River Burns

River Burns

Chapter Ten

It was like the sky fell away that night and everything hidden behind it came crashing down. The lighting was dark with a harsh blue hue haunting over it, a mist of frightening smells and the sounds of sirens coming closer from the near by city Hartford and the river sitting right behind the building was filling as tears streamed and what was suppose to be a wonderful night became one filled with horror stories.

“Are you saying this young man just shot randomly?” A harsh male voice dressed in police garb said looking around the empty school and back again at two pairs of Caribbean blue eyes. “I’m saying he came in this school with intent to shoot people!” Noah Scott bellowed outrageously his arms flying as a group of EMT’s were crowded around his best friend’s lifeless body. “With intention to kill?” “Well since that’s what a gun usually does then yes!” The cop shook his head as an older looking policeman walked up his beard short giving him a look of wise.

“Ben Taylor did you know him?” He said now looking at Katie Scott as she stood next to her older brother her eyes drawn to the puddle of blood drawn on the floor now that Nate Westerfelds body had been lifted up onto a gurney. “Katherine?” He questioned sternly looking down at his clipboard. “Is he going to be okay?” Her voice was firm and surprising to both Noah and the two cops as they began to attach a breathing tube to Nate. “He can breathe right? He’s alive isn’t he? Noah?” Her voice was quickly becoming erratic.

“You’re going to need to calm down miss… I understand that its…” “Calm down? How am I suppose to calm down when Nate isn’t moving? After he tried to save my life. And your over here asking me if I knew Ben Taylor? Who gives a shit if we knew him he brought a gun in this school and shot people, then shot himself! He’s a shellfish bastard!” Noah quickly took his sister into a hug as tears streamed down her face Sarah Taylor sitting silently in the corner on a bench looking on at the crowd as her parents were sure to be out of town once again.

The EMT’s began to push the gurney with Nate’s lifeless body towards the door as a second and third bed came running down the hall way, one with a quick moving body of Carrie Abrams her leg bleeding obviously and the second one with a quiet body of Serena Allen her best friend grabbing onto the railing of the rolling bed her dress covered with blood of no doubly someone else’s. “Serena…” Noah whimpered quietly as he let go of his sister and raced to the bed. “Serena!” Charlotte-Marie Myers balled helplessly as she held onto her pale hand. “Let me stay with her!” The EMT hardly answered her before rushing her body out to the flashing lights of ambulances.

“What happened?” Noah questioned before Charlotte fell into his arms. It wasn’t long till another stream of people from the auditorium came rushing into the police investigation the Scott’s among them and Caleb Slater not too far behind as his twin sister sat in the same place she had been since the bullet nearly missed her head. “Hayles.” Caleb muttered squatting down next to Hayley Slater her hair redder with blood that was unknowingly on her hand after running it through her short bob.

“We would like to bring her to the hospital.” The younger looking cop said appearing by their side. “Is this your blood?!” Caleb cried as Hayley barely shook her head staring down at the pool of blood next to Ben Taylor’s lifeless body that was currently under precautions by the authorities and hospital.

“This is your fault Caleb!” Katie screamed out as the two twins were rushing by her as she stood alone the structure good looking face turned round slowly his blonde hair a mess. “If you just could have told everyone your gay then Nate never would have been in this hallway! He never would have thought we were sleeping together and Serena never would have came looking for us. This is your fault, the blame lies on you!” She was screaming by now and her father was tugging back on her hands from behind Mr. Scott looking solemn as always as if nothing fazed him ever.

“Come on Katie.” Charlotte said kindly grabbing Katie’s hand as Mr. Scott stood behind his daughter doing virtually nothing except standing there like he was suppose with no support to offer. “Were going to the hospital.”

The White SAAB had only three people in it but was filled to capacity of emotion, of memories and worries. It was like nothing mattered anymore, everything that had changed and all the hate exposed didn’t seem to make a difference their friends were hurt no matter how they really felt or revealed, things had changed again a split moment and this was for life or death. “H-he didn’t hurt you Katie?” Noah finally asked breaking the silenced as he pulled off the highway in Hartford looking in the rearview mirror at his sister.

“No.” She responded. “I’m sure he’s fine.” Charlotte said even softer crosser her arms. “I’m sure everyone is fine.” Noah responded sternly as if he could knock out any questioning circumstances in their mind with a few harsh words. “I wouldn’t be so sure.” Katie muttered so softly under her breath as if she were talking to Nate who could only hear in his mind as they pulled up to the emergency room parking lot.

“Hi did Serena Allen and Nathanial Westerfeld arrive yet?” Noah asked as calmly as he could possibly sound. “Family only sir.” The nurse responded one mutedly without even looking up from her desk. “Alright did either of their fathers arrive yet?” The nurse looked at a separate list and shook her head. “Then the girl wearing her blood and the mother of his child will have to do wont they!?” Noah said rising his voice for the first time the whole night loosing her cool setting the nurse off guard and waving the two girls along. “Wait just a moment for you sir.” Noah smile reluctantly at Charlotte and Katie as they rushed along the hallway.

“Shit.” Katie squiled quietly as she walked into the dark room to see a still body sitting in the chair next to the silent bed. “I didn’t know you were here…” She trailed off at she stared at the white blonde headed Honor Westerfeld staring at her lifeless brother. “How is he?” “He’s stable… they won’t know more till his tests come back in the morning.” Honor finally replied quietly choking in the tears. “Were you there Kate?” She asked as the youngest Scott shuffled into the room quietly.

“I-I think he tried to save me.” Honor laughed in a bittersweet sort of way. “You know he didn’t come home this year because of you, he was so sure you would have moved on.” Katie rolled her eyes even in the dark Honor knew. “I don’t know why you guys couldn’t make it work, you had your reasons and I’m sure in some twisted way so did he but still…you made him very happy.” Katie stood there quietly feeling stupid and overwhelmed all at once. “I should probably go, I just figured someone should be here for him but since you’re, I’ll…” she rambled slowly backing towards the door. “I’ll call you when he wakes up.” Honor called quietly as Katie wondered out into the hallway.

“How is he?” Noah Scott called walking down the hallway calmly rolling his eyes as his younger sister left the room. “He’s still unconscious, they won’t know more till they get the test results back.” Noah nodded as if he had gone through his many times before. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Noah asked wrapping his arms around her meek shoulders. “I really don’t want to think about it.”

Almost to the immediate next door to Nate’s room was an horrific cry out of noise and soft muffle noise of apologies. “I’m sorry but I’ve already said too much, your going to have to leave until her immediate family arrives.” “Charlotte… Charlotte come here.” Noah cooed standing outside of Serena’s room. “What happened?” “They don’t know if she is going to wake up No.” Suddenly as the brunette fell into his arms Noah could feel his lungs stiffen. “A coma?” Katie quivered as she suddenly saw the Slater twins at the end of the hallway. Far away from Knights Ridge and things seemed worse then before, the river wasn’t there to help comfort and it still was giving third degree burns.