A bright sun illuminated the morning sky, birds chirping to their own tune already wide awake though a blanket of misty fog rolled over the city. I finally wake up, glaring at the open windows through which sunrays invaded my slumber.

Gosh, it gets so annoying when you are trying to sleep.

I threw my blankets off of me almost dragging myself to the bathroom. The ice-cold shower helped me wake up enough to get dressed well enough for school –though most of my wardrobe was now on the floor. I checked myself out in the mirror; a plain white tank top with a fluorescent pink cardigan, light blue rolled up jeans and white vans seemed quite a choice.

I finally made my way down the stairs, only to be engulfed by the aroma of my favourite oatmeal.

I sat down to eat as my mom read the newspaper in front of her. "You took all the hot water," I begin after having a bite, "again."

"Sorry," My mom shrugged, equally serious about this as I was.

"It's OK, just don't let it happen again" I mimicked her.

"Keep talking like that and I'll make sure I do it again, Anne." She looked over the paper seemingly stern before we both burst out laughing. 

I grabbed my backpack after I was done, rushing out of the door as my bus honked repeatedly, the driver grouchy as always. I walked to the end of the bus, seating myself at the end before I plugged in my earphones, letting the rest of the world fade away as popular songs played into my ears.

I went straight to first period once I got to school–sadly; I had science, with the most monotonous teacher in the world. Such a perfect way to begin a long day at school! Note the sarcasm.

Since I've got nothing much to do till the class settles down, I'll tell you about Mrs. Davidson. Long brown hair tied up in a bun, black glasses the size of divers goggles, a 'death stare' that seems to stare into your soul and of course- the students choice award for the world's most boring teacher. And to top it all off, she's wearing a white buttoned blouse that's tucked into a pale green high-waist skirt that frankly makes her look like a nightmare.

"Drop your homework in the tray, class." She droned.

I heard a couple of my classmates–who are classified rumor making attention seekers- talking about a criminal on the loose in town. Did I mention they're rumor makers?

The day dragged on till lunch when I finally get to sit with my friends at the front of the lunchroom, waiting for the lengthy line of hungry students to die down a bit before we got our lunch. I was normally the one who'd start a conversation, but one of them beat me to it, starting to rant about the escaped criminal.

Every single person in this school has been talking endlessly about the same thing and it's starting to reach a point way beyond annoying.

I excused myself, deciding I'd rather wait in line than listen to their tales. Limited options as always and even more so considering half of it looked less than appetising, I ordered my daily meal; chicken with a roll of bread and milk.

I was going back to my friends table when I heard a loud bang. A horrendous ringing started, it was so loud I couldn't hear anything else. I looked around to see that the teacher who was supposed to be watching over us had been shot and was now lying on the ground, bleeding.

Students were screaming, crying, running around–it was utter chaos. None of us knew what to do. How is anyone supposed to know what to do in a situation like this? We never practiced for anything like this! The town was so small, this was the first time anything like this has ever happened here, so the school had never prepared.

You could hear the principal on the overhead, trying her best to bring in order, asking everyone to hide and lock themselves in.

Where were we supposed to go? The gunman was with us in the same room. We were being held hostage, and they were gonna let us fend for ourselves...

I realize the man must be the escaped prisoner and my eyes scan the room, trying to find him as if out of instinct. I froze when I realized one of my friends was being held at gunpoint. Katie. I could see it in her eyes that she knew she wouldn't make it. My eyes prickled as a tear fell from them, hearing my friend pleading for her lives.

Katie was crying by now, her straight red hair framing her pale face, her green eyes filled with tears as she tried to pry away the criminal's hands from the chokehold he had around her neck.

"Quiet!" The criminal snapped, making her break out into a wail.

I couldn't let him kill her, she had so much to live for, but I can't just take the gun out of his hand....

"Please, don't!" I blurted, reaching out to the criminal. He looked at me and a smirk grew upon his face, he then looked back at Katie, then at me again.

"Well, what do we have here?" He seemed amused, "Someone's trying to stand up for this piece of trash!"

I bristled. How could he say that about Katie? "Just please, don't hurt her."

What am I going to do?

After a few seconds, I begin to hear "What is she doing?" "She's crazy!" "She's going to get herself killed!" fill the air. I realize I've moved from my spot, my food tray still in hand.

What am I doing?

The gunman cocked his gun at me as a warning. I was shocked still for a second, but I knew deep down, that any moment, he could shoot at Katie, so I started walking forward as if I had a death wish. Fear fills me with every step.

Am I seriously doing this? He could shoot me any second now.

I'm not suicidal, I guess I'm just one of the few who'll literally die for their friends.

He fires three shots, surprising me. I look around to find out where he'd shot, only to see that everyone was looking at me in shock; staring, some even fumbled to record the scene. I looked down at myself, confused, before I found the three bullets had hit me.

What the heck? How come I can't feel anything? How come I am not bleeding? How come I'm not on the ground on the verge of death?

Thoughts raced through my mind, I want to scream, but I can't.

What's happening to me, why am I not dead?!

After a few seconds of gathering myself and making it seem like I wasn't at all freaked out, I started towards the gunman again. I inched closer to what could be death up until I was only a few inches from him.

He seemed like he was still in shock from what he's just witnessed. I'd be lying if I'd said I wasn't, but I was better at hiding it. We make eye-contact; he rushes to cock his gun again. I want to stop, but my feet seem to be moving on their own accord. You could see the fear in his eyes flood onto his face.

He swallows loudly as I get closer, the sound of metal clashing against the tile ringing through the deathly silent room. He lets go of Katie, stepping back, his eyes only on me as she runs back to someone, crying into their shoulder.

He scrambles away from me as I keep walking ahead, the fear on his face is one of a person watching a horror movie come alive. I pick the gun up, aiming it at him, my finger on the trigger. I knew I was ready to kill him if he moved until the police arrived.

After the police had taken the gunman away–he seemed rather grateful to leave- a police officer came up to me, "Are you alright?"

Truth is, I don't know that myself...