Saving Strangers

[Nentsia]

The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands
1108 Hours

''We are interrupting this radio show with a news update. We have confirmed messages that at this moment an anti-terrorist operation is taking place near a school in The Hague. It is unclear what the situation is, but eye-witnesses report that they have heard shots and the Dienst Speciale Interventies (Special Intervention Unit) have arrived at the scene. We go to our correspondent now who is trying to get as close as he can. Arnoud Verbeek, can you here me?

...Yes I can here you. I am standing here at about 150 meters from a school, De Kleine Bij (the Little Bee), where allegedly shots have been fired. The anti-terror units have encircled the building and bystanders have been sent to a safe distance. According to initial rumors there was a school shooting, but we are getting unconfirmed reports of a possible terrorist attack or hostage situation.

Arnoud, can you tell us if there are any casualties? Do you know if this is related to Jihadist terrorism?

...I have no information, only rumors. Everything is incredibly hectic here. The area is swarmed by heavily armed police men. According to estimates there are about 250 children inside the school. The situation is incredibly tense. Parents are arriving, but they are not allowed to get any closer. The authorities escorted them away to a private spot, away from the media. Television crews can barely find space to park their vans in the neighbourhood. This is complete madness. First Paris, then Brussels, then Nice - now its our turn, I fear.

Thank you, Arnoud, we are going live now to a press conference of the Prime Minister...

Prime Minister: I am going to keep it brief, and I will not answer any questions - for the sake of those whose lives are currently in danger. An anti-terrorist operation is taking place in this city. This morning calls came in about gunshots being fired inside a school. The National Anti-Terrorism Coordinator quickly escalated the alarm level and mobilized all emergency services. At this point, I can only confirm that the school has been encircled and we consider the situation to be a hostage situation. We are doing everything we can to solve the situation and save as many lives as we can. I cannot give you more information for now. It is if utmost important for the nation to remain calm in these moments of crisis. We are working on a solution.

That was the Prime Minister. Arnoud, do you have any new updates?...''

Rosa switched off the radio in her car. She sat as if she was frozen in her driver's seat for moments. She stared at her dashboard. She had a very bad feeling about this. Of course, it was terrible news. Frightening news. But something inside her, her instinct, told her there was something far worse about this - something she didn't know yet.

After several minutes, Rosa tried to put it out of her head. She stepped out of her car, and locked it. She quickly walked to the entrance of the apartment building where she had parked her car and pressed the button of nr. 140, where her father lived. No one answered the intercom. She pressed on the bell again. Still no sound. Rosa sighed. Not again. She reached for her phone to call her dad. Voicemail.

Concerned, Rosa pressed on the neighbour's bell on nr. 142. ''Hmm yes?''
''Hey Mr. Van Dijk, its Rosa. My dad isn't answering the doorbell, could you open the gate downstairs for me so I can go check on him?''
''Of course, dear!''

A loud noise signalled that the gate was open. Rosa took the stairs and went to her dad's apartment. When she stood before his door she took a deep breath - mentally preparing herself for what she might find. She unlocked the door with the spare key he had given her, and let herself in. ''Dad?'' she announced herself. But she quickly noticed he was nowhere to be found in the small apartment. For a moment, Rosa felt some relief. At least he wasn't dead. But her concerns steadily grew back. If he had left his home in his condition, he could be in danger. She tried her phone again, and after a while, her dad answered it.

''Dad, I was worried about you. I'm at your place. Where are you?''

Then Rosa noticed her father was crying. ''Dad...?''

''I'm at the school. Turn on the news. I am not a murderer. I love you, honey.'' Then he hung up the phone. It took a while before those words landed and Rosa realized what he meant. She felt dizzy, and all of the world's gravity seemed to pull on her. Then she collapsed on her feet.