To Fall So Deep

Anne begged.

She cried at Harry’s feet as the paramedics took Gemma’s lifeless body out of the room. She poured her heart out, feeling more pain than she had ever felt in her entire life of living. Though she tried to convince herself that she had enough preparation to deal with the unspeakable day of Gemma’s passing, it was just a farce. Anne wasn’t ready to let go and she was determined to make sure her last child stayed.

“Harry, please forgive me. I’m so sorry,” Anne cried. Her forehead rested at his shoes as her hands wrapped around his ankles. “I love you son, please don’t leave me. I need you here.”

Harry looked down at his helpless mother with a pang of guilt. His stomach churned with remorse and his heart stung with ache. Harry wasn’t sure if he could ever forgive his father for all the stress and tension he had caused, but his mother was a different story.

He bent down, lifting Anne off of the floor. He had tears in his eyes as he pulled her in for a tight hug, “I forgive you mum. I forgive you. It’s okay, I’m not going to leave you.”

Harry’s eyes lifted upwards, glancing at his father who sat stationary on Gemma’s empty bed. He stared straight forward with a soulless expression.

“I’m sorry son,” Anne whimpered, hiccuping into Harry’s shoulder.

“I know mum, it’s okay,” Harry rubbed her back with care. He pulled them apart and stared at the tear-stained face before him. He pushed Anne’s hair behind her ears and wiped the tears away with the sleeve of his sweater.

“I love you son,”

“I love you too mum, alright? But I’ll be back. I have to go see Nina,”

“Nina?”

“Yes Nina. Mum, I love her,”

“I know,” Anne said with a nod, “and it’s okay.”

Harry smiled slightly as an indescribable feeling swept over him. He pulled his mother in for one last hug, holding her tight.

“Bring her back here. I want to meet her properly,” Anne stated with honesty. She had finally stopped crying for the moment to hold onto her son’s hands, and look into the gleaming green eyes that made her proud to have a son like Harry.

“I will. I’ll be back mum,” he promised, letting go of his mother’s grip.

Harry turned away and ran to the elevator that took him down to the first floor. As he gripped the front door knob, he could hear the crowd outside. They were louder than the sirens and he could feel the enraged aura beaming through the walls.

He turned the knob, swinging the door open and letting the frigid winter air kiss his bare face. He ran down the steps and towards the wrought-iron gates. Reporters and bystanders quickly noticed the curly-headed boy and shock painted their faces in realization that the youngest Styles was indeed alive.

“Harry Styles is alive!”

“He’s alive!”

“Who was in the body bag?”

With adrenaline pumping within his system, Harry easily climbed the gates. He jumped onto the other side without warning the people below, who looked up at him with wonder. The moment Harry’s feet touched the snow-covered ground, he pushed his way through the rowdy mass and towards his car.

Harry ignored their questions, keeping his mind focused on one thing: Nina. He needed her; like an insatiable craving. He yearned for her touch, for her kiss, for her soft-spoken voice to tell him everything was going to be okay. Anything Harry did in his life now was going to be for Gemma and for Nina—the girls who wholeheartedly loved him, and who never once turned their backs on him.

Harry jumped into the driver’s seat of his car, turning on the ignition and headlights quickly after. After giving the gas pedal a little push, the engine rumbled, causing the people in front of the car to create space for him to move. He navigated pass the crowd, and back onto the bare main streets. The snow continued to fall all around him, and his tears wanted to mimic.

* * * *

Niall sped through the slippery streets of Ashford with the intent of doing whatever it took to protect his best friend. He had always been humbled with his friendships and cherished its importance since day one. Slapping the title of best friends on someone wasn’t something he did often, but when it came to the Wolf Pack, Niall was more than certain.

“Come on Harry, answer me,” Niall spoke, desperation in his tone. He held the phone to his ear, one hand on the wheel. As the other end continued to ring but no answer, Niall groaned with frustration. He threw his phone to the empty passenger seat, and grasped the wheel with both hands.

The roads were dark, and with the unexpected turn of a snowstorm, Ashford had become dangerous. Snow flurries perpetually dropped onto windshield and the wipers were working on overtime. Though the headlights were bright, vision was low, and Niall tried to maneuver his car safely.

As Niall drove, something on the side of the road caught his attention. If it weren’t for the combination of the headlights and turning his attention from the road directly in front of him at the right time, Niall would’ve missed it. He took his foot off of the gas and lightly tapped the break, slowing the car down. As he approached the weary, mysterious, hooded figure that trudged beside the road in ankle-deep snow, Niall couldn’t help but to question the jaywalker’s sanity. He drove pass this person, and when he did he caught glimpse of the demented face.

“Fuck!” Niall yelled.

In an instant, he swerved his car, turning it around in one movement. He parked the car on the side of the road, only just a few yards away from the figure. Zipping up his jacket, he jumped out of the car hastily, and ran towards the familiar, yet not so familiar girl before him.

