The Animator (Larry Stylinson)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - THE CAMP

The place looked busy and loud as they walked up and Harry gulped as he side eyed Niall. Louis joined them once more but was looking around the woods as if expecting them to get ambushed again and it was all making Harry uneasy.

There were caravans set up before them, hundreds of them all close together making up small semi-circles within a boundary. Many of them had fires set up in front of them with pots on the top of them, obviously cooking their lunches and dinners, people sat around the ones they could see, all watching as the group neared. Harry had never had so much attention on him in the past and he hated it, he hung his head stepping in behind some of the bigger members of their group.

"H," Louis said quietly swooping in as they reached the entrance to the camp. It had been so sudden and Louis' arm hooked around his wrist making him jump. "Come with me,"

Harry looked around himself and allowed Louis to pull him away from the crew, pleased when they were pulled out of the way of the stares of the camp folk.

Louis directed him around the back of the nearest caravan and Harry bit his lip wondering what was happening because Louis was looking around himself as if to check they were in private.

"What's going on?" Harry asked him and Louis turned back to him. He was thoroughly confused as to why Louis was pulling him into private. Louis hushed him and bit his lip sighing as he did.

"The Captain doesn't think I should tell you, but I'm going to anyway." Louis whispered, Harry listening intently just like he usually did. Harry wasn't all that surprised that Louis was going behind the captains back, after all he usually did. "I don't want you to be off guard, I'm going to tell you everything tonight. Okay?"

"Okay," Harry nodded as hope filled him, that's what he'd wanted after all and he felt even more fond of Louis for being the one to divulge him in the information. He hated being in the dark and Louis knew that.

"Great, meet me here at two in the morning," Louis continued as Harry nodded wondering what exactly was going on that meant that Louis had to tell him in the dead of night. "There's something else you should know."

Harrys heart picked up in his chest wondering just what else could be important enough to tell him in private and he felt himself frown, his confusion evident. Louis looked nervous as he stood, swaying slightly on the balls of his feet.

"What is it?" Prompted Harry.

"Well we're on our way to meet Anne," Louis said and Harry nodded, the Captain had already said what they were doing today. "She's the one who runs this camp."

"Yeah, I know." Harry said confused by Louis telling him this again, he wondered quite what it was about the situation that had been held back from him.

"Harry," Louis said hesitating and looking behind him again, "Annes-" He cut himself off looking back at Harry and he bit his lip. Harry was feeling more confused than ever and Louis could obviously tell.

"She's what?" Harry asked, nerves were filling him because of how Louis was acting. He couldn't see what Anne could have done to make Louis act like this. Perhaps she'd once been working with Zaphior and he would have to try and hide his powers and at that thought he subconsciously pulled Ferdinand tighter to his chest.

"She's your mother." Louis said looking apprehensively at him. Harrys stomach dropped, that was the last thing he thought he'd hear. He thought his mum was dead, thought his whole family were. It was the whole reason he was on the boat to begin with. She was taken by Zaphior and the Captain took him in.

"What?" Harry asked slowly whilst frowning, his whole body felt numb but also like something was kicking him. He realised it was his heart pounding in his chest, so powerfully he could feel it everywhere.