Why Gun Violence is Getting Worse - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2244 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/03/20 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Gun Violence Essay Did you like this example? Guns are the reason for most homicides in america, they cause more and more damage each year, and recently in the past few years it has gotten worse due to mass shootings.So far this year only there has been about 307 mass shooting in America. The number of people who die do to gun violence is 96 and about 250 people get shot and survive. Overall, 64 percent of deaths were determined to be homicides, while an additional 27 percent were suicides and 9 percent were accidental shootings(Santhanam). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Why Gun Violence is Getting Worse" essay for you Create order This is the horrifying statistics of this country and yet, there is no major changes made. Although many people feel like guns area big part of protection, its only causing more and more madness by the day and getting it under control will save many lives. If there is new gun laws passed, that gives the people of this country insurance that innocent people wont continuously lose their life. Growing up and going to public elementary/schools, I am grateful nothing of such tragedy like school shootings has ever happened when I was there, but I cant help and think that there is innocent children losing their lives at such a young age from gun violence at a place where your expected to feel safe. This year one of the biggest school shooting was in Florida on Wednesday, February 14. A student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School named Nicolas Cruz, came to school where he opened fire killing 14 student and 3 teachers. The gun, a Smith Wesson MP 15 .223, was purchased at Sunrise Tactical Supply, according to the Associated Press.Federal law allows people 18 and older to legally purchase long guns, including this kind of assault weapon. With no criminal record, Cruz cleared an instant background check via the FBI criminal database (Jansen). He was not even asked questions because he passed a simple background check, this and many other incidence should have brought awareness to congress that you should only have to be 18 and have a clear background in order to go out and purchase such a dangerous weapon. There should be more than just background checks in order to purchase a gun, for example mental health is important and having mental illness can be dangerous to have and dangerous towards other people if you dont receive the help that you need. The reality is that most people with personality disorders do not seek treatment and are not known to mental health providers(Mental illness and gun laws: What you may not know about the complexities.) People even fail to acknowledge their mental illnesses because of the society we live in, and I honestly dont blame them either because most people believe that they will get bullied and made fun of by others, but by getting the help they need it might not reach a point where they might want to harm themselves or others. Its important to note that those with diagnosed serious mental illness, who are determined by a psychiatrist to be a serious risk of harm to themselves or others, already get admitted to acute or long-term inpatient care and are kept there until they are deemed not dangerous (Mental illness and gun laws: What you may not know about the complexities.) Can it be that hard for congress to make a law to ban guns that would actually help benefit people? I strongly believe that adding this simple law would save hundreds of people from hurting themselves or hurting others. Most gun and shooting accidents involve children who find unsecured, loaded guns around the house or in the family car. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says, The absence of guns from childrens homes and communities is the most reliable and effective measure to prevent firearm-related injuries in children and adolescents. However, many families have firearms at home and gun ownership has not decreased in recent years( Iannelli.) Parents are getting these firearms for protection but in result loosing their own children because they are not properly putting them away and keeping them out of childrens reach.In the span of two years almost 1,330 children have died from accidently shooting themselves and other children. A lot who have young children are not only not putting them far enough from children and they are most likely keeping their guns loaded with the bullets in the magazine. There has not been anything dramatically done to change the law of guns and there has barely nothing been done to control the issue. There is many other countries who have their gun controls under control or banned and that seems to be working for them, they dont have the same issues as America with all these extreme mass shootings. For example Canada does not ban guns but they do have strict laws for them such as: gun owners can not carry outside of their homes unless its part of their job, all guns must be kept locked away and they cannot be loaded, also they require safety training for owners. Ive lived in Minnesota for majority of my life, I have not witnessed many people die until I was about 15, and my brothers best friend was shot and murdered in burnsville MN. I remember him going through the worst depression I could emagine. It hurt him to know that his best friend life was taken from him so brutally and it made him more angry as years passed by. It was just something he couldnt get through and he didnt want to