Code Black (N.S)

15.

Harry's POV

I thought that my heart had stopped beating once I had heard the voice from outside the closet door. I felt Niall's tight grip on me and I found myself grip him back just as tightly. I had no chance to even attempt to calm Niall or even myself down before the door slammed open and filled the closet with light.

I hadn't been out in the open for ages, so the lights in the classroom seemed to feel much more fluorescent than I remembered them to be. It honestly hurt, my eyes burned as they were violently exposed to light.

There was a large group of men towering over us, threatening smirks on their faces. Before I could even protest, one of the men roughly grabbed Niall from my grasp and pulled him out of my sight. As I was about to attempt to get up, I was also grabbed and dragged out into the open room. 

They had moved the furniture around. Most of it, save for a couple of chairs, had been pushed aside, leaving a large space in the centre of the room. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I was forced into one of the chairs. 

Suddenly, there were ropes being tied tightly around me, too tight that I knew there was no way to break free. I still tried though, I had to at least try. 

"So blondie, are you gay?" 

I was cut off from my horrifying thoughts when I heard the man speak. I looked up to see a tall figure standing in front of Niall. The blond was avoiding the man's eyes, instead he was focused on the floor, looking at the shattered pieces of glass that littered the carpet.

The man didn't seem happy by the fact that Niall refused to look at him, judging by the glare he gave the small blond, but that didn't stop him from talking.

"And you better answer the truth or I'll kill you. And him," he snapped angrily, motioning towards me with his head.

Niall whimpered slightly, biting his lip to stop any louder noises from escaping, before gently nodding his head. 

Regardless of Niall's silence, the man seemed satisfied with Niall's response, as a sickening grin made it's way onto his face.

"Is he your boyfriend?" he continued to question, motioning to me with his head again.

Niall swallowed and looked over to me. Through my overwhelming fear, I attempted to wordlessly reassure him. Our eyes made contact for a few seconds before he quickly looked away.

"N-no. He's not," he stuttered, his voice sounding so broken. It was incredibly hoarse but everyone in the room could understand him. 

Niall looked terrified. His face was so pale that it almost blended in with the white walls behind him. I couldn't imagine that I looked any better. 

I watched in horror as the man's hand moved to Niall's knee, too shocked to make a sound. The other men all stood in the corner of the room, watching what was happening but none of them moving or saying anything in protest, which was almost as horrible as the action itself.

I looked away from what was happening, not wanting to watch it unfold before my eyes. I had no idea why I felt so guilty that I couldn't help Niall. I didn't know why I suddenly cared. Why I all of a sudden felt the need to protect him. After the way I had treated him in the past, I shouldn't be feeling like this but I did. Knowing that Niall was suffering made me feel so much worse. 

I could hear Niall's whimpers and I cringed. It hurt to think about what he was doing to Niall and I dared myself to look up. I was horrified to see what was happening right in front of me. 

Niall was violently sobbing as he thrashed around in the ropes, though the man didn't seem to care what Niall was doing. He paid no notice to the pain he was causing.