Ecstasy [h.s.]

12

trigger warning for this chapter: there is slight content of physical abuse. please take care of yourselves and skip the part in italics if you have to :)

i love youuu

May 10, 2023

I sit in my hotel room, staring blankly at the blaring TV in front of me as I lie on the bed, my back against the pillows on the headboard. 

The sound of the film fills the room, the dialogue and music mingling together in a symphony of sound. I reach for the bowl of popcorn on the bedside table absently and take a handful, savoring the salty crunch. The aroma of the buttery kernels fills the air.

Part of me wants to go out again. Part of me wants to figure out what this band is up to, I feel myself inching closer to the truth with every day. But part of me is afraid. If it really came down to it, would these men hurt me? Even...kill me?

I know that the truth could end up getting me killed, but I've always been too nosy to care. I felt like I owed it to myself to keep searching, keep looking. I was terrified of these men, but I honestly didn't care. They could do whatever they wanted to me, it would all be worth it if I could uncover what these people were doing.

I want to know. I click the remote to turn the TV off, not even knowing what scene I was watching. I swing my legs off of the bed, letting my socks land straight onto the carpet. I had to keep looking. For myself. For my mother. Even for Lizzy.

I pad across the room, the soft carpet concealing my steps. The hotel room is dark, save for the soft, warm glow of the bedside lamp. Shadows dance along the walls, their shapes distorted and elongated by the dim light. The silence of the room is only broken by the hum of the air conditioning, a constant background noise that lulls me into a sense of calm.

The room is tastefully decorated, with warm, earthy tones and plush furnishings that exude a sense of comfort and luxury. A plush armchair sits in the corner as a desk stands against the far wall, its polished wood surface reflecting the soft glow of the lamp.

A small fridge hums quietly in the corner, stocked with chilled water and snacks. The faint scent of coffee wafts through the air. The window looks out onto the city, the bright lights and busy streets a sharp contrast to the peaceful serenity of the room. The sound of traffic echoes up from the streets below, but it's distant and muffled.

I pull my converse on, not even bothering to lace them. I'm dressed in a plain tank top, and pink shorts. I wasn't exactly expecting to be sneaking into a criminal rockstar's room tonight. I turn the doorknob to my room, opening the door just enough for me to stare at the hotel room across from me. 

Harry's room.

I swallow harshly. The boys should be coming back from their Philadelphia concert soon; Briar and Alex are at the venue but I'd faked a headache and gotten out of attending the concert. I couldn't stand to be around them right now.

But this was risky; Harry could be back in his room in a matter of minutes. But instead of backing away from the hall and returning to the safe depths of my room, I take the plunge, pocketing my phone and hotel keycard as the door flutters shut behind me. It would be worth it. I hope.

I step across the hall until I'm face to face with Harry's door 1053. I fiddle with his doorknob, half expecting it to be unlocked. It's not.

Luckily for me, I used to be a bitch.

I rummage through my pocket for a hairpin, and hold the hairpin tightly between my fingers, gently inserting it into the keyhole of the lock. With a practiced touch, I bend the hairpin into the correct shape and begin to manipulate the tumblers inside. It takes a few tries, but eventually, the lock gives a satisfying click. The doorknob easily turns in my hands and I smile to myself in satisfaction. I enter the room quietly, shutting the door softly behind me.