Secrets The Walls Hide

"Now, Miranda, are you sure you and your friends will be alright by yourselves for the weekend?"1

"Of course, mom." answered Miranda. "We are seventeen, ya know?"2

"Of course I do." Mrs. Jones replied, smiling at the teenager.3

"Besides," said another of the teens, "The weather is, like, supposed to be totally clear. And you have an alarm system."4

"Yeah..." the woman trailed off. "Now, Miranda - you, Stacy, and Amy all have my number in case of an emergency."5

"Like, of course," answered Stacy, "even though Amy has her headphones on....she, like, never even takes them off!"6

From outside, the sound of a car horn echoed into the house.7

"Bill never had any patience. I guess I better not keep him waiting. I'll see you in a couple of days, sweetie. And remember to call if something happens."8

As Mrs. Jones turned to walk away, Miranda leaned over and kissed her cheek.9

"I will. Love you, mom."10

Mrs. Jones went to the door, and as she pulled it open, she heard her daughter call out, "Have fun on your trip!" The woman turned just enough to see the three teens, and gave them a small wave before pulling the door shut.11

Miranda listened as the vehicle pulled out of the driveway, then turned to survey her two friends. Stacy had opted to wear her usual favorite white shirt, with khaki shorts on below. The girl stood toying with her blond hair, twisting it around her index and middle fingers.12

Amy wore a teal tank-top, radically different from her usual band tees. She still, however, wore one of her pairs of pants from Hot Topic, black with orange threading along the seams, and handcuff chains dangling from the buckles. A thin black cord trailed up from her pockets, splitting just below her chin. One end traveled up under her brown hair, no doubt resting over her ear. The other, however, hung uselessly near her waist.13

Amy looked curiously at Miranda.14

"So...what should we do first?" she asked.15

"I say scary movie and pizza!" Miranda answered, a grin spreading across her face.16

"Yeah! Lets, like, watch Halloween!" said Stacy.17

"Alright, you guys, go set up in the living room. I'll order the pizzas."18

Amy and Stacy walked down the hallway, Amy taking off the other headphone and turning her IPod off. Miranda pulled out her cell phone, and dialed in a number. She turned, and saw herself in the hallway mirror. She wore blue jeans and a black short-sleeved shirt. Ebony hair fell straight around her smooth face to spill over her shoulders, going on about an inch before coming to an end. Turquoise eyes stared back from the parallel universe of the reflective glass.19

"This is Dominoes, how can I help you tonight?" asked a male voice.20

"Um, yes, I would like to order one large pepperoni pizza and one medium pizza with everything...Oh, and two boxes of your buffalo chicken kickers!"21

"Will you be picking that up? Of are we delivering tonight?"22

"We need it delivered." Miranda answered.23

"And what is your address, miss?"24

"1307 Sycamore Road."25

"Oh, wow, you really live far out there, don't ya? Well, I'd say we can have it delivered in about forty-five minutes to an hour. Will that be a problem?"26

"No, that's just fine."27

"Alright, well that'll cost you twenty-five dollars."28

"Sure. See ya."29

Miranda flipped the phone shut, sliding it back into her pocket. She sighed, pushing the bangs of her hair out of her face, and walked into the living room. Amy and Stacy were sprawled out on the couch, facing the TV.30

Crack!31

Miranda jumped. In the movie, young Michael Meyers was beating up some kid in the woods. Miranda could feel her heart racing, but her pulse quickly returned to normal. The teen walked into the room, and sat down in her dad's green leather recliner, lying back in the comfortable chair.32

"Amy, I know you love spicy food as much as I do. So, I ordered us some buffalo chicken kickers!"33

"That's great...Stace keeps getting scared. She won't shut up..."34

"Stop lying!" Stacy shouted. Then, quieter, she said, "I am NOT scared!"35

"Whatever..." Amy replied, then turned and winked to Miranda. Miranda gave her a smile, then turned towards the movie.36

Michael Meyers was in the mental institute. That crazy doctor was talking to him. Masks...everywhere...37

