A/N
Thank you to Mixer_directioner100 for helping me with the idea for this chapter!
(Anna's POV)
"ZAYN!!!" Perrie screams, I look over and see her and Dylan running into the room. Zayn was in there. Ezra. my heart skips a beat and I grab the door knob, twist it, and swing the door open. I hit the light switch on the wall, illuminating the small space. My eyes immediately go to a piece of paper laying on the floor and a cell phone sitting on top of it. Louis' grip on me loosen and he let's me go, walking towards the piece of paper he picks it up along with the phone. I watch as his eyes scan the paper and close in disappointment "Anna I-I'm sorry" I wipe the tears from my eyes and look up at him "w-what does it say" he shakes his head no "Louis" "no your not reading this-" "I have the right to read it! The only right, he is my boyfriend, the father of this baby growing inside if me. Louis Tomlinson damn it give me that paper!" ... Whoa. alright go Anna, can't believe I just did that. Louis walks over and reluctantly hands the paper to me.
Hi sweetheart,
Thought I was going to make this easy for you? When have I ever made your life easy! But... because I love you, I gave you Zayn for free. Now Ezra, yes he's alive, I know I lied but you really should never trust anything I say. That's just pure stupidity on your part. Anyway, if you want Ezra back alive and well I want something in return. I want your baby.
Take your time thinking it over, persuade whoever you need to. When you make up your mind give me a ring using the cell I left for you.
Hope to hear from you soon, so does Ezra.
-Harry
"Anna-" "h-he wants my b-baby" I drop the paper and place my hand over my stomach "how-w did he k-know?" I cry to Louis. Harry couldn't have found out on his own, I was so careful not to let it slip when he had me and back then Perrie didn't even know. This note looks like it was written a while ago, it's all stained and turning brown from being exposed to the moisture in the basement. At least a week ago it was written, no one knew I was pregnant then except for me. "You can't do what he wants, you do realize that, right?" I nod in agreement "Ezra wouldn't want you to trade your baby for him... We'll find another way" "how Louis? We don't even know where they are-" "Italy" Dylan walks in the room "the silent alarms I installed in our safe house there just went off, good thing we didn't stay there" Louis shakes his head in disbelief and my stomach starts to feel sicker. He found us that fast, it hasn't even been twenty four hours yet. "Zayn?" I ask Dylan and he nods "he's alive, Perrie is in the car taking care of him with the little medical supplies we brought with us" a little relief rushed through me, at least Harry kept that promise. Zayn is ok. Now all I have to figure out is how I'm going to get to Ezra. I know I told Louis that I wouldn't, but I have to save him, I can't let Harry kill him.
Me, Louis, and Dylan leave the house and start walking towards the car. Perrie is standing outside of it, blood on her hands and clothes. "what happened, is he ok?" Louis asks, she shakes her head 'yes' and smiles a little "he won't drink anything, said he still feels sick to his stomach, he's severely dehydrated and I'm scared" I walk up to Perrie and take the water bottle out of her hand "I got it" I rub her arms reassuringly and she moves aside to let me in the car. Zayn is sprawled out in the back seat. A tear leaves my eye when I see his full condition. He's so thin and pale, he doesn't even look like himself. His face is cut and bruised, and I'm sure his body is worse. I know what it feels like to get a beating from Harry when he's really angry... it's like being ripped apart by a great white shark, except with Harry the torture lasts longer. I pull the front seat up all the way so I have room to sit on the floor. "Zayn" I whisper, gently running my figures through is messy hair. His bruised eyes open slightly "it's ok, your ok" I say as soothingly as my voice will allow me. He coughs and blood slowly starts to seep out of the corners of his mouth "I'm going to sit you up, ok?" He nods weakly and I try my best to support his body weight. "Perrie said you won't drink... remember what you use to tell me when I wouldn't eat or drink?" I ask him and he closes his eyes "you use to say - Annie it's better to drink while you can, than to suffer another day without water" I open the bottle and put it up to his lips, but he still won't drink the water "Zayn please, please drink... I can't lose both of you, not again" he brings his hand up to mine and takes the bottle away from me, bringing it closer to his lips and finally taking a drink. Soon the entire bottle of water is empty and some of the color is back in his face "feeling better?" I ask as I take the trash away from him "mhm, thanks Annie" his voice is horse and scratchy, I can tell from his face that it hurts him to talk. "Your welcome" I smile at him and pat his head like he's a little kid. "Its time for me to take care of you, you've always taken care of me" "Ezra?" I shake my head "Harry still has him, he wants to make a trade... a life for a life" I whisper the last bit, but the look on Zayn's face tells me he heard every word. "Ezra won't want to live without you-" "it's not my life he wants" I pick up Zayn's hand and put it on my stomach. His eyes go wide "it's Ezra's, don't worry. Harry said he'll let Ezra go if I give him my baby, Zayn I-I don't know what to do" "Anna imagine the life your baby will have if you give it to Harry, what if it's a girl, she'll grow up in hell. Harry will hate it with a burning passion, it'll be tortured from the moment you hand it over... you can't do that" I nod my head, not knowing what to say "I won't let you do that, I'll lock you up for nine months until you have your baby and get so attached to him or her that you won't be able to give it up. I'm not trying to be mean but I won't hesitate, if I think for one minute your having thoughts like that-" he takes a deep breathe "don't make me lock you up, please" his eyes aren't sinister, there filled with concern and love. I know he will never hurt me, he's just trying to protect me. I also know that I'm going to do what I think is best and if that's not letting this baby grow up fatherless than I'll do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen... even if seeing Harry again is option number one.
