DEVIANT [H.S.]

33 - Open Me Up

"I said don't touch it!"

"Okay... okay! Sorry!"

"I mean it, Harry. I don't know what is in these vials. If I catch you trying to stick your finger in one more time..." I warn him, my eyes blazing with anger.

I'm trying to run tests while Harry is getting curious, and it isn't the best combination.

We've been here in the compound for about three days now, and I figure I need to get to the bottom of whatever is in the O2. It could be the key to figuring out the secrets behind the Protector Core.

"What happened in there? You know, with you and Niall in the O2? I've only heard Niall speak of it, but you haven't said a word," Harry speaks up, fiddling with his fingers.

"There's nothing to talk about," I simply reply.

I don't want to remember knocking the barrel over, or the cold, or even the Patrol. I need to push it to the back of my head before I completely lose it.

"Serena, you can tell me," Harry whispers, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind.

I take in a sharp breath, attempting to reign in my outburst. But it's already too late.

"I don't want to think about it... or talk about it," I snap.

Harry's arms never leave my waist.

"Let go of me. Don't try to pry it out of me." I squirm, forcing his arms off of my body.

"Serena, I have a right to know what happened in there," He says firmly, letting his grip loosen.

I can't tell him what happened, because it's hard for me to process. To be so certain of your own death at the hand of someone else, it's something you can't put into words.

Something you don't want to put into words.

"Just, let me work... please," I mumble, closing my eyes. I don't hear any movement at first, but then a few moments later, I hear Harry's footsteps heading out of the lab.

I fight back angry tears as I take a vial into my hands, judging its appearance. It looks the same from when I first retrieved it. I set it back on the test rack and pace back and forth, rubbing my temples.

I can't even focus on working.

My feet carry themselves to the door of the elevator and I press the button impatiently, wanting to get to Harry before he goes missing and I have to chase him down.

The door slides open and I run in, thinking of the only place Harry could go in his state of mind right now. I tap my foot impatiently as the lift carries me down.

///

I head into the gym, the sound of fist against bag echoing throughout the entire compound. I know it's Harry and I know I aggravated him.

If he can be open with me, I should be open with him.

I look across the way and see Harry pounding the punching bag at a steady pace, not too fast or forceful. From here I can see that he isn't wearing gloves or tape around his hands; blood is rising to the surface of his skin.

Before I realize what I'm doing I'm already behind him, my hands slipping onto his shoulders.

"You can stop. Harry, stop..." I trail off, hoping that the punching will cease.

Slowly the punches become less and less, and Harry's head slumps down, his crimson knuckles hanging at his sides.

I walk around so I'm standing right in front of him, tilting his chin up with my index finger. "I'm sorry," I whisper.