talk to anyone about. It continue to worry me me to see him not want to talk to anyone and distance himself from everything he loved, and I finally got the courage to ask him why he was still mad instead of being sad? He replied to me because he was shot and killed He then continued to explain to me that if it was natural cause that killed him he would not have the madness in his heart. As time went on we spent a lot of time together and I got him to go back and do the things he loved, and he started to enjoy life again because he noticed living that way was n ot healthy. About 2 years passed and on January 24, 2016 one of my friends lost their brother also due to gun violence. This one hurt very much, not just to see my friend and her family feel whats they were feeling but also the fact that I also knew him. He was a kind, sweet, caring person and only 19 when he was shot and murdered. His life was not worth what he died over and I knew that this feeling of losing a loved one was only going to get worse for her and her family due to the fact that not only did he die, but someone took his life with a gun. A lot of these people who go and shoot people only think in that moment and that person but they fail to understand that people will have a hard time continuing with their lives because that person whose life they took has people that care and love them. I also remember going to his funeral and my friend asking me to go into the room her brother was being washed in. When we went in, she automatically broke down, and Ive never been in such shock my l ife. He laid over us with five bullets in this chest and one in his head. His blood no longer running in his body and his body looking so dull. I broke down and just couldnt understand how someone could be so cruel and be so inhumane to do such thing. I watched his mother kiss him on his forehead and say goodbye as tears went down her face.It broke my heart to see her say goodbye to her son that only got to live 19 years of life. We then buried him and everyone that came soon started to get in their cars and leave because it was so cold. I sat at his grave with my friend and just watched her. She told me that she was so angry at the other man who took her brothers life with a gun. I remember talking about this with my brother and automatically that conversation came to my mind. I then started to notice that them being shot and murdered was making it harder to move on for her as well. I knew that this was going to be a tough time for her so I made sure to around as much as I could be so that she doesnt exclude herself from people and things she also loves doing. That same year in November 26th, I remember getting a call and being told that my brother was shot. I didnt know how it feel, I didnt know if he was dead or alive, I just remember my blood pressure rising and my body become completely frozen. I was at my cousins house and they wondered what was wrong and kept tapping me, i just started to cry and think the worst, after a few minutes of sitting there and breaking down my phone rang and it was his girlfriend to tell me that she was at the hospital and that he was shot in this rist and he was going to be fine. I was relieved that he was alive but still crying because if the fact that he was hurt, I ended up going to the hospital and seeing him sit on the bed asleep with a huge cast and just hug him and restful te was alive. Once he was awake he told me that he was outside of a restaurant in Minneapolis and there was a group of men in a car and let shots fired in front of the restaurant. He told me he was standing outside with his friend and as soon as he realized what was happening told me ran behind a car and before he got there hiding his head with his and and thats when he got shot. I was so happy he was alive and although the doctor told him the bones in his wrist completely shattered and that they would have to put a metal piece to hold his hand straight up. The doctor also let him know that he would never be able to move his wrist up and down again. I knew that was frustrating for him. He didnt deserve what happened to him and it made me angry to know that someone shot him and to know that him and many other innocent people standing outside that restaurant could have died that day. I noticed that day the damage that guns were doing to people and the amount of other people only have to deal with being shot or their loved ones of theirs either being shot and hurt, or being shot and murdered. Not long after that many boys from the city im from who are somali were shot and murdered. Its like it was getting worse by the months and I think i was realizing more because I was getting older. I went to about another funeral in December,2016 from this boy who didnt know but went to the same islamic school when we were younger. Being at his funeral only made me remember the last time i was there for the same case. It made me sad to see mothers and families cry once again. It made me more sad to know that his cause of death was because of a gun. After a while things started to calm down and on June,11 2017 I remember being at work on break and getting another call from my other brother and him telling me that he was shot in the leg the night before and quickly saying that he would be fine and that the doctores got the bullet out. I didnt want to cry because I was just so confused, I just wanted to leave and go to the hospital and be there with him. So thats exactly what did, without telling anyone I just left. I called my sister and told her the exact thing he told me. Me and my whole family met at the hospital and by that time he has a cast and he was