"Oh my God, someone is in the house!" Stacy screamed!38

Miranda's eyes suddenly flooded with light. She lept from her chair, but in the momentary grogginess of just waking, Miranda tripped over her own feet, falling down and hitting the ebony carpet, a thud resounding in the living room.39

The teen just lay there, sprawled out on the soft floor, as she heard laughter from her friends. Her momentary fright turned into rage. She bounded up from her resting point, spinning around to face the two. She was about to unleash a torrent of obscenities when Stacy stopped laughing so hard and spoke up.40

"I got you, like, so good."41

Miranda was stunned. She tried to reply, but none of her words were coming out right.42

"I should have stopped her, I know,", started Amy, "but I'm glad I didn't! I haven’t laughed like that in forever!"43

Miranda turned slightly and glared at the other girl. She cleared her throat, and then gave her reply.44

"That was so wrong."45

Stacy burst out in another fit of laughter, while Amy just watched a slight smile on her face. From the front door came the ring of the doorbell.46

"I'll get it.", Miranda said. "And Amy, try calming the banshee down while I'm gone.47

Amy started laughing again at the comment, while Stacy remained blissfully unaware in her shrieks of joy.48

Miranda walked to the front door, calming herself down. She pulled open the door, looking upon the delivery boy with four boxes stacked together in his left hand.49

"That'll be twenty-five dollars."50

Miranda pulled out a ten and twenty dollar bill, the pizza boy snatching it up greedily. She took the boxes from his hand, and after thanking him, shut the door. She punched in the security number on the alarm system, locking the door as she did so, and turning. She walked down the hall, but instead of going back to the living room, she turned a door early, walking into the kitchen, She set the boxes down on the marble island counter, then leaned against the counter. She listened as Stacy's laughter finally came to an end. Then she turned back to the food. She pulled open the boxes, letting the aroma of freshly cooked food wash past her face. She inhaled deeply, a smile growing on her lips. She was about to grab a slice of pizza when the doorbell rang.51

"Hey, come help yourself. I need to go get the door!"52

She listened to the scuffle of feet as she walked out of the room, and walked back to the front door.53

"Must be the pizza boy again...Maybe he wants to give me back my change...?"54

She disarmed the alarm system, then unlocked and opened the door.55

"You know, you can keep the -"56

Miranda suddenly stopped speaking. Three people stood before her, all dressed in black. The one with the long blond hair and afternoon shadow spoke up.57

"Mind if we come in for dinner?"58

Miranda just stood, stunned, words failing her. The one that had spoken started towards her, and Miranda began to slowly back away. The man tried to grab for her, and she fell backwards, screaming. The man dived towards her, falling on to her with all of his weight. She was now pinned down, and he put his hand over her mouth, preventing her from screaming again.59

"Now, then, if I take my hand away from your mouth, you better not scream. If you do, I will kill you." The man said in a deep voice. He pulled a revolver from his pocket, bringing it into view to show that he wasn't lying. He replaced his gun, and removed his hand.60

"You know, Miranda," Stacy began, "you can't get me right after I got you. I'm not falling for it!"61

"So, your name is Miranda." the man said, smiling. "Now, let's see if we can't get along. Say something to them."62

"Yeah, I guess I can't fool you, Stacy!" Miranda's voice was shaky, but she steadied it as best she could, fearing the wrath of the person who was crushing her against hardwood tile. She took in a gasp of air, struggling to breathe with the weight of her captor bearing on her chest.63

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, fright in her eyes.64

The man removed most of his body weight from her, but continued to pin her arms down.65

"Tell them you need them to go to another room. We need them out of the way. That is, if you want them to live through the night."66

He smiled as the teenager cringed at the words, then removed himself completely from her, freeing her arms. 67

"Oh, and before I forget..."68

The man pulled her close, reaching into her pocket and pulling out her cell phone.69

"You have no need for this. Now, figure out what to do with them. And remember what I'll do if you pull anything." The man winked at her, a grin on his face. The other two men had filed in by this time, and had pulled the door shut and locked it. One of them had messy dirty blond hair, falling all over his face and head. Before she could get a look at the other one, the lead guy snapped his finger.70

