USWNT 3.0

49

Religions don't turn men into criminals ; criminals are the one using religion as an alibi for their thirst of power.

- Dalaï Lama

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This chapter is going to be dramatic. 

As an European, it is important for me to write about this. I was in Germany when some things happened during the Summer Holiday, and I have experienced a fear climate. I can tell you nobody in Europe is safe. 

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16 girls were sitting across the television, their hands covering their mouths, their eyes filled with fear and apprehension. A shooting in the Edouart Herriot general hospital in Lyon had just taken place. The police didn't know how many victims there were, neither when they would be able to stop the three shooters, still inside of the building. 

It also was the hospital where seven girls of the USWNT were at the moment. 

Kristie was surrounded by Syd and Sam. Her blue eyes were filled with tears, that were running down her cheeks for fifteen minutes now, as her body was shaken up by convulsions. Her hands were shaking, as she was trying to pull it together. Stephanie is not the only one of the team to be trapped inside. Don't be selfish. She was telling herself those things to convince herself, but deep inside she knew she cared about Stephanie, and Stephanie only. Of course she was scared for her other teammates, but loosing Stephanie wasn't an option. She realized now that she needed her to live. 

On the corner of the room, hiding from the others, was Mal. She wasn't crying, but her heart was beating really fast, so fast that it hurt. She knew her teammates were trapped inside. But she also knew Jenko was maybe going to die. Or maybe she was already dead. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts from the bad stuffs, as Ashley and Saskia approached her. They pulled her into a tight hug. 

Tobin was walking back and forth behind the couch. Why is this happening to us ? What if some of them die ? Ashlyn ? Jules? Chris ? Steph?... This can't be happening. The anxiety was filling the room, as the head coach Mark Parsons was trying his best to get some information from the police. The American news were immediately filled with headlines as 'members of the women's soccer team trapped in a shooting', or 'Trip to Lyon turned into a nightmare for the USWNT'. Tobin couldn't help but being mad at herself. If something happened to one of the girls, she would be guilty of not being there with them. She was the co-captain. Julie went there to support Alyssa. She should've gone too. 

They weren't allowed to go out of the hotel, as the whole city was on alert. Kealia sat down next to Tobin, who finally decided to settle down. She naturally looked at her, hesitating about whether or not she should take her hand in hers. 

"Hey, I'm here." she whispered, as she saw Tobin setting her jaw. 

The brunette just looked down at the ground. But she wanted to express how grateful she was, so she just took Kealia's hand in hers. Alex, who wasn't far from them, noticed this exchange and frowned : how could she have missed the huge crush Tobin had on the other middy ? But she didn't say anything, relying on Servando's arms. 

Tobin shook her head. 

"Fuck." 

°   

The noises had stopped. 

Julie was panicked. She didn't know where any of the other girls were, expect for Steph, who was just behind her. They were hiding under a desk in one of the rooms usually used as desks for the doctors. The door was slightly opened, and an arm of a dead man was filling the death space in between. Julie was holding her breath, holding Stephanie very close to her. She didn't want anything to happen to her. She wanted to protect her. But she couldn't help but think about Christen. 

They heard some footsteps coming into the room, and the sound of a gun being recharged. Stephanie immediately took her phone out of her pocket. She ignored all the calls and texts Kristie had sent her, and texted her back. 

To : Kratchet 

I love you, Kristie. Be strong for me. Farewell. 

She then closed her eyes, as Julie's body was shaking harder. They both were holding their breaths, hoping that it would be enough. 

°

Jenko felt the cold sensation of a gun pointing on the top of her head. Alyssa was still lying down on her hospital bed, as Hope was standing by the window, facing the shooter. The man ordered her to slowly get up and go near the former goalkeeper, which she did. When she reached the space where he wanted her to be, she just froze and waited for the end to come. The man had piercing eyes, that she would never forget. 

He then lifter the gun, and pointed it at Hope. 

"I am sure there is another solution" the dark-haired carefully said, raising her hands. "Please."

The man smirked. "There is no other solution. Allah told me that." 

With that said, he had a very cold and scary look on his face, and pulled the trigger. 

° 

Christen, Crystal, Ashlyn and Michelle went out the hospital and were welcomed by the special forces, here to stop the shooting. As new gunshots were heard, Christen tried to run back inside, in order to find Julie. But Ashlyn grabbed her arms and retrained her from doing so. Christen fought like a lion, but the keeper was just too strong. Christen then began to scream, even though she knew it wouldn't do anything useful. 

She then fell on her knees, looking at the sky with teary eyes. 

"God, please, show your mercy. Let my Julie live." 

Crystal knelled next to her, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She then threw a scared look at Michelle, who didn't know what to do. 

Nobody knew what to do. 

There is nothing to be done. That was what Crystal was thinking, hearing more gunshots minutes after minutes, as the special forces were finding their way through the doors and window. There is nothing to be done. She closed her eyes.