just happy to see us. He was shot in an apartment complex by a guy looking for another man and mistaken him for my brother. It has only gotten worse in minneapolis with gun violence, I have been to 3 funerals this year alone of 3 young men, the oldest being 25 being shot and killed. Every Time I was there I would remember seeing the others who I came for. About a week ago a student from Saint Paul College who was out with his cousins and friends were playing with guns and his cousin accidentally shot him in the face. He was fighting for his life and was brain dead. He ended up just dying December 11, 2018. Ive never met or seen him, but my sister told me she had class with him and telling me how much of sweet and funny boy he was. Im not sure how old he was but he was surely not over the age of 22. Gun violence is only getting worse, and writing this paper only made me realize that some

The Aging Population Is The Fastest Growing Population

The aging population is the fastest growing population in our nation. By the year 2030, it is estimated that approximately 61 million people will be between the ages 65 -85 and 9 million individuals will be ages 85 and older (Ouchida Lachs, 2015). Perceptions of the elderly have slightly changed for the better in recent years, but biases and discrimination are still very widespread in our society today. â€Å"Ageism† is a phrase coined by Robert Butler in 1969 and implies a preconception, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults and can come in many forms. A kind of ageism I will be focusing on is the related to older adults and their treatment by healthcare professionals. The topic of ageism is what I will be exploring,†¦show more content†¦Older adults have more strengths and are more resilient than they are given credit for having. Many older adults are very active in their community and volunteer to help others, and many older adults in today s society and like to stay busy remain fit by exercising. They may appear frail but may have more will to try and bounce back after a procedure if given the opportunity to partake in physical/occupational therapy. To advance my current knowledge of how ageism affects older adults in relation to healthcare, I will review professional literature and interview two elders for their accounts of how they feel they are treated by their physicians, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. The individuals will be from different socioeconomic standings to find commonalities and differences of their experiences. Ageism is a significant topic for all social workers to understand and recognize when working with the older adult population for many reasons. Fist, as a social worker, one of the codes of ethics we are expected to live up to in our profession is to promote the dignity and worth of a person( NASW, 2017). By doing this, social workers recognize that older adults have the right to self –determination and decision-making ability for his/her life. An older adult who is not offered the same form of treatment for surgery based on age alone, is a form of ageism social workersShow Mo reRelated The Effects of Wyoming’s Aging Population Essay examples1226 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Wyoming’s Aging Population With new medical technology and improved knowledge about health and wellness, American’s life expectancy is longer than ever, with a better expected quality of life as well. Wyoming is the fastest aging state in the country according to the Billing’s Gazette. In addition to an already aging state, Wyoming has been named by national publications as a top place of retirement due to its tax structure and climate. In an article from the WyomingRead MoreAssessment Of Gerontology Paper1364 Words   |  6 PagesIn searching for resources for this assignment, most of the articles written have at least one thing in common. The baby boomers are getting older, as a result, they will represent 20% of the total population from now until 2030. The number of persons who are 65 years and older is 12% of the population, the life expectancy of 77.9 years has caused this increase. The older people over age 85 is at about 40%, and the number of centenarians is on the rise (C enter for Disease Control and Prevention,Read MoreAging Population A Growing Challenge1018 Words   |  5 Pages Radka. Aging population a growing challenge. Slovak Spectator 08 Sept. 2014: 12. Newspaper Source. Web. 18 Nov. 2015. In this article, Radka Minarechovà ¡ addresses the growing challenges associated with the fastest aging population in one of the European Union countries, known as Slovakia. 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Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five Free Essays

I HAD MOCKED KEITH when we first came to Palm Springs, teasing him for freezing up around Moroi. But as I stood there now, face-to-face with the stuff of nightmares, I knew exactly how he felt. I had no right to judge anyone for losing all rational thought when confronted with their greatest fears. We will write a custom essay sample on Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five or any similar topic only for you Order Now That being said, if Keith was here, I think he would’ve understood why Moroi weren’t as big a deal to me anymore. Because when compared to Strigoi? Well, suddenly the little differences between humans and Moroi became negligible. Only one difference mattered, the difference between the living and the dead. It was the line that divided us, the line that Adrian and I firmly stood together on one side of – facing those who stood on the other. I had seen Strigoi before. Back then, I hadn’t been immediately threatened by them. Plus, I’d had Rose and Dimitri on hand, ready to protect me. Now? There was no one here to save us. Just ourselves. There were only two of them, but it might as well have been two hundred. Strigoi operated at such a different level than the rest of us that it didn’t take very many of them to tip the odds. They were both women, and they looked as though they’d been in their twenties when they became Strigoi. How long ago that was, I couldn’t guess. Lee had zealously gone on and on about how being Strigoi meant you were â€Å"forever young.