19 comments/ 16362 views/ 29 favorites A Shot into Darkness Ch. 01 By: cassie_17 All Characters are over the age of 18. This is my first time submitting a story, and I hope you like it. Constructive criticism is always welcome. This is a slow love story, so if you are looking for something fast and gritty, this is not for you. Everyone else- I hope you enjoy ~Cassie * Lying here, I thought there was nothing I wanted more in the world than a kiss from him. To be loved and cherished, to be held and wanted. But alas, I would never get that from anyone, even him. He walked closer. The blackness threatened to pull me under, but I kept my eyes opened. He had bullied me relentlessly since I had come out, and now, he was taking the last stand he could. The screams of students echoed around us, but it was if we were in a bubble. The gun was leveled at me. A shot rang out, and I drifted down to the welcoming nothing. ************************* 1 day earlier******************* "Jase. Jase? Jase!" I turned as I heard my name ringing down the hallway. I smiled as my best friend, Henry Smite, hurried up to me. The students in the hallway seemed to part as he passed, and for good reason. He was an Adonis. His golden hair settled in a halo around him, and his sea green eyes were always sparkling with happiness. He was 6'1 of pure muscle. What made him even more tempting was he was a straight A student who had a full football scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools in the country, Stanford. I don't know what I did to deserve being his best friend, but somehow I landed there. I'm nothing special. My name is Jason Crawford and I'm a senior in high school. I'm 5'11, and have average brown hair and a decent body. I work out and I'm captain of the cross country team. My favorite feature are my eyes. They are a deep blue that always seems to be changing colors. If I'm in a good mood, they will almost be a sky blue, but when I'm angry or turned on, they become a deep, murky black-blue. I am also gay. I came out when I was a sophomore, but I was accepted from most of my friends and my family. I was one of the lucky ones. However, in the small town of Mason, CT, there were not a lot of prospects for me to look to. Therefore, I have had to rely on porn and my right hand for my experience. It's not even if I would take an offer for a boyfriend if I had one. I'm too much in love with Henry to even pay attention to anyone else. Swept out of my thoughts, I was being bear hugged by Henry. His strong arms encased me, and I felt safe and warm. Too soon it was over, and I was back on the ground. "What was that for?" I asked, looking up at him. He smiled, with his million dollar grin. He pushed me gently against my locker and produced a wrapped gift from behind his back. "It's your birthday dumbass." He said, ruffling my hair. Henry has been my longest friend and when I came out, he nodded and ruffled my hair. We haven't talked about it since. "You know you didn't have to get me anything." I said, while reaching for the gift anyway. He stepped to the side and dodged out of the way, his low laugh rumbling. "Not yet, not yet." He delivered, as I sighed in disappointment. The bell rang, and the flow of students emptied out into various classrooms. "Shit. Walk you to class?" Henry asked, and I shook my head. The reason he was asking was ever since I came out I had been victimized by Kevin Earls. He was this cliche jock type, whose neck was the size of a large hamburger and pounded his fists into anything who didn't worship him. Upon knowing that I was a "fag" and "fairy," he took it upon himself to make sure my life was hell. Luckily, I had Henry, who was more popular than I was. He was able to keep Kevin away from him at most times. "Nah I got it." I said. My next class was AP English and I was pretty sure I could handle Kevin if I ran into him. Henry nodded and ran off down the hallway to his next class. I watching his retreating back as long as I could, before turning and making my way down the english hallway. Just as I was reaching my classroom, someone gripped the back of my shirt and slammed me violently against a locker. All 6'3 of Kevin Earls stood over me. He had short, army style, blond hair and beefy everything. He glared at me. "A little birdie told me it's your 18th birthday today fagboy. Guess your legal to fuck other fairies now." He sneered down at me. I don't know what came into me, but I snapped. Pulling a quick reflex, I punched him in the stomach as hard as I could. He bent over and then threw me a right hook. I barely got out of the way before his hand was wrapped around my throat. "You don't belong in this world faggot. You and your ugly, perverted kind should all go die." I gasped for breath as his hand tightened. His eyes glared with a deep hatred I had seen a couple times before. Fear blossomed in my stomach and I swallowed. He dropped me on the ground, kicked