Keeping Superman’s Secret

FIVE

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

My heart pounded in my chest as I desperately searched the halls for somewhere to hide, or maybe I was searching for the shooter, wondering if I would be his next target when he found me alone out here. Suddenly, a warm hand closed over my mouth and I squirmed as another arm snaked around my waist, pulling me into a hard chest. I was dragged across the hall, panic racing through me as I was backed into the girls' bathroom. This was it, this is how I die.

A gloved hand reached out in front of me, locking the bathroom door, then spun me around so quickly the whole room blurred. My back pressed against the cool bathroom tiles as I tried to refocus my eyes, only to be met with a set of blue, shining back at me. A sigh of relief washed through me as I recognized Onyx as my captor, or should I say my hero. Of course he was here, of course he had come to the rescue.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I muttered, the first thing coming to my mind as I looked around the girls' bathroom. I squirmed awkwardly under his grasp and he loosened his grip on my arms, allowing me to walk free. He watched me curiously in the mirror, his head tilted slightly to the side. The silver that traced the edges of his mask sparkled under the bathroom lighting, making his eyes only look brighter. He shook his head as if he were trying to focus himself then turned to look at me once more.

“What were you doing in the hall?” Onyx finally broke the silence that was growing between us. I turned on the tap and splashed water on my face, trying to forget what was happening just on the other side of that locked door, but more importantly, why was this superhero wasting time in the bathroom talking to me?

“I was just running late to class,” I mumbled, washing my hands now out of habit. He leaned back against the bathroom wall, still watching me in the mirror. “I could’ve gotten myself in here, you know, you didn’t have to drag me across the hall,” I said with a little bit more attitude this time, and the corner of Onyx’s lip turned up as if he were amused.

“A thank you would suffice,” he chuckled a little and I shook my head, cocky superheroes. I turned back to face him now as I dried my hands, raking my eyes over the suit once more.

“I should go,” Onyx said, stepping back towards the door. Turning one last time to me before opening it. “Just stay here, lock it when I leave. I’ll come back and knock 5 times when it’s safe to come out. Like this,” he showed me tapping his fist against the tile wall. 1-2 knocks, a quick third and fourth, followed by a fifth. I committed the pattern to my memory and nodded my head. Turning back to the countertop, I pulled myself up to sit on it.

“Don’t get shot again,” I mumbled under my breath just as he clicked the lock to open the door, regretting my voice the minute the words left my mouth. Dammit Allison, why couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut? I cursed myself. Onyx locked the door once again, spinning so fast to face me again that I could feel the wind created as he moved. Suddenly, standing just a couple feet in front of me, he narrowed his eyes.

“What did you just say?” He asked, his voice low and threatening.

“Nothing,” I mumbled, looking down at the tile floor, refusing to meet his eyes. I was an expert liar, but I wasn’t sure how to lie myself out of this one.

All of a sudden, another loud bang whistled through the air, sounding louder than last time. I jumped, nearly falling from my perch on the counter, but I gripped it’s edges desperately to hold myself up. My heart was pounding in my chest once more. Onyx jumped back and shook his head as if he were trying to regain his focus.

“Stay,” he commanded, as he looked back up at me and hand outstretched in threat. A chill ran down my spine under his dark gaze and I knew I wouldn’t be moving from this spot. Then he was out the door and gone. I rushed to lock it behind him once more. Leaning against the door, I closed my eyes, begging for this to be over, to be back at home in my bed. This was not how today was supposed to go.

I don’t know how long I stayed there in that bathroom. I returned to my perched position on the countertop and pulled my legs into my chest, letting my head fall between my knees. When finally I heard that same pattern of 5 knocks sound on the other side of the door. Slowly I moved from my spot, step by step, making my way towards the door. Overly cautious as I slowly turned the lock, hearing it click. I took a deep breath then swung the door open, surprised to see no one on the other side.

I cautiously stepped into the hallway, looking up and down, only to see police officers moving to the classrooms and opening doors to allow the students out one by one. I hurried over to my locker unnoticed and grabbed my belongings, then hurried out to the car. The parking lot was filled with police cars and I was relieved to see Joey already waiting for me.

“Oh my god! Thank god you’re okay!” She screamed, throwing her arms around me in a hug as I approached her. “Where were you? You weren’t in class!” She pulled back from me, holding my shoulders and shaking me slightly.

“I’m fine,” I said, stepping back out of her reach. I just stopped at my locker. I was late coming from calculus. Then when I heard the alarm I went to hide in the girls' bathroom,” I explained to her, leaving out the part of Onyx rushing me into the bathroom and our awkward conversation that followed. That part was for my knowledge only.

“No way, did you see Onyx and Blaze? I can’t believe he was actually here!” Joey’s voice shifted to a scream as she danced around with excitement and I was too quick to shake my head. She didn’t seem to notice though, as she continued to scan her eyes through the sky as if she were hoping to catch one more glance at the elusive superheroes.

Thankfully, Joey and I were given the night off work after the eventful day at school. Joey went home to spend some time with her family, while I returned to mine, noticing that my dad had already left for work. My dad’s absence wasn’t surprising considering it’s Friday night, which meant more dumb people out and about and busier ER wait times. However, I had sort of hoped he would be home to talk about what had happened at school today. Sure I could always call him, but it wasn’t the same. So, instead, I called my grandma, knowing she would be eager to talk to me after seeing this on the news.

“Honey! I’m so happy to hear you’re okay, I just saw the most awful thing on the news,” she mumbled through the phone. I could hear her TV talking in the background with the reporter announcing the occurrence of the shooting today at my school. There was nothing my grandmother loved more than the news, although sometimes she joked that she only watched it for the cute reporters.

“Yeah it was actually pretty scary,” I said, feeling the sudden rush of emotion come forwards. Today had been terrifying. At moments, I was uncertain of the future for myself or my friends and, for some reason, all of this hadn’t registered until now.

“You must be feeling emotional tonight honey, make sure you get some good rest,” My grandmother soothed me and continued to talk through everything that had happened for the next twenty minutes, again leaving out the part about being face to face in the girls' bathroom with a certain superhero. Then finally, when I was feeling calmed down, we said our goodbyes.

After hanging up the phone with my grandma, I opted to have a relaxing night at home by myself, having a bubble bath, ordering pizza, and finally a late night movie and popcorn. Yet, just as I turned on the movie and settled into my bed, the sound came. 1.2.3-4.5. Knocks sounded at the balcony door and my heart thudded in my chest. He was here.