† Yet in looking at these two monsters, I didn’t really think of them that way. Sure, they had the superficial appearance of youth, but it was marred with evil and decay. Their skin might be wrinkle free, but it was a sickly white, far whiter than any Moroi. The red-ringed eyes that leered out at us didn’t sparkle with life and energy, but rather an unholy sort of reanimation. These people weren’t right. They weren’t natural. â€Å"Charming,† said one, her blond hair in a pixie cut. Her facial structure made me think she’d been a dhampir or human before being turned. She was eyeing us the same way I’d often seen my family’s cat watch birds. â€Å"And exactly as described.† â€Å"They’re soooo pretty,† crooned the other, a lascivious smile on her face. Her height said she had once been Moroi. â€Å"I don’t know which one I want first.† The blonde gave a warning look. â€Å"We’ll share.† â€Å"Like last time,† agreed the other, tossing a mane of curly black hair over one shoulder. â€Å"No,† said the first. â€Å"Last time you made both kills. That wasn’t sharing.† â€Å"But I let you feed from both afterward.† Before she could counter back, Lee suddenly recovered himself and staggered forward to the blond Strigoi. â€Å"Wait, wait. Dawn. You promised me. You promised you’d awaken me first before you do anything.† The two Strigoi turned their attention to Lee. I was still frozen, still unable to move or really react while being so close to these creatures of hell. But somehow, through the thick and overwhelming terror surrounding me, I still managed to feel small and unexpected pity for Lee. There was a little hate there too, of course, considering the situation. But mostly I felt terribly sorry for someone who truly believed his life was meaningless unless he sacrificed his soul for hollow immortality. Not only that, I felt sorry for him for actually thinking he could trust these creatures to give him what he wanted. Because as I studied them, it was perfectly clear to me that they were deciding whether or not to make this a three-course meal. Lee, I suspected, was the only one who didn’t realize this. â€Å"Please,† he said. â€Å"You promised. Save me. Restore me to how I was.† I also couldn’t help but notice the small red patch on his face where I’d hit him. I allowed myself to feel a bit of pride over that but wasn’t cocky enough to think I possessed any noteworthy fighting skills to battle my way out of this situation. The Strigoi were too close, and our exits were too few. â€Å"I know where more are,† he added, beginning to look uneasy that his â€Å"saviors† weren’t immediately jumping in to make his dreams come true. â€Å"One’s young – a dhampir.† â€Å"I haven’t had a dhampir in a while,† said the curly-haired Strigoi, almost wistfully. Dawn sighed. â€Å"I don’t really care, Jacqueline. If you want to awaken him, go for it. I just want these two. He doesn’t matter to me.† â€Å"I get the dhampir all to myself, then,† warned Jacqueline. â€Å"Fine, fine,† said Dawn. â€Å"Just hurry up.† Lee turned so radiant, so happy†¦ it was sickening. â€Å"Thank you,† he said. â€Å"Thank you so much! I’ve been waiting so long for this that I can’t believe it’s – ahh!† Jacqueline moved so quickly that I hardly saw it happen at all. One moment she was standing in the doorway, the next she had Lee pinned against the recliner. Lee gave out a semi-muffled scream as she bit into his neck, a scream that soon quieted. Dawn shut the door and nudged us forward. I flinched at her touch. â€Å"Well,† she said with amusement. â€Å"Let’s get a good view.† Neither Adrian nor I responded. We simply moved into the living room. I dared a glance at him but could discern little. He was so good at hiding his true feelings in general that I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised he could mask abject terror just as easily. He offered me no encouragement with either his expression or words, which I actually found kind of refreshing. Because really, I didn’t see any good end to this situation. Up close, forced to watch Jacqueline’s attack, I could now see the blissful expression that had settled over Lee’s face. It was the most awful thing I’d ever witnessed. I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut or turn away, but some force beyond me kept me staring at the grisly spectacle. I’d never seen any vampire feed, Moroi or Strigoi, but I now understood why feeders like Dorothy could so willingly sign up for their lifestyles. Endorphins were being released into Lee’s bloodstream, endorphins so strong that they blinded him to the fact that he was having his life drained away. He instead existed in a joyous state, lost in a chemical high. Or maybe he was just thinking about how happy he’d be once he was a Strigoi again, if it was possible to have any sort of conscious thought under these circumstances. I lost track of how long it took to drain Lee. Each moment was agonizing for me, as though I was taking the pain Lee should have been feeling. The process seemed to last forever, and yet there was also a weird sense of speed to it. It felt wrong that someone’s body could be drained in so short a time. Jacqueline drank steadily, pausing only once to remark, â€Å"His blood’s not as good as I expected.