Code Black (N.S)

46.

Niall's POV

I had been locked down here for several, painful hours. Of course, I was just assuming because there was no real way for me to know for sure.

Ryan hadn't come in here since that first time but I could hear him moving around above me, as well as the sounds of arguing with another person. I recognised the voice from somewhere but I couldn't figure it out in the state that I was in.

I was terrified. I knew that he could come down here any second and I would be completely powerless, as I was still tied to the chair. The wound in my head had stopped bleeding but it still hurt like a bitch and I couldn't move my head without it throbbing in pain.

This was the worst I had ever felt. It was worse than the first time, worse than any flashback or nightmare I had ever had. 

I struggled to breathe, my tied hands balling into fists as shaky breaths left my mouth, just about turning into loud sobs that would surely attract Ryan's attention. 

Harry's POV

Something happened to Niall?

Yeah, I was hurt but I still loved him and I would no matter what. Even if I was mad and upset about what he did, I shouldn't have insulted him like that, otherwise he would still be here. I wouldn't be surprised if he hated me. 

Maybe it was kind of his fault for hurting me but I couldn't help but feel horrible. No matter how much he, or anyone, had hurt me, it wasn't as if I was horrible enough to wish something so horrible to happen to them. 

Especially not Niall. 

I knew that a lot of bad things happened to him. There wasn't exactly a small list of things that could have potentially happened to him. It killed me inside to think about because Niall didn't deserve that. He'd been through too much since he had moved here, he didn't need any more heartache. 

If I were smarter, I would have rushed out and attempted to look for him myself but I was an idiot and I stopped myself.

Did Niall really want me out of all people to find him?

Liam's POV

As soon as I read the text, I sped off home before making my way up to my room. I couldn't think hard enough when I was standing outside Harry's house. I needed to think in a place where it was quiet.

I stared down at my phone in confusion the second I had entered my room, looking at the text from the unknown number that was still displayed on my screen.

Whoever it was that was texting me had somehow gotten my number and they clearly knew who I was. I was concerned because there was no way of knowing who this person was. They could be stalking me, or planning to do something bad to me or someone I cared about. This could potentially be the person who was harming Niall.

There was no way for me to know for sure whether or not to trust this person. I just didn't know what to do. 

I called Ariana, who aside from me was probably Niall's closest friend. She answered after the third ring, seemingly confused that I had called her. 

"Liam? Everything okay?" she questioned. I heard her murmur something quietly, I assumed it to be her mother, before I heard the sound of her closing a door. "Have you heard from Niall?" she asked. 

"No. I think something's wrong and Harry isn't being any help," I sighed. 

"He's hurt. For no reason, I have to say...but we both know that despite his quite obvious flaws he actually cares about Niall," she replied, trying to sound reassuring.