I threw my hands up in surrender and continued to tidy up the displays while Josh marked down the returns. After a couple of minutes, the mall opened its doors and people started filling in. Soon copies of “Storm Drake” were flying off the shelves. Because Halloween was just around the corner some customers were renting horror movies and games. Josh kept suggesting “Lunatic Lumberjack” to anyone who would listen while I held my tongue so as to not get in the way of the sale.
Some of the kids were playing the display games and had crowded around the T.V. Hanging from the supporting pillar with all the heads craned up, Imagining neck pain they were going to have I winced. The game looked to be a fighting slash card game. It looked like the kid was playing as some dragon person while they fought a creepy tree man in a cave with glowing mushrooms.
The hours ticked away towards lunch and Josh gave me his sandwich order seeing as my girlfriend gave me %50 off. I only bought Josh lunch because he agreed to take the lunch rush while I could hang out with my girlfriend for a bit. Not a lot of hanging out was ever done because Haley was always busy during that time but it was still nice to see her.
“HEY LEO! Little man wants to know if there’s any good Horror games here?” Josh yelled across the store earning himself some disdainful looks from some of the customers.
Walking closer to the counter I could spot the “Little man” Josh was referring to. “Hey, sorry I don’t know of any good ones personally. Horror games are always a little too scary for me but I could show you the collection we have, Or “Storm Drake” just came out. I heard that one is good.”
The kid shook his sandy blond hair no “I’m going to wait to see how my friends like it first. I wanted to play a scary game so I won't be so scared anymore.”
“Ah, building up your tolerance, I see. Well, let’s go see if there is anything that piques your interest.” After a while of searching the kid finally settled on an Egyptian mummy game. It didn’t look too scary from my perspective but I wasn’t going to judge, and less likely an angry mother storming into the store accusing me of mentally scarring her child.
Lunch was approaching so I quickly grabbed the copy of “Storm Drake” I had squirreled away. Throwing in a box for both Haley's and her brother's favorite candies I put on my camouflage sweater to cover my green T.V. hut polo shirt and checked out for lunch. Looking at my smartphone and mentally marking down the time I rushed over to the food court
The mall was crowded with the noise of constant chatter flooding the air as shoppers searched the mall for anything that caught their eye. Walking over a bridge I saw one of the new security guards patrolling. The guard's eyes dashed back and forth while he kept his head on a swivel. I considered waving to the new hire as we might be seeing more of each other but thought against it as my employee shirt was under my hoodie the guard might think I was just some random cheery guy. Getting closer I thought it was strange all the mall patrons were giving the man such a wide birth during the lunch rush but when I passed the man I noticed the guard had a gun strapped to his hip in a holster why the man rested his hand on it. Now the guard eyeing everyone passing him suspiciously gave off a different feeling altogether.
Making sure I was as far away as I could be while on the bridge I quickly kept moving to the food court. I did not envy the kids who liked to skate by the loading docks. Before Bill would just shout at them when a truck was due and the skaters would leave until the truck left and then went back to practicing their tricks while Bill manned a stool at the bar. This new guy seemed like he was not so laid back.
Shrugging I continued my way, struggling to get through the stream of people until I heard the harsh cacophony of sounds that signaled I was at the food court. Getting in line I waited to place my order as I watched Haley try to do a hundred tasks at once. The customers in front of me ordered every different sandwich combination under the sun. While some were nice and simple others were elaborate concoctions and some were so strange and nonsensical that I wouldn’t have eaten, even on a dare.
Haley was clearly getting frustrated and overwhelmed with the orders and I felt especially guilty seeing I was going to add to her workload. The only reason I was going to still eat here was that Josh had already asked for a sandwich and any place not busy during the lunch rush was because no one wanted to eat there. I eyed the gyro place that didn’t have a line because it had a bad reputation since before I had even started working at the mall that they just closed during lunch and mainly only surfed regulars after.
Finally getting to the place in line where I could place my order I gave Josh’s order and tried to order something simple for myself but Haley surprised me by turning around and opening a fridge and pulled out two pre-made sandwiches and handed it to me. “I already paid.” Haley said shooting him a quick smile before going to the next customer.
Shouting out a thank you I ducked out and managed to grab a table where I could watch Haley work. Unwrapping my sandwich I took the moment to think about my life. I have a job I didn’t hate, parents who loved me, a friend who was annoying but still fun to hang out with, and a girlfriend who was probably too good for me. I’m saving up cash to start taking classes next semester that was coming up at my local college. I’m a little scared about some of the things coming up like if I’m good enough for college or if I really knew what kind of career I wanted to get into but all things considered. I wanted to count my blessings and kept counting up till gunshots echoed through the mall followed by screaming.
***
Women's screams started to flood the mall as a stampede of people formed rushing towards the closest exit. I tried to stand up but someone shoved me down and my head cracked against the table. The next thing I saw was Josh’s smooshed sandwich and an empty food court with distant screams while gunshots still echoed in the halls periodically. Jackets, articles of clothing, abandoned meals and shopping bags littered the food court tables.
