Oblivion {n.h.}

Chapter 18.

The sun rose early that morning, pouring into Emily, Carly, and I's bedroom and glowing up the sheets.

The same orange and yellow tint that I'd seen in Niall's eyes just the night before no glows up the room. I don't get up and out of bed, only staring at the room around me.

The old desk dresser in the corner by Carly's bed dusty, paint peeling like tree bark off of every side. The mirror nearly unable to look through anymore, only a grey haze with dust and dirt. Few painting stick on the walls, portraits of young men and women, a couple flowers here and there. My bed sheets feel new, but not my own, the silky thin blanket doing nothing to keep me warm.

I didn't see Niall again after the sun set last night, Steven and I babbled on and on about our feelings to each other before I went inside.

The only few people I encountered were Liam and Andrea on the couch, before finding Emily and Carly in bed already.

Josh and Greg arranged a meeting to take place in the living room when everyone wakes up, Joshua insisting we go out and look for Jesy. I could care less whatever Greg has to say about it, we were going to go look for the poor girl either way.

"Rise and shine babes." I hear Carly tell Emily and I, me not realizing I had shut my eyes to rest again."Should be a big day." I say after yawning, hearing Emily groan on the other side of the room from her bed.

Carly peels over the yellow and brown curtains of our window, letting in even more sun kissed light than before, the sun cascading over my legs, nearly so bright I need to shut my eyes again.

I swing my legs off the mattress to the left and begin to lace up my combat boots; I'd never leave the bed without them.

I follow Carly out the door, Emily still lazily trying to get out of bed. When we reach the living room everyone but Emily, Perrie, and Zayn are waiting for the rest of the group to wake up. Greg may still be sleeping, if not, he's no where to be seen.

"Can't we just start without them?" Steven asks, fumbling his hands from where he sits on the couch.

I scan my eyes over the group in the living room, searching everyone's faces and what they're wearing; maybe how they're feeling this morning. My eyes find Niall's where he sits on the arm of the couch, and he stares back into mine, a smiling slowly creeping onto his face, as does mine. My cheeks burn once again and I look down in order to make them cool.

I lean against the wall by the television, and nod my head, liking Steven's input. As if they had heard Steven's request, all three of our acquaintances walk into the room.

The feeling of morning takes over me, my hair matted and natural, as I let it air dry outside last night, breakfast cooking over the side of the counter where Gemma stirs some eggs and bacon quietly.

Josh  takes no time to start speaking about the plans. Although there isn't much to figure out, we need to get Jesy back as soon as possible.

"We'll be leaving at noon, we need to find out who's going and who's staying." He checks his watch to see what time it still reads. "It's ten-thirty right now, and we'll still have to load up. Is there anyone who absolutely wants to go?" He asks, as a spark ignites inside me.

If Jackson goes, so will I.

Hands raise far in the air, all from Steven, Perrie, Niall, Louis, Jackson, and Josh himself. When I see jackson's hand fly into the air, a trigger inside me goes off and my hand automatically raises as his does.

"Danielle?" Josh asks, probably double-checking if I really wanted to do this or not. I simply nod back at him and feel confident with my decision.

"Okay if everyone is dressed then we can go out and start loading up what we need–" Josh orders the group before being interrupted by the familiar beep of the recording from the gate.

"Niall, you're gonna want to come see this." He says, worriedly.

Niall sprints out the door quickly, today's mission group following behind. Greg stands behind the gate, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

With the click of a button, Niall opens the gate and allows to let Greg in. He warily looks around his surroundings between the woods and down the road, before he steps inside and closes the large gate behind him.

He hands the note to Niall, giving everyone a look that was hard to make-out what exactly he was trying to tell us.

His eyes meet mine and clear worry fills them. I make my way to Niall and put a hand on his shoulder as people wander to gather around him and read the note also.

"Hey Greg, I'm making a proposal. By sundown tomorrow, I'm going to make an exchange to you. Jesy is fine, but I want those two girls, Charlotte, and Danielle. If they aren't back at the armory by sundown tomorrow, Jesy will be killed and I'll come get the girls myself; plus a few others as I wish! You know the right option here, Gregory. Yours Truly! -Jacob"

I feel as if a knife had stabbed into my chest several times, how does this guy know my name? How does this guy know anyone's name? Why does he want me? Why does he want anyone?

I stare blankly at the page, then up to Niall, Steven, Jackson, and Josh. All of them having similar expressions to mine. I suddenly feel the urge to cry or run away.

"He's bluffing." I say between gritted teeth. Tears brim my eyes and I crumple the note, handing it back to Greg.

"Danielle we can't risk it, I don't want-" Jackson speaks out but I cut him off before he can finish.

"NO JACKSON. NO. I'm coming!" I scream at him, and a few of the boys step back in self-defense. "We are going to get Jesy back, and we're going to get rid of Jacob, okay?" I pause for a second, emphasizing my outburst, "Even if I have to kill him myself." I tell him, tears still threatening to spill out of my eyes.

"Let's go, it's almost time."