Leave {z.m.}

Twenty Three

Addie's P.O.V.

Why were there so many people in this area today? 

It had never been this crowded when I came here before. I eyed the parking lot close to Zayn's flat and drove around in circles trying to find a good parking spot. It was Friday, so it had been three days since I'd seen Zayn last. I missed him more than I thought possible, and it was very distracting.

Niall had kept me company during Zayn's absence, but of course, it wasn't the same. Niall made me laugh and he was very thoughtful and sweet, but Zayn made me feel at home and safe. His presence made me smile and the amount of knowledge he owned was exciting. I would never be bored with the stories he told, because there was so much I didn't know about his past and the history of the world in general. He'd been alive for such a long time.

I sighed in relief as I finally found a spot to park my car in. As soon as I stopped driving and parked, I noticed a man standing in front of the spot I'd parked in. I gasped and tried to think of what I should do. If I pulled out, I knew I wouldn't find any other parking spaces. This parking space was already too far from Zayn's flat. I could've called him, but I didn't want him to worry so much. He went from feeling nothing to seeming extremely stressed and worn out. That was my job though, not his.

Maybe the guy was just lost. I put the strap of my purse around my body and kept my phone inside of it. I tossed my car keys into my purse as well as I slowly opened my car door and stepped out. The man had moved further on and I tried breathing calmly. My heart was pounding heavily in my chest, and I was almost afraid that it would draw attention and he would stare in my direction.

"Where are you going?" He asked from behind me after I'd turned to hurry to Zayn. 

"I could ask you the same question," I spun around and held in a gasp when I noticed that he was right behind me. 

He was smirking and he ran his fingers through his sandy brown hair.

"What's your name, babe?" His tongue ran over his lips and I knew who he was. 

The man I'd been seeing. The brunette. The stranger in Cecilia's room. The stranger covered in blood. I decided that telling him my actual name wouldn't be such a smart idea, so I told him a different one.

"Hannah," I lied. 

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow as if he could see straight through my lie. 

I nodded once and turned around, beginning to walk very quickly. "So, Hannah, where are you from? You certainly aren't from around here." 

He caught up to me in an instant. 

"Where are you from?" I countered without meeting his stare.

"Oh, many places, love, and I intend to go to many more." 

As I walked, he easily kept up and his hand began to creep towards my thigh. 

"Don't touch me," I tried to make it sound like a threat, but it ended up sounding like a whimper. 

I spotted Zayn's flat and made a break for it, thankful that I'd worn converse.

I knew the man, who appeared to be around Zayn's age, would be able to catch up to me, but when I turned around, he was no longer there. I shrugged like it didn't matter, when in fact I was freaking out, and I marched up to Zayn's door. I knocked once and the door swung open.

"Are you okay?" 

I knew I should've told him about the man, but I figured I'd save it for later. I didn't want to ruin everything right away. I needed to show that I'd missed him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest.

"I'm glad you're back," I told him as I pulled away, smiling up at him. "Did you find him?" 

I prevented him from wondering if I was okay again. 

Zayn shook his head, "He seems to move at a fast pace." 

He was disappointed in himself and I frowned. "It's not your fault. He's tricky."

 "That does not stop me from wanting to find him. I need to know that he will not be able to cause any sort of harm to you." 

"He won't be able to because you're always close to me." 

"You do not know that for certain." 

"I trust you though." 

"And what a mistake that is." 

"Are you saying that I shouldn't trust you?" 

"Perhaps." 

"Oops, guess I already have. Sue me." 

"Sue you?"

I grinned; fighting was not supposed to be enjoyable, but I found it amusing whenever we got into a playful argument. It was like when I first met him, although his behavior had improved drastically since then. 

"I am going to go get you something to eat because I have ran out of options here."

I blushed lightly; that was the cause of me. I always came over here and ate all of his food because he rarely ate anything. I guess food wasn't needed when you're already dead, but believe me, even after death, food would still be important to me.

"I am going to lock the door. Do not unlock it for anyone even if you believe you may know them. Do not open any windows or call anyone. Do not make a scene, alright?" 

I nodded, "I understand. I'm now Rapunzel." 

"You are now what?"

"Oh come on, you have to know Rapunzel. The girl locked away in the tower?" 

He sighed once. "I now understand your reference, though you are wrong. In the story, Rapunzel is stuck in a tower that has no stairs or doors, and there is one room and one open window. If you are actually like Rapunzel and you talk to strangers through a single open window, do not complain to me when you are taken."

On that note, he spun around and exited the flat, locking the door behind him. How very dramatic of him. I checked my phone, deleted a bunch of emails I would've never read, and rested on his couch, waiting for him to come back with food.

Zayn's P.O.V.

I silently hoped that she would remain inside and keep her word. 

I knew it would be dark outside by now, and part of me was bothered by the fact that Adelaide had come to me as the sky was darkening. Something could have happened to her. I believed something did though. I could tell when she failed to tell me important information.

As soon as I stepped outside, I heard a cry of misery and a hiss. I rushed to the area where the sounds had come from and I came across two men on the ground. Without another thought, I pulled one man off of another and a nearby street light revealed blood on his lips. 

There was a noticeable scar on his neck, but a tattoo in cursive lettering attempted to cover it.

"Eleanor"