I still shook, biting my lip to keep myself from crying, the fear in his eyes bringing me out of balance. This was wrong. So wrong but I had no other choice! He'd kill me in a second if he realized that I wasn't obeying his orders. I had my finger on the trigger, movements unsure as I moved closer towards the desk, the guy watching my every move with fearful eyes. "P-please don't shoot!" He begged, piercing me with such a cruel feeling of inhumanity. I was becoming one of them. I was one of them in his eyes. He raised his hands once more, showing me that he was willing to do everything to keep his life intact. It was okay. I wouldn't pull the trigger. I couldn't pull the trigger. I was human. Human. "Put the money in a bag! Now!!" I shouted, my voice cracking halfway through the sentence but still being strong enough to send him into a rush, quickly emptying the cash register and shoving the money down in a bag. I still shook, chest heaving and sinking rapidly, trying to breathe in as much air as possible but I couldn't. I was criminal. My god.. I was criminal! How would I ever get a job after this? Would I end up in prison? My poor parents.. I'd never been the most perfect, beautiful or talented daughter but.. prison? Me? Jerrica Violet Faye? Goodie two shoes? I'd never even got detention! No, no.. It couldn't happen and it wasn't happening. I tried to lower the gun, taking in a deep breath and whispered quietly to the guy, knowing that I was under close observation, their eyes burning into my back. "It's okay.. I'm not-" I never even got to finish my sentence, one quick movement being enough for the guy to press the shop alarm and warn the police about what was happening. I panicked, looking to my left and right for a solution but my brain just locked down, running out of business just when I needed to come up with just one good idea to stay out of trouble. I caught Niall's gaze, he still stood outside the gas station, hands tied behind his back and the other kidnappers keeping him away from helping me. The tallest one, I think his name was Kennett, ran inside walking up behind me and forcing his hands on mine, pressing his thumb up against my finger, causing the trigger to go off. My scream cut through the air, much louder than the inaudible gasp that slipped through the cashiers lips as he fell onto the floor, blood staining his white uniform, brown eyes empty and lifeless. He was gone.. "NOOOOOOO!" I got down on my knees, hiding my face in my hands as I cried. He was dead. He was dead. He'd killed him! An innocent guy that just did his job, not once threatening or annoying Kennett but he killed him anyway. He just pulled the trigger ending another persons life in just seconds. Seconds... He grinned. I could hear the low chuckle rumbling in his chest, watching his work with a proud mine. One down, 2 more to go.. or wait. Just me. I looked at him, my cheeks tearstained as my eyes glinsed with disgust. "How could you?! What did he ever do to you?" I shouted, getting up to kick and punch him, anger being the overwhelming emotion now. He simply grabbed my wrists, pushing me up against the wall and pinning them above my head. "Me? Oh but I didn't do anything" He smirked evilly and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "You just killed him!" I hissed out between my clenched teeth. What was he acting all stupid for? He had just killed an innocent dude! And now he was acting like he didn't know? Geez! "No.." He spoke slowly, shaking his head and pointing towards the warm gun on the floor. "You held the gun. Your fingerprints are the ones the police will find. Not mine. You killed him" He laughed, watching as my whole world crumbled to pieces. Was he right? Had I killed him? Was all this my fault just because I technically was the one to pull the trigger? I felt my lower lip tremble slightly as I looked down, my long dark hair falling like curtains for my face. No. No this wasn't happening. I'd not killed him. It.. It wasn't my fault. "Trevor, Marty!" He shouted, the quiet sound of police sirens warning him. They had to get us out of here. Quick. He grabbed the bag with money in a swift motion, pulling on my hair and dragging me out the place that would replace the pictures of the black van in my nightmares, shoving me into the car and gagging me again. I still cried silent tears, ignoring the worrying stares from Niall. I was a killer. A monster. I was no longer innocent in this mess. *** Crawling up in the corner as soon as they locked the door behind them, I sniffled into my knees, the horrible images of the poor guy at the gas station burning on the inside of my eyelids. He looked like someone on about 20-23 years. He probably had a girlfriend. He had an entire life to live and then he just took it all away from him.. or was it me? Life was so fragile. One click, one blink.. and it could be over. "Hey.." Niall mumbled, crawling over to me and cautiously rubbing my arm. "It's alright.." He whimpered, probably knowing of the fact that his comfort was just the biggest cliché of them all. It's alright. It's okay.. Well if everything us so perfect why am I crying then, huh? Why am I unhappy? Oh that's right, because it's not okay! I sniffled, wiping my eyes to look at him. His eyes and mild expression soothed me. There was something peaceful over the way his ocean eyes pierced into