Hateful Love

Chapter Fifteen

NOTE: I do not own any of the ideas or characters expressed in this story (except Cassie Jackson). All of these belong to J.K. Rowling.

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Cassie P.O.V.

There’s a sickening thud as Matt’s body hits the ground, and all I can see is a crumpled, broken heap in the sand.

Everyone is screaming. People push past me to get to the stairs, to run out onto the field and see if Matt is okay. It feels as though my hearing has gone out, and all I can hear is a high-pitched buzzing sound. I stare numbly at the stadium floor, tears making my vision blurry. I blink and they run down my face in droplets. Turning, I notice Katherine is sobbing hysterically, me being the only reason she’s still standing.

          I’m staring at her, tears running down my face silently, when I feel a small, warm hand slide into my own. I turn my head slowly and see that it’s Luna, her face unusually pale. I can see her lips moving, but no sound is coming out. I blink, more tears spilling over, and think dully, I wonder… what she’s saying…?

          Luna turns and pulls me along with her down the stairs, covering her face to ward off the rain. I barely notice the tiny droplets whipping at my face, and just let her lead Katherine and I down the steps.

          As soon as my feet hit the field below, my hearing snaps instantly back to normal. I can hear someone crying loudly with wracking sobs, but it takes me a moment to realize it’s me. I cover my mouth to try and stifle them, but they won’t stop. I turn and see Katherine sinking to the ground, staring numbly at a spot a few feet away. I follow her line of vision, and when I see what’s at the end of it, I suddenly feel like throwing up.

          Matt’s lying in the sand, surrounded by people, but I can still see the blood. Ignoring Luna’s soft protests, I blindly stumble forward. I have to get to Matt; I have to tell him how sorry I am for everything that I’ve done.

          I have to shove people out of my way to get to him. No one is paying any attention to me, and they’re all just staring in shock at his crumpled form. Finally breaking through the crowd, I get my first full-blown look at Matt…and he doesn’t look good.

          One of his legs is twisted underneath his body, bent at an unnatural angle. Nausea makes me feel dizzy as I see a shiny, white bone jutting out of his left arm. My puffy eyes travel up to his face and see that his nose is certainly broken, surrounded by deep gashes. The rain makes it look like there’s more blood than there really is, making the scene even more horrifying.

          I don’t realize I’m on the ground until I dully notice that the freezing mud is making my knees cold. I stare numbly at Matt, and he looks so still that I’m terrified he’s dead.

          But then he coughs violently and suddenly, blood spattering the grass. People in the crowd gasp with relief and whisper, then someone yells for Madam Pomfrey. Not hearing any of this, I grasp Matt’s hand as if it’s my only lifeline, still crying uncontrollably.

          He can’t seem to move his head, so he just looks up at me, squinting through the blood and rain. I lean closer to hear him as he chokes out almost inaudibly, “C—Cassie?”

          I swallow back my sobs and whisper, “It’s me, I’m here. Matt—I’m so sorry. For everything.” I sniffle and continue, my voice breaking, “I’m so sorry, Matt, I never wanted any of this.”

          He looks so tiny, the way he’s curled up on the ground with the rain plastering his hair to his face. Matt coughs again, red dripping down his chin as he replies weakly, “Cassie…calm down…”