I won't be weak (Book 3 of I'm not weak) - Larry

Chapter 1

Louis POV

The drive back seemed endless. No wonder the others continually dozing off. We had been on the road for more than four days now, while on the drive to Manchester it had only been about three.

That may also have something to do with the fact that I keep sneaking glances at Harry, who had been asleep for the last four hours. I'm not afraid to admit I'm worried about him. He's pregnant for god sake! I'm not even sure what I am supposed to do right now, well except that Liam yelled about a thousand times that I should keep my eyes on the road, I find it hard to focus on that really.

'Wait! Stop the car, I believe this is the spot.' Liam suddenly speaks up and I hit the breaks probably a little too quick, luckily I'm not a very fast driver. In one way it's effective though, everyone is immediately awake. In another it's not effective though as Harry is out of the car a second later, puking on the side of the road. 

I quickly unbuckle my belt to kneel next to my mate and stroke his hair out of his face. I softly whisper encouragements in his ear, hoping he knows he's not alone even if I don't feel all the physical pain Harry is currently feeling.

Once Harry stopped puking he just leans back against my chest for a moment. Neither of us say anything, not that there is anything we need to talk about really and the silence is comfortable. I can't say if the next couple of days are going to be this comfortable. 

After that quiet moment, Harry removes his head from my shoulder and I help him stand up again. When I turn around I see that the boys have moved out of the car and are sending us sympathetic looks back. I smile grateful at them, they are truly amazing friends.

'I think this is the road we need to take.' Liam says as he looks up to a small gap between the trees. It looks a little like a path, but it really isn't. Their are way too many roots of trees sticking out to be an official road or anything. 

'You seem right, I think this is the place we took before. Are you going to guide us to the right spot, Liam? No more walking than necessary please.' I say with a glance to Harry. Liam understands the hint though and simply nods.

'I'll try, Louis. It's not like I know the woods here like the back of my head or something.' Liam mutters before he starts walking, quickly followed by the rest of us. 

Zayn has two backpacks this time, seeing as he's also carrying the few leftovers we have. The rest of us all have our own. Even Harry, with a little protest from my side, but he insisted to carry it himself.

Liam stops every time our road crosses another to look at the map he's carrying at least five times before telling us in which direction we need to go. I'm glad I don't have the map, I already lost every sense of direction I've ever head. Who knows there were so many crossroads in the woods near London? I certainly didn't.

'What are we going to do when we get back?' Niall asks the question. The question that I should be able to answer by now, but I can't. I don't know what we are going to do. I feel kind of helpless in this situation, but I've always been a more act at the moment person, so that will hopefully work again this time.

'We'll see that once we get there. Liam, any idea how far we need to go? It's pretty dark here.' I call out to Liam who is a few inches away from us at the next crossroad. 

'We should be pretty near now. Only about half a mile left.' Liam calls back towards me. I don't reply to him just send him a nod before we follow him. 

'Hey Zayn, are you excited to go and see your mate again?' I ask him with a soft smile in his direction. He smiles back but it doesn't reach his eyes. 

Zayn stops me for a second as Niall and Harry walk past us heavily discussing something and Liam is far away from us with the map. 'I don't know what it is, but since we are walking around here I have a feeling something bad is happening. I just can't figure out what.' Zayn says, worry clear in his voice. 

'I'll have to agree with you there. Something bad is happening, I think it's been happening for years but we've been too blind to see. To really see the danger of the world.' I say with a sigh as I start to slowly walk again. 

'You're probably right. It's weird to be here again. It sort of feels like going back home, but I can't be really too excited. Who knows what happened in the time we were away?' Zayn says and I shrug. I wish I could answer that question.

'None of us know. Guess we'll soon find out. C'mon we shouldn't stay behind.' I say before running towards the others with Zayn on my heels. The others have stopped again and are all three looking at the map this time. 

'What's up?' I ask sensing something in the air this time. I share a look with Zayn to notice he feels it as well. 

'There should be house here, but there isn't. There is only ashes...' Liam slowly says as he points to something on the map. I don't pay attention to the map though as I walk forward and see the black ash on the ground everywhere. I follow the trail to come out by a big open place in the woods. A open place that shouldn't be empty. A place that should definitely not be filled with ash on the ground and a few left over things here and there.

A couple seconds later the others have joined me. I don't even have to look at them to know that they expression is matching mine. None of us says a word we all know it, this is where the Escapers place should be, but it's completely gone. It's burned down until the last building.