The Elusive Prince

Chapter 18: Change of Views

TW: Guns, violence, cursing and panic. If you are uncomfortable and sensitive with these topics, please read this chapter with caution. This chapter is dedicated to the other's point of view during this attack.

Hailey's Point of View

(3 minutes before the attack)

I was currently standing behind Levine, who was ordering what Reagan wanted and just chatted on my phone with the residents of Leontine Dorm, following them up with their orders when my connection suddenly stopped. I looked in wonder at my phone that was giving me no signal at all. That can't be right, the mall of all places should have a phone reception and I was just connected a while ago.

I looked around and saw the people around me, were all looking at their phones with the same bewilderment as I had. Okay this is starting to feel weird.

I was about to ask Levine whether or not he has reception when there was suddenly a loud commotion that rang around the mall. Alarmed, I looked outside the big glass walls of the store we currently was at and that's when I saw the people running away from something.

Before I could say anything, there was a loud bang that can only mean one thing. s**t was there an attack? I instantly clicked on the emergency button on the watch given to us by the school to alert them. I saw the others do the same. Hopefully the message gets through even with the reception block but I think it will, after all they made sure we could send them an alert even if they bury us or something so I hope they will get it and rush here with the back up.

The people inside the tart shop, seemingly coming to the same conclusion as I was, began panicking and then we were pushed around and on the door that we almost broke due to the pressure of the people shoving for it if not for the fact that it opened just on time to spit us out to the mayhem of people trying to run away from the attackers currently raining bullets.  

I was left on the floor as people began running past me in a fit of panic and then I felt hands pulling me up and saw that it was Levine, looking panicked as well, and Helena who was right beside him, clutching on his shirt for dear life and continously clicking on the watch with the other hand.

"Come on Hailey, we can't stay here. The gunshots are closing in. We need to move now." He said forcefully and dragged me along the sea of people heading for one of the side doors in this wing only to find out that it was blocked and that there were people with masks waiting on there with their guns pointing on us.

I looked around, alarmed and trying to look for an escape when I saw that we were already surrounded by their comrades and we had nowhere to go. Everyone was still scrambling about when the guys decided to shoot which made everyone silent as we covered our ears to at least filter the noise. Thankfully, that bullet didn't hit anyone.

"Listen up you little shits, if one of you even tries to budge or disobey, I will fu**ing shoot you in the brains got it?!" the guy then shot another one to prove his point which made us silently cower in fear.

"Now that we got that out of the way, go to main square quietly or else you'll lose your life." he said and then, out of fear, the people started moving while the guys shoved the others who were frozen to get moving. I wanted to fight them but they were too many and I could potentially harm someone if I did try to tackle with them. I can't do anything reckless with this much innocent people in the way who could get in the way and lose their life in the process.

We arrived at the main square and saw most of the people were here, at least those who survived. It was dead silent in here, as if everyone was scared to even breath as we were all surrounded by these masked men that were all armed and ready to shoot.

There wasn't that much people, mainly due to the fact that the mall just opened but it was still considerably many and every single one us were trembling in fear. 

One of the armed men took a glance at Levine and Helena and whispered something to his friend and then we were shoved to a more guarded spot on the far end on the main square and into one of the shops that were surrounded by more masked men. Clearly they recognized us and reached the conclusion that we were important people so they separated us. What they will do to us though, that I don't know. Hopefully we were just taken as hostage and not someone they are going to hurt.

The minutes seemed to pass slowly as more and more people were added in the main square. I risked a glance up and saw Amity along with Sir Hexford who was unconscious now, handcuffed and had a bruise on his face. He must have fought back to defend them from the attackers and ended up getting hit in the face and rendered unconscious. I nudged Levine and Helena, who were ghastly quite, and pointed my chin towards our housemates. We inched to them closer only to see Amity crying silently and clutching the other's hand tightly.

I inched closer to her and wrapped my arm around her for comfort. We stayed in that tense silence until almost all of us were together now. Blake came in last, unconscious as he was shoved inside and that's when I noticed that he was alone and that Merideth was not behind him.

I panicked and didn't think twice as I shoot up from where I was seated, forgetting that we were currently held hostage in favor of finding Merideth, when I got a warning shot which made everyone wince as they threatened us to stay still. Levine pulled me back down.

"Are you crazy Hailey?! We can't agitate these people! What are you thinking?!" he whisper yelled at me, angry for my recklessness and worried for my life.

I turned around him, starting to feel the tears threatening to fall down in my panic and fear.

"Merideth is not here, Levine. Do you expect me to just calm down and not do anything?! It is my duty to protect her and if- if something bad happens to her, I-I do-don't know what to do with myself." I sobbed at the thought of losing Merideth. Losing her would not only mean I failed as her aide but also I failed as her friend. The sudden realization settled on them as they look around and saw Cassian and Merideth missing. They were after all separated from us when we asked them to wait on the fountain instead of heading to the tart shop where we are at when this started.

This was all my fault, if only I didn't insist for her to stay there or maybe if I stayed with her instead then we wouldn't be in this predicament.

"Hailey, I'm sure Merideth is going to be fine. They're not going to hurt her, not with her title." Amity, although trembling offered me consolation and her statement made me at ease a little. Yes that's right, if they recognized me, her aide, then surely they will recognize the Princess itself. She probably was taken elsewhere, along with Cassian who were Pure Royals even though Kairo and Reagan were here right? They must be in a different location because they were separated from us right?

I need to think optimistically in these types of situation or else I'll go crazy. So instead of panicking and doing anything rash anymore, I tried to calm myself down by breathing along with Amity who has regained her composure and was guiding the others to a breathing exercise to calm down.

We don't know how long we waited in this store but what I do know is when the sounds of loud gunshots rang out. We all ducked down as the rain of bullets came in and the sound of sirens filtered the mall.

The sounds of battle outside was ongoing, as well as the screams but before we knew it, the place was swarmed with men in Trost's military uniform as they apprehend the terrorists.

They saw us all gathered in the store and prioritized us to head outside. The moment we came out, I see some of the masked men cuffed while the civilians were being checked by the medics.

We also got checked, especially Blake and Sir Hexford, who was unconscious and was rushed by the ambulance to the hospital. We were all crying because this was finally over and we were safe but the thought still lingered in my mind, where was Cassian and Merideth? Were they okay? What happened to them? Did they managed to be fine? Were they hurt? Did they hide from the terrorists? Fought back? Got shot?

The last thought haunted me as my brain imagined Merideth hurt or even bleeding. The fatigue, stress, and frustration about not seeing Merideth got so intense that before I knew it, I already collapsed on the ground as the sound of my name rang out.