† â€Å"Then stop,† suggested Dawn, who was starting to look bored. â€Å"Just let him die and have these two with me.† Jacqueline looked as though she was actually considering it, again reminding me what a fool Lee had been to put his trust in these two. After a few minutes, she shrugged. â€Å"I’m almost done. And I really want him to get me that dhampir.† Jacqueline resumed drinking, but as she’d said, it didn’t take much longer. By this point, Lee was nearly as pale as the Strigoi, and there was a strange, stretched quality to his skin. He was perfectly still now. His face seemed frozen in a grin that was nearly as much shock as it was joy. Jacqueline lifted her face and wiped off her mouth, surveying her victim with pleasure. She then pushed up her shirtsleeve and rested her nails on his wrist. Before she could tear her own flesh, however, she caught sight of something. â€Å"Ah, much neater.† She stepped away and leaned down, retrieving Lee’s knife. It had slid under the love seat in our altercation. Jacqueline took it and effortlessly slashed her wrist, causing deep red blood to well out. Part of my brain didn’t think their blood should look so similar to mine. It should be black. Or acidic. She placed her bleeding wrist against Lee’s mouth and tipped Lee’s head back so that gravity could help the blood flow. Every horror I’d witnessed tonight had been worse than the last. Death was terrible – but it was also part of nature. This? This was no part of nature’s plan. I was about to witness the world’s greatest sin, the corruption of the soul through black magic to reanimate the dead. It made me feel dirty all over, and I wished I could run away. I didn’t want to see this. I didn’t want to see the guy I’d once regarded as something like a friend suddenly rise up as some perversion of nature. A touch to my hand made me jump. It was Adrian. His eyes were on Lee and Jacqueline, but his hand had caught hold of mine and squeezed it, even though he was still cuffed. I was surprised at the warmth of his skin. Even though I knew Moroi were as living and warm-blooded as me, my irrational fears always expected them to be cold. Equally surprising was the sudden comfort and connection in that touch. It wasn’t the kind of touch that said, Hey, I’ve got a plan, so hang in there because we’re going to get out of this. It was more like the kind of touch that simply said, You aren’t alone. It was really the only thing he could offer. And in that moment, it was enough. Then, something strange happened. Or rather, didn’t happen. Jacqueline’s blood was pouring steadily into Lee’s mouth, and while we didn’t have many documented cases of Strigoi conversions, I knew the basics. The victim’s blood was drained, and then the killing Strigoi fed his or her blood back into the deceased. I didn’t know exactly how long it took to work – it certainly didn’t require all of the Strigoi’s blood – but at some point, Lee should be stirring and getting up as one of the walking dead. Jacqueline’s cool, smug expression began to change to curiosity and then became outright confusion. She glanced questioningly at Dawn. â€Å"What’s taking so long?† Dawn asked. â€Å"I don’t know,† Jacqueline said, turning back to Lee. With her free hand, she nudged Lee’s shoulder as though that might serve as a wake-up call. Nothing happened. â€Å"Haven’t you done this before?† asked Dawn. â€Å"Of course,† snapped Jacqueline. â€Å"It didn’t take nearly this long. He should be up and moving around. Something’s wrong.† I remembered Lee’s words, describing how all his desperate attempts at taking innocent lives hadn’t converted him back. I only knew a little about spirit – and even less about it restoring Strigoi – but something told me there was no force on earth that would ever turn Lee Strigoi again. Another long minute passed as we watched and waited. At last, disgusted, Jacqueline backed away from the recliner and rolled up her sleeve. She glared at Lee’s motionless body. â€Å"Something’s wrong,† she repeated. â€Å"And I don’t want to waste any more blood figuring out what it is. Besides, my cut’s already healing.† I wanted nothing more than for Dawn and Jacqueline to forget I existed, but the next words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. The scientist in me was too caught up in a revelation. â€Å"He was restored – and it affected him permanently. The spirit magic left some kind of mark, and now he can’t be turned again.† Both Strigoi looked at me. I cringed under those red eyes. â€Å"I never believed any of those spirit stories,† said Dawn. Jacqueline, however, was still clearly puzzled by her failure. â€Å"There was something wrong with him, though. I can’t explain it†¦ but the whole time, he didn’t feel right. Didn’t taste right.† â€Å"Forget him,† said Dawn. â€Å"He had his chance. He got what he wanted, and now I’m moving on.† I saw my death in her eyes and tried to reach for my cross. â€Å"God protect me,† I said, just as she lunged forward. Against all odds, Adrian was there to stop her – or, well, try to stop her. Mostly, he just got in her way. He didn’t have the speed or reaction time to effectively block her and was especially clumsy with his cuffed hands. I think he’d just seen what I had, that she was going to attack, and had preemptively moved in front of me in some noble but ill-fated attempt at protection. And ill-fated it was. With one smooth motion, she shoved him aside in a way that looked effortless but knocked him halfway across the room. My breath caught. He hit the floor, and I started to scream. