Blackout • NH

Chapter 19

(Authors Note) First off, sorry that it is taking so long for me to update. I've been busy with work and university planning and my life is a mess at the moment because making so many decisions is so hard lol. I will try to update more often. Also, please don't hate me if this chapter is shitty, I was able to write just a bit today. So the chapter is very short. I make up the story as I go along and I'm having a bit of a brain block at the moment. But hopefully the story will turn out as planned. Anyways, enough of me talking. Here's the next chapter!

Day 72, Saturday, July 21st: 4:14pm

I didn't really talk to anyone the past few days. I was just thinking hard about this Elliot situation. I couldn't tell Niall, Liam, or Ellen, I don't want to scare them. So I kept it to myself.

I was sitting upstairs in me and Niall's room, just staring out of the window. Suddenly I hear static and a voice.

"Jodie?"

I pick up my walkie talkie and hold down the button to respond.

"Who's this?"

"It's Marc. Where are you?"

"We are in Colorado."

"Can I speak to Elliot? It's an emergency."

My heart rate increases at his name.

"Elliot isn't here."

"What do you mean he isn't there?" His voice sounding concerned.

"Elliot has been missing for like two weeks now. We haven't seen him since."

"W-what do you mean?" His voice sounding kind of nervous.

"He disappeared and never came back. Why do you sound so nervous? You could have told me that he was a convicted criminal Marc." I say a little pissed.

"How do you know that! Who told you?" He shouts through the speaker.

"I found a wanted poster with his face and charges beneath it." I lied casually.

I hear him mutter the word fuck and speaks again.

"Hey I gotta go, something came up. I'll talk to you in a few weeks Jodie."

"Marc what's going on?" I say, a little scared now.

"Jodie, I need you to stay with the group at all times. Please?" He said urgently.

"But why?" I asked concerned.

"I have to go, just stay in the group's site. Bye." He said quickly.

"Okay, bye Marc." I say a little hesitant.

Something is off with Marc. Why is he now so urgent with me? Why is he not tell me to tell Ellen or Liam or Niall to stay with the group? Just me?

I sat for a few seconds, worried about what may take place when I hear a knock on the door and look to see Niall standing there with sadness in his eyes. I decide to leave the issue for now and I walk up to him to see if he's okay.

"Niall what's wrong ?" I ask as I rub his back. He doesn't say anything but hugs me and kisses me on the forehead.

"I just miss you. You've been acting strange. And I also wanted to know if you would come out of the room and come make s'mores with us. We found marshmallows and chocolate in a locked cabinet in the basement." He said in a quiet tone.

"You miss me?" I look up at him to see his eyes don't hold the crystal blue I'm used to seeing, they're dull and filled with sadness.

"Oh Niall." I say, and pull him back in for a hug. I've been too busy worrying about my life and what may happen to it. Niall knew something was up with me. Everyone else thought I had a stomach bug.

"Jodie is everything alright? I'm worried about you and you haven't came down to eat the past couple of days. You haven't even touched the food I brought to you." He said, quite morosely. Still in the hug, I lay my head on his chest as he pulls me closer to him.

"I've been thinking about some past issues I'm trying to get over. It's nothing big. I just needed time to reflect on my life before this all started." I lie. He can't know, he can't worry about me too much. It will only set the group back with them trying to take extra measures to protect me.

"Okay. Jodie, you know you can talk to me about anything. I haven't been able to hug or kiss you. I'm willing to help take care of you with your mental and emotional health. I'll always be willing to take care of you." He said with a glint of hope in his voice.

"I'll be okay Niall. I'm okay now that you're here." I say telling the honest truth. I pull my head off of his chest and lean forward to kiss him. He responds quickly. It's a slow kiss but from his side, it was a bit more urgent. He really did miss me. He pulls back with a smile on his face and his eyes holding more color now.

"Please come down for some s'mores babe?" He pleads.

"Babe?" I say with a cheesy smile.

"Uh, look the s'mores are this way." He says ignoring my comment and pulls me out of the room.

Niall distracts me from a lot of stuff to be honest. But the Elliot issue and Marc's worried voice still fly around in my head like a swarm of bees. I don't want to put the group in any danger. So I decide not to tell anyone.