Disappearace 2

2

Harry didn't sleep at all that night. The police had interviewed all of them and searched the room. Not that they had anything useful to say. It was as if Louis had disappeared into thin air.

They had a meeting in the morning to discuss whether or not they should contact the media.
"Maybe we should wait? Or fans will be absolutely destroyed." Liam hesitated.

"No! Get his picture out now! If Louis is somewhere in Australia, chances are one of our fans will spot him!" Harry immediately argued fiercely.

"Harry is right. I'll ask the police to set up a tip line." Paul said.

An hour later every news station ran the story. Louis Tomlinson from One Direction missing. At least they chose a cute picture. The police got their hands full. Thousands of crying fans called the tip line but no one had actually seen him.

Harry was restless. He should be out there looking for him! He was trying not to picture the worst possible scenario. He knew that Louis had been depressed lately. Their workload had worn them all down and they were on the verge of breaking.

A second day came and went without a sign och life from Louis. If he had been kidnapped a ransom demand would have been made by now, unless the kidnapper hadn't taken him for other reasons than money. A stalker maybe? Someone who was convinced that Louis loved them?

Harry was still in shock. He didn't understand any of it. If Louis had been kidnapped they would have taken him from the room, right? He would have woken up. If Louis had wandered off by himself at least one of the security cameras would have caught him. Their hotel room was on the eighth floor. It wasn't like he had jumped off the balcony and disappeared. Had someone done something to the security tapes? He asked Paul about it but that wasn't the case. Police experts had gone through every second of them.

The lack of sleep and the constant worry finally caught up with him and he broke down completely. His bandmates hurried over and they made him lay on the bed. They all held him while he cried his heart out. He must have fallen asleep eventually because he woke up from the sound of Louis' mother.

He rushed up to hug her.
"Good morning, sweetie." Jay said and hugged him.

Harry pulled back to look at her. She had bags under her eyes and she could see how worried she was.
"I hoped he would have been found while I was on the plane."

"I'm sorry. The police are searching and his picture is in the media. They have set up a tip line." Harry answered.

"He didn't say anything to you?" Jay asked.

"No." Harry replied and his eyes filled. He wiped away his tears.

"Okay. I'm gonna go down to the police station and talk to them." Jay said.

Harry nodded his head and she caressed his hair briefly before she left. Harry broke down again. His bandmates immediately came over to comfort him.

They ordered breakfast in the room but Harry couldn't eat. He just picked his food.
"Harry, try to eat. You need it." Niall said softly.

Harry put a piece of bread in his mouth. He could feel it expand in his mouth as he tried to chew. He pushed his plate away.

Paul came to see them.
"We're trying to organize a search party with volunteers but it's a big city. A lot of ground to cover. The police are knocking on doors."

"That's great." Liam said.

"I wanna be out there and search too!" Harry pleaded.

Paul hesitated.
"I don't know if that's possible, Harry. I have to think about your safety."

"We can make our own search group. With security of course. Please, Paul. I can't just sit here!" Harry pleaded again.

"How about we rent some cars? You can split up and look." Paul suggested.

"Perfect." Harry said.

Thirty minutes later they got into different cars. A security guard drove. Harry sat up front staring out the window. They had decided beforehand which streets they would cover.

In the meantime, Paul and Jay organized a search party. Thousands of young girls showed up. Some with their parents, some without. They all headed outside the city and searched fields and woods.

When Harry arrived at the hotel again later that night he got the word that the search parties had come up empty. No one had found Louis. Even if he was relieved that he hadn't been lying dead in a ditch somewhere the question still remained. Where was he?

The police checked every airline, airport, train station, bus stop, and car rental. Louis hadn't traveled anywhere. His passport was still in his suitcase and his bank account was untouched.

The police proceeded to check every security camera available in the city. He was nowhere to be seen. It was like Louis had just gone up in smoke.

Harry broke down for real. When he had a panic attack they rushed him to the hospital. They kept him, pushing fluids since he was hydrated, and gave him anxiety medication.

Liam talked to their management. They canceled the rest of their Australian shows.

Harry wasn't doing well. Louis wouldn't just walk out and leave him. Something horrible must have happened! He replayed the night they went to bed over and over again in his head, trying to find any indication that Louis had an escape plan. He had curled up behind him, wrapped his arm around him, mumbled I love you and passed out. It was nothing out of the ordinary. How could he just be gone in the morning? Harry didn't understand it.