Authors note: A reviewer raised a good point about how CTFxC fanfiction can be a bit awkward as they are real people. I actually found the first few chapters awkward to write because of this, and it kind of felt a bit 'off' to be writing something so traumatic happening to them - as if I was wishing it upon them somehow! But I couldn't stand the thought of the only other CTFXC fanfic on here being so… not in the spirit of the CTFxC , so I had to do something! It is only intended as a bit of fun, nothing more :)
Chapter 8
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Almost a minute passed where literally no one did anything but listen. Alli listened to the helicopters, hoping it meant help was on the way. Charles listened to Alli breathing, in constant fear that the next one wouldn't come. The shooter listened to the voices in his head, egging him on, fuelling his fire.
'Char?'
Charles looked down at the woman lying on the ground before him, her life blood seeping from the wound beneath his hands.
'It's okay, baby… don't talk. Just concentrate on breathing, keep breathing for me, okay? Promise'
But Alli couldn't mistake the urgency creeping into his voice, and she knew she was in trouble.
'Charles… listen to me. I need you to know… you are the most important thing in the world to me. You changed my life… and you change the lives of so many people, every day. I'm so thankful I got the opportunity to spend my life with you… don't ever forget what an amazing person you are, okay? '
Her voice broke, but she fought to get the last line out.
'I love you… I love you so much. I will always love you. Remember that, okay?'
Without taking his hands off her stomach, he leant down to kiss her, his tears mingling with hers, before burying his face in her hair.
'We're a team, baby' he muttered tearfully into her ear. 'We change people's lives, together. So stay with me, okay? I need you. You're my world, my heart… my everything. There is no way I can carry on without you. There's so much left for us to do, together. I promise you will never, ever doubt how much I love you, I will tell you every day… if you just Stay. With. Me. '
Alli turned her head slightly, her lips brushing the stubble on his cheek.
'Shhhh, baby. It will be okay. I love you, whatever happens… it will be okay. You'll be okay.'
At that moment, the noise of the helicopters became deafening and there was the sound of urgent voices from outside. Charles lifted his head to see what the commotion was, and then turned to look at Alli. His heat fell as his eyes travelled from the faint, calm smile on her face… to her closed eyes.
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The shooter surveyed the scene around him as the noise of the helicopters grew. He listened, feeling smug as he imagined the colossal commotion going on outside these walls, the news coverage on tv screens in homes around the world. They would all know, they would know the pain he and his work mates felt when they couldn't feed their children, the pain of watching their wives look elsewhere for men who could provide and protect them, the pain of knowing there was no way out. This may be the end of the road for him, but he would be remembered for the story he told. His glance travelled to the library doors as voices became audible from the depths of the corridor.
Then came a noise that stood out above all others. The noise of a strangled cry from the man hunched over his injured fiancé. The cry of a man who's world had just crumbled before his eyes.
The shooter took a calm, knowing breath, content in his knowledge that someone else now knew the pain of helplessly watching the world around you dissolve into a million pieces, just like Humpty Dumpty… unable to be put back together again.
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Sorry it's short… I just wanted you all to know that the story is back online and will be brought to an end soon! I apologise to those of you who joined me at the start of this and I have left hanging… I have no excuse. I find I often return to the fanfiction world during the semester, mostly when things are due… ;)