"Alright, you come," Miranda motioned for the lead man to move to a spot around the corner, close to the door, "where they won't see you. And you two follow me." The teen started to lead the other two slowly down the hall, careful that none of them made a noise.71

The messy-haired man leaned forward, sniffing Miranda's hair. She felt shivers run up and down her back as he breathed on her neck.72

"You smell very good." the man said, a crooked-toothed grin spreading over his face.73

"Stop, we have a job to do!" the other said, pulling his counterpart back. "Now, Miranda, please lead the way."74

The girl led them another few feet to a small sitting room. She moved them to where they were hidden around the door, in the shadows.75

"Now, I'm gonna lead my friends in here, and you can lock us in as you wish. Just don't hurt any of us."76

"Whatever.", said the second man, looking back towards the one with the dirty-blond hair. "Just hurry."77

The girl pulled herself together, then walked the ten feet from the sitting room to the kitchen. Amy and Stacy stood around the island counter, eating their fill.78

"Hey, guys, I just remembered...My dad wanted me to move the couch in the sitting room to the empty wall, so he can put a shelf up. Can you come help?"79

"But, we just started eating. Aren't you hungry?"80

"Yeah, but we need to hurry up and get this done real quick. We can eat when we're done."81

"Sure. But, I hope you don't think you'll scare me and Stace with this trick, either!" Amy said, part taunting her friend.82

Miranda led her friends the short distance to the sitting room, and let them go in first. She watched them be pushed onto the couch by the two men she had led into the room. Stacy screamed loudly, hurting Miranda's ears. Amy looked like she was about to cry, but kept quiet. Miranda felt tears welling up in her eyes as she saw her friends look at her with pleading eyes.83

"I'm sorry, guys. I don't have a choice." Miranda bowed her head down. She jumped when she felt a hand close over her shoulder.84

"I guess you're not as useless as I thought." came the voice of the blond man. His grip tightened, and he pushed Miranda into the room. She sat down in the chair next to the couch, and watched as the man pulled the door shut behind him. The next moment, he ripped the revolver from his pocket. Stacy let out another shriek of terror, but Amy just stared at the metallic killing device. 85

"Now, I assume you ladies have cell phones..." began the man. "Give them to me now!"86

He fired a shot into the air, a rather large hole appearing in the ceiling. Stacy pulled her phone from her pocket, and pretty much threw it at the gunman. He lifted his free hand into the air in front of his face, catching the plastic device with ease.87

"Alright, that was an over-reaction. Now, you, my other young lady. And please don't throw it at me."88

Amy slowly pulled her cell phone from her pocket, placing it on the floor and kicking it towards the man. He bent down and picked it up.89

"Now, I will try to be as clear as I can with you." the leader said. "There is something in this house we want. And I expect you play like good little girls and stay put in her while we go about our business. And, as I explained to my good friend Miranda, if you try anything funny, I WILL kill you where you stand. No second chances! Now, are we clear?"90

Miranda watched as the two girls sat, Amy perfectly stilled and Stacy crying.91

"I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"92

"YES!" both girls cried out.93

"Good. Now, to ease things, you can think of me as Baron. This messy looking man by the door is Jack, and the young man behind me is Micah. Obviously not our real names, either."94

Baron gave the girls a smile. Then he turned to Micah.95

"Hold on to these cell phones. I am gonna have my hands completely full."96

Micah took the devices, sliding them in various empty pockets on his jacket. Baron turned towards Miranda.97

"You are staying with us. I'm sure we'll find use for you."98

Miranda started to open her mouth to reject the idea, but a certain piece of gleaming steel with a long barrel still sat in the hand of Baron, and she had no desire to be blood on the walls and a body on the floor. She slowly got up, and filed out of the room. Micah and Jack followed her out. Now, only Amy, Stacy, and Baron stood in the small sitting room.99

"You'll be locked in. If you want to live to see morning, I suggest you keep quiet like good children should."100

