For Worse, Or Better?

Chapter Forteen

Nialls POV

"Niall" she barely whispered to me. Her eyes held a mix of emotions, pain, sadness but also happiness, perhaps for being alive. She also looked slightly confused.

"It's alright, I'm here" I told her assuring her that I wouldn't let her get hurt again.

"Well, there must be someone watching over you, you were flat-lined for at least three minutes. We were about to give up. You're one lucky kid." The nurse looked just as shocked as I did. She was obviously still stunned from the sudden recovery of Belle.

I glanced back at Belle just in time to see the panic spread across her pale face. "Where's Sam?" Her eyes darted around the room as her breathing got heavier and her grip tightened around my hand.

"It's okay, he's not here but he did disappear and the police couldn't find him. Don't worry though, you'll never be left alone again." I flashed her a smile hoping she didn't detect the concern in my voice.

"What if he comes back? What if he tries to kill me again?"

She was stressed enough already so I didn't want to tell her what I really thought, but honestly I was worried too. He wanted to kill her and if he knows she's not dead, he might come back to finish off the job. I was frightened for her, for everyone. I felt sorry for Will who was taking all of this very tough, I think he may have even cried more than me. It must be horrible knowing your best friend was abused by your brother and you could have stopped it, had he known, but of course Belle never told anyone, she didn't even tell me, and she wouldn't have done had I not have seen it for myself. "He won't babe" I told her.

Belle asked me to get her some water so before I did I thought I would check up on everyone else. The nurse hadn't told them about her being awake yet, so I did.

"Is she alright?" Hannah shouted at me as she grabbed both of my arms and started shaking me.

"Yeah, go and see her. She's just a bit-" Before I could finish, Hannah was already down the corridor running to Belle's room, closely followed by most of the other girls. "- Quiet.." I finished. Harry, Nicole, Zayn and Simon weren't  with everyone else and Liam and Louis slowly walked after the girls looking rather awkward.

I took a seat next to Will who was the only person left. 

"You knew. You knew and you didn't tell me. You didn't tell anyone, did you not want it to stop?" The anger in his eyes was clear and his fists were clenched tight.

"I couldn't, he threatened me too. I tried to protect her as much as possible. I looked after her and never left her on her own so she wouldn't be in danger."

"But you did leave her alone. And now she's in there, she could still die you know." He stood up and his height advantage was intimidating so I stood in front of him, eye to eye.

"I understand that you're upset, I am too but there's no reason to be mad at me. I did all I could for Belle and you're treating me like I was the one who stabbed her."

"You may as well have done!"

There was silence. We both looked at each other up and down, neither of us ready to continue on the argument. That was until we heard a new voice and spun around to see who it was.

"How could you say that?" It was Hannah. Her eyes were puffy as a tear fell down her blotchy red cheek from the previous crying. As neither of us spoke she decided to continue.

"This isn't Niall's fault. He wouldn't hurt Belle like that and you know it. You're just upset because you could have stopped it if you had known. But you didn't and it's too late now so grow up and stop being selfish."

"I was only trying to protect her, Belle made me promise not to say anything." I attempted to defend myself siding with Hannah over Will. 

"Shut up Niall. You should have told someone anyway, whether you promised or not, then this might not have happened." She shot at me. Both Will and I were staring at her with wide eyes, shocked at her sudden outburst.

"We all could have done something to stop it. I should have asked her more about where she got all those bruises from. I should have been more concerned but the only person to blame is Sam, and you should be pissed at him, not each other. Now Niall go and get Belle some water and Will you need to hear Belle's side of the story, so talk to her."

We still remained silent as she pushed me further towards the canteen and dragged Will back to Belle's room. Hannah was right, I just couldn't help but feel really responsible. Belle should feel safe with me and yet I let her get stabbed.

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It was dark, really dark. I couldn't tell where I was even though I was searching around. I couldn't feel anything, I was beginning to panic. "Belle!" I called. No reply. I tried again "Belle!"

A bright light came on in the distance and I could just make out a dark figure.

"Niall, it's alright, we're safe."

"Belle?" I asked. It sounded like her but the voice came from everywhere, as if it were surrounding me. "Run Belle, he's going to get you, you're not safe here." I was almost screaming.

"Too late." This time the voice was Sam, I could tell straight away from the shivers it sent down my spine. "She's got no one to save her this time, no one to ruin everything."

"Don't touch her!" I shouted back. The sound of his laughter filled my ears, that was until I heard a gun shot and a piercing scream. "BELLE!" I screamed as loud as I could.

"I told you to stay away, I warned you. Now Niall Horan, it's your time to die."

The figure in the light fell to the floor and the light went dead. Once again I was in darkness. I rapidly span around in circles desperately looking for somewhere to run. 

"Niall" I heard faintly "Niall?"

"Belle."

"You're too late." Sam was standing in front of me. He was a lot taller than me, towering down. He raised his hand slightly to show a gun in the new dim light surrounding us.

"Niall?" I had to save Belle, I had to find her but he was right, it was too late. The gun shot again but this time it was aimed at me.

"Niall, get up!"

"Huh what? Where am I-"

"You fell asleep on my arm and now I can't feel it. You're really hard to wake up, I said your name so many times."

To my surprise Belle was sat up in the hospital bed in front of me. "You're not dead!" I hugged her tight and wiped away the tear on face that I wasn't aware of.

"I know I'm not, I thought you knew too" she laughed half hugging me back.

"He's going to come back isn't he..?" I asked her, not wanting to hear the answer.

She looked down at her hands then back at me. She looked scared but protective at the same time. "I know" she admitted.

Authors Note: Sorry this part took AGES to get done, I've been so busy. Anyway I'm putting this one on hold for a while because I have One Shots to do and they're going to take some time. I tried to leave it in a good place!

Please fan/vote/comment if you like it, it would mean a lot, thanks!