“Why are we just sitting here?” Devon James whispered as she glanced around the room. “Let’s just go,” she added. She searched their faces desperately, hoping to find someone who agreed with her. She didn’t want to be there another minute and as another contraction began to came along, she feared for the life of her unborn child.

“Are you crazy? We can’t leave,” Cayden King responded as he glanced at the door to the bedroom. “He’ll kill them!” He responded, his voice reaching a slightly higher tone before he realized it and caught himself. “He’ll kill them,” he whispered again.

“So what?” Devon responded as she tried to breath. “At least we’ll stay alive,” she explained.

“And how far do you think we’re going to get before he catches one of us?” Sebastian Vaughn questioned. “Think about it,” he urged her.

“Don’t talk to me,” Devon said as she glanced at him. “As far as I’m concerned, this is all your fault. You’re the one who got us into this,” She explained.

“Devon, that’s enough,” Szymon Skubisz interjected. “Passing around blame isn’t going to help us. We’re all guilty of something here . Each of us had a part in this,” he reminded her.

“Yeah, well some of us had bigger parts,” Devon retorted as she shot a stern glance at Sebastian.

“You know what, Devon, if you want to leave, then just leave. Who cares if one of us gets killed because of it,” Szymon said. “As long as you’re still alive, no one else matters.”

“Szymon,” Gage Matthews spoke up, “why don’t you save your guilt trips for someone who’s not in the middle of labor?” he questioned.

“Don’t you dare start fighting for me now,” Devon spoke up as she cast a glance at Gage.

“Baby . . .” Gage responded.

“Don’t ‘baby’ me,” Devon retorted.

“We’re all going to die,” Sarah Mulberry whispered to herself as she shook her head.

“What did she say?” Sebastian questioned as he glanced over at Jesse Martinez.

“We’re all going to die,” Sarah repeated, this time much louder. She glanced up at the others in the room.

“No one is going to die,” Jesse Martinez said as she tried to console her. “No one is going to die.”

“Are you kidding me?” Devon spoke up, “have you taken a look around lately? We’re being held hostage by a man with a gun. He’s already proven that he’s not afraid to use it,” she said as she glanced at Szymon. “We have to get out of here before he kills one of us,” Devon announced as she tried to get up.

“You sit your ass down right now,” Cayden King demanded. “You may not care about anyone but your baby right now, and I understand that, but there are three people in that room with that crazy son of a bitch,” Cayden said as he pointed to the bedroom door, “and one of them is my mother, so sit your ass down and shut up.”

Devon James stared at Cayden King for a moment before glancing away. “Fine,” she said softly. Gage Matthews tried to put his arm around her and she pushed him away. “Get off of me,” she complained as a gun shot was fired in the bedroom. Everyone in the living room jumped with fear while someone in the bedroom screamed loudly.

“Oh my God!” Sarah Mulberry screamed as the door to the bedroom opened and a man walked out. There was blood spatter on his face and shirt and he appeared slightly dazed.

“She’s dead,” he whispered softly.

“Oh my God,” Devon repeated, echoing Sarah’s words.

“Where’s my mother?” Cayden questioned.

The man stumbled out of the room.

“Who’s dead?” Jesse questioned as he glanced at the bedroom door.

“I don’t know how it happened . . .” the man continued to mumble.

“Where’s my mother?” Cayden repeated as he slowly got up from the floor.

“Cayden,” Szymon called out as he stood up and rushed to the bedroom door, pulling it closed before Cayden could run into the room.

“Where’s my mother?” Cayden questioned again as he stared into Szymon’s eyes.

“Don’t go in there,” Szymon said softly.

“I want my mother.”

“I know, but it’s not a good idea right now,” he whispered.

“Open the door, Szymon,” Cayden demanded. “Mom! Mom!” He cried out.

“Shut up!” the gunman demanded as he put his hands up to his head to block out the noise.

“My mother is in there,” Cayden reminded Szymon.

“I know . . .” Szymon responded.

“Oh, that’s enough,” Sebastian Vaughn said. “Why don’t you just get it over with? If you want to shoot someone, then just shoot me. I’m the one that started all of this. It’s my fault,” he said as he stepped toward the man with the gun.