PULSE [H.S]

120

"When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice." — William James

I find myself in a blindingly bright hallway.

A glaring whiteness engulfs my senses. My heart pounds in my chest, and every step I take feels heavy, like I'm wading through thick fog. I'm surrounded by a group of guards. They grip my arms tightly, their fingers digging into my flesh as they guide me forward, their very presence coercing me to move.

I struggle against their hold, my muscles straining with each weak attempt to break free. My mind races, searching for answers and a way out of this surreal nightmare. My voice catches in my throat as I try to plead for an explanation, but all that escapes are desperate, choked sobs.

The guards remain silent, their faces hidden behind cold, featureless masks that reveal nothing of their intentions. They are emotionless, like a girl screaming for her life doesn't affect them at all. It's as if I've been cast into a silent nightmare, where the only sound is the echo of my own panicked breaths.

My heart continues to race as I fight the urge to succumb to the overwhelming fear that threatens to consume me. The hallway seems to stretch endlessly, its bright, sterile walls closing in on me.

I don't know what's going on. None of it makes sense. All I know is that whatever is happening, it's not good. Something went wrong, and now I have no idea what is going to happen.

Then it hits me.

If I'm caught, so is everyone else.

Harry.

I need them to still be alive. I need Harry to still have his green eyes open. I need them all to still be breathing.

The first thing I see when they open a door and shove me through it is Harry.

Relief hits me when his head turns toward me. He's still alive.

The relief doesn't last long. It disappears entirely when I see his arms tied behind the chair he sits in. There's blood on his face, and he's looking at me in a way that shatters my soul.

He's looking at me like we are already dead.

Elias stands in front of him, his evil eyes on me. There's a sick smile on his face, and it makes my gut wrench. Then I see everyone. Clove, Zayn, and Louis. They stand by the wall to my left, their heads drooping downward.

I'm roughly shoved into the empty chair next to Harry. One of the men grabs my hands and puts handcuffs on them behind the back of the chair. They make them so tight that I wince.

Clove, Louis, and Zayn.

I look at them, feeling lost and confused. They stand there without any restraints, and there's no blood on them. They look perfectly fine, which is a relief.

But they can't meet my eyes.

"Miss Reeves." Elias's voice pulls my attention towards him. He says, "I can't say I'm surprised it ended like this. You're loyal, but you were loyal to the wrong people."

I say, "What is this?"

I look at Harry, and he looks defeated. His head is hung low, too. The three of them still haven't looked at me. What the fuck is going on?

"Zayn?" I say, my voice breaking.

I can see what is happening here, but I refuse to believe it. I refuse to even let myself think about it.

Zayn doesn't look at me, but Clove does. She says, "I'm sorry, Kiz."

My heart breaks. I shake my head in disbelief, weakly saying, "No."