Me: Yes.
Liam: Good, stay there.
Me: We’re on hard lockdown.
Sitting on the floor, I bend my knees to my chest and hang my head. I’m nauseous. Sweat beats at my forehead and I reach for my trash can, feeling myself become physically ill.
Liam: Sophia isn’t answering her texts.
Me: She’s probably hiding.
At least I hope if she made it to the student center, she’s hiding and safe. I grab the remote and silently flip through the stations, finding a local channel that has cut through programming with a live news report.
The same blonde female reporter who blasted me with questions earlier stands outside, speaking about the shooting. She’s on another part of campus, near the hockey arena, which is on the way out of town. I’m guessing they told her to leave, and on her way out, she got news from her boss about the shooting and was told to return.
There’s no way the police are letting her anywhere near the student center.
Quietly, I stand and hurry toward the window, peeking through the blinds.
There are dozens of police cars outside. It’s difficult to see much else from the distance.
My phone silently lights up, another text from Liam.
Liam: I can’t just sit and wait it out.
And that’s when I get a text from Sophia.
Sophia: I’m hiding in the bathroom. Gunshots outside. I’m freaking out.
Me: Your brother is panicking. Text him and let him know you’re okay.
Sophia: Am I okay? There’s a shooter nearby.
Me: Just keep quiet. Stand on the toilet in case anyone comes in.
Sophia: Already am.
There’s silence from Sophia and I hope she’s messaging Liam. I send him a text anyhow, to let him know she’s at least all right at the moment.
Me: Your sister is hiding. She just texted me.
Liam: She texted me too. I’m heading out there.
Me: Drive safe.
I don’t tell him not to come. He wouldn’t listen to me if I did, and if I were him, I’d be doing the same damn thing. Sophia is his sister, his twin.
Twelve
Liam
“Do you want us to come with you?” Ashton asks, glancing at Nova.
I grab my coat, yanking it on while I step into my winter boots. It’s fricking cold outside and I’m not sure how close I’ll be able to get if the campus is still on lockdown when I arrive.
“I’m coming,” Nova says and grabs her coat. “Just give me thirty seconds to lace up my boots.”
“I’m going to start the car, it’s cold out.” I head out into the brisk October air and shiver. Climbing into the front seat, I start the engine and glance at the gas gauge, making sure I have enough to get me to Great Falls.