He smiled, and then stepped out of the room as well, closing it behind him. Stacy looked at Amy, hopeful she might have a plan, but was met with a blank, teary-eyed stare. She turned to face the door, but before she could even think to try to get out, she heard something heavy sliding across the hard wood floor. Her last hope died when, whatever the item in question was, was slammed against the door. She broke down in a fresh bout of crying.101

Miranda watched as Micah and Jack treaded down the hall, and walked into the dining room, between the kitchen and the living room. Baron's hand again came to rest on her shoulder and he guided her to the room his friends had just entered. He pushed her down into the chair, and turned and left the room.102

She flinched as Jack moved close to her, and began to whisper into her ear.103

"You're lucky I have a job to do, girly. Otherwise, this night would already be even worse for you."104

"Jack, leave her alone. You don't want to make my brother mad."105

"Yeah...." Jack stepped back from Miranda, brushing some of the hair out of his face.106

A moment later, Baron returned, several new items in hand. He carried in three sledge hammers and a buzz saw.107

"Now, boys, we have a job to do!"108

He handed the buzz saw to Micah. The younger man walked over to the wall, plugging the tool in. He then walked back other, looking at the wall that connected the dining room to the kitchen. After a few moments, he pulled a marker from another of his pockets, drawing a line on the wall, turned on the tool, and began sawing through the hardwood.109

Now that she was just sitting, and in a better-lit room, she could make out the features of Micah more easily. The man was clean shaven, with short, spiked black hair. Other than that, he was nearly identical to Baron in appearance. Both of them had green eyes. She looked over at Jack, seeing his dull hazel eyes. After a few more rounds of drawing a line on the wall and then sawing along it, Micah pulled a square of the wall out, revealing cinder blocks on the inside of the wall. All three men picked up their sledge hammers, and began slamming them against the concrete rectangles that were stacked and stuck together. After a moment, all three of them stopped, setting down their tools. They had barely put a small crack in the wall. Baron turned back towards her, a smile on his face.110

"I believe I saw a pizza boy leaving before we came in. What say you and I go and get the dinner, and bring it in here?"111

Miranda nodded, and stood. The man's hand, lightly gripping, reappeared on her shoulder. He guided her around the doorway, walking the short distance to the kitchen. He stopped her in the doorway, surveying the kitchen first. Several sharp objects were in the open. Baron released his grip on the girl's shoulder, pulling out the gun and pressing the barrel into the back of Miranda's head.112

"Now. I want you to walk in, close the boxes of food, and bring them back to the dining room. If you so much as glance at a knife, I'll drop you in your spot."113

The girl shivered, jerking forward, pulling her head away from the barrel. Her stomach was twisting into knots from the experience, and she felt the snack she had eaten before her friends arrived starting to make its way up her throat. She forced the food back down, and walked in. As Baron had asked, she picked up all the food. She slowly walked back to him. He reaffirmed his grip on her arm, and guided her back to the dining room. When he let go, the girl reassumed her seat, setting the boxes down on the table in front of her.114

"Alright, let's all of us eat real quick!"115

Smiles lit up the faces of Micah and Jack, and all three men took chairs around Miranda. They immediately dug into the food, save for Micah; the black-haired man bowed his head, probably in praise, before grabbing a slice of pizza. The men ate in comfortable silence for a few moments. Then, Baron looked up suddenly from his meal, eyes staring intently into Miranda's. He smiled, and then spoke.116

"You know, just because you're captive doesn't mean you can't enjoy a nice dinner with your guests."117

"No thanks....I don't think I could eat a bite." Miranda replied.118

"And why not?" Jack asked, curious. "It's very good!"119

"Because, I feel like I'm about to be sick!"120

"Oh well...." Baron said. He was about to return to his feast when he looked back at Miranda again.121

"I have a job for you." He pulled out his gun before continuing. "Take one of the sledge hammers over there and start tearing down the wall!"122

