The Hostage and the Wanted

Isabella paced the bathroom after splashing water on her face, washing her hands and using the toilet. She was happy to have the free reign but her anxiety was sky high. She didn’t want to relive anything from her past, nor did she want to discuss it with strangers but she was at the end of her rope and knew she’d have to give something to get any kind of amenity – she owed them that much…no, she owed them shit. They were her captors, not her saviors. They were hindering her chance of survival, not helping –not in the least.

“Think Ella, think, think, think! Come on, you’re smarter than people give you credit for. You slipped those assholes for two years, you can get yourself out of this situation.” She psyched herself up, stopping only when she noticed a window. Right in the shower –and it was small, but not too small.

“Ella? You alright in there?” Zayn asked, having been outside the door, no doubt listening to her pace and mumble like a crazed idiot.

“Yeah, I needed to get the circulation back in my feet. I was pacing.” Isabella called out, going to the door and opening it, stepping outside –the wheels in her head turning faster than normal. She saw her opportunity. She knew she didn’t have time right then but she knew that when she did, they wouldn’t have any clue. She would simply disappear.

“I heard.” Zayn smiled, putting his hand on her back and guiding her down the hall to the small kitchen.

There was a small round table there, Louis was prepped up on one of the chairs, his face relaxed. He was looking at everything and nothing at the same time.

“How are you feeling?” Isabella asked him kindly. She knew he had been shot and despite being angry, she was calm enough to let a little bit of her humanity shine through.

“Flying high, babe.” Louis smirked, his eyes dilating.

“Glad someone’s having a good time.” Isabella snorted.

“He was given some really good pain meds, he’ll be out of it for a bit.” Harry said casually, sitting down in the seat next to her.

Isabella fell silent, looking across at Niall who was taking food out of the oven and a few things from the microwave. His face was relaxed and he hummed softly as he finished prepping for the late morning dinner.

Zayn and Liam came to sit down around the small table, leaving a space for Niall. They were all fully cramped and in close proximity to one another, then again, the table wasn’t that big.

Harry had scooted his chair to Isabella, their bodies nearly touching. She didn’t know if he had done it on purpose at first but come to find out that everyone would be crowded.

Niall began to serve the food, handing out the Shepard’s pies first, before handing each of them a bowl filled with assortments of sides.

“Dig in.” Niall smiled, joining them at the table when everything was distributed evenly.

Isabella looked down at the plate but she wasn’t really hungry. Her mind was going too fast. Her body felt worn and tired.

“Eat. That’s not a request.” Harry said calmly, picking up his own utensil.

Isabella hesitantly picked up the plastic fork they had given her and looked at it. Did they really not trust her with regular silverware?

Harry seemed to notice and answered her unvoiced question.

“It works just as well. Eat.”

She could tell his patience was wearing thin. So she put her plastic fork into the pie and took a small bite.

“Ella?” Liam spoke, catching the girl’s attention.

“Yes, sir?” Isabella responded, making Louis snort.

“He’s certainly not a sir.” Was his smartass reply.

“I don’t know his name, I forgot.” Isabella replied, her voice soft. She figured playing submissive for a little bit wouldn’t hurt her. If anything, she hoped it was enough for the boys to go easy on her –maybe even lower their guard.

Liam smiled.

“My name’s Liam. Yours is Isabella –you’ve made quite the impression.” He chuckled, which made Isabella crouch down a little, knowing that wasn’t a compliment.

“I’m sure you can imagine that this was also unexpected. This whole situation. I didn’t –I didn’t expect to be kidnapped and held against my will. I always thought that, if it happened, it’d be the ones in the van to grab me. Believe me, had I known I was going to be held prisoner I would never have walked into that convenient station.” Isabella replied desperately truthful, glancing at Harry who only looked at her and smiled.

“Well you did. No use regretting it now.” He shrugged, popping a dried vegetable into his mouth and chewing it, seeming a little more relaxed.

Isabella didn’t say anything to that and simply went back to her food.

“What’s your story? How do you know one another? Niall told me a little but not a lot. What –“She began but Harry cut her off.

“Niall shouldn’t have told you anything.” He replied sharply, not letting her finish.

“He didn’t! I mean –I don’t –I” She stuttered, her mind racing as she looked at Niall for help.

“I told her circumstances change, you rob, I steal. Just the way life is for us. She doesn’t know. That’s not just my story to tell, mate,” Niall explained, wiping his mouth with a white napkin, looking to Zayn and shrugging. “I don’t see the harm in telling her.”

“I do. She doesn’t need to know.” Harry interrupted their decision.

“So you want my story but you don’t trust me enough to know yours?” Isabella asked, taking another bite of the Shepard’s pie, she had to admit, Niall could cook.

“Unlike your situation, mine isn’t going to get us killed. So, yes, I’d say the circumstances surrounding my history and yours is different enough to warrant some kind of explanation, luv. Although, I suppose I could answer your one question. We all know each other from a show, long while ago. Are you aware of a show called ‘The X Factor?’”

Isabella nodded. She had heard of it but never bothered to watch. She didn’t even have TV at her place of residence. Didn’t do any good to have something you end up having to up and leave at a moment’s notice.

“We were contestants on that, we came in third. Simon Cowell, you heard of him?” Harry continued unaffected.

“Yes.” Isabella responded, knowing very well who he was. She’d have to be living under a rock if she didn’t considering he was a big name there in England.

“He tried us out to general audiences but due to a higher turnover in boy bands, we hit a peak and it never got anywhere. So, we continued to strive through the years but eventually realized we weren’t getting anywhere and disbanded.” Harry shrugged.

