Duplicity

Due

        I'd had an uneasy slumber, with vivid dreams of being chased and held in a black van by two gun-wielding men, but I was quickly reminded of my frightening reality when I was suddenly roused from my sleep by the bounce of the car over a pot hole or something.  I half opened my eyes to see that I had my head in Louis's lap, and he seemed to be asleep, and Liam was at the wheel, his head bobbing along to some Kanye West.  I figured that now was good a time as ever to try and escape, so I gave no warning as I threw myself against the passenger door as I opened the handle and tumbled onto the road.  I landed painfully on compact dirt, and the car grinded to a halt in the road, storms of dust forming around the wheels. I quickly took in my surroundings and, just my luck, I was in the middle of nowhere, neither a single building nor soul in sight. 



         Grassy fields were all I could see, but there were no horses or sheep, or anything really, to indicate that there was anyone that could help me. It was dusk, which meant I had been out for almost a full day and the sun had just set over the horizon, but I didn't have time to admire the country scenery, so different from city I had lived in all my life, because I was already heading towards the tree line as I heard the doors of the car bang open.



         "Stop!  Liam, for fucks sake!" Louis yelled, and I risked a glance back to see Liam stumbling out of the driver's seat, holding something black and heavy in his hands. 

BANG! 

I screamed in horror, and the deadly bullet grazed my shoulder just long enough for me to trip over my own feet and fall face down in the dirt, scraping my cheek against the rocks jutting out from the road. 
I didn't even have time to attempt another escape before I was yanked up off the ground with a force that nearly pulled my arms out of their sockets. 


        
"You stupid bitch!  You're so lucky that I haven't slept in two days, and my aim is off, otherwise you would've been shot face down in the dirt like the filthy piece of shit you are!" Liam hissed in my face, shaking me so hard my teeth clacked together. Hot tears spilled out of my eyes in steady streams, as I was too stunned to even attempt to speak. 

Liam's sinister brown eyes narrowed at my frightened features for a moment, before a sadistic smile tugged at the edges of his mouth. "You know what, dollface? I think I should just save boss the trouble, and find someone more...docile," He fumed, pressing his pistol to the back of my head. 

An awful sob ripped through my lips, as I closed my eyes, praying for my father and brothers to finally find peace, when suddenly Liam was shoved away, the ringing sound of the shot sliced through the night air as the bullet whizzed into the inky black sky. 

         "Holy shit, have you gone fucking bat-shit crazy? We have deadline in about an hour, Payne, in case you forgot.  If Harry doesn't get her tonight, he won't be happy and then little miss show-off here won't be the only one with a bullet through her brain, lying face down in a ditch somewhere," he spat, and Liam pushed his way out of his grip. My lips parted momentarily to thank Louis for saving my life, but he beat me to it.

         "You would have been foolish not try to escape at least once, and I don't blame you, but it's too late now.  We're beyond the point where you can get help." He spoke matter-of-fact, like he was trying not to feel anymore guilt.

        I walked back to the van and then slid into the back seat, avoiding Liam's hard gaze as he shut the door behind me and began to drive again. I also ignored Louis' sympathetic gaze and opted to look out the window, studying a large hawk flying just above the treetops.  It took me a few seconds to notice the little wiggling legs dangling from its beak and I wanted to look away, but I was almost entranced. I couldn't take my eyes off of the bird as it landed on a branch and quickly dropped the injured mouse by its feet.  The poor creature barely got on its back before the hawk devoured in one gulp, and its beady black eyes seemed to meet mine through the window.  I could feel it, that it was a warning of what was yet to come.