One Way Or Another - Larry Stylinson (Hybrid Harry)

Chapter 2 - Harry POV

I don't know how long I had slept when I was hit in the face with a football jostling me awake. I assumed it was one of the little kids trying to bother me as they often do. However, what I didn't expect was to come face-to-face with a lad not much older than me. I sighed assuming he was going to make fun of me or something. I did not expect him to crouch down and apologize profusely. "I am so sorry mate. I really didn't mean to hit you. Me and me mates were playing a good game of footie and I accidently kicked the ball your way. You okay mate? I didn't hurt you too bad, did I?"

"I-I fine," I said. I sighed. I knew how to speak properly but my time with Jeremy proved to be disastrous for my speaking skills. I knew it was "I'm" and not "I", but I was out of practice. Ever since Jeremy learnt my secret, he stopped me from talking.

I expected the boy to leave after hearing my response. There are several people who simply ask if you are alright just so they get the satisfaction that they haven't hurt someone. However, this boy chose to stay. He then asked me, "Mate, you look cold and starved. Have you got a home?"

"No home," I whispered, ashamed that I sounded so weak. My kidnapper aka the person who ruined my life always reprimanded me for being a weakling. Who is my kidnapper you'd ask? She was a crazy scientist who kidnapped me when I was sixteen and she is the one who experimented on me with the cat DNA. She lived in Cheshire itself but seldom must have left the house because I hadn't seen her before. She wanted fame and riches, so illegally, she made me her lab rat. She injected me and another boy, Niall with the cat DNA. I had off-white tail and ears while Niall's were hazel brown.

At the start, when everything was going well, she took good care of us and loved us dearly. However, she soon got bored of us as we weren't 'cattish-enough' for her, and she started mistreating us. She gave us negligible food and water and made us her servants. This carried on till I was 18 and Niall was 19. Over time Niall and I had become close, like brothers. We were both fed up with being treated like slaves and so we worked together to steal money and devised what we thought was a fool proof plan. We escaped successfully but were nearly caught, causing me and Niall to have to split up. That's when everything went downhill for me. Niall had all the money, and I was stranded alone without a penny to spare. I was young and lost, afraid to be in this huge world all alone. I missed my actual family and I wondered if they remembered me. Our family was small and close-knit, and I was sure Gemma and mom would keep searching for me. Despite that, my thoughts were pessimistic. It had been long enough. I was sure they would have given up by now. I missed Niall; I had grown to love him like family, and I felt desperate for a friend. That's when I met Jeremy. My cat instincts had sensed a sort of danger when we me for the first time. However, I was in a grave state and needed help so, I simply ignored my cat instincts. Well, I learnt to listen to my instincts the hard way.

I quickly snapped out of my memories I turned to the boy in front of me. He looked bewildered, probably since I told him I was homeless. He said, "You're younger than me mate. Whatchya you doin' all alone? How long 'ave you been 'ere?"

I ignored the first question and in response to the second question I said, "Five days."

He looked at me, the shock evident on his face. Then he looked at me with pitiful eyes and he seemed to be having an internal war with himself. I guess one side won because then he asked me, "Will you come to me house? It's small but I think I've got 'nough room for ya. Plus, I guess it's better than this park co'ner."

Now it was my turn to have an internal battle with myself. I longed to accept the offer, it was warm and welcoming, and the lad seemed kind. However, the human side of me knew that I couldn't judge a person based on their welcoming face, you can't trust people. I didn't want to give in, but his eyes were brimming with true concern, and he seemed to really care. Being with him would be better than dying I supposed. I finally gave in and said, "Ok, if it not a bother-r." There was something about this boy's personality that made him seem warm and inviting. I was speaking better English and was stuttering less, even though I have been in his presence for less than two minutes. I guess my kitten instincts can really pick a good guy from a bad one. I never felt this warmth near Jeremy, so it should be a good thing I supposed.

"I'm Louis," He introduced himself and he held out a hand to help me stand up. "I'm Harry." I said in response slowly getting up with his help. I'd become so weak that I couldn't really do anything myself. With his help, I stood up and he led me to his car. I wondered about his friends whom he had left mid-game. However, when his phone rang a moment later and I heard him explain the situation to his friends, I was pacified. I could hear how concerned he sound when he spoke about me and I hoped that maybe this once, I found a true friend. My cat instincts pointed in the right direction and my human side knew better than to deny them.

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