"Six weeks here and I still can't find the perfect seat adjustment," Linda muttered, a drop of coffee spilling from her overfilled pink mug and onto the desk. Reaching for a napkin, a ring from her monitor interrupted her. Accepting the call, she adjusted her headset, clearing her throat before speaking. "911, this call is being recorded. What is your emergency?"
"Help us! Please help us!" A female voice yelled, the distant echoes of gunfire acting as commas between her words. "Oh my god, they're shooting everyone!"
"Ma'am? Ma'am! Are you there?" Linda asked, her voice trembling as she repeatedly clicked the supervisor button on her desk. "Ma'am, if you can't speak right now, click a digit on your pho—"
"Please send someone! They're killing everyone, hurry!" The woman on the line whimpered, the gunshots and yelling becoming louder.
"Where are you, ma'am?" Linda asked, the hair on her neck raising as she heard the woman on the line gasping for breath, as if she was right there breathing down hers.
"Saint Moore's Veteran Retirement Home! Send someone, please…" The woman on the line broke into a sob. "I can hear them… They're outside the break room… Please tell my family I love them…" the woman sniffled.
"You're gonna tell them, ma'am, alright? Can you get somewhere safe? What's your name?" Linda asked, glancing around the call center, Where the fuck is my bitchy supervisor when you need her? She thought.
"I'm Mable…" the woman sobbed, "I'm in the closet in the breakroom… I think I'm saf—" A heavy thud echoed through the line, then a yell in a language Linda didn't understand. "Llaqaytak ya dood!" A gunshot followed; the line went silent.
Linda's fingers stood still, her breathing froze. Her supervisor finally rushed over, placing a hand on her shoulder. Linda threw her headset onto the table, her hands holding back vomit.
Grabbing the headset, her supervisor picked it up and spoke, "All units possible, 245 with an ADW, shots fired at Saint Moore's Veteran Retirement Home. Multiple victims reported, approach with caution, respond code 3."