02: Caught In a Crossfire

Iris's whole body starts to shake. Even when her mind is telling her to move, run for her life but her body can't muster the energy to take even a step further as if her legs were glued to the floor. 

"Let's go! God damn it!" Lilith takes Iris's hand with her and tugs on it to get her moving or else her shock will get her killed tonight. Not that Lilith isn't scared but that doesn't mean she will leave her friend behind.

Absentmindedly, Iris goes with her friend, noticing that her other two friends have also joined them. She doesn't know how many minutes or even seconds have passed but the shooting still continues, so does the screaming of people and them causing chaos.

All the people are busy to get away from the bloody war zone as soon as possible but because of their fear they are just blocking each other's path and running in a circle, meaning no one is progressing. Some are stuck, some are whimpering on the ground after being shoved off and injured but just some lucky people have made their way out of here. 

Later on, Iris finds people in uniform trying to normalize the situation by coming to the terrified people's aid but they aren't able to do their job as none are willing to cooperate, they are busy trying to save their lives. Soon enough she watches police cars coming to her view, flashing red and blue light while the siren rings in her ears. 

She would be dead either way if she gets caught by any of the officers since they will be certainly contacting her father. She will be in much more serious trouble than she had earlier expected, if she gets out of here in one piece, that is. 

Iris finds it hard to breathe, hard to keep her eyes open. She can't move, neither her friends, nor any other people that are running like ants. But the thought of getting caught fills her mind with the only thing; she has to run. 

"Ahhhhhh." Someone's loud scream successfully grabs her attention but it's a mistake for her to turn back as the next thing she knows is that a dead body is lying on the ground,crimson blood still coming out of his head. His dying face showing all the pain that he is feeling right now,scaring Irish.

The horrifying scene adds up to her and others' horror even more who seem to acknowledge the incident. This wills her to get away from here as soon as possible,  feeling sick to her stomach she has an urge to vomit until she doesn't feel anything. Any normal person would be sick to be in a situation like this. 

It also angers her that there are so many people. Why are there so many people in a place like this at this hour? It's like almost thousands of them. She admits that the club looks big but it shouldn't have so many people in it.

"It's clearing now,let's go." Grace announces before sprinting off, finally finding a chance to get away from here. She is also petrified to the core, all shaken up. If she had known something like  this would take place here, she would have never recommended this place. 

But Grace is glad to find that now the number of people has lessened a lot and they have a clear path to get out of here. She leads her group of friends forward without looking behind, hoping her friends are taking her lead.

All three of her friends successfully make their way out of the place. Although all of them were holding each other's hand earlier, they had to release their hold because of the force of a large number of people  storming around. However, just when it's Iris's turn to run along with them, someone grabs her hair from behind, turning her around. That unknown person has her in a tight chokehold. Feeling the cold metal against her temple, she gulps down her fear. She wants to scream for help but her voice betrays her, she can't find herself being able to form any words nor can she produce any sound. The shock, the fear are making her weak, taking away the will to stay sane and think rationally.

It's so sudden that she doesn't know what to do. She didn't even notice someone approaching her from the behind. All her instincts died down. It will be futile to try and apply some of her self-defense tips now because she knows she can get shot by the metal that identifies as a gun anytime if she alerts the intruder somehow.

As if it wasn't already enough. Now, a  criminal has her in a chokehold, almost cutting the supply of air so she can't breathe properly. As a result, her face turns red.

"I will shoot her brain away if you take one more step!" The man warns the police while putting more pressure on Iris's temple. Her eyes burn with hot tears cascading down her cheeks, she desperately tries to get his hand away from her neck but he just holds her more tightly, she may faint anytime soon. Having no other choice she closes her eyes, accepting her fate.

There is a moment of silence. Only the breathing of people can be heard along with the police siren, no screams of people as if they just vanished within the air but the thick tension still lingers in the atmosphere. Still with her eyes closed, Iris goes to stomp on the criminal's foot before elbowing his stomach, that can give him a sudden shock meaning she has a chance to get away from him, the police surrounding them can catch him if she succeeds into freeing herself.However, before she can go with her uncertain decision, she hears a deep and stern voice speaking up,a voice that sounds similar to her that compels her to open her eyes. 

"You know you can't get away with a hostage. You are all surrounded so it would be wise if you let her go and surrender yourself." More tears start to come out of her eyes seeing the familiar man in front her. It's uncle Jonathan,one of her father's close friends.

"Unc-" the man cuts her off by shoving the gun at her head.His ugly and loud laugh makes her cringe. 

