Her Fall

Then, the ground slammed into my side and the world came into focus. My vision was dark and all I could think about was the pain, now an agonizing reminder of how seriously I was hurt. I could just make out the dim outline of a building and at a guess it had to be the outside of the gym.

A hand jerked my arm, which in turn seemed to jolt my whole body and pain seared through me again, making me cry out – god it hurt! I tasted blood as I bit on my lip, but still stray whimpers escaped. Feeling my head shake under the strain, I lifted it and glanced down at my middle. It was a mass of dark, almost black looking blood, glistening slightly in the dim light.

“Cassie…” I whimpered shakily, tears stinging my eyes and spilling down my checks. I was so scared. Was I going to die? After everything…?

“Heather! Oh god – oh shit!” Cassie gabbled at my side and in a flurry of limps she wrenched off her jumper, bundled it up, and pressed it hard to my bloody wound. I screamed in anguish and couldn’t help trying to struggle away but someone pushed down on my shoulders forcibly. Turning my head into the person’s forearms I panted and gasped.

I was feeling so tired! The pain seemed to be the only thing making things sharp and still in focus – I had no idea who was holding me down, what the others were doing, or even if they were okay, but my hands and feet were feeling like ice, and morbidly I supposed it was because the blood was rushing out of them. My hands, which were curled into fists at my sides, were beginning to tremble of there own accord and I couldn’t control them.

“Heather!” Someone’s hands were on my face and I squinted my eyes open, more tears falling down to my cheeks,

“Heather,” The person said desperately and I recognised it was Rosa’s voice, “Heather you have to teleport to the ward!”

The ward? Wasn’t that on the top floor…all that way up…from up there you could see for miles surrounding the school…I remember the yellow sheets they had on several beds; oddly cheerful for such a room. Maybe… that was the point…maybe…

“HEATHER!”

My eyes jerked back open, and I was unaware when I had closed them. Rosa gripped my face harder, “You have to Heather! Teleport! Just you if you have to!”

“I…”My mouth was so dry – it hurt to breath – to talk! My eyes felt so heavy. Maybe if I just went to sleep for a moment, only a moment, then I would feel strong enough to teleport…The world was titling, spinning slowly, strange black patches had appeared from nowhere.

“AGH!” The pain in my middle doubled, no, quadrupled! Surely someone had stuck a knife in it, was twisting it harshly, or had shot another bullet into me?!

Opening my eyes again, I came face to face with someone’s stomach. Rosa’s! Leaning over me she had added her weight to Cassie’s, compressing on the wound.

“Get her up! Carry her there!”

I was being moved; dragged up from the ground and I cried out in pain again – were they trying to rip me in half! My arms over people’s shoulders I could feel my feet scrapping along the ground, that small movement and the motion of walking jolting the gunshot wound beyond belief.

“Heather, come on, stay awake!”

“Ya…ha…” My mouth mumbled back and I struggled to force my eyelids open, the ground was stumbling pasted my eyes, “Don’t…don’t…” I panted, god this hurt! “Wana…die…”

“You’re not going to die Heth!” Two voices said at the same time. The only two who tried to call me that. Small stones and gravel where mixing in with the grass and the squeaking of feet changed to crouching.

“Not…Heth…” I felt the flash of irritation go through me, “Got…to still…fight…”

“That’s right,” The person to my left puffed back, distractedly. Probably the first I had ever heard that tone from Rosa.

I couldn’t die…they would get me to the ward in time…I still had fighting to do. There were so many Bots out there, I had hardly even come close to growing board of killing them – revenge wasn’t served yet.

“You’re a witch – do something!” A muffled thud then a creak of a door swinging open. Warm air replaced the cool damp of the outside.

“I can’t…I don’t…”

“SHE’S GOING TO DIE!” The words echoed in the large room.

“I-I…Oh god…fuck! Please…R-r-remedy this girl’s lost energy!”

My eyes grew ever more heavy. Maybe if I just rest them. Only for a second.

“Heather please!”

“You…hang…six floors! She’ll never…please!...wake…”

The words were all fading comfortably, just as was the pain. Maybe Cassie has stopped pushing on it. The numb feeling in my limbs seemed to be going away, even the cold…my chest was heavy, but that wasn’t a problem. I felt at peace. I’ll just stay here... No more fighting… So comfortable here… so soft…welcoming. Easy.

I never reached even the first floor. There was a trail of blood all the way from where I had landed us, to where my friends stopped. It covered my body and theirs, on their hands, their torsos, their hands, Cassie’s jumper. She would never wear it again, nor touch it. She wouldn’t throw it away though.