My earlier snooze on Zak's chest had been exchanged for a face down moment in the couch, in his office, alone.

The sinking feeling that settled on my shoulders felt like I had stepped into quicksand and couldn't get out.

I'm falling in love with you.

Idiot!

Sitting up, I pushed my head up at an angle to click my neck, in a hope to release the stiffness that had set into my bones.

You've screwed it now.

My eyes narrowed at the screen, full of small squares, showing the cctv cameras and their angles. The tours that were moving through looked far and few, and it was only when I picked up my phone, I realised it was almost 9pm.. Meaning I had slept at least 4-5 hours.

Some nap that was.

Pulling myself off the couch, I stepped forward to find my shoes were still on, along with my belt and I still had keys in my pocket, which meant he was eager to leave, considering he's shed those items off me before so I slept better. But I presume the idea of me falling for him has had him tuck tailing and running. Narrowing my eyes at the brightness of the screen, I found Zak stood in the lobby.

Not sure on how the cameras worked, I pressed a few buttons and eventually hit a number until the screen came up, the whole screen showed him stood at the front door, talking to a woman.

Krystal.

Feeling my throat run dry, I stand still and watch as their faces meet. I hit out at the keyboard causing the footage to pause on their pair.

This is now.. Right now.

He's is kissing her.

Right now.

Running a hand over my face, I decide to leave. Fast.

His mom's words echoed in my mind about him being smitten, but if that were true in any means and sense, he wouldn't be kissing another woman. He wouldn't be holding another woman close to his body..

His eyes have more sparkle in them.. He smiles more.

That's because he's played you so easily. Fool!

I could kick myself for believing that even for a second, someone like me could be happy! My life had been nothing but a fight, why should it get any easier now!

Barrelling through the corridors, I tried to fix my hair and rub the lines off my face from it being mushed into the couch. I just needed to get out and breathe some cold air. To get fresh air to my system so I could think clearly...

I grab the door handle ready to leave when I hear Zak.

"Delilah? What's wrong?"

"Don't act like you care." I respond before pulling the door open and leaving.

I'm rushing towards the car, keys in my hand with all intentions on leaving his ass here when I freeze.

"Delilah."

"Mother."

+++

Like I said.

Why would my life get easier? I've fought tooth and nail up until my Gran took me under her care. Of course there was still residual fears, like being left alone, Randy finding me, the nightmares, the beatings, the dark, simple noises, but I was slowly harnessing them. The nightmares were still there of course.

I don't know how long she has been outside, maybe the whole day and quiet frankly I didn't care as I ignored her presence and went about unlocking the car.

"Piss off."

"Sweetheart please, I am your mother."

I stop "Yeah, you are. And count that as the only reason I haven't put you on your ass yet! Now get out of here before I lose my patience."

"Delilah."

"How much?!" I shout making her stop.

"I don't—"

"How much for you to crawl back under the rock you came from and leave me alone?"

The silence that came after made me scoff "You are only here for money, aren't you? Unbelievable."

"No, no I want a relationship with you as well sweetheart, I swear it's—"

"You're a liar!" I shout back in anger. "Don't stand here and lie to my face! You owe me the truth!"

"Jack said—"

"Jack?! W-How the hell do you know him?!"

She cleared her throat "He found us."

"Us?"

Her eyes widened and she lowered her head.

"What do you mean? Us?!" I stepped towards my mother causing her to shift back. That's when I heard a car door open.

My eyes snapped to the sound and I heard her breathe "No."

That's when I saw him...

My breathing picked up, accelerating at a rate that I didn't think was possible, if I wasn't experiencing it myself. My mind fogged over and red mist descended..

++++

Zak rushed down to the office, only to find himself and Krystal on the screen, the CCTV footage had been paused.

"See! This is why you shouldn't have came!" He snapped at her.

"It's not my fault! She clearly doesn't trust you." Krystal responded before Zak rushed towards the exit. "Where are you going?"

"To talk to her!"

"Zak! Stop, if she–"

"No! I made one stupid bet with you and now it's probably just cost me something incredible. You don't get it Krystal! Y-You— Just be gone when I get back!" He shouts and flings open the front door.

Hearing cries, Zak runs to the parking lot to find it empty, that's when he heard glass smashing.

"Delilah!!" A woman screams making Zak run out into the street.

He was shocked to find the woman he had come to know, had turned from a timid and gentle lamb with a hint of rebellion, to a full blown criminal.

