Anonymous

Part XIV - Sweet Aftermaths of the Disaster

As much as later Vanessa would hate to think of herself this way, with the deafening pain of the bullet, she sank down to the forest floor - unable to feel anything, and yet feeling too many things at once. Hell, even for some badass short-tempered girl, pistol bullets were painful!
For some moments (Nessa hoped she hadn't wasted much time in that), all she could make out were a numb black auras to the pre existing black colour of her surroundings.
And when she came back a little to the reality ( though, unfortunately still being succumbed by the irritating pain), Nessa felt some strong and slightly muscled arms around her . . . .someone's warm chest to support her . . . .and then the voice of Edmund Caliber demanding her to freaking wake up!
If Nessa would've been Nessa, she would've immediately recoiled from his arms and then whacked him on the head with a tree branch, but well, this Nessa was injured, . . .and even though she would never admit this to anyone (not even herself), she felt a little better and safer with Edmund for cover.
"Mr Caliber . . ." Mathew trailed off, unable to think up of something to say.
Edmund leant down and took Nessa in his lap, and then replied back sarcastically. "Well, I just witnessed some student being shot, and like my parents have always taught me, I would give her the best first-aid help."
"If you intend on giving your best first-aid help, then help me back to the school building, you dolt! That man is bloody dangerous!" Nessa said through her teeth.
Edmund decided he would've laughed if he had been the audience, but for now he was stuck up in between some injured girl who hated his guts and a murderous math teacher (all thanks to his curiosity over 'where was Nessa going to in the middle of the famous Halloween party with a piece of paper in her hand?').
For now, he only quickly muttered "yeah, right" at Nessa, and then did his best to help her up and support her.
The bullet had gone through her right calf, and obviously since Nessa couldn't 'walk like a lady', Edmund was obliged to take practically all her weight on himself.
"Put your hands up." Mathew Verona raised his gun and commanded, very slowly and yet with a hard emphasis on each word.
Edmund first decided to run off at full speed, but at then the very first step he took, he just missed from tripping over the grass and falling right on top of Nessa (who no doubt would've slapped him a hard handprint right across his face if he did so).
So the only remaining option was to vaguely surrender himself - and his injured companion.
Mathew Verona approached closer with his gun, and then took his time examining the two with the ghost of a smile on his face.
"I thought you kept our relationship purely to yourself, Ms Orville. No wonder how a friend of yours very kindly decided to seek company amongst the grieving father and the killer best friend."
"I think you mean to interchange the adjectives." Nessa snapped.
"No, I don't. I know just where we stand, child. And speaking of all the ways in which you have brought sorrow in my life, I intend to seek vengeance on you. Tonight."
Mathew Verona drew out his pistol again, but before he could do anything, Nessa (a.k.a. Badass Injured Nessa) pulled out her good leg and kicked him hard on the nuts, making Mathew Verona stumble back.
Getting faintly inspired, Edmund played a too-gentle punch on his math teacher, and Nessa added fuel to it by elbowing the man once again, successfully making him drop his gun.
Once the man was hurt and had lost his only weapon, Edmund Caliber spun and ran towards the main campus, carrying an exhausted Nessa along with him.
Edmund would've liked to tie some piece of cloth around her wound to secure it, but they were running out of time, so he had to abandon that idea and focus more on how to reach the building faster.
Vanessa was increasingly losing her energy - and getting pulled away in more pain; she could barely keep her feet in motion and her body kept giving up and collapsing. Later she'd have to genuinely thank the valiant Edmund Caliber who practically carried her all the way and let her seek support from him.
As soon as they had entered the closest building, Nessa slipped away from his hold and collapsed on the floor. Edmund positioned her in a more relaxing manner over the stairs, and then shouted over for help.
The matron spared her dislike for Vanessa (and the fact that the kids had created such pandemonium in the middle of the night), and helped Nessa to the medical wing. Several other teachers were called, and in general, the entire Halloween party was disturbed.
Edmund Caliber had to give all students and all teachers and everyone who claimed themselves in charge, an account on what had transpired in the woods. A troop of guards were sent over to catch Mr Mathew, and drag him to the headmistress's office.
Even though for at least an entire day Nessa was supposed to be on rest, a surprising lot of people came over to pay a visit.
Edmund was further exhausted by his friends, his girlfriend, members of the soccer team and various other students who wanted him to tell them about what the hell had happened. Thanks to Mrs Rogers though, for shooing away all the kids who had swarmed around him (and, in this process, getting into a brief argument with Titania Cross), and bidding Edmund to a good night's sleep.