mine. "It's not.." I whispered, quickly lowering my gaze again. I couldn't look at him. I was a monster. I didn't deserve the ocean blue beauty. I didn't deserve the comfort or kindness. Or the peace. I was horrible. Cruel. A demon longing for spilled blood. "Niall.. I killed him" My voice faded into a distant mumble, tears forcefully making their way out of my eyes. He sighed, hesitating before he pulled me in for a warm hug. It was incredible that he actually managed to stay this warm in the harsh cold that lingered in this room, the lousy blankets not helping at all. "No, you didn't. It's okay.. Smile, please?" He begged as I slowly cuddled up to him, shaking my head. I had no reason to smile. Not one.. "No" I protested, pouting like a 5-year old. He slowly crept his hands up on my ribs, the blush colouring my cheeks pink. I was just pathetic, snuggling up to my supposed enemy and acting like an annoyed pre-schooler who wants her teddy bear back. Pathetic... "Just one smile?" He wasn't giving up... but neither was I. If he wanted to argue with someone as stubborn as me. Well, then he had to prepare himself for defeat. I never lost. "No!" Before I knew it his fingertips were brushing over my ticklish areas, causing a slight giggle to leave my mouth. He looked amused, a smirk crossing his face this smirk not being as threatening or scary as when it was one of them to look at me like that. He started wriggling his fingers, tickling me softly and giggling along with me as I laughed. Oh god, how I hated being tickled! It's like one of the worst things ever, the constant squirming, laughing so much that you're running out of breath, not to mention the hideous red colour that consumed your face. Ugh, horrible! "Niall! No!" I squealed, finally managing to get out of his grasp. He smiled widely, eyes twinkling with joy as well. I felt my heart beat faster, staring at him in awe. "Y-You look... different when you smile. Like.. beautiful" I whispered breathlessly, watching him as his cheeks flushed, the smile growing. I should probably hate myself for speaking my thoughts out loud, for sharing my private opinions with my enemy... but I didn't. I wanted him to know.. He reached out, twirling a strand of my hair before brushing it behind my ear, staring deeply into my eyes. Wow.. Was his heart beating just as fast right now? I mean.. what? No, no. This wasn't happening. "You're stunning though... Not just when you laugh but all the time" His voice was soft and sincere and I couldn't help but grin at his words. He was the first one ever to say such things to me and the first to mean them as well. No one else saw me as pretty, beautiful or... stunning. "Thank you..." I smiled. "You're welcome Jerrica" He smiled, making me stare wide-eyed at him: That was the first time he used my name. The tables had really turned now. Was my enemy slowly becoming my uhm friend? I bit my lip thoughtfully, fiddling with the hem of my shirt as I wondered if it was really time to let out the questions in my head. He came first though. "What's your full name?" I smiled. He'd obviously wondered about the same things as I did. There were just so many things I needed to know. "Jerrica Faye.. and you?" "Niall Horan" He also smiled, the tickle fight apparently had a bigger influence on us than we'd thought. "Age?" "18 and you are?" "19.." Silence, but not the awkward 'Well, we have nice weather today' type of silene. No, this was pleasant silence, Calm, relaxing silence. Thoughtful silence. You know, the good kind. "Favorite colour?" He asked and this little questioning game continued for a while, some times causing us to burst out in laughter when we discovered something particularly funny about each other. Niall apparently couldn't choose a favorite dish and he thought it was hilarious that I'd never even watched one horror movie. Yeah, yeah I guess I'm coward.. The sadness suddenly overwhelmed me and I looked up at him with serious eyes. This wasn't the time or place for happiness and laughter. They could come and hurt us at anytime... "We shouldn't be smiling and laughing, Niall.. We.. We've really messed ourselves into some deep shit here" I sighed, frustratedly running a hand through my messy hair. Apparently a hairbrush was too much to ask for when it came to these jerks. How the hell could a hairbrush help us escape? Idiots.. "Yeah.." He sighs as well, looking down at his palms, clearly struggling to get the next words out. "I just.. If I'd been able to keep you away from talking to me. It would've not ended like this.." Funny how he blamed himself for this when I was the sinner. He wasn't the one who was stupid enough to go and search for something interesting and then end up getting kidnapped. "Don't blame yourself Niall.. It was my fault anyway" I took deep breath, no longer being able to hold in the one question I hadn't asked him yet but was dying to hear an answer for. "But.. how did they get you?" He bit his lip, shrugging slightly as his lips formed the answer, the words that fell out of his mouth, shocking me. "Easy.. I simply let them take me"...

Notes

A/N: So this chapter is going to be.. uhm. Well it's going to be emotionally challenging for some of you I guess but it will get better when you get to the end of it :) It is kinda, sort of what you would call 'a filler chapter' but still good I suppose! Enjoy! x