faded

20.0 - ghosts

Dedicated to @zayn_m_xxx & zaynmermaid

It seems easy to fool them. They're so lost in their own little bubble, focused on slowly killing each other, that they don't notice how the world is closing in on them.

It wasn't all about revenge.

From the beginning I tried to make things fair, I tried warning her. I tried to help her, but unexpected circumstances didn't allow me to get her away. I knew I'd never have a chance like that, she was already in too deep with him. I hadn't seen my sister since then.

Their conversations were easy to hear, though it was unfortunate I heard her cries for him to stop, her clear unhappiness, and his uncontrollable temper manifesting physically on her.

The night I took advantage of her is a blur. I don't remember a lot of it. All I know is that I never meant to hurt her, I never meant to cause her harm. I knew it was fucking wrong, and I liked her, but it was no excuse.

Things were different now.

It was a miracle I was even alive. When I was rushed to the hospital, they told me I died for five minutes. They also told me that it was a real miracle that I came back and kept fighting.

That's what revenge will do for you.

It was my time to expose his lies. Anastasia already knew so much, but it was just scratching the surface. Zayn wasn't who she thought he was from the beginning. It was time to get her away from him, I had to help her since no one cared enough to do it.

It surprised me from Liam. His loyalty to Zayn was unwavering. No matter how fucked up the orders were, Liam listened. I wasn't sure why, but I'd find out.

I know Anastasia would hate me, but I just wanted to make it up to her.

"So you got the email?" She asks me, giving me a sympathetic smile.

(change of pov.)

"Yeah, just got it," he answers, screenshoting the email. He tucked his phone in his back pocket, sighing deeply.

He had changed so much. His hair was much messier and longer now, but he still looked like my dear friend, although a lot older. More tired. He had gone through a lot in the past year and when he contacted me and told me the entire truth, I couldn't help but feel cheated.

Though I never liked Anastasia, what Zayn had turned her into wasn't acceptable. Harry had managed to wire tap the phones, though it took him a very long time, and a whole lot of persuasion. I heard some of their conversations, but it was mostly her crying. It was unbelievable.

The worst thing was how he hid the truth from her. His initial intentions, her history basically.

Everyone found it strange that he was so into her from the beginning, everyone knew Zayn. His colleagues back home found it very strange he suddenly decided to settle down.

It was her inheritance.

Zayn had money, too much of it, but he wanted more. He was a man driven by possessions and he knew her history well.

It was when he was too deep in with her that he decided to stop. He had fallen for her somehow, after breaking her life. He knew she was a young girl with a lot of changes ahead of her and he didn't care until he fell in love. Zayn had no regard for human life or human fragility, he had no idea how his actions would affect her.

And I was jealous of her. I wanted him back.

How wrong was I?

It wasn't too late to save her, Harry and I shared that thought.

Harry had told me everything and despite my own selfishness trying to make me doubt him, the proof didn't lie.

She needed to know why her father treated her that way, she deserved to know what was in the letter Zayn destroyed. She deserved to know where her mother was. Anastasia deserved to get better.

"I think you were set up," I tell him, hoping our conversation is concealed in this small office space.

He looks confused. "How do you mean? I raped her, Amy, I did. I can't deny it."

"How do you not remember though? You don't even remember being in the room with her."

"It doesn't make sense, Liam was downstairs."

I nod. "Yes, but for how long? Do you remember?"

Harry buried his face in his hands. "Maybe ten minutes."

I knew it. "It takes about 10 minutes to get upstairs through the stairs."

"The elevat-"

I interrupt. "Was being repaired. Remember?"

His eyes light up. "But they said I did it, she recognized me."

Harry had a point. But it didn't make sense for Harry to just go along with whatever they were telling him he did if the facts werent in order. I realize that it's been obvious.

"The night Sam was killed, you said Zayn told you he got her really drunk, right?"

Harry noded yes, obviously confused. "Yeah, he seemed to do that often. He gave her something else on another ocassion, when he took her to the dollhouse. She was really fucked up, man."

I feel disgusted immediately. This was beyond sick and demented.

"It was like a mix of Rohypnol and alcohol. I know she's taking different ones right now, he's been giving her some weird shit he gets overseas."

"And he's still drugging her, Harry. Who knows what she's been imagining. He's deprived her of sleep, he's been beating her, and he's been drugging her, and purposely intoxicating her... Oh my god."

My stomach hurts as if I've been spinning for far too long. This is absolutely mad. But deep inside, I know that he's capable of this and much more.

"Holy fuck."

"You can get her case file from your detective friend," I said, putting the pieces together. "You can figure out if there was any suspects."

Harry's eyes were wide in shock. He slicked his hair back. "How did I end up in that alley, though? That's what I can't remember. What was I doing while this was happening?"

"Harry, do you remember where you were when her father died?"

"I was at the dollhouse, after that I remember I went to Zayn's but I don't remember anything after. All I know is that I ended up in an alley and I didn't have my wallet or my phone."

"Do you think Mike had anything to do with this?"

"Nah, he had no issues with Zayn or Anastasia. But why would Zayn have an issue with me?" he asked, taking a drink from the glass in front of him.

I frowned. "Maybe he knew how you felt about her. He definitely knew that you were aware of his initual intentions, you knew about her family secrets, you knew he wanted her inheritance... Yeah," it all slowly begins to make sense, even though it's just speculation, "he knew that if she found out, she'd shut him out. It wasn't about the money anymore, it was about her."

Harry stood up, deciding to pace instead. "So how did he know about her plans first?"

We both look at each other and I recall his confession to her. "Daisy, Daisy had access to James' phone history. Remember when I told you she had known about the affair? It was because of the phone records."

"My phone records, I can check them," he says quietly.

I look at him and can't help but feel bad about everything he's gone through. I know he's not capable of doing harm to Anastasia. But I know Zayn doesn't care about anyone except himself. Looking at Harry's lost expression hurts my heart.

Who was in the room with Anastasia? And worst of all, why did Zayn let it happen? Or was it out of his control?

This just couldn't be real.