Kate’s breath caught in her throat. Her mind suddenly stopped. Her whole body went numb. This was it. She was going to die. She watched as Alan inched closer to her, felt the cool barrel of the gun press against the soft, damp skin of her forehead. Watched as his eyes slightly squinted as he squeezed the trigger. Kate clamped her eyes shut as tight as she could possibly manage, bracing herself for the inevitable. 

“Wait!” Erin shouted. Kate’s eyes fluttered open, and she saw Erin grabbing her father’s forearm. Surprise and wonder filled Kate’s eyes. Maybe Erin wasn’t as cold-hearted as she thought. She was saving her! 

“Erin, I know you like the girl, but now is really not the time to---” Alan began.

Cutting him off, Erin stammered, “No, I know. It’s just-- just that-- well. Wouldn’t a gun be loud?? I mean, you know, like I said, the halls are going to fill up soon. Probably already are. Is there a different way? You know, this time? And you know-- well, we’re still in the dorms, soooo…” Erin trailed off.

“So there will be quite the mess to cover up in here,” Steve caught on. Then he added disdainfully, “For me to clean up.” Steve shot a look of irritation at Alan.

“Yeah, that’s true. Well, what should we do then?” Alan asked, waving the gun around in Kate’s direction. 

Quickly glancing from Alan to Erin, Kate saw what looked to be relief wash over Erin’s features. 

“Here,” Michelle suddenly said. She had went to the bathroom and retrieved what Kate guessed was her purse, from the bathroom. Michelle pulled out a long, very sharp-looking butcher knife. “This ought to do the job just fine,” she announced.

“Why do you---oh, never mind. I guess it’s not really important. You never cease to amaze me sometimes, Michelle,” Alan said, a slight chuckle in his voice. He carefully took the knife from Michelle’s outstretched hand. “Well, this is definitely ‘quieter,” Alan said, returning his attention once more to Kate, “but I’m not so sure about ‘quicker.’ There will probably be more ---suffering, if you will. And for that, I apologize.” 

Kate watched as Alan spoke these words to her --listening to the last words she’d ever hear-- as he gingerly ran his finger up and down the edge of the blade, being careful not to cut himself. 

“Well, here we go,” Alan announced, leaning towards Kate. 

Kate’s eyes dashed quickly to where Erin was standing next to her bed, watching. Horror, grief, and sadness all seemed to be fighting for residency on Erin’s face. She brought her hand to her mouth, covering it slightly with her fingers, and closed her eyes.

She had never once made eye contact with Kate. Her eyes had stayed on her father, and the butcher knife in his hand, the long, sharp blade shining in the dim early light of the morning. 

Feeling the cold metal against the skin of her throat, Kate’s eyes flashed back to Alan, her mind saying a small prayer. 

Just as the tip of the knife pierced through the skin on the side of Kate’s neck, pain began wrenching through her, spider-webbing it’s way from the point in her neck. Up to her ear, across her throat and neck, down into her chest. Kate’s eyes shut tightly, she prayed for it to all be over soon. Feeling the pressure of Alan’s hand pressing the knife down onto her neck, Kate awaited the ‘final sweep’ of the knife across her throat, tears effortlessly escaping from the corners of her eyes.

A few things happened at once, in an instant. A loud banging noise came from the door leading out to the hallway, with a loud male voice shouting, “Police!! Open up!!” and then the trickle of already released blood from the fresh wound in Kate’s neck trickling down her collarbone, and over her shoulder muscle, to her back. Then, the searing pain as Alan sliced the knife down Kate’s neck, over her collarbone, tearing the collar of her shirt, and slicing through the delicate skin of her right breast as he quickly straightened up in surprise.

“What the hell---” Kate distantly heard Steve exclaim as she saw several people bust through her door, courtesy of her peripheral vision. Then, Kate’s eyes closed, her mind went blank, darkness and nothingness engulfing her.