One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 21

The whole red carpet turned into chaos, police piling into the stands where the press was and security rushing to ensure other celebrities and fans stayed away from Kath - giving her space she needed to breathe whilst they furiously called for an ambulance. Noah couldn't stop screaming in DJ's arms, kicking out to be put down but DJ handed him over to a member of staff from the venue who had rushed over, a young woman with a headset on.

"NO! NO, DADDY! MOMMY! MOMMY!" Noah screamed at the top of his lungs, yelling and shrieking wordlessly as the woman carried him back towards the barrier but DJ didn't once look back at his son. He dropped to his knees beside Kath, her naturally tanned skin paled of all color as she struggled to breathe and keep her eyes open, but as soon as she felt DJ's hand in hers, she gripped onto it as if her life depended on it.

"Ba... baby..." Kath choked out, DJ shaking his head quickly as tears streamed down his face. Kath's face was splattered with her own blood and she was sweating from the effort it was taking her to stay conscious and her body shook from how tense she was. Tears were slowly running down her face, tears of complete fear.

"You're gonna be okay, baby girl, you hear me? Breathe... just breathe." DJ tried to comfort her, but he knew it was no use. A sob escaped his lips when he finally looked at her wound properly for the first time. The skin around the bullet hole was burned and blistered, the hole was deep and the wound wouldn't stop bleeding - a wound that was on the front of her shoulder, an inch from the nape of her neck.

"There's no exit wound, we need to push down on the wound to slow down the bleeding or she'll bleed out before an ambulance gets here," Max ordered as he dropped down onto his knees on the other side of Kath.

"B-Bleed out?" DJ choked out and Max nodded his head. His hands were shaking, seeing the young woman he loved dying in front of him.

"I was a doctor in the Army before I started doing security, trust me, I know about shootings," Max said, shushing Kath as she choked out a sob of agony. "I know, Kathryn, but you gotta breathe through it... this next part is gonna fucking suck, but you gotta stay with me, alright? Talk to DJ, tell him about the awards you're gonna win out of sympathy now!" Max tried to make a joke, but nobody even so much as cracked a smile. Workers at the venue were in shock, members of the press had all been cleared by the police and the other celebrities were being held inside the venue. Noah was still screaming from twenty feet away, struggling against the stranger and so hysterical he felt as if he were going to be sick but he kept screaming for Kath, for his Mommy.

"I do-don't wanna di-die..." Kath sobbed, DJ squeezing her hand as his own tears fell faster.

"You're not gonna die, Kathryn. You're the strongest fucking person I know, you're gonna be fine - you have to be." DJ kissed her fingertips, biting back a sob when he felt how cold she was.

"Remember to breathe, Kath," Max ordered, before pressing down on her wound with both of his hands and the scream that escaped Kath's lips ripped through the still air, making Noah impossibly more hysterical and DJ hold onto her tighter. The added pain from the pressure on her wound was draining her more of her energy and DJ could see that she was struggling to keep her eyes open, blood seeping through Max's fingers but his hands were locked in place, applying pressure to her wound to slow the bleeding down - to try and buy her some time before the ambulance would arrive.

"B... ba..." Kath could barely speak, but she closed her eyes as DJ leaned over her and kissed her forehead, breathing her in but her usual comforting and beautiful scent was masked by the smell of her blood.

"Don't talk, baby girl... don't talk, just breathe. The ambulance will be here soon, you're gonna be fine." DJ urged, letting out a sob as he could hear Noah just screaming from behind them.

"YOU'RE HURTING MOMMY! LEAVE HER ALONE! MOMMY! MOMMY!" Noah yelled.

"Stay awake, Kath... stay awake." Max urged, his arms still locked in place applying pressure to her wounds but it was clear that Kath was getting weaker - unable to cope with the level of pain and the blood loss.

"Kath, please!" DJ begged, and her eyes locked on his, her lips partially open as she tried to breathe. Max's hands were coated in her blood.

"N-Noah... love... love you... both..." Kath managed to get out.

"No... no, no, no! Kath, don't you fucking dare! KATH!" DJ burst into sobs, Max finally letting his tears fall as Kath's eyes drooped closed.

She didn't open them again.

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