The Animator (Larry Stylinson)

CHAPTER THREE - THE AMBUSH

Unease spread through the room and turned to Niall who for once was silent and had only concern written across his face. Perhaps it was all a drill and they were safe, but part of Harry had a sense of impending pandemonium and a chill spread through him. Betty gripped her spoon tightly, her knuckles looking pale as Darius and Jeremy, the other kitchen porter slowly walked to the door to look out, knives in their hands.

"What's happening?" Harry asked, his voice a little choked. Footsteps sounded from the stairwell and Harry gulped not knowing if it was the crew coming up from the engine room, or if it were people coming down from the top deck. He hoped of course it was the former.

Darius and Jeremy didn't answer and simply tightened their grips on the knives in their hand. Harry and Nialls eyed went wide. Niall grabbed a rolling pin while Harry shoved the teapot into a cupboard behind him and grabbed a saucepan from with in it. He had no idea what he was doing, he'd never fought anyone in his life and an odd queasy feeling took over him as he straightened up.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor towards them and Harry backed up to the back of the room by the sinks, Niall moving beside him staring at the door, the rolling pin held up, shaking slightly.

Harry was gripping his saucepan tightly as the echoed footsteps drew closer, a loud booming voice sounding from somewhere down the stairwell,

"Search everywhere!" It wasn't a voice any of them recognised and they knew immediately this wasn't a drill.

The alarm stopped as suddenly as it had started yet Harry could still feel it ringing trough his head and through his whole body that seemed to be buzzing.

A shadow filled the doorway before the person came strolling in, Darius threw one of his knives and the man in the doorway swiped his hand, the blade ricocheted off it's perfect aim and simply left a gash in the mans cheek.

The man didn't hesitate at all as he came into the room, using his hand to sweep the table that stood in the middle into the wall beside Harry and Niall who both flinched as bread went sailing everywhere.

Two more figures walked into the room behind the first man, mean smirks on their faces as they eyed the five of them. Harry had never felt so small in his life, although he was tall, these men were burly and intimidating and Harry had never so much as intentionally hurt anyone in his life.

"Whatever happens, do not use your power." Niall whispered so quietly Harry almost didn't hear him. Harry didn't think he'd be able to work his power anyway and he gulped as the men began to walk towards them.

Jeremy raised his knife threateningly but the man flourished his hand and the knife flew from Jeremys hand and stuck into the ceiling and with another flourish, it was joined with the rest of the knives from the holder.

Harry eyed them, his heart pounding in his chest and a sick feeling of dread flowing through him. He gripped the handle of the saucepan tightly, his palms feeling sweaty making it hard to hold onto it.

One of the other men rounded on Betty with a smirk, eyes settling on the wooden spoon in her hand.

"You'll get nowhere with that," He said, his voice deep and gravelly like he didn't use it often. Darius and Jeremy sent each other a look as if they were planning something and Harry blinked as one of the men walked in front of them eyeing them.

"Think it's any of these?" The man asked and as he distracted the other two, Betty began smacking the man in front of her with the wooden spoon mercilessly.

Darius and Jeremy took that as their cue to jump on the other two men who had turned to see what the commotion was about. The man grabbed hold of Bettys wrist tightly, a pained look on his face as he shook the spoon from her hand.