me once, and walked away. I could barely see his back through my watering eyes. As soon as I was able to, I got up and gathered my books. "Your late, Mr Crawford." Said Ms. Madison, my english teacher. She was a pretty cool teacher, and I liked her. She was like a pixie would be, with short, cropped gray hair, small bones and endless energy. I collapsed into my seat and quickly apologized. She told me I had to see her after class. I sighed as I opened my backpack and got my books out. It was a great start to my birthday. ************************************Henry************************* I've been in love now for 4 years, 3 months, 2 days, 18 hours, and 27 minutes. It honestly isn't something I ever saw coming. When it came, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I still remember the day as if it was yesterday. It was the summer between 8th grade and freshman year. We had decided to go swim in the crick down by his house, and we gathered some sandwiches, some water and some soda to go with us. We dived into the small pond and were swimming around for quick awhile. The water was cold and refreshing on my bare back, and the sunlight filtered perfectly through the trees, seeping golden droplets around the sparkling water and surrounding rocks. After swimming for an hour or so, we decided to lay down on the rocks. I looked over at him and saw Jase had fallen asleep. His chest, so skinny back then, was rising and falling, and was dappled in shadows and sun. His brown hair had highlights of gold in it and was messily pushed back over his forehead. Then his eyes opened, and looked at me. They were such a clear, beautiful blue that I was frozen in place. My heartbeat quickened and I felt a tightening in my groin. I knew then, that I was in love with this boy. However, it was not easy admitting it. I ended up sleeping around for most of freshman and sophomore year. At the end of sophomore year, Jason came out. He was gay. I knew I never would have a chance with him, because he views me as a brother. But I haven't slept or had a girlfriend since. I turned 18 this summer. Jason threw me a big party and I had so much fun. At one point of the party, we found ourselves alone on my deck. He turned to me and said "Happy Birthday Henry, I hope you have everything you wanted." I know he was talking party wise, but I wanted to kiss his rose-bud lips and caress his flat stomach. I wanted to delve deeper to see what pleasured him. I couldn't though and we went back inside. A book crashed onto my desk and I jumped about three feet into the air, coming out of my day dreams and memories. "Is my lecture boring you Mr. Smite?" My math teacher, Mr. Ward, glared down at me. Students were snickering in the background and I felt my cheeks heat. "Not at all sir. Sorry." I said. My parents always taught me to be respectful of my elders, and I was. Mostly. The bell rang and I gathered my bags and escaped the class. Flowing out in the hallway, I made my way toward Jase's locker, wanting to wait for him to go to lunch, which was the next period. ******************************* Jason ************************* "Has Kevin Earls been bullying you Jason?" Ms. Madison looked up at me. I felt a pit of nervousness at what Kevin would do to me if I said yes. "No Ma'am. He has not." I said, trying to keep eye contact. I could tell she didn't believe me, because of the previous record. Kevin was turned in once because one of the coaches saw him smacking me around in the locker room. "Ok. Thank you Jase." She said, shuffling her papers around. I nodded and grabbed my backpack on the way out. Making my way down the hallway, I saw Henry waiting for me at my locker. My heartbeat quickened at his messy hair and eyes shimmering with some joke. I sighed like some lovestruck girl. "Hey shorts, ready to go to lunch?" His deep bass washed over me, instantly relaxing me. I playfully punched his shoulder, and he slung an arm over me. ------------------The Next Day---------- My birthday had been fun. Henry got me new headphones and a new phone case. My parents got me the iPhone 4S. Sadly, I had to get up and go to school the next day, but that was alright because I got to see Henry. It was second period. I was using my new headphones and relaxing in study hall, when suddenly, shots rang out. I could hear the shrill screams of the girls as our proctor tried to hush them. Everything slowed down and each second felt like a minute. All I could think about was getting to Henry. Henry needed me. Somehow, I managed to get out of the classroom. The hallways were completely empty and again, I heard the sound of shots echoing. I followed them, and turned a corner. Promptly, I tripped. Clambering up, I looked over to what I had tripped on and gasped. It was Emily Hayes. She was a lively little thing that was always arguing with Ms. Madison during English. I bent down and took her pulse. Her beautiful blond hair was