The Little Things; Ziall & Larry (AU) *Completed*

Chapter Nine; Public Execution & Bad Guys & Changed & Home

Chapter Nine; Public Execution & Bad Guys & Changed & Home

Zayn was on his knees on the floor, his head bowed, and his bottom lip trembling. He was fighting tears, facing death head on was not as easy as it might sound. There was blood on the floor, not his own, and it was staining the knees of his dark washed chino’s and his tanned fingers with its violently bright color.

He was right inside of the front door of the school. He could see Louis, and Harry, standing with a curly haired boy in the front row. He could see his disheveled sister with her favorite hair clip in. He’d been the one to pin it up this morning. He could see the camera’s, and the officers, all poised for their different purposes.

Kaden was standing beside him, the other children that had been trapped in the library streaking like blurs down the green grass. They were enjoying something Zayn Malik may never enjoy again. The metal barrel of the pistol was cold on his left temple.

Everyone was watching him. He was three steps away from the lush garden of the front courtyard. He could taste the freedom. Smell his sisters Strawberry scented black hair. Feel Niall’s slim body under his own.

The cameras were trained on him, watching his movements, watching his chest rise and fall. He would be made a show of, by Kaden. His death would be that of a public exaction and no officer dared shoot in danger of hitting him. There was no savior and there was no surviving.

He had chosen to be the hero. And just like the climax of any comic, he was trapped by the bad guy. But who was the bad guy here? Was it Kaden, with his scarred wrists? Kaden with his shattered confidence?

Who was the bad guy here, and was it the man holding a gun to Zayn’s head?

Everyone thought they knew. But now-a-days everyone thinks they know everything.

“Look here! Look here all of you! This is the boy, a boy I’ve never met. This boy here is the one who sacrificed himself so no one else would die. No one else would fall victim to my bitter hands.”

Opaque fell to her knees, covering her mouth with her hands as the tears flowed. Niall gripped onto Louis tighter. Everyone could hear a pin drop as the rain began to fall. It was soft and relentless, pattering onto the people who would watch the dramatic demise of a young man.

“I was tortured! I was forgotten! I was trampled! No more! No longer! No longer will the pleas of the forsaken go unheard! My voice is loud and it refuses to be sheltered! It refuses! So now, go home and look under your Christmas trees in your greed, while this boy here turns to dust inside of a coffin, six feet under with dirt on his face! Remember you stood feet away! Remember he has a family! Remember he has friends!” Kaden’s voice rang louder than the loud plops of rain droplets on the wet concrete.

The gun was no longer shaking when he pressed it harder into the side of Zayn’s skull. It was steady, unstoppable and it would not give up. Zayn lifted his head and locked eyes with Opaque, who sat on the ground and got soaked by the falling water.

“I asked for a hero! I asked for a sacrifice. And I got one. I got one. And he sits here, brave and selfless, with a gun to his head, and he doesn’t even cry! Look at him! This is what you have forced me to do! This is all of your faults! This boy’s death and blood will be on your hands and I hope his face haunts you nightly.” His speech sounded scripted and powerful, some on goers had to look away from the hopeless face of Zayn J. Malik.

“I asked for a hero and a hero was brought to me.”

~…~

A woman turned the T.V. off in Cambridgeshire, wiping her filled eyes and telling her small tots to run outside in the pretty countryside.

A teenage boy turned away from the face of the boy he used to bully, sickeningly glad he had the flu and had to miss school.

A girl sitting on a towel, her wet hair dripping on her shoulders from her shower, bit her fist and tried not to cry. Recognizing her ex-boyfriends face and wished she hadn’t broken his heart for popularity.

A teacher dropped her head on her desk and thought of the will it would take.

A child put his pencil down and closed his eyes.

Lives were changing.

~…~
Zayn looked out at the crowd of people. Looked out at those who would witness his death. He wanted to say goodbye, to his new friends, to his new love, and to his best friend and sister. He wanted to open his mouth and pray for help from Allah. He wanted to take back his decision to be a hero. He wanted to be back home in Bradford.

But at the same time he wished all of this, he knew he wouldn’t change where he was for the world. So for all of the goodbyes, for all of the I Love You’s he’d miss, he opened his mouth and sang a song his sister picked up.

It was from America, and it was sung about the twirlers. And the words tumbled down his lips and floated across the courtyard. To the bullies. The teachers. The students. Those in shock. The children. The woman he’d never met and yet had touched in Cambridgesire. His heart broken soulfulness was changing people.

“Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home,”

Everyone sang if they could. Opaque did. Niall did. Louis did. Harry did. That mom did. The teacher did. The voices were swelling.

“This is your hero!” Kaden yelled, a second past, in then a single shot rang out.

AUTHORS NOTE;

ONE DIRECTION IS DEAD!

Now that i have your attention, i'd like to thank those of you who have commented and fanned. It really makes my day and some of you all are just the sweetest little things. <3