Twisted Friendship

Chapter 14

Life works in horrible, unsuspecting, twisted ways. And it seems to be especially towards those who need it to be okay the most.

Marks hand didn't waver from my throat, holding on tight and squeezing roughly. My lungs were on fire, my skin was on fire, I was on fire. I tried to raise my arms to push him off, but they were unable to move. So instead I lay there, making weak attempts to get air while he smiled down at me.

Darkness crept at the edges of my eyes. This was it, how I would die. Suffocated just a couple yards from the boys, right in front of Louis's house. A red haze filled my mind, and I could feel myself relax.

Suddenly life came spinning back into place, and I seemed to reland into reality hard. Curled over on the sidewalk gasping and coughing and choking while trying to breathe at the same time. The hand had disappeared, and had instead picked up my phone that was laying beside me.

"Hello? Katie are you there? What's going on?" Nialls confused voice came softly from the other end as Mark lifted it up and pressed it against his ear.

"Sorry Niall." he shrilled in an exaggerated version of my voice, "But I'm kind of busy at the moment. Talk to you never okay?"

"Never? Wait, what the heck is going-" Niall was cut off as Mark swiftly hung up and jammed my phone into the pocket of his jeans.

I was too busy relishing in breathe, every sweet gulp of air to do much but lay there. But I wanted to scream, to do anything. To run or hide or simply fight back.

"Louis." I whispered, not finding enough energy to speak much louder "I need your help."

That's when I noticed two other guys standing behind Mark. They looked just like him, all tattooed and greasy. Their faces were set in stone, with a permanent scowl. My sluggish mind wondered briefly if they ever had smiled before.

Mark nodded at them, "Pick her up. We gotta get out of here before her little gang of friends comes looking for their precious princess."

Rough hands came down and gripped my arms, yanking me to my feet. I dug my heels into the ground, leaning back as far as possible from them. But my body felt like it was moving through quick sand as they tugged me behind them.

Away from the house. Away from the boys. Away away away away and just how much farther away would I have to leave this earth until problems disappeared.

My mind seemed to snap into place as the two burly guys dragged me down an alley near Louis's house. This all seemed familiar. The cracked brick walls and garbage everywhere, the air smelling like sour fruits and rusty water pipes.

They stopped suddenly, releasing me. In that moment I saw my escape, darting away quickly. I had taken only two steps when I was tackled, crushed against the ground.

"Nice try." Mark growled from above me, his voice to close to my ear. I was dragged to my feet again.

"I'll scream." I warned, sucking in breathe. A hand was clamped against my mouth.

Mark smirked, "Oh your a screamer eh? I like that."

I shivered, suddenly feeling like I was going to throw up. Fear clutched at my ankle, trying to drag me under. But I held my head high. Don't let it get to you. Being afraid will do nothing to help.

"You're a brave girl." Harry had told me a long time ago, "Things are only as frightening as you make them to be."

Easy for him to say. He wasn't here, he wasn't pressed against an alley wall surrounded by creeps who only want to hurt you. Harry was sitting at Louis's house watching spongebob, maybe thinking faintly in the back of his my mind that I had left to get the newspaper for to long.

"Now we wait." Mark sighed, sitting down on the ground.

My knee came up and hit the guy holding me in the balls, watching him crumple to the ground. Marks other friend simply twisted my arm painfully.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow OW!" I screeched, biting the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood.

Mark shook his head, "Katie don't wear yourself out. The fun part is yet to come. Your friends are on their way."

"What makes you say that?" I spat, as the pain in my arm died down.

"Oh they would do anything to find you." Mark whispered, smiling like he knew everything.

And he was right. Because the sound of echoing footsteps came down the alley, and suddenly they were there. Louis was there and Harry and Liam and Zayn and they had actually found me.

Relief washed over me, blurring my vision slightly as they came into view.

"LOUIS!" I screamed as he came bursting down the alley.

And they were ready. Louis looked angry, something deep inside of him was burning with fury fueled by pure and empty rage. Breathing heavily, fist clenched. They were puffing like dragons, ready to attack and slice anyone in their way to pieces.

But when they saw me standing there, something fell apart. I could see it. Part of them broke off into dust and replaced that anger with desperation.

"Katie!" Louis whispered, but his words carried all the way over.

Marks grip tightened in my upper arm, "Well look, now we have a party." My arm was twisted again, "Just don't come any closer." They were yards away, but suddenly stopped abruptly in their tracks. Converse scraping against the pavement.

I squeezed my mouth shut so I wouldn't cry out, but the pressure increased and soon I was whimpering in agony.

Louis was breaking. He wanted to run towards me but with every step closer they took sent me spiraling into more pain. It was like his heart finally shattered, the pressure or everything finally too much on such a delicate boy. You can only act strong for so long before it become to much, and your broken. Cracked and bent and torn.

"How can we settle this?" Harry pleaded, tugging at his curls anxiously. He was staring at me, green eyes piercing mine. Pleading for forgiveness.

"JUST LET HER GO!" Zayn screamed, fist flying out and punching the wall. His voice was brimming with a fiery red rage that burned the air. "BECAUSE IF YOU HURT HER I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

"Like this?" Mark taunted, tugging at a lock of my hair. "Because I need my money. Now."

I looked at the four distressed boys in front of me. Breaking apart, I could see it before my eyes. It was too much, they were kids in an adult world.

"Guys. What's going on?" I whispered, "I'm scared."

"Don't be scared babe." Louis murmured, reaching a hand out towards me, "But we don't have the money."

Mark grinned eerily, sending a wave of nausea through me "Well then this is gonna get interesting isn't it?"