I didn't sleep that night, thinking about my convocation with Niall and Luke. Harry was fast asleep by my side, his hand draped over his face. I wiggle myself out of bed, and shuffle to the door as quiet as I can so I don't wake him. I slip out and pace down the corridor my feet bare on the tiles. When I pass the garden doors I notice them being open. I turn back and peek outside. I find Perrie sitting on one of the chairs her knees pulled to her chest as she rested her chin on top of them.
"Can't sleep?" I ask her. She isn't startled by me, which is Perrie, always knowing when someone is close by.
"No.. you?" She asks as I pull a chair up next to her and sit down.
"Nope" I pop my P and look out on to the grass. "It's so peaceful out here" I sigh.
"But is it?" She asks. 'This place is toxic' I hear her thoughts.
"Do you like it here Perrie?" I ask, not wanting to let her know I just read her mind.
"I liked it, when we were all still together.. but then something changed… You might think I'm crazy but I feel something is going on.. and I don't know what that is" She turns to look at me.
"All right.. like what?" I ask. I know what she means, but I want to be sure before I open up and tell her I think just like her.
"I don't know.. but Ed and Liam are down at the lab all the time, and El and Louis are gone- haven't seen them in days.. Zayn feels the same way, so he locks himself up in his room painting, keeping away, even from me and I just feel lost, as if I'm losing my family- again.. I spend my days here with Lou playing with Lux" a pout appears on her lips, and my heart cracks slightly for her.
I am not sure if it is a good idea to tell Perrie what I think, since too many people will be in on my suspicions but I know I must, she has to know she is not alone.
"You're not crazy" I tell her "I feel it too, and I think the doctor is up to something, I just need to find out what it is"
Perrie watches me for a moment before speaking.
"Who else thinks like you?"
"Well, I'm not sure.. I think Lou.. She was the one who put the suspicion in my head, and after speaking to Niall and Luke yesterday I-"
"Wait, you spoke to Niall and Luke about this? Does Harry know?" I can see the hurt in her eyes, stung by the fact I am only sharing this with her now.
"No, Harry is out of the loop, it is only us" I tell her "Listen Perrie, I am sorry I didn't talk to you sooner about all this, it was just.. I don't even know why I went to Niall and Luke and not to you.. Maybe because I knew Niall probably feels the secret infested in the doctor, even if he could hide his thought from me" I explain.
Perrie didn't comment to that, her eyes staring at the ground, her mouth back into its slight pout.
"Niall had this thought, he thinks that you, him, Luke and I are kept away from whatever he has the others helping him with since we have something in common" I pause.
Perrie looks up, her interest spiked by this.
"We all were held here, hurt by company X, so we would be suspicious of them, of Dr. Cowell"
"And you didn't share all of this with Harry?" She raised her brows
"No, I wasn't going to share this thought until earlier today.. I went to find Niall, and Luke was there, and I just decided to brain storm with them"
"So what are we going to do?" She asks letting her feet drop to the ground
"Well, the boys are going to the lab, to try and snoop, and I think we should go talk to Zayn.. I think he might be able to help"


When I get back to my room two hours later, Harry is sitting up awake, his hands folded and his brows furrowed.
"Where were you?" He asked
"Oh, you're up.. I couldn't sleep so I went out for a walk" I shrug and climb on to the bed. I sit myself in front of him, my knees tucked beneath me.
"Why didn't you wake me?" He took hold of my wrists, and tugged me towards him. I smile and shift closer, sitting myself on his lap, a leg on each side of him.
"Hi" I smile as he slips his hands around my waist
"Hi" His nose scrapes my jaw line "What is it?" He asks. I try my best to keep my smile intact, so when I tell him everything is fine it is believable.
"I'm just tired.. that is all" I say. He is watching my eyes. I see a twitch in his face, letting me know he does not believe me for one moment but instead of pushing it, he lets it go, kissing my lips instead.
"Let's go back to sleep then" He says. I slip off of him, and to the side, snuggling up to his body in a cuddle. I feel his strong arms around me, filling me with safeness, a feeling that I cherish, since I am not sure how long it will last.