stained red with blood and her chocolate brown eyes stared lifelessly at the gray ceiling tiles. I gently closed her eyes and moved forward. My only thought was to get to Henry. Hearing shots once again, I turned another corner into the cafeteria. Kevin was standing there, over the body of one of the lunch ladies. There were a couple other student's bodies laying around too. I couldn't help but gasp in shock and fear. Upon hearing my gasp, Kevin turned around and caught glimpse of me. "Oh perfect! Just the person I was looking for." He smiled at me like a predator would grin at its prey before trapping and eating it. Kevin began walking very slowly toward me and I shuffled backward. "I don't think so Mr. Crawford." He said with menace and shot me in the leg, right above the knee. I collapsed onto the cold floor. The white and black tiles were beginning to turn red and brown with blood. "See, before I kill you Jason, I have to tell you something." He was circling me now, and I was helpless to do anything about it. My leg was on fire, and the inferno was quickly spreading to the rest of my body. "You want to know why I have targeted you? You should know. It's because you are a fairy, a fag. You like boys and you need to be eradicated because of that. I don't even care about killing you and these others because they are necessary sacrifices. But don't worry, hell will be welcoming to you and the rest of your kind. Goodbye Jason. Give greetings to the devil for me." He laughed manically and steadily aimed his gun at me. He walked closer. The blackness threatened to pull me under, but I kept my eyes opened. He had bullied me relentlessly since I had come out, and now, he was taking the last stand he could. A shot rang out, and I drifted down to the welcoming nothing. *******Henry****** I was in AP Chemistry when the first shots rang out. Everyone basically dived under the lab tables to take cover. Someone banged on and then opened it. Everyone gasped in shock at the ragged human standing there. It was Bridget Dee. She had gone to the use the bathroom about five minutes ago, looking preppy and perfect as always. Now her straight black hair was messed up and her emerald eyes shined with tears. There was blood on the front of her shirt and she was holding herself up with the doorknob. "It's Kevin. Kevin Earls." She breathed out, before collapsing onto the ground. I knew immediately that he was doing this for Jase. My Jase. I jumped out and sprinted out of the classroom. I had to find him before Kevin killed him. I heard shots and screams coming from somewhere near the cafeteria and headed in that direction. Stumbling inside, I saw Kevin standing over a body. The body had so much blood around it. He turned and I saw the face of the body. It was Jason. I screamed. Kevin saw me coming and while smirking, pulled the gun on himself. The final shot rang out and Kevin collapsed onto the floor, dead. I was too worried about my angel to even give a fuck about the others. "Jase, Jason baby, listen." I said, frantically feeling for some form of life. There was so much blood and I had no idea where it was coming from. I fell onto his body, and gasped into his chest. "Jason listen to me. I love you so much. This is Henry. I love you. I can't live without you. Please, please come back for me. Come back to me. I need you. I can't survive without you. Please, please, please Jason. Baby please." I sobbed, the tears moving freely down my chest. He didn't respond. His heart didn't begin pounding and his lungs didn't magically begin to fill with air. His chest was wet from blood and tears. Before I could stop myself, gently as possible, I leaned down and pressed my lips to him. They were soft. So soft, it was like kissing silk. They tasted like salt, from the tears streaming around. I leaned away and began sobbing uncontrollably. Noise seemingly erupted from around me. Paramedics rushed in, following police. I held his hand, not wanting to let go. They parted around me, checking Jase for signs of life. ____________________Jason_________________________ I was floating in whiteness and soft downy stuff. It didn't seem like hell at all. I experimented by turning to take a look at my surroundings. Everything was white, and nothing was defined. It was very confusing to think about. I didn't feel anything. I heard something coming in, as if on a radio. It was very low, but I could hear what was being said. "Jason listen to me. I love you so much. I love you. I can't live without you. Please, please come back for me. Come back to me. I need you. I can't survive without you. Please, please, please Jason. Baby please." His voice drifted away and I ached for its return. "Jason. Welcome." A warm voice said from behind me and I turned to see who it was. It was a person in a white cloak, but I couldn't make out any features. "Is this...heaven?" I asked hesitantly. A booming chuckle echoed around. "No son, this