Oscillation | [H.S]

Chapter 6

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Louis said, his nose pulled up in disdain. "It looks disgusting"

We had arrived at Creswick after another half an hour or something in the car. It had given me time to calm down after the harsh abuse, totally distancing myself from Harry. I did not look once at him, only staring out the window. Sometimes I could see my bloody reflection in the car window when we passed through a tunnel.

When we had arrived at Creswick, Liam had opened my door with a stone look on his face. He had given me a baby-wipe with a short "Clean yourself." The towel had felt great against my face, the cold soothing the burning skin. I had wiped away all the blood that had dripped from my mouth down my chin. I luckily still had all of my teeth.

After arrival, another car joined us a minute later, revealing the two boys that were on the couch with Harry. Louis stepped out joined by a man that had dark brown hair too, styled into a bed-head quiff. He was the only one without visible tattoos.

They had all looked with revulsion at the worn-down building. It was dated from 1955, with bricks that had turned gray since they were never cleaned. The window frames must have been white once. It also had the obvious smell of dust and dirt hanging in its vicinity.

Harry straightened his back, starting to walk towards the large doors that marked the entrance. Zayn grabbed me by my arm, pulling me with them.

"If you try to run I will not hesitate putting a bullet in those lovely legs of yours." He mumbled at me, his voice low. I knew what he was capable of, so I shivered and nodded quickly.

Once we arrived at the large front doors, Harry tried the handle but it didn't budge. I had the keys of the door in my bag that was with me when I was kidnapped. As was my phone. I hadn't seen the bag again.

A surge of happiness flew through me, knowing they wouldn't be able to go inside. Nobody on the inside would open the door for them; it was one of the three house rules. That's why I always hung onto my keys for dear life, otherwise I had to sleep outside.

Of course I was too naive because Louis was attaching a small device to the door and opening it within the slightest moment. He threw the doors open with force, the glass in the hall ringing. I saw some of the kids looking at us in shock.

Harry walked inside first, carelessly, his hands deep in his pockets. I could see the contours of the gun again which was resting at the back of his waistband. I could see the noses of the men wrinkling up to stop the penetrant smell of the house coming into their noses. Their eyes flew over the mess that was the inside of this orphanage.

"Now, Kitten, tell me where we are going, yeah?" Harry said to me, suddenly stopping and turning around. I was pushed past Harry by the boy who was holding my arm. I felt their stares prickling at my back, daring me to make a run for it. I could already see the dead bodies of all the kids shattered around the house if I did, me laying with them. So I walked towards the stairs that led to Mr. Acker his 'office'. As he liked to call it. However, before I could even take the first step, Mr. Acker was standing at the top.

"Emma, you're late." His old voice echoed through the hallway. I nodded. "Go to my office and wait there for me." He demanded. I hated Harry even more now. Mr. Acker his punishments were painful and degrading. I wasn't even ready to take a step towards the office of Mr. Acker yet and Harry was already speaking to me.

"Don't walk away, Kitten." His voice was warning me. I stayed where I was.

"You don't have anything to say about the kids here!" Mr. Acke shouted outraged. The kids that were in the hallway before tried to shuffle to the kitchen quietly.

"She's not yours anymore. Now go get her papers and give them to me." I had noticed Harry was always short and direct.

"Who do you think you are?! I need the money I get from the government for caring for these kids!" Mr. Acker started to become red in his face. He indeed needed the money, but not to care for us. His priority when shopping for groceries were his booze and cigarettes. Every night we nibbled on stale bread, watching Mr. Acker drinking himself to death. We always hope that every sip would be the last one.

The glass in the hall rang again, vibrating caused by the loud sound of a gun. Zayn had his gun right in front of him. Mr. Acker was howling in pain, grabbing his foot that was now bleeding through the hole in is shoe.

"You have a minute to get those papers." Harry said calmly.

"I can't walk with a fucking bullet in my foot!" Cried Mr. Acker, sweat dripping down his forehead. I touched my own cheek briefly, touching the hurt skin. These men had no mercy.

"Fifty-five seconds left. You better get them or the next bullet will be the next." Harry looked from his watch to Mr. Acker. Zayn was standing next to Harry, playing with the gun in his hand and pointing it to Mr. Acker again, who tried to run to his office as quick as possible.

"Please don't hurt the other kids." I whispered softly, hoping any of the men would hear.

"Being nice isn't really a quality of mine, Kitten. I thought you would have discovered that by now." Harry answered me, without looking away from his watch. I turned away my gaze from Harry, my stomach turning around. The tension in the air was heavy.

"This house is shit. The walls are covered in mould." Louis broke the silence. He made me feel even more ashamed.

"Time's up!" Harry's loud voice echoed through the halls. Mr. Acker has just made it to the top of the stairs but was now falling down after another shot. He stopped at the bottom, blood flowing from a hole in his head onto the carpet. I gagged, turning around and walking towards the fresh air. I could feel myself getting another panic attack, breathing heavily.

I tried to control my breathing while leaning against the wall right outside the door. How would I survive these men?

Black boots came into my vision and my gaze shot up, meeting Harry's emerald eyes.

"Don't ever walk away from me. We wouldn't want you to get hurt now, would we?" He didn't break the stare.

"The only one who has hurt me today was you." I looked down while I was saying this, not having the courage to meet his eyes anymore.

"That is what I meant. Do not walk away because next time there will be consequences." He spoke sternly. His fingers were clenched around a folder, probably filled with all my papers and information.

"I'm not afraid of dying." I said, although deep down I knew this was a lie.

"Maybe not. But I can make you afraid of living." He answered, before turning away.