* * *

The people at Eli's school thought he was insane. No one actually knew him, though, because how do you get to know someone who never spoke? His peers begged him to say something. Anything. He never did.

Rumors began to spread. Students started doubting his character; saying, "He's the next school shooter. Why does he always wear a hood? Why doesn't he speak? Freak."

It became a favored idea throughout his school that he was going to explode. His anger would be worst than an erupting volcano. The rumors about him spread faster than wildfire. People assumed he would shoot up the school or harm someone at any given moment. Eli knew these rumors were going on, but still, he never spoke up.

Kids became alarmed about the situation. They truly believed he was going to harm people. One day, Eli showed up to school with a backpack. This is what raised real concern. He never brought a backpack to school. He was the type of kid who sat in the back of class with his hood shadowing his face. So when you mix that behavior with bringing a backpack to school and paranoid teenagers, it wasn't good.

A group of kids went to a girl for help. Her name was Tori. As far as everyone was aware, Tori was the only one who knew things about Eli. I guess they used to be close awhile back.

"Tori, Tori!" They came to her requesting for her help. Pleading for assurance that he wasn't planning anything.

"I don't know him that well anymore," she said, "but I'm starting to question the same thing as you guys. He scares me, too."

When those words left her mouth, the kids felt they needed to do something. Tori was the only one who would know if he was capable of hurting anyone or not. The bell rang, dismissing classes. Eli grabbed his bag but upon doing so, a notebook fell out. People could see the scribbled notes. Someone claimed to have seen notes about killing, and shooting.

Everyone panicked at this. Their assumptions started to seem real and not a rumor anymore. Tori and a few of her friends met up in the school bathroom after the bell.

"Do it," they irked.

Tori's fingers quivered as she dialed a number on her phone. Every part of her was telling her not to do it. She didn't want to make assumptions and cause the boy more agony if they were wrong. Yet, the girls continued to beg her to call. Her finger hit the last digit, and her phone began to ring.

"911 what's your emergency?" a voice echoed through the phone, causing every part of Tori's body to tremble. Her mind went blank, her heart caught in her chest.

"911, what's you're emergency?" the voice repeated.

"H.. hi..," Tori stuttered, swallowing her own heart. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Miss, what's your emergency?"

"We think this guy is going to shoot our school," Tori began rambling uncontrollably.

"He had a notebook in his bag that said something about a shooting and killing. If we went to the office they wouldn't do anything but go into lockdown and talk to him. We didn't want to risk the chance of him shooting people in the office, so we are calling now."

"Okay miss, don't panic. You did the right thing. Do you have any other evidence?"

Tori's watery eyes glanced at the girls for help, noticing one mouth the word, "Gun."

"I.. we think he has a gun," Tori said.

That was a lie and she knew it. They didn't know if he had a gun or not, but she only said it so the cops would come for sure. Her heart palpitated down to her stomach, then up to her throat.

"What's your location? Help is on their way."

Tori gave their school's address.