Aelburn (WATTY'S 2020)

.fifteen.°°

"If you gave someone your heart and they died, did they take it with them? Did you spend the rest of forever with a hole inside you that couldn't be filled?"
Jodi Picoult, Nineteen Minutes

JAI

His lungs were screaming for air as Jai rushed past buildings, through alleyways and across streets as fast as his body could take him. Two minutes had been the last thing Chris yelled at him before he ran and now, with Lavender on his heels, Jai ran like the devil was breathing down his neck. His fingers grazed across concrete walls, clamping down on corners to swing himself around faster and Jai was beginning to wonder if his lungs were literally going to jump from his chest and splat to the ground beneath him but he also didn't care.

They hadn't come this far to screw this up.

Jai stumbled to a stop at the ending of an alleyway upon seeing a sea of people in the center square, those closest turning to glance before spinning back in shock. He didn't care, his eyes were on her.

He saw the shocked look in her eyes when he yelled her name, the withered and battered appearance, the noose around her throat as her lips parted in surprise upon seeing him. They formed his name, though he couldn't hear it and fireworks exploded above them as the executioner yanked the lever that controlled the doors beneath both women.

Lavender screamed behind him and his world went red as the crowd turned to see the commotion behind them. Jai barely heard the word Diangen before his rifle was against his shoulder and he was aiming at the rope suspending her. Chaos ensued as civilians, realizing the Diangen behind them held ammunition, attempted to rush from the square in every direction. Jai cursed, his bullet obviously missing before yanking his pistol from his hip.

It was smaller and he could aim better.

He had to aim better.

Peter Lancaster stared at the Diangen in shock for only a moment before his lips twisted into a maniacal grin, looking towards Talia and Willow. Why, Jai didn't know the reason but he didn't care, only shooting shot after shot at the rope above her.

From the distance, hitting a rope so small would be impossible.

"Get closer!" Jai exclaimed and Yarrow wasted no time in barreling towards the crowd, the others on his heels which only caused the panic around them to grow, men shoving women to the ground in an attempt to escape. Jai kept his pistol aimed on the rope above her, desperation gripping at his heart. The jostling around him would make it near impossible to hit but entirely possible he would hit her.

Gunshots went off from beside him and Jai glanced quickly to his left, spotting Chris and Ridge with rifles to their shoulders aiming at any authority coming their way, the same desperation Jai felt clear as day on Chris's face.

"Do it! What are you waiting for!?" Lucas screamed behind him and Guen raised her own gun, tears in her eyes.

'I won't hit her.' Jai told himself, over and over again as he tightened his grip on his gun. She wasn't moving anymore and Jai knew if he was going to, he needed to shoot now.

Jai's finger tightened on the trigger and the gun kicked back as he fired. He wasn't able to tell if he'd hit the rope before he was knocked to the ground, his pistol clattering across the pavement beneath them as hands wrapped around his throat.