Stolen (Sequel To Capture)

Seventy-One

Lurching awake I shot upright grabbing the comforter tight in my fists. The room was hot and his breathing was heavy as the fear from his nightmare faded slightly. "Pull yourself together Horan." I hissed to myself as I wiped my sweaty brow and placed my hand over my pounding heart.

It felt so real.

Shifting to look at the bed next to me I searched for Emma, but she wasn't there.

I flipped on the light trying to block out the nightmare, and got up.

My heart was racing still and I knew the only thing that would stop it was finding Emma making sure she was alive and well, seeing her would replace the nightmare version of her in his mind.

The house was dark but there was a soft murmur of people talking in the living room. I wandered out softly, searching for Emma. I froze seeing Emma and Liam sitting on the couch together. Emma was leaning on his chest as they both were looking into one another's eyes.

I went absolutely still not wanting them to notice me as I listened to them whisper to one another, simultaneously wanting to stay quiet and scream as loudly as I could that I was in the room too.

Emma was whispering something to him, but I couldn't make it out, she lifted Liam's face to look at him better.

Then, without warning, Emma leaned forward and kissed him. All the air from my lungs evaporated as I watched them kiss then suddenly an ache in my chest formed, my heart felt like it was going to stop working.

The ache of heartbreak.

She shifted her head to rest against his chest as I quickly retreated before she looked my way.

Making my way back to the bedroom I felt hollow. It hurt me in the most unexpected way and yet it wasn't Emma I was mad at, it was myself. I fell in love with a girl who was always going to be in love with someone else, alive or dead, Liam had her heart. I was too stupid to see it until now.

I grabbed my suitcase and started to toss my few belongings into it packing away my small existence since going into protection. The sun began to rise as dawn set in, I made my way into the bathroom to shower and wash my face. Splashing the cool water on my face I glanced up at my refection watching the water drip off my chin, I clenched the sink with my hands suddenly feeling the urge to punch the glass.

The sound of the bedroom door opening and closing caught my attention as I turned off the water and wiped my face dry with the towel from the rack.

I turned the handle of the bathroom door and stepped back into the bedroom. Emma was standing there with her clothes on from yesterday, she stopped moving and turned to face me. "Oh good you're up." She smiled kindly, walking towards me.

"Sleep well?" I asked pointedly as I sidestepped her and walked over to the bed.

"We just talked." She whispered looking at me nervously.

I scoffed shaking my head. "Save it Emma!" I snapped. "I saw you kiss him Emma."

She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh before opening them again. "I was just saying goodbye, it didn't mean anything."

"I'm not stupid Emma, I know when a kiss is just a kiss and when it's more than that. You've obviously made your choice, just save me the heartache and stop lying to me now."

"I chose you!" She whined.

"Well you made that abundantly clear when you kissed him." I snapped.

"No, Niall, I choose you." She crossed over and took my hand pulling me to sit beside her on the bed. "I am choosing you."

I didn't say anything as she cradled my cheek in her palm, so tenderly and yet I couldn't help but think she'd done the same for Liam the night before. "I told Liam last night that I would either be there with him in the morning or I wouldn't and if I wasn't then I was with you. I choose you."