is not even. This is the inbetween, and you have a choice to make." I opened my mouth to speak, but a hand was raised to keep me silent. "You can continue with me, to heaven, or you can choose to return. I will warn you, we do not offer this to everyone. You have a very strong connection with someone back on earth, and we are willing to overlook common rules to send you home. But it will be very painful, and you will have to endure much hardship. You may have a moment to think." He said, but I had already made up my mind. I had to return to Henry and make sure he was safe. "I want to go back. Please." I said. He nodded, as if he had known what my decision was going to be. A white hand reached for my forehead and gently touched it. A violent white light flashed around us and wind whipped up around my body. Then there was heat and a bang and pressure on my lips. The best pressure. Then there was pain. So much pain. I screamed. _________________________ Henry_______________________________ He screamed and paramedics descended upon him. I frantically tried to continue to grasp the hand I was holding but it was ripped away from me. "No, no, no! He's my friend, he needs me!" I shouted after the medics, but to no avail. As soon as I got him back, he was gone again. However, he was alive, and that is what mattered. I was breathing heavily and finally took a moment to look around. The wreckage and chaos around me took my breath away completely. There must have been at least seven bodies in the lunch room. Some had sheets over them, but I saw a pale hand with a delicate silver bracelet on it from under one. I turned to the side, where there was a trashcan and promptly threw up. "Hey, it is going to be ok buddy." I felt a reassuring hand on my back and turned to find a young paramedic with some water next to me. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked, looking at me questioningly and with pity in her eyes. "Henry. Henry Smite." I said listlessly. She nodded and threw a blanket over my shoulders. I was handed the water and I took a swig. "Are you hurt at all sweetie?" She asked, while looking me over. I realized I was quaking and also aching all over. "No, just some scratches." I replied and she nodded. She helped me up and began leading me outside. I heard cries of students and names being shouted with desperation all around me. There were more sheet covered bodies in the hallway. The door opened to even more chaos. There were frantic parents, policemen all around, and ambulances. I was left over at the side, and the nice medic ran inside to get more hurt people. "HENRY. HENRY SMITE? HENNNNNRRRY???" I turned as I heard my name being called. It was my mother, looking positively green with worry. I was so happy to see her. The one thing I needed right now, besides seeing Jason, was her care and love. "MOM" I screamed, and began running toward her. She turned and saw me and grabbed me up in a gigantic hug. "Henry. Honey! Are you ok? Did you get hurt? What happened? Who was it?" I was hit with a barrage of questions as her hands frantically roamed over my chest and head, checking for injuries. "I'm fine Mom. It was Kevin Earls. He went insane and began shooting people. Mom, I saw them die. I saw people die." I cried onto her shoulder, counting on her to hold me up. "Oh honey, come here." She wrapped my blanket, which I realized was still around me, around my shoulders. "How's Jason? Have you seen him around? Is he ok?" Jason was like a third son to her, after my brother and me. She loved him and adored him just as much as I did, though my love was different. "Jase, Jase got shot mom. He's not ok. They, they took him and-" I couldn't go any further. It felt like I was getting shot over and over again every time I thought about it. The pain was excruciating. "Come on sweetie. Lets go to the hospital and see what kind of condition he is in, ok?" She asked, trying to smooth my hair. I nodded and we left. A Shot into Darkness Ch. 02 Sorry it isn't longer! I have a ton of classes! Hope everyone enjoys this as much as the first one. I love criticism, but please be nice about it. All characters are over the age of 18. ~Cassie ____________ Jason _____________ The first thing I heard was this consistent beeping. It was high pitched and annoying as hell. The second thing I heard was hushed conversation. I was able to make out two voices, one sounded like my mom and the other sounded like Mrs. Smite. I groggily opened my eyes. The light was harsh and blinding, and I closed them again. I heard frantic whispering and tried opening my eyes again. "Jase, Jason can you hear me?" my mother grasped my hand and said. I tried to open my mouth to reply, but there was a tube down it. I began to panic and thrash around and some nurses came in and injected me with something. I began to doze off again and heard my mom telling me she loved me. I woke up again, this time without the