Ripped Away (A Harry Styles Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Jaws hung lose and eyes grew wide as realization set in that the person whom they believed to be dead was now standing before them.

Harry squeezed Crystal’s hand in encouragement, and she cleared her throat to speak. “I’m sorry. I know this doesn’t make much sense…”

“How…how…?” Anne breathed, noticeably faint as she clutched the wall for support. She felt like she was living some sort of crazy dream and the idea of it being real made her nauseous.

But before Crystal could begin to explain herself, Louis interjected with, “Yeah, how? Or better, why? Mind explaining why you would fake your own death like this? Were things really that bad that you had to lie to us?”

Harry took a step forward to defend her, but Crystal held him back in reassurance that she could handle it. “Louis, I know you’re hurt. Believe me, this wasn’t at all what I wanted-”

“Oh good, well, that makes it all better.” He snapped.

“Louis,” Harry warned. “Let her explain.”

Normally, he would’ve retaliated, but the seriousness in Harry’s voice silenced him. He had to admit, he was angry. He couldn’t believe Crystal would allow this to happen to someone as kind as Harry, who’d been his best friend for years. There was probably a good reason behind it that he just wasn’t aware of yet, since he knew Crystal loved Harry more than anything and would never hurt him willingly. But that didn’t really matter, because Harry was hurt, and it was because she lied. Regardless, he waited patiently for her to explain herself.

Crystal waited a few moments before giving the group a brief summary of what had happened. The stabbing, the hospital, the phone call, everything. “I wanted to run, I tried, but they were always watching me. I was, uh…never strong enough to fight them off.” She tucked her arms in close.

“What I’d like to know is who ‘they’ are.” Zayn piped up, ready to pick a fight. He was furious that this had even happened, after all he saw Harry go through, the nerve of these people! He couldn’t believe how messed up they were, forcing a man to watch his own fiancée die right in front of him and making him believe he was alone in the world. He couldn’t imagine seeing his own wife in that state. It made him sick and he wanted to knock someone’s lights out for it.

Shaking her head, Crystal answered, “I honestly couldn’t tell you. They were all strangers to me, but they only seemed to be following orders. All I know is that these people are dangerous, and they mean business. If they knew I was here…” she trailed off, unwilling to complete her thought process.

Niall remained quiet in the back, allowing the information to sink in. He’d missed Crystal so much that all he wanted to do was run up and hug her. He had shed many tears every night, praying for her and for Harry, and wondering why something like this had to happen. It seems his prayers were answered, because she was back from the dead, and that was beyond miraculous. He hoped, maybe, things could be alright again someday. Things could be normal.

But Niall wasn’t the only one holding his tongue. Paul was particularly quiet, almost seeming as if he were trying to sort through something in his mind.

“I just…I can’t believe you’re alive. You’re okay.” Anne gushed while going to pull Crystal into an embrace. “We’re so blessed to have you back. I can’t imagine this has been any easier for you than for us, poor dear.”

Liam noticed Louis was looking at the ground, worry and sadness overwhelming his face. “You okay, mate? What’s wrong?”

Louis looked up at him, tears starting to form. Then he looked around the room to everyone. “I haven’t heard from Eleanor. What if they went after her too?”

They all went silent instantly, concern rising. Then Liam rubbed his back reassuringly. “No, mate, she’s alright. We don’t even know why these people attacked Crystal, we can’t group them together.” Liam’s voice was calm and soothing, as it always seemed to be, but he couldn’t deny, he himself was worried. He had no idea what was going on, and the fact that Crystal had essentially been kidnapped made him uneasy as he knew they were probably out looking for her right now.

Louis made eye contact with Crystal. “You have no idea why they did this?”

“Well…I have a rough idea, but I can’t go making assumptions. I don’t even know who’s at the head of it all.”

Harry turned to face Crystal. “Well, what’s your theory?”

She took a deep breath, about to explain her thoughts, but she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Everyone’s heart stopped, and no one moved. Perhaps they hoped if they waited, the person knocking would give up and go away. But there was a second knock, followed by a persistent third.

Paul went to check through the peephole and panicked once he realized who was knocking. He rushed over to Harry and Crystal and began to usher them to the back window. “You two need to get out of here. Go through the window and climb down, and don’t let anyone see you.” He instructed with haste, which confused them, but they obeyed regardless.

The knocking continued and Paul told everyone to position themselves casually around the room as if nothing interesting was happening. He took a deep breath once everyone was settled and once the two had escaped from the window before calmly opening the door.

A man in a black suit stood there, his dark short hair spiked up with gel. He was probably in his thirties.

Before Paul could greet him, the man asked, “May I?” while gesturing into the room.

Slightly surprised, Paul stepped aside to let the man through. Anne was washing dishes, Louis was watching TV with Niall, Zayn was on his phone and Liam, on his laptop. Everyone put on their best ignorant faces as the man walked slowly through the penthouse, carefully inspecting every corner.

“What’s this about?” Paul asked him, trying to sound as if he didn’t know.

The man gave him a long look, probably inspecting him as well, before answering. “I’m looking for Harry. He is staying here with you, is he not?”

“Well, yes, but he’s out for a walk right now.” Paul lied.

Raising his eyebrows, the man replied, “At this hour?”

Paul gave a laugh. “Kids, eh?”

It was clear the man didn’t buy Paul’s story, but he continued on. “Well, it’s imperative that I speak with him. Give me a call once he returns from this walk of his. I’ll be close.” He handed Paul a business card, which only held a phone number, no names.

Paul gave him a small smile and took the card, and the man let himself out. The room then turned on Paul who now received many questioning looks. What did he know that they didn’t?

The man, now riding the elevator down back to the lobby, waited until he was fully outside the hotel to dial a number on his phone.

“He found her.” 

~~~

Hello hello!

I've missed you all! It's only been a week but still! HI!

So here is the third last chapter...crazy, right?? We've got two left and honestly I am so stoked to finish this up. It's been a whole year I've been writing this sucker! It's due time to get to the end :)

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! This was kinda the last one to get in some of the boys' perspectives, since things get pretty fast-paced after this! Harry and Crystal are running for their lives ahhhhh!!!

I'm hoping to publish the next chapter tomorrow so I will probably see you then!

Nighty night!

Crystal xx