Monsters Inside Him (Completed)

Chapter 18: And Then There Were Two

Chapter 18: And Then There Were Two

I paced as I read the letter over and over. It was from my brother, David. He wrote to tell me how much my family missed me. How they’ve been trying to get in touch with me over the past few weeks, but my phone was never on. How they can’t wait to see me when I come home at Christmas. How my little sister and little brother draw pictures for me and can’t wait to see my face when they give them. How my parents and my older brother David worry after not hearing from me in forever.

I let out a sad sigh and drop the letter to the floor. Onto the next.

Over the time I had been kept prisoner at Zayn’s, I had accumulated quite the pile of mail. Most of it was just threats from the school about how I am failing most of my classes due to poor attendance. Yeah, and whose fault do you think that is? Let me give you a hint, his name rhymes with rain. And insane. And pain. Like pain in the ass.

“Everything alright, babe?” Natasha asked from where she lay lazily slumped on the sofa. I bit my lip and nodded as I carefully folded up all my letters from the school and handed them for Claire to look at.

This did not go unnoticed by Natasha.

“Watcha got there?” She asked, begging to not be left out, as she sat up and mussed her vibrant red hair. Claire glanced over at me and plastered on a sweet smile.

“Oh nothing, just some bills. It’s my turn to cover them this month.” She lied as she tucked away my warning letters. I felt bad for isolating Natasha so much from the situation, but it was for her own good.

“Mmhmm, I’m sure it’s just bills.” She rolled her eyes, fed up with our lies. She settled back in on the couch and started flipping through a magazine.

“Well, I’m going to go get ready for that seminar tonight. Don’t wait up for me.” Claire called as she stalked off to the bathroom. Natasha and I sat in silence for a moment before she sat up with a wide grin on her face.

“I have a brilliant idea!” She squealed in her distinct accent.

“Shoot.” I encouraged with a smile. It’s hard not to appreciate Natasha. Despite having her best friend kicked out of the program and leaving the country, despite having her two roommates obviously keeping a secret and despite always being left out, she was trying her hardest to be a good friend.

“Since Claire’s not gonna be in tonight, lets you and I have a bonding night. We’ll paint toenails and watch movies and bake! The whole nine yards, as you yanks say!” She bounced up and down at her idea.

“Sounds fun, but I can’t tonight. How about tomorrow?” I decline guiltily. To be honest, that was exactly what I wanted to do on my Friday night, but I didn’t have much of a choice.

“And why’re you so busy?!” She asked lightheartedly. I shrugged. I mean, what should I tell her? ‘Sorry, I can’t hang out because this psycho gang leader is taking me on a non-optional date?’ yeah, I’m sure that’ll go over well.

“Erm, I am going…” quick, think of a lie really quick… “I am going… to, er, the supermarket.” I muttered. What? What kind of a dumbfuck says that? Me, apparently.

Disbeilief, disappointment and hurt crossed Natasha’s features before she plastered on a cheesy smile and headed off to her bedroom.

“Alright, if you say so…” She rolled her eyes and disappeared. I let out a shaky sigh as guilt flooded through me. Poor Natasha must just think that we don’t like her, when in reality we’re just trying to protect her.

I head over to my room where Claire is just doing her hair. Silently, I dress and do my make up.

“You’re going to be ok tonight. Call me if you need me, if he’ll let you.” She whispered as she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

“Thanks Claire-bear.” I mutter back. We stare at each other for a second before she turns to go.

“Well, I’m off!” She shouts behind her and leaves the room. I start putting on earrings when I am called.

“Han! I think you should come in here!” Claire’s voice displays urgency, so I rush out to the living room to see what’s going on.

By the door was a stack of suitcases. Natasha was standing there with the most clothes I’ve ever seen her wear. She had her thick coat on and a scarf wrapped tightly around her neck. There were tears in her big brown eyes, but her face was like stone.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, already knowing. Claire turned around with tears in her eyes.

“I-I’m leaving.” Natasha whispered, her words breaking as her eyes overfilled.

“W-what? Why?” I stepped closer to her, knowing that this was completely my fault.

“I-I know something is going on b-between you t-two and I know you d-don’t want m-me involved. It’s not m-my place to p-pry but I can’t be out of the loop all the time. I’m gonna go stay with some friends across campus. W-whatever is going on, I hope it gets worked out.” She states her practiced speech and turns to leave.

“Natasha! Wait. Please, you don’t have to go. We’re sorry, you just don’t understand.” I wanted to explain to her so badly. I didn’t want her to leave, but it’s better this way.

“Youre right, I don’t understand,” she adds, sadly, “and I can’t keep doing this. Maybe we can go out for coffee soon, yeah?” She chokes up under her flow of tears. Claire and I rush over to hug her, but then we watch silently as she heads down the hall.

It was for the best, we had to let her go.

