Beyond (Niall Horan) (COMPLETED)

Chapter Nine

PLEASE READ: I apologize for any mistakes. My laptop is not working, so I have to type up the chapters to my stories using my iPad and I'm not yet used to the keyboard. Sorry!

Because I can not italicize words, thoughts will be written like this: 'Thoughts'

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*~Mariana's POV~*

I gasped when he materialized. He had materialized in front of me already, two or three other times at that, but I still wasn't used to it. I wasn't sure if I ever would be used to it. His transparent form floated just a few inches off the ground. His eyes, which looked like they wherever blue, or maybe grey, bore into mine.

"What are you doing here?" He spoke. Strangely, he didn't sound happy to see me like he had the other few times. His voice had a sort of edge t it, but I couldn't detect wat.

I took a deep breath. It wasn't every day that a person got to talk to a ghost. "I wanted to ask you about something."

"You can not be here."

I was about to ask him about last night, but the words caught in my throat. I was taken aback by his answer, not expecting him to say that at all. I gave him a curious look. "What?"

"You can not be here. You must leave. Go!" He seemed to be growing more frantic with every word he spoke. It was like he was falling apart right in front of me.

He was kind of scaring me, but I stood my ground. I had to.

"Why? What's wrong Niall?" It was the first time I used his name directly to his face. He never heard me say it before.

At least, not directly.

He froze. He wasn't even floating anymore. Completely still.

"How do you know my name?"

The question seemed so simple. So easy to ask, let alone answer. But I was able to detect an undertone of...panic. Sheer panic.

"I found it when I was doing some research on the house," I answered, not thinking of the simple reply, before firing back with a question of my own. "Why are you scared?"

He ignored me, didn't answer my question. Instead, he demanded, "You need to leave! Go! Now!"

I stood frozen on the cold attic floor. Continuing to stare at him.

...Until he exploded.

His light blue (or maybe grey) eyes turned black. His ghostly form suddenly grew bigger and bigger, until it took up over half of the attic room. I began backing away from the...the thing...in terror. His mouth twisted, consorted into a hideous snarl that screamed:

"LEAVE NOW!"

Wide eyed, once again, I turned and fled from the attic room.

*~Niall's POV~*

I turned back to my normal form as the girl fled from the room. I hated scaring her like I did, but I had to.

I couldn't talk to her. She couldn't get close to me.

They were coming.

If they found out about my interactions (my friendly interactions at that) with a human...I would be taken.

And the girl, plus her entire family, would be killed. Even if the rest of the family did not believe in ghosts, they would all perish with their daughter and sister.

I couldn't let that happen. I was...I was the girl's protector.

And by protecting her, I had to keep her away from me.

It was the only way.

No matter how much it tore me apart...being away from my...my human...I had to do it. For Mariana.

*~Mariana's POV~*

I fled downstairs and closed the attic door behind me, just as I heard someone knocking at my door.

"Mariana?" It was my brother at the door, which surprised me. I went to the door and unlocked it, opening it up. He was standing outside it, fully clothed, looking like he was about to go somewhere.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm going to the library-"Eric was about to continue, but I broke him off with a laugh before he had the chance to continue speaking.

YOU? Go to the LIBRARY?" I laughed. "You're joking, right?"

Was it April Fools Day and I didn't know?

He glared at me. "Shut up," he mumbled. He was clearly I embarrassed, as his cheeks, ears, and neck all turned pink with blush.

Eric NEVER blushed.

"Okay, okay," the laughter finally died down. "Go on."

"I have a project for Mr. Christler's class that's due on Friday. I'm going to the library and wanted to know if you wanted to come with me."

I rose an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest. "C'mon Eric. Give me the real reason you want me to go with you."

He flushed and glared at the ground, refusing to look me in the eye. "I want you to come with me so if any of my friends hear I was at the library, I can say my sister made me go against my will," he admitted. He still refused to look at me.

I laughed again and shook my head. This time, he looked up at me.

And-to my surprise-he began to beg.

This took me entirely off guard. My brother never begged for ANYTHING, especially not to me.

"C'mon Mariana. Please? If they know I chose to go to the library willingly, I'll become a total geek!"

Ohh, I see. He had this entire "ego" to live up to.

I chuckled. "Fine, fine. I'll go with you, just let me get dressed first."

"Thank you!" He exclaimed. He then turned and ran down the stairs. I closed my bedroom door and walked over to my dresser.

I selected blue skinny jeans, a purple sweater and my black converse. I didn't need anything too fancy, I was just going to the library to cover up for my stupid brother.

Right?

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