Hostages

fourteen

- Andrea -

We were hanging in the tour bus. Zayn and Liam were cozied in on the couch. Paul was standing at the counter, shuffling around in a drawer for a pen. Harry and Niall stood with my by the door. I told the boys everything I knew. Will, the necklace, my mother, everything.

"Describe the property again." Paul stated, finding a pen. He scribbled something at the top of the yellow notepad. "Don't miss out on any details. Try closing your eyes and putting yourself on the scene."

I shut my eyes, doing exactly as Paul said and putting little six-year-old me back at Will's house. "It was an ugly off-white color farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. There was literally no house, no building, not even a bus stop within miles of the place. There was a big willow tree out the front with a tire swing. I remember that because we played on that thing for hours. I remember the red barn because we were going to play hide and seek and my older sister went to go into the barn and Will's mother told us it was off-limits."

"Were there any signs?" Harry pipes up. I open my eyes and look at him. In fact, all of us were looking at him weirdly. When he caught on that we were confused, he said, "Normally houses with barns have signs. Like a family business."

"Harry, that makes no sense." Niall spoke as if Harry was stupid. "She said the barn looked empty and old. If there weren't any animals or anything in the barn, why would they own a business?"

I thought about it for a moment. "Now that you mention it, there was. It was a big wooden sign on the front of the barn, but I can't remember what it said, it was such a long time ago, I can't believe I gave you what I have."

"What's Will's last name?" Harry asked. "Normally family businesses use their last name in the title."

"Styles has a point," I agreed, standing up straight. I shut my eyes, trying and trying to figure it out. "I don't quite remember because my mother never really talked about them." I said and paused to try and think. The boys stayed quiet. Will Taylor? Will Trassy? Will Tykes? "Will Tymers!"

"Tymers Poultry Farm." Paul sighed, snapping his notebook closed and clicking the pen closed. "I heard of them from the news way back. Apparently they had to shut down their farm within a year of business because they were drugging their chickens. Will's father was almost thrown in jail."

"Actually, I am starting to remember my mother talking about that situation with my father one night." I nodded, everything starting to make sense now.

"Well, let's go get our friend back." Zayn jumped to his feet, eager to be free from the smelly bus. Didn't know five boys could smell so bad. But then again, they are boys.

We all headed for the door, quickly, making our way out of the bus in a single file line. I went to walk down the steps after Harry, but Niall grabbed my wrist. "Andrea?" He stopped me.

I looked up at him behind me. His hand on my wrist sent shivers up and down my arms, I tensed up and pulled my arm away quickly, hoping to avoid flashbacks. I looked up at his hardened blue eyes. They resembled much of my tormenter's. And I'm not talking about Will.

"I'm sorry about earlier, with the whole not believing you stuff. It's just, this entire thing has gotten to my head. I'm just scared about Louis, y'know?" His eyes softened and for a moment, he looked vulnerable and innocent. As if a small child was breaking out from deep inside him.

Scared? I would never peg Niall Horan to be the fearful type. He seems more driven and angry all the time more than anything. But I shouldn't be too quick to jumping to conclusions. I just met the lad. Plus, I haven't been so nice to him either.

I stepped back up, standing close to him. I held his eyes and softened my own to let him know everything will be okay. "We're all scared, Niall. You don't need to apologize. I understand."

Niall's lips tugged at the corners and he gave a small smile. It fell quickly though. I could see relief rush through him as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. I returned the small smile, giving him a look of reassurance. Quickly, I walked off the bus, joining the other lads outside. The police were now involved, since we know where Louis is located, and they helped escort us out of the parking lot through the mob of girls that still stuck around.

I cupped the necklace in my hand, squeezing it. I open the palm of my hand, glancing down at the hourglass, that was still draining but didn't have very much sand in it. I really hope Will doesn't hurt Louis. This family feud has nothing to do with him.

I may have not admitted this before, but I am really starting to fall for Louis. I have been since I saw him playing football outside in the yard at home. I never had the guts to go out and play with him though. I was a shy kid. But the first day, when I walked in to the math room and I was a freshman and he was a sophomore, I was just intrigued more. I watched his audition for the X Factor, but when it came the next day, everyone crowded him at school so I never got the chance to congratulate him.

Even though we didn't have an attached relationship and never talked, he was still on my mind 24/7 and I had never stopped talking about him. He was the reason I would get up every morning for school. He was the reason I raised my hand in class all the time to maybe, finally, get his attention. But it never happened.

Then when he graduated, leaving for One Direction, I was screwed. There was no way he would ever talk to me now. There was no way he would notice me with all these girls chasing after him, falling for him either. I had competition. I had always thought I would never win. But then today... Today was the best day ever.