The Outbreak || Harry Styles Fanfic

Chapter Ten

The man holding me tightly in his arms looked very familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on who he was. He had high cheek bones, a strong jawline, deep brown eyes, and golden hair. A knowing smile crept across his face as he looked into my eyes.

I felt like I couldn't move, like his gaze had me locked in place.

Suddenly someone pulled on my wrist and I was pried from the strangers grip. I found myself stood behind Harry as if he were guarding me, and then a distinct clicking sound followed. I realized Harry had drew his hand gun to my rescuers chest.

"Who the hell are you?" Harry asked in a demanding tone of voice.

"Harry wait-" I started to say.

"Stay back, Tayrn. You," he said and pointed his gun at the man's head, "answer me!"

The man had his hands up, but he didn't look too worried. It was unsettling that he was being held at gun point yet he continued to hold his sharp gaze. He cocked his eyebrow and asked Harry, "Are you sure you want to use that...? I thought you could attract herds with something as noisy as a gun?" However, Harry didn't budge. The strange man looked at me beyond Harry's shoulder and smiled again.
"Don't you remember me? We spent all that time together...just before the accident."

At first I didn't know what he was talking about until that picture on my TV stand flashed before me. Harry gave me a confused look as I walked by him to approach his hostage.

"E-Edwin...?" I asked him softly.
He immediately pulled me into a hug and whispered back, "I'm so happy you know who I am."

I wasn't one hundred percent sure so I didn't return the hug, but the image from my apartment was spot on, it had to be him. Harry hesitated to lower his weapon, and he looked Edwin up and down with a disgusted glare. "We're supposed to head to the safe house..." Harry said to me. Edwin took my hand and said, "I know where that is! You can follow me." I noticed that as I walked with Edwin, Harry trailed far behind us and looked genuinely upset about something, I had to look back a few times. And every time I did I caught Harry looking away. Maybe he felt bad for pointing a gun at Edwin?
We arrived at the safe house by sunset, and there waiting at the gate was Niall. He ran right up to us and asked, "What happened, where did you run off to?"
"Nowhere," Harry mumbled, "Tayrn ran into a friend..."

Harry then walked straight passed us and let himself into the safe house without saying another word. Niall watched curiously before turning to Edwin and I. "Is he okay...?" Niall asked me. All I could do was shrug, I truly had no idea what Harry's issue was. Niall walked beside me as Edwin lead me in, still hand in hand. The safe house was an old hotel. All the windows were securely boarded up, a large gate with barbed wire strung on top wrapped around the perimeter, and a watch tower built of scrap stood tall just in the parking lot outside. As we entered the building two children ran by playing together, and a woman stood at the check in counter.

"Hello," said the woman with a smile as she saw Niall and I, "new recruits?" Edwin looked to me and said, "This is Tayrn." The woman's face lit up and she took my free hand.

"Oh Edwin told me so much about you! You've woken up? How are you feeling?"

"U-uhm, I'm a bit tired from the walk..."

"No need to worry! We'll get you situated into a room immediately! And who is the young gentleman with you?"
I introduced Niall to the kind older woman. It surprised me that Edwin spoke of me to her, after all this time as well, he must've been worried about me. Niall then asked if she'd seen Harry, a strapping young fellow, tall, with chestnut hair, and shimmering emerald eyes. She nodded firmly and showed us to a room. It was very cozy, very welcoming. Harry stood at the kitchen searching the mini fridge. Edwin offered me to stay with him in his room, however, I wasn't sure why, but I felt more comfortable staying here with Niall and Harry. He understood and let us settle in. The second he left Harry opened his mouth.

"We leave in the morning..." Harry said.

"What," Niall questioned, "why!?"

"We'll scavenge the food in the room and head back to OUR safe house."
I didn't understand why he wanted to go back. They had food, drinks, and hot water to bathe in. Personally, I'd stay here for a while.

"Harry, think about it," I said, "they have a lot to offer, and everyone is so nice!"

"Well then YOU can stay. Niall and I will go back to Nevada. Besides, wouldn't you feel more comfortable staying with that guy? You two seem close, VERY close."

"Yeah but-"

"'But' nothing! I don't trust these people!"

Harry doesn't have to be so damn aggressive. I don't know why he doesn't trust them? They seemed friendly and considerate. Niall sounded like he didn't want to go back either, but he never spoke up.

Later that night I lied awake in one of the beds thinking of the events that took place since regaining consciousness in the hospital. It was ironic that we ran into Edwin too. I wanted to remember him and I tried to for some time until my eyelids grew heavy and I drifted off to sleep.