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain against my throat. Without a pause, Dawn had promptly grabbed me and nearly lifted me off my feet to get access to my neck. I mustered another frantic prayer as that pain spread, but within seconds, both prayer and pain disappeared from my brain. They were replaced by a sweet, sweet feeling of contentment and bliss and wonder. I had no thoughts, except that I was suddenly existing in the happiest, most exquisite state imaginable. I wanted more. More, more, more. I wanted to drown in it, to forget myself, to forget everything around me – â€Å"Ugh,† I cried out as I suddenly and unexpectedly hit the floor. Still in that blissful haze, I felt no pain – yet. Just as quickly as she’d grabbed me, Dawn had dropped and pushed me away. Instinctively, I reached out an arm to break my fall but failed. I was too weak and disoriented and sprawled ungracefully on the carpet. Dawn’s fingers were touching her lips, a look of outrage twisting her already-horrific features. â€Å"What,† she demanded, â€Å"was that?† My brain wasn’t working properly yet. I’d only had a brief taste of endorphin, but it was still enough to leave me addled. I had no answer for her. â€Å"What’s wrong?† exclaimed Jacqueline, striding forward. She looked from me to Dawn in confusion. Dawn scowled and then spit onto the floor. It was red from my blood. Disgusting. â€Å"Her blood†¦ it was terrible. Inedible. Foul.† She spit again. Jacqueline’s eyes widened. â€Å"Just like the other one. See? I told you.† â€Å"No.† Dawn shook her head. â€Å"There’s no way it could be the same. You would never have been able to drink that much of her.† She spit again. â€Å"It didn’t just taste weird or bad†¦ it was like it’s tainted.† Seeing Jacqueline’s skeptical look, Dawn punched her on the arm. â€Å"Don’t believe me? Try her yourself.† Jacqueline took a step toward me, hesitant. Then Dawn spit again, and I think that somehow convinced the other Strigoi that she wanted no part of me. â€Å"I don’t want another mediocre meal. Damn it. This is becoming absurd.† Jacqueline glanced at Adrian, who was standing perfectly still. â€Å"At least we’ve still got him.† â€Å"If he’s not ruined too,† Dawn muttered. My senses were coming back to me, and for half a second, I wondered if there was some insane way we might survive this. Maybe the Strigoi would write us off as bad meals. But no. Even as I allowed myself to hope that, I also knew that even if they didn’t feed off of us, we weren’t going to leave here alive. They had no reason to simply walk off. They’d kill us for sport before they left. With that same remarkable speed, Jacqueline sprang toward Adrian. â€Å"Time to find out.† I screamed as Jacqueline pinned Adrian against the wall and bit his neck. She only did so for a few seconds, just to get a taste. Jacqueline lifted her head up, pausing and savoring the blood. A slow smile spread over her face, showing her bloody fangs. â€Å"This one’s good. Very good. Makes up for the other.† She trailed her fingers down his cheek. â€Å"Such a shame, though. He’s so cute.† Dawn stalked toward them. â€Å"Let me try before you take it all!† Jacqueline ignored her and was leaning back toward Adrian, who had gone all glassy-eyed. Meanwhile, I was free enough of the endorphins that I was thinking clearly again. No one was paying attention to me. I tried to stand and felt the world sway. Staying low, I managed to crawl toward my purse, lying forgotten near the living room’s edge. Jacqueline had drunk from Adrian again, but only briefly before Dawn pulled her away and demanded a turn so that she could wash the taste of my blood out of her mouth. Startling myself with how fast I moved, I rustled through my cavernous purse, looking desperately for anything that might help. Some cold, logical part of me said there was no way we could get out of this, but there was also no way I could just sit there and watch them drain Adrian. I had to fight. I had to try to save him, just as he’d tried for me. It didn’t matter if the effort failed or if I died. Somehow, I had to try. Some Alchemists carried guns, but not me. My purse was huge, full of more stuff than I really needed, but nothing in the contents resembled a weapon. Even if it did, most weapons were futile against Strigoi. A gun would slow them down but not kill them. Only silver stakes, decapitation, and fire could kill a Strigoi. Fire†¦ My hand closed around the amulet I’d made for Ms. Terwilliger. I’d shoved it in my purse when she gave it to me, unsure what I should do with it. I could only assume blood loss and scattered thoughts made me draw it out now and consider the possibility of using it. Even the idea was ridiculous. You couldn’t use something that didn’t work! It was a trinket, a worthless bag of rocks and leaves. There was no magic here, and I was a fool to even think along those lines. And yet, it was a bag of rocks. Not a heavy one, but surely enough to get someone’s attention if it hit her in the head. It was the best I had. The only thing I had to slow Adrian’s death. Drawing back my arm, I aimed at Dawn and threw, reciting the foolish incantation like a battle cry: â€Å"Into flame, into flame!† It was a good shot. Miss Carson would have been proud. But I had no chance to admire my athletic skills because I was too distracted by the fact that Dawn had caught on fire. My jaw dropped as I stared at the impossible. It wasn’t a huge fire. It wasn’t like her entire body was engulfed in flames. But where the amulet had struck her, a small blaze ignited, spreading rapidly through her hair. She screamed and began frantically patting her head. Strigoi feared fire, and for a moment, Jacqueline recoiled. Then, with grim determination, she released Adrian and grabbed a throw blanket. She wrapped it around Dawn’s head, smothering the flames. â€Å"What the hell?