Prologue:

I had been running for so long… so long…

My heart drummed against the inside of my chest, blood roaring in my ears. My body was giving up, but I knew I couldn’t. Keep running. Keep running. Keep running.

They’re right behind you.

I could still hear their calls.

“We see you, Little Man!” they would say. “We’ll string you up in the square so Tommo can see you too!”

Man, if I got out of this alive, Tommo would kill me.

Keep running. Keep running. Keep running.

The balls of my feet pounded against the pavement, the sound reaching my ears just as they hit the concrete again. There were five of them- at least. One was no match for me, but any more than three and I was dead meat.

“You can’t run forever, you little shit!” one of them called.

The distance was getting larger between us, I could tell. What I lacked in numbers and strength I made up for in speed and agility.

Suddenly, at the end of the alley, I could see five more.

No. There was only one place left to go, but it was a dead end.

I knew this neighborhood like the back of my hand! How did I let myself get boxed in?!

Dead meat, that’s what I was now. If I let them corner me, I’d be done for, but there was NO OTHER WAY!

I hooked a sharp right into the shorter alley, seeing the doors and windows of the run-down houses pass by. Maybe I could break into one of those-

However, before my thought had even completed itself, the brick wall was before me.

Too high. Too solid. I’m dead.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Chapter 1: Doll Face

Today was the day I would tell him I loved him, that boy across the hall.

Well, he wasn’t a boy anymore. No, now he was Liam Payne- excuse me, DETECTIVE Payne. Muscular, tan, kind, more handsome than what should be legal in the scale of handsome-ness and too much so for anyone regarding their own good.

We had lived next to each other for a few years now in an apartment complex in uptown Doublet, New York.

It was a metropolis containing about seven million people and I just happened to live next to the most attractive person on the face of the planet.

Who knew?

After my parents died three years ago, they left me the place and at the age of nineteen, I was left to fend entirely for myself. It didn’t turn out too bad actually. I survived… mostly.

Despite the state of his appearance, Liam was always a massive help in the most innocent of ways. He did lots of little things like check on me every day and get the mail when I forgot.

We would sometimes have dinner together too.

We would take turns cooking, though I would usually just buy us take out from a place down the street. Today, he would come home at four o’clock because it was Tuesday and as he daubed it to me a few months ago, Tuesday was “Finishing Paperwork Day.”

Usually, he would get home at six or seven after putting final touches on a case either for the day or for good, but today was different.

I waited by the peep hole, leaning against the door and only moving my gaze to check my watch. Four thirty two. Any minute now…

Suddenly, I could hear the sound of his boots coming up the stairs and my heartbeat sped accelerated. I bent down and picked up my laundry basket, hand on the door knob, ready to walk out at the perfect time, but act like it was a coincidence.

Yeah it was kind of weird, but we’ve all done it before. Don’t lie.

There was no doubt in my mind that it was him. I could always tell.

His boots made a specific sound on the fake marble stairs. It wasn’t a “clunk” or a “plop,” but a more distinctive sound, like a “clopt.”

Liam liked to take the stairs instead of the elevator, said he enjoyed the exercise after sitting at a desk all day. I could sympathize, but since I had never had a desk job before-

He appeared around the corner holding a manila folder, digging in his pockets for his keys. Alright, here goes.

My door squeaked open, the hinges not having been taken care of in a while, and I stepped into the short hallway, closing the door, turning around, and giving a surprised, “Oh! Good evening, Liam. You’re home early.”

Really, he was late, but he didn’t need to know I knew.

“Brooke! What a sight for sore eyes,” he stopped and turned to greet me with a friendly hug. “How have you been?”

“You know, same old, same old,” I shrugged, resting the laundry basket leisurely against my hip. “Still looking for a job and trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. How was your day?”

“Rather long, actually,” he ran his fingers through his perfect hair. “Are you going to the basement?”

I looked toward the dirty clothes and wrinkled my nose, “Yeah.”

The building was ten stories high from the ground up and rather nice, but washers and dryers were not allowed in the individual rooms, they were provided in the basement. Another way to make money I guess.

“Well give me a second. I’ve been meaning to get some laundry done too. Stay right there,” he instructed and quickly opened his door, leaving it ajar, to rush inside and back out. He rejoined me in about forty five seconds with his hamper and the manila folder in hand.

Liam, in those eternal moments he spent away from me, had taken off his black overcoat to reveal a white button down shirt. Damn. How he could make average business man attire look so good? Dark red tie, black slacks, and those exceptionally FINE leather boots. Kill me now.

Usually, I would have taken the elevator, but since he liked the stairs, stairs it would be.

We walked side by side at a slow pace, my eyes fighting with my wild emotions to stay on him versus looking down at my feet.

When should I tell him? Now? When we got downstairs? No, that was too soon. What if he didn’t reciprocate my feelings? Then the walk back would be more than awkward. Maybe I’d just take the lift then. Or should I tell him when we got back? That would be good. It would give me a chance to run away instantly if things turned south.