Miranda wanted to protest, but self-preservation easily won over, and she shuffled over to the tool leaned against the wall. She picked it up, thinking for a moment of slamming it into the head of Baron or Jack, but instead turned to item towards the wall. She brought it down with all her force. Despite the situation, and the fact that three men had been working on the wall for several moments already, she couldn't help but feel satisfied at the cracking sound the masonry gave. She turned to face Baron, who only grinned and motioned for her to continue. She spun around, facing the wall again, and began to work on the stacked blocks. After several moments, sweat began to pour down her forehead, and her arms were already growing tired. She didn't stop though, and for several more moments kept hard at work.123

Then, suddenly, a small section of the wall gave way. A small stack of twenty and one hundred dollar bills fell out of the wall. Miranda's eyes grew wide.124

"That's good enough, girl. Sit back down." said Baron.125

The girl stepped back over to her chair, her heart now racing with excitement.126

"So that is why they're here...." Miranda thought, a smile coming on her face, despite the terror she still felt.127

"Good." said Baron. "The builders didn't find it while they were finishing the house. That must mean that ALL of the money's still here!"128

"Good. Now, boss, can I have my way with one of the girls. All this action is getting me excited!"129

"No, Jack, we stick to the plan!"130

"Well, then, just give me my cut now, then. I'm out!"131

All three men stood. Baron stepped closer to Jack, smiling.132

"I'm sorry, friend, but I'm afraid not!"133

Jack charged towards his former comrade, but before he could get his outstretched hands around Baron's neck, the latter lifted the revolver into the air and fired. A massive hole appeared in the side of Jack's head, and his lifeless body collapsed onto the floor at Baron's feet. Micah flinched at the gunshot, and wore a sick expression as blood began to pool around the man's head.134

"Good. That's where you always belonged, at my feet! Now, brother, we have a job to do!"135

"First," Micah began, "can I talk to you a moment?"136

The two men moved to the other side of the large room, Baron positioning himself where he could keep an eye on Miranda.137

"What is it, brother?"138

"Why did you have to kill Jack?"139

"Because," Baron replied, "he was becoming a threat to our plan. And we both know what will happen if we get caught. The police will know we robbed all those banks six months ago, and killed that security guard. We'll never taste freedom after that!"140

"Well, are you at least going to let the girls go?", asked Micah.141

"Why, of course not!"142

"But you said we wouldn't kill anyone in the house!"143

"Well, I changed my mind. They know what we look like. It's too much of a threat. Now, come on, brother, we have a job to finish. Then, we can put this whole thing behind us!"144

Micah began to respond to his brother's words, but stopped himself.145

"Now, can you escort our young friend to the kitchen again? I'm dying of thirst!"146

"Sure, brother...." Micah replied, his head dropping a little. Micah drew a nine millimeter pistol from one of his pants pockets, and led Miranda to the kitchen. He did not walk in with her, but stood in the doorway. She walked to the refrigerator, pulling the door open and grabbing a few cans of Coca-cola. She turned, and saw Micah tapping his foot nervously and looking down the hall towards the dining room. The teen took advantage of Micah's lapse in attention, grabbing a rather large knife off the counter and sliding it into the pocket of her jeans. Then she turned, walking toward Micah, and letting her lead him back into the room. When she entered the room, Baron grinned.147

"Coke is my favorite! Bring it to me!"148

Micah followed her as she walked to about five feet from Baron, setting the cans down on the table. She then let her right hand fall toward the pocket concealing her weapon. 149

Baron had packed the money from the section of wall into two large bags, both sitting open on the table. 150

Baron grabbed his coke with the free hand, his other hand now holding a nine millimeter like his brother's, and opened it. Miranda decided now was the time to strike. She quickly drew the knife from her pocket and ran towards Baron. Just before she reached him, he aimed the firearm down and fired.151

Miranda immediately dropped the knife, and fell onto her side. Explosions of pain rocketed up and down her left leg around the knee, and she couldn't help but cry out. Baron picked up the knife and tossed it across the room. Then he turned to his brother.152

"Take her with her friends. I'll deal with them after I'm done with the other wall."153