“Jezabelle,” Niall spoke. She kept walking and the headlights of Niall’s car continued to shine her way, creating an eerie glow around her body.

“Jezabelle!” Niall yelled again, this time louder. She stopped in her tracks, and turned around. Her hollowed eyes were fixated pass Niall and she had an expression that exuded pure crazy. It was a body without a soul, and Jezabelle’s mind was nowhere near Earth.

“Hey!” Niall yelled, “what the hell are you doing out here?”

No answer. Niall stood and observed her. Her body drowned in baggy, black clothes, and her red hair was a tangled mess. She had one hand inside of her jacket, trembling, as if clutching onto a side wound.

“Are you okay?” Niall asked. “Are you hurt?”

No answer. Instead, Jezabelle slowly maneuvered her hidden hand. Niall didn’t know what to expect, but the moment his eyes landed on what Jezabelle was holding onto, made his breath stop and his bright blue eyes widen.

Niall swallowed, slowly raising both hands up, “Jezabelle, w-w-why do you h-h-have th-that?”

His eyes never left the black handgun that Jezabelle clutched with a tight grip. She had a finger to the trigger, but pointed towards the ground.

“Where… where did you g-get that?” Niall questioned with care. Fear ran through his body, filling his veins like a drug.

“I love him,” her words were barely audible, but spoke volumes. Her breath lazily frolliced in front of her mouth and the flurries that fell, collected through out the strands of her hair.

“Listen to me Jezabelle,” Niall started. With his hands still in the air, he lifted one foot and placed it forward. This movement instigated fear in Jezabelle, and like reflex her trigger-happy finger pulled the lever.

Niall screamed, jumping out of his skin, as the gunshot’s echoes filled his ears. Fortunately, the fired bullet planted itself somewhere beneath the snow-covered ground, but the weapon was now aimed straight for Niall’s chest.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Niall apologized quickly, trying to catch his breath once again.

“I need him!” Jezabelle growled. Her eyes were lifeless, but yet continued to radiate evil.

“I know, but hurting people isn’t going to do anything,” Niall explained, “please, just give me the gun. I’ll take you back home.”

Jezabelle stood still, the gun still aimed towards the innocent boy before him. Suddenly, she began to cry. Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, and with each drop, she took a step towards Niall.

“Come on, please, let’s solve this together,” Niall pleaded, “just give me the gun.”

Jezabelle was now only a foot away from Niall and felt his insides drop. He stopped breathing, as if the innate act would trigger something in his former classmate.

“I love him,” she repeated. Niall didn’t respond. He was unsure of what to say, and concentrated on trying to stay alive.

“I love him,” again and again and again. The same words came out of her mouth as if the replay button was jammed and couldn’t be fix.

In this moment, Niall took the brave attempt to disarm Jezabelle. In rapid movement, he grasped onto her wrists and aimed the gun away from himself. Another bullet was fired into the distance, and Niall tried to dislodge the weapon from Jezabelle’s hand, however her grip tightened.

“Let go,” Niall demanded through gritted teeth. He took a moment to look into Jezabelle’s darkened eyes, and his soul shivered, as if staring straight into a monster.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

The two continued to battle and it was then did Niall realize that Jezabelle was no longer Jezabelle. In replace was a terrifying monster with more strength and more motivation. Her actions, though malicious and psycho, were fueled by a love she could not have.

But it was in this same moment of realization, did the color drain from Niall’s face. A clamorous bang echoed throughout the sky, and things fell eerily silent. Jezabelle stepped backwards, her heart fast, as she eyed her sadistic work of art.

Niall collapsed, blood pouring out of his stomach and staining the pure white snow around him. His eyes slowly shut, darkness coming over him. As Niall took his very last breath, the last thing he witnessed of life—the last thing he appreciated the beauty of, was two, tiniest strings of moon-illuminated warm breath that bobbed in front of his lips like lovers dancing straight into the sun.

His eyes closed, and pain subsided.

Notes

Hi my loves!

How is everyone doing? Fabulous, I hope! I'm doing pretty good myself, and I totally enjoyed my day off doing absolutely nothing except eat, watch TV, and finish writing this chapter... which makes me want to cry every time I think about Niall dying. #Feeeelsssss

Anyways, despite killing off the wonderful, funny, cute, amazeballs Niall off, I still hope you liked this chapter and the story too. We're 1 chapter & an epilogue away from the end of TO FALL SO DEEP! Seriously, it's been such a ride. Thank you to all those who have read this story from the start, and for those who just read it in general. Whether it was just one chapter, or every single one, it means a lot to me. Thank you also if you've commented, voted, and subscribed!!! I hope you all have a great rest of the week, and I will see you next time with the last chapter!!! Gahhhh!!!

--Erica Jaine <33