The shrill scream was deafening.
Time slowed...
My heartbeat was beating louder than a bass drum. I sat there, frozen, staring at my half-eaten Bosco stick, trying to process the words that had just left Mrs. Brown's mouth. Comatose? As in, Stanlee's in a coma!
"I'm sorry, I apologize for the pain all of you are feeling right now. This was a freak accident that could've been prevented."
Jessica held Keisha and then glared up at Officer Black," This was no accident. Wade and Jackal planned this attack!"
Officer Black scratched his head, "If you have evidence or proof that this was planned, fork it over. I can't go off mere theory. We all know Principal L won't, or any of the staff in the office, can take that to the higher ups or -"
BOOM
The sound of a fist hitting the wall echoed through the room, shutting everyone up. Barry walked over from Connor's stall into our area; his face was scrunched up in pure fury. He scowled at Officer Black.
"Proof..." Barry's voice was as quiet as a mouse. "Our friend is fighting for his life in a hospital, and you want to talk about proof!?"
Barry's fists were clenched, going white from the grip. His teeth were bared, and his face scrunched up and bright red. Despite Barry being afraid to play in the dodgeball match, there was no doubt that the love he had for Stanlee, his homie, came behind Connor and Alicia right behind him.
Mrs. Brown walked up to Barry and tried for a hug. "Barry, calm down."
Barry weaved her hug attempt, his eyes locked on Officer Black," No. I will not calm down! This is insane! Do you intend on letting those lunatics get away with this?"
The lighting in the room flickered. Officer Blacks face looked like his patience was running out. Who wouldn't when you're being yelled at by a teenager? Barry, of all people. His veins were popping on his shiny bald head.
Officer Black exhaled. "Before coming here, I went to the security cams and ran it through; there was no footage of anyone jumping Stanlee. It cut straight to him on the floor, bleeding. Then you and your twin arrived and brought him here. "
"That's impossible," Keisha said as she stood up, breaking out of Jessica's embrace, her eyes bloodshot," Marcus told us otherwise."
Keisha froze, then glared at Officer Black. "Where's Marcus? He saw the whole thing happen; he can confirm what happened was planned."
Officer Blacks eyes widened, "Well, this is news to me, Keisha. Your friend Marcus was silent the entire ride back. He didn't say a single word to me."
Keisha cupped her hands to her face and sighed in frustration. She looked like she was seconds away from finding Marcus herself and dragging him here.
"Where is Marcus?" Keisha demanded.
"When we came here, he headed off to the lunchroom. We had seen you and Jessica enter the infirmary as we stepped back into the school. He still insisted on going to eat lunch."
My eyebrows furrowed, "The lunchroom? Why is he avoiding us?"
Officer Black shrugged, " You're asking the wrong guy questions? All I know is whenever Marcus is ready to speak, I'm willing to hear. Until then, I'll stand by my motto, Innocent till proven guilty, vice versa."
Keisha grumbled, "Show us the footage then, Judge Judy."
Barry cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, Officer Black, let us see the footage."
Officer Black narrowed his eyes, "You two better watch -"
"Officer Black," Mrs. Brown pleaded, "It's the least you can do for the kids. Their friend is in a coma, and they don't know when he'll wake up."
Jessica sniffles, "Please, Officer Black."
Officer Black sighed in exasperation, "Okay, follow me across the hallway."
I stuffed my half-eaten Bosco stick back in the clear plastic container.
Mrs. Brown stared at me incredulously, "You're going too?"
I nodded while standing up off the bed, "Yes, ma'am. I need to see this with my own two eyes."
"Kevin, you haven't even finished your lunch."
I shrugged, "I'll eat it during 5th hour while Mr. Jones is telling us the criteria for how the final exam project is going to go."
Mrs. Brown sighed, "Alright, don't forget to take those two Tylenol tablets while eating and down it with some milk or water afterward."
I shot her a thumbs up, "I gotchu, doc."
Barry tapped his foot impatiently, "Are you done? We have five minutes till lunch is over!"
I glance at Barry, then focus my attention on Officer Black, "Lead the way, sir."
Officer Black opened the recovery room door, and Charlie fell backward, his phone bouncing on the floor.
Officer Black was already out of patience, "What are you doing, Charlie?"
Charlie's mouth was quivering, "N-n-n-nothin'."
Officer Black held his gaze for what felt like an eternity before saying, "Better be nothing, lucky it's lunch time otherwise that phone would be sitting on my desk again. Now beat it."
"But..."
"Did I stutter, boy?"
Charlie picked himself up and dashed out of the infirmary.
Mrs.Browns eyebrows furrowed quizzically. "That was... odd? Why was Charlie here to begin with?"
Officer Black whipped his head back to Mrs.Brown, "You can call him down from his class during 5th hour to find out what it is. All I know is that boy is always up to no good."
He glanced down at us four, " I don't think our conversation is so private anymore."
"That doesn't matter," Barry snapped.
I side-eye Barry before putting on my fake face. "What Barry means is we appreciate your concern, Sir. It was only a matter of time until word got out around the school anyway."
Officer Black scoffed, "I'm sure he did. I'd hate to snap-suspend one of the good ones. Remember, in the last week, I can snap-suspend students after two strikes. That will carry over to the next high school."
