Chapter 21:



"Stop! Stop! Please no!" I screamed at the man with the needle.

"Quit squirming, the more you move, the more it hurts." The guy had a creepy smirk.

"What is it? Please, stop!" I whined and cried at the elderly nurse.

"You'll find out soon enough." The guy flicked the tube of the needle and handed it to the women.

And all of a sudden the lights flickered out and I couldn't see or feel a thing.




"Paris, Paris! Wake up!" Harry violently shook me.

I shook my head back and forth, "What?"

"Are you alright, you were shaking a lot in your sleep and muttering 'stop'?" Harry kept both his hands on my arms.

"Yeah, I was just having a pretty vivid dream. But I'm alright now." I took a deep breathe.

"Okay good, now just of back to sleep, it's like four in the morning." Harry ruffled my hair and held my
hand.




Mentally unstable people were everywhere, their eyes glazed and looking off while they twitched and shouted. They clawed at the walls and lunged out through the bars of their cells, poking their heads out thought the steal doors. And I walked, clothed in the same hospital gowns. But I wasn't one of them. Even as I was strapped down to a stretcher and wheeled across the cracked floors, passing by each of them. I still held onto my sanity while none of them could say the same.

"It's your turn." A haggard and frightening man reached out to grab me. "It's your turn!" He shouted out again.
"Come and join us." A young teenage girl played with her knotted hair.

"No!" I shouted and tried to pull away from her white eyes as the nurse moved me closer.

The lights flickered and someone screamed while the others grasped anything within close proximity. The teenage girl's bloody and torn hands gripped and tugged my wrist before getting ripped away as I wheeled by. The next victim we passed was banging her head against the wall. She didn't even bother to look at us, but just muttered the same thing over and over again, just a little but louder each time.

"I was like you." Her words stabbed my heart, like daggers. "I was like you."

Then we stopped, at two blood stained double doors. Inside was a chain, and soon enough I was strapped into it. My wrists locked into place, my head strapped in, along with my torso. My feet aggressively bound and held down by metal barriers.

"Don't move." The man injected a needle in the side of my neck.

I twitched and shook, unable to control my body. My eyes felt dry and rolled I to the back of my head. The next thing I was in a black lit room. A single cot under a dim and rocking spotlight. Someone appeared out of the dark and ripped my gown off. I was completely exposed in the bright lights, everything on display. The same man from before steeped closer with my blade in hand.

"This will hurt."

He pinned me to the cot and ran the blade around my body. Outlining every feature of me. Every flaw, every poking out bone and freckle. Soon enough blood dripped from every part of my body, besides my neck and head. Every part invisible behind my gown was scared. The guys greedy eyes scanned my body and ran a finger from my lips down to my toes. I shuddered under his touch, making him smile before taking another step closer.




"Paris, Paris." Harry tapped my cheek and rocked me a little bit.

"Why won't it stop?" I cried, squeezing my fist even tighter in Harry's large palms. "I can't stop it." Tears now flowed like the Mississippi River.

"Shhh... Paris. I'm here, I've got you." Harry soothed and securely wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, our feet intertwined and tangled. "It's okay, they're not going to hurt you, I'm here, just calm down."

"I hate it, I hate it! No, just go away!" I clutched my head in my one hand.

"Shh... It's over, just let it go." Harry placed a soft kiss against my forehead. "Now go to asleep, I'm here, waiting for you to get to sleep peacefully."

Harry closed the space between his stomach and my tender back, his arms covering mine, as he squeezed my waist. It felt comforting and finally I thought I would be able to get some sleep. And after some amount of time, I did.

In The Morning...

Our bodies were completely intertwined when I awoke. Harry and I were center meters apart. Our noses almost touching as we faced each other. His arms still pulling me towards him, close enough our chests were touching. And our legs were absolutely tangled.

When my eyes finally fluttered open after a rough night, Harry was already awake and watching me with a smile. He didn't even shift our position as he could clearly sense my confusion.

"I told you I was going to protect you." Harry's corners of his lips pulled into a cheeky grin. He's morning voice was deep and raspy.

"And I thank you for that." I couldn't help but try and smile.

"Anytime love." Harry placed a short and sweet kiss on my nose before starting to get up.

I don't know what type of relationship was forming between Harry and I. But whatever it was, it was going to be different and special. We fight and we recover. And each time we fight like friends we end up forgiving like lovers. And I'm not ready to start something like this. I'm still in school, and trying to soak up all the knowledge I can, and joining a gang had already thrown me for a loop. I still can't being my mind to why I would move here and join them, but deep down inside, I hope it was for a good reason.

