Hostage

20. "They killed her"

"Hey"

His voice spoke from above the stairs. I couldn't make out his frame because the lights were off, casting the room in pitch black.

"Hello" I spoke back hesitantly. I wasn't sure if it was the nerves or anticipation of seeing him, but something had me sitting up on my new and improved tempur-pedic bed. The covers well to around my waist when I sat up, and I listened as his sock clad feet padded down the stairs.

I smelt him before I saw him.

My nose cringed in disgust as the smell of smoke and burning wood filled my senses. "Harry where have you been?" I asked in distaste as he approached me. My hand blocked my nose, but that didn't stop him from sitting at the edge of my bed, legs dangling off.

His back faced me when he spoke. "Would you like to watch a movie with me?"

My eyebrows joined in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"C'mon" He said hoarsely. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness by now, and I could clearly make out his extended hand. "Let's go to my room, yeah?"

"Harry what's happened? Why do you smell like smoke?"

He ignored my questions and reached his hand in front of me again, trying to get me to take it "Let's go"

~*~

I sat comfortably on the bed as Harry took a shower, going through TV channels and settling on Lilo & Stitch.

Harry was being strange. Nice.....but strange. It was strange because Harry wasn't a nice person. Yet here he was, going out of his way to be nice to me. What had happened? What changed? Would he be like this to me permanently or is this just temporary?

I was at the part when Lilo was adopting Stitch from the animal shelter when Harry walked out of the shower in only a pair of black boxers. He glanced at me spread across his bed briefly before walking over to his dresser to pull a white T-shirt over his head.

"Scoot over" He smirked, dropping onto the bed beside me. I moved myself to the edge of the bed, as far away from contact with Harry as possible as he flopped on his back, his arms stretched out behind him.

"What the fuck are we watching?" Harry grumbled, staring hard at the TV screen. Stitch was just leaving the animal shelter with Lilo and Nani.

"Lilo and Stitch" I said, looking at him incredulously. "This is my favorite movie of all time" I stated happily. I could feel him staring at me from the corner of his eye but I chose to ignore him until I was sure he wasn't looking at me anymore.

I turned on my side, my back facing Harry as I attempted to get in a comfortable position and still be able to see the screen. I sighed and flipped the other way, facing Harry and leaning against my palms. Still, I couldn't get comfortable.

I flipped on my back, glancing at Harry to see if I was irritating him with my constant moving. However, when I looked at him I was surprised to see him heavily engrossed on the movie. We were at the part when Stitch was reading 'The Ugly Duckling' by himself.

I scooted a little closer to Harry, close enough to hear his soft intakes of breath. I tested the waters, scooting even closer to where I could feel his leg hairs tickling my legs. Close enough to feel his warmth radiate against my skin.

Harry hadn't spared me a glance and I don't think he even noticed how close to him I'd gravitated. My heart was beating harshly against my rib cage, begging to break free from its confines. I didn't know what I was doing. Why hadn't I tried to escape when Harry was in the shower? Why was I watching a movie with him...in his bed...willingly?

Why wasn't I fighting back? Why did I physically want to be closer to him?

That was easy though. It was because I felt safer with him. In his arms. Near him.

I turned off my thoughts and laid my head on his chest, feeling his heart beat just a little faster at the contact. I brought my shaky hand up and swung it across his chest, resting it on his rib cage. His skin was warm underneath my palm and I could feel his eyes burning into the top of my head.

My body was paralyzed, too afraid that if I moved Harry would snap. I don't know what was going through my mind when I cuddled him. This man had kidnapped me, held me hostage, beat me, tortured me, killed people. And here I was, cuddling him.

Because I liked Harry. He took me out for my birthday and he told me he wouldn't hurt me anymore. He was doing this to protect his sister, and I understood that. I'd do the same for Spencer.

My breath hitched when Harry placed one hand around my back, running his knuckles up and down my spine gently. His other hand came up to run through my tangled hair, easing the knots out.

I relaxed in his arms, tightening my grip on him as he continued his gentle touches.

Why was he treating me like this? What had made him act like this?

"Harry" I whispered cautiously. When I received no response I pushed myself up from his body so I was hovering over him. Bright green eyes peered up at me curiously.

No traces of the Harry that had slapped me were here. All I saw were warm eyes, and pink lips. Pretty, pink, kissable lips.

I leaned down and closed my lips around his bottom one, swallowing his sigh and letting him pull me into a straddle on his lap, his lips never leaving mine.

"Harry" I breathed against his lips when he shifted under me until he was resting against the headboard. His lips molded with mine carefully, his tongue sweeping my bottom lip before invading my mouth.

"Harry" I said again, this time pulling away. I ran my hand down his cheek until I was cupping his jaw, feeling the defined cut beneath my fingers. "What happened today? Why did you smell like smoke?"

Harry's gaze instantly hardened, and I could feel the clench of his jaw under my palm. He sighed and ran his hands down his face, muttering incoherently under his breath.

"Your mum-" He hesitated, and suddenly the look in his eyes was gone. Replaced with...sympathy. Emotion. "She..Fuck" He muttered, mouth twisting into a frown. "Fuck I'm so sorry Raleigh" I stared at Harry in confusion, wondering why he was getting so worked up.

"Harry what are you on about? What's wrong? What happened to my mum?"

"They got to her Raleigh. Th-they killed her"