Bruises ~ Jiara // obx

22 - "I did what I had to do"

Kiara POV

Bodies began slumping left right and centre as I looked around, dazed and completely drained. A weight crashed onto me all of a sudden and I felt a stab of pain as my head smacked the cold ground. My eyes rolled just to watch Pope collapse too, but there didn't seem to be much fighting going on anymore.

"Hey Kie! Get up quick we need to go!" JJ's arms wrapped around me as he pulled me up slowly, and that was when I saw it properly.

"Pope..." the name left my mouth as a sort of broken whisper, and I felt myself lose control of every limb in my body. Blood seeped swiftly from his abdomen and shoulder at the same time, and his face had been drained of colour completely. His eyes were wide open in shock, but there appeared to be no life left in them. He looked dead.

"JJ STOP!" I screamed, slapping at the boy who was attempting to drag me away.

"Kiara we have to.." he begun softly but I cut him off by launching myself back towards Pope. Disbelief settled as my insides twisted into a knot. I trailed my fingers across his cheek as tears spilled from my eyes, noticing how they were still warm. He had been alive just minutes ago.

"Kie..." JJ's tone was much softer now, as he bent down beside me and wrapped his arm around me gently. I couldn't look anymore. Turning away, I buried my head into JJ's chest and sobbed harder than I ever had before. This wasn't how it was supposed to go; we were all supposed to make it.

"It should've been me..." I spluttered, as a cold shiver ran down my spine.

"No no no, don't say that Kie... it shouldn't have been anyone..." JJ stroked my hair and after a few minutes, he slowly began to ease me away. As much as I wanted to stay and provide what comfort I could to my best friend, I knew it wasn't possible. He was gone.

"Come on! We need to get to a hospital!" John B screamed, a pale looking Sarah clutched in his arms.

"You guys ok, where's Pope?" He asked frantically, causing that agony inside to spike again. JJ shook his head slowly, dropping his gaze to the ground. I watched as John B's face dropped and he sighed heavily, blinking back tears.

"Shit, man." He bit his trembling lip as we begun walking back down the corridor we had come from. It all felt so surreal. A few months ago we had just been kids, spending the endless summer days speeding around in our cheap pogue boats and getting up to no good at all. Now, we had risked our lives upon multiple occasions for some stupid gold, and look where that had got us. All of the sorrow and guilt infested inside of me suddenly transformed to fury. Why did the universe have to be so cruel?

"Right JJ, the keys to his car are in his room, in the safe. The password is 667891 ok? Be quick." John B's voice was rushed as JJ busted down the door and turned to him before nodding.

"JJ..." I muttered quickly and grabbed his hand back as he begun to walk away. My heart dropped as I gazed into his sapphire eyes, which had lost the spark that once danced in them and were left with immense amounts of hurt and regret. It was as if in that moment, all I could see was all the pain and suffering this boy had ever endured. Despite knowing our circumstances and being pushed for time, I pulled him into a tight embrace and practically squeezed the life out of him. I couldn't lose him as well.

"Be careful." I whispered, as he planted a quick kiss on my forehead and flashed a small smile.

"I will." He replied, as he turned and jogged for the stairs. I sighed as a silence settled in the air, the only sound being Sarah's weakening breaths.