So far we have a relationship like I've always wanted. I never really had too many girl friends, I liked to hang with my brothers and their friends. Friends that are girls are always way too dramatic and always start something unnecessary. And that's why I'm so close to Niall, and was with Easton. They make you tough and challenge your comfort zone, but are there for you when you need it. You fight like siblings but treat each other like best friends. And I guess what Harry and I have, fit in somewhere between those boundaries.

"Paris? You coming?" Harry's voice snapped me out of my trance.

"Ah, yeah. Just give me a minute to get dressed." I stumbled out of our fort and threw some clothes over my pajamas.

Breakfast was uncomfortable for me, that's for sure. Everyone was giving me looks, as if they were trying to create a story to match the visible injuries. My back was hidden behind a large t-shirt, however my cheek and neck were on full display. And the worst part was, people weren't even trying to be discrete. They would full on stare for minutes on end, not even bothering to hide it.

"How you feeling?" Niall and Lou sat down at the empty table I was at.

"I'm okay, just really sore." I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

"What are you hiding behind those clothes." Lou motioned to the visible lines of multiple clothing.

"Besides these," I motioned to my face. "My back is pretty torn up."

"Can we see it?" Casper and Zayn stood by.

"Glad to see you feeling a little better." Zayn rubbed my shoulder.

"Can I show you after breakfast, I hate all these eyes on me." I looked around at all the gazes directed towards me.

"Come on, just give them what they want." Casper picked at my shirt.

"Don't push her." Zayn warned.

"It's okay, mine as well get it over so the looks will stop." I started getting up from my chair. "For everybody who is giving me dirty looks, if you want to see my injuries, now is your chance." I stood the middle of the room.

I stripped my baggy shirt and spun around. Allowing only half of the scabs to be detectable. Niall came up and assisted me, by lifting the back of my tank up to showcase the other half. Gasps, and cringes were everywhere.

"Damn." Louis even muttered. Proves him right for thinking I was a weak bitch.

Now should be a good time to call him out on it. "That's what I thought Louis." Sure enough all the attention left me and shifted over to Louis. Who was currently speechless. "Don't call me weak if you don't know."

All of a sudden a quick reminder flashed through my mind, I has fucking school today. Harry clearly sensed my mood swing and raced over to me. "Niall." He motioned him to follow us out.

"What's wrong?" Niall asked first.

"I'm missing fucking school. I'm going to be so far behind, and I start more of my classes next week." I started to panic.

"Calm down Paris, we already called in for you and explained a little story. Your teachers will be emailing you your missed lessons, you will have a week from your return to get them all in. Everything is going to be okay." Harry reassured me.

"Now what can we do to get this all off of your mind?" Niall insisted.

"I-I don't know." I tried to contain myself by taking deep breathes.

"Come on, anything. Bowling, movies, laser tag, mini golf, ice cream, bungee jumping." Harry suggested. Niall and I both gave him a look for his options. Bungee jumping? "What?"

"She just went through hell and back, I don't think she would want to risk her life going bungee jumping right now." Niall defended.

"Let's go out for some lunch, and I'll think of something there." That was the best I could come up with.

"Deal. You pick the place and we'll bring you there." Niall concluded.

"I don't really know too many restaurants around, here. I jut moved in town this school year." I reminded.

"Ah, Niall, you pick the place, I'll drive." Harry suggested.

"I'm going to go get dressed and knock some homework out of the way. We can go on your schedule, you pick a time and I will be ready." I didn't really want them to stop there life's just to do something for me.
And that's all I needed before heading up to my room. I wanted to take another quick shower and get some of my math homework done. I knew I would have to make up a lot of that, so hopefully I could accomplish most of it. And after a good hour or two, I had finished. All that math started to get me hungry, that's for sure.

"Knock knock." Two boys harmonized at my bedroom door.

"Come in." I shouted over my shoulder.

"You ready to go out for lunch?" Harry spun his keys around his finger.

"Ah, yeah. Just let me get dressed." I threw my homework aside and started rummaging through my closet.

"Don't think too hard Paris, you look good in anything." Niall called from my bed.

"Yeah, yeah, just give me a few more minutes." I headed to my en suit to get dressed. After five minutes of fixing my hair and getting dressed, I emerged.

