A Step Away From Falling ➸ h.s. [Needs Editing]

Chapter 18: "One step away from falling"

Louis' POV

Minutes ticked by, and the tension in the room only grew. Harry was so close to flipping out. He was literally one step away from falling. Falling to a dark abyss that I wouldn't be able to pull him out from; his green orbs had darkened to a grey-ish color the more time it passed. I had never seen him this way. I prayed harder, for Liam to get here already.

Three consecutive knocks on the door.

We were still on Helen's place since Harry's was inhabitable with the smoke from the fire and all. 

Harry practically jumped up from his seat to open the door. I followed.

Liam stood in the front steps of the house, his hair trimmed close to his skull and a few new tattoos covered his arms. Behind him, a blonde and blue-eyed guy was standing. His hair had different tones of purple embedded in his natural tone. He had various piercings in his ear and his arms were wrapped in tattoo sleeves. He looked... intimidating. 

"Liam, always good to see you" I greeted with a half hug.

"I'm guessing this is back-up guy?" I suggested, looking back at his punk buddy.

"Yep. Best mate as well. Niall this is Louis and..." he looked at my curly haired friend.

"Harry" I offered.

"Nice to meet you" we all said hurriedly.

"Can we please move this inside so we can start this, I'm in a bit of a hurry" Harry tried to be as polite as he could muster to sound, but it wasn't working that well.

Liam gave me a questioningly look.

"It's really important" I stated. He nodded and both him and Niall stepped inside and I closed the door behind them. They were both carrying black duffel bags.

I breathed out my nerves.

"What can I do for you boys?" Liam asked as soon as we had all seated in the small living room.

I didn't hesitate for a second, "we need you to track down a number". 

His eyes widened a bit but then he nodded.

"Contract or prepaid phone?" he asked, his tone changing from polite to business-like. 

Both me and Harry looked at each other. Harry answered.

"Contract. This person is using my girlfriend's phone to contact me".

"I see.." Liam said softly. He was already zipping open one of the bags. Taking out a strange looking device. The type police and thieves use in movies to track down people and phones.

While Liam started taking other unknown objects out and putting them on the coffee table, his blonde friend talked for the first time.

"What's the situation?" he asked, his tone professional, but surprisingly... very Irish.

Harry leaned forward in the couch.

"My best friend... girlfriend, um technically, was kidnapped" he started. Both of the guys in front of us looked at each other, a look that I couldn't decipher.

"Ransom?" Niall asked, snapping his cool blue gaze at Harry.

"I don't know yet. I don't think so... It's personal" Harry explained slowly.

"It's my ex. She is very upset about us breaking up... hates Helen. She said she would call in a few hours again. Told me I had to do what she said or she would kill her" .

"That's a hell of a mess lad, I'm sorry for your current situation. Women are very... difficult at times" he said this with a half smile.

He was more well-mannered and friendlier than I would have thought he'd be. Then again, appearances are most times deceiving.