Leonard sat nervously in his cosy living room, waiting for his mother to join him. She was preparing their breakfast that morning, and on Leonard's mind, food was the last thing. The room was adorned with family photographs of him and his mother since he didn't have any father figure in his life. It showcased happy memories that now seem distant, a time that was now very foreign to him.He glanced at the clock, realising time was slipping away. Finally, the sound of footsteps approached, and his mother entered the room. Her gentle smile quickly faded as she noticed the worry etched on Leonard's face. It wasn't every day he had a frown on his face, and seeing him this way sent alarm bells ringing in her head."Leonard, dear, what's the matter?" Helene asked, concerned about lacing her voice. She settled into a plush armchair opposite him, her eyes filled with motherly affection and curiosity.Taking a deep breath, Leonard gathered his thoughts before speaking. "Mom, something strange
The following day, Leonard knew that he couldn't afford to stay in that house for another day or else he would lose his mind. Ever since he had received that death threat, his mind had not been at rest and he knew that he was slowly losing it. In order to relieve himself of this anxiety, he decided to link up with Daniel, the only other person asides his mother who truly understood him.In the end, they decided to meet at their favourite coffee shop. They sat in a dimly lit corner booth of the coffee shop amidst the bustling sounds of conversation and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that filled the air. The cosy atmosphere provided a comforting environment for their deep discussions, but on this particular evening, the mood was heavy with a mixture of apprehension and concern.As Leonard took a sip of his steaming cappuccino, his hands trembled ever so slightly, betraying the emotions that churned within him. He looked across the table at Daniel, and at that moment, he knew that h
''Leo! I'm off to work.'' Helene called out, strapping her bags on her shoulder.Leonard eagerly entered the living room where his mother stood, arranging things into a smaller bag. He cleared his throat, catching her attention."Hey, Mom," he began a hint of excitement in his voice. "I wanted to talk to you about something important."Helene looked up, set her bag aside, and focused her attention on her son. "Of course, Leonard. What's on your mind? I hope it isn't about the death threat stuff?""No Mom, not that. I've been invited to Daniel's birthday party this weekend," Leonard said with a smile, hoping to share his enthusiasm with his mother.Her expression changed, and a touch of concern crept into her eyes. "Oh, Daniel? The son of that family who lives down the street?"Leonard nodded, anticipating his mother's apprehension. "Yes, that's him. We've been friends for a long time, Mom, and I've been invited to his eighteenth birthday celebration."Helene sighed softly, her voice t
The day of the birthday party soon arrived and to say Leonard was excited would be an understatement, he was thrilled. This was the first time in a long while he was attending something like this and he thanked his lucky stars for being friends with Daniel. Now, he got to mingle with the rich kids but still, he knew he had to keep his mother's warnings in mind. Leonard knew that for his mother to have said that, she had probably sensed something and he knew he couldn't joke with that. Soon, he was going about his house chores, engrossed in his own thoughts and plans. As he sat at his desk, typing away on his computer to finish up a job he had been assigned just that morning, a message suddenly popped up on his screen. It was an urgent notification from the system and his heart skipped many beats when he read it. [Warning: Potential Threat Detected] The message flashed in bold red letters. [High risk of an attack at Daniel's birthday party tonight] Leonard's heart skipped a beat as h
In a chilling turn of events, a lone shooter managed to bypass the security measures in place at the party. With a gun firmly gripped in hand, the intruder silently made his way into the bustling venue, completely unnoticed. As the joyful celebration continued unaware, a sudden eruption of gunshots shattered the air, engulfing the party in chaos and terror.As soon as he heard the unforgiving sounds of gunshots, Leonard's mind raced as the haunting warnings of his mother flooded his thoughts. She had always reminded him to be cautious, to pay attention to his surroundings, and to trust his instincts and now, he knew that those warnings will do little to help him. In that harrowing moment, those words echoed in his mind, increasing his fear and instinct for self-preservation.As panic and screams echoed throughout the room, Leonard's petrified body froze momentarily. The fearful nature of the situation made it difficult to comprehend the magnitude of danger that surrounded him. He desp
As Leonard crouched behind a cluster of dense bushes, his heart pounded in his chest, matching the chaos that unfolded around him. The sounds of panicked screams and rapid gunfire still went through the party grounds, creating an atmosphere of sheer terror. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead as he struggled to control his breathing, desperately trying to remain invisible to the active shooter. Amidst the chaos, he heard a wail of police sirens piercing through the night air. The distant sound grew louder with each passing moment, its piercing tones gradually drowning out the turmoil of the unfolding tragedy. Leonard's pulse quickened as hope began to swell within him. He knew that help had arrived or was at least drawing near. ''Thank the heavens.'' he sighed. As the police sirens blared ever closer, Leonard's tense muscles began to relax, and he felt a glimmer of relief wash over him. The knowledge that the police had responded to the situation filled him with a renewed sens
Leonard rushed to the hospital, his heart pounding with concern, after hearing about the injuries Daniel had sustained. As he entered the sterile, hushed corridors, he felt a mix of relief and trepidation. He located Daniel's room number and made his way there, preparing himself for the sight of his friend in pain. Entering the hospital room, Leonard found Daniel lying in bed, his face still reflecting the shock of the traumatic experience. Bandages adorned his arms and a visible bruise stained his cheek, a painful reminder of the events that unfolded. Despite the injuries, Daniel managed a weak smile as he saw Leonard. "Hey, buddy," Leonard said, his voice filled with concern. "How are you holding up?" Daniel winced slightly but mustered a reply, "Hey, Leonard. It's been rough, but I'm just grateful to be alive." Leonard pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed, his gaze fixed on his friend. "I can't even begin to imagine what you are going through. How are you feeling?" Daniel
"Man," Daniel began, his voice filled with a mix of gratitude and concern, "I can't thank you enough for coming to see me here. It means the world to me that you took the time out of your day to be by my side." Leonard smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting genuine care. "Of course, Daniel. You're my friend, and I wanted to be here for you. How are you feeling? Do you need anything else before I leave?" Daniel's gaze shifted slightly, his expression tinged with a hint of regret. "Actually, there's something I need to discuss with you. As much as I would love for this visit to continue, I have to go back home soon. My work demands my attention, and I don't want to neglect my responsibilities." Leonard sighed. Daniel nodded understandingly, his tone empathetic. "I completely understand, Leonard. Your work is important, and you shouldn't let it suffer. I'm just glad I had the chance to spend this time with you. We can catch up again soon, right?" Leonard's face brightened, loving his fri