Once we get Zayn, somewhat, better we catch another plane. This time we are Paris bound. Dylan says the best way to keep Harry off our tracks is to not stay in the same place for more than a week. I know it sounds mad, flying every week to a new destination, but right now- until nine moths- it's all we can do. I shove my small bag into the above compartment and take my seat next to Louis, Zayn and Perrie are sitting in front if us, while Dylan and Joe sit behind us. The plane is just about ready to take off when I get a pain in my stomach. Fear floods through my brain and I grab Louis' arm, getting his attention "you ok?" I shake my head no and he nudges Perrie's seat "what!" She hisses, then her expression softens when she sees me "Anna what? What's wrong" she moves Louis so she can get to me and bends down "m-my stomach got a sharp pain" she places her hand on it and leaves it there "did you just feel it, the pain?" I nod and she smiles "well, get use to it mama. It was a kick, looks like this little one is going to be feisty" I smile and laugh, shaking my head I rub my belly and say "be easy on mum please" Louis laughs and takes his seat back. Zayn said I would get attached when it's born... I'm already attached, I love this little thing growing inside of me more than anything. I feel the back of my seat being kicked and I turn to see Dylan smiling "congratulations Anna" "thank you" When I turn back around I let out a breath, I was so stressed out about him finding out, now I don't have to be it's out in the open. Everyone knows, at least the people I'm with now are happy for me. I yawn and rest my head on Louis' shoulder, making him chuckle "comfy?" He asks, I nod and close my eyes.
The plane lands and I reluctantly open my eyes. A flight attendant brings over Zayn's wheelchair and helps Perrie get him situated. He said he could walk 'just fine' but Perrie wasn't having it and to be honest neither was I, he needs to rest while he has the chance to. We grabbed our things and made our way to a car "how does he get all of these cars?" I whisper to Louis "dunno I guess he just-" "I have my ways mrs. Harrington, nothing you need to worry about and nothing Harry can track us to" Dylan smiles at me reassuringly and walks ahead. Mrs. Harrington... well I like that a lot better than Payne or Styles. At least I can pretend me and Ezra got Married, that's not weird right? I take a deep breath and Louis open the car door for me. "Handicaps all the way in the back" Dylan orders. I'm not handicapped, at the moment... not fair. I help Zayn get into the very back of the van and then I get myself situated, Perrie and Louis are sitting in the middle, and of coarse Dylan is up front with Joe. It's ok though, I haven't really spent any time with Zayn since he's been back "hi" I say and he laughs "hey Annie, how've you been?" "Ok" he raises an eyebrow "really... your ok? So you've decided what your going to do then" yes, but I'm not telling you "I'm going to do what doesn't get me locked up by you" I smirk and he shakes his head "so, boy or girl?" "I don't know yet, I would like it to be a boy" he looks shocked "a boy, I thought for sure you'd want a girl" "being a girl isn't easy, especially with the life I'd be bringing her into" Zayn sighs and holds my hand "don't think like that Anna" "how am I not suppose to think like that, at least if the baby is a boy he will eventually be able to defend himself. If a girl tries to defend herself the beatings just get worse... you know I'm right, you were there" of coarse I tried to defend myself and fight back when Harry started hitting me, but like he said he broke me and I've never tried to fight him off again. I just learned to shut up and take it until he's done or I pass out.
The flat in Paris is beautiful! It has so much character, old white exterior that has weathered, beautiful iron work on the front door, and gorgeous windows. Why have I never been here before?! I'm going to like this I can already tell. We all walk inside and Dylan gives us a tour of the flat, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, and a living room "it's cute!" I say to Perrie and she agrees "but only three bedrooms? Who's going to sleep with who?" I smile at her and say "well you've already slepted with Zayn so..." She smacks my arm and her face turns a shade of deep red. I laugh "I don't mind sharing with Louis, he's like a girl anyway" "HEARD THAT!!" He screams from upstairs "YOU WERE MEANT TO!" I scream back and hear him laugh. "Thanks Anna" she gives me a hug "your welcome... I can tell he really likes you"
It's not long before I start to feel tired, exhausted more like it, and my entire body has been in massive pain since we left for London. I don't want to tell anyone though, I'm tired of being seen as frail and broken. I'm tired of letting Harry and Liam consume my life even when I'm not with them. These last couple of hours have been relatively peaceful, Harry doesn't know where I am, neither does Liam, I'm with people that don't want to kill me, and I have some alone time to think about the 'trade' Harry wants to do. I know Ezra wouldn't want me to give our baby to a monster and I don't either, but I also know that I love him and I don't want him to suffer a horrific death. If I give Harry my baby I'd also give him myself, Ezra would be free and I would be with our baby, making sure he or she will be safe. Harry would take his anger out on me instead of everyone I love and this time I'll stay with him. Forever... or until he kills me, which ever comes first.
A/N
Hi everyone just a little note about Zayn :( it's been an amazing 5 years and it's extremely sad and heartbreaking to witness the first of the boys to leave one direction. I kept telling myself that this would never happen but it has, it's really bittersweet because I'm happy that he will start trying to have a normal life like he wants and I know the boys support him and his decision to find happiness again, but it's also going to be sad not hearing him sing anymore, not having him in their next album, videos, or tv specials... But he will always be the Zayn Malik we have all grown to love and just because he's not in one direction anymore doesn't mean we won't see him. No one really stops being famous especially when you've touched and loved your fans like he has. When someone says one direction his name will always be mentioned and remembered.
We love you Zayn, I hope you find your happy ending ❤️