Liam cleared his throat, interrupting my thoughts.

He spoke with a sureness, voice perfect like everything else about him, that made me want to melt, “Right. Well, Brooke, I have a surprise for you.”

A surprise?

I knew my face turned bright red, so I allowed myself to look down. Plaid pajama pants, well fitting band t-shirt, just-the-right-amount-of-messy bun. The perfect level of I don’t care how I look. Yeah. Alright. I appeared good enough, considering I had spent an hour in the bathroom getting ready for this.

Okay. Breathe. I smiled, “Really, you didn’t need to do anything for me.”

“No, this is about a job,” he slipped the manila folder from under his arm and handed it to me. “My friend at the office has a brother that works downtown in a bar. I know it’s not the ideal occupation, but they were looking for help and I thought I’d pass it by you.”

“Seriously?” I took the folder, flicking it open and skimming the words as we reached a landing. Liam stopped and waited for me. “Thanks! I’ve been looking for a job for… for like forever!”

“I know, I remembered,” he smiled his perfect smile as we reached the ground floor.

“You did?” my voice was airy, truly flattered. He remembered?

Liam responded as we reached the entry to the basement staircase, having walked across the first floor room with the front desk, bell hop, and manager’s office. He held the door open for me, “Course I did. How could I forget?”

How could you NOT?

“All that drama at work and you take the time to remember such a little detail about me?” I bit my bottom lip, unable to even look in his vicinity.

“Little? Brooklyn Oswald, being jobless is not little,” his tone was light, playful, but his meaning was serious. I just about fainted. I loved it when he said my name in his perfect voice, letters being formed by those perfect lips. “Besides, you’re my friend and I look out for my friends.”

“Thanks, this really means a lot,” I tucked the folder under my arm as we approached the washing machines. Throwing my batch of clothes in, I set the timer and looked back at my companion. “I really don’t know how to, erm, properly express my gratitude.”

Liam rubbed his chin, which was clearly a nervous action, “I was thinking we could go get dinner… tonight maybe?”

“Oh, yeah-! Yes, absolutely,” I corrected myself. Liam was a man of class. I had to remind myself not to use slang. “You bought last time so I can either make my famous Panda Express orange chicken or Subway teriyaki sandwich. Which ever one you feel like having.”

“No, actually, I was hoping we could go out somewhere,” Liam’s chin scratch became a back of the neck scratch. “And then maybe go to that bar afterward so you can check out the place to see if you’d like to work there-”

My mouth opened in a wicked smile, “Detective Payne, are you asking me to get a drink with you?”

“To put it roughly… yes,” his smile changed ever so slightly, as if he were cringing. Was he afraid of my answer? Was he afraid I would DECLINE?

I wanted to burst out laughing and crying at the same time.

He was ASKING ME ON A DATE!

“Of COURSE I’ll go,” I restrained myself from playfully hitting him.

“Fantastic,” Liam obviously loosened up a bit and we continued talking about a case he had been working on. It was something about a missing persons file, but I wasn’t paying attention. All I could think about was the fact that I WAS GOING ON A DATE WITH LIAM PAYNE.

In the end, I think that worked out well and I didn’t have to say ANYTHING.

Two hours, a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant, and a cab ride later, we found ourselves in the shadier part of Doublet. It wasn’t exactly shady as it was “perpetually dirty.” There were weeds that looked more like bushes and bushes that look more dead than alive. The walls of the once white buildings seemed to breed dirt and other anonymous stains. While all of this was quite charming, I undoubtedly preferred the nicer part of the city, where not everyone appeared to want to mug you with every step you took.

“There it is,” Liam pointed, his muscles clearly showing under his white button down. He had grabbed his black overcoat originally, but it was now around my shoulders.

“Seems… nice,” I tried to put a smile on my face, but really, it looked like every other dive bar I’d ever seen.

We walked inside and the place instantly reeked of alcohol, sweat, and vomit.

Nice atmosphere. Yeah, I’m totally kidding, but it was better than my last job. I’d take drunk patrons any day over cleaning toilets, though I could see where those two professions might overlap a bit.

Liam introduced me to the manager, who apparently instantly found me fascinating.

The place was so loud, I had to ask for his name twice before I gave up trying to decipher his words and picked out the first noticeable thing about him, being a chipped front tooth, and ended up calling him Sir.

Chipped Tooth man was nice all in all, though I really couldn’t ever hear half of what he was saying. Liam ordered us each a drink and sat back in a bar stool. He had to yell in order to be heard clearly, “SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

I shrugged humorously, smoothing out a wrinkle in the white, flower printed dress I wore, “COULD USE A WOMAN’S TOUCH.”

Liam gave a laugh, a sound that was magical to me, “I SECOND THAT NOTION.”

