Chapter 57: School Shooting

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In a helicopter, a TV anchor was reporting while seated, looking at the cameraman in front of her, and speaking to the camera:

"We are flying over the school where gunfire was heard coming from inside the classrooms. So far, we've received several videos from students trapped inside, pleading for help. And you may ask, where are the local authorities to respond to this incident?"

The camera then shifts to a two-story school building (I won't specify which one to avoid inspiring or encouraging anyone to do something similar or related). Then, the cameraman changes the focus back to the reporter's face as she nudges him and starts speaking:

"We have just received information that the SWAT team, along with local police, has been dispatched. They are working on negotiation plans with the shooters, who we've identified as two students from the same school. The reason behind this sudden attack by the students is still unknown." (Bullying, which has always existed, wasn't taken as seriously back then as it is today with various campaigns addressing it, but it was always present, albeit veiled).

After a few minutes, SWAT trucks arrived and surrounded the building.

"Connor, aren't you going to help Leonard? He seems to be struggling," Paige said, placing her hand on her chin and circling her finger around the rim of her coffee mug while looking at the computer.

Connor, lazily lying on the couch with two giant eagles perched on the back of it, looked at Mike, who was sleeping on his chest, and replied:

"He can handle it on his own. I don't think anything serious will happen… Wow, these kids sure know how to be cruel," Connor said as he glanced at the tablet in his hand, which was showing footage from a classroom where many students were gathered.

Inside the classroom, a group of students was tied to chairs while others were bound with cable ties on the floor.

A skinny boy, armed with a tactical AR-15, wearing a black vest and a skull mask, looked out of the window, opening a gap in the blinds to peek outside. Then he turned to his heavier companion, who was holding an M1014 and watching the door.

"We need to hurry. The police might already be inside the school! Did you bring what I asked for?" the skinny boy asked his heavier companion.

Nodding in agreement, the heavier boy put his gun on the ground, removed his backpack, and rummaged through it. After a few seconds, he pulled out a semi-transparent white container and handed it to the skinny boy.

"Perfect," the skinny boy said with a look of satisfaction, mimicking the expression from the Brazilian meme "Satisfação Aspira."

The skinny boy then walked over to the group of students tied to chairs (resembling a game of musical chairs), sat in one of the chairs, facing them, and began speaking:

"You know, I want to play a game. A very popular game in a certain country. Perhaps you've heard of it… or maybe not," he said, standing up and walking toward a specific student who was glaring at him intensely.

He stopped, crouched in front of the student, lightly patting his head, and spoke:

"I like your look. It reminds me of myself a few days ago—anger, recklessness, and… helplessness. Unable to retaliate against the aggression inflicted on me. But everything changed. One fine day, I looked in the mirror, and honestly, I didn't like what I saw. Bruises, scars, and wounds molded my body into something so ugly… so hideous that even my mother couldn't bear to look at me."

The blonde student being questioned suddenly seemed to realize something upon hearing these words. He began struggling violently against his restraints.

"So, you've recognized me, haven't you?" the skinny boy said with a mocking tone.

"Then I don't need this anymore," he said, removing the mask that concealed his face. It revealed a boy with dark eyes, short curly hair, and several scars on his cheeks and lips.

Among the tied-up group, there were audible gasps of recognition. They clearly knew who he was.

"Let's start the game. The rules are simple: I'll place some containers of similar colors side by side. If you can guess the liquid inside, I'll release one of your classmates. If you guess wrong, one of them will die," he said while dragging a table over and arranging the containers in a row.

Then, he approached the blonde student again and said:

"So, Jonny, are you ready to play the game?" as he removed the tape from Jonny's mouth.

"You bastard! Don't think you'll get away with this. The cops will catch you, lock you up, and in prison, you'll become someone's bitch, just like I made you mine, you piece of trash!" Jonny spat out, laughing maniacally.

The skinny boy's face turned cold at Jonny's words. Without hesitation, he pulled out a pistol, aimed it at a girl tied up next to Jonny, and fired.

Bang

The girl jerked from the kinetic force of the shot. She slumped in her chair, gasping for her last breaths, staring at the boy with the pistol in disbelief before the light faded from her eyes.

Fury overtook the skinny boy. Veins bulged on his neck as he slapped Jonny hard across the face and shouted:

"You think I'm joking with you?! You think this is some kind of sick joke, you scum?!"

He then started punching Jonny repeatedly, his rage unrelenting.

"I've had enough. I'm not playing games anymore," he said, grabbing one of the containers from the table and forcing its contents down Jonny's throat.

Jonny struggled to breathe as the liquid coursed through his system. His heartbeat accelerated, and within moments, his eyes rolled back, and his body went limp.

Turning to his heavier companion, who had already picked up his weapon, the skinny boy said, "Kill them all."

The heavier boy nodded in confirmation. Together, they raised their weapons, aiming at the crying and desperate students.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!