“Haley?” I muttered as I looked towards the sandwich shop she worked at and forced my sluggish feet to move, leaning on tables and chairs to keep myself upright while doing so. Reaching the door and more falling into it rather than pushing I opened the employ entrance to the back halls. Ignoring pictures of cats hanging off trees and signs about washing hands I turned a corner to the lockers and checked to see if anyone was still there.
Looking around I could not find anyone but noticed that Haley’s purse was still in her locker. Leaning on a locker to catch my breath I wiped the sweat off my brow and pulled my hand back stained red. Giving up on the employ lockers I decided to try the employ break room. I could not hear any more screaming but the occasional gunshot still rang out telling me that I was still in danger. Contemplating where exactly the gunshots where coming from I nearly walked past the door for the employee break room. Trying the door I found it locked but screams erupted from inside. Knocking on the door I tried to shout but only a croak left my lips the first time I tried to speak and the shouts inside got louder. Trying again I focused and breathed in and out.
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“Haley.*Cough* Haley.”
Shuffling and shouting came from the room as I tried to catch my breath which was getting harder and harder to do. Finally, after a minute I heard someone approaching the door from the other side.
“Leo, is that you?” Haley said barely louder than a whisper.
“Haley!?” I finally managed to shout.
I could hear the lock of the door shift and then finally open. Haley poked her head out and saw me.
“LEO…OH MY GOD LEO, are you hurt?”
Haley at first seemed happy and surprised to see me but after looking at me for a second longer she did a double take and became shocked at my state. Quickly she grabbed my hands and dragged me inside to the audible displeasure of the other people in the room.
Haley guided me to a chair at a table while somebody else quickly checked the way I came and after confirming no one else was out there locked the door behind me.
“Whoa whoa whoa, Is he alright?” Someone I didn’t recognize asked franticly while leaning so far back against the wall he would have merged with it if the man could.
“Does he seem alright to you!?” Haley shouted back sarcastically before turning back to me. “Leo, I think you hit your head”.
“No really.” A girl behind me snarked out. Haley glared at the girl before letting go and went for the cabinet filled with cups while turning on the sink.
“OH MY GOD, Do you think he was shot?” A shrill woman spoke.
“In the head?” The snarky girl behind me said.
“Yo, his eyes are kinda funny looking,” The wall man said.
“Was he shot in the eye?”
“You have to be doing this on purpose.”
Everyone bickering started to give me a headache and I wished I could just sleep it off but thankfully Haley came back and gave me some water. Giving me a cup she quickly grabbed some napkins and started checking the wound on my head.
“Are you alright?”
“What?”
“Are you okay? You didn’t get hurt right.”
“Yeah yeah, I’m fine. I heard gunshots and shouting and I didn’t see you so I ran here.”
“Why are you still here?”
“This is the emergency shelter room in case something happens.”
“Can’t you run?”
“Zack said we should stay here,” Haley said gesturing towards the guy trying to climb the wall.
“In case of a second shooter. One guy gets us all to run outside while another is waiting for us to pick us off.” Zack said eyeing the employee entrance at the back of the room.
“Or if the guy just heads outside after shooting up the mall to catch us running.” The girl behind me added.
“Also if someone needs help we can let them in,” Haley said with some forced humor in her voice. Haley was going to say something else but heavy footsteps started to ring through the halls.
“STACY! YOU IN THERE?” A man shouted and a heavy slam hit the front door.
The room erupted in screams as everyone started to shout not helping with my head ache. “Run!” Zack shouted as he ran for the back door. He got it open fast and held it open for the other two girls to run out. More slams hit the front door and the door buckled while parts of the door frame started to fall off.
Haley tried to drag me up but I nearly fell and top of her. “I can’t, go run.” I grunted out.
“What, no no no. Come with me.”
“I can’t. My legs won’t listen and the room is spinning.”
“Zack!” Haley turned to face Zack who was still holding the door and he just shook his head.
“STACY, are you in there?” The door slammed again shaking the frame.
Haley was trying to hold me up while calling for help. “I’m sorry!” Was the last thing Zack said before running away. Haley was going to shout again but I covered her mouth with my hand and flipped the table so it blocked the line of sight from both doors and dragged my girlfriend behind it. No sooner had we hidden behind the table was when the front door finally gave out and the gunman stormed in.
The back door bounced back open after Zack had let go and the man ran for the door shouldering his way through. “STACY! ZACK, where’s Stacy!?”
“WHAT?! I don’t know.” Zack’s voice shrieked out.
With a growl, the man returned to the room and stormed out but before he left I could just make out a blue jacket with the words “security” written on the back. Haley bolted for the back door pulling me behind her while she grabbed some keys from her pockets. Gunfire once again started coming from behind us.
“STACY, I see you! Don’t run from me!” More gunshots followed by a woman screaming.
Haley finally made it to the back door. Pulling out a key with a big letter E on it she made to lock the door behind her but Leo grabbed the key before she did. “Wait what are you doing?”