† Dawn demanded when she emerged. She immediately began charging toward me in her anger. I knew then the only thing I’d accomplished was to speed up my own death. Dawn grabbed ahold of me and slammed my head against the wall. My world reeled, and I felt nauseous. She reached for me again but froze when the door suddenly burst open. Eddie appeared in the doorway, a silver stake in his hand. What was truly amazing about what followed was the speed. There was no pausing, no long moments to assess the situation, and no snarky banter between combatants. Eddie simply charged in and went for Jacqueline. Jacqueline responded with equal quickness, rushing forward to meet her one worthy foe here. After she’d released him, Adrian had slumped to the floor, still in the throes of the Strigoi endorphins. Keeping low to the ground, I scurried over to his side and helped drag him back to the â€Å"safety† of the far side of the living room while Eddie clashed with the Strigoi. I spared them only a moment’s glance, just enough to take in the deadly dancelike nature of their maneuvering. Both Strigoi were trying to get a grip on Eddie, probably in the hopes of breaking his neck, but were careful to stay away from the bite of his silver stake. I looked down at Adrian, who was dangerously pale and whose pupils had reduced to the size of pinpoints. I had only a sketchy impression of how much Jacqueline had drunk from him and didn’t know if Adrian’s state was more from blood loss or endorphins. â€Å"I’m fine, Sage,† he muttered, blinking as though the light hurt. â€Å"Quite the high, though. Makes the stuff I’ve used seem pretty soft-core.† He blinked, as though fighting to wake up. His pupils dilated to a more normal size and then seemed to focus on me. â€Å"Good God. Are you okay?† â€Å"I will be,† I said, starting to stand. Yet even as I spoke, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I swayed. Adrian did his best to support me, though it was pretty awkward with his bound hands. We leaned against each other, and I almost laughed at how ridiculous the situation was, both of us trying to help the other when neither of us was in any condition to do it. Then something caught my eye that chased all other thoughts away. â€Å"Jill,† I whispered. Adrian immediately followed my gaze to where Jill had just appeared in the living room’s entry. I wasn’t surprised to see her. The only way Eddie could be here was if Jill had told him what was happening to Adrian through the spirit bond. Standing there, with her eyes flashing, she looked like some fierce, battle-ready goddess as she watched Eddie spar with the Strigoi. It was both inspiring and frightening. Adrian shared my thoughts. â€Å"No, no, Jailbait,† he murmured. â€Å"Do not do anything stupid. Castile needs to handle this.† â€Å"She knows how to fight,† I said. Adrian frowned. â€Å"But she doesn’t have a weapon. Without one, she’s just a featherweight in this.† He was right, of course. And while I certainly didn’t want Jill endangering her life, I couldn’t help but think if she were properly equipped, she might be able to do something. At the very least, a distraction might be a benefit. Eddie was holding his ground all right against the two Strigoi, but he wasn’t making any progress against them either. He could use help. And we needed to make sure Jill didn’t rush into this with only her wits to defend her. Inspiration hit me, and I managed to stay on my feet. The world was spinning even more than before, but – despite Adrian’s protests – I managed to stagger to the kitchen. I just barely was able to get to the sink and flip the faucet on before my legs gave out underneath me. I caught hold of the counter’s edge, using it to keep me upright. â€Å"Jill!† I yelled. She turned toward my shout, saw the running water, and instantly knew what to do. She lifted her hand. The stream coming from the faucet suddenly shifted, shooting out of the sink and across the living room. It went to Jill, who collected a large amount of it between her hands and magically forced the water into a long cylindrical shape. It held itself in the air like that, a rippling but seemingly solid club of water. Gripping it, she hurried toward the fight and swung her weapon of water into Jacqueline’s back. Drops flew off of the â€Å"club,† but it held on to its rigidity enough for her to get a second hit in before completely exploding into a spray of water. Jacqueline spun around, her hand swinging out to strike Jill. Jill had expected as much and dropped to the floor, dodging in exactly the way I’d seen Eddie teach her. She scurried backward, out of Jacqueline’s way, and the Strigoi pursued – giving Eddie an exposed shot on her back. Eddie took the opportunity, evading Dawn, and plunged his stake into Jacqueline’s back. I’d never given it much thought before, but if shoved hard enough, a stake could pierce someone’s heart just as easily from the back as the chest. Jacqueline went rigid, and Eddie jerked his stake out, just managing to avoid the full force of a strike from Dawn. She still caught him a little, and he stumbled briefly before quickly regaining his footing and setting his sights on her. Jill was forgotten and hurried over to us in the kitchen. â€Å"Are you okay?† she exclaimed, peering at both of us. That fierce look was gone. She was now just an ordinary girl concerned for her friends. â€Å"Oh my God. I was so worried about you both. The emotions were so strong. I couldn’t get a fix on what was happening, just that something was horribly wrong.