The Chase [Watty's2018]

Twenty-Seven

Louis
I blinked my eyes open, feeling warmth radiating from whatever was holding me. For a moment i didn't know what could have been there. As I saw the black fabric I realized it was Zayn, so I relaxed. Our legs were tangled together, his arms wrapped tightly around my middle.

"Morning, sleepy," I heard his voice rasp, it being deeper than normal and more gravely.

"Morning," I replied, looking up at my boyfriend. I really just wanted to sleep more, but we had to go train. "Time to get up."

Zayn chuckled. "Come on." Zayn untangled himself before standing and stretching, his back popping multiple times. I sat up slowly and rubbed my eyes, yawning before standing.

I moved over to the small four drawer dresser that Zayn insisted I kept some clothes in. I pulled out a pair of black sweats and a grey muscle tee, changing quickly and running a hand through my hair.

Zayn, once dressed, walked over to me and kissed the top of my head before walking into the bathroom and brushing his teeth.

"I had a weird dream last night," I announced as I sat on the bed to lace my boots. I heard Zayn hum and took it as my cue to continue. "I had a brother who was really protective of me, and we escaped a lab like this one. Only instead of working for them, the lab like used us for testing." I paused, trying to remember some more details, bit most of it was slipping from my mind. "I think we found you, and you were hurt. There was another boy too, but I can't remember anything about him."

"Sounds interesting," Zayn said, walking out of the bathroom, which I stood and made my way to. I quickly brushed my face and did what I needed before grabbing a jacket and grabbing Zayn's hand before we walked out into the long hallway of dorms of Searchers.

Zayn and I made our way down to the dining hall to get something to eat before reporting to training. Our laced hands swung slightly as we walked, a calm piece falling over us.

We got to the dining hall minutes before anyone else did. I grabbed a bagel and apple while Zayn got a yogurt. Instead of sitting with the rest of the Searchers, we ate as we walked the hall a few times. We easily grew restless, so we tried to move around ad much as possible.

Zayn was telling me about new possible activities they were thinking about assigning with the training when a voice stopped us.

"Louis, Zayn."

We turned to face the voice, my heart almost stopping when Harry Styles, the son of the whole operator of Styles corporation, was standing at the end of the hall. His arms were folded in front of him, in a blue suit.

"I need you both to come with me. And just to assure you, you haven't broken any rules, so this isn't a bad thing."

With that he turned around. I glanced at Zayn who looked shocked. We followed Harry, my grip as tight ad a vice  on Zayn's hand, not that he minded.

The walk to where ever it was we were going was short, Harry quickly opening a door and ushered us in. The first thing to notice was the giant wooden desk that had a man sighing something before he looked up to study Zayn and I.

I realized moments after that this was Harry's dad. I didn't understand why we were there. The only time people got sent to this office was when they were being put into the Testee group.

Harry's dad, who everyone referred to as Mr. Styles, chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't fret, Louis. That's not why either of you are here." He stood up, walking to the front of the desk to lean against it. "I actually have a mission for you two."

"We aren't the most qualified for missions yet, uh, sir," Zayn said, and I saw his head trying to put together the pieces.

"I'm aware of that. Actually, I think you'd both be perfect. It has to do with two of our previous Testees that managed to escape. Now, this is why we need you two. One of them believes that you, Louis, is his brother."

My dream that I had had tried to resurface but I couldn't grasp onto it. "O-okay."

"They're not too far from here, and it would be greatly appreciated if you two could get them to return to us. Were going to give you some false memories to help guide you in getting them to agree to return."

I nodded, unable to form words. I noticed Zayn doing the same from the corner of my eye.

"Harry, please get their packs for them and explain what they'll need to do," Mr. Styles dismissed.

Harry seemed to glare at his dad but closed his eyes then turned to us. Without a word he walked to the door and opened it, waiting in us to follow had been my guess.

Without any words we followed; I had to jog almost to keep up with Harry's long strides.

"Like my dad said," Harry started, taking a turn, "you're both going to have false memories put in your head by me that will help you seem believable to them. You might get confused and have conflicting feelings about what actually goes on here." Harry pauses for a few moments and stopped in front of a door. There was a lock with a number pad. Harry punches in some numbers before the door opened. "I'll be talking to you through your heads. I'll hear your thoughts, and you'll hear my voice in your heads, just as if I were talking right behind you. If you listen to what I say, you'll be fine."

I nodded my head, biting my lips. Zayn held my hand and we stood there while Harry got what we needed. After handing us Testee uniforms that we change into quickly, Harry leads us outside and put his hands on our foreheads. I felt a weird sensation flow through my body before my eyes closed and I was out.

**

I woke up, my head in Zayn's lap, my body curled into a ball while Zayn slumped against the tree.

"Zayn," I said, sitting up and shaking him. "Come on, we have to find Li."

Zayn's eyes fluttered open and he nodded, leaning forward so his head rested on my chest. "Find Li," he mumbled. "Ni, too."

We stood up, well, mostly I pulled him up, and we started walking the opposite way we had been, my fear of being out in the open coming back.

I held onto Zayn's hand tightly, scared to be left behind. "How far away from them are we?"

"Just keep going straight, you'll find them soon," Harry's voice echoed in my head.

"Just go this way," I pointed out to Zayn. We headed that way, walking at a decent speed.

"Right way?" I heard an all too familiar voice say.

"Liam?!" I yelled, letting go of Zayn's hand, even though he struggled to keep my grip.

I walked forward, seeing the outline of someone. "Li-"

"Louis, be careful!" Zayn yelled.

I felt it before I heard it. Instead of moving I covered my head with my arms and yelled "Its Louis, Liam!"

I knew that Liam couldn't move the bolt from where he wanted it to go. I knew he couldn't. I wouldn't even be mad at him, he was protecting himself.

I waited for the blistering pain, waited to be harmed by the bolt of lightning.

I waited to die.