Savior // Harry Styles

Chapter 1

"It's awfully cold out there, Alexandria." my mother said quietly as I pulled on my rubber boots.

"I know." I muttered.

She sighed slowly, "Maybe you shouldn't go out today..."

I looked up at her while I tied my boot. Her saddened, brown eyes and wrinkled features made my heart sink. My mother wasn't even that old; the hard work she had to do was aging her. She had to deal with me and my little sister, Maryanna, and my little brother Chris. Maryanna was a couple of months old and Chris was 4.

"I need to get us some food. Especially you, mother."

She quickly looked at the floor and then me again. "Be careful. I heard the Guards will be out today." she said and kissed my cheek.

I smiled, "Don't worry, I will be."

She walked back to the kitchen and sat by the woodstove and I walked out of the door. As I pulled my ponytail tighter, I set out into a jog and went toward the long dirt road that led to the woods. It was snowing again, a usual thing for this side of Sector 1. It wasn't sunny like in Old California or Old New Mexico. It was cold, rainy, and muddy. Oh, and don't forget about the fact everyone here was poor and starving.

"Hey Alex!" someone called behind me.

I turned around and met the dark eyes of Zayn Malik, my best friend since he moved here in 2027.

"Hey Zayn. Why are out here so early?" I asked as he walked by my side.

"I may or may not have watched you walk out of your house and come this way." he smiled.

I slightly laughed and waved my hands around, "Oh no, stalker." I said sarcastically.

He chuckled, "So what are you out for?" he said in his Old Bradford accent.

He moved here when we were little. I remember coming home from school everyday and pushing him around because he talked funny. He almost started crying one day when my taunting took a wrong turn, but I gave him a hug. We've been best friends ever since.

I smiled at the thought and spoke up, "I have to get mother food. She hasn't eaten in a while. She's given everything to me, Maryanna, and Chris."

He bit his lip and rubbed his forearm, "She really does give you guys everything, huh?"

I nodded and felt my jacket pocket for the small bag of coins I planned on spending. I pulled it out and held it in my fist, walking into the dirty, dusty, trashy little town that was once a town in Illinois.

~Zayn's P.O.V~

Everyone seemed to look at the strawberry blonde girl wearing the poorly made dress and leather boots that was Alexandria. I gritted my teeth and led her into the marketplace, and she gave me a confused look.

"Why did you rush me in here?" she asked and picked up an apple, examining it.

I cleared my throat and thought of a good lie, "Guards are out today..."

She nodded slowly and handed the owner of the apple stand a couple of coins, grabbing her bag of 5 apples and walking to the baker's stand. She looked through the breads and pastries, picking out a couple rolls of French bread and walking to my side again.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang through the town.

~Alexandria's P.O.V~

I held back a scream as the loud shot sounded. Zayn looked around and grabbed my hand, pulling me to the dirt road we arrived on. Black suited Guards flooded down the road in front of a long, black car. The lead Guard, known popularly as The Captain, pulled back his gun and shot another dry into the air, making Zayn pull me into the wood's edge.