𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓! 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍.
𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱.
For five years, I was caged-locked in a life I couldn't escape, a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.
At an age when I should have been dancing under the star...
I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling from last night. Alana had been crying and screaming in her sleep, and it was the kind of sound that sent chills down my spine. Niall, of course, had slept through it. That man could sleep through an earthquake and still wake up complaining that his nap wasn't long enough.
But I had been awake. I had heard her.
And now, I was worried.
Did she have a nightmare? Was it connected to the reason she ran away? I wanted to ask, but she had begged me not to pry. And as much as it killed me, I had to respect her boundaries.
The bedroom door creaked open, and Alana stepped out. She looked exhausted—eyes puffy, hair slightly disheveled, her entire posture screaming I got zero hours of sleep, and I regret my life choices.
"I thought you were going to sleep all day. You know, jet lag and all?" I teased, trying to mask my concern.
"I thought so too," she mumbled, her voice dull, completely devoid of her usual spark.
I hesitated, then decided to go for it. "Are you okay, Al?"
She blinked, looking slightly caught off guard. "Yes? Why?"
I folded my arms. "I heard you."
Her brow furrowed. "Heard me?"
"I heard you screaming."
Alana's lips parted slightly, and for a moment, she looked like she wanted to deny it. Then, instead of explaining, she muttered, "Oh. Umm. Sorry?"
"Don't do that." I sighed. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
Her voice was firm, final, like a slammed door. But I wasn't buying it.
"Fine. Don't tell me. Just tell me one thing," I pushed.
She hesitated. "What?"
"Are you in any danger?"
I didn't miss the way her breath hitched. She stared at me with wide eyes, her lips pressing together as if she was debating whether to lie.
Finally, she whispered, "N-No, I'm not in any danger."
I exhaled, relief washing over me—until she mumbled, almost too quietly to hear—
"Anymore."
I opened my mouth, about to ask what the hell that meant, but at that exact moment, the door to my bedroom burst open, and Niall stumbled out.
Floppy-haired. Shirtless. Barefoot.
Wearing sunglasses.
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