Chapter Two - An End
The dreamy haze that had separated Tracy from me was beginning to fade. I no longer felt like a mere observer to the events unfolding.
As Tracy's grief grew, her heart still pounded…
Thoomp Thoomp
I could hear it.
Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp
I could feel it now. Her heart was thumping in my chest. The rapid heartbeat was a sensation I was familiar with. Tracy was - no - we were panicking.
"No can't be… no!" A cruel laugh accompanied the cries. I felt my throat constricted, my breath forcing its way through my airways as I hyperventilated.
"Your turn now.", cooed the man. From my vantage point I could see him lifting his wand. Tracy still had her head down.
She needed to move. We needed to move. But I was just as frozen as she was.
Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp
Fight or flight, they often say. Most forget about the third F: freeze. In our shared grief and blind panic, we couldn't move when we needed to the most.
A spell was cast. I couldn't hear it over the ringing in my ears. I could feel the impact as Tracy was thrown backwards. I heard a crack as a bone broke, and I cried out.
Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp
Couldn't move.
Another spell, and I felt the skin on my shoulder rip open. The pain felt real. The fear felt real. As I looked down at Tracy, I felt the same as her. Another tear was ripped down her side. It didn't hurt as much this time. I felt numb to it.
Thoomp Thoomp Thoomp
Couldn't move.
Unsatisfied, another one of them readied to take his shot. Time stood still for a moment. An oppressive, dark energy filled the air. I still couldn't hear what was being cast. I threw my head back as overwhelming pain engulfed my being. I could not think … No. No. My mind raced. I needed… It wouldn't stop. After some time I could vaguely make out the sound of laughter. My head was pounding. My body felt heavy for the first time since the start of this awful dream. I felt …
Thoomp
"Avada Kedavra!"
The sound of her heart stopped.
I was hovering just inches above Tracy now. Her eyes stared up at me. Her face still held a pained expression. Anyone who found her like this need not see all the destruction around her to know that her death wasn't peaceful. They would only need to see her face.
Pop Pop Pop The three men disappeared.
I was so overwhelmed by all the emotions and pain that I didn't notice when my dream-self collided with Tracy. For a moment, my perspective changed. I was looking up at the sky. I could see a star beginning to shine. And then …
Thoomp Thoomp
My vision failed and I drifted into unconsciousness.