It was long after we had we'd binge watched three movies and Niall ate a hole in his Doritos bag that we all had fallen asleep in an intertangled mess that littered the living room floor, I couldn't help but find myself content in as Niall's snoring filled my ear and Harry's breath tickling my neck. The two man white noise machine would hopefully assure a uninterrupted sleep, one absent of both shadowy figures and Zayn. But of course, the universe had decided to work in a far more complicated way as I awoke in the middle of night, my eyes burning from the erratic flashes of light coming from the TV which was playing Captain America for at least the third consecutive time and my skin slick with sweat from the numerous blankets layered on top of me that someone were miraculously not stolen from Harry. I looked over to see where Harry had once been laying, and there was nothing but a empty spot abundant in cushions. I turned my head, Niall was still pleasantly snoring away, obviously unaware of his disappearance. I slowly slipped away from him, careful not to stir him before standing up, pulling down the sweatshirt I had borrowed. Barefooted and curious I made my way to the front door, checking both the washroom and bedroom for any sign of the curly haired boy. I checked my phone, which was running low on battery, it was 4:07 am which both increased my curiosity and my anxiety of his whereabouts at this hour. As I approached the door, I noticed it was ajar, my heart pounding, I considered my options and decided not waking Niall to be the smartest choice. Niall would still be drunk or atleast be running on a buzz and if there was any threat, would alert them immediately. I took a deep breath before slowly pushing the door open, which I was met with an ever darker hallway.
"You're okay, he might of just went for a walk" I whispered, trying to reassure myself
Slowly walking down the hallway, I could swear I saw the shadows moving, making the darkness shift and contort within itself but I tried to tell myself that it was only my imagination, which wasn't too comforting because my imagination makes it hard to differentiate between it and reality. When I finally made it to the top of the stairs, I listened for footsteps, nothing. I slowly started, one step at a time, the late night chill bit at my bare feet, making me curse to myself as I realized I had completely forgotten footwear. As I was about to reach the bottom of the stairs I heard a voice that was equally as chilling.
"Poor girl, barefoot, barely dressed, doesn't it remind you of a night just over a year ago?"
I gasped, pausing on the second last step. The words evoking a vision of branches under my feet and blood on my hands. I didn't dare turn my head but still I could see his lips forming in a bittersweet smile. I felt my body try to shrink in his presence.
"You're not real." I said, more to myself than him
"Oh please don't start your therapist's psycho-babble spiel again, it really is pathetic."
Zayn emerged from the shadows of the main floor, his skin looked translucent under the lone, flickering light that was in the center of the ceiling.
I squeezed my eyes shut but immediately opened them when my vision was met with flashes of the forest and Zayn's frightened screams.
"It's lovely, knowing you aren't mourning over me anymore, already out with the lads again." He smirked, his voice patronizing
I felt my heart wrench at the sound of those words, as if i didn't care. My nightmares and anxiety attacks weren't born from carelessness, from my lack of love for him.
"What do you want from me?" I pleaded, no longer able to follow my therapist's instructions he had so carefully planned for me if i started seeing it, or him again.
Zayn slowly strode toward me, the shadows playing tricks, transforming his slender face into something of skeleton's, he leaned in close, lips parting. Inches from my face, he spoke softly but his breath smelled metallic. It took me in the momentary silence between us to realize it wasn't colour on his lips that reminded me of blooming roses but blood.
"I want you to find me."
