Stockholm Syndrome ✔

Chapter 15 - Undisclosed Desires

Harry couldn't sleep. He sat on the floor while Louis slept in the bed, completely unaware of Harry's distress.

He really didn't want to see Louis in hell. Harry liked living. But Louis was really going to let Harry tell Troy that he would much rather die than stay. It hurt a bit.

"Louis?" Harry said.

After a moment he saw a movement and then Louis' sleepy voice saying, "What?"

"Are you really going to let me die?"

"Are you really going to die and force me to stay here forever?"

Harry didn't answer because frankly he didn't know what to answer, but Louis interpret his silence as an affirmative answer.

"Yeah, that's what I thought", Louis muttered and then it was silent again. Harry listened how Louis slowly fell asleep again.

"Shit", he whispered, got up and started walking around the room. He was lost, completely lost, so before he even knew it, the time had come. Harry froze when he realised that he had been strolling around the room the whole night. And now Troy would come and Harry would have to make a choice.

For a moment Harry considered waking up Louis but decided against it when he glanced at the guy's ravaged body.

"Harry?"

Harry jumped a little when he heard Troy's voice behind the door. He took a deep breath and walked closer the door.

"I hear you. I'm sorry, son, but I have to go. There's certain things that need my attention. I will get back to you later." A pause and Harry leans closer the door. "Is Louis still alive?"

Harry narrowed his eyes. "Fuck you."

"Oh, no, come on now." The voice went silent for a second. "You're upset."

Sadness ran over Harry— of course he was upset. His gaze ran over Louis' ravaged body and then around the room. He felt so trapped. No, he didn't just felt, he was so trapped. He wanted to get out. He really, really wanted to get out but that would mean that Louis and everyone who Harry loved would be in a great danger. Deep inside Harry knew that he could never be so selfish that he would doom Louis to stay with Troy— not if he could do something about it. Harry had only one choice; hope that someone would find him.

"My parents will find me", Harry said, trying to sound strong, powerful.

"I doubt that."

Harry pressed his forehead against the door. "When I get out, I'll make sure you rot in prison."

"Do you really want to get out?" The voice said behind the door. It wasn't anything like 'oh my God, do you?' It was more like a 'yeah, ha ha, you keep telling that to yourself if it makes you happy'. It was clear that he already knew what Harry would answer.

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. He felt tears burning behind his eyes but he refused to cry. He couldn't break down. Be strong, he repeated in his head. Don't cry. But he knew that eventually tears would come. Why? Because Harry knew that he is not getting out. He knew now that he might not even want to get out. And that scared him. He wanted to stay strong, otherwise it would be too late and he would never get out. But deep inside he knew that it was too late already. Harry rubbed his eyes, and flinched when he heard his kidnapper's voice from the other side of the door.

"Do you, Harry?"

Harry fell to his knees.

"I don't know", Harry whispered. He focused his eyes on Louis' sleeping figure. Troy didn't answer anymore, and Harry stayed on the floor, and stared at Louis. He couldn't believe himself — he was really considering about sacrificing everything for Louis? He was really considering about giving Louis his freedom? But "getting out" meant that Harry would have to die. Did he want to die? He didn't know anymore.

Why would Harry even consider giving Louis his freedom? The answer was clear but Harry didn't want to think about it — he didn't want to face the facts. He just wanted... Harry frowned. He didn't even know what he wanted anymore.