Micah picked up Miranda, and carried her out of the dining room. She looked up into his green eyes, hoping maybe she could reason with him.154

"I know you don't agree with what your brother is doing! Don't let him kill us. You can stop him!" she said quietly, with pleading eyes.155

"Yeah, he said no one would die. Or I wouldn't have come along on this plan of his."156

"Then convince him to stop. You ARE his brother. Surely you can do something!"157

"I don't know. He is determined to get this money."158

"Please....I saw you bow your head in their. You know what he's doing is wrong. Please, don't let your brother kill us."159

They had reached the door. Micah set her down, and pushed the shelf out of the way. He then stopped, face contorted in concentration. Then he turned to Miranda.160

"I'll try to convince him to leave with what we have. But, just in case that doesn't work...." Micah reached into his pocket, and brought out Miranda's cell phone, handing it to her. "....call the police. My name is James Madison. My brother is Michael, and the dead guy is Jason Gaines. Tell the cops who we are. BUT, only if something goes wrong! All right?"161

"Sure.", Miranda replied, a smile replacing the terror that had been on her face. "You're doing the right thing. Thank you!"162

"Yeah..." said James, a worried look on his face. He turned, leaving Miranda on the floor by the door, and went back into the dining room, pistol in hand.163

"Brother, we have more than enough money. We don't need the rest, or have to kill the girls. Let’s just leave while there is still a chance!"164

Michael looked at his brother with disbelief.165

"After all we have gone through, you want to just let the rest go. I'm sorry, but after all the hard work we've put in, we're not going until the job is DONE!"166

"Well, if that's the case, you can count me out of the rest. I'm done!" James exclaimed, determination written on his face.167

"I'm sorry to hear that's the decision you made. I never expected that from my own brother. So please forgive me-"168

Michael lifted the pistol, firing twice into James' torso. The younger of the brothers cringed in pain, then fell to the floor, eyes squinted shut.169

"I guess that means all the money is mine, brother."170

Miranda squinted her eyes shut as the gun went off in the other room. Then, she flipped her phone open, dialing nine-one-one, and turning the phone volume down to where it couldn't be heard by others. In the other room, the buzz saw started back up, going back to work on another section of the wall. 171

"Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?" came the voice of a woman.172

"There is someone in my house. He is armed with two guns, and he has killed at least one of the people he came with."173

"Alright, who is in the house?"174

"Me and two of my friends. There were three of these guys, but the lead man, Michael Madison, killed a man named Jason Gaines that came in with him, and probably killed his brother James."175

"All right. What is your address?"176

"1307 Sycamore Road. It's a Winchester area code."177

"All right. Stay calm, and we'll be there in about ten or twenty minutes. And, you need to stay on the line with me."178

"Okay. And thank you very much! But, I can't stay on the phone, that Michael guy might hear me. I have to go now!"179

Miranda shut the phone, putting it back in her pocket. She then pulled herself up, and limped back into the dining room, where the bangs of sledge hammer meeting brick echoed out. The wall gave way as Miranda walked painfully through the doorway.180

Michael looked up from his work, seeing the girl.181

"Get back in the sitting room, before I drop you!"182

"Sorry, but that won't be happening, Michael!"183

The sudden shocked look on Michael's face emboldened the teen, and she went on the offensive.184

"Yeah, your brother told me everything before he came back in here. And he gave me my phone back. The police will be here soon! And there is no way you'll kill me or my friends and get an even longer prison sentence!"185

An angry look overtook the shock that Michael had been wearing, and he lifted his gun towards the girl.186

"You! Get over here now, and fill up the bags!" he shouted.187

The girl was shoved back into a frightened state, and she immediately obeyed Michael's command.188

"You will make a fine hostage, whether or not those pigs get here before I leave! I'm still leaving this house with MY money!"189

The bags were filled in only a few moments. Michael ordered Miranda to pick up all four bags, and placed the barrel of his revolver against the back of her skull. The girl began to shuffle forward, heart racing in terror.190

