The hallway thundered with the echoes of struggles. Chase's arms burbed, his lungs screamed for air, but he refused to let go. Travis shoved him hard against the locker, the gun jerking dangerously between them. The ceiling still smoldered faintly from the shot that had gone off, a reminder of how close disaster had been.
Chase swallowed in both fear and, he hated to say it, excitement. His heart was pounding just from the exchange he was having. This was his first fight. All he wanted to do was get the gun away from Travis and stop him from killing anyone.
His mind raced. 'I can't win like this. I need to change the fight.'
Summoning every ounce of his strength, Chase twisted his body sideways, driving his knee upward. The sudden movement caught Travis off guard, loosening his grip for just a fraction of a second. It was enough. Chase kicked out, his sneaker connecting with the weapon.
The gun skidded across the floor, spinning wildly before clattering to a stop near the stairwell. Both boys' eyes darted forward, the weapon gleaming under the harsh, fluorescent lights. Time seemed to freeze.
Then Travis lunged.
Chase reacted instantly, throwing his sword forward and slamming into him with a desperate burst of strength. The two collided, their bodies crashing against the lockers with a bang that reverberated down the empty hallway. Travis snarled, his hand clawing away at Chase's arms, trying to shove him aside.
Chase was thinking about how to end this. He needed to think. He had watched countless action movies. He had relished the great fighting scenes. He had even practised them when he was younger. What should he do? He knew Travis wasn't going to listen to reasoning. He was far gone. So he had to incapacitate him. Travis had figured out how to do that.
It was going to be amateurish, but it was better than nothing. And it was going to be the first time doing something like that.
He shifted his stance, planting his feet firmly, and wrapped his arms around Travis from behind. He forearm locked across Travis's throat, his other arm bracing tight, pulling him into a rear choke. Chase's legs hooked around Travus's waist, anchoring him like a chain.
Travis thrashed violently, his body jerking side to side, trying to shake Chase loose. He slammed his back against the lockers, the impact rattling the metal, but Chase absorbed the shock, tightening his grip. His muscles screamed, his lungs burned, but adrenaline surged through him, keeping him locked in place.
The hallway became a storm of motion — shoes squealing against the floor, lockers rattling, the sound of Travis's desperate grunts filling the air. Chase's vision blurred with sweat, his heart hammering like a drum, but he forced himself to stay focused. Don't let go. Don't let him break free.
Travis staggered forward, dragging Chase with him, but Chase clung on like steel. He adjusted his grip, pressing tighter, his arms trembling but unyielding. Every second stretched into eternity, the struggle raw and chaotic, the stakes higher than anything Chase had ever faced.
"Stop fighting!" Chase gasped, his voice strained but resolute. "It's over, Travis! It's over!"
But Travis only growled, his movements fueled by desperation. He clawed at Chase's arms, his fingers digging in, but Chase refused to loosen his hold. He shifted his weight again, tightening the choke, his body locked in determination.
The fight dragged on, each moment heavier than the last. Travis's thrashing slowed, his strength faltering, his legs stumbling. Chase felt the shift — the resistance weakening, the fight draining out of him. He held steady, his grip firm, until finally Travis sagged, his body collapsing under the pressure.
The hallway fell silent.
Chase loosened his hold just enough to keep Travis subdued, his chest heaving, his arms trembling from the effort. His eyes darted toward the gun lying abandoned on the floor, relief washing over him in waves. He had done it. Against all odds, against fear and betrayal, he had stopped Travis.
The screen opened up before him.
[Mission Objectives: Engage and neutralise the shooter before thirty people are killed.]
[Mission Status: Completed]
[The reward will be issued when you're ready.]
For a long moment, Chase just stood there, holding Travis, his breath ragged, his body shaking. The silence pressed in, broken only by the faint hum of the lights above. The scar on the ceiling stared down at him, a reminder of how close disaster had come.
"I won." He whispered to himself. "Against my best friend."
Tears threatened to fall out of his eyes. Travis was going to go away forever. He wasn't going to see him again. And it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He could finally hear the police moving in the hallway. He watched as one came into distance, barking that he should get on his knees and get away from Travis. He complied as they all swarmed him. He didn't say a word. He knew everything would be solved soon.
But he had won. He had fought, he had endured, and he had prevailed.