BANG BANG

The pop of a roaring train echoed through the now empty halls of River Valley High School. A place of learning was now a bloodbath. Highschool students huddled in the corner of their rooms. None of them were certain of what was to happen next.

Towards the back of the school was the old band room. Since the school made budget cuts, those classrooms were abandoned. Sitting in one of the empty rooms was the school's brightest star of academics.

"Please..." The lone student hugged his knees close to his chest while his dark hair fell over his teary eyes. He was clutching onto a pair of rusty scissors in his hands. The thought of an active shooter never crossed his mind.

Surrounding him were four walls of ripped up wallpaper and graffiti. Most students only went into the room to smoke a cigarette. The classroom was supposed to be remodeled but no one knew why it was stopped. Cans of paint and brushes sat upon a sheet spread out on the floor. The windows had a dim light shining through them. Most of them were covered with cloth to avoid any unnecessary lookers.

"Where are you...?" The boy's mind was racing with so many thoughts, it felt like his head would explode.

The sound of footsteps faintly coming towards the classroom caught his attention. There was nowhere left for him to run to. He watched in horror as the footsteps stopped right in front of the classroom door.

The faint still light under the door now had shadows peeking through it. The squeaking door knob slowly turned until the spring popped. There was a sickening feeling of despair welling deep inside his stomach. The wide wooden door opened gently as if someone was intentionally trying to stay quiet.

"Jin..." A head of light brown hair peeped in through the doorway. "Are you in here..?"

The lone student named Jin lifted his head to see his boyfriend. A glimmer of hope became apparent in his eyes. Namjoon was right in front of him, safe and untouched.

"I'm so glad you're safe... A student just walked into the gym and started open firing." Namjoon held the frightened boy in his arms. To calm his lover, he stroked the back of Jin's head.

"Why would someone do such a horrible thing? " Jin couldn't understand how someone could just take a life.

There was no response from Namjoon. He was too focused on listening to his surroundings. The next move they make will determine if they live or die.

" I'm sorry that today sucks so much. But here's a way to make it better." Namjoon turned around and placed his backpack on the ground.

"It's not much..." In Namjoon's hands was a small box that was poorly wrapped up with colorful wrapping paper.

" Maybe now isn't a good time." Jin was touched by the idea of receiving a present. "You know with this whole thing going on." He placed both his hands on Namjoon.

"I know. But let me do this for you." Namjoon took Jins hands then placed them with his palms facing the air.

" Fine. Just please keep an eye out." Jin was taken aback by Namjoon being so determined.

He then carefully opened the box so as to not spill any of its components. Inside was a glass bottle that was the size of a toddlers hand.

"Listen. Inside that bottle is my wish..." Namjoon's cheeks were turning red.

Being romantic was a challenge for him. But it was Jin's 18th birthday. To make the day have more meaning, it was Valentine's day.

"I had a really hard time picking out something for you." Namjoon spoke out loud while avoiding Jin's gaze.

"This was more than enough." replied Jin who then pulled his highschool sweetheart into a tight hug.

"I love you."

SLAM!

The door to the classroom was abruptly opened.

"Stay behind me!" Namjoon pulled Jin behind him while holding a guarded stance.

Jin was now trembling in fear. His hands gripped onto Namjoon for his sense of security. "Why... Why... WHY?!" was the question he kept asking himself.

"Namjoon... I finally found you." The student that stood before the two of them was an unfamiliar face.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" Namjoon interrogated the student before him.

The student's response was to cock his gun. Next he took aim right at the person who ruined his life.

"Shut up! All of this was your fault! You have no one to blame but yourself..." roared a person whose eyes were pure black.

"I'm scared," replied Jin who gripped his lover's shirt even tighter. He watched as a wet substance fell from his cheek onto the ground.

"What's your issue? I don't even know who you are. Just put the gun down." Namjoon yelled, not daring to step any closer.

"You don't remember me?! Manuel. In middle school you pulled a prank on me. Everyone thought that I actually peed my pants." the boy barked at the two cowering lovers.