"I will not go down that easily,officer. Let me go before I blow her brain out." The man warns once again,taking a few steps back with still having Iris in his hold. 

"Uncle!" Iris screams out,still crying. She doesn't want to go with him. 

Jonathan Moore looks afraid for a brief moment of time. It's his best friend's daughter whom he treats like his own daughter. He feels his throat tightening. As the FBI officer in Charge It's his job to negotiate with the criminal and get the hostage free from him unharmed. As an uncle It's also his duty to save her from the claw of that nasty bastard but the only change is that as an uncle, the emotion works faster. 

"Don't shoot!" He barks an order at his junior officers and police officers.

"Oh? Do I have the officer's niece here with me?" The man mocks, trying to peek at her face. He laughs a nasty laugh like a vindictive man finally having his revenge. 

"You don't want your niece safe? Then let me go!" He roars with authority in his voice.

"Taking an innocent life will have you imprisoned for life. Even parole won't work for you, Davis." Jonathan tries to coax the criminal into giving up and surrendering himself.

"I can help with your punishment period if you let her go. Just let her go and we will report that you cooperated with us." Jonathan carefully feeds his lie but being a criminal, the man is aware of all the things. So,the man fires at Jonathan instead. Sensing the criminal's next movement beforehand, Jonathan ducks down when the man shoots him. His instinct saves him for the time. Luckily, no one was standing behind him. 

"Don't talk bullshit!" He talks with rage this time, his anger rising every passing moment. Though he has lightened his grip on Iris, she feels dizzy.

"You know you don't want this. Think with your brain this time instead of your dick." An unfamiliar face comes to Iris's view this time. His words surprise her. She is in a life and death situation and this dude has the mindset to say things which can provoke the man holding her at gunpoint!

"What are you doing?" Jonathan whisper-yells at the young man who has come forward from behind. 

"You! You traitor!" The criminal yells louder than before, Iris feels him shaking against her body.She assumes It's due to unbearable anger. Now she is sure she is a gone case. 

"I know what I'm doing." The young man known as Ashton Ryan Coopers replies before turning his attention to the target. 

"Yes, it's me. No wonder you didn't know that I was your enemy. What a thick brain you have got,mate. How did you build such an empire of crime?" He continues to mock. 

"Don't listen to him.Just let her go and we can talk it out ,Davis." Throwing an angry glare at Ashton for his immaturity,he tries to make Davis understand. 

"You can't get away,Davis. Just give up already." 

"I will kill you bastard!" And with that he fires at Ashton. Ashton didn't even have to duck because Davis' aim was so wrong that it hit the pillar in front of the building instead. He is surely not the expert one with a gun. 

"I will kill her!" Being frustrated with cat and mouse chase, he decides to put an end to it. 

Iris's throat dries at his words. Never has she ever thought she would die such an unfortunate death. There are so many things that she hasn't done yet. For fuck's sake! She just turned 19 a few months ago!  

But the sound of a gunshot puts a comma to her thinking. It's so loud that her ears are still ringing, making her temporarily deaf. Quickly, she closes her eyes  as an act of instinct, anticipating the pain but it hasn't come yet. She doesn't know how it feels to be shot at but she is certain it doesn't feel like nothing. Is she already dead? 

Her confusion washes away as soon as she  hears groans coming out of the man's throat. Her eyes widen seeing blood oozing out of his arm. He is the one who got shot and not her? The first time today,she feels relief.

"He doesn't have any bullets left. Grab him." She hears the same young man talking who earlier had teased the criminal. 

"Fuck!" And suddenly she is shoved to the ground. But before Davis can run away, police officers who were surrounding them catch him.

Being dumbfounded, she continues to sit on the floor, watching the police handcuffing him. Before she has to see any of them some officers help her standing up, cover her up with a blanket and walk her to an ambulance that stands a few minutes away from the club. 

"Iris!" She knows the voice by heart. It's Emily but before she can look up to her, she struggles to stand still as she gets crushed into a group hug. The sniffling sound doesn't go unheard by her. She doesn't want to cry anymore but she can't control anymore. Tears start to fall without even asking her for permission.

It's a very painful feeling to know that you can die any second, to realise that you might never meet your loved ones again. Still in deep shock,Iris is grateful that she didn't have to die this way.

"I'm so sorry,Iris. It's all because of. I'm so sorry." Grace begs for forgiveness, sobbing hard. 

Before Iris can assure Grace that It's not her fault, she is taken to the ambulance by the paramedics.