady. I was no longer shaking, I didn’t feel scared. I no
longer cared that I was going to die. I felt it in every bone that these minutes
were my last.
I took a breath and walked around the corner. I froze as I saw Julian point
the gun at a girl. Sara, she was one of my close friends. He shot her, in the back
of the head and she toppled over. My breath cought in my throat as I watched
my friend get murdered.
“How many?” I yelled angrily, “How many have you killed Julian?”
He flipped around and started at me, his green eyes huge. He almost ran at
me, his gun pointed at me. This action didn’t phase me, I had already had two
guns pointed at me that day. I just watched as he dodged tables and rushed up
the stairs, his gun still pointed at me.
“Alex! What are you doing?” He just kept staring at me, his back clothes
smeared in blood.
“Julian, what are you doing?” I replied.
“I’m getting revenge on these pieces of shit,” he turned and fired the gun
randomly.
I cringed as I heard a girl scream, “Do you know who you just hit?” I asked.
“No, who cares? None of them care!”
“You just hit,” I looked over his shoulder and saw a girl curled on the floor
with three people kneeled around her, trying to help her, “Kara. She is the
president of the environment club. Back in the gym I saw John, he works at a
nursing home.”
“So what are you saying Alex?”
I spat out the first thing that came to mind, “Who do you want revenge on?
People who teased you or people who only want to help people who really need
it?”
“So ... hurt people who hurt me?”
“Yes, those that hurt you the most,” I was crying inside. I was telling Julian
to kill people. I tried to convince myself that only a few people dying was better
then innocent people being shot and killed.
Julian stormed off down the hall as I smiled at Kara, trying to look
confident. “C’mone Alex, you’re coming with me!” he yelled as he turned down a
hall, laughing.
I slowly followed. I spotted him as he whipped open a door down the hall.
Julian waited for me to reach the door before he ran in there. I slowly followed.
“Anyone of these tease you to no end? Anyone here make fun of you?” I
whispered in his ear.
His eyes got huge as he saw one of the football players hiding under a
desk. Julian aimed the gun at him and shot. I closed my eyes and clenched my
fists.
“Next room,” Julian left the room.
One of the kids in the class stormed up to me, “What did you whisper to
him? Did you not see what he just did? He’s dead because of you!” he pointed to
the motionless body under the desk.
Tears streamed down my face, “Do you think I wanted him to do that? Fuck
no!” I wiped my cheek, “Or would you of rather had him come in here and just
randomly shoot people. It’s better to have one person dead than like five!” I
stormed out of the room, tears still streaming down my face.
I leaned against the wall outside the next room and flinched when the gun
sounded. Julian walked out, his eye’s bright and a smile on his face. Just the
sheer joy in his eyes caused more tears to stream down my face.
“Why Julian? Why do you have to kill them?” I said as my eyes closed.
Somewhere far off I heard a bell ring.
His eyes softened for a moment, “Because it’s the only way.”
“No it’s not,” I opened my eyes and looked at the clock, fifth hour was over.
“Yes it is!”
“No, confront them. Tell them that it really pisses you off when they tease
you. Tell one of the councilors what they are doing to you, get help. You don’t
have to kill them.”
“Yes, they need to suffer,” his eyes softened again for only a moment,
“Alex, they need to feel what I do, they deserve this.”
“No,” I said, sobs raking my body, “They don’t.”
“Fine!” he cried, “Then you are just like them! You don’t feel compassion.”
“Julian, when have I ever teased you? When have I made you feel bad
about yourself?”
He thought for a moment, “Never Alex, that’s why I like you. You care
about everyone.”
“And I care about them. I don’t agree with what they do, but they don’t
deserve to die.”
“Yes they do. If I don’t do something to them, then they will just keep
pushing people around and they will keep getting away with it.” He walked off to
the next room, the gun over his shoulder.
I slowly followed and passed the room, once again leaning against the
wall by the door. I saw Rob, Mr. Brown and Ray at the end of the hall, walking
toward me.
“Alex!” Ray yelled as he started to run toward me.
Rob grabbed him before he got to far and they both started behind me at
something. I then felt an arm go around my neck and something round was
being pushed against my temple.
“I’m sorry Alex,” Julian said from behind me softly. He then yelled, “You
take one step closer and she dies, right here, right now!” Rob, Mr. Brown and
Ray all froze as Julian kept yelling, “Get your ass’s back to the gym. Alex and I
will soon follow.”
