Modest Delusions - Book 3 (Larry Stylinson AU)

Chapter 26 - Two unlived lives, with lives to live

Two unlived lives, with lives to live

Hands trembling he climbed out of the taxi almost staggering, as if blind drunk. Liam wasn't drunk, he had never been more sober in his life. He was in shock, pure unrelenting shock that consumed every inch of his being. He was ghostly pale, perspiration poured off his blank face and down his neck. His brown hair was brushed up but now it was drenched, it clung to his face. His feet moved unconsciously,his body reacted to lights and sounds but Liam found no words.

Niall knew, Zayn knew, Harry knew.

His mind span, how could he have been so blind? After all this time the feelings he had buried climbed up his spine like ravenous vines. Crawling under his skin like a noxious poison and it consumed him. Now every mechanical breath blew out of his lungs, he existed because he had to. He felt hollow, guilty and hollow.

The emptiness that wrapped around him was suffocating, it was like falling with nothing but the hard ground below. In that moment he wanted to fall, to forget but as he mindlessly climbed the stairs he knew that forgetting was not an option.

Niall tried to speak to him, Liam shoved him away. His throat so dry and his mind so full. He couldn't face them, face reality. All his focus was on Jennifer.

He needed to speak to her.

Know she was okay.

A baby...

The thought rattled him and he stilled on the stairwell as he tried to catch his breath.

His baby...

He let out a whimper.

Their baby...

Zayn touched his shoulder and it shattered Liam's horror into oblivion as he bounded breathless up the flights of stairs.

Harry's sobs could be heard echoing like a haunted cry through the building. Liam bit his lip, if she was dead he would never know why she hid this from him. Did she think he would push her away? He shook his head as he ran, he would never do that to her... To his child.

They reached the door and Liam froze, Niall pushed past him as he panted and swung the door open.

The rasping sobs grew louder, it shook Liam to his very core.

Liam peered in and Harry screamed out for them, Liam took one step. A deep breath expanded his lungs, two steps and he saw her small legs sticking out, she was so still.

Zayn whispered, "I'm here."

Liam barely heard him, he wanted to scream.

Another hesitant step and Harry came into view, covered in blood Liam's jaw dropped and his heart began to pound so violently he gripped his shirt with white knuckles as he whispered her name.

She looked so small, another step and he saw her stomach. Liam fell to his knees at her side and Niall was calling another ambulance, why weren't they here yet.

"What did you do?" Liam gasped.

Harry was holding Jennifer's head in his lap, manically stroking her hair. Jennifer's blonde hair was stained with blood and her eyes were closed.

"I didn't do this!" Harry sobbed. "I would never hurt her, I-"

Liam's eyes were staring at her large, round stomach. He could feel everyone watching him as his shaking hands reached out. They hovered above her swollen stomach, a baby. His baby was inside, "oh my god," he said as he yanked his hands away.

Zayn's voice was steady, he tried to remain calm, "what happened?"

"I came here, I needed to have a break and she was just lying there-" he broke off into a fit of sobs. Liam looked up at Louis who was watching Harry a pure mixture of terror and relief in his eyes. He wanted to go to Harry but like Liam he was frozen in place. Harry continued his voice raised, "the door was open, she was just lying here and there was blood, so much blood."