Sign of the times

One can never imagine the thoughts that go through your mind. Time slows down and seconds become minutes. We all think that we would know what we would do in the situation, but once in it our survival depends on the next few seconds. It happened, unfolded quickly. The shouting was heard even over the music blaring out of the sound system. I am still not sure what it was, a feeling maybe, an uneasiness that came over me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the light reflect, then react in a way that was not normal, but something I had seen before. It is amazing how our minds can process things so quickly. As the light glimmered off of the steel, my mind processed the answer. There were at least a hundred people in the place. Dancing away, mindless to the commotion off in the distance, but directly in the path. I saw the flash and reacted. I lunged forward, diving for the floor. Chaos let loose and bodies sprinted in all directions. How many I thought to myself as I lay on the floor trying to count. My skin was burning, on fire. Our adrenaline filters pain. I can not say that I felt any pain at all. I crawled on the floor trying not to be trampled, trying to get to a flank off to the right. I was hit. I glanced down to see the crimson red absorbed by the fabric of my shirt. I got into a safe position. I took aim. It was over just as quickly as it started. I came away with a minor wound. Others were not so lucky that night. We all think that we would know what we would do in the situation, all I know, our survival depends on it.