Ripped Away (A Harry Styles Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

"What was that about?" Anne wondered aloud.

Everyone knew Louis had his moments, but this was too sudden, too unexpected. Something was up.

"I dunno..." Harry breathed, caught up in his thoughts. Was he okay? Clearly not, since he couldn't even bear staying in the room. What on earth was making him act this way?

Liam spoke up. "Well, perhaps he just needs to be alone."

By then, everyone was more or less finished breakfast and got up to put their plates in the dishwasher. Harry, however, didn't budge. He was certain there was something he was missing. How could he not know what his best friend was going through? How could Louis not tell him?

Zayn stopped behind Harry and rubbed his back. "You good, buddy?"

Harry paused for a minute before answering. He made up his mind. "I think I'll go for a walk too." As he got up from the table and turned to exit the house, Zayn tugged on his arm lightly. Harry turned.

"He'll be alright, Harry." Zayn said knowingly. He always knew the right things to say. Harry offered him a comforted smile before continuing on his way. Louis was going to be alright. He always is.

As Harry strutted down the street, he kept a sharp eye for Louis. He needed to find him. He could be lost.

The budding flowers were sprinkled delicately over the tree branches. Harry noted how much he loved this time of year. It was always so beautiful. So fresh. Like Crystal. She was born in unison with her twin, what everyone waited for in loving anticipation after the bitterness of the cold. Spring.

The grass was so green, too! Yard after yard, block after block, were beautiful flowing shades of green. One of the yards had tricycles on it, two to be exact. They were lying on their sides, with the wheels still spinning as if children had been riding them only seconds beforehand. There were no kids to be found. Perhaps they were called inside by their mother.

Harry usually encountered many neighbors while taking a stroll, yet all around, it was empty. He supposed people were just busy inside their homes. What a shame, too, since it was such a gorgeous day.

The sun was glaring, in a warming yet blinding way, and Harry had to squint a little in order to maintain vision. His eyes eventually caught sight of something up the road. Finally, he thought to himself, as he was growing worried with the lack of activity in the neighborhood.

It looked like a dog was sitting in the middle of the road. Or lying. Perhaps it was taking a nap. On the road? Harry couldn't let the poor thing get run over. As he approached it, he was able to distinguish color. It was black. No, it looked black and white. Black and white and...red?

Harry's eyes came into focus and his heart sunk to the pavement. That was no dog. And it certainly was no stranger.

"LOUIS!" Harry shouted as he sprinted into the road, towards the now-noticeably mangled and blood-soaked body of his best friend.

He crouched beside Louis, eyes wide in panic and fear. He wasn't sure if he was alive.

Harry placed a shaky hand to Louis' neck to check for a pulse. He waited, tears threatening to spill uncontrollably. Then, he felt it. A heartbeat.

Half-relieved, Harry then bent down and listened for breath. Slowly, but surely, air flowed into and out of his lungs.

Alive.

Louis was alive. 

However, he was also completely unconscious, and the wound on his head was letting out more blood than Harry could believe. He whipped out his cell phone, not thinking of who had done this or why, but that he needed to get Louis to a hospital, fast.