Caitlin slowly lifted her eyelids. She could only see dimly at first. She closed them again hoping to see better images but then she felt her head aching badly. She squinted her eyes, groaning with pain. As time progressed she recalled what had happened. Some students were about to board the bus and then there was a large noise. Like that of an explosion. And she hit her head badly.

She reopened her eyes. She could see better but with a lot of difficulty. She was in a large room with more other students who were wounded from the attack. A few nurses strolled from one bed to another to check up on the awake patients. She noticed a TV screen high on the wall a few meters from where she laying. It was on at a low volume and Cheryl was reporting; “Only five students were killed in the bombing including; Arnold Fredric, Bradford James, Cameron Lid, Raymond Big and Michael Reece…”

Caitlin closed her eyes, the pain now progressed to the rest parts of her body. She felt warmth on her shoulder and opened her eyes. “Erin?” she whispered.

“Shh.” Erin hushed her. She bent forward toward Caitlin and said. “They are looking for you.”

“What?” Caitlin asked with a struggle.

“You ruined the deal.” Erin said.

“What are you talking about?” Caitlin inquired with tears of agony rolling down her cheeks.

“Caitlin, you have to run. You and your brother.”

“What are you saying Erin?” she swallowed, tasting blood in her mouth. She must have also had an internal bleeding. “Are you okay?” she added staring lazily at her.

“Listen to me. The mission was to drop the bomb on the stairs, not the bus.” She paused, Caitlin’s eyes were widening with every word that came out of Erin’s mouth. Erin went on, “it was to kill the hundreds of students, as well as stuff that were using the stairs at that time. But, you picked it up.”

“The, the Calculator?”

“When you picked it up, some guys took it. I know those boys. Or… at least I knew them. Ray Big and Michael Reece, they were the school bullies. They were not involved in the deal but, they saved a lot of lives sacrificing their own without knowing. That bomb could have brought down the whole Chief Building.” She paused, stretched her hand and grasped Caitlin’s palm. Caitlin hesitated for a moment and then gave in. Erin helped her sit up stuffing the pillows behind Caitlin’s back.

“I’m scared Erin. I want to go home.”

“You have to.” Erin agreed. “Now. Your life is in danger.” She turned around and Caitlin watched her pull a wheelchair that she came with.

“Why don’t you tell the teachers?” Caitlin asked.

“No. I can’t. I could get killed.”

“You can just pretend that you’re taking books and slip a note to our principle Mr. Archibald.”

“This is a very big organization Caitlin. They are all terrorists. Even Mr. Archibald. He was the one who organized all this. We can’t say anything right now. We can only save your life.” Erin said keeping her voice stiff. She held Caitlin to help her on the wheelchair.

“What about my young brother?”

“Let’s worry about you first.”

“He is my brother, Erin.”

The room doorknob tilted and the principal walked in. Erin lowered her head.

He walked straight to them as they were the only ones close to the entrance. “Where are you taking the patient?” he greeted but, calmly.

“To the washroom sir.” Erin replied still looking down.

“Okay.” He said and passed to another bed.

Erin pushed Caitlin out of the room and they emerged into a corridor. The school hospital wing was in the first floor of the building and that made it easy for them to get outside. They left the wheelchair at the entrance and Erin helped Caitlin down the stairs to the yard below them. They walked behind the oaks in fear of the night shift guards.

“My brother Erin.” Caitlin cried.

Erin searched for something in her dress pocket. When she revealed it, was a calculator. “Don’t worry, it’s not a bomb.” She assured pressing some buttons.

Suddenly all the school lights went out. Caitlin looked around, perplexed.

Erin retrieved the calculator in her pocket and took out a handset. She pressed some buttons and dialed. “I have the boy. Bring the girl.” A voice called first. Erin hang up and turned to Caitlin. “We have only 60 seconds to get out of the school before the lights come back.”

“My brother.” Caitlin repeated.

“He’s safe outside.”

She helped Caitlin through the open field, hiding from some guards who were complaining about the blackout that had subsided for a while already.

Outside, Caitlin saw her brother in a car and Mr. Dickson behind the wheels.

“Sister!” Ralph cried. Caitlin joined him in the back seat and painfully hugged him.

Erin closed the door for them and Caitlin turned to her. “You?”

“I have to remain behind. Bye!”

“What about you?” Caitlin cried hands on the window.

Erin drew far from the car. She waved at Mr. Dickson who waved back and accelerated the car away.

*************************************************************

watch out for Part 2 of HAMERTON : Natalie's Arrival 

stay tuned..