Chapter 6: The Aftermath
The back exit creaked as Nia shoved the door open, the cool air hitting her face with a sense of finality. Mikey stumbled behind her, his breathing ragged, his movements sluggish. He didn’t resist, but there was a vacant look in his eyes, like he had given up everything that mattered and was now just following Nia by instinct.
As they stepped into the open air, Nia felt the weight of the moment settle around her. For the first time in hours, the sirens were finally quiet, but the world outside was far from peaceful. Officers rushed past them, eyes sharp and alert, the scene chaotic as they moved toward the school building. They barely noticed Nia and Mikey slipping through the back alley, a few officers still focused on securing the perimeter.
Nia kept moving, one step ahead of Mikey, guiding him toward a small, hidden alleyway behind the school that led to the street. She had no plan. She had no idea what would happen next, but she couldn’t stay in the chaos any longer. She needed to get him away from the police, away from the violence, and maybe—just maybe—give him a chance at redemption.
“Mikey, are you okay?” she asked, glancing back at him. His face was a mask of confusion and exhaustion, but his eyes were clear now, free of the blind rage that had consumed him earlier.
“I don’t know,” Mikey muttered, his voice hoarse. “I… I don’t know what happened. I just… lost it.”
Nia stopped walking for a moment, turning to face him fully. “It’s okay. You’re not the first person to feel like this, Mikey. But it’s never too late to make things right. You don’t have to keep running from your pain.”
He stared at the ground, his eyes filled with shame, but there was a flicker of something—maybe hope—behind his tired gaze. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just wanted them to listen. I just wanted to be seen.”
Nia nodded slowly, understanding more than he realized. “I know. But hurting people is never the answer. It won’t make them listen. It just makes them afraid.”
They reached the end of the alley, the streetlights casting long shadows in the darkness. Nia felt the weight of every moment leading up to this one. Mikey wasn’t the same person he had been when this all started. The rage in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable.
But that didn’t mean the danger was over.
From the corner of her eye, Nia saw a figure approaching—a police officer, his hand resting near his holster. It was Officer Matthews, the one leading the charge earlier in the school. He looked both surprised and relieved to see Mikey standing there, but his posture remained tense, as though the situation was still precarious.
“Mikey,” Officer Matthews called out, his voice firm but not hostile. “You’re coming with us.”
Mikey froze, his body tense as if preparing to bolt, but Nia stepped in front of him, her hands raised in a calming gesture.
“Wait,” she said, her voice steady. “He’s not a threat anymore. He’s not going anywhere. He’s… he’s ready to turn himself in.”
Matthews raised an eyebrow, sizing them both up. “And you are…?”
“Nia,” she said quickly, giving him a tight, strained smile. “I’m a student. I—”
“I know who you are,” Matthews interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he looked from Nia to Mikey. “This is a police matter now, miss. We don’t need you to get involved.”
“I’m already involved,” she shot back, her voice rising slightly. “I’ve been inside. I know what he’s been through, and right now, he’s not the same person he was. He’s not going to hurt anyone. He just needs help.”
Matthews stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded once, his stance relaxing just a little.
“Fine,” he said reluctantly. “But you’re not going to stay here, you understand? He’s under arrest.”
Nia’s heart clenched, but she nodded, taking a deep breath. “I understand.”
She turned to Mikey, who was now standing motionless, his eyes downcast. “It’s going to be okay,” she said softly. “You’re doing the right thing.”
Mikey didn’t answer, but his shoulders seemed to slump, as if he had made the decision to surrender to the inevitable. He looked up at Nia, his eyes filled with gratitude but also something darker—regret, shame, and the weight of everything he had done.
“I’m sorry,” Mikey said in a barely audible voice, his voice cracking. “I didn’t know what else to do. I… I thought this was the only way.”
Nia didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to carry this alone anymore. You’re going to get the help you need.”
With that, the police officer moved forward, his hand gently guiding Mikey toward the squad car parked nearby. Nia watched as they walked, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on her chest. Mikey was going to face the consequences for his actions, but she knew there was still hope for him. Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to rebuild his life, one step at a time.
As the squad car drove away, the sounds of the night seemed to settle around her. The chaos was over, but the damage had already been done. The students who had been trapped inside the school would never forget what happened that day. And neither would Nia.
