True love or limerence [l.s]

Chapter three

It started to pool around him, encompassing his body. The grass that was once green turned a rusted red from his own blood.

His breaths were shallow and sharp, triggered by the wound on his right shoulder.

When Louis looked up, he saw the two boys making their way towards him. They didn't shoot a second time, only watched him questioning, like he was in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

"Well he certainly doesn't look like the guy we're after," the blonde one said towards the other boy.

"Let's talk to him," the brown haired one suggested without breaking eye contact with Louis.

The closer they got, the more nervous became Louis. He screamed and yelped for them to get away. He had no idea what they would do to him. One more shot at the right spot and he's dead.

"Hey, look we won't hurt you if you tell us who you are and why you're he-," the boy with the gun got interrupted by some louder noise. Branches grated and leaves crunched under the footsteps of someone else.

Immediately the boys got into defensive mode, striking their positions and setting their weapons to where the noise came from. Louis shuddered with fear as the gun got raised again.

Anne came out of the bushes, laying her eyes on the boys and Louis. She stopped and her eyes narrowed at the teenagers.

"Niall and Liam...," she thundered, making them both flinch at the sound of their names.

***

As soon as they lowered their weapons, Mrs. Styles grabbed them and tossed them far away.

"What on earth do you think you're doing? Shooting your filthy bullets around the forest? Niall where did you even get that gun from?", she taunted at the blonde one, looking very angry.

Niall looked crestfallen, however he explained the situation thoroughly.

"We were actually told to hunt this guy that was stealing illegal substances from our warehouse. You know, the stuff that the council has banned for years. Before the thief came, they laid untouched and locked up in the vault but uh- now they are all gone. So we were told to shoot at this guy, but bring him back alive. Well... Liam I guess we have the wrong guy?"

They all looked at Louis, who crouched on the ground while pressing on his wound with a painful groan.

"Wait he seems new...what's he doing here?", Niall asked with a skeptical look across his face.

"This is Louis, he's a new student in your musical school. I had hoped you would meet under... other circumstances," Anne sighed in disbelief and stepped towards the hurt boy.

She examined the wound with an expression that Louis couldn't quite place. Every time her eyes flashed across the fresh blood, her pupils distorted and her eyebrows only furrowed even more. She gently wrapped her jacket around his arm like a bandage.

"Oh my god Niall you probably shot our new classmate!", Liam's jaw fell open and he hurried towards Louis to help him.

Niall stood there shocked and ashamed that he hurt an innocent boy who looked about his age.

"This is all my fault, I'm so sorry Louis, I am so so sorry," he murmured as he helped him up with Liam.

"Later Mr. Horan, go carry him into town and I'll find the nearest doctor," Anne demanded the boys.

Liam and Niall supported Louis up, each one on either side with his arms' around their necks. Louis gasped in pain as he held his arm around Liams neck. The wound claffed open causing more blood to spill out. The further the wound was strained, the more the wound gapped.