Dictator [One Direction AU]

16

Date: 08.03.2063

The market was full, bodies pressed against each other as people grabbed at food they wanted- it was an ideal place for a thief. Finding his way in the crowd, Niall began to pick fruit from venders and snatched up money that people had carelessly dropped on the floor. The loud noise that filled his ears acted as his cover, people were far too interested in their own lives to notice the clever boy who filled his pockets with goods without even being seen once.

As he approached the baker's, he noticed two ladies wearing posh frocks standing underneath umbrellas despite the absence of any rain; they took no notice of the poor boy and continued on with their conversation much to the eavesdropper's delight. Niall liked to know what was happening around him.

"This girl just ran away, right under Louis' nose. He has sent out a hunt for her, even put a price on her head. £10,000, dead or alive- he doesn't mind," the lady spoke with such detachment that Niall could barely restrain himself from shouting at the fool; he already knew that they were talking about Jane, the exhausted girl who he was protecting. The prospect of money did not tempt him; he too had to stay on the down low and couldn't rumble his chances of escaping his capturers by collecting a reward.

"He will find her soon then I bet, I know where she will have gone. Straight to the woods, the stupid girl will have gone there for shelter," Niall's heart stopped beating at the lady's words and panic raced around his body. They would find her.

***
Running as fast as his legs would take him, Niall made his way to the forest, listening intently for the sound of horses. Or even worse- gun shots. The ancient cottage came into view, looking unharmed and Niall pushed through the door to see that the place looked identical to when he left it.

"What's with the loud slamming?" A quiet voice whispered from the top of the stairs and Niall looked up with relief as he saw Jane, seemingly unhurt.

"They are hunting for you, I heard some posh cows talking about it in the market. We must leave at once," the ragged breaths of the boy rang round the room but Jane couldn't process them. Surely she would be safe from Louis in the cottage, away from prying eyes?

"Cannot I stay here?" She asked, walking down the creaking stairs with a dazed look plastered on her face. She was perplexed by new information- she had believed that Louis wouldn't bat an eyelid at her disappearance. He would just go and marry some other girl.

"There is a price on your precious head, people will look every corner of the world to find you. We must hurry, please Jane. We must leave with haste," Niall was on the edge of begging the girl, who suddenly understood the severity of the situation.

Grabbing her cloak that was soiled from her previous trek in the forest, she wrapped the material round her body to act as both a cover but also a shield from the ferocious winds that battered the house. Niall too placed a cloak on, covering his face with the hood and the pair stepped outside the threshold of safety. Turning back to stare at the house, Jane thought it was such a pity to leave the warmth of the house. But it was necessary.

Walking towards the main road, Niall gripped the hands of the young woman walking beside him. It was hard for him to see Jane as a woman, it was only her breasts that indicated any age. Her face was still so young, so innocent, so naive yet her eyes were liked troubled seas. Niall was still not sure the extent of the damage done to poor Jane, but he knew that she would tell him in due time.

"We must go to the next village over where we can seek refuge. They have a strong hatred for Louis, they will be on your side," Niall's words comforted Jane as she walked but there was still a churning in her stomach, the thought of Louis finding her again was enough to make her want to vomit. She told herself to stay strong, but that was hard given the circumstances.

"If any men come on horses, my name is Hans and you are Ana. We are travellers from Europe , and we are talking a long walk because our driver got lost and took us to the wrong place. We know little English, we know nothing of Louis except he is powerful," the plan of the Irishman was a far fetched one, Jane still looked very much like herself despite the absence of hair. She would have to remain covered if they were to ever escape.

***

The wind had grown in intensity and Jane hugged her body as she walked, trying to warm her frozen body; Niall did not seem bothered by the weather and pressed forward, not hearing the girl's whimpers. They were walking in the middle of a green field, the ground hard and unforgiving- if either fell over the impact could cause a fracture, if not a broken bone.

Crystal blue skies seemed like fairytales to Jane as she stared at the grey clouds that hung over them ominously, she always hated clouds. They hid away the sun, which was sometimes the only light in her life. The only thing that could lead her through the darkness.

"Who was this gardener you fell in love with?" Niall asked, trying to make conversation with the girl who remained mute for most of the time he had spent with her.

"His name was Harry. He was an angel and I just a lowly peasant, I should have known that he would someday have to return to heaven. I just wish it wasn't so soon," just the thought of Harry made Jane feel immensely sad, the pain had never stopped but she had been distracted. The impending threat of Louis was enough to make her feel something other than agony from the loss.

"My sweetheart's name is Jude. She is back home, waiting on my return. I find my way back to her someday, somehow..." Niall trailed off and looked into the distance, letting the gale hit him like a ton of bricks. Whistling a sweet tune, he thought back to his life in Dublin. He thought back to Jude.