It is late afternoon and Perrie and I are on our way to find Zayn in his painting room.
"Why are you nervous?" I ask her
"I thought we agreed you will stay out of our heads" She glances over at me, her eyes narrowed.
"Well it's quite hard to stay out when you are chanting 'I'm not nervous' over and over again" I try and keep from smiling, not able to keep my sides from twitching.
"It's just that, Zayn and I had a fight last week and I was avoiding him" She says quickly
"Wait but I thought you said he was pushing you away" I am confused, this is why I don't like staying out of people's heads.. I have a hard time following their stories.
"That is why we fought" She explains. Perrie reaches out and pulls me to a stop.
"I thought Zayn and I are starting a relationship something more than just friends.. we had the connection, and I was sure we are moving in the right direction but then everyone started to act weird, and helping the company instead of destroying it, and he just took a step back, and I thought it was something I did, and he just blew up at me" She takes in a deep breath.
"You want me to read him?" I ask
"No! that is terrible.. Yes.. yes I do.. would you? See how he reacts when I walk in?" She is holding me by my shoulders.
"Sure what are friends for?" I smile at her.
I knock on the door, but there is loud music playing, so I have a feeling he can't hear us. I look at Perrie and she shrugs. I push the door open and we both step in.
I can't start to explain how beautiful the space was.
One wall was full of graffiti, it was made to look like a brick wall, on top of that was all kinds of spray paint words and images. It was full of color, making my eyes jump form one space to another, not able to get enough. The wall across from it was clean and white, a big piece of sand coloured paper was taped to the middle, a pencil sketch starting to form on its surface. The wall to the right of the white one, which is the one you face when you enter the room, is made of a glass window, looking on to the park just outside the compound.
On the floor by the graffiti wall there is a boombox which the music came from, and a bunch of art supplies scattered all over. Finally my eyes shift to Zayn, his back to us he was painting a canvas which was on a stand in the middle of the room. He had a long brush in his hand, and a girl with the same eyes as his was staring back at us.
I walk over, and turn the music down, which makes Zayn turn swiftly to see who is in the room.
"It's stunning this place" I tell him spreading my arms out as I turn to look at the walls again
"Yeah.. can I help you?"
I look at him then. He wasn't cross with us for barging in, though he seemed tired and sad.
"How've you been Zayn? Haven't seen you in a while" I flash a quick smile.
I watch as his eyes flick from me to Perrie and back again, confused.
"I was here, painting and stuff.. it's not like much is going on hey?" He shrugs
"That's the thing, there is something going on, something big- but we are just not in on it" Perrie says fast. Zayn's eyes grow slightly wider, but then they set back, to the sad gaze he had when we walked in.
"What do you mean?" He asks, he makes it seem as if he doesn't care, but I can see he does. The way he put the brush down and shoved his hands into his pockets finally giving us his full attention. I move back a step, letting Perrie take the lead and explain what we think is going on.
"Well, Lizzie thinks the doctor is putting everyone to work for him, planning something and-"
"How did you come to this conclusion?" He cut in and turned to me.
"The doctor made me heal Calum, and when Lou confronted him for doing so, but putting a bullet in Tom's head, he tried to wave her off, and every time I am next to him he is counting in his head or something, keeping his thoughts from me" I reply
"Niall noticed that Lizzie, him, Luke and I were left out of the loop, and we are the same ones who were held captive by them, so he knows we won't trust nor help him" Perrie went on.
"I was also left out, how do you explain that?" He asks, raising eyebrows. I glance over at Perrie. Why hasn't he been assigned something like the others?
"Because- look at you Zayn! Something is obviously wrong with you! You lock yourself with you paintings, not eating, not really sleeping, not anything! I wouldn't assign you to something either" Perrie said. I can tell she was keeping this in for a while, and I could see she felt better now once she said it aloud.
"I want to help" He finally says after a long silence.
"Ok.. First thing you can do is go to Bradford" I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
"What? Why?" He looks at me sharply
"Because you need it- that's is why! GO see your mum and sister, spend a few days with them, when you get back we will have a plan and a list of thing for you to help with"
I pace up to him then and pull him into a hug. "I know it can get tough sometimes, but when that happens you have friends to pull you through it" I say and kiss his cheek. Then I let go and start my way out of the room, Perrie turning to follow me.
"Perrie wait" Zayn calls out. I stop as I feel Perrie turn his way in question.
"Would you come with me? To visit my mum and sister?" He asks. I hear the hope in his voice, and I push away the urge to turn and see if he is smiling.
"You really want me to come with you?" Perrie on the other hand is confused, not sure if he is playing her.
"Yes. I really do" This time Perrie believes him, but I know her answer before she speaks it.
"I would love to come and meet your family, but right now I think you should go alone.. It will do you good" She tells him. There is silence and I finally turn to see what is going on. Zayn is glancing at the ground his shoulders slouched. Perrie walks over and her arms come around him.
"Hey! Look at me" She says softly. Zayn raises his eyes to hers.
"I'll be here, waiting for you to come back"

Notes

Sooo I had a few ways I wanted to go with this chapter.. but then I saw @crushingonniall 's comment and decided to let you know what is up with the other couples as well...
I really hope you liked this! let me know what you think- I read your comments so please write below since it means so much!

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Also I started a new story called "Pandemonium" which is staring Harry, Niall, Ashton and Luke.
If you like "The mentally brave" You will LOVE this new story. I really don't think there is another fanfic like this out there... ( Though I might be wrong) only one chapter is out but I promise you it gets good- really good--- so go go read it pleas!!! and let me know what you think!
Love you guys! xx