Lost

Chapter 39: Lost Mates

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Zayn's P.O.V.

The winds gathered more speed, whipping at the trees. Zayn was sitting alone by the fire in the dark veranda, waiting for Bee to come around. He was really worried. She looked so distressed. It was clear from her tear filled, pain stricken eyes that she had been crying. Zayn understood why she wanted to be left alone. A lot had happened tonight, and he did not even know half of the shit she has been through. There were plenty of reasons why chose to sit alone on that rock, he knew, but he just could not help but think if he was one of those reasons.

Zayn rested his head against the damaged wall of his room. His thoughts kept wandering to the feel of her arms around his neck when she embraced him unexpectedly. To the way his heart raced when she hugged him tightly, and how her body shook with sobs as he held her closer. Despite the evident abundance of pain and fright, he could see the relief wash through her eyes when she had realized he was alive. Zayn could not help the budding warmth every time he recalled his lips pressing against her soft skin of her forehead.

And that is what worried him.

Zayn bit on the inside of his cheek, and closed his eyes. Salma was a mess when she ran to him for comfort. She was not thinking straight. She denied being mad at him, but it almost felt like she had left to sit on the rock just to escape him. Zayn felt to his stomach churn knowing, she could be avoiding him because he took advantage of her in her state of extreme vulnerability.

What had gotten into him? Zayn thought bitterly. How could he be such an idiot . . ?

Zayn woke up with a start, not sure what woke him up. An explosive crash of thunder made him realize it was the storm. He had gone to sleep in a very uncomfortable position. Zayn was confused to find himself sleeping in the veranda instead of his room. A dazzling bolt sliced the sky outside, slapping him fully awake. As if hit by the lightening itself, Zayn jolted up to check the bench.

Did she come in?

His heart hammered against his ribcage as he strained his eyes to see through the dark. It was raining heavily outside. The occasional lightning bolt cut through the dark, illuminating his surroundings. The bench was empty.

"Damn it!"

As he plunged head first into panic mode, Zayn desperately searched for the stick with his hands.

Oh God! She didn't . . . No, no, no!  . . . How could she not?! Why didn't she come inside?!

Another bolt of lightning struck, followed by a deafening crash. The momentary illumination helped Zayn locate his stick. He snatched it up and limped towards the steps, cursing himself for being an idiot and not bringing her back inside with him when he could.

He halted at the top of the stairs. It was raining like mad. The amount of water pouring noisily from the sky made it look like the whole Atlantic Ocean has been inverted over the forest. Taking a step back, Zayn quickly shrugged out of Salma's sweater. The cold blast hit him like a cannon and he hesitated for an instant before getting rid of his shirt as well.

Shivering uncontrollably, he turned to Salma's bag in the veranda and pulled the old flash light out of it. He hastily tossed both the mobile phones - his and Salma's - on the heap of clothing and set out towards the rock.

With the ice-cold watery bullets pelting at his shirtless body, the only thing that kept him going was panic building inside of him. As he fought his way to the rock in the rain, he could not help picturing it empty. He had no idea what he would do if she was not there for real.