faded

22.0 - fools rush in

"I got the phone records," he said walking into the kitchen, looking like he hadn't slept in days. Based on the look on his face, I knew that they could make or break this plan. We needed proof.

"What did you find? Anything incriminating?"

Harry shook his head. "A lot of missed calls from Zayn and Liam. Texts from my mum asking me where I was. I had texts from that day where Zayn specifically told me to take the stairs because of the elevators, though."

He looked exhausted. Harry had been hiding out at someone's house, but he preferred not to tell me because I was in enough trouble apparently. He had cut his hair off, but strands of curly hair still fell almost over his eyes. I confess the cut made him look much younger, as he was supposed to look, from afar. But from up close, you could notice just how much he had seen.

"What's funny is that someone had been paying my bill. I'm still on Zayn's payroll from the firm."

I frowned. "Did you get copies of your records? That's weird, I never saw your check on Friday's. So he's been keeping it?"

He gulped, "Yeah, luckily. I suppose he has, but what's the point? Why not just take me off payroll?"

"He probably doesn't know what to do right now. All the bad shit he's done is coming back to him a million times worse. What are you gonna do about Anastasia, though? Don't wanna run into Z upon his return."

"I know where Anastasia is, but I have no idea what to do, actually. She's not herself and I don't want to cause her additional distress."

I figured she meant more to him than he led on. I warned him to be careful. A person in her position would be scared to death and volatile.

"Did you get a copy of the letter from her father? That would make her trust you a bit."

Harry sighed, "Yeah, but I know there's more proof out there. Like her birth certificate."

"Taking her to her mother is a good idea too, maybe she has those documents. Her mother knows... About Zayn."

"How?"

I wrap my arms around myself. "She probably found out about him when he took over the firm. It's Anastasia's right, not his."

Harry looked sympathetic. I kept getting the most ominous feeling, like we were being watched. I knew that wasn't possible, Zayn was clueless about Harry's whereabouts and he hasn't called me at all. But when you think about how much power Zayn has and how little empathy, you can't help but feel like he could ruin your life at any given moment. He was truly that type of person. Even if he was far off in another country, his absence hung in the air. You knew at any moment that he'd return and that he was unpredictable.

I feared for Harry, but I knew this was the right thing. You can't just sit back and let evil people do as they please with people's lives.

"I spoke to her. I emailed her this morning. She didn't tell me anything about Anastasia, but she told me Zayn wasn't a good man."

"How does she know?"

"I'm thinking Zayn has gone to see her."

"Do you think she's even interested in Ana? Honestly?"

"No, not based on what I know," I stated nervously, "she left Anastasia because she was expecting a child with another man, she cut off all contact with her, and then she changed her name to not be found. If there was some interest, I think she would have tried contacting her daughter."

Harry shrugged, appearing to be in thought about something. "What's gonna happen to her when this is all over, Amy?"

My stomach sort of just dropped, the look on his face sorrowful. "Rehab might be a good alternative. She needs to get off the pills."

"She's gonna be all alone and you know it."

"We'll see, okay? We can't make plans for her. She needs to decide for herself."

Harry stood from the chair, pacing around the small office. "Tonight's the night. I can't keep living this way."

I was winded. "Okay, Harry. I'll call the house and follow through."

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(Anastasia)

I wake up to the early sounds of thunder. I just lay there and listen, the fresh atmosphere makes me wrap the blanket around myself a little more.

I felt sluggish and weak still, but I wasn't in a lot of significant physical pain. I didn't feel hungry just yet, I had managed to eat tiny bits of the chicken they had made me.

The sky flashed with color that disappeared as fast as it appeared. I thought about Zayn and found that I didn't miss him anymore. Instead, there was a gap in my chest that made me feel empty and like the loneliest person on Earth. I missed my father, despite everything that happened. Zayn was my downfall.

Luckily, I wasn't in a drug induced haze when I got out of bed to sit by the window. I missed my house. I missed Melinda too. I wonder how she is and if she misses me, even though I was very difficult sometimes.

"What happened to me that night?"

I remember being at the house after going to the hospital. I remember Zayn giving me medicine, helping me up the stairs. I remember laying on the couch, talking to Liam while Zayn was with Mike, but not much else. Why would Zayn lie about me sleeping with Harry? I was just so confused. I didn't know what the truth was, but in my moment of rare sobriety and clarity, I knew deep down that Harry had not done the harm Zayn accused him of.

I rested my head against the window pane, watching the large trees sway outside. Everything seemed so serene in the rain.

What was gonna happen to me?

I snuggled into the blanket, sniffling a little. I know that I don't want to be with him anymore, but he'll never let me go. So what could I do?

There was a sound I hadn't heard in a long time. Tires screeching. I perked up and tried to make out any figures in the dark, but I couldn't actually see anything. I know that moments later, I heard a car door.

Zayn?