Taken by One Direction

Chapter 21: Rejection

"We have to let her go." Louis whispered sorrowfully. Both he and Liam put their heads down and trained their eyes on the floor in deep contemplation. I felt my breath stop completely. Were they serious? Oh please God, make this happen.

Suddenly, Liam snapped his head up.

"N-no. Lou, we can't. We can't." He whispered. I remained completely still, completely silent. I didn't want to interfere in this conversation; it may make Louis change his mind. I just felt my heart flutter and my stomach tighten as I thought of the possibility of me leaving.

Even when Liam said no, I didn't feel like he was confident in his words. I crossed my fingers behind my back and prayed silently.

"Liam, we're ruining her. We've destroyed her. I can't do this anymore; she doesn't deserve this." Louis pleaded. Liam shook his head back and forth, as if trying to shake thoughts from his head.

"She'll go to the media, Louis. We'll be ruined." Liam whispered softly.

"We deserve it. She deserves to be able to ruin us just like we've ruined her." Louis said, his voice stronger and firmer now.

"I-I don't know how to respond to this, Louis. I want to, but you know that we can't. We just can't." Liam said, his voice matching Louis's level. There was no longer the unconfident uncertainty that I had picked up on before. Liam's word was final.

"Liam, we can't keep on-" I cut Louis off, deciding to speak up finally in a desperate plea.

"Please. I really want to go home. Please, I can't be around Harry anymore. I can't do this anymore." I reach up for Liam pathetically as I felt a few warm tears crawl down my cheeks. I saw Louis look at me warily in the corner of his eye while Liam stared down at me sympathetically.

"Katie, I-" Liam began to stroke my hair, but I quickly pulled away.

"Please Liam!" I gasped as I began to sob. He just looked at me sadly and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, babe." He said so quietly I barely heard.

"I hate you." I whispered back without thinking. Both boys turned to me.

"What?" Louis asked, his voice an octave higher as if I had really upset him.

"I. Hate. You. ALL OF YOU! I hate all of you." I shouted at them as I stormed to the corner of the room and curled into a ball. I saw Louis come towards me, but Liam stopped him, then the two of them left.

I was alone in that room for hours.

That night, Louis and Niall came back into the room to talk to me.

"Are you hungry, love?" Louis asked apprehensively. I glared at him as I just shook my head. He looked away from the hate my eyes portrayed.

"Well, we're going to bed now. Tonight is your night with Zayn..." Niall trailed off softly as he said the last part.

"Oh god." I groaned in fear as I thought of sharing a bed with my abuser.

"But," Niall rushed to finish his sentence, "but we're letting you pick who you sleep with tonight. We've figured that you've been through a lot with some of us and we want to put you through as little torment as possible." I rolled my eyes at this. It's a little too late to worry about tormenting me.

"Ok." I shrug as Louis reached out to help me up. I ignored his outstretched hand and pushed myself off the ground. Louis pulled his hand back to his body awkwardly and looked away.

"Are you ok with that?" Niall asked nervously. He was walking on eggshells around me. It was as if the boys were afraid that I would freak out again. Good. They should be scared.