Wednesday, February 14, 2018, 12:00 pm
The intercom cracks over the PA, “Happy Valentines Day, students,” says
a booming voice. “May cupid strike your heart today.”
2:19 pm
Nikolas Cruz’s footsteps slam the ground
A 223-caliber AR-15-style rifle in a soft case by his side
With a clear trajectory down the familiar hall, he marches
like a stolid robot, with one job
To kill
He throws open the door, 20 eyes point directly at him, then at his gun.
BAM
one is dead.
their faces become ghosts
petrified, plan-less, pain filled
2:24
The fire alarm is pulled down
The discord of a wailing siren is followed by a procession
They disperse and he shoots
BAM
another dead
petrified screams,
covering,
BAM
another
BAM
a teacher protecting his students
2:26 pm
The intercom crackles over the PA. The once booming voice trembles,“We have an active
shooter. Take cover now. May nothing strike you.”
2:33 pm
He races
Students run, they are
thrashing and
fighting and
sobbing and
trying
trying to play an unwinnable game of hide
and go seek
BAM
a boy accepted into his dream college
BAM
another
BAM
Flung
across the ground from a bullet’s strike
3:00 pm
The intercom crackles over the PA, “I repeat the school is on lockdown.
Ambulances are
stationed in the front. The police are here. Stay under cover.”
3:40 pm
BAM
another dies from blood loss
BAM
another in the hospital hours later,
BAM,
BAM,
BAM,
a final.
Thursday, February 15th 2018, 6:00 am
Nikolas Cruz is charged for seventeen counts of premeditated murder
seventeen lives done
seventeen families
seventeen innocent dreamers
slaughtered.
Nikolas makes his first court appearance in Broward County via a jail video. He says nothing
except to confirm his name.