“He’s going to hurt someone if I don’t stop him. Get to safety.” I said before kissing her. Haley was shocked for a moment but regained her senses and lunged for the key but I pushed her out the door and locked it behind her. Slamming and shouting started to come from the other side of the door but I was already gone, following the trail of terror.
Moving as fast as I could while using the walls to keep me steady I chased after the gunman. Shouting came from the floor below when I finally made it to the main hall, I saw a woman on the ground crawling away towards one of the entrances of the mall with the gunman standing over her shouting. Looking around I saw an escalator leading down behind the two.
“HELP!”
“HELP, HELP!? What do you need help for? I thought I was “just a stupid old good-for-nothing drunk.” RIGHT? What do you need help for? Where’s your fancy new security guards? WHERE ARE THEY STACY!?” The older man said grabbing Stacy by the hair and pulling her up from the ground.
Stacy let out a scream of pain and fear as she was yanked up. “HELP, PLEASE!”
“AIN’T NOBODY GOING TO HELP YOU BIT-AHH!” The old man's shouting was cut short when I punched him square in the back of the head. Letting his hand go Stacy hit the ground.
Reaching around the old man I grabbed the rifle and held it against the man's chest. “RUN!” I managed to croak out and Stacy kicked off her broken heels and sprinted for the doors.
“What’s wrong with you? You are letting her get away!” The man shouted. Up close I could smell the booze radiating off the man. Struggling for the gun I was losing my grip as the man positioned himself to point it at Stacy fleeing back despite me trying to stop him. Losing the barrel of the rifle I remembered watching a video online about the do’s and don’ts of gun safety. Going for the desperate play I gave up the barrel and instead aimed for the shoulder stock of the gun and the trigger. Pulling the stock of the gun so it was directly in front of the man's face while still pointing away from the escaping Stacy, I pulled the trigger.
The rifle fired and jetted backward smacking the gunman in the face causing blood to gosh out of his nose. The bullet shattered glass next to Stacy which earned another scream out of her before she made it outside and disappeared around a corner. The gunman yanked the rifle to the side pulling me who was holding on for dear life in front of him and then released one of his hands. For a moment I thought I might have been winning while I held on to the rifle but one solid punch across the jaw laid me out on the ground.
“YOU LET HER GET AWAY! Do you have any idea what she did to me?”
“I’m not going to let you kill anyone.”
“SHE RUINED MY LIFE FOR A CHEAP BUCK. Her dad runs the security company. That’s why she wants them. Twenty years protecting and serving this mall. I was friends with the owner but no, He’s dead now and the rest of us just get thrown aside. YOU NEED ME!”
“You’re drunk.”
“SO WHAT, They're ain’t any problems here that need me sober.” Bill said grabbing me by the scruff of my blood-drenched hoodie and looking me in the eye. I saw three sneering bearded faces staring back at me. “*whistle* Boy you might have a point. I didn’t think I hit you that hard but I got you punch drunk.” Bill laughed.
“Stop breathing on me, you are going to make me throw up. Are you going to kill me or what? ”
“Boy If I wanted you dead you would be. I wanted to show you and everyone how much you need me. Look what happened. I cleared out this whole mall by myself. Stacy and her daddy’s fancy rent-o-cops didn’t do nothing but run away the moment they saw me.”
“You are shooting people.”
“I haven’t shot anybody. I can aim.” Bill dragged me deeper into the mall while I fought against his hold but Bill was too strong. “Look, LOOK!” Bill gestured around with his gun.
I looked around and didn’t see any dead bodies on the ground. Giving my eyes a moment to stop swirling I instead noticed a bunch of orange shards on the ground.“Pumpkins?”
“YES! See, see I told you I could have killed everybody here but I didn’t. I shot every one of these pumpkins so you no my aim still good.”
“You’re drunk!”
“You’re drunker!”
“If you aren’t going to kill anybody then give me the gun.”
Bill looked at me who was staggering on my feet but still couldn’t shake Bill's grasp on my collar. “Are you crazy? You're drunk, you would hurt yourself.”
I had to close my eyes to not shout at the man. “Fine, you proved your point. Toss away the gun.”
With a sign, bill took the strap off himself while still holding me up right with one hand and slowly kicked his rifle away. “There, Are you happy?”
Before I could respond shouting came from behind Bill and he turned around “Well well well, If it ain’t the rent-o-cops. With your pretty white shirts. I can’t help to notice how you suddenly grew a pair after I chucked my g-” A shot ran out and I fell to the ground.
I tried to get up but neither my arms nor legs would listen to me. Shouting and another gunshot ran out. I couldn’t tell what was happening around me and could only stare up at the ceiling. The mall had windows installed in the ceiling so I could see the clouds over me. A Stiff breeze came from the window that was shot and a plastic grim reaper that was hanging on a string started to swing above and casted its shadow on me. The face of the smiling reaper was the last thing I saw as my eyes became cloudy like the sky above.