Once Upon A Time, A Thousand Tears Ago #Wattys2017

Chapter 45: Lost and Found

Chapter 45: Lost and Found

Lost..... Not Alive ....... Breathing....... May be dead ........ What kind of existential crisis are these? What was this whole drama about? Standing on the same point where moments ago lives were being slaughtered by merciless, cruel shame-on-human race kind of people. But what am I trying to feel? I feel nothing. I am the one who prayed to win this game when winning the game meant that all the other five couples were going to get crushed. I am no different than Monty and Serpia.

Heavy breathing is the only thing that I feel or a heart pounding really fast. But the breathing pattern is not mine; neither is the heart. I recall that I am still standing in Zayn's warm embrace; the only place that can protect me from the rough air of the surrounding.

"Let's go home, Zara" Zayn whispers.

Not even a single tear in my eyes. I try to sneak a peek to see how Zayn looks in this state. His eyes are wet, he's holding onto me tightly. But I ..... I don't feel anything. I nod him mindlessly. He loosens the grip and I lose myself on the ground. No control over anything.

"Zara. Zara. Gosh, your feet are badly hurt."

I don't understand what he is saying. I just nod again.

"We need to go to the doctor. Come on."

I nod again. He brings his arms around me and lifts me up in them. I didn't want to be in his arms now. I wanted to get down on my feet so that more glass splinters could easily make their way from my feet to my heart. I wanted my heart to be torn up so that I could feel the pain with which the other couples were going through. On the other hand, I didn't even like the air, the ground, the path or anything that I could sense. The only place that I felt safe now, was .............. No, I should stop thinking.

Zayn carefully opened up the door and supported me to settle in the passenger seat. I didn't know which road we took, what time it was, how many people saw us. He didn't say a word and I didn't want to use my hearing senses too. He took me to a hospital and after a few minutes of seeing the doctor, I just passed out.

..................................................................................................

The girl in pink was screaming. Her boyfriend was shot right in his head. But who shot him? And then I see the girl holding the pistol. She was dressed in black with a smeared eyeliner, smeared lipstick, crying, but holding onto the pistol firmly. She looks like me; Oh God, that's me. Pointing the pistol at the boy, I shoot him. Bang.

I wake up with a scream. The girl is still screaming. I am screaming too. But now I don't have the pistol in my hand. Zayn comes closer to my bed and holds my hand.

"Zara, it's okay. We're home."

I look at him. Yes, it's Zayn. There's no one else in the room. No girl in the pink, or blue. No boy who has been shot. No blood. I glance at Zayn who is wearing a tank top. I can see his bandaged arm with a spot of blood visible on it.

"Zara, do you want to talk about it? Are you okay? You fainted in the hospital so I brought you back to the dorm after getting you an injection. Are you okay? Tell me."

I move my head to say a 'yes'. There's nothing else that I can understand at the moment. What should I tell him that I was about to kill someone when I woke up. Or maybe I killed someone and it's just that I am not accepting it.

"Ok. I'll then....... Leave, for my home."

He gets up and turns around but as soon as he reaches the door and opens it, I see the girl in pink standing over there.

"ZAYNNNN please don't go. Close that door. Please, Zayn. Stay" I scream.

He runs back to me and gives me a hug. I hold onto him tightly; so tightly as if he was my life and if I won't hold tight, I'd lose my life. I realise that I had started sobbing in his embrace. Tears streaming down calm my nerves. He entwines himself around me and it was as if we had never been apart. Our arms clasp around each other, pressing us together as the tears flowed down our cheeks. Neither of us wanted to let go, and so we didn't. He wipes my tears with his hand and says, "I hope no one can ever take you away from me again." Finally, I find my lost self in him. Then he hugs me more until the time faded away.

Author's Note: Hey friends, I know the chapter was quite broken but this is how you feel right? Please support me by spreading the word to your friends and family. Like, vote, comment, stay tuned for more.