† I dragged my gaze to Eddie, who was dancing around with Dawn. â€Å"We have to help him – â€Å" I took two steps away from the counter and started to fall. Both Jill and Adrian reached out to catch me. â€Å"Jesus, Sage,† he exclaimed. â€Å"You’re in bad shape.† â€Å"Not as bad as you,† I protested, still worried about helping Eddie. â€Å"They drank more from you – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, but I don’t have a bleeding arm wound,† he pointed out. â€Å"Or a possible concussion.† It was true. In all the excitement, I was so full of adrenaline that I’d all but forgotten about where Lee had stabbed me. No wonder I was so dizzy. Or maybe that was from getting my head smacked into the wall. It was anyone’s guess at this point. â€Å"Here,† said Adrian gently. He reached for my arms with his cuffed hands. â€Å"I can take care of this.† A slow, tingling warmth spread through my skin. At first, Adrian’s touch was comforting, like an embrace. I felt my tension and pain begin to ease. All was right in the world. He was in control. He was taking care of me. He was using his magic on me. â€Å"No!† I shrieked, pulling away from him with a strength I didn’t know I had. The horror and full realization of what was happening to me was too powerful. â€Å"Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me with your magic!† â€Å"Sage, you’ll feel better, believe me,† he said, reaching toward me again. I backed away, clinging to the edge of the counter for support. The fleeting memory of that warmth and comfort was being dwarfed by the terror I’d carried my entire life for vampire magic. â€Å"No, no, no. No magic! Not on me! The tattoo will heal me! I’m strong!† â€Å"Sage – â€Å" â€Å"Stop, Adrian,† said Jill. She approached me tentatively. â€Å"It’s okay, Sydney. He won’t heal you. I promise.† â€Å"No magic,† I whispered. â€Å"For God’s sake,† growled Adrian. â€Å"This is superstitious bullshit.† â€Å"No magic,† Jill said firmly. She took off the button-up shirt she’d been wearing over a T-shirt. â€Å"Come here, and I’ll use this to wrap it so that you don’t lose any more bl – â€Å" An earsplitting shriek jerked us all back toward the living room. Eddie had made his kill, driving his stake right into the middle of Dawn’s chest. In my brief scuffle with Adrian and Jill, Dawn must have gotten some shots in on Eddie because there was a large red mark on one side of his face, and his lip was bleeding. The expression in his eyes was hard and triumphant, however, as he pulled the stake out and watched Dawn fall. Through all the confusion and horror, basic Alchemist instincts took over. The danger was gone. There were procedures that needed to be followed. â€Å"The bodies,† I said. â€Å"We have to destroy them. There’s a vial in my purse.† â€Å"Whoa, whoa,† said Adrian as both he and Jill restrained me. â€Å"Stay where you’re at. Castile can get it. The only place you’re going is to a doctor.† I didn’t move but immediately argued with that last statement. â€Å"No! No doctors. At least, you have to – you have to get an Alchemist one. My purse has the numbers – â€Å" â€Å"Go get her purse,† Adrian told Jill, â€Å"before she has a fit here. I’ll bind the arm.† I gave him a warning look. â€Å"Without magic. Which, by the way, could make this ten times easier.† â€Å"I’ll heal on my own,† I said, watching as Jill retrieved my purse. â€Å"You realize,† added Adrian, â€Å"you’re going to have to get over your dieting fixation and consume some major calories to fight the blood loss. Sugar and fluids, just like Clarence. Good thing someone bagged up all this candy on the counter.† Eddie walked over to Jill, and she paused as he asked if she was okay. She assured him she was, and although Eddie looked like he could kill about fifty more Strigoi, there was also a look in his eyes†¦ something I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed before. Something I was going to have to think about. â€Å"Damn it,† said Adrian, fumbling with bandages. â€Å"Eddie, go search Lee’s body and see if there’s a key for these goddamned handcuffs.† Jill had been caught up in talking to Eddie but froze at the words â€Å"Lee’s body.† Her face went so pale, she could have been one of the dead. In all the confusion, she hadn’t noticed Lee’s body in the chair. There’d been too much movement with the Strigoi, too much distraction by the threat they presented. She took a few steps toward the living room, and that’s when she saw him. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out right away. Then she sped forward and grabbed his hands, shrieking. â€Å"No,† she cried. â€Å"No, no, no.† She shook him, as though that would wake him. In a flash, Eddie was by her side, his arms around her as he murmured nonsensical things to soothe her. She didn’t hear him. Her whole world was Lee. I felt tears spring to my eyes and hated that they were there. Lee had tried to kill me and then had summoned others to kill me. He’d left a trail of innocents in his wake. I should be glad he was gone, but still, I felt sad. He had loved Jill, in his insane way, and from the pain on her face, it was clear she’d loved him too. The spirit bond hadn’t shown her his death or role in our capture. Right now, she simply thought he was a victim of Strigoi. Soon enough, she’d learn the truth about his motives. I didn’t know if that would ease her pain or not. I was guessing not. Weirdly, an image of Adrian’s Love painting came back to me. I thought of the jagged red streak, slashing through the blackness, ripping it apart. Staring at Jill and her inconsolable pain, I suddenly understood his art a little bit better. How to cite Bloodlines Chapter Twenty-Five, Essay examples