While peeking out from behind, Jin saw the boy's face.To him, the boy no longer looked like a blood hungry monster. They were broken and wanted to take revenge on the ones who hurt him.

"Namjoon isn't that kind of person! Don't hurt him, I beg you." Jin cried out while emerging from behind his shield. He believed that Namjoon never had bad intentions.

"Oh look, the school's shining diamond in a coal mine. I used to be like you until "he" came into my life." the wrathful boy spat then pointed at Namjoon. " When he was transferred out of our school, the teasing never stopped." The gun in the student's hand was now shaking softly.

"Listen to me. I'm sorry. I never meant for things to ever escalate the way they did. There's more to the story than just what you know." Namjoon never did any of the pranks he was blamed for. His brother was the one who would set him up.

"I don't want to hear your excuses! If that was true, you would've done something about it. There's no going back now. I'm gonna finish what I started." Manuel spoke while wiping his eyes.

"Just let me say goodbye to him. Can you spare us one minute to say goodbye." Namjoon's voice cracked while begging for his last request.

"As much as I despise you, I'm not a monster. Don't even think about trying something." Manuel replied while slightly lowering his gun.

Namjoon turned back to Jin, "We're gonna be together no matter what." His words were just an empty promise.

"Don't do this! Don't leave me. Please. No one has to die." Jin screamed out in desperation. His legs felt weak as if he was going to collapse on himself.

"Hey, crying doesn't suit you." Namjoon cooed then used his thumbs to wipe the tears off Jins face.

"Just trust me and everything will work out. I love you." Once again Jin was fed more empty promises.

Namjoon placed a kiss on the corner of Jin's right eye. Then he turned back to the boy who threatened their lives.

"I would say that I'm a fair person. You can take those scissors and slice your own throat open. If you do, I'll give him a chance to live." The psychotic boy gave Namjoon an ultimatum.

"No! No! No! Please. Anything but that." Jin shook his head while screaming out in desperation and fear. "Let him go and just take me!" His tears were so abundant that he couldn't see clearly anymore.

"I'll do it. If it means that Jin gets to live, I'll die for him. Don't make him watch though." Namjoon turned back to his sobbing lover. "This is already cruel enough."

"You have ten seconds to get him out of this classroom. If you fail, both of you die. Run, you die. Hide, you die. Got it?" Manuel didn't feel it was fair to kill an innocent bystander. This was between only him and Namjoon now.

"Jin, I need you to cooperate with me. I'll force you out if I need to." Namjoon spoke while holding his lover's shoulders.

"No. I won't do it." Jin shook his head and refused to budge. If Namjoon dies, he has no reason to live.

Namjoon knew that his lover would never let this happen. But his life was saved by him. This was the least he could do to repay the burden of being with him.

"Four... Three..." Manuel was counting down from ten as promised.

"I love you." Namjoon gripped onto Jin's arm then threw him out the doorway. "I'm sorry." were the last words to leave his lips.

Jin watched in horror as the door was slammed shut before him. "You lied to me! Let me in!" Jin screeched then started banging on the door.

No matter how hard he pushed, the doorway wouldn't budge. Sounds of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.

"Any students who are unharmed, come out with your hands up!" The police were now here.

BANG!

"Joon!" Jin finally busted through the door. His arm was in intense searing pain. Through his blurry vision, a gruesome scene unfolded.

The boy who threatened their lives was laying dead with his gun. In front of him was Namjoon who was bleeding from his neck. Jin ran and threw his body over Namjoon's corpse while whaling aggressively.

"W-why!? You made a promise to me! You can't leave me like this. P-please don't leave me here alone.. Wake up! Come on!" Jin cried out louder than he has ever done before. Namjoon's eyes were now lifeless and dark.

Jin looked down at the gun on the ground. He was filled with so much grief and regret that he couldn't take it. Things never had to turn out this way...

Jin's hand trembled as he picked the gun off the floor. He then gazed upon his beloved one last time.

"I love you, Namjoon."

Bang!

"Jin! Stop!"

A lone student ran into the classroom in that final moment. But they were too late in the end.