"Stop! Delilah stop!" Her mother shouted as Delilah swung at the car with a baseball bat.

Not thinking for his own safety, Zak ran over and took hold of the bat, tearing it from her hands.

"NO!" She screamed coming at him to get it back.

"Stop! Just stop!" He shouted down at her.

"HE DESERVES TO BE DEAD! NO HIDING IN A CAR!"

Zak's face changed as he watched a tall older man step out the car. A large belly stuck out from him as he closed the door showing a torn wife beater, black sweat pants and steel toe capped boots, with the steel showing from their overuse and scabbed skin littering his body.

Heroin?

Delilah moved to Zak's side in fear, her earlier anger had dissipated the second he got out the car.

"Who are you?" Zak asked.

"Look at my car! I want money! For damages! Now!" He ordered.

"I said, who are you?!"

"Randy, please get back in the car." Her mother spoke holding her own door open with a pleading look on her face.

"You're Randy?" Zak questioned.

"So what if I am?" The man snarled exposing his decaying teeth.

"Delilah baby.." Zak spoke quietly looking at her. "Is that the man?"

She couldn't reply, because despite wanting to stand up for herself. She still feared what the man could do.

"I take that as a yes."

Zak threw out his fist, catching Randy by surprise as it impacted with his nose and causes the larger man to stumble back in shock.

"Motherfucker!" He yells through his hands whilst cradling his bloody nose.

"Come on!" Zak orders tossing the bat aside and bringing up his fists "Fight a man. A real man. Not a child you pussy!"

"Don't start with me, boy."

"Come on! Hit me you fucking pussy! Or you going to hide behind the bitch?" Zak tweaked his head towards Delilah's mother.

"Watch your mouth!"

"COME ON!"

Zak swung again only this time Randy caught his fist and shoved it aside but only to send one back.

Pain erupted across Zak's cheek as he staggered back from the sheer force, big man, big force. But that wouldn't deter him from what he wanted to do, he wanted to beat the man down, for the sake of Delilah. He wanted to make him defenceless and scared.

Zak was going to throw a punch when Delilah lost it and threw herself at Randy, hitting and scratching at him. But Zak never felt anger like it, until Randy backhanded her to the ground.

"You fucking pig!" Zak yelled launching his own attack, only for Delilah to scream and throw herself between them.

Her mother began screaming on the side walk as Randy stepped back "I win. Again." He snarled.

"GET IN THE CAR!" He ordered her mother, and she complied.

Zak watched in confusion as Delilah staggered slightly.

"D-Delilah?"

She looked over her shoulder. "I'm ok–"

Zak caught her as her legs gave out, cradling her back, he saw the blood and the t-shirt she wore absorbing it at a fast rate.

He looked around quickly and found one object...

Protruding from her skin.

A knife.

"No!" He shouted putting pressure on the cut. "J-just hold on! Hold on okay? It's okay. You're going to be fine. It's just a scratch." He panicked pulling out his phone.

"It's not like this in the movies...It hurts." She grimaced.

"I know baby. What the hell were you thinking?!"

"He was going to hurt you. Rather me, than yo- owh."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" Zak responded holding her side tightly. "Don't remove the knife, you'll bleed out. I- Listen darling, I'm going to have to move you okay? We need to get to a hospital."

"Ambulance."

"They will take too long. Trust me on this."

"Sorry." She spoke as Zak got up and lifted her into his arms.

"Don't worry about anything okay. Hospital. That's what we need."

"Zak.." She spoke as he unlocked her car.

"No, whatever it is, it can wait. All right? Just bare with me."

"I'm tired."

"You keep your fucking eyes open, you're not going to sleep!" He shouted as he placed her in the car and tapped the side of her face making her lift her head and look around.

"Museum."

"Screw the museum! I need to get you to a hospital!"

"I can hold it.. Lock it up." She spoke looking at him. Fear was evident in his eyes and Zak was torn. He didn't want to leave her, but he had to lock the place down... It was important, but not as important as her life.

"Please lock it." She urged pushing her hand against the wound.

"I'll be two seconds."

She nodded and watched him scramble out the parking lot and run back to the museum.

But by the time he had got back, Delilah was out cold, her hand had fallen from her side meaning the wound pumped the blood out of her body fast.

"Fuck!" He shouted getting into the car and putting the keys into the ignition. Putting the car into drive, he reached over and clasped her side before tearing out the parking lot.

"Delilah?"

"Delilah!"

"Come on!"

"Open your eyes up for me!"

"Delilah!"

"Delilah!"