IN THE BACKSTAGE
” Please don’t freak out, Em. I will explain it. Don’t tell anyone.” Pearl pleaded with fear in her eyes.
” Say it now. Why there’s a gun here? I’m still freaking out.” I lowered my voice this time.
” This is a real gun. We are supposed to bring one duplicate gun for the play. You have probably seen it in the play. The main female character tried to use it for self-defence but didn’t pull the trigger.”
” So, are you saying that she used a real gun in a school play?”
” Yeah. She bought them here. But something wrong happened in her house. The real ones and duplicate got switched and then we couldn’t tell the teachers at the last moment. So, we carefully used it. I’m just keeping it until she comes back and takes it with her.” Pearl explained.
” You got to be kidding me, Pearl. You all should have told the teachers. It’s not safe to have a gun in school. Anything can happen. What if something bad happened in the play? It would have caused death and a bad reputation for our high school.”
” I know. But we made through it. She might come at any minute. Then we got no problem. I believe so.” Peal said, looking at the gun. ” It’s better if it stays hidden.” She added and hid the gun with some clothes on it.
” We should stay here and watch it till the girl comes back,” I told her and stood in the same place facing the area where the gun is hidden. Suddenly, I heard Ryder’s high pitch voice behind me.
” Emily, move,” before I could react to his warning, someone pushed me down. I fell on the ground, as my chin hit the floor. I turned back to see that I was pushed by Ryder. My eyes moved to the next person who’s next to Ryder.
Patrick.
I didn’t even expect him here neither I thought we were closer to me all this time. Then my eyes travelled down to look at the horrible scene. Patrick is holding a knife in his hands. He would have stabbed me right here if it’s not for Ryder. Ryder pushed me away and grabbed the knife with his hands. His hand is bleeding.
” This isn’t happening. You can’t harm here without crossing me, Patrick. You are wasting all your time, grieving for a girl who doesn’t care about anyone and seeking for purposeless revenge.” Ryder silently said as anger flashed in Patrick’s eyes. Some girls and boys have already left backstage and there are only a few students here who are afraid to move their body.
Ryder is injured. Somehow, I’m the reason again. ” Get up, Em. We have to get out of here.” Pearl helped me up.
” No, I’m not leaving without Ryder. We have to do something.” I panicked and turned back to look at the exit doors. But it’s locked. Some boys in the mask are standing next to it. I know Patrick would go to any level to kill me. But I didn’t expect, he would try to do it in school.
” Why can’t you accept that you set my house on fire? You planned everything and you did it all. You ruined my life. You betrayed me. And I’m not giving up without ruining your life.” Patrick shouted.
” No one is getting out of here unless I have my revenge back. If you aren’t ready to accept the truth, I will kill everyone in this room. I won’t even hesitate to do that. I don’t care about going to jail too.” He added, pointing his knife at everyone, especially me.
” You want me to accept it, huh. I won’t.” Ryder stubbornly said.
” Don’t test his temper, Ryder. What if he killed the others? I can rather take that pain.” I approached him and said which sounded stupid to him.
” Do you think I will hand over you to him, Emily? He became a psycho since he lost Emma. I’m not going to lose you for this psycho. I already suffered a lot because of him.” Ryder firmly said. My eyes are still on his hands while listening. He defiantly needs a bandage but how we are going to get out of here. There’s not even a single teacher here and no one could enter now.
” Everyone hand over your phones. I’m not letting you call anyone.” Patrick ordered as his one of his boy collected all of the student’s phone. He’s beating the students who are refusing to give their phone. He’s going to collect my phone too.
” Pearl, Call the police. We still have time. Do it now.” I whispered to her. Sweat is dripping over my head in stress. She nervously took her phone and about to unlock it. But I can cause a little distraction so Patrick and his psycho friends won’t notice us.
” Hey, I know you think Ryder betrayed you. But will you believe it, if we have any proof that Ryder didn’t do it?” I asked Patrick in a loud voice.
” I will but I know you don’t have proof.” He said without believing my words.
” What are you saying, Emily? I don’t even have any proof.” Ryder shockingly looked at me.
” There’s a way. He has been friends with Emma for a long time. You must have known her friends. Call any one of them. I know everyone will be in school since the play got over a few minutes ago. Do you have any number?” I asked him.
” Yeah, I do have it but I haven’t talked with them in ages.”
” It’s okay. Call them.” I urged him.
” Are you trying to over smart me? I know you will call the police or our school teacher staffs to come here.”