The Chase [Watty's2018]

Twenty-Two

Liam

I watched as everyone slept soundly. I stood slowly, quietly making my way to the door. A board creaked and Louis shot up, looking around until his eyes settled on me. "Li?"

"Go back to sleep, Lou," I said. He shook his head and fully sat up, rubbing his eyes before he stood up. "Louis," I repeated, "go back to sleep."

He didn't listen and walked over to me, resting his head on my shoulder. "Where are you going?" he asked quietly, yawning after he was done talking.

I bit my lip as I thought about my answer. I didn't want to tell him that I was worried that our dad could have followed us. He didn't need to need to be worrying about him after what had happened at the house. "Just need to think. I'll be okay, buddy."

Louis didn't move his head away, instead just moved it to get more comfortable. "Just stay, please," he whispered tiredly. "Get some rest."

I closed my eyes and sighed nodding slightly. "Yeah, okay. Come on." I lead him to a wall and sat against it, letting Louis lay his head on my lap. I ran my hand through his hair, trying to lull him to sleep so that I would be able to leave.

"I'm not gonna sleep til you are," he mumbled with his eyes closed. I knew he would be ready to sleep any minute, so I started humming to help him, but he swatted at my hand. "Stop trying to get me to go to sleep. It won't work."

I sighed. "Louis..."

He sat up and turned to me. "For once can't you just stop trying to be the hero? You're gonna make it harder on yourself if you don't get some rest."

"I'm 21, I think I can handle myself Louis," I snapped as I rubbed my face. He was right as usual, but I needed to make sure he didn't know where we were. There wasn't something right about being back at the house and I had to make sure that Louis, Niall, Zayn or Harry wouldn't have anything happen to them.

"What the fuck ever," he mumbled before getting up to most likely walk back to Zayn. I grabbed his wrist before he could and stood.

"What has gotten into you?" I asked. He didn't respond, instead ripping his arm from mine and walking away, going to the other corner of the room and curling in on himself.

Louis never had snapped at me like that, especially for something as small as getting some sleep. I watched him as I stood, trying to make out what he was doing in the darkness of the night. The most that I saw however, was him just slightly moving, but it looked to me like he never went to sleep.

After watching him for a few minutes, I sat down and decided to let him win. I found a blanket and fell asleep between him and Zayn, making sure there was enough room for him is he wanted to come back.

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Louis

When Liam fell asleep I got up and walked to the door, looking back at the four sleeping bodies. Liam falling asleep at that point did not make it any better.

I opened the door and walked into the shop, heading straight to the door and unlocking it before slipping out and walking into the cold night. I pulled the hoodie over me tighter as I walked.

Memories of the last time Niall and I went out alone surfaced but I pushed them back. I didn't need to think about whatever the hell that was.

I walked back towards our house but stayed at the park. I didn't want to see my dad at the time. I just needed a break from all of... That.

I went to the swings and sat down on them, lightly kicking my feet back and forth. The swing made creaking noises every time I passed moved, and I found it oddly calming. I put m feet into the ground after a few minutes, stopping myself. I put my head in my hands as I thought about how the last few months have happened.

I was tired of running. I was tired of the lab people trying to get us everyday we were out. I didn't want to be put in this situation, but the other one wasn't any better.

The more I thought about what we all have been through, the more I realized I shouldn't snap at Liam for not sleeping. He's just doing what he can to keep all of us safe. I rubbed my face as I stood, deciding to go back to the shop and apologize to Liam.

I kicked my shoes into the ground, taking a deep breath before leaving the small rocky area and into the grass. I looked up at the sky, watching as the sun started to come up, just barely peaking through the clouds. I started walking again at a slow pace, trying to take my time but also wanting to get back before any of them woke up.

I got to the sidewalk that was on the street that lead to the store when I heard footsteps behind me. Not too many people were out at this time, and I knew it couldn't be good. I mumbled under my breath and kept walking, even once I got passed the store we were hiding out in because I was not going to let them go down.

I paused at a street to figure out which way to go, but the guy must have been closer than I thought because next thing I knew, my arms were behind my back and a cloth bag was thrown over my face. I felt someone pick me up as I fought to get away.

I heard someone yell my name before they put me in a cold metal box thing and something slammed shut.