Dire {h.s.}

32

Avah Manikova

The sky has grown dark, and the moon is out tonight. It's nice seeing it after all this time. The drive here was nothing long, but the silence within the car was only filled with everyone going over the plan through their head, over and over again. Well, at least I was. The whole time I was staring out the window, I was really going through every situation that can turn this whole plan around, and trying to figure out what I'd do in them. Ever since we left, all I've been doing is mentally preparing myself and imagining specific and mostly insane scenarios in my head because the only thing I can think about.

Niall pulls into the grungy parking lot a little bit behind the actual club's building. We can't get too close. He turns his headlights off as he puts the car in park, trying to disguise it. Turning in his seat, along with Liam in the passenger, rushed voices begin to fill the car.

"Does everyone remember the plan?" Liam asks, scanning all of our faces.

"We need to be in and out of there," adds Niall.

I tense in my seat, my panic begins to rise. We're really here, and the plan that's been talked about so many times before is finally going to happen tonight. I feel like I'm worried and mentally preparing myself over a show or something. But my 'performance' is important, and heavily depended on in order for them to successfully do this.

"Are you ready, Avah?" Liam asks from his seat, scanning his eyes over my face. I probably look so nervous right now, I know I do.

I nod, swallowing hard. "Yeah, I can do this."

"Are you sure? You look nervous..." Niall comments, taking in my body language.

Liam swats him in the shoulder, "Of course she's nervous. She isn't used to this world yet."

"What do you mean by world?" I ask,

He sighs, "You know, criminal activities."

"Right..."

Louis huffs, "C'mon, we need to get this started before it's too late."

Liam nods, "Right," he says. "Avah, do you think you can walk from here to the club?"

I look out the window, finding the street lamps light up a short path around the building and to the front. I nod, "Yeah, I think I'll manage." With that said, I push open the door and climb out, feeling Harry's presence disappear from next to me as my body meets the cold air. The wind chills up my bare legs, touching every part of exposed skin I have on display. I shut the door after myself, breathing in to prepare for this.

The passenger side window rolls down, Liam stares back at me with anticipation in his eyes. He's unsure of sending me, but it's what he wants. "Be careful, and remember, if something goes wrong, run."

"I know, I know."

"Okay, start walking. We'll see you after," he says, before I nod and turn on my heels, beginning to walk forward towards the front of the club as I hear the car pull away from me. I'm officially on my own. I can run, I can try to escape, but it's going to cost so much. I'll be killed, and Harry will be killed. I can't imagine causing someone's death when there's a clear way to prevent it.

I walk around until I'm in the parking lot amongst other cars and people walking towards the club. I can hear the music thump through the entire club, making me grow more nervous. This is really happening. I take another deep breath, hoping it would comfort me in some sort of way as I make my way towards the entrance where a bouncer stands guard, holding a list in his hand along with a pen. He's built huge, and his height is taller than I expected a bouncer to be. His eyes strike with intimidation as he meets my own as I approach him past the line.