Chapter 41: "Wrong Targets"

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First draft: January, 13th 2021

Salma slammed hard against the grass. The sight of her blood soaked fingers freaked her out. Screaming, Salma jolted away from her hands. A crushing weight shoved her back down.

"Down! Stay down!"

The voice was muffled by a dazed buzz of the havoc wrecking around her. Her head was spinning. Shots kept ripping the canopy into shreds. Splinters rained down on her. Her terrified screams mixed with the chaos on the grounds as the panicking students ran in every direction. She just had a flimsy realization that she was lying flat on her stomach on the ground parallel to the bench with someone pushing her to stay down.

"Control, Juliette - Sierra 1-7, Status Zero, Campus Nest! Control, Juliette - Sierra 1-7, Status Zero, Campus Nest! Aman is TA, I repeat, Aman is TA!"

The air ripped with explosions. Salma screamed burying her head in her arms as another shot rang over her, hitting the top of the bench, ripping the wood into two.

"It's alright! It's alright Sally!" the panicked voice yelled over the ruckus. "You're going to be alright!"

"N-no! --N-no!" Salma wept, shaking like a leaf.

"It's okay! . . It's okay," the voice reassured.

She felt the pressure shifting off of her and a protective arm pushing her shaking body towards him in an attempt to shield and comfort her. Terrified screams escaped her lips as the shots tore at another plank out of the canopy.

'Shit!" he cursed, pulling her closer.

The chipping wood could not hold any longer and the plank landed on the bench with a deafening crash.

"It's alright! You're safe! Sally, it's alright!" the voice shouted over the explosions and her screams, collecting her against him. "Come on! You're alright. I'm here! It's okay, Sally. I don't think we are in his line of sight. It'll be okay."

The assault halted for a while. Salma wept in his shirt, trembling all over. The person shifted beside her. Salma felt her heart thumping in her ears as she desperately tried to hold onto her senses.

"9-0, 1-7!"

"Received 1-7," the robotic voice from his transmitter said.

"We have a potentially fatal causality. Shooter's location unknown. It looks like from the west given the damage to the canopy. Suggest you take a look."

"Will copy."

Salma felt a shuddering shiver rake over her as the person lifted one of his arms from around her. He pulled himself away from her a tad.

"No, N-no!" Salma whimpered, clutching at him for dear life

"Sally, breathe!" a familiar voice said softly but firmly. "I need you to breathe. We have to get out of here and that can't happen unless you cooperate with me. You're going to be alright."

Salma felt her chest heaving laboriously to keep up with her body's oxygen demands as she tightened her fingers around his arm. Shaky, broken sobs were escaping her lips. The chilling silence around her was deafening.

"Sally, we need to work together, okay?" the person said again. He grabbed her arm reassuringly. "The attacker can't see us, you are safe here. But you have to change out of your abaya and scarf so you aren't recognizable when we move. You understand that right?"

Salma focused on her breathing. He squeezed her arm.

"Sally?" he prompted. "You read me? You need to shed your outerwear. Change appearances."

Salma nodded after a while. Her head was still spinning. Her vision was blurred and unfocused. The only firm reality around her was this voice and solid protective embrace of the person it belonged to. Everything else, including his identity, was a haze.

"Good. Take your abaya off."

Salma lifted a shaking arm allowing him to undo her belt and reach for the buttons. Another shot hit the bench.

"Damn it!" The person ducked as Salma's scream reverberated through the small space. "It's okay! It's okay! He can't see us! You're safe!"

Salma cried bitterly into his shirt. She did not feel safe.

"Control, Juliette - Sierra 1-7 with a sit-rep!"

"Go ahead 1-7."

"We need back up immediately!"

"9-0 on ground. Back up being delayed by local authorities as area is cordoned off and unarmed held back."

"Damn it!"

"9-0, sit rep, Juliette Sierra, 1-7."

"Received 1-7."

"Area is being cordoned off causing a delay in backup. What's your location?"