“That doesn’t explain why you rob stores. If Zayn has such a good job medically, why not follow in his footsteps? Why go rebel and make yourselves wanted all across the board?” Isabella asked, which made Harry pause, he wasn’t sure how to answer that.

Isabella noticed her hand print had reddened on Harry’s cheek, it wouldn’t be going away for quite a few hours, which, oddly enough, satisfied her.

“Well, if you can’t be famous, be wanted.” Louis chuckled. In truth, that was the perfect answer.

The group looked at Louis for a moment before sharing in his amusement.

“Should get the bloke high more often.” Liam shook his head with a small smirk.

“No, I don’t think we should.” Zayn disagreed wholeheartedly.

Niall shared in Zayn’s sentiments with an agreement of his own, watching Isabella smile. It was the first genuine expression he saw.

“You have a pretty smile, dove. You should use it more often.” Niall commented, making the girl’s face fall. It was almost as if for a moment that she forgot where she was – who they were. With the story switching from her to them, it was easier to focus – to see them as human.

“Thanks.” She replied softly, shutting in on herself again. That was something no one at the table wanted to see, it would be hard getting answers out of her otherwise.

Zayn lent forward, whispering in Liam’s ear before receiving a nod.

“Ella? What’s your favorite color?” Zayn asked casually, finishing off his plate of food.

She shrugged.

“Light blue, although green is pretty too. The jaded kind, not the slime color.”

“Favorite movie?” Niall asked, which made her pause. She hadn’t seen a full movie in damn near two years. The more she thought about it, the more it sort of depressed her. The last movie she had seen was Frozen. Other than that, she really didn’t know anymore.

“The last movie I got to see was Frozen. I didn’t care for it all that much but I haven’t had time to watch movies. I’ve been running for two years. I couldn’t really tell you to be truthful.” Isabella frowned.

“Way to rack up points there Niall.” Louis said, finishing off his plate.

Isabella pushed hers away, her appetite satisfied. She managed to eat the Shepard’s pie but the sides weren’t really her thing.

“Thank you for cooking Niall, that was very kind of you.” Isabella smiled, brushing off the awkwardness.

“You’re welcome. I have desert in the fridge if anyone wants.” Niall said, standing up and stretching, beginning to take the dishes to the sink.

“Can I help? Please?” She asked, turning to Harry.

Harry looked at her like she had grown two heads.

“You want to help do dishes?” Harry asked skeptically, swallowing the last forkful of food.

“Yes. I need to do something. I’ve been tied up, I need to stand – just, something. Please? I can help Niall and it’s not like I can try anything. There’s four of you and he’ll be with me at the sink.” Isabella asked hopefully, her eyes lighting up.

Harry shrugged.

“Alright, but you got to answer me one question. I want to know how you got all that money. There’s over a million pounds in that bag.” Harry looked at her expectantly.

Isabella gulped, her eyes darting suddenly. She honestly didn’t know how to answer that question other than truthfully.

“I stole it. I actually had close to five million pounds at one point but with hiding, running –it adds up. I would rent a space a year or two in advance. It would throw the ones chasing me off. I wouldn’t stay there for more than a few days before moving on. When I was feeling particularly wasteful I’d go to the casinos – this was before I came here. I’d purposely catch the attention of the cameras –I knew they would see me and I was right. By the time they got my location, I’d be gone again. I slipped them for two years doing that. Once I came here. I settled on a place out in the boonies, no neighbors –as you saw. I figure I could quit running for a while and it worked. I don’t know how they got my location.”

Harry stared at her –actually the rest of the group had turned to stare in bewilderment as well, Niall’s dishes forgotten about as he sat back down to listen.

“You stole that money? You stole five million dollars? Where did you steal it from?” Niall asked, his eyes sparkling in excitement.

“Not really where, more like who.” Isabella said, biting her lip. She really didn’t want to get into her history. It would be bad if any of the ones following her found out she told.

“The guy from the picture? The one at the Christmas party you were standing by?” Harry guessed when she didn’t divulge the information aloud.

Isabella hesitated but nodded.

“I had my reasons, we need to leave it at that.” Isabella insisted, biting her lip nervously, chewing on it.

“No, you know what? I don’t believe for a second that, that’s the only reason you have someone tailing your ass, is it, luv? There’s more to it, isn’t there? You wouldn’t of given up that piece of information if that was it. You made mention of a son who died and your fiancé. There’s more to it and I’m running out of patience, I want to know what you’re running from!” Harry exploded, his voice generally getting louder, silence washing over the group.

Isabella flinched back, afraid that he might return her earlier gesture when she slapped him but instead he waited expectantly. All she could do is stare at him in fear. His eyes were cold and emotionless.

“Harry, mate, that’s not a way to get an answer out of anyone.” Louis spoke calmly, although he was still high, he was coherent enough to know that screaming was not a way to achieve what they needed to.

“Louis is right, Hazza, you need to take a walk and I need to get to these dishes. Can she help? You already said she could if she answered you that question. There is plenty of time for answers, we need them but we need to go about it the right way.” Niall calmed, standing up.

Harry growled, giving Isabella a pointed look.

“Fine, go but should you try anything, luv, you will wish you hadn’t even had the thought. I expect answers. There’s a lot more to this story than you’re letting on.” Harry said, standing up himself, offering out his hand.

Isabella grasped it softly, standing up from the chair with his guidance.

She nodded to him a silent and hesitant thanks before walking over toward the sink, grabbing a random dish and turning the water on.

Niall gathered the rest of the cutlery and walked over beside her, dumping them in.

“Thank you.” Isabella whispered to Niall softly, a small tear making its way down her cheek.

“You’re welcome, dove.” Niall murmured back just as quiet, taking the dish from her hand and beginning to wash it.

Notes

enjoy.