The bar tender placed two drinks between us, one a dark amber color and the other a light pink. The latter was in a martini glass, so I could easily guess which one was mine. We picked up the drinks and let the rims tap, though the clinking was inaudible over the sounds of people talking, people laughing, and sports teams winning or losing.

“LET ME TALK TO THE MANAGER,” Liam pointed over his shoulder. “I JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING YOUR JOB HERE. I’LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.”

“WHILE YOU DO THAT, I NEED SOME AIR. I’LL BE RIGHT OUTSIDE,” I nodded towards the door and he placed his hand on my shoulder, a tender motion, mouthing, ‘be safe.’

We parted ways and I walked out of the stuffy bar and into the crisp night air.

I took a few breaths, getting the alcohol smell out of my nose and letting the smog smell in. I sighed. Maybe now I’d appreciate my apartment building’s location a bit more. Running my fingers through my hair, I leaned back against the wall. Dinner and a drink. I think it could have gone a bit better, but isn’t that the case with most things?

Liam was such a sweetheart. I’d have to pay him back someday-

The previously muffled sounds of the bar rushed outward into the night air as the door opened. At first, I thought it would be Liam coming to check on me, but instead, four men strolled out. One African American, two Mexican, and one white.

Maybe it was because it happened to be ten o’clock at night and I usually only stayed out until nine, or maybe it was that these guys were covered in tattoos- which is stereotypical, yes, but those have to come from somewhere, or maybe it was just the fact that the first one out the door immediately made eye contact with me that creeped the living daylights out of yours truly.

Either way, my alarm bells went off and I set my mind on walking back inside that bar.

Huh, who knew I’d ever think of THAT as a safe place?

I pushed myself off of the wall and took one step forward before they were in front of me. I had hoped they would continue walking, but of course they didn’t. The guy who had walked out first, one of the Mexicans, smiled, inserting himself right in the middle of my path, causing me to stop out of surprise.

His voice was rough, “Hey there, doll face. That your boyfriend back inside?”

Boyfriend? Liam? This guy had been PAYING ATTENTION?

Despite Liam’s heavy overcoat, I gave a small shiver, though didn’t let the fear reach my face, “That’s none of your business.”

“Well I’m MAKIN’ it my business,” he took a step closer and I involuntarily mirrored the move, but bumped into something solid. I turned for a quick peek and found that one of the other men had blocked the escape path behind me.

No. This wasn’t happening. This only happened in messed up movies where the girl gets kidnapped and raped and…

“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sounding more pathetic than I’d have liked it to.

“How ‘bout a name, doll face?” the speaker of the group asked, taking another step closer. By now, we were only a foot apart.

What do I DO?

“How ‘bout NO?” I retorted mockingly, trying to make my way past him. I had to get back inside. I had to get to Liam. He could protect me.

As soon as we were side by side, the guy grabbed my wrist. It was a reflex, I swear, but my free hand came up to slap him. He was faster and seized it first, but this released the other and I did the only thing that my mind could think of in those few, fast moments while I was consumed by sheer panic.

“Don’t you DARE touch me!” my fingernails came up and raked across his face, creating five parallel lines. Blood started to bead on his cheek almost instantly. With his fingers still tight around my wrist, he quickly dabbed at his face and, upon assessing it, seized my other forearm and slammed me up against the wall.

“Big mistake,” he hissed, face mere inches from mine. In the dim street light, I could see every grove of his pock scarred face. He must have been in his thirties, maybe forties. “Now you’re gonna-”

My mind racing, I knew the only goal here was to get out and get away.

My fight or flight reflex was currently set on the latter and my leg came up before I was even aware of thinking of the action. The heel of my foot came in contact with his crotch and the man instantly doubled over.

The larger white guy that had been blocking my path moved forward to help his injured companion, giving me one chance at escape.

I took the opportunity and sprinted down the street, away from my safe haven.

Away from the safety of Liam Payne.

I had no clue where I was going, but I knew I had to get away. I ran blindly, thankful that I had chosen flats instead of heels. Halfway down the street, I thought they might just give up and let me go. Then I could find my phone and call the police or Liam or someone, but I thought wrong.

Rapid footsteps rang out behind me and I stole a glance over my shoulder.

Oh sweet Hester Prynne, mother of Pearl.

“Run, doll face, run!” the man with the scratches on his face shouted and run I did.

“Help!” my blood curdling scream tore across the almost empty, now residential street.

No one came to my aid.

My golden hair wiped across my face, my breathing ragged and sharp, the pain in my feet intolerable. I needed to slow down, but what would happen if- WHEN they caught me?

Escape seemed impossible now. I only had one option, but how long would THAT take? Slinging my purse around so that I could reach inside, I searched desperately for my phone. Police. 911. Just a dial away.

Looking down for a moment, not yet having found the device, I turned a sharp left and saw… no. There were six people coming down the outlet of the alley. No! No, no, NO!

There was only one way out. I turned left again and to my dismay, there was a brick wall half way down.

Oh. Fuck. Me.

Notes