forbidden [h.s.]

nineteen.

The seven of us reach the river, forming a line along the side of it. After nearly eight days of living in these woods, we're going home. Louis thinks the news about Serena and I has died down and that it's safe to go back. I'm not entirely convinced, but Harry has encouraged me every time I've become anxious.

But, how can he be so calm? He's just as afraid of going home as I am. The chances of us being together the way we were in the woods is very slim, if there's any chance at all. I know that these woods aren't the most ideal place to live, but we have freedom here. We don't have to hide. I know that, going home now, we're going to lose that. I'm more afraid of that than anything.

"Right then. Who's going in first?" Louis asks, staring down at the water below.

Niall raises his hand and gives his bag to Zayn. He steps forward, furrowing his eyebrows at the water. Niall dips his foot in and winces, signing cold to the rest of us. He and Harry have taught me some basic signs during our time our here. Nothing extensive, but enough to know he said the water is cold.

Niall slowly eases himself into the water, clenching his teeth as he does. He swims forward until he's out of sight. It's strange. This river didn't seem this wide the first time I swam across it. Perhaps, in the midst of my hot pursuit and trying to find Harry, I ignored the distance. But, it really is quite wide.

We stand in silence for a while before Liam sighs. "I guess I'll go." He jumps in and curses the moment he resurfaces. "Shit! That's cold." He hisses and we laugh at him.

Liam begins to swim forward as well, and the rest of us debate about who's going to go next. I don't want to go at all, in all honesty. I know things won't be okay when we get home. People are going to recognize Serena and I and someone will want to know where we went. It'll be crazy.

Liam only makes it a few feet out before I see a shock of blonde, wet, hair, swimming back towards us. Niall flails his arms wildly, though, I can't tell if he's signing something or if he's trying to swim faster. I turn to Harry and furrow my eyebrows.

"Harry, is he saying something?" I ask and Harry narrows his eyes.

"I can't tell. It's foggy and one of his arms is underwater." He leans forward as far as he can without falling in, trying to see Niall more clearly. Suddenly, Harry's face falls. His hand goes limp in mine and his skin turns cold as he freezes in place.

I widen my eyes. "What is it? What did he say?" I ask frantically, turning to look at Niall myself.

His left hand is in the shape of a C, and he taps it against his chest in a panic. "Harry, what does that mean?" I pull at his arm, but he won't move.

I groan and turn to Zayn. "What does this mean?" I ask, repeating the same gesture as Niall, and Zayn freezes too.

He runs over to where Harry is standing, looking out at Niall. Liam begins to swim back quickly as well, his face just as panicked.

"Someone tell me what the hell is going on!"

"It means police, Jade." Zayn says and swallows hard. "The police are here. And they're close."

Harry breaks his gaze, immediately charging towards me. He grabs my hand and takes of running the other direction. I gasp as he pulls me behind him. He dodges branches and fallen objects like he's got this forest mapped out.

"Where are we going?" I yell over the sound of the wind whipping past us. I try to look behind me to see if the others are following, but I can't. I'm afraid if I look back I'll run into something. At the rate Harry's going, that's entirely possible.