subject 13 // h.s. au

chapter thirty (part one).

Harrys POV:

A high-pitched ringing swelled in my ears, cutting through the dull echo of my heart beating a pattern against my skull. My vision clouded with dust.

I groaned softly, my breath fogging the small window separating me from the outside. I rolled over onto my side, wincing at the growing ache in my ribs. I rubbed my covered hand over the screen, brushing away mud as the skies opened and the pouring rain mixed with the dust.

I rubbed the face shield desperately. A wave of panic sweeping through me as I caught a glimpse of the brown hair strewn next to me on the ground.

It was Em.

I sat up, the rain now coming down in sheets, and tilted my chin down. I lifted my arm up to block the rain. I needed to see her.

My heart pounded furiously in my chest, the memories struggling to find their way back to me.

What happened?

Blood poured from a gash on her forehead, and the rain that was streaming over her face was tinged pink. Her eyes were closed. Her lips were open.

I couldn't breathe.

I yelled out in frustration, trying to force myself to remember what had happened, but my head was empty, occupied by the ringing still buzzing in my ears.

I scanned over her body, her clothes soaked from the rain, and raised my shaking hands above her hesitantly.

If she was dead, I didn't want to know.

The sound of the rain pounding against my suit had become deafening.

My breath came out in pants, my lungs screaming.

Her hair was plastered to the side of her face and I reached out to gingerly push away a few strands.

She didn't move.

I couldn't move.

I looked around for the first time, seeing nothing but mud and dust in every direction, the orange sun beginning to set.

Fuck.

I shook my head.

"Em?" I whispered.

I cleared my throat.

"Em," I whispered louder, shuffling my knees through the mud to get closer to her.

I inhaled sharply before placing my hand on her shoulder, shaking gently.

She was limp.

"EM," I roared, a coldness spreading through me as my voice echoed bitterly through the air.

I shook her shoulder again, harder this time.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I whispered under my breath, my eyes prickling.

I couldn't do this.

I leaned my face down to her ear, closing my eyes.

"EM!" I yelled out as loud as I could, my eyes still shut tight.

I took in a breath, the silence gutting me with every second. I could feel my hands shaking at my sides, the tightness in my jaw becoming unbearable.

Everything hurt.

"What?" a soft voice hummed.

My eyes shot open in disbelief as Em brought her knees up to her chest and snuggled in closer to the mud, her eyes barely open as she looked up at me in confusion.