tube down my throat. The annoying beeping was still there, and I still had the oxygen mask on, but otherwise, I didn't seem to have any restrictions. I tried to move my head, and suddenly, my mother was there. I breathed out in relief and attempted to open my mouth and ask what happened. My voice wasn't seemingly able to work. "Honey, can you remember anything?" She asked, holding my hand. I closed my eyes and heard someone screaming my name. Cold steel was entering my heart and the laughter of a truly evil being hammered my ears. Then there was silence and someone telling me he loved me. Sweet pressure on my lips and then whiteness. "Kinda Mom. What happened?" I breathed out at barely a whisper. She looked behind her at one of the nurses and they shared a look. I wasn't able to read it. "Sweetie, maybe you should sleep a bit." She said, not looking me in the eye. I felt my heart beating faster. Henry? I didn't see him. Is he all right? "Mom. Tell me. I need to know. Is Henry ok?" Mom ignored my first questions. "Henry is fine. He went home briefly to take a shower and get something to eat. He really hasn't left your side since they starting bringing them in." She said. "Who is 'them' mom?" I asked, fearing her response. "You were in a school shooting. One of your classmates, Kevin Earls, went crazy and began shooting students. He shot you in the chest, when you escaped from the classroom and ran to the cafeteria. It is a miracle you are alive. Maybe I should call the doctor in to talk to you." She shot out, looking at me as if I was a ticking time bomb about to go off. "How many mom?" She started pityingly at me and sighed resentfully. "Ten." How could something like this happen? How could something of this magnitude happen to me? I wasn't anything special. I wasn't anything unique. I was just a normal boy in what I thought was a normal life. I shook my head at my mother and closed my eyes. __________________________3 weeks later______________________ Bridget Dee. Emily Hayes. Sally Dare. Evan Whitmore. Caroline Sanders. Jack Sherry. Julian Moore. Ms. Madison. Harold Massey. Kevin Earls. I tried to go to all of their funerals, minus Kevin's, but with my chest encased with bandages and gauze and my leg in some sort of weird wrap, it was difficult. I had to learn how to walk after I got shot in my leg, and underwent intense physical therapy that I am still dealing with. Not to mention losing my best friend. My mom said Henry spent every waking moment in my room before I woke up. I haven't seen him. I don't know what happened, but suddenly he was ignoring me and wouldn't answer my phone calls. I had no idea what happened, or if I said or did something when I was asleep. My chest ached whenever I thought about him. I had enough trouble breathing with my chest, but when I thought about how Henry hated me now, I couldn't breath at all. Today was the first day back in school for Westfield High. I wouldn't be going till tomorrow. I heard from a couple other of my friends that I was the worst injury. A couple people got scratched, and one person got shot in the arm. I poured myself a glass of milk. Sometimes milk just comforts me. I sat down to watch Lost on the TV and drank my milk. I awoke to the sound of the phone ringing. Mom had gone back to work once realizing I was going to survive. I'm surprised that they didn't fire her after all the time she spent in the hospital. I groggily got up and stumbled my way to the phone. Its persistent ringing was giving me a headache. Did I mention that my pain meds were a bitch? I mean, sure they give me happy feelings and no pain, but I feel like a 70 year old drug abuser while on them. "Hello?" I said into the phone. "Jase. It's me." I stood up straight in surprise. Even though he didn't say his name, I knew it was Henry. His voice was inscribed into my brain. I thought rapidly about what to say, and wanted to just be cool, but my feelings took over. "What do you want Henry?" I said, perhaps a little to harshly than I should have. I could almost feel his despair coming through the phone. "I want to talk. Can I come over?" He asked, sounding a bit hesitant. I sighed, knowing I wouldn't sleep well until I found out what he wanted. "Sure. I'm home alone right now. You have a key to the house, and I'll be in my room." I shrugged my shoulders in resignation. So much for being angry at him. My heart knew that every time that Henry would come calling, I would be there as soon as possible. That's what you do with someone you love. I was laying on my bed when I heard the door open and close. The sound of footsteps gently running up the stairs floated to my ears and I closed my eyes. My door opened. "Hey." His voice was breathless and lusty and my pants tightened around my crotch. I began thinking cold things. I looked up at him, and his eyes were averted away from my face. I sighed. He was here to tell me that we couldn't be friends. I don't