The Animator (Larry Stylinson)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - INTERROGATING TO THE MAX

Louis went to walk into the shop but Harry and Niall lunged at him at the same time and much to his shock, pulled him back to them. Something definitely felt off, and Harry wasn't all to sure what it was but Niall had obviously sensed it too.

"You feel that?" Harry asked him as Louis looked between the two of them looking slightly put out that they'd grabbed him. Harry was still holding his arm, but Niall had let go as he took a step nearer to the door.

"Yeah," He said, his voice low. "I think someones in there."

"Friend or foe?" Louis asked.

"Do we have any other friends?" Harry asked and Louis frowned slightly and stepped back further into Harry. "Can you hear any thoughts?"

"No," Niall said with a frown looking back at them. "They're blocking them." He continued.

"Okay, I'm going in." Harry said thrusting Ferdinand into Louis' arms who looked at him in shock.

"You're not going in there." Louis said sternly once he'd registered what was going on.

"I'm the only one out of all of us with a power to protect us." Harry said, "There's only one person in there."

"Well Ni and I will follow-"

"No you both need to wait out here, I'll have to be quiet, they may not know we're here yet." Harry said pulling his arm out of Louis' tight grip. Louis looked nervous but didn't seem to have anything else to stop harry going in.

"If whoever it is comes out of the door, just be careful yeah?" Harry said and they both nodded. Harry walked to the door and he stepped over the books and the broken door and continued in to the library.

It looked exactly as they'd left it, and he looked around each of the shelves in case someone was there, but the front of the shop seemed to be clear, he looked over his shoulder at the door where Niall and Louis were both looking in looking like they were holding their breath.

He continued around the counter, everything exactly as Harry remembered it last time and he walked into the dark corridor and slowly looked around the door of the living room where a candle was flickering.

He held his breath and very quietly peered around the room, ready to use his power if he was suddenly ambushed, he frowned as he heard heavy breathing and looked over at the sofa.

He could see a figure laying there, they looked to be asleep and as Harry looked closer, there was no mistaking who it was. Max was asleep on the sofa, either hiding from Zaphiors men for letting them go, or waiting for them to come back. Either way, Harry did not want to find out.

Harry slowly made his way back out of Louis' home, careful not to make any noise and he made his way back through the library to the others who were looking expectantly at him.

"It's max," He said walking out, "He's asleep in your living room."

"Max?" Louis frowned looking at the door again. They all paused looking around at each other, all wondering what to do now.

"Let's smother him." Niall said and both Harry and Louis turned to look at him with their eyebrows raised. Niall grinned at them and Harry found himself smiling, "What?"

"Should we lock him up?" Harry asked, "Maybe we can get some information out of him about Zaphior and the way he runs stuff?"

"Yeah, if he sees us he'll let Zaphior know where we are. We can't let him escape." Louis said and he bit his lip. He was thoughtful about the whole ordeal and Harry looked back to Niall.