1.4
Tom (Athan’s dad) answers the phone “Yeah...,” the call was one sided. “You know who it is… what do you want?” After another short pause, “WHAT!”
PAUSE
Tom, hurried his words along, “I can tell you in ten different ways,” as he shook his head, “I’m not going to play this game with you. I don’t care who! I don’t do that anymore.” Tom hung up the phone and looked at the class that Athan was sitting in, except he was no longer there.
Athan was rounding the corner of the hallway, as an announcement bellowed from the loud speakers, “ALL STUDENTS TO THE AUDITORIUM.” Athan planted his left foot and pivoted 180 degrees, and proceeded to the assembly with urgency.
As Athan made his way into the auditorium he noticed the students in the far corners, not a single free chair from the front to the last rows. Standing room only for the staff along the exterior walls. Athan took a moment to scan the entire room. He noticed Ronny standing in the middle waving Athan over. Ronny had made it to the auditorium first, with Fiona, who was sitting on his right side. Ronny saved the seat on his left for Athan. Ronny always looked out for Fiona, and Athan thought it was just because Ronny thought of Fiona as a little sister too. Athan had no clue it was more than that. Athan worked his way through the sea of legs in the aisle, and as he was adjusting his chair, he asked Ronny, “What’s the deal?”
“I don’t know. Kyle said that they set up the T.V. to show a live feed,” Ronny responded.
Athan sat down and leaned forward, looked around Ronny, and asked Fiona, “Did you see where Dad is?”
Fiona turned toward the back exit and pointed, “He’s right over there.”
Athan saw his dad, and replayed the one sided phone call he overheard in his head. Athan shook his head, and then looked back at Ronny to ask, “What time are you coming over tonight?”
“Around five. Fiona said that I can come for dinner. Is that cool?” Ronny answered in a weird cautiously polite tone. Athan mumbled back, “Yeah.”
Ronny and Fiona could tell that Athan was lost in thought. Who would be calling? What attack was he talking about and why would his dad be involved? Athan’s mind was running wild. Maybe his dad was a bodyguard or some kind of security expert.
The auditorium lights began to dim, while the curtains above the stage were drawn open. The T.V behind the stage was already playing. It was strange for the TV to be on without a lengthy Teacher introduction. Channel 7 News was now streaming through the auditorium. The audio started in the middle of the report, “….Yes Mark, the President is going to speak now.”
The picture on the TV looked like a post card, with blue skies and a wide angle shot of the White House, that quickly zoomed in on The President of the United States, as he exited the building and walked to his mark behind the podium. The President looked directly in the camera lens, and his face was stone with glassed over eyes. He silently paused and grabbed the sides of the podium angrily, hung his head down, and stretched his back, then lifted his head, faced the camera again, inhaled, then started in a confident voice, “Good people of the United States. Last night at approximately 2:00 am eastern standard time, we, The United States of America are at war with Cuba AND Mexico.” The students and faculty in the auditorium were shocked. While a collective gasp rippled through the crowd, fear and confusion started to seed in the minds of those watching. The President continued, “In a surprise attack in the Gulf Of Mexico the USS Ronald Reagan was lost with all hands.”
The President, dropped his head again, took a moment and stared directly in to the camera, and with undeniable strength informed the world that, “This attack, was unprovoked. It will be met with a heavy response. Our counter strike has already been completed. Moments ago I received word that our mission was a success. Missile strikes were targeted to hit our enemy’s main Naval port in Cancun Mexico. Satellite imagery has shown complete destruction of twelve enemy battle ships.” One of the President’s advisors suddenly appeared on screen, and grabbed the Presidents elbow and literally pulled him off screen. The body microphone on the President was still broadcasting live. The off screen audio continued to air an irate President grinding his teeth while chopping out the words, “What do you mean fake?!” The President’s voice was bordering on hysterical, a voice thagt the American people had never heard from this young president before.
Sirens roared from everywhere. The auditorium surround sound enveloped everyone as they appeared to freeze with their eyes fixed on the TV, as the sound of a rumbling train was skipping across the room. Screams broke out, students started to leap from their chairs as the watched a rocket like image blur across the White House sky, then burst into a bright light, then a black screen without any feed.
One of the teachers ran on to the stage, shouting “What was that?” as he began to rewind and replay the feed. As the rocket came in to view he paused the image on the stage, then adjusted the settings, and played the clip in slow motion. Frame by frame the rocket slowly made its way to its target. The White House was decimated. The President took the brunt of the blast. Frame after frame, everyone in the auditorium could clearly see parts of the White House speeding towards the President. Just as the first piece of debris was about to hit the President’s head from behind, Athan’s dad, Tom, pushed the button to close the curtains on the stage. The teacher at the T.V. forgot that there were over eight hundred teenagers watching with him as he reviewed the video of the national capital being destroyed. The sounds from the students were deafening. Some students were screaming, while other students were crying. A few students began to argue about what they saw and actually started to physically push back and forth. Teachers reacted quickly to stop what could escalate in to a riot. The floor felt like it was trembling.
Fiona with her pupils dilated and adrenaline pumping, started to drill Athan for answers, “What just happened?” Fiona, intently waited for Athan’s reply. “I am pretty sure that Washington just got hit hard by a missile attack. We really should be watching a different channel to see what’s going on.” Athan squeezed his way through the crowd, struggling to get to his dad. “Athan…WAIT UP,” Ronny yelled as he tried to catch up to Athan with Fiona in tow. Another shift in the ground made people start to scatter like ants in all directions.
A random voice roared “Earthquake!” The ground shook so hard that those who were standing fell to their knees. The auditorium filled with screams. The school was in complete chaos. People were running everywhere. The main laser projector, located above the orchestra section in the ceiling, was dangling by two bolts, that were loosening with each tumour.
The projector dropped suddenly on one side, and then the force from the first side’s fall, detached the second side from its fitting. The entire unit plus ceiling, dropped to the floor, barely missing Mrs. Macintyre’s head. Athan was caught on the floor with a few fallen students on top of him. Then there was a second explosion.. It wasn't as strong as the first explosion, but it was enough to scare the shit out of them. Athan looked up to see his dad holding out a hand to help him up. The fire alarm went off. Athan lept to his feet and noticed that Fiona and Ronny were standing behind his dad, Tom. People started to rush for the exits and were pushing past the four of them.
Tom quickly directed Athan, Ronny and Fiona, “LET’s GO! To my truck in the FACULTY LOT.”
No comments:
Post a Comment