"I'm headed west. Shooter appears located on the Social sciences building. 1-1 is around the Campus Nest devising a rescue."

Salma felt a hand on her back.

"Sally we're going to get out of her, okay. Stay calm. I promise I'll get you out!"

Salma barely nodded in understanding. Her heart was in her throat and her head still spinning like a top in a pool of tears and sobs.

"1-1, 1-7!"

"Received, 1-7."

"I've got a visual of you. Aman is TA and we have a casualty. She's losing blood. What's the plan?"

"9-0 is about to engage the shooter, when I drive by, you make a run for it taking shelter behind the car."

"You can get shot like that!"

"Aman's car is armored. Can't have better odds. Stay ready."

Salma barely had an understanding of what happened next. She heard tires screeching as a car forced its way towards the grounds and raced towards them. The shooting began again. Through tears, screams and piercing splinters, Salma was dragged to the car while still crawling on her belly. She was pushed to sit behind the passenger seat and stay low. The bullets thundered with a resounding crash as they hit the armored metal, sounding even more horrifying than when they were tearing the canopy apart.

The car lurched forward. It's driver just driving blindly as they stayed low to avoid bullets. An explosive blast brought them to a halt with a sudden jerk. Salma's already spinning head knocked against the passenger seat.

"Out! Out! Everyone out! Stay low! Use the left side! Get in the building!"

Salma dropped on all fours as she got out of the car, only mildly aware of the hood of the car rammed into the building. She somehow stumbled into the animal science building. The corridors were crowded with terrified students, seeking shelter. She heard gasps and cries of panic.

"Stay with Aman."

"Got it!" the guy with familiar voice fell in step with Salma.

"Move! Move! Out of the way! Medic, do we have a medic?!"

Salma barely noticed a female running past her with a bloodied figure of a girl in her arms.

Lena.

Salma's stomach lurched.

Blood. There was a lot of blood. Her head started spinning. She stumbled.

"Sally?!"

Quick, steady hands grabbed her. Her vision blackened. She stopped moving but the world spun at a dizzying speed. She let the person lead her aside.

***

First draft: April 22nd, 2021

"L-Lena?" Salma stammered.

"She's in the OR. They're operating her," Jason replied. "I'm sure she'll be alright."

Salma nodded, resting her head against her trembling hand. She was still shaken. Her heart was still pounding at a mad pace and she kept hearing the blasts of the exploding bullets in her head.

"What about Louisa?" Salma whispered hoarsely as she tried to remember everyone that was there in the direct line of fire. "And Niall?"

"They're both doing alright," Jason reassured her quickly. "Louisa got a wound in her leg from the splinters but she's attended to. Everyone else is fine too. They managed to make a run for it on time. You and Lena faced the worse by getting stuck behind."

Salma sniffed, fiddling with her bandaged hands. She was alright. Just a few cuts and bruises from the splinters but nothing too serious. It was Lena who faced the worst. And for what?

An electrifying feeling clawed at her insides, burning sears of guilt and fear. Was she the target of the attack? Did she just expose the people around her to mortal danger by just being in their company? Was Lena's life hanging by a thread because of her?

A strangled sob escaped her lip.

"I just k-killed her!" Salma cried. "I almost g-got all of you killed!"

"It's alright, Salma," Jason comforted her. "Everyone is safe now. It's not your fault."

"Y-you don't understand! I --"

A nurse entered the side room. She smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry. We ran out of tape. Just got some from the supplies," she said, as she began bandaging a wound on Jason's elbow.

"It's alright," Jason replied. "Thank you for taking care of us."

"It's not a big deal," the nurse replied, patting the bandage "All patched up! You guys are free to leave." She picked up her clipboard and the tray with the dirty cotton and bandages. "Stay safe and finish your drink."

"Thank you." Salma nodded. She closed her eyes for a while, hoping the dizziness would vanish and the shivering would stop.