“She’ll be safe now.” Claire whispered to me.

“And happy. She won’t feel left out.” I add in sadly. Claire gives me another sad look before grabbing her purse and heading off to her seminar.

First Miranda left after flunking out. Now my ‘secret’ forced Natasha out of her own flat. I laughed bitterly to myself: and then there were two…

I figure it’s better that Natasha left before she gets dragged into my mess like poor Claire has. Nothing I can do about it now.

I head back to my room to get ready for my oh-so-exciting ‘date’.

Seven O’clock rolls around faster than I expected. I held my breath as I peered out the window of my bedroom. I spotted Zayn’s familiar car roar up to the curb. I couldn’t see his face yet, but as he pushed himself out of the car, I could see his tense posture and his stiff muscles.

I watched nervously as he slipped his leather jacket on and pulled out a cigarette and flung it on the street, carefully putting it out with the tip of his boot. I saw him turn around and felt my heart stop.

His eyes were infuriated and his hands trembled slightly. There was a dark shadow over his face but I could still see how his mouth was rigidly set in a frown. I carefully stepped away from the window as my heart beat unevenly. He was already pissed and I haven’t even gotten to make a sarcastic comment yet.

Shit.

I waited a few minutes before I heard an angry banging on my door. Carefully, I opened it to reveal the fuming Zayn.

He brushed passed me and stopped in the middle of my living room. I quietly shut the door and turned to him, waiting for the storm to hit.

He turned around and his eyes met with mine.

As soon as I saw him up close, I let out a shocked gasp.

“What happened?!” I covered my mouth with my hand as soon as I let the words slip out. Zayn looked away from me angrily.

“Nothing. Let’s just go.” He went towards the door, but I stupidly slid in front of him and grabbed his cheeks in my hands.

He was just as shocked as I was that I did that.

I gulped back the fear because it was too late to change the fact that I just got in the way of a livid Zayn.

“We’re not going anywhere with you looking like that.” I decided. He narrowed his eyes at me and grabbed my wrists in his large hands.

“What did you just say? Suddenly you get to make the decisions here?” He snapped. I sighed impatiently and wrenched my wrists from his grip.

“Zayn, for God’s sake. You have a black eye!!” I had never seen Zayn with any sort of injury before, so seeing him with a black eye and a cut lip was a shock.

“Yeah, I fucking know that, Hannah!” He snapped. I let out an angry huff before bravely grabbing his forearm and yanking him towards the bathroom. I figured that he was beginning to calm down and let me clean him up because he didn’t resist me. He let me tug him along.

I let go of his arm and began to dig through my messy medicine cabinet. He shut the lid of the toilet and sat on top of that as he watched my dig through a first aid kit.

“ok, so what happened?” I asked as I set to work on him. His dark eyes glanced up at me quickly and then stared straight ahead.

“None of your business.” He growled. I rolled my eyes at his response.

“What exactly do you and your gang of testosterone pumped friends actually do? Are you drug lords? Pimps?” I pressed stupidly, knowing clearly I was heading into dangerous waters.

“What did I just say?” He snapped, “mind your own fucking business.”

“Zayn. If you’re gonna force me to be with you, then you’ve clearly made yourself my business. If you don’t start fucking talking, I’m not going out with you.” I huffed and started to put the medical supplies away. He raised his eyebrows at me and stood from his unconventional seat. When I turned back around, I bumped into his chest.

“So you think you have a fucking choice?” He chuckled darkly. I stepped away from him and then headed back into the kitchen.

“Of course I do.” He followed me. I felt nerves rise in my chest, knowing that picking an argument was such a stupid thing to do. Such a me thing to do.

I felt his hand grab my arm, fingers digging into my flesh. I let out a gasp as he spun me around and slammed me into his chest.

“I’ll drag you outta here if I have to. You should know that by now, Darlin’.” He threatened. I yanked away from him and stared bravely up into his demonic eyes.

“Then I’ll scream like a little bitch the whole night and make you have a miserable time.” I countered.

“Then I’ll beat the scream straight outta you.” He hissed, leaning down into my face so that our eyes were level. I rolled my eyes so that he couldn’t see the fear in them and brushed passed him, bumping shoulders as I went.

“Jesus, you’ve clearly forced your way into my private life, can’t you let me see a glimpse of yours. I’m trying to make this work, but I expect some effort on your end Zayn.” I scolded him as if he were a child, knowing that was the stupidest thing I could do. I had basically just emasculated him.

I grabbed my purse and waited by the door. I expected the worst, a punch from his closed fist, as I heard his heavy footsteps approach me rapidly. He spun me around and slammed me against the wall.

This is it. I thought. I’ve pushed him too far.

I closed my eyes tightly, expecting a blow, but instead I was met with soft lips planted firmly against my own. The heat of the kiss increasing when, for some reason, I decided to kiss back.