Slowly they walked backwards toward the gym. Ray was the last to
disappear behind the gym door.
“Almost done Alex! Then off to the gym,” Julian said as he barged into the
next room.
When he walked out I grabbed his arm, “Julian,” I was crying again, “Please
stop this, please!”
“No! They have to suffer!”
“Julian --”
“Alex,” he cut me off, his eyes glaring at me, “If you don’t shut up I’ll have
to do something drastic and I don’t want to do that!”
Each room we went to I refused to go in. I would hear either one or two
shots coming form inside the rooms. We soon got to the gym.
When we walked in the door I felt my stomach protesting to the sight and
smell of all the blood. All the wounded people had been moved to the far corner
of the gym and were being tended to by Mr. Brown. There were three lifeless
body’s in another corner. I watched as another was dragged over with them.
“Julian, now what are you going to do? You have made them suffer. None
of these people have hurt you.”
Julian just looked around the gym, his face glowing.
“Julian, what are you going to do now?”
“Why would I spoil the fun?” he laughed and walked over to the wounded
people.
I just stared after him. He reached the first person and pointed a gun at her
head and killed her. I cried out and ran to where he was. Julian kept laughing.
He shoved me out of the way when I tried to stop him. Two other people tried
to do the same but they ended up with a bullet to the head.
“Julian. Please stop, they have done nothing to you.”
He didn’t hear me, he was consumed with his need to kill. I watched as he
shot and killed half the wounded people lying on the ground. After each one I
would plead and try to make him stop. He refused to listen to me or anyone.
I finally had it. I had decide that I was going to die long ago, so what was
going to change that. I took a deep breath and walked up to Julian. I tapped
him on the shoulder. When he turned around I punched him as hard as I could
once to his nose and once to his eyes.
Julian roared and I ran across the gym. He sprinted after me as I pushed
open the door. I just wanted to get him out of the gym. I could hear the cop
cars outside. Maybe I could get him so mad he would follow me outside.
My adrenaline kicked in when I heard a machine gun going off not far
behind me. I sprinted like I was on the track team and was trying for first place.
I kept telling myself, if something hits me then I am numb. I feel no pain,
nothing can touch me.
Just as I finished that thought, something bit into my arm. I screamed and
forgot about the numb thing momentarily. I heard Julian laughing and I ran like
a bat out of hell. I just kept running down hallways and through doors, hoping
to really turn him around.
I ran into an open door and saw him run by.I turned and looked when I heard some crying. The room was filled with students, hiding under the desk. I smiled at them, reassuringly.
I grabbed the stapler and
looked out into the hall. He had stopped running and was now looking for me. I
waited till his back was turned and I hurled the stapler at him.
Julian flipped around and shot the gun at me. He was so mad that he was
completely off. I figured that I couldn’t get him any more focused on me so I
was going to try and get him to run outside of the building.
I ran as fast as I could toward the front doors, Julian following me while
trying to shoot me. I slammed into the first door and pushed it open. The second
went just the same.
I heard a bell behind me and thought that the school day is over. I stopped
running and walked backward slowly, the police yelling things at me that I didn’t
hear. Julian got through the first doors and then the seconds ones. He shielded
his eyes from the sunlight and saw me, with all the police behind me.
Julian laughed just started to randomly fire the gun. The last thing I
remember seeing was him, swinging the gun around as bullets pierced his body.


I was in the graveyard, attending a ceremony. I smiled when I saw my
parents, Ray and his parents. The whole school was there, attending and there
were many parents there as well. I figured that I was at a funeral of one of the
students. Almost all of the people there were crying as they watched.
I wondered who had died. I slowly waded though the crowd of people until
I was standing right next to the coffin.
I started and couldn’t believe it. On top of the wood coffin was a picture of
me with some flowers. I watched as it was slowly lowered into the ground. I
watched as one by one, each person threw a rose into the grave. Soon only my
parents, Ray and his parents remained. All of them were crying over my grave.
I tried everything to tell them that I was okay, that I was standing right in
front of them. I hugged my mother and kissed my father. I pulled on Ray’s
sleeves, trying to get his attention.
Finally they left, each tossing in a rose. I just sat down, so confused. I was
not dead, I was still living!
I then looked at the grave stone and believed it. It read:

Alexandra Lynn Turner,
Beloved Daughter and Friend,
Hero to all
1986-2005