"Sally?" Jason called.

Salma opened her eyes to see him offering her the drink. Maybe he knew that she felt light-headed. Thanking him, Salma accepted the chocolate and drank it slowly. For the next couple of minutes, they just sat in silence, still coming to terms with what just happened.

"Where's everyone else?" Salma asked after a while.

"Waiting by the OR." Jason replied.

"I'd like to go there." Salma hopped off the bed.

"Okay." Jason picked up their bags. "Let's go."

On the way, she found out how the rest of them had all gotten out of the line of fire after the attack started. Everyone saw Lena getting shot but the shock of what just happened had them acting on impulse. With the splinters raining down on them, survival instinct had kicked in and they ran for their lives. Zayn had grabbed Louisa in the frenzy and they had not met since. Jason said Zayn had been asking about Salma but that Louisa's injury and then Lena's fatal shot had kept him engaged.

Salma remembered little of what happened after she passed out. Disconnected images of Spogmae driving her to the hospital were there but it made no sense. Jason was with her in the car.

"When did you come to the hospital?" Salma asked.

Jason blinked.

"I came with you."

"Weren't you with the rest of them? I thought Lena was with me?"

"That lady with you," Jason began. "She arranged emergency medics for Lena once the ARV and air ops arrived. I took shelter in our department block like most of the students. She figured we were friends and." He pointed to the blood splatters on his shirt. "I suppose she thought it would be good to offer me a ride."

"Why didn't we use an ambulance?" Salma frowned.

It made sense that Spogmae had kept her on the sidelines to ensure a safe route, but it made no sense that she would drag Jason with her too. Salma was certain even her visit to the hospital was to make things appear normal to the local authorities. The Green Coats were probably losing their marbles letting her stay exposed when she had just dodged such a vicious attack so narrowly, but taking her off scene prematurely would raise suspicions.

"Can't say," Jason replied. "Probably because none of us were seriously injured."

Salma said nothing after that. They walked in silence until they took the last turn to the OR. The corridor outside painted a picture of misery. Claire and Charlayne were sitting hunched on the floor, both of them crying, and Charlayne's dress stained with blood. Louisa looked exhausted and pale sitting in the wheel chair. She still seemed to be reeling with shock. One of her hand was resting on Claire's shoulder while her leg was covered in heavy bandages. Zayn was standing by the door next to Niall, his eyes hard, features etched in stone and jaws clenched.

Zayn looked up when Salma and Jason walked towards them. He paused, looking surprised or relieved to see her, Salma could not tell.

"Salma?" Louisa barely whispered. "Jase?"

The rest of group turned to her too. Jason was quick to get to her side and engulf her in a comforting hug.

"Are you guys alright? How are you?" Louisa asked her over Jason's shoulder. "I was so worried. Where did --"

The rest of Louisa's words were swallowed by confusion as Zayn walked straight to Salma and grabbed her by the arm, walking her out of the corridor.

"Zayn, wait!"

"Hey! What're you doing?"

Louisa and Jason's startled cries faded in the distance as Zayn led her past the main hall, away from the crowd. Caught off guard by his silent aggression, it took Salma a while to realize what he was doing. His grip around her arm was not harsh but it was not gentle either. It was firm, demanding and anything but friendly.

Just when Salma was about to retaliate and confront him, he halted by the deserted sidehall and turned her around to face him.

"Did you know?" he asked through gritted.

Salma's lips parted wordlessly. She was bewildered by his hostility and the accusatory tone.

"I said did you know?!" His grip around her arm tightened.

Salma's eyes snapped to his fingers coiled around her elbow. As if realizing what he was doing, he loosened his fingers, then let go of her arm altogether.

"Did I know?" Salma muttered, turning her gaze back to him. He was glaring her down. "Did I know what exactly?"

"About the attack!" Zayn returned his tone still hard and accusatory.

