Blank Space

Emberlynn’s POV

“Do you have any more questions?” Zayn asked me as we walked up to the house he lives with the gang in. “Why did he sound so sinister with his warning, what’s going on, Zayn?” I asked, running a hand through my hair. “Our gangs are getting ready, there’s something big coming with other gangs. It’s about to get really dangerous, for everyone. There’s a new gang leader coming and he thinks he can take us down, and along with him, he’s brining gangs, and if Harry doesn’t get you into his protection soon, things will get dangerous for you.” He replied, looking at me with worry. “How long has this been in effect Zayn?” I asked, I was starting to get extremely scared. “At the beginning of the month, we set him watching you into effect, he’d follow you home every day from school to make sure you were okay. It was for your safety, nothing more. Things began heating up this week, though.” Zayn said. “Why are you springing this on me now? Why not last week, or last month, why now?” I asked, tears welling up in my eyes. “Because if we’d told you, that’d given you time to run away, which is what they’re expecting. We have a meeting tonight with Blank Space, Harry’s gang, and he wants you there. He wants to see you again.” Zayn said. I nodded, a tear rolling down my cheek. “I want to be able to trust him, and you, but I can’t Zayn.” I whisper, shaking my head. “Emberlynn, please, this once, just trust me. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” He said, hugging me. “Why does it matter that a gang is coming to town, they always do, Zayn!” I challenged him. “Because they’re unlike any other. They’ve been around longer, they’re run by my dad and Harry’s dad. They know a lot more than we do. There’s nothing to stop Harry from taking you, if he wants you safe, and the only way for you to be safe is to be with him, he’ll lock you in a room. He’ll do anything to protect you and I know that. I know him well enough to trust him with my gang, with my best friend, and with my life. We have our tense moments, but you need him, Ember. You need him right now to keep you safe, because he loves you.” Zayn said. “But I don’t love him. He scares me, and he seems so violent, he seems like he’d kill for fun. He seems like he does drugs, and sleeps around, and he seems so much like him Zayn, so much.” I said, my voice shaking. “Ember, he’s nothing like him. Nothing, all right? I promise you that. Now please, go get ready for the meeting. What you’re wearing is fine, just go dry your tears love, and try to smile. I’m not saying that in a mean way, I’m saying it because we may not smile very much for a few months.” He said before kissing my cheek.

I walked upstairs to the bathroom designated for me, and wiped under my eyes, before adding concealer to hide the puffiness of my eyes. I looked at myself in the mirror, and smiled. I was pretty, not like model material, but I knew I was at least pretty. I was wearing a cream sweater with black jeans, a normal outfit for me, I like comfortable clothing, and it’s winter now. “Ember? Hey!” I heard. I turned and saw Niall, and smiled. “Hey, Niall! I haven’t seen you in quite a while.” I laughed, as he hugged me tightly. “I missed you so much, you make things so much more fun around here!” He said, whilst squeezing me so hard, I thought he’d break my ribs. “Niall, I missed you too, but I had really hard course work.” I replied, hugging him back. “Do you want to play a card game before we go?” He asked as he pulled away. “Yeah, hearts sound good to you?” I asked. “Yeah, I’m going to beat you.” He bragged. “That’s a complete lie.” I laughed. “Niall, Ember, we have to go now, the meeting is starting and we can’t be late.” Zayn said as he walked past us, grabbing Niall’s elbow as he walked. “I thought it didn’t start until seven.” I said as I followed them. “Something came up, Harry wants us there early.” Zayn walked faster, and I felt kind of scared as I followed them. We got into Zayn’s car, a Range Rover, and drove in silence.

Harry’s POV

I heard someone knock on my apartment door and answered it to see Zayn, Emberlynn, and Niall. “Hi, come in.” I smiled, stepping aside to let them come in. “Thanks mate.” Zayn said, and walked in, tugging Ember after him. I felt my fists clench and closed the door after Niall. “So, what’s this meeting about, and why do you want me, and just, why. I need to know.” Ember said, facing me, with tears in her eyes. “Why what?” I asked, confused. “Why now, why do you want me, why do you want me safe, and what…what do you know about me?” She asked, a tear falling down her cheek. I gently took her hand and led her over to the couch and sat her down. “We’re doing this now because in two weeks or less, things won’t be as safe as they are now. I am in no way saying that the town is safe right now, but it’s about to get worse, and I need you out of harms way.” I started. “Why? Why me?” She asked, wiping under her eyes and looking down. She was beautiful. “I don’t know why, but for the past two years, I’ve felt the urgency to protect you, that’s why I hacked systems and gave your dad a promotion that made you move to Bradford. Then, I made sure Zayn was in Starbucks your first day at work so you could talk to him. Then, I got you accepted into Bradford’s best university, last year. I don’t know why, but I just feel like you’re some beautiful gem, and I can’t let you slip away and let someone hurt you.” I said, trying not to sound creepy. She looked at me with wide eyes, her cheeks were pink, and not from the cold. “Wait, there were texts-“ “I sent them, yes.” I nodded. “And the hooded guy in Holmes Chapel-“ “That was me love.” “But you weren’t there the day I was kidnapped.” She whispered, shaking her head. “Love, no one was there, he took you in the middle of the night, no one knew.” Zayn said. “But I knew.” She challenged him, raising an eyebrow. “Guys, let’s not get into this, please. She’s safe now, and that’s all that matters.” Niall interrupted their stare- down.

About half way through the meeting, Liam walked in with a worried look on his face. “What is it?” Louis asked after he saw him. “Ember’s gone. She left.” Liam said. “What do you mean she left?” I asked, getting a bit mad. “We were talking and she was asking me if she could go outside since it’s snowy and she likes snow, so I said yes and we went outside, and then I turned my back for a second, I swear it was only a second, then she was gone.” He said, sounding worried. Just then, I heard the door to my apartment open and then shut. I walked out to the foyer, the boys following me, and saw Ember taking off her jacket, a bruise on her cheek. “Ember, what the hell, you can’t just leave!” I said, walking over and grabbing her wrist. “I didn’t just leave, someone grabbed me!” She shouted back, challenging me. “Who grabbed you?” I asked. “Wyatt.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Who’s he?” Louis asked. “Her older brother, he’s abusive.” I said, pulling her towards me, hugging her gently. “I’m sorry for shouting love, what did he want?” I asked. “I wasn’t home on time so, yeah. It’s all right Harry, he’s not around much, I’ll be okay.” She said, trying to sound strong, but I heard her voice shaking. How was I going to protect her when the people who hurt her the most were her family? I couldn’t take her away from them, that’d hurt her.

Notes

I will be starting an update schedule, because I can't update this every day.

I have finals coming up, so I need to focus on that, and soccer.

With that being said, I don't want to just leave this story and ignore it.

So, the update day will be Tuesday.

xx - Chlo