Kathy: Only because it's killing you…
Save Me
The first sensation to creep into Katie's body was a dull throbbing in the back of her head as though she had been hit by a bludger. Slowly, she became aware of ropes tied tightly around her wrists, cutting off her circulation and a cold hard floor beneath her body. She opened her eyes, hoping to recognize her surroundings, but it was pitch black.
"Hello?" she called out.
"So you've finally decided to wake up," a voice hissed in her ear.
"Who's there?"
Cold, clammy hands lifted her to her feet.
"Dumbledore truly was a foolish man," the voice came again, "to send you to try and sway me from the winning side."
Katie pulled desperately against the ropes binding her, recognizing Stovald's voice. Her heart began to pound furiously with fear and panic.
"He was giving you a chance to save yourself," she spat back.
A hand landed hard across her cheek causing her to bite her tongue. Warm, salty blood filled her mouth. Light suddenly flooded the room and Voldemort stared at them from the center.
"I told you not to harm her," he growled, slowly approaching them.
Stovald cowered in fear.
"I am sorry, My Lord," he whimpered.
"Silent, you pathetic weakling!"
Softly, he stroked Katie's cheek. She shivered at the touch.
"What do you want?" she asked, trying to sound calm, but the slight wobble in her voice betrayed her.
"Oh, I want very little from you, Miss Bell." He nodded to Stovald who immediately scampered from the room.
He returned only seconds later, pushing Oliver inside. His face was bruised, and blood stained his clothes. Voldemort pressed the tip of his wand into Katie's back. Katie felt her legs go numb.
"How good of you to join us, Mr. Wood," he laughed evilly.
Oliver glared at him. "Fuck you."
His body was suddenly flung across the room into one of the steel walls. He fell to the floor with a heavy thud.
"Mind your manners, Mr. Wood. I would hate to kill your unborn child so early into our evening."
Oliver wiped away the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I don't have a child."
A thin smile stretched across Voldemort's pallid face, and he pressed the wand harder against Katie's back.
"Don't have an unborn child? Why, Miss Bell, have you been lying to poor Mr. Wood? Isn't it about time you started telling the truth?"
She could feel Voldemort's steamy breath on the back of her neck and swallowed her tears. Her mind screamed at her to wake up and discover it was all a dream. Impatient, Voldemort held her across her chest and lifted her shirt high enough to reveal the slight bulge in her abdomen. Oliver's face went white.
"Katie…" he began to say.
She was shoved across the room into Stovald as Voldemort walked over to Oliver. He dragged Oliver up off the floor and pushed him towards the center of the room where two boxes lay.
"Let's play a game, Miss Bell," he sneered.
She could no longer hold back her tears, and they streamed down her cheeks.
"I'll name two objects, and you get to choose which one I destroy."
"Please don't make me do this," she begged, fully aware of what he was leading up to.
The first box was lifted up to reveal a tiny kitten.
"A kitten or your unborn child?"
"Leave her alone!" Oliver screamed. He was knocked back to the ground.
"The kitten," Katie whispered and looked away.
There was a bright flash of green light and gust of wind. Katie managed to lift her gaze from the floor. The kitten was lying motionless on the floor. She felt bile rise up in her throat. Voldemort was laughing again. He lifted up the second box.
"A box of your mementos of Alicia Spinnet or your unborn child?"
Katie could feel her legs shaking even harder.
"The box."
There was another flash of light and shreds of paper filled the air. She wanted desperately to vomit or pass out. They were going to die no matter what she did.
"Just one more question, Miss Bell." He pointed his wand at Oliver. "Mr. Wood or your unborn child."
The room seemed to spin around her and her balance wavered. Stovald held her up by her arms.
"I can't," she choked.
He clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Can not pick one to live, Miss Bell? What if I gave you another choice? I do not have to kill either of them. You can join me."
"Don't listen to him!" Oliver yelled at her, "Let him kill me and get out of here!"
"He's going to kill us all anyways!" she shrieked hysterically and turned to the evil wizard, "Stop fucking around and kill us!"
His eyes narrowed to slits. "I gave you a chance, Miss Bell, but I'm afraid you've doomed your lover and your child."
He aimed the wand at Katie.
"NO!" Oliver screamed. He flung himself at Voldemort's legs, knocking him off his feet.
Stovald's grip on Katie loosened in surprise. She took advantage of the distraction and elbowed Stovald in the gut as hard as she could. He doubled over, winded, and dropped his wand to the floor. It rolled across the room. Katie dove for it. Blinded by her own tears and still bound at the wrists, she groped around the cold cement. For a split second, she could have sworn she saw a man lurking behind a pile of boxes. Stovald, coming to his senses, grabbed her ankle and dragged her towards him.
"Let me go!"
She kicked blindly at his face while Voldemort pinned Oliver to the floor.
"I should kill you now," he hissed, "but I think I'll get more enjoyment from seeing the look on your face when I kill Miss Bell."
Oliver jerked his head forward, knocking the dark wizard in the forehead. Voldemort toppled over and Oliver rolled out from under him. He struggled to his feet.
Voldemort rubbed the small bruise on his forehead and scrambled to get up.
"Stupid boy," he muttered and aimed his wand at Katie who was fending off Stovald.
"Katie!" Oliver screamed.
She looked up, seeing the shadow of a man running out from behind the boxes. There was a bright flash of light and a loud pop. She could feel herself falling, spinning out of control, barely aware that she was screaming. Then she slipped from consciousness.