Stuck » h.s. (UNDER EDITING)

thirty three

HARRY'S POV:

I look up from where my eyes are rested on Emma, my heart falling to my stomach. Louis chews nervously on his thumb and Paige ducks her head into her hands. I try and gauge Emma's reaction, but there doesn't seem to be one.

This is terrifying me. I think the darkness has taken over her. She doesn't seem nervous, she just sits there. With no emotion, just a blank expression. "Emma?" I whisper, nudging her with my nose.

"Hmmm?"

"Are you okay?

"Never been better."

I roll my eyes at her obvious lie, her voice was dripping with sarcasm. The dingey lights in the room begin to flicker and there's a yellow hue casted over the entire room, reflecting on everyone's bland, exhausted faces.

Niall rubs his temples and his bloodshot eyes open, taking a moment to look at each of us. "I can't do this anymore. We have to end this. It's driving me insane knowing all of you are in danger. And Harry, if Shawn finds out you really do know, we're in even deeper shit than we were before, and that's some pretty deep shit."

Emma adverts her gaze away from everyone and I open my mouth to speak, but the door opening stops me. A nurse walks in, holding her clipboard with a smile on her face. You've got to be fucking kidding me lady. We're in the middle of a serious conversation here.

"I've just got to check Mr.Tomlinson's vital signs, won't take but just a moment," she says, stopping next to Louis. Her perfume is way too strong and I can tell Emma thinks the same thing by the way she's scrunching up her nose. I grab it with my fingers and wiggle it back and forth. She glares at me as I kiss the tip of her nose and pull her into me.

I lock eyes with Niall after the moment with Emma and he looks at me with a frown. I raise my eyebrows at him and he shakes his head, nodding at the nurse. I inhale deeply and nod back. I impatiently tap my foot until the nurse leaves.

"He isn't going to find out and if he does, I handle, you don't."

"Okay, well here's the plan. I've traced where it is and how the hell he's made it is beyond me. As soon as Louis gets his strength back, we set out. We've got to get out there and shut everything down. Erase everything and run. He should have a list of his workers somewhere, but I can get that when we get there easily." Niall sighs and shakes his head again, running a hand down his face.

"Workers? Try evil minions," Louis scoffs.

"Same difference," Niall replies.

"Whatever, the plan sounds good to me. As long as no one gets shot this time," Emma tries to joke. Louis smiles at her, shaking his head.

"I can't believe this is really happening," Eleanor speaks up.

"The good thing, it's almost over," I tell her. "Come on, as soon as we got his list and some proof, we can bring it to the police and we'll be okay."

"That's easy for you to say, Harry. You haven't really experinenced what Shawn is like. Sure, he slashed your arm, but he's done a lot worse and he is capable of a hell of a lot more." I look down at Emma and stare in disbelief at the words that just came out of her mouth.

"Emma, how many times do I have to tell you that I'm going to protect you no matter what?"

"We're not having this conversation here."

"Niall, can I talk to you outside for a moment?" I ask him.

He nods and stands up. I set Emma down and follow Niall out of the room. "What do you need?" he asks.