Escaper - Zayn Malik Fanfiction - Completed.

Chapter 14

~Lydia's P.O.V~

I stop pacing around the house once I have nothing left in me to let out. I've been crying for the last two hours, and not just because of the burn on my cheek caused by a palm, but because of how pathetic my life has became. I'm sharing a house with an abuser, a murderer. And worse of all, I'm feeling bad.

I never rubbed people's problems in their faces, I always thought I was understating. But I just proved myself wrong. I shouldn't have tested his patience. Especially after I knew it was about family. Family problems are a really sensitive subject, and I should have stayed silent. I never experienced major family problems, my parents are so alike that they barely fight, and when they do, it's about silly things; like how my dad placed the wrong towel in the bathroom, or how he doesn't find his stuff because mom cleaned the house up. I wouldn't call them 'fights', they're more like misunderstandings.

But I'm sure Marcus' past is more than a misunderstanding. It's something big. Something serious. Maybe his parents are divorced? Maybe his dad is an abuser and that's where he learned to hit people? Maybe his mom is barely home? Maybe he killed one of them? I shudder at the last thought. Where did it even come from? A sane person can't kill his own parents. He wouldn't. But maybe Marcus isn't sane after all.

I thrown myself on the bed and lean my back against the headboard. I reach for my pillow and cover my face in it then let out a groan of frustration. Why can't he tell me what's wrong? Maybe I can help him or something. I never had to deal with people telling me their problems, so I can't exactly say I'm a good listener, but I can try. I remove the pillow from my face and curse out loud at my fucked-up situation. I hear a voice from behind the door and then the sound of footsteps disappearing in thin air, and I frown. Was Marcus standing there all the time?

I stand up slowly and peek my head out of the room, glancing at the short hallway and catch a glimpse of Marcus' silhouette. I walk over to him and when I notice him walking a little faster, I call out for him. "M-Marcus." I stammer.

His steps are brought to a halt and he spins around facing me. His face is holding no emotions as he watches me. "What?" He snaps.

"Uhm, I-I saw you standing at the door of my bedroom. Thought you wanted something." I mutter. I don't look at him. The floor is much more interesting at the moment.

"You should have thought about what I want back when I was telling you to keep your mouth shut!" I don't want ti face him. To see his intense eyes and gaze. But I can't stop myself. As I look up at him, his eyes immediately widen, focusing on something on my face. Maybe he's looking at the mark his hands left on my cheek. Is it that obvious?

"I'm sorry." I say and watch his expression as it change to one of shock. "I shouldn't have said what I said about your family. I crossed the line. And for that, I apologize." I finish. His expression doesn't change.

"Apologies are bullshit and they shouldn't exist." He huffs. "They're just a way to not hurt someone. If they really didn't mean what they said, then why say it in the first place?" His answer catches me off guard. I sure wasn't expecting him to tell me what he thinks about apologies. Wait, 'a way to not hurt someone'? Does that mean I hurt him?

"I really have nothing to tell you, but we can't keep acting like that." I start and wait for him to say something. Anything.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm trying to accept my fate here. I'm gonna be living with you for as long as you stay, and we can't keep fighting at every chance we get." I can't believe I'm saying this out loud right in front of Marcus. This is crazy. "We need to get along. I know I sound like a lunatic but can you please listen to me before you decide whether you want to kill me or not?" I beg. The thought of my life ending because of him isn't something that surprises me at all. It crosses my mind every day since the day he stepped into the house. Regardless, it still sends shivers down my spine. I'm not ready for my life to end, but death isn't a huge deal to me. We're all going to face it one day. Sooner or later.

He sighs. "Two minutes." He states and waits for me to speak.

I take a deep breath before explaining what's been begging me to be let out. "We're living together now, the least we can do is understand each other. I haven't spoken to any of my friends at college, I still talk with Niall--only because I don't want to draw any suspicions, besides I don't talk to him a lot. I go to company straight after college and I'm listening to everything you tell me to do. I won't bother you or come near you except for questions about food or clothes and stuff like those. You won't hear from me but I can't do this if I keep living under the pressure of the fear inside me, whispering how my lifetime depends on you and what you decide. I need to know that I have nothing to worry about . . . that you're only here because you need somewhere to stay in without having someone telling on you to the cops. That's all I'm asking for."

He stays silent during the whole speech and even after I'm done with it, but a few moments later, he says, "so you want to feel safe when you're with me, a stranger who kills, so you can do your daily shit duties properly and if I don't come near you, I will be having some time without you interfering in my goddamn business?" He asks as if trying to let my words sink in. I nod slowly, hoping we can come to an agreement and just deal with our lives. "And how will I know you won't tell on me?" He asks.

"As an almost sane person, I wouldn't even dare tell a 3 years old kid that you're here. I have a life that I'm not ready to give up on, yet." I say and mean every word.

"For a weak girl living with a murderer, you sure are acting so brave." He crosses his arms and the left corner of his mouth twitches up in a smirk, making his scar move in the process, and I shiver.

"I'm trying to offer the best option I came up with."

"I will try your 'option' for a week, if it doesn't work, then be sure that you will be visiting hell to make up for the lost time." He turns to walk away, I am about to do the same when the doorbell stops both of us in our tracks. "Already disobeying me, I see." He hisses through gritted teeth.

"I didn't invite anyone over, I swear!" I say. I'm confused as much as he is.

"Open the ducking door. And remember that I am watching you." He says and hides behind the wall, waiting for me to get the door.

I walk over to it as slowly as possible and once I'm next to it, I bring my hand up to twist the door handle and open it a little to get a look at my unexpected visitor. When I do, my jaw drops to the floor and I stare at the man in front of me. The door fully opens when I let go of the door handle out of shock.

"Niall?" I manage to let out.

-A.N-

I won't be giving you any excuses because I shouldn't have took si long to update!

I'll update as fast as I can so wait for meh.

Oh and hope you didn't come up with some serious murder plans for Lydia after her lame attempts at joking in the last two chapters Hahaha

-Jana xx