PSLE: You were at a cinema when there was a sudden blackout

It was really a special day for Tammy.    I had finally gotten my first paycheck and decided to bring my younger sister, Tammy, to a movie treat. It was Tammy's first time catching a show and she was really bubbling with excitement.

“Is Batman Returns going to start soon?” Tammy asked for the millionth time, her round earnest eyes staring into mine as her eyebrows arched upwards.

“Yes,” I replied with a slight annoyance.

“Sissy, if Batman can save the world, would you save me just like him too?” my sister blurted out, after watching the trailer of the movie.

“Of course, I would!” I spoke affirmatively, nodding my head as I patted Tammy's soft raven-black hair.

She gave the broadest grin ever, her teeth sparkling like diamonds, her eyes becoming like two lines above her cherubic rosy cheeks.

Soon, the movie started and we were quickly drawn into the plot, stuffing buttery popcorns into our mouths like greedy gluttons. All of a sudden, there was a blackout. What was going on? Was there a power failure? A thousand questions hurtled through my mind.

Just then, an exit door creaked open and a lone figure in tactical clothes emerged. A man whose hair was shocking orange entered and smiled sinisterly. “I am Joker!” he cried raucously and threw a canister emitting gas and smoke into the theatre, obscuring the vision of everyone. Instantly, the toxic, noxious fumes made me gag and my throat and skin started to itch as if a thousand mosquitoes had launched a merciless attack on me. The vivacious atmosphere was instantly punctured by loud gunshots. The evil man had started to shoot into the panicked crowd!

Instinctively, we squatted beside our seats as I peeked in-between the gaps of the velvety seats. I stared in wide-eyed horror as the entire theatre became the scene of the most outrageous scene of pandemonium. Shrills and sobs resounded through the air and people were falling like dead flies.

“Sissy, I am scared!' Tammy clutched my hand tightly, sobbing softly as big tears gushed down her eyes. I could literally hear her heart hammering against her ribs. I gripped her small hands tightly in a death lock.

The mad man then went around, looking for more innocent lives to exterminate. Everyone stayed as quiet as possible, not daring to move a muscle so as not to attract his attention. Panic engulfed me like a tsunami. He was just a few feet away from us. I cupped my sister's mouth as tightly as I could, making sure that she did not make a single whimper. My breath was hitched in my throat when I spotted his black bloodied boots just inches from our hiding place.

Out of paramount fear, Tammy suddenly dashed out of her hiding spot and ran hell for leather towards the exit. “Tammy,” I shrieked in my heart. Her sudden movement caught 'The Joker's' attention. He hurried towards her. “Run, Tammy!” I cried aloud within myself, hoping that perhaps she would run to safety.

I was wrong! Lady Luck was never on our side. Tammy's short little legs could not outrun the gunman. A silhouette loomed over Tammy's puny frame and the shadow of his rifle flew to his eye as he took an aim.  "No!  Please don't!  Not to a child!" I prayed within myself.

 

Bang! Bang! Bang! Three gunshots echoed around the theatre and blood splattered onto the carpetedy wall. Tammy, by now, was almost drenched in her own pool of crimson blood. My knuckles balled into white fists.  As if that was not enough, he fired one last shot right into her forehead.

Hot tears blurred my eyes. I was in total distraught bemusement. As if the death of Tammy had signalled the success of his mission, he stepped out of the theatre jubilantly only to be - shot dead - by the awaiting task force!

Immediately, I ran towards Tammy's lifeless body and placed her gently on the crook of my arms.  She had turned purpish.  Hades had sucked dry her life.  I swept her thin blood-streaked wisps of hair behind her ears and planted a kiss on her sweat-beaded cheek.  "Sorry, sorry,"  I kept muttering these words to her.  I blamed myself for not having the courage to protect her like her hero, Batman. It was me who had caused her death. Nothing – not even the well-deserved death of the gunman – could replace the unbearable grief of losing my kid sister for good.