Above the Crimson Sky (Sequel to Beneath the Midnight Sky)

XXVI. Stars Burn Out

"Until the stars burn out, I love you Little Lou."

Zayn and Louis both lay on the floor clutching each others hand as if they were to let go, the world would suddenly stop spinning. Dark cinnamon eyes stared profound into the iris of the blue orbs that were holding everything that ever existed to him.

"I....love you..." Louis whispered.

Zayn smiled in response; his white pearly teeth stained a thick red. Though his eyes felt heavy, he mustered up all the strength he had to keep them open, continuing to gaze back into the denim blue. Even if he were to go to Hell, he'd be satisfied knowing that the man looking back at him was his; even if only for a season.

While laying there with hazy vision, he found bittersweet memories flashing in his mind. He was 5 years old in Bradford blowing candles out getting lots of hugs from his Mom; he was 16 when he got his first car and taste of freed; 18 when he met the man that changed his life.
His friends described him as self-sufficient, an entrepreneur ready to take on the world. He would use his acting abilities to make it to Broadway someday, but first tackling the highs and lows of University. He never anticipated to fall in love with his roommate, his best friend.

Snapping polaroid's at random times, conducting interventions, watch him get better to only relapse time and time again; leave him for a short while to only find his way back.

Kissing him under the stars. Dancing with him the club. Making love under the covers. 
Sharing his last moments with him, even.

He thought about his friends and the people he hurt. What would his Mother think of now that his legacy was going to be painted as a student who got mixed up with the wrong crowd? He wished he could apologize to Liam for leading him on and hurting him; he wished he could tell Harry he was sorry for making everything complicated.

If he could do it all over again, he would have stayed away.

Well that's not true...I'd do it all over again if it meant I'd get to spend my last moments with Louis.

Pandemonium continued to ensued around them but they could not hear the screaming. They could not see that a couple feet away, the trench coated man was dangerously close to them. Though Liam was yelling profanities and threatens, the man did not care.

"I found your weakness, Zayn. Going to make you suffer like you made our business suffer. No, physical pain is not what I'm talking about.  You're having your fair share of that as we speak" The man laughed. "You'll live long enough to feel this....I have nothing to lose. If I don't complete this mission, my boss will kill me anyway. "

Louis could feel the pressure of hot metal pushing into his skull. Not breaking his eye contact with Zayn, he gulped. In this moment, he never imagined he would perish this way. He spent his entire young adulthood trying to gain control of his narrative that Ana kept taking away from him. Yet, he realized right here and now, he was never meant to rewrite his story: he was meant to die young, and this may very well be the quickest and less painless way to go.

My prayers have been answered, he smiled. No more pain. No more torment. He reflected on his life: sharing family events in Doncaster with his large family, his mother who was the Queen of the heart. He'd miss his little sisters who brought so much joy. Besides, who would protect them from the evils of the world?

He thought of his high-school friends and how they'd remember him: silly, flamboyant, emotional, and the guy with dreams too big for their small-town. They'd never get to see the person he became.

He thought of University and meeting Zayn, one who changed his life and showed him unconditional love.

He thought of Harry and how he came in just the nick of time to save him. Harry made his heart skip a beat every time he walked in the room with his unique style and million dollar smile. He always found a way to make Louis happy, even on days he didn't want to get out of bed.