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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 21, 2008 19:58:29 GMT
"Don't think so," I say with a forced calm. I glance down, I had no where to run."See you in hell Perry."
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Post by Perry Parker on Jan 21, 2008 20:04:57 GMT
He sneers, stepping over the broken glass, and onto the ledge.
"I gave you a chance at redemption blood tratior."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 21, 2008 20:15:43 GMT
"I don't need redemption," I whisper softly."I know exactly where I'm going."
Your going to die here Maddie. You never going to see Alex again. Or Ian.
I swallow the lump in my throat, hearing the ledge crack from our combined weight.
"I know," I whisper softly. I ram him with my shoulder, grabbing hold of his wand and jamming it in the back of his neck.
"Avada Kedavra!"
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Post by Perry Parker on Jan 21, 2008 20:25:04 GMT
Perry glances down hearing the ledge crack under their weight.
"I go I'm taking you with me blood traitor." He snarls.
Her actions take him completely by surprise and in a matter of seconds she has his wand.
There's a moment of splitting pain in the back of his head, then everything goes green, then there's nothing.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 21, 2008 20:31:07 GMT
There's a split second I'm horrified at what I've done and I hear the wand clatter against the ledge.
That's all I hear before the loud clap of thunder and the ledge breaks off.
I scream, feeling myself fall, but managing to hold on. Even if just for a moment.
My eyes drop down to the gaze below and I can feel myself start to scream.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 21, 2008 20:49:46 GMT
I hear the scream when I'm halfway up the stairs. It's very familiar and makes my heart stop for a moment.
I know that scream.
I forget to breathe for a second, before I break into a run, forcing my shoulder hard against the door and bursting into the room. My bruised ribs start to ache again, and I half wish I hadn't let Shelby's husband beat the shit out of me. But the concern isn't as pressing as the one in front of me.
I might as well be walking in on Erin again. The flash of red hair over the edge is as clear in front of my eyes as if it's happened this morning instead of months ago.
"Maddie!" I grab for her as I run forwards, oblivious to the pain as I slam up against the wall below the window in my haste.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 21, 2008 23:30:40 GMT
I keep screaming as I feel my grip loosen.
It's more then a 100 foor drop, into ice cold water and you can't swim. Your dead.
I glance up, knowing that voice."Ian!"
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 21, 2008 23:37:44 GMT
"Maddie!" I have to respond to my name, voice laced heavily with panic.
I lean forward as far as I can, extending my hand to grab her forearm, not even contemplating what'll happen if I lean too far forward.
It's my second chance to see someone I love fall from this tower, and this time I'm here early enough to do something about it and there's no way I'm failing again.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 21, 2008 23:43:29 GMT
At least you get to see him one more time.
I can feel my hair whip around in the wind.
"I can't hold on!" The tears are starting to burn in my eyes again.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 21, 2008 23:51:56 GMT
"No!" I don't mean to say it so loudly, but I can't help it.
Keeping one hand on the wall under the window to keep myself there, I lean out further, managing to grip her arm and pulling as hard as I can but this won't work. It's just a matter of forces and proportion, there's no way just trying to haul her back in will work.
"Just...keep hold," I tell her desperately.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 21, 2008 23:56:45 GMT
I close my eyes tightly, trying to make peace with myself, but I can't. I'm not ready for this.
You'll be okay. My mother's voice floats back into my head.
You'll be okay baby, let go.
"I can't." It wasn't a lie. Everything ached. I'd taken too many crucio's.
I start screaming, as the ledge keeps breaking.
I try and get a better grip but I end up letting go.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 0:11:08 GMT
"NO!"
I feel like I'm closing in on myself already the second she lets go. I can see once again the flash of red hair as Erin disappears over the edge, I can see her body lying crumpled and broken on the grass, I can see the Maddie from my dream with eyes glossed and unseeing and I can see her falling now...but it's like it's already happened than it's happening right now.
I can't watch this, not this time and I close my eyes tightly, fists clenching to the point where my knuckles crack on the edge of the wall that I'm clinging to.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 0:17:26 GMT
You'll be okay. Rings out of my head.
The memory of my third year is back in my head, Jack standing over me, gripping my hand tightly. We're hanging off the edge of Gryffindor Tower.
'You sure we're allowed to do this?
Course not, but that's not going to stop us.
What if something bad happens?
Look here Mini-Madds, I won't let anything happen to you, promise. Just keep hold of my hand, and if worst comes to worst, don't panic. you'll just sink faster.
I can feel the air whip around me as I'm falling. I try to scream but I'm out of breath.
I thought my last thoughts would be of my family, of my son, of Ian. But their not.
It's over a pasture, with a little boy, a mop of dark brown hair. I feel like I've known him my entire life, but I can't remember his name, or his face.
I close my eyes as my body makes contact with the icy cold water.
Don't panic. you'll just sink faster.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 0:31:08 GMT
I'm halfway down the stairs on my way out of the castle before I've had time to consciously think through what I'm doing.
I know I don't want to see her, crumpled and broken on the ground like I saw Erin. I know I can't take it. But I'm running as if my life...her life depended on it.