know what I did to deserve this, or if I said anything in my injured hospital haze, but I knew deep in my heart it was over. "Hi Henry." I said. ----------------------------------Henry------------------------------- He sounded so sad and dejected. He didn't look to good either. He was leaning over his bed, holding himself up with one hand. He was almost deathly pale and I could see the blue veins running through his arms. He looked good too. His hair was tussled and kept falling into his eyes. His eyes, oh his eyes, they glistened a deep navy. I had never seen his eyes so dark. Normally, they were the color of the ocean, swirling with many light colors of blue. Today, they seethed with something and it scared me. I had to do this though. I wouldn't be able to live with the feelings inside of me unless I got them out. Even if he rejected me, even if he hated my guts, he had the right to know. It was necessary. It was the reason I stayed away. I couldn't stand him in that bed, looking like a broken doll. I stayed until he woke up, and then I slipped out. I knew he would need time with his mom. "I have to say something. I know you wont like it, but I need to say it. I know we probably wont be friends anymore after this." I stopped to take a breath and just as I was opening my mouth again to speak, he held his hand up. "Henry. Stop." His words were so powerful, I froze on the spot. "I know what you are going to say. I'm not quite sure what I did, but I'm sorry. I know that you don't want to be friends. I know that this is the reason why you stayed away for so long. It's all right. Walk away. I know you have gone through a lot, and you don't need some hurt buddy to lean on you. Not to mention the fact he is gay. So leave. I'll be all right." He turned away, but not before I saw a silver tear fall out of his eyes. This was not all right. "No, Jason, that is not what I came here to tell you. You have to know that you are the one I come to first. You are the one I trust the most and I wouldn't have made it this far in life without you. I accepted you when you came out, but this started before that. Four years ago, I looked at you and I didn't see my best friend. I saw someone I want to cherish and touch. Hold as he falls asleep. It scared me Jase. That is why I slept around for Freshman and Sophomore year. I love you. I need to get this, this bug, out of me. I know you don't feel the same way, and I just needed to let it out and let it go." I breathed a sigh of relief. It felt good to finally let these feelings out of my body and to know that the decision no longer rested on my shoulders. I dared to look up. He was staring at me with some sort of pain in his eyes. I doubted myself for the millionth time on whether or not I had done the right thing by telling him. His hair was still messy and his body was slumped in exhaustion. "I think you need to leave now." He said, staring at me with resignation. I had to fix this, I had to make this right. I stood up, and walked over to where he was standing by the door. This opportunity would only come once. I had to. -------------------------------Jason-------------------------------- He looked at me with something in his eyes. Some inner conflict was brewing, and I didn't know what it was. Inside, my heart was soaring because he loved me. But he said it like it was something he needed to get out so he could move on, and that pressed some magical button. I wanted him out of the room and out of my life. Maybe for only a couple weeks, or even a few months. I don't think he would like that idea though. I looked back into his eyes and saw that he had come to some conclusion. I opened the door for him and ushered for him to leave. He did the exact opposite. He gently took me and pressed me back against the wall and stared deep into my eyes. He leaned down and took my lips with his. The pressure was very light at first, testing the waters to see how I would react. I broke and kissed him back, taking his upper lip in mine and caressing it. The kiss escalated from there. His hand, previously holding my hips carefully, ventured up to my stomach, and slid under my shirt. He outlined my ribs and my lightly defined abs. His lips ravaged my face and his hands took control of my body. Not like this. I loved him, but the hurt was too over the top. I wanted Henry with every fiber of my being, but he needed his feelings gone. This might be some sort of closure for him. I couldn't deal with that. "Henry. Stop." He began nibbling on my neck, which distracted the hell out of me. His hand was now dangerously close to my unfortunately rock hard cock. "HENRY. Please." I said, begging him to let me go. He heard something in my voice, and looked up at me. The lust was clear in his sea-glass eyes, but there was also pain and regret. He wrenched away from me and ran out of the door. At the slam of the front door, I collapsed onto the floor and began sobbing.