This Time

Chapter 11

Everything seemed to be going in slow motion and my brain couldn’t process anything. It was like I was looking at a big puzzle and all the pieces were jumbled.

How could the war be starting? It hadn’t been ten days, had it?

I tried to count back to when I had met with The Elder. How many days had I been unconscious?

I shook my head to rid itself of the confusing numbers. Regardless of days, they were still coming.

My body begged me to not move, to go back to bed and fall asleep. But how could I?

How could I not fight? How could I not protect the boys.

The boys. That’s when my mind started to function properly again.

‘How far are the Elicks?’ I said, my voice firm and authoritative.

Nicola’s eyes widened at my sudden tone, but Rachel just smirked.

‘Ten minutes away, they’re moving quickly.’ She said.

I heard yelling downstairs and pushed past the others.

‘Where is it taking place?’ I asked as we marched down the hallway.

‘Outside preferably, we can’t let them destroy the base.’ Nicola said from behind me.

I nodded and quickened my pace. This is what we had been training for, so I pushed every bit of fear, every nervous thought to the back of my mind and concentrated on saving my energy.

We were practically running by this point, when I heard muffled yelling.

I shot down the hallway and came to a screeching halt. Kicking open the door, I was met by five terrified faces.

‘Lucy, what’s happening?’ Harry launched at me, wrapping his arms around me and sobbing uncontrollably. Louis came forward and pried him off, turning the curly haired boy upon himself.

Liam walked past me and grabbed Zoe, pulling her into his arms.

Zayn was sitting on the bed, head in hands. Nicola rushed forward to sit beside him, rubbing his back soothingly. And then there was Niall.

He watched me warily from the corner, shuffling from one foot to the next uncomfortably.

Our eyes locked for what felt like an eternity. I couldn’t help but be mesmerised by them.

I pulled my gaze away from him and turned back to Louis, who still had his arms wrapped around Harry protectively.  My voice was shaking heavily and I tried to swallow away the fear.

‘The Elicks are coming, an entire army of them. The battle is near.’

Louis bit his lip as tears welled up, spilling over the long lashes like droplets on a flower petal.

I took a deep breath to steady myself before saying loudly.

‘Nicola, you keep an eye on Zayn. Zoe, you take Liam.’

I turned to the blonde girl who no longer seemed so young. Her eyes were full of determination as she gripped Liam’s hand. She nodded fiercely.

‘Rachel?’ I looked at my best friend.

The most experienced fighter out of us all, she knew exactly what I wanted.

‘I’ll take Louis and Harry.’ She said, not as chipper at usual.

Harry took his face from Louis’ chest and looked up at her. He managed a shaky smile and pulled Louis to her side. I scanned the room, checking everything over in my head.

Nicola would protect Zayn, I knew that for sure. Rachel could handle two, of that I was also definite about. Zoe loved Liam too much to let harm befall him. They were all set.

Lastly, I looked at Niall.

His tiny stature and baby face made every ounce of anger disappear instantly. He looked so vulnerable, cowering in a corner. His face coated in shame, his eyes full of worry.

I looked at him and knew that even if he hated me, my feelings would never change.

I took a few hesitant steps forward and stopped.

His face became hopeful for a brief second, before the mask went back on and it was blank.

I stretched out my hand, offering it to him. The corners of his lips twitched and he leaned forward on the balls of his feet, pausing slightly.

I raised my eyebrows encouragingly, reaching my hand further.

He closed the distance with three long strides, completely ignoring my hand.

Grabbing my face, he crushed his lips against mine, almost lifting me from the ground.

I hooked my fingers into his belt loops and locked him there. It wasn’t until the others started making inappropriate comments that we broke apart, breathless and blushing.

I have to say, even though out lives were in danger. In that moment, I was happy.

Genuinely happy.

But we were running out of time.