Missing Pieces - z.m.

twenty

HOPE'S POV

Fear. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. It builds up in you from day one, and from that day, you have to either learn to control it, or let it control you. It's a metaphor really; you put the killing thing in your mouth, but you don't give it the power to do its killing.

That was what I was feeling right now. I was in deep, absolute fear and I don't know if I will be able to get myself out of it. I was freaked out, in the middle of the forest, not knowing what to expect. Anything can happen, at any time. I was trying to control myself, but I let out a small whimper, only to be shushed by Macit, while Zayn put his hand over my mouth so that I won't scream bloody murder if another crash came. His other arm was on my back, rubbing smooth, small circles, easing me down. Even at times like this, he wants me to be relaxed and always made sure I was going to be okay. That's why I loved him, and what made me love him even more.

"Shh, babe, everything's going to be fine," Zayn said in a hushed whisper, before adding, "I'm right here," in the end. 

I get that he's trying to make me feel better, and it's working, but I still am scared. We don't know what's happening in that cabin, which may or may not be occupied. 

It was silent after the crash, the only things that could be heard were the birds singing and our shaky, slow breaths. 

"Zayn," I whisper. 

"Hmm?" he looks at me. His hand has left my mouth for two minutes after I calmed down, and made sure I was fine. 

"Can we please go back? I'm scared," I admit. This whole fight-rivalry family thing is like an action movie, but I don't like action movies, and now that I'm in one, I'd like someone to smash that CD and wake me from this horrific nightmare. I knew from the day I heard the name Petro that something wrong was going to happen, and it did. His name just didn't click, and he didn't look like the type that could be trusted. My instincts were correct. He was a horrible man, and he has caused lots of chaos in my life.

"As much as I want to take you back home, where you'd be safe, I can't," he says, sighing. "We have to find your brother, we're so close now, we might find something, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Just - just hold my hand, and don't let go."

He takes my hand in his and squeezes it tight. That small gesture reassured me that as long as he's with me, I'm safe. 

We were all walking slowly toward the cabin, Macit in the lead. Everything was silent before another crash came from the inside. I almost scream, but Zayn was one step ahead as he places his hand over my mouth. 

"If this place is haunted, I swear to God I'm going to bolt as fast as I can all the way to Canada," Macit says.

We keep walking slowly in the silence, but it's shortly cut after I step on a twig, cracking it. "Oops," I make a face while speaking. 

They both look at me, and give me a look that says 'be careful next time', and we continue walking, this time taking more caution. We don't want to step on anymore twigs. I spend the time looking at the cabin closely since we're now much closer to it than we were before, and I can smell something coming from the inside. That's impossible, I think to myself. There are wood sticks stapled onto the windows, surely that means that the owner who lived here before was leaving without any thoughts of ever coming back. It doesn't look like it's occupied. But, the smell was stronger now that we were a few centimetres away from the staircase. I sniff again, this time I can smell the aura of hot bread. I stop suddenly, and Zayn collides with me from behind, and I almost fall, but his hands soon find their way on my waist, holding me close to his body, keeping me from falling head first on the ground.