You'll Never Walk Alone

Nataly's POV

I told them everything. How they came and asked for the money. How my dad refused. How they came three years later, when I was three. How they came on my thirteenth birthday. How we've been on the run for the past four years. Everything.

I couldn't help but keep glancing at their expressions.

While I told my story, I looked at their faces. It was amazing how close I've gotten to them in such a short time. Even though it had only been a couple of days, it felt like these boys meant so much to me.

I looked at all of them, but no expression mattered most to me more than Niall's.

His face was expressionless. Not in the way that he didn't care, more like he was listening. Like he did care. i finshed off by reading them the letter that Dr. Reynolds had left behind.

Dearest Nataly,

My have you grown. I saw the pictures on the mantle. very nice pictures. too bad your mother was stubborn and refused to leave in silence. Sorry about the mess we left in the living room. Your mother can put on quite a fight.

We came to collect you. We had no motive for violence. But unfortunately, you were out with your new friends. So we took your mother instead.

Listen Nataly, you can't escape. you can run, but you can not hide. We will find you.

Now let's bargain, shall we? i have a softspot for business. Let's make this easy.

We'll trade you for your parents. Don't turn yourself in? We keep them and take your friends, too.

The one thing worse than death is knowing they're alive, you're just not able to see them ever again. And it hurts even more to know they're being tortured, doesn't it? We'll give you a day. Hope to see you soon,

Sincerely, Dr. Reynolds

Once I finished reading the letter, I looked up. Danielle and Eleanor were clinging to Liam and Louis. Harry was standing beside Catelyn looking at her worriedly. Zayn was looking at the floor, his face solemn. Niall kept looking at me. His eyes held my gaze. Understanding reflected in each sparkle of blue.

"This is my secret, too, fellas," Catelyn whispered, looking at Harry.

"They're really after us, aren't they," Liam breathes. He seems to be breathing shallowly.

After taking a deep breath he looked up at me, waiting for an answer.

"Yes," I couldn't stand looking in those deep brown eyes. i was scared of seeing disappointment in his eyes. I was just as scared of seeing disappointment in Harry's green ones, in Louis' pale blue ones, in Zayn's dark ones, and I was terrified of seeing it there in Niall's blue ones.

"Nataly, please look at me,"I heard Liam say.

I looked up hesitantly.

"You're not alone. We can get through this. You'll never walk alone," Liam looks into my eyes as he says those words.

Those words meant the world to me. I remember my dad telling me those words. They bounced around my skull. they rung in my ears. And then tears slid down my cheeks.

"Harry, call Paul and tell him to send the car," Liam stands up and walks over to Harry. harry steps out of the room to call Paul.

"We'll be waiting outside. Come on lads," Liam says. Everyone stood hesitantly and walked out.

Except for one person.

He sat next to me. I stared at my shoes.

"I understand if you're mad at me for not telling you," I tell my shoes.

"A secret this big is something you take to the grave. plus, I only met you like four days ago. You didn't really have the right to trust me with something like this," Niall hugs me to his chest.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"For what? Not your fault I now have to run for my life," he chuckled, trying to make a joke of it.

I tried to laugh but I couldn't. His life was in danger. I could only think of everything Reynolds could do to him. And thinking of what could happen sent tears streaming down my cheeks again.

"Not for that, I'm wetting your shirt," I laugh half-heartedly as more tears stream down.

He tries laughing, too.

"I've got plenty more," he reassures me.