Salma had trouble coming to terms with it. She eyed him questioningly, searching his stormy eyes

"Do you even hear yourself?" she cried. "Did I know and still sat there like a duck for target practice?"

"Where did you go?" Zayn pressed. "While the rest of us were running around like headless chickens, hoping to get to safety and get a medic, you were scooped from the scene like you were never there!"

"I – I don't know what happened." Salma struggled to remember what exactly went down in the chaos that ensued. "I was trying not to get shot, Zayn! There was someone there to protect me and then --"

"Someone? You mean a Green Coat."

"I don't know! The only Green Coat I know about is Spogmae who brought me here to the hospital!"

"Why was she on the campus?"

"They're there to protect me! I'm literally a walking target Zayn, don't act like you don't know that!" Salma protested.

"So your people knew?"

Salma just stared at him with his mouth agape. She could not believe what she was hearing.

"How is it that someone was readily available for you to take you away within minutes of the attack!" Zayn continued angrily, taking a step towards her. "Your people were there in the campus and someone was there to shield you and lead you to safety. Were they expecting an attack?"

"I don't know!" Salma repeated.

"How did they know where to protect you? How was there someone standing right amidst us that the moment they attack you, you were pulled away?"

"I don't know!"

"You don't know?!" Zayn fumed. Salma realized she was literally backed up against the wall now. "You don't know. Somebody literally just took a bullet for you and you don't know? Do you realize Lena might just die at this point?"

A pair of hand flashed in front of Salma's eyes and pushed Zayn away from her. A raking sob escaped her lips. She took deep gulps of breath to fight the harshness of Zayn's suffocating words.

"You might want to reconsider who you torture with your accusations!" Jason said coldly, firmly placing himself between her and Zayn.

Salma glanced at the junior. He was glaring at Zayn, his eyes raw and red rimmed. Suddenly, he was all grown up and tall. He was no longer the stuttering shy junior. He was confident, he was angry and he was not about to let someone bully his friend.

"You're taking it out on the wrong person," Jason continued. "The attack had nothing to do with her."

"You have no idea what you're talking about!" Zayn scoffed.

"Even if someone was out there to get any one of us, the blame would lie with the person pulling the trigger, not her!" Jason returned. "Doesn't matter who they were trying to shoot, they aimed kill. If you're right and they were targeting her, would you rather they'd shoot Salma then Lena!"

Zayn's eyes snapped to Jason, his words hitting him like a ton of bricks. Rendered speechless, his bewildered gaze turned to Salma and opened his mouth but no words followed. Letting out a derisive sound, Jason gave him his back.

"Come on." He placed a gentle hand on Salma's shoulder. "Maybe you should leave. Perhaps he's not entirely wrong."

Salma stared at Jason, worried that he blamed her too.

"I don't mean anything," he was quick to reassure her, "but you were attacked before, right? And just in case it was the same guys and you were their target, we should be careful. You could get hurt here."

Salma found herself unable to reply due to the tightening of her throat. She was constantly being surprised and touched by the level of calm and consideration Jason was displaying.

Salma nodded in agreement. Jason patted her arm and gave her a tight smile.

"Come on," he muttered.

Salma felt fingers coiling around her hand in a gentle hold, stopping her from moving.

"Bee?"

Salma swallowed, refusing to face him. In her periphery, she saw Jason eyeing their hands with a frown.

"I – I'm sorry. I shouldn't have drilled you like that," Zayn said, giving her hand a squeeze. "Let me take you home."

Salma exhaled a breath, then wriggled her hand free of his grasp.

"No need," she said, looking straight ahead at the tall figure by the cupboards, keeping tabs on her with his sharp hazel eyes. "I have an escort."

Throwing Zayn a hurt, disappointed gaze, Salma nodded at Jason and walked towards Burak Kaka.

Author's Note:

Wow! Way to shoot your shot, Zayn 🤣. Looks like now we're on square minus one. Also, Jason's stepped up his game around Zalma. Kid's grown up now😎

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J.