Officer Black pushed open the entrance door and walked straight across the hallway to his office. While he fumbled his keys to unlock the door, Barry elbowed me. I grimaced slightly at the dull pain that transformed into what felt like being stabbed with a sharp knife that was on the stove. I faced him, holding my tongue.
"What was that for?" I hissed
"I didn't ask for your help." He snarled silently.
"If you're suspended, how can you be there for Connor and Alicia?"
Barry's face went beet red, "I was gonna be there for them! But no! You and Raphael over there, " he cocked his head to Keisha, "Had to be such self-righteous jerks and overlook how I felt and downplayed it and called me soft!"
I scrunched my eyes; I could feel my head getting hot. My neck slightly tremored. "Nobody was downplaying your feelings, Barry. If that's truly how you felt, you woulda got yourself put instantly."
Barry rolled his eyes, "You know I did that for Alicia, and what did I get rewarded with? My brother's finger is bent, and Alicia won't talk even to me anymore!"
My eyebrow furrowed quizzically.
"What are you talking about?"
"She blocked my number and refuses to talk to me. I asked Margaret, and she told me how Keisha blew up on her!"
"Dude," Keisha joined in, "It was a heat-of-the-moment thing. She was debating whether I should be out or not when it was so obvious I was out. Plus, it was thanks to her and you that we got to that point. Maybe if you stayed, Connor would still be fine!"
Jessica slid in between us, "Guys, save it for later. Don't forget what we're here for."
I exhaled sharply. Officer Black was already inside the room, seated at his seat with the monitor setup showing all twenty-one cameras.
I turned towards the room, my back facing Barry, "We'll finish this later."
"Agreed," Barry snapped.
The four of us enter Officer Blacks office. His room was so grand for no particular reason. The shades were drawn like always. He had five desks, one in the middle and the other four all facing a wall for students who gained detention.
He didn't have many decorations; he moreso had posters of many historical figures aligned with quotes, specifically in front of the desks for students to stare at, though I couldn't tell if he thought students would have a change of heart after seeing these quotes or help them fall to sleep. His two favorites behind his desk were his hero, Martin Luther King, and his two famous quotes, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and the entirety of the "I have a dream" speech.
Officer Black yawned, "Alright, let's get this over with."
He clicked the rewind three times button on the touchscreen monitor. The computer fan started humming loudly as the frames reached an all-time high. The clock zoomed backwards until he paused it at 10:10 AM. Six minutes before the 3rd hour ended.
He pointed at the top middle camera, "That's Stanlee."
Sure enough, it was him on his way towards the spiral staircase. In a frozen frame.
Barry froze, "Wait, zoom in on the far left camera."
Officer Black sighed in exhaustion. He double-tapped that far-left camera.
My jaw dropped, "No way."
Keisha shook her head, "That makes no sense."
Jessica stood there, flabbergasted
What we saw on the screen was Jackal, Wade, and his whole posse walking past Stanlee in the hallway before he made it to the steps.
Barry's hands were trembling. "Hit play, please."
Officer Blacks face expression darkened like he had seen this replay one too many times. He double-tapped Zoom out and then grouped the cameras near the stairwell together. As he hit play, Jackal and Wade's posse continued walking down the hallway. We then saw Stanlee walk toward the steps and trip and fall on the steps. The video started glitching as he fell down each step. It looked horrifying. When he finally reached the floor, he was writhing in pain.
Officer Black stared at the floor, "I'm sorry you had to see that, youngsters."
I shook my head, No Stanlee told us himself he got jumped. He wouldn't make this up!"
Officer Black threw his hands up, "Has it crossed your mind that maybe the trauma of hitting his head multiple times down those steps could've made him believe those things happen?"
I just looked at Officer Black, "Stanlee is not delusional. Your monitor is messed up for real."
Officer Black shrugged, "Whether it is or isn't doesn't change the fact that this is the hard proof as of now. So to anyone else, it's either he's delusional or lying in your face."
Keisha glared at Officer Black, "I know Stanlee. He's not the type of coward to lie to our face, especially if he's at his weakest!"
Jessica nodded, "That's right! How do you explain the footprints then?"
Barry's eyes were glued to the monitor still frozen in place. "He fell down a stairwell, Jessica. Those dusty footprints coulda been from all those steps."
The room went silent for what felt like two seconds before the storm raged in the room.
Barry..., Keisha started her voice menacingly calm, "What do you mean by that?"
Barry turned toward her with a scowl on his face, "I'm saying Stanlee fell down the stairwell and then either hid the truth or got so banged up on those steps that he can't even think straight."
I stare at him incredulously, "Hey, Genius, what about what Marcus saw?"
"Who cares! I'm supposed to believe that fat wuss over this live footage of what happened?! Make that make sense!"
SPLAT
We all turned to see Marcus at the doorway, his eyes bloodshot, and tears began forming. His tray of Nachos with cheese and beef splattered on the floor.
Barry sighed, "Marcus, I—"
"NO SHUT UP!" Marcus voice boomed like thunder.
He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. "For the first time... I thought I had friends who loved me for who I am on the inside, not hate me or judge me for what I am on the outside. You guys are no different from Jackal and Wade."
He took off down the hallway. Leaving his nachos, beef, and cheese splattered near the entrance to the office.
"Marcus!" I shout at the top of my lungs
The bell rang, echoing through the hallway as the noise polluted the hallways as students filled up the hallway, and Marcus disappeared within them like a needle in a haystack.