I can just about make out the screams of people around us over the ringing in my ears. I wait maybe ten seconds before standing and looking at the school bus, expecting to find a flaming wreck and the bodies of forty-three dead kids. But I’m relieved to see it still intact. Agent Chambers appears next to me. We exchange a confused glance. I’m obviously happy the kids are still alive, but what the hell blew up?Disoriented from the blast, I quickly scan the area and soon find out. The SWAT van’s completely destroyed, along with the entire team who were either inside it or standing close by.Jesus Christ...I hear what sounds like two gunshots, but they’re faint amid all this noise and chaos. I look around trying to see where they came from, but it’s futile. There’s too much smoke and too many people running around and screaming. My gaze rests momentarily on some scattered body parts on the road—probably what remained of the SWAT team…I see Agent Johnson running over to a small crowd of people nearby, waving at them wildly and imploring them to get back.
