Devils Syndicate [h.s]

Avery Lewis

Three knocks, well three aggressive, fast, ground-shaking knocks woke me out of my dark sleep. The frantic noise of my name being called from my front door was also the reason my eyes shot open. I sat up in my bed, the sheets cold and my arms covered in goosebumps, but I managed to set my feet onto the cold hardwood floor and let the maniac into my house. I walked out of my bedroom, my entire apartment cold and filled with silence until the knocking started again and the name Avery rang in my ears.

"Avery-" I open the door, cutting her off from her chants. Her hand was midair and, in a fist, about to knock on the door again. I moved out of the doorway, opening the door more so she could walk in with her massive suitcase. I looked down at her outfit, her grey sweatpants balancing on her hips, visibly showing her Caught You Looking tattoo on her hip bone and her long-sleeved black compression top covering her pale arms. She closes the door behind her, the light from the outside hallway that lit the house now gone, making the room dark again. She sits herself down comfortably on the comforter, making herself at home in the exact spot Zayn once sat in. Better not make her aware of that. She took her blonde hair out of the loose ponytail and adjusted it to fall onto her shoulders.

"Care to explain the urgent knocking and name-calling at 2:32 in the morning, Ms Leighton?" I look her up and down to express my annoyance, only to realise she can't even see me.

I watch her head turn towards the direction I was standing in, she reaches over to the beige lamp on the side coffee table and turns it on by the switch, her blue eyes and pink lips now visible to my vision.

"Had to make sure you didn't sleep in or forget to pack." She smiles at me, her head resting on her tucked-in knees.

"When did you wake up Inds?" I walk over to the recliner facing opposite her, my black lounge shorts riding up when I sit on the bottom cushion. She thinks for a second, her eyebrows furrowing when her eyes widen, and lips part slightly.

"You see, the thing is, I didn't wake up. Because I didn't go to sleep." She gives me a half-awkward grin when I groan at her stupidity.

"C'mon, let's go get some more sleep. Our flight is like midday." I stand up and hold my hand out to her. She turns the light off, and the room becomes dark again, I feel her cold hand meet mine as we walk back to my room. She doesn't waste any time and finds herself spread across the mattress with most of the blanket wrapped around her body, her face in one of the pillows.

"Shit, I forget to lock the door, give me one second." I wait for a response, but all I hear is heavy breathing and soft snores in return. I mutter a few words to myself as I shut the door behind me, walking back to the front door. I slide the lock along, turning around to go back to my room, but my body instead is faced with the warmth of a tall figure. A small gasp of shock escapes me, but I'm quick to cover my mouth.

"Good girl," He whispers his thumb on my bottom lip. I looked up at them, trying to make out who it was. His thumb leaves my lip, his voice coming to life again.

"Let's sit down for a chat, shall we?" He places his arm on my shoulders, his Irish accent making me realise it's just Niall.

"Come for more food, have we now?" The sarcasm in my voice and question collects a few surprising chuckles in the room, the sound making me flinch the slightest. Were they all here? Niall's arm shoots up and slaps down at his sides. I rush over to the lamp, my hand brushing against someone else for a moment. My hand shoots back at the touch, my gaze meeting Zayn's when he turns the light on.

"What are you doing here are you insane? Indiana is sleeping in the other room." I quietly exclaim.

"How did she get her name?" Liam asks.