I sat in my seat, waiting for my classmates to finish whatever they were doing. The teacher would be coming back soon, and would most likely want to move on with the day’s assignment.1
With a sigh, I dropped my head into my hands.2
“Attention, staff and students—a school-wide lockdown has been initiated. I repeat, a school-wide lockdown has been initiated,” came the principal’s voice over the P.A. 3
I looked around and saw that nobody seemed to even notice.4
“Um, guys?” I got out of my seat and approached a group at one of the lab tables. “Should we shut the door or something?”5
The boys at the table just laughed and continued messing with the equipment. “It’s just a drill,” said one.6
Uneasily, I turned to someone I hoped would listen. “Arthur, don’t you think we should be serious about this? I mean, really….”7
Arthur, to my surprise and hurt, completely ignored me. Considering how close we had been just a few months earlier, and his deeper-than-I-could-handle feelings for me, I was astonished by the lack of response.8
“Arthur?” I reached out to tap him, but he flinched away. “Come on, Arthur. The principal didn’t even mention the word ‘drill’ at all. She said it was a lockdown. We should listen—“9
The deafening sound of a gunshot pierced the air, and suddenly the glass cabinets above the lab stations shattered. The other girls in the class screamed, and everyone ducked behind the desks and tables.10
I was crouched, and I couldn’t see anything from where I was. It was more scary than the idea of being able to see what was going on. 11
The sound of heavy footwear—possibly boots—crunching on broken glass reached my ears.12
Arthur, beside me, was shaking. I had never seen him so afraid.13
“All right, you cowards,” said a cool voice. “I know exactly where each of you is hiding.”14
A girl whimpered with fright.15
“Anyone who believes in God,” continued the voice, “stand up.”16
I froze. Without a moment of uncertainty, I knew what I was about to do. I closed my eyes and reached for the Miraculous Medal hanging around my neck, and clasping it tightly, I began to rise.17
Someone grabbed me and pulled me back down. Arthur’s grip was rigid around my wrist, and his whisper was frightened and angry as he said, “What the hell are you doing? If you stand up, you’re gonna get killed. Mary, please… don’t do it.”18
I looked into his eyes for the first time in a very long time. His hold loosened as I gently pried his fingers away. “I know what I’m doing. But you don’t,” I whispered back. “You never understood.”19
I gave him one last meaningful glance as I stood up from behind the table.20
“Wow.” The dark-haired teenager in the center of the room scoffed. “Only one brave, stupid little girl is going to stand up. I commend you, Mary. Not many are as anxious to die as you.”21
I said nothing, instead grasping my Miraculous Medal even tighter.22
The boy before me looked me up and down. “You’re really going to die for a God you don’t even know exists? Are you crazy?”23
I swallowed. “If I didn’t know He existed, would I be standing?” I asked, my voice shaking.24
The teenager stared at me. “You’re an all-A student, Mary. You’ve got more talents than I can count on my fingers and toes, and you could lead a very successful life someday. You’re going to give that all up for something you’ve never seen?”25
I closed my eyes and took a breath. “Yes. Yes, I am.”26
“Why?”27
“Because,” I whispered, “my soul is far more important than ‘success.’”28
The boy’s face contorted with anger, and he raised the weapon that had been settled at his side. “You’re so stupid,” he spat. “You have the brains and the talent to go somewhere, and you’re wasting it before it all had a chance. You’re stupid. You could even have had that kid, Arthur—but NO. You pushed him away because you think that your faith is more important.”29
At that, I raised my head and looked the boy in the eye. “My talents were given to me by my Savior,” I said. “Giving them up for Him is not a waste. As for Arthur….” 30
It seemed as though the whole room was waiting for me to speak.31
“I love him in a way that he could not comprehend. It is the same way I love every human being on this planet—even you.” 32
The boy’s hand—and the gun it held—was trembling. “Are those your last words, Mary?”33
I looked back at where I knew Arthur was hiding and saw him peeking around the corner of the table. “No,” I said, turning back to the boy before me, “these are. Peace be with you.”34
He screamed a string of curses as he pulled the trigger.35
Author notes
This piece is a written form of a recurring dream I've had. I first experienced this dream about a year and a half ago, but have been dreaming it increasingly frequently in the last month or so. Normally I wake up right after I get shot. >.>
A contest entry
- Dreamer In Our Midst- The Collective Of Dreams by Miss Hanako Cullen.
500 points, ended September 8, 2008, 21 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
PLEASE COMMENT AND CRITICIZE.
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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this is cool and i love her faith. she must have major balls to do something like that. i can only wish to be that brave.
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Very good. I got chills through the story and I was sitting at the edge of my seat. One suggestion though is to not overuse the "..." for it looks a little unprofessional, and in a piece like this you don't need it for emphasis. =)
I love how this has a moral story, and that in the dream you were willing to stand for your beliefs at the penalty of possible death. But because I loved it, I'll be strictly honest with you. The story would have a bigger impact if you dropped it off where the gun fires (which you stated happens most often in your dream). That was the height of the emotion, and the rest afterwards felt... kind of unrealistic. In a short story like this, if you leave it hanging and leave your readers in suspense you'll get an even bigger reaction from them. Of course, this is just my opinion. It was still a wonderful story with the end you have.
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Your short story reminded me of a book entitled She Said Yes
It's heartbreaking to know that stupid people out there are willing to kill Christians just because they have a difference in oppinion about something. Sure, when you boil everything down, it is the most important thing.
You're super creative!
Keep writing!~.~
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This was really good. i liekd this. And this could happen in real life, a person coming in and shooting you! But you try to warn your friends, however, they will not listen. and in result, someone gets hurt at the end of everything.
Good luck in Hanako-sama's contest! I loved this!
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its beautiful. wow ive always wanted to have that kind of courage. its so cool you had a dream about that! amazing job.
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I think this testifies where you stand strongly. Need I say more?
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I can see why you would dream recurringly about this subject. I had recurring dreams a lot when I was younger too, and I occasionally dream about being tested for my own faith in various ways.
Thanks for writing this out. You did a great job turning a dream into a story (not always easy). Your level of description was just right. Although, I'm not sure exactly what Mary's relationship to Alex is.
Again, what a powerful dream. I don't know about you, but I wake up from this kind of dream feeling very spiritually in tune.
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Alex, at one point, was Mary's best friend.
They were really close.
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This was a very powerful story. I think if I were in the same situation I would do the same thing. Stand up for what you believe in. Awesome story, wonderfully written. Love the interaction between Mary and the gunhand, Alex and Arthur.
Wonderful!!
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Ah. I love this.
It's beautiful.
I wonder what you can make of this?
Like... continue it or something. I don't know.
I just love it.
You did good.
=]
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not bad need a end though
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Lol, I think so, too.
But then again, it IS a dream.... I can't really control whether it has an ending or not. 
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