Beyond the Stars *Dark Louis Tomlinson*

Chapter 7

I wake up restrained to something. I look down at my body, seeing my limbs tied to a bed by a combination of leather belts and zip-ties. Shit, shit, shit. I thought it was all just some huge nightmare. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go home to my parents and my older brother, Charlie.

I scream, but there's a gag placed in my mouth. I thrash around in my restraints, trying desperately to scream. No one's going to hear me. But I need to get out of here. I need to go home.

Louis barges in the door. "Adeline," he says pleasantly. "Glad you're awake. We have a big day ahead of us."

He removes the gag from my mouth. "Louis, I need water," I say softly.

I haven't been given anything to eat or drink in however long. I don't know how long I've been passed out and how long I've been here. By the aching in my throat, it's been a while. He leaves the the room for a minute and comes back with a little glass of water. He basically shoves it down my throat, causing me to choke on it.

"Sorry, love," he says after I finish coughing. "Drink up, though. We have a lot planned for today."

I nod as he strokes my hair. "What are we doing today?" I ask.

He smiles. "Today marks the start of forever, Adeline," he explains. "Do you remember what I said before you knocked out again?" I shake my head. "We are spending forever together. And you know how to do that?" I stare at him. "I've got a dress for you to wear. By the end of today you will be Adeline Tomlinson."

"What?!" I gasp. "I'm not marrying you! Never in a million years!"

He smirks. "You don't have a choice. You'll be dead in about two weeks, anyway. I'll give you the day to get ready and do what you need. After all, it's your special day."

He releases me from the restraints on the bed. I rub my aching wrists, trying to get the feeling back into them. He kisses my cheek, making me gag in disgust. I wipe it as he turns from the doorway.

"And if you're wondering," he starts. "I got the window to the fire escape sealed so you can't escape. Have a nice day."

He locks me in the room. I look around and sit up on the bed. I'm being forced to marry Louis. How did it come to this? I swear it was only a few weeks ago when my life was normal. I was just another girl working at a record store to pay rent for my flat. Now I'm going to be 'dead' and spending the rest of my life with Louis. The only way to get out of this is if I somehow escape, which is seemingly impossible because he's thought this through so much. I could kill myself. That idea is very, very appealing as the minutes tick by.

I look for something to kill myself with. A razor or hanger or rope or something. But there is nothing. It's bone dry. I look to see a white sundress laying on a chair. I slowly take off my clothes. How long have I been wearing them? Talking with Elizabeth's family seems like a lifetime ago. I long to see their faces along with Miles's. He's such a good friend. He did so much for me. But nothing could save me from Louis Tomlinson.

I slip on the dress. It's a little tight on me in the torso. It reaches down to my calves and flows freely. The sleeves are three-fingered. Something tells me that this dress once belonged to Eleanor. I have a feeling she left this dress behind by accident. And now I will be married in it. 

I look at myself in the mirror. I pray to Andrew to get me out of this situation somehow. I don't want to get married yet. Especially not to Louis. But I have to get ready. So I sit in front of a desk with a mirror on it. There's makeup sprawled across it. I take a light red lipstick and spread it across my lips. I don't realize that I'm crying until I put on mascara and eyeliner as it smudges across my cheeks.

Oh Lord, I look like a mess. I wipe at my cheeks, smearing the purple stuff all over my face. Little sobs escape my lips as I redo my eye makeup. I put punk blush on my cheeks as I try to calm myself down. But I'm just a trembling, anxious mess as I attempt to brush my hair. My hair takes a little bit to untangle itself. My wavy hair is oddly fluffy and frizzy. Stupid hair.

I'll go un-frizz it with some water. But how do I get out of this room? I'm sure Louis will let me in the bathroom for a minute or two. I stand from the chair, my barefeet walking across the soft carpet. I lightly knock on the door.

"Louis?" I say. "I have to use the bathroom."

A minute later, he opens the door. He's wearing a nice pair of black trousers with an unbuttoned white shirt. He's in the midst of getting ready, too. He smiles at me in my dress. He leads me to the bathroom down the hall.

"Might want to wash your off your face while you're in there," he calls when I close the door.

I silently lock it, looking at myself in the mirror. There are still purple and black makeup streaks down my cheeks. I turn on the tap and put some water at the ends of my hair to make it smoother. I'm about to wash off the makeup streaks when I see the big window. I put the tap on high and open the big window. 

Fresh air. Clouds. It's still cold as ever, but it's the outside world. It's much safer than this hell hole. I am not going to be murdered. I am not going to marry Louis. I am going to be free. 

I step out onto the very small ledge. This building is about twelve stories high. I look down at the city of London with fear, but certainty. A warm breeze brushes past me, making the skirt of Eleanor's dress flow. It's Andrew. He's with me. I'm ready.

I close my eyes and hold my arms out. Louis begins to pound on the bathroom door, knowing something's wrong. Right before he breaks down the door, I jump. I hear him yell my name in horror but it doesn't matter now. Everything will be okay now. He can't bother me anymore. Not where I'm going.

I feel myself falling. But it doesn't really feel like that. It's more like I'm flying. I'm flying to safety, to freedom. I hit my fatal blow on the pavement below, landing on my ankle and hearing a sickening crack. My head is the next to smack against the ground, knocking me out instantly. That's it. There is no more Adeline McKay. I am dead.