faded

18.0 - list

a/n - ANGEL just got to 40k 😭 heres 3 chapters and expect 2 more tomorrow.

Dedicated to @zettywap

"How could this happen? You killed him!"

A lightbulb seems to go off. Zayn had told me he killed my father, James, and my godfather, but never mentioned Harry's name.

"I left him for dead, I thought he was. I desperately needed to get back to you and I didn't even think. I just threw him by the alley."

I feel disgusted with myself when I think of that night. I can feel my skin crawling and threatening hands taunting me. I don't want to think, but the fear has invaded any inch of serenity and positivity I had about this situation.

"Why is he after me?" I asked, not succeeding at hiding my strained voice.

"He knows you're my only weakness. He wants revenge. Liam told me he knew we were in the cabin, he doesn't know how. He thinks someone at the office tipped him off."

"This can't be happening."

"I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you. But I promise nothing will happen, I promise in a few days you'll wake up and think this was a dream."

I scoffed. "How can you say that? You may not fear for your life, but I fear for mine. He's not after you, he's after me."

I immediately remember the video Zayn showed me that morning. How he told me Harry could be extremely sick when killing, almost like he did it for sport. My stomach was in knots, the uncertainty made me nauseous.

"Don't say that, alright? I won't let anything happen to you, I let you down before but not again."

-

The long ride was extremely tense. Zayn refused to acknowledge how fucked up this was, which was no surprise to me. The pills had begun to wear off and I started to feel like shit as I was coming down. The pain in my body had become excruciating, the growing doom not helping aid my piercing headache.

The house was the same. Small and in a little neighborhood. I didn't understand why he chose to bring me here, but I realized it as I was able to observe my surroundings.

It was hidden in plain sight.

"I have the keys," He said as we walked up the path. "Don't open the door for anyone. Anything you could possibly need is there."

Except for you.

"You knew this was gonna happen, didn't you?"

My question caught him by surprise as we walked into the nice house, the familiarity making me feel a little better.

My mother had picked out the decorations, back when we were a family.

"You didn't wanna go to the cabin to relax, you knew we were in danger from the beginning."

He sighed, trying to reach for me. It hurt me physically to push him away, but I did. Zayn knew and just didn't think it was anything to worry about. As usual, his way was the best and only way to do things.

He never seemed to care about our safety as long as things went according to what he thought was right.

"I just wasn't thinking, alright? I'm fucking sorry, Ana."

"Just get out, leave." I pointed towards the door, catching one of the employees of the house peeking from the kitchen door. "Get the fuck out, Zayn. I don't want to see you."

Zayn tried snaking his arms around me, as if to say goodbye, but I couldn't do it. "Angel, please."

"Look at this fucking house, you think I need maids? You know they're here to babysit me. You think I'm gonna kill myself? You think I'll hurt myself while you're gone? Maybe I should, so I don't have to deal with you at all anymore!"

He slapped me, hard. It shocked me so much that I didn't feel the pain immediately. But it hurt, it really hurt. Tears gathered in my eyes as I held my burning cheek.

"I'm gonna deal with you when I get back. Don't do anything stupid, I'm warning you," he spotted the maid lurking in the kitchen door and pointed at her, "You. Make her take her medication. I don't want excuses."

"Bye, Zayn."

"Goodbye, Anastasia."

He placed a kiss on my head and with that, he walked out the door, leaving me behind.