Both the boys eyes lit up when I resurfaced. "Damn." Harry muttered. "You look good."

"I'm in a graphic tank top and jeans, nothing special about this." I don't really see where he was coming from.

"Lou has boots just like those." Niall commented.

"Shh... These are hers. Don't tell her." I played along.

"Deal. Now let's get going." Harry was getting impatient with Niall and I. Rolling my eyes, I followed the two out. Hopefully Harry wouldn't be too grumpy throughout lunch, or I've got a long afternoon ahead of me.

The drive wasn't too long. We passed roads and roads of old and rustic buildings and homes. Each of them holding their own kind of beauty and charm. I feel that in a way Harry drove this direction for me. I cherished old looking and classic buildings that still stood in the modern world. Old and rustic styles mixed with a little bit of the new generation just excites and intrigues me. And as the car rolled to a stop in front of an old Italian style cafe, I could almost jump with joy.

The classic Italian restaurant seemed perfect. It's large glass windows showcasing a little hint of the interior. While the small seating arrangement outside seemed like the real ones in Italy, gathered around the plaza. It had been rather gloomy the past few days, rain ready to drop at any moment. So we had chosen a table indoors.

"We will get two of your homestyle pizzas with a side of breadsticks." Harry ordered before our waitress even brought us the menus. "Drinks?" Harry looked up from his side of the table to Niall and I in the booth section.

"Ah, I'll just have water." I smiled at the young lady.

"Make that three." Harry glanced to Niall, who nodded.

"I'll get your waters right away." The girl dismissed herself.

"Why are you so anxious? We've just got here." I gave Harry a look.

"I'm not." Harry protested.

"Yes you are. Anyway, I want to know a little more about what happened back at the boîte?" I expelled the talk about Harry's tone before it grew into a full blow argument, and started up with a new conversation.

"Starting from when?" Niall finally joined the talk.

"After I was taken to the room by the man I was told to watch." I lowered my voice.

"You were touched by him!" Harry shot up from the table, shoving his chair back and shouting loudly.

"I can't remember distinctly." I offered. "It could have been anybody."

Harry swiped the table cloth off the table, smashing the glass vase into tiny bits. Backing up, he bumped into the waitress, causing her to spill all our drinks on herself. To say he was furious would be an understatement, he we vehement with raging anger.

Storming out, Harry revved the engine of his car, notifying Niall and I he was leaving. Niall started to stand up to join Harry, but I stopped him. "You can go, but I'm staying. Just let him cool down a little bit and he'll be back. He can't just leave us here."

"I don't know Paris, I think he-"

"Could use some time to settle down." I finished for Niall.

"I guess." Niall sat back down before thinking it over in his head.

So Niall and I came to agreement that we would enjoy our little lunch, without Harry. We apologized to our server and offered to pay for the district ion Harry caused. After all was settled, our afternoon seemed to go smoothly. Niall and I laughed like we used to when we were best friends. We told stories that would make you choke on your drink laughing. After two hours of dinning and indulging in uplifting conversations, the sun had started to hide behind the peek of the city skyline.

"Getting a little late, isn't it?" Niall commented while looking out the window.

"Yeah, we best be getting home." I started up from my chair, seeing we had paid a long time ago.

Niall escorted me out the door where we stood. Completely forgetting we were without a ride. And as a light breeze swept in, it hit. "Zero messages from Harry." Niall checked his phone.

"Me neither. Looks like we are on our own." I started walking down the street by the old homes.

"Paris, hold on. You are just going to walk?" Niall stopped me.

"Yeah, why not?"

"Well I was just going to call one of the boys to come pick us up." Niall motioned to the number already dialed in his phone screen.

"Come on, you guys need to open up, have a little adventure that doesn't involve drugs, alcohol, or anything relating it a gang or tattoo." All the mystery and adventure they are exposed to has to do with sex or dangerous people and weapons.

"So what do you have in mind?" I knew Niall wasn't fully convinced.

And that's where the fun began. I sprinted down the sidewalk, towards he small river we had passed on our way here and stood at the edge of the water. Every few seconds I had to check and make sure Niall was still following me. Being it had been a very warm autumn afternoon, I rolled up the cuffs of my jeans just a little bit above me ankles. Chasing ducks and scaring geese as they flew paddled by. I didn't bother stepping into the cold water, it felt chilling and made you just want to move around.

