The Untold Story of a Grim Reaper: Chapter 25.2: Choices

The student body suddenly became conscious, releasing me immediately, it wasn’t until the screams of the students who were on fire did I realize the magnitude of the danger everyone was in. Lilli disappeared in the chaos and my body, tense and rigid, had to break away from my fears and be what these people needed. 

No matter the wrongs they’ve done, no matter wrongs they will do, in the end most of us will make it right… whether it be mending our own mistakes or the mistakes of others… and we have to believe that’s worth something.

I charged towards the locked door, I broke the twine wrapped on the handle but was given no spare moment to avoid the herd of students. Hands and shoes pushed and trampled me, making it difficult to get to the other locked doors. A hand reached for my shirt and brought me to my feet, out of the continuous current of students. It was Dr. Conrad, he still had my arm as he lead me towards the doors. 

I resisted his grip, but he was holding on tight. 

Screaming over the alarm, “Let me go! Dr. Conrad! You have to let me go!”

I twisted from his hand and ran to the science/northwest hall, the doors we’re being aggressively pushed against. Making it hard to get a good handle on the twine. I was prepared this time, as the students stampeded out of the hall. It seemed most of them had cleared out to the back exit but it was just as congested as any of the other doors. 

Dr. Conrad had just opened the english/north hall and was heading toward the history/northeast hall. Dr. Conrad was directing everyone to head up the stairs, he kept aggressively pointing and screaming to everyone to go up, since the fire was getting bigger at the front entrance. His face was bright red and sweating, I could smell his adrenaline over the smoke. 

I sprinted towards the last door, mathematics/east hall. But no one seemed to be pushing on the doors. When I opened it, everyone was at the opposite end exiting. All regular procedure, what we all learned when exiting a burning building, was out of their minds. The doors were nearly impossible to get out of when it’s every man for himself. 

When I turned back to check on Dr. Conrad, I could no longer see him. There were still students scattered running but Dr. Conrad was no longer helping. I ran to the bottom of the stairs when I tripped over something.

I looked to find that it was Dr. Conrad, passed out and pinned down by a pillar. Lifting the pillar off of him, I pulled him out from underneath and threw him over my shoulder. As I was ready to run upstairs to the fire exit, I saw the bodies of other students scattered amongst the ash and fire. There were too many for me to carry, I could not save them all.

“No! No! No!” I mumbled under my teeth.

Amidst the chaos of flames, I spotted Tori and Kurt walking down the stairs stiffly. In one hand they carried a gasoline jug. Letting it spill over every step as they walked, with students still on the second floor.

When they reached the foot of the stairs I screamed when I saw them raise the jugs over their head, “Tori! Kurt! Don’t!”

They spilled the remnants of the jugs on themselves and walk straight into the inferno. The fire walked up the twin staircases, swallowing it whole. Kurt and Tori were immediately taken in by the fire. 

I tried to run in after them but I kept tripping over bodies. I became so frustrated at everything that I just started screaming. I was so frustrated that Senoi betrayed me, that Lilli used me, and that the Creator would let this happen. But I was even angrier that I had let this happen, angry that I killed myself, I could never forgive myself for any of this.

I just kept screaming at the ceiling, Dr. Conrad still slung over my shoulder screaming.

Dr. Conrad shifted himself out of my grasp, I set him down in front of me, he stood there and I was taken aback when all he did was stare directly at me. Eyes widened and dilated, just staring at me.

“Dr. Conrad?”

 I took a step to the side and bumped into someone. I jumped, turning to see it was a student standing sluggishly but staring directly at me. I turned full circle and saw dozens of others were doing the same. 

 

I’m a siren and I can save them from this sea of fire. 

 

So. I sang.

    

    Come home, stubborn child

    Find peace from the wild

    Fire you’ve set in your thoughts.

    Be still and be grateful

 

    Though you’ve fought

    My choices and you’ll

    Betray my son

    

    I have not lost hope

    In your return home.

    

More bodies were standing with limbs dangling, legs swaying side to side. I kept singing as I walked backwards towards the east hall exit, the double doors were clear of fire at the other end.

 

    Miles you’ve walked barefoot

    Over embers and soot

    To turn away, to disobey

 

Everybody was up and shuffling their feet in my direction. The fire was louder and stronger though, I had to practically shout the last verses.

 

    Cross your heart, I’ll cross mine

    A promise so cursed yet divine

 

I kept walking backwards through the hall, watching all of the souls follow me out. I continued,

 

    Come home, stubborn child

    Find peace from the wild

    Fire you’ve set in your thoughts.

    Be still and be grateful.

    I wait patiently, never forceful.

 

I was a good twenty feet from the school now, the sky was still sinister and threatening but nothing from it had fallen yet. I quickened my pace, which seemed to be reflected in their speed as well. 

 

    I’ll stay true to this promise that lingers,

    Though, the whole time you had crossed your fingers.

 

The song was finished but all the people had yet to make it out. It was a little quieter outside so I repeated the song in a hum. It seemed to suffice, the people were all heading towards me. Since the smoke was so abundant, I could only see most of the people as a dark silhouette.

How did Lilli let herself get to this point? She lost her humanity in the pursuit of self-redemption, by making a deal with the devil, her thirst for blood would overrule any compassion should could have for others… and for herself. 

The students began regaining consciousness, enormous coughs spasmed from their throats. Many couldn’t keep standing, falling to their knees.

Sirens pierced the night air, red and blue splashed the horizon in-between the black smoke. I called out for everyone to follow me, as a herd they did.

Firemen and officers swarmed the campus, aiding the survivors and still putting out the fire. Half the building was untouched but the other half scarred and haunted. The fear that others lost their lives tore at my heart.

I sat on a bench, watching all paramedics come to the aid of the students. I was drained of any more thoughts or ideas to have, I felt almost numb.

A paramedic appeared from a van door and approached to check on me, he reached for my arm to help me up, “Are you injured?”

I shook my head, “No, I’m fine.”

A radio from a neighboring cop car clutched my attention, “Officers standby, house on the corner of Trickum Drive and Aberdeen Way may need more assistance. Possibly multiple victims.”

Tension in my every muscle, “Ethel and Julius.”