A Dance With Death

|| Chapter 18 - Dream ||

A faint breeze blows, but I don't feel it. I take a look around and find myself in a large barley field, filled with tall grass and the crops nearing the time of harvest. I raise my head towards the clear sky. The sun is high above me, enough to show that it is around noon. However, I cannot even feel the warmth of its rays. In a distance, I spot a forest. Its trees rise to a great height. Despite the odd chirping of birds considering there are none around me, everything seems normal. And quite reminiscent.

I strain myself to remember where I am, when some sounds catch my attention. I carefully take a step towards the source of the voices. Initially they are faint, but gradually they start growing clearer in my head. I keep removing the grass from my way, heading towards the forest from where the sounds came.

When I finally reach the end of the field, I find myself on another field, where the grass, thankfully, is short and under my feet. The woods are still at a distance from where I stand. I pace forward and glance around for the source of the sounds. Beneath a tree, just bordering the crop farm, I spot movement. It is when I reach closer to the tree that I remember this old memory, lost deep within my mind beneath the folds of all these years.

I find Niall, sitting there with his back against the tree. He's moving his toes back and forth, as if he's bored. I ignore the slight heartache I feel as I watch him. Beside him, I find Louis - his younger version - talking to a youthful Liam in a pretty loud voice. Liam returns a laugh. Meanwhile, Harry is looking around for someone, or something, with his entire body weight on his toes.

I build up my speed as I realise the importance of this moment. I nearly jog towards them. It's one of the best memories of the band that I had. And one of the last.

This is the memory of the day before our tour was about to start. Niall wanted some quiet time before heading out on this restless journey. We had a long way to go, all around the globe, and this tour had some added concert venues too. With the help of the management and the staff, we were able to plan out this 'secret' picnic; away from the famous life, or what people would call, the 'fame'. After a few days of searching, we found this place next to this farm. It was all well-planned. We, however, had very limited time. Yet, we managed to make the most out of this day.

And a week later, our fates changed. In the most sick and twisted way possible.

I don't want to let this memory go away. I want to feel this happiness once again. I want to live this day once more. I want to be with all the boys for one last time. It's the only good that I can make out of being dead.

I reach the tree and grab it for support. "Hey guys," I say with a huge grin. "Sorry. I was just-"

"Sorry I'm late!" another voice interrupts me. "It's a huge field. I couldn't find the place." He laughs.

I turn around and stare at the person approaching us, horrified. He's dressed in grey track pants and a crimson colored jacket. There's a huge bag slung across his shoulder.

"Zayn," Harry says to the visitor. "I've been looking all over for you."

I stare at my other self with disbelief. He smiles apologetically at the boys. He forcefully grabs Niall's hand for a firm handshake. Niall returns the gesture with a quick smile.

Why am I not seeing this flashback from my own point of view?

I look down at myself. I'm wearing the same outfit I was wearing in the hospital. A plain white T-shirt with a pair of light-green pajamas. I look back at the boys.

The whole scene starts to form slowly in my mind. This is one memory that I want to experience one more time. I guess luck never favours you when you die - or even when you are about to die.