I would hide behind a scrawny tree, clearly visible for anyone to see. But the geese were so innocent and unsuspecting, making it even easier for me to plan my attack. I would wait, until just the right moment. Sprint put from behind my mark, i would run after and scare the ducks until I reached the water along the hem of my rolled up jeans. I know it was a childish activity, but sometimes you need to let loose, and let your inner child come out.

"That was your idea of a fun time?" Niall teased as I approach him on his bench.

"Shut up, it was a lot more fun than it looked." I flicked some water off of my hands.

"Oh I bet!" His words dripping with sarcasm.

"Yeah, yeah, let's go now." I took Niall's hand and dragged him to the sidewalk along the river. Following me, he walked right into my plan. Two steps more, and I was splashy frigid water at him.

"Fudge!." He shouted and gave me a glare.

"Lighten up." I snickered.

"Oh yeah?" Niall came bounding in, splashing me with water.

After becoming half wet, we reached that point where it was no longer fun. We were both cold and wet. "Liam's on his way. I called a while ago." Niall and I took a second to shake any water off of us.

Luckily, Liam pulled up moments later. Slower and dramatically he rolled down the passenger seat window. "What happened to you two?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"Her idea of a little fun adventure is hiding behind a tree and scaring ducks while they swim in the river, and then pulling me in with her, splashing around." Niall gave him a look of exhaustion while I smiled like a million bucks.

"And you're complaining?" Liam smiled and gave me a high five.

"Whatever, I'm tired. Would you just fucking drive us home now?" Niall sat down in the passenger seat.

"Sure. And I thought you had a girlfriend?" I closely listened in to their conversation from the backseat.

"I do."

"Then why...?"

"Harry and I made a lunch plan to get things off her mind. After the first few minutes of conversing, he got upset and stormed out, to say the least. So Paris and I ate together and shared a laugh. We are good friends, nothing more." Niall answered, and I couldn't agree more.

"Ah."

"So how's your lady?" Niall advertised the attention away from himself.

"Shes good." And that's all Liam had to say.

That was the last of words said during the ride. Something seemed to be on Liam's mind, Niall and I could both sense it. And it wasn't something little, I've heard the boys talking about how he's been acting off and different lately. Nobody knows why and he's not talking to anyone, like he's a whole new person.

"Paris, go to the spa." Bailey instructed the second I stuck my foot out of Liam's car.

"What, why?" I hadn't even been inside the building and I've already being bombarded with commands.

"Just go." Some tattooed guy with pierces clutched Bailey and gave me a dirty look.

"Go down to the spa." Louis purposely bumped into me. "Hurry up!" He yelled after me when I didn't run.

"Get down there already!" Jay called as I ran down the stairs.

Running my fastest in my soggy clothes, I rounded he corner and stepped into the spa, silently out of breathe. "I hate that bitchy whore, she's so fucking annoying! She walks around like she calls the shots when clearly she's fucking worthless. She's Just fresh meat to send Richard fucking mad trying to get his hands on her. And she acts so naive, like she doesn't see the way people look at her. I'm done with this little nice guy act you were telling me about. She's just fucking beginning." Harry's gritted his teeth as a tall and skimpy bimbo clutched his arm. "She's just-"

He started to talk even more shit about me. "Shh... Harry. I think I've got a way to clear your mind." She purred, just barley in my hidden sight, I witness her become sluttier every moment. "Just let it out, one last time." She stuck her fake ass finger nail on Harry's collar of his tee and dragged it down.

"I just fucking hate that damn slutty ass bitch." He groaned.

I tried not to let his pathetic and childish swearing get to me. "Glad to hear it, the feelings mutual. I'm done." My voice was strong and shocking to them.

"The truth hur—" The bimbo started to bitch at me.

"Eh, fuck off, I wasn't talking to you." I flipped her off and held my middle finger at her for some time. "Too bad the fucking gang leader is a pussy, couldn't even say it to my face. This 'gang' is weak as shit." I spat and started towards the door.

I didn't bother walking out fast or crying in the elevator like they do in the movies. That would be pointless. I didn't like it here and I didn't fit in, so fuck it. I'm happy to be out. At least back in the dorms I won't be drugged or taken advantage of. I wasn't fazed by all this to be honest. I saw it coming in a way, and thats why it didn't matter that much to me. So while everyone I passed gave me a look, I gave it right back. As soon as I reached my room, I was packing. Finally leaving this dark ass sink hole.

Notes

Blow ups number one and two completed.
-E