Shifting from her crouched position, Annika involuntarily whimpers hearing the thudding footsteps come closer.
She curls further into herself, tears pooling at the mere fear of being caught in the room she was strictly prohibited from.
Opening her eyes, her head tucked securely between her arms that rested on her knees drawn tightly to her chest, she could see the outline of slippers on the floor before her.
When she heard footsteps outside the office door, she was quick to duck under the nearest surface, a desk in her case, bringing her body to the nearest corner and wedgeing herself between the bin and computer tower in hopes that whoever was coming in wouldn't see her.
The slippers are kicked off, the person tossing them aside as they sit at the desk, their knees coming dangerously close to Annika's head, the girl holding a hand to her mouth forcing herself to stay silent.
"I-I'm so sorry,"
It was Liam. The weary words were strung together by sobs, the man producing heart-wrenching ones as he slams something down on his desk, "I-I'm so sorry,"
More footsteps are heard, the door slamming shut, Annika furrowing her eyebrows attempting to figure out if someone had come in or out - "You fucking should be!" the voice roared, Annika flinching at the booming growl having her question answered, there were now three people in the office, Annika praying she remains an unknown third party.
"How dare you! How bloody fucking dare you," The person growls, Annika clenches her jaw suppressing a gasp at how angry this person sounded, she could imagine them standing at Liam glowering, Annika herself could practically feel the seething anger from her place under the desk.
Liam sobs at the accusing words, his hands drop, Annika fighting the urge to hold one in support, clearly, the man needed a fucking hug.
"After everything we've done for you," At the softer tone, Annika recognizes the voice, "For them," he adds, "For Louis,"
It was Zayn.
"What is it going to take Liam? Freedom? We gave it you to on a fucking silver platter," Zayn snarls, "Your brother? You can see him anytime you fucking want, he's in headspace so he barely knows who the fuck you are-"
Annika's heart stings at the comment, whether Liam knew it or not, he was being played. Religiously. Louis was not in headspace, Annika figured that out by his look alone, much less his distant behavior. She may not be as experienced in headspace, but she saw how Thomas acted around these men, she knew her little brother's subconscious was floating, he was not the boy who had been kidnapped.
Louis' presence screamed that he was in trouble. How could Liam not see that? Annika chews on the insides of her cheeks in thought, another question circling in her brain, why do Harry and Zayn keep saying he is in headspace?
Was Louis being forced into headspace?
"I want an answer, Liam," Zayn demanded, "What is it going to take?"
Annika feels her chest tighten, the younger man inhales deeply fighting his way through oncoming cries, "I-I w-want to-to come h-home,"
"No!" Annika freezes from her position, her hands remain covering her mouth where the protest came violently from, she squeezes her eyes shut as her heartbeat rings in her ears, she can feel eyes boring into her, "What are you doing down there, little one?" Zayn teases, Annika feels hands secure around her, she begins thrashing, kicking, screaming for the man to leave her alone, "Liam! Liam-"
Annika shrieks sitting up in bed, panting as the sheets lay pooled at her thighs, she checks her arms seeing no new bruises, her hands trace where she felt Zayn grab her arm in her dream. It all felt so real.
Too real.
Scanning the room Annika gulps seeing a room she didn't recognize. The room was dim, when her eyes managed to focus she slid from the bed letting her toes curl into the thin carpet. It reminded her of a hotel room.
Annika had only ever stayed at a hotel room once before, her mother had booked a night in a hotel across town from their shitty apartment for her thirtieth birthday, while she didn't initially plan on bringing her children along, it was her mother's boyfriend at the time that insisted.
Propelling forward to shake the haunting memory from her head Annika feels for the curtains in front of her tugging them open slightly squinting at the brightness that leaked into view.
Her forest orbs settle when she sees the ocean in front of her, her hands fumble from the curtain feeling for the door handle sighing in relief when it clicks as if someone had locked it. She pushes it open letting her eyes slip close stepping onto the concrete balcony from the sudden musk of the hotel room she'd woken up in.
Glancing down at her outfit she frowns at the white dress against her pale skin, the sun teasing her with warmth she didn't truly feel the comfort in like she wanted.
The wind whips against her cheeks, and she feels lulled by the crashing sounds of the ocean, a gasp falls from her lips when the door is shut behind her, Annika jumps as she turns seeing Zayn behind her, "Hi Princess Anna," he coos, "Hi-hi," she whispers crossing her arms over her chest for protection, she again feels where in her dream Zayn had grabbed her so violently, "You slept the whole way here, no wonder you're awake now,"
"Wh-where are we?"
"The beach," vague reply, Annika notes, she nods taking it in value as she purses her lips looking back toward the ocean, "It-it's beautiful,"
Zayn hums in reply sitting on one of the chairs the balcony had to offer, "It is, your dad loved the beach,"
Annika turns to him, "Loved?"
The granddad smirks, "Loves," he offers apologetically, "Wh-where is dad a-and Papa?"
"Remember who the enemy is," Niall whispered into Liam's ear kissing his husband goodbye, Harry insisted the two of them including Louis fly separately, Niall wondered if he'd even be flying at all or if they'd actually kill him this time.
He knew the minute Liam showed any sign of knowing the secrets Niall felt compelled to keep, it would be over for him.
Liam nods ruffling Niall's hair, "I will see you there," he promises meeting his Papa's eyes, "I-I'll see y-you all there, r-right?"
"Of course Lee, fly safe with daddy and my grandbabies, I'll catch up with you all there," Harry assures nudging Liam from the home behind Zayn.
Niall stares pitifully at the door as it closes him inside with Harry and Louis, "Wh-when is our flight?"
Harry rolls his eyes, "Soon,"
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Forced Family 3
FanfictionA crooked smile brightens his face, he's standing with his arms outstretched beckoning her to come forward to him. Horrified she can't seem to tear her eyes away from the mirror. She stands with her black locks curled resting on her shoulders, brigh...
