When Dream Turns into Nightmare

Before I start the story, I need to warn you. First, it's based on a night dream I had not so long ago, so it's not a true story (could have been though). Second, even though I did want to become a police officer when I was younger, I never was one so there might be some inaccuracy in the terms or in the protocols. And third, this story isn't made to dissuade people from being police officers, but to make them realise that every decision has consequences. They could be good or bad, but in any case, I'm showing that you should always think carefully when you're in a no-win situation. Think carefully, but think quickly.

— Lucy Jones!

She stood up, knowing exactly what that meant. She had just graduated from the Police Academy. Soon, she will begin her career as a police officer. She has always dreamed of integrating the police and now her dream has become reality.

A few days later, a training officer was assigned to her (or the other way around), Amy Anderson, and she became one of the two new rookies in the police department of her city. The other one was Lucy's classmate, they graduated together. Sarah Wilson was her name. Lucy didn't know yet if they would be friends or rivals. She didn't spend that much time with her in the academy so she didn't know which one she would be. Sarah was assigned to a training officer as well, his name was James Mayers.

Both of the rookies, for their first day, were assigned to patrol in the same area with their two instructors. It was known as the less dangerous part of the town. Habitually there was only one patrol car, but since it was their first day their training officers thought it would be best if they were patrolling in the same area to learn how to do it.

Everything went well at first, but, right before the end of the patrol, we received a call saying that an armed man had been seen close to our position. So we answered the call and went where the gun wielder was last seen. It was near an abandoned building, the only one in the neighborhood. A four-story building made with red bricks. The only reason it was abandoned was because the last owner went bankrupt and no one wanted to buy it and made the renovations. A bad building in the good part of town. There was no wonder why bad things might happen there.

Both the patrol cars arrived at the same time. Police officer Anderson, Lucy's instructor, took the lead.

— Mayers take the last floor, Mayers's rookie the third, I'll take the second and my rookie will take the first. If someone hears something, call the others. The one closer will go help the one who called. Rookies do not engage alone. We don't know if the man is dangerous and what his intentions are. You don't have enough experience to know exactly what to do. If you see the armed man take cover and call the others. If you are face to face with him and he points his gun at you don't hesitate to shoot. Understood?

Lucy and Sarah:

— Yes, ma'am!

Officer Mayers:

— Understood!

They all climbed the stairs to their respective floor. There was only one staircase that stopped to all the levels and an elevator. Lucy, since she had the first floor, finished her level tour really fast. She was waiting for the call. It was Sarah who called first on her radio.

— I hear the elevator. I think it will stop on my level, the third floor.

Officer Anderson:

— Don't stay near it, we're coming.

Officer Mayers:

— Might be best to wait in the staircase.

Since Lucy wasn't near the third floor she didn't know what to do. She decided to go to the staircase as well. She saw the two instructors going to the third story door and Sarah going out of it. She decided to stay back to make sure the intruder wouldn't get out while they were inside. That's how she saw him, not going out of the third floor, but the second one. He was going up while the training officers were just arriving in front of the door. He was aiming his gun to shoot at the three police officers. Not knowing what to do and stressed out by the situation, Lucy just yelled to warn them.

— Mayers! Anderson! Behind you!

She soon realized that it was the dumbest move to make. The officers barely heard her, but the armed man now acknowledged where she was. Now it was too late to call them on the radio and she was too frightened to shoot at him. She just froze in place by fear, giving him the time to shoot at them five times. It was only when he pointed the gun at her that she pulled out hers. It was way too late for that, the man shot at her right shoulder, leaving her unable to use her weapon. To protect herself, she stood close to the wall. He shot once more, this time at her left leg. She fell on the floor and he shot one last time at her. He missed once more her vital points. Reaching the left side of her abdomen. Even if she was still alive, he went down anyway. Passing next to her. Ignoring her. Almost like she was dead. She took the courage to talk to him before he left.

— Why didn't you kill me?

He stopped and looked at her. Hesitant to answer. He took a moment to think before talking.

— If you want to die, you just have to climb the stairs and jump down. People will think that I pushed you and you will die as a hero. If you want to live as a hero, you still have the possibility to shoot at me. You have ten seconds to make your choice.

He stood there, not moving, letting her the time to reach her gun. That's what she did, with her left hand. She aimed at him, but didn't shoot.

“He does have his weapon, but he's not pointing it at me. Do I shoot him anyway? I don't think he's going to kill me now and I don't think he's threatening me either,” Was her thoughts.

The man:

— Do you need motivation to shoot? But I already killed all your police friends. Then how about I point my gun at you? Will you have enough motivation to kill me?

Lucy didn't know if he did that because he wanted to die or because he thought that she wouldn't have the courage to do so.

“Do I shoot? Do I kill him? Is it what I should do? I did not come to the police to kill people, but to prevent them from being killed.”

She lowered her gun. He did the same.

— You're not made to be a police officer, you never should have been one.

He left, leaving her alone. Her mind was drained, she only had the energy to go see the ones who were probably dead on the third floor. Sarah was shot in the head. Mayers wasn't moving and had a gunshot wound in the middle of his chest. Anderson was still alive. She had two gunshot wounds, one to her left shoulder, the other one on the right side of her chest. She was coughing blood. Amy noticed Lucy when she grabbed her and tried to put pressure on her wounds. She said her last words with a heavy breath.

— I... I'm sorry... I... I should... have checked.... my... my floor better. It's all... my fault.

— Don't say that, it's more my fault than yours. I should have called you on the radio when I saw the man. Or shoot him when he was aiming his gun at you.

— You... You...

— Stop talking! Keep your strength.

— No... No... I... I need... to tell... you... that...

She couldn't finish her sentence, because she lost consciousness and died soon after.

— Nooo! Stay with me! I’ll save you! Help is coming.

She realized it was too late to save her. The mental choc was too big for Lucy. She did not faint, but her mind wasn't really there. She didn't react when another police officer came and talked to her. Or when the ambulance came and grabbed her to take her to the hospital. No one could make her talk or even just react. Her mind was absent. The events were playing endlessly in her head. She was trying to make it stop or change something. It haunted her everyday and tormented her dreams. The detective soon discovered that it was an 8-shot revolver who fired on the four police officers. Five were shot at the three on the third floor and three were shot on Lucy. No one knew if he spared her or if she was just lucky. If we can call it luck. The shooter was never found and even today, no one knows what his intentions were. Meanwhile, Lucy has been transferred to a mental facility and still hasn't mentally recovered from the shooting.