The grounds seem dark, or maybe that's just how I'm forcing myself to see them. There's no one out here because of the rain, the storm. I nearly slip on the grass but keep going.
There's no sign of her. Anywhere.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 0:35:13 GMT
I try and scream but all that I accomplish is my mouth filling with dirty Lake water.
I try to kick up to the surface but my clothes are too heavy and they're dragging me down. I regret keeping Ian's jacket.
Come on Maddie, I said I'd teach you, come on.
No. Changed my mind. Don't want to learn.
Your 17 and you still don't know how to swim, you know how sad that is?
Shut up Ian. I don't want to learn. Besides, not like I'll ever go by water anyway.
I regret not learning to swim.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 0:46:13 GMT
It's then that I catch sight of the ripples in the lake.
My heart leaps with hope before crashes with a jolt again as I remember she doesn't know how to swim.
Hero boy... Payne's voice is in my head immediately, smirking and I want to hit him. I don't care where he is, I want him here so I can hit him. Because he's right.
I do feel like I'm trying to be a fucking hero lately.
The water is freezing, and she must have been under a very long time. She's probably dead, I realise, and the water feels even colder.
I keep above water for as long as possible, not losing sight of where the ripples are still diminishing, before plunging under the surface in a vain attempt to find her.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 0:51:36 GMT
Everything hurts as I manage to pull his jacket off, kicking at the water, trying to get to the surface.
My lungs feel like they're about to pop I can't breath.
My hand closes around my necklace for some reason and I remember the picture of Alex is in there.
I want to scream. I want to scream so badly.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 0:57:55 GMT
I wish I was a stronger swimmer.
I focus on this thought, as my attempt to find her turns out to futile.
I break the surface for a moment, taking in a breath, glancing upwards at the tower and silently hating it, before diving back under again.
A flash of something light in the murky water catches my eyes but the water is so full of filth I can barely see anyway. But if this is my only chance then I'll take it, and start to swim towards it.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 1:03:36 GMT
I can feel myself sinking and that makes me panic even more.
Don't panic, you'll just sink faster.
That's not fucking helping Jack.
I close my eyes, clenching my locket tightly in my hands.
I love you Alex.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 1:09:09 GMT
The way her eyes are closed and her hair streams about her in the water is extremely unnerving, and if it weren't for the fact that she's sinking and my lungs are starting to burn already, I might have just tred water there and stared at her incredulously for a long time.
But instead I move my arm round her waist as firmly as I can manage and kick upwards for the surface with as much strength as I can muster. There is no describing the relief that the fresh air brings with it.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 1:12:08 GMT
I'm tired. My lungs are burning and I can't feel any part of my body anymore.
Suddenly there's a wave of cold air, and I start coughing, gripping tightly onto someone.
I'm not to sure who it is, but I don't care.
I'm still freaking out and I'm scared and cold. I bury my head into the person's chest, crying.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 1:18:45 GMT
I ignore her tears, half dragging her back out of the water with me before collapsing onto the bank, still holding her to my chest. Even the rain doesn't feel cold after being in the lake anymore.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 1:22:36 GMT
I still want to scream, but I'm too cold to do anything at the moment. It takes me a moment to figure out who it is.
I want to push him away, I want him to leave me alone, but I don't.
I grip the front of his shirt like a frightened child, still coughing violently.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 1:27:01 GMT
"You stupid stupid girl," I mumble, gasping slightly for breath, still holding her as close to me as I can, "I told you, you should have learnt to swim."
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 1:31:13 GMT
I try to speak but it comes out as a mixture of a cough and a sob.
I bury my head into his neck, wrapping my arms around him.
"..I'm sorry..I know..I can't..water.."
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 1:35:18 GMT
I choke on a watery humourless laugh, wrapping my arms round her, resting my head on the top of hers.
I'm still haunted by a mixture of both her and Erin falling, of her floating eerily under water, and I honestly can't help the way my face creases slightly in pain and the few stray tears mingling with rain and lake water on my face.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 22, 2008 1:37:50 GMT
I can't help but laugh weakly, closing my eyes tightly.
Your my miracle, you know that Ian? Your always there when I need you.
I don't care if I'm freezing or I'm still coughing I don't want to move.
Frowning, I put my head to his chest, then force myself to look up at him, brushing my fingers lightly on his cheek.
I don't say anything, just press my lips lightly to his.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 22, 2008 21:41:48 GMT
Her lips are freezing against mine, and her fingers on my cheek feels like ice.
I kiss her very lightly back before breaking the contact, keeping her firmly in my arms.
I haven't quite managed to control my suddenly spastic tear ducts, but the crying is silent and takes little effort so I decide I don't really care anyway. It just hurts to draw breath in my exhausted lungs, and my hands won't stop shaking.
But none of this really matters right this second.
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Post by Madeline Speare on Jan 23, 2008 3:00:38 GMT
I don't say anything, but gently move my fingers over his face,
"Your crying," I whisper softly.
I don't think I'f ever seen him do that before, it was new and very unexpected.
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Post by Ian Hunt on Jan 23, 2008 22:04:23 GMT
"I thought you were dead," I manage, voice coarse from the combined ache of the words and the cold.
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