The Power Within [Narry]

--Chapter 19--

Just a heads up, the dream part will be in Niall's POV :)

Niall groans and prays for the umpteeth time for some merciful deity to take him away from this cruel world. He may be overreacting but he'll be damned if he ever admits that.

"Let's just try another example, Niall. I swear I'll get it this time."

"That's what you've been saying for the past twenty minutes! I'm basically doing your homework for you, prick."

"No need to be cranky about it, mate."

Niall shakes his head at Louis and looks around the library, spotting no one near as annoyed as him right now.

Just then, his phone vibrates on the table and the screen comes alive with a text from Damien. Before he even gets a chance to read the message, Louis swipes away his phone and surveys the screen. His face twists into a sour expression but he tries to force it down and act normal, whatever that means. He has to tell Harry about this.

"Louis!" Niall agitatedly makes a grab for his phone but to no avail.

Louis clears his throat and innocently says, "Why don't I read this out loud to save you the trouble."

"What—"

"Damien asks, 'Want to meet up for a bite before starting our project?'. Then he added a winky face at the end. Bold move."

Niall can't see his own face but he's positive that his eyebrows are at his hairline. Is Damien trying to flirt?

Louis tosses Niall's phone back to him and opens up a new message to Harry on his own handheld.

I told you so, asshole. Louis internally huffs as he hits send. He explicitly warned Harry that if he didn't get a move on, another guy with actual balls will take his crack at Niall. Since Harry didn't take his advice, it serves him right to have this happen.

His phone buzzes without a second to spare. What the hell are you talking about

Louis almost smirks at the image of Harry's reaction to what he's about to say. Damien invited Niall out to eat before their study sesh and you of all people should know what that entails. He smirks at his sent text and switches his phone off. He can bask in Harry's anger later.

A part of Louis is saying that he's being a horrible friend but that voice isn't loud enough to be relevant, so he can't help but cackle at Harry's misfortune.

Niall raises an eyebrow at the sudden laugh but considering what the other lads have warned about the flamboyant boy, he knows better than to ask. He focuses back on the message on his screen before slowly hovering his fingers over the display. His thumbs hesitantly press on each key as if he'll change his mind at any second and erase the forming words.

I'm cool with grabbing a bite. Any ideas?

There shouldn't be any harm in that. He doesn't even know why he's feeling so nervous about this; he's talking to a former roommate for heaven's sake. So what makes this any different from the rest of Damien's casual and friendly intentions?

Niall's phone buzzes in his hands. Whatever you want. My treat.

Niall guffaws. Damien's going to regret that really fast. He's in the midst of replying back when Louis taps him on the shoulder and quizzically looks at him. "Did you agree to go out with Damien?" Louis asks innocently.

Niall stares wide-eyed at his companion. "Where did you get that idea from? We're only getting something to eat."

"Of course, what was I thinking?" Louis pauses, knowing that he'll get an earful after what he's about to say but YOLO, right? "Besides, I know someone who'd be very upset if that were true." Louis can already hear Harry's angry babbling once he gets wind of what he had said.

Niall internally curses Louis but doesn't go any further into the current topic. "Aren't I tutoring you? Let's go back to that and away from whatever fantasy your twisted mind is creating."

"You call it twisted but I call it a piece of work only comparable to Susan Boyle's heavenly voice."

________________

It's only half past four in the afternoon when Niall returns to an empty dorm. Liam's currently in class and with nothing better to do, Niall curls into bed for a nap. He sets an alarm on his phone for 7: 30 pm since he's supposed to meet up with Damien at 8 and lets sleep overtake him.

***

Drip. . .drip. . . drip. I cringe at the incessant splatter of water against cement. All I can see, or can't see for that matter, is darkness. Just cold, silent darkness.

"It's nice to see you again, Niall." A wicked voice greets, followed by a gleeful chuckle at some sort of joke. Then silence, as if he's waiting for a response. But obviously, he's not going to get one.

"Not in the mood to talk, eh? Understandable. I'll just have to talk enough for the both of us." At this point, I would like nothing more than to sock this cocky bastard in the face.

"So what has been troubling our favorite Irish boy?" I'm about to sneer out "you" when I suddenly feel something barely brush against my shoulder blades. I can't help the shiver that seizes through me and I just know that the bastard got off on that.

"Would it be the mysteries hiding underneath your skin?" He taunts, running light patterns on my back in the creepiest way imaginable. The traces leave behind an icy path and I bite my lip hard to hold back another shiver.

"You want to know, don't you? The meaning behind the triskelion." Of course he'd know about that—it totally completes the whole creeper image.

"I'd be delighted to share some knowledge with you but I'm afraid that this is a learning process. The journey would be more interesting that way and everything will feel far more satisfying once you dedicate blood," pain stabs me at the back of my neck, "sweat," another stab on my left shoulder blade, "and tears," he finishes off with a third pierce to my right shoulder blade. The pain grows deeper as if this sick bastard's digging knives further into my back and I choke on a pained cry.

"I can feel it, you know. Your power. It's utterly delicious and untamed," the bastard mutters, leaning in close to my neck. "But it's not time yet, I mustn't get ahead of myself. Until next time, Niall."

***

Gasping awake, Niall wraps his arms around himself, feeling violated and vulnerable from his nightmare. Across the room, Liam stares at him in confusion, calculus homework momentarily forgotten. "The fuck was that?" Niall whispers to himself, throwing back his comforter only to have the chilly air meet his sweat-clad body.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Liam asks, being no stranger to nightmares. He's had plenty of scenarios playing through his subconscious at night of rejection, disgust, ostracism, and loss of control. He knows how it feels to jolt awake in absolute terror and wonder if his dark fears will play out in the real world. He's certain that Niall's experiencing a similar situation and he sure as hell will try his best to make matters better.

"I—I, I don't know. It's just so weird and creepy. My imagination's probably on overload." Niall nervously rubs his thigh whilst thinking about the two dreams he's had with the same bastard hidden in the dark taunting him.

"That could be true but I can see that you're shaken by it. If you want to let it out, go for it buddy." Liam turns his chair around to let Niall know that he's here for support while also giving him some space. That said, Niall tells Liam about his nightmares: the endless darkness, the whispers, the creepy bastard, and the pain. Once done, Niall looks away and mutters, "So go ahead and tell me that I'm losing my mind. I'm already half-way there with all this superpower thing going on."

Liam walks over to sit beside Niall and gives him a massive hug. "You're not crazy," Liam soothes as he pulls away to lock eyes with Niall. "Whatever these dreams are, they might mean something. I've no idea what's going on but I do know that I won't let anything happen to you. I haven't been there for you these past three months but that's going to change, I promise you."

Niall nods and, this time, is the one who initiates the bear hug. "Thanks LiLi."

Liam laughs and ruffles the blonde's hair. "Of course, Niall. Oh, and before I forget. You might want to check your phone, it had been lighting up like a Christmas tree while you were sleeping."