Illusion

Chapter 11

Harry's POV

I pace down the hallway of my apartment, quickly shoving my key into the hole and turning the lock. I step inside and shut the door, hastily turning into my small hallway and making my way to my spare bedroom. I hate having people in my place without me here, but it was a part of the plan. I'm almost at the bedroom door when it opens from the inside.

Black converse step out into the hallway, followed by long black skinny jeans and a white tee. Finally, Niall's blonde head bobs out, 'oh good, you're here.' He says with a sigh of relief. 'You weren't answering your phone.'

My brows crease and I stick my hand into my back pocket, searching for the device. My hands roam over my jeans rapidly trying to find the piece of metal.

'Shit. I must've left it at that fucking bookstore.' I groan irritably.

Niall gives me a fleeting look, before turning his head back through the semi-open bedroom door. 'He's still unconscious. We had to knock him out fully just to get him into the car.' Niall's voice rings with impatience.

I walk forward, pushing past Niall and stepping into the bedroom. It looked similar to mine, but much smaller. A queen sized bed was placed in the middle of the room, black duvet swallowing the mattress. The cream-coloured curtains remained shut, blocking out all external light in order to disorientate the man, currently tied to a wooden chair just next to the bed. His feet and wrists were each bound separately to the wood, securing him in place, while a black gag had been wrapped tightly around his head.

'I've taken his phone and wallet. Anything else he had on him is outside.' Niall states. I remain focused on the man sitting, giving a minute nod of my head. He still appears to be completely unconscious, so I quickly walk over to the corner of the room and drag another chair to place in front of him. I sit down and lean back, waiting for him to wake up.

Not ten minutes later and the man's arms begin shaking, tugging against the strong ropes holding him in place. His feet kick aimlessly, not being able to shift more than a centimeter. His ragged breathing is erratic, as desperate whimpers escape his gagged mouth. His head flicks wildly, trying anything to escape his tight confines.

I leisurely put down the book I was reading, standing up and dropping it onto the bedside table. I stroll back towards the unaware man and lean down, placing my hands securely on each of his wrists. His flinches violently, increasing his limited movement. I exhale heavily, letting my breath wash over his face.

'Don't struggle, it'll only make it worse.' My unnerving tone lowly whispers through the room. His incoherent sounds slowly soften, turning into quiet sounds of plea as the bindings dig into his skin.

'Now. We can do this the easy way and you'll only be mildly injured.' I lower my face even more, so I can see the sweat glistening on his forehead. 'Or we can do this the hard way, potentially rendering you dead.' I keep my jaw locked, showing no emotion.

His eyes light up and his head whips to the side, trying desperately to loosen something.

'You always warn them, yet they never listen, do they?' Niall's exasperated voice floats from the doorway. 'I'll head out then, call me from your home phone if you need anything else, okay mate?'

I keep my eyes locked on the man still distressingly straining in front of me, nodding my head to Niall. I hear the bedroom door shut, followed by my front door opening and closing.

I take a deep breath, leaning back slightly from the man, before swiftly punching him across the face. The man gargles in shock, still unable to scream from the gag. I swing my other arm, hooking him again. 'Tell me what you know about a man named Alex.' The man's cold eyes turn to mine, clicking with understanding.