Light flooded into James' eyes. He could feel his heart beating in his chest, despite the burning pain he could fee there. He touched the warm spot with his hand, and lifted it to his face to see it covered in crimson. He winced, and then rolled over onto his side. His gun lay next to him, unfired. He picked it up, and slowly rose to his feet, grimacing as he did so. From the hallway, he could hear his brother shouting obscenities at Miranda. He shuffled along the dining room floor as quietly as he could, careful not to trip over Jason's body or slip in the still-wet blood that coated the hardwood. He finally reached the hallway, and turned to see Miranda about to open the door, carrying the bags of money, and his brother pressing his revolver into the girl's skull. James lifted the gun into the air, and winced as the hammer crashed, firing it's projectile in a loud bang.191

Miranda heard the crash that meant a gun firing, and panicked for a moment. Then, she felt the pressure of the revolver's barrel ease, and then fall away altogether. She heard Michael hit the floor with a resounding thud, but waited nearly a full moment before dropping the bags of cash and turning.192

James stood at the other end of the hall, a gun hanging limply from his hand. The man let it fall from his fingertips, and then leaned against the wall. Miranda limped over to James, and helped carry him to the door. She set him against the wall near the door. Then she turned and went to the sitting room. She pushed the door open, and wasn't surprised to see both of her friends cringe against the couch as it swung in. After a few seconds, Amy and Stacy opened their eyes, and saw their friend standing in the doorway.193

"Hey, just stay in here for now. The cops are on their way."194

The girls just smiled, and Miranda returned the expression gladly. Then she walked back to the door, and sat down next to James.195

"You know, he would have killed us all if it wasn't for you."196

"Yeah. I didn't want to kill my brother, but he didn't leave me any other options. I knew either he would die, or the rest of us would...."197

"Well, thank you."198

The girl leaned over, and gave the man she was terrified of not even half an hour ago a hug. He returned it, grunting from the pain in his chest as he did so.199

A few moments passed, and the police arrived, followed closely by the ambulance.200

"This is the police! We are coming in! If you are armed, throw your weapons away and get down on the ground now!"201

An officer opened the door slowly, stepping cautiously into the room. He surveyed the scene. Then he turned towards the man bleeding out in the hall.202

"We need a stretcher in here!"203

He bent down, handcuffing James, and removing the objects from his pockets.204

"Now, young lady, who is he?" the cop asked, motioning towards James.205

"This is James Madison. His brother Michael is the one on the floor right there..." She pointed to the body only a few feet away. "And Jason Gaines' body is in the dining room."206

Two paramedics appeared in the doorway, a stretcher with them. They walked in, and with the help of the police officer, lifted James up. As the injured man was brought into an ambulance to have his wounds treated, the cop turned back to Miranda.207

"Are you the heroic young lady who called us?"208

Miranda smiled. "Yeah. My friends are in the room down the hall. They are all right, and they have been stuck in there almost the entire time. They don't know much of what happened."209

The cop nodded, and sent two other officers to retrieve the girls. They waved as the passed Miranda. Then the cop turned to Miranda once again.210

"Are you injured?"211

"Yes. I was shot in the knee."212

"Alright, well let's get you out of here, and get the wound treated."213

The cop lifted Miranda, and helped her walk out. As they left the house, two teams of paramedics went into the house with two stretchers, to retrieve the bodies of Michael and Jason. The cop carried Miranda over to one of the patrol cars, and set her down on the back seat. A medic came over and removed the bullet. He poured disinfectant into the wound, and Miranda cringed as it burned her knee. Afterward, the medic stitched the hole, and walked back to the ambulance he had come from.214

The police returned, a tape recorder in hand.215

"Now, I know this was a very traumatic experience for you and your friends. But, I need to get your account of the event while it's still fresh in your mind. Now, tell me everything you remember of the night."216

Miranda watched as the police officer pushed the record button, and smiled. She then said the first thing that came to mind.217

"We were saved by an angel tonight."218

She wanted to laugh at the cops questioning expression, especially the overly-exaggerated raised eyebrow.219

"All right, this is exactly what happened..."220