Stranded/ Larry Stylinson

Chapter 16

Harry's POV
The first thing I registered was the throbbing pain at the back of my head. I groaned, trying to move but every muscle in my body felt heavy, unresponsive. Panic surged through me as I tried to recall what had happened. I remembered leaving the studio, walking home and then—nothing. My vision slowly cleared, revealing a dimly lit room with cracked, peeling wallpaper and a musty smell that made me want to gag.

My wrists were bound tightly behind my back, the rope biting into my skin. I tugged at the restraints, wincing as the fibers scraped against my already raw flesh. I tried to call out but found that my throat was parched, my voice a mere croak.

"Hello?" I finally managed to whisper, my voice trembling. "Is anyone there?"

There was no response, only the distant creak of the old house settling. Fear gnawed at me. I had no idea where I was or who had taken me. All I knew was that I was alone and helpless.

The room was small and sparsely furnished—just a rickety chair and a broken table in the corner. The single window was boarded up, allowing only slivers of light to filter through. I had no sense of time, no way to tell if it was day or night.

I lay there for what felt like hours, my mind racing with thoughts of Louis and the rest of the boys. They must have noticed I was missing by now. Louis would be frantic and the thought of him worrying about me gave me a strange sense of comfort. He would move heaven and earth to find me, I was sure of it.

The door creaked open and a shadowy figure stepped inside. My heart pounded in my chest as I strained to see who it was. The figure approached slowly, their face obscured by the dim light.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice stronger than before. "What do you want?"

The figure crouched down beside me, and I finally saw his face. It was a man I didn't recognize, with cold, calculating eyes and a cruel smirk.

"Don't bother struggling," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You're not going anywhere."

"What do you want with me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "I'm just the middleman. Simon wants to teach you and Louis a lesson. You broke his rules and now you have to pay."

Anger flared up inside me. Simon. Of course it was him. The man who had controlled our lives for so long, who had forced Louis to break up with me, was now behind my kidnapping.

"He can't do this," I spat. "He can't control us anymore."

The man laughed, a harsh, grating sound that sent chills down my spine. "He doesn't need to control you, Harry. He just needs to make an example out of you."

With that, he stood up and left the room, leaving me alone in the darkness once more. Desperation clawed at me as I struggled against the ropes, but it was no use. I was trapped.

Time passed slowly, the minutes stretching into hours. The pain in my head and wrists was relentless and hunger gnawed at my stomach. I tried to stay calm, to think of a way out, but every plan I came up with seemed futile.

Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into a fitful sleep, plagued by nightmares of what Simon might do next.
————

When I awoke, the room was still dark, but I heard footsteps approaching. The door creaked open and the same man entered, this time carrying a tray with a small piece of bread and a cup of water.

He set the tray down beside me and untied my hands, but kept a firm grip on my arm. "Eat," he commanded. "You need your strength."

I eyed him warily but knew I had no choice. I took the bread and water, eating and drinking slowly, trying to gather my strength. As I ate, I studied the room, looking for any possible escape routes. There was nothing—no loose floorboards, no hidden doors. Just the boarded-up window and the locked door.