The Hostage and the Wanted

Isabella laid still on the bed, the whole room dark and silent. It had to have been well into the afternoon and yet, no one stirred. Louis laid asleep comfortably in the next bed, Harry slept on the floor and she was tied up with an ace bandage to the headboard of the other bed.

With a sigh she glanced at how Zayn had tied her. Isabella wouldn’t have been surprised if Zayn had gone to Eagle scouts, his knots were impeccably secure. In fact, Isabella had spent the last twenty minutes biting the material, making little headway.

“I give up.” Isabella muttered, laying her head back on the pillow, looking defeated, moving her sore wrists to at least keep them circulated.

“I was wondering when you would.” Harry responded, slowly sitting up and rubbing the crust from his eyes. “Trust me, luv, Zayn can tie a knot –you weren’t getting out of it.”

“I can tell.” Isabella sighed, laying up halfway since the elastic wouldn’t give her enough stretch to sit up all the way.

“Did you sleep ok?” Harry asked kindly, making his way up from the floor, flinching as he did so.

“I guess. I don’t remember much else after the news.” Isabella responded truthfully, watching Harry stretch and reach over to start the complicated process of untying her from the bed.

“I don’t much expect you would, luv. Come on. You wanted a shower last night –let’s get you in there because with five others in the flat, they would take longer than you would.”

Isabella didn’t say anything, she simply threw the covers off her –stopping completely in her tracks when she saw what she was wearing.

Harry noticed right away and couldn’t help the smirk that fell wide over his lips.

“Liam and Zayn helped you dress last night. You weren’t really coherent enough to.” Harry explained but noticed that didn’t bring Isabella much comfort.

“I –I wish they wouldn’t have.” Isabella managed to get out, wondering if they had seen the scars. If her whole body was exposed, then there was no doubt they had.

“Better them then me and Niall. We left, trust me sweetheart, your goods are one thing I have no desire to see.” Harry promised, helping her from the bed and toward the hall, stopping at the bathroom. “Alright, Ella. There should be a towel in there for you to use. You can come out wearing that. Once you are in the shower, I will come in and collect your pajamas. When you get out, I will take you back to the bedroom and you can get dressed there. I’ll give you thirty minutes.”

Isabella was kind of taken aback at why Harry wouldn’t just let her have her clothes but then it hit her and he noticed it.

“I’m not stupid, Ella. I know you want me to be but I know there’s a window in the shower, luv, and I’m well aware you could fit through it. I’m not going to stop you –should you feel the need to try but I imagine you wouldn’t go through the trouble if you didn’t have clothes so.” Harry shrugged, pushing her gently in and shutting the door before calling out again. “When I hear the water I’ll come in and collect your pajamas.”

“Get fucked you pervert!” Isabella responded through the door, absolutely livid. It wasn’t far from what she was going to do but the fact he called her out –it was almost as if they thought on the same level of intelligence. “No,” She insisted, shaking her head. “I’m definitely smarter than they are.”

“I heard that, Ella. Get in the shower, I set up some products on the sink and shampoo and conditioner in the shower.” Harry responded in agitation, hearing the water turning on. He decided to give her a moment.

Niall showed up at that time, looking half asleep.

“Morning.” Niall said, his eyes still drooping. He hadn’t gotten much sleep but he had an appointment across town in an hour and Zayn had already left for his shift many hours ago, looking half held together.

“I have an appointment and I really have to take a piss, think Ella would mind? I’d use the other bathroom –if we had one but you know how that is.”

Harry opened the door to find Ella in the shower –although he didn’t expect her to be showering with her pajamas on. It actually made his eyes drop some.

“She certainly thinks outside the box, mate. I like her style.” Niall laughed as Isabella looked over and gave them a sarcastic smile of her own.

“Why?” Is all Harry could manage, his hands going to his hips.

“I’m not parading around here in nothing but a towel, in front of five guys! Have a little class, Harry. I know that’s a lot to ask but I need you to stop degrading me. I want to be treated with at least some dignity.” Isabella explained, rubbing the shampoo through her long hazelnut hair.

“I believe dove’s case is valid.” Niall shrugged with a smirk, going over to the toilet.

Isabella closed the shower curtain and continued with her shower as Harry just sort of stood there, looking at the way of the shower.

“Well, I hope you like wearing wet pajamas to bed then.” Harry managed to get out before leaving the bathroom, unbothered by Isabella’s response as he went to set dry clothes on the bed for her and start breakfast, knowing Niall would keep a careful eye on their hostage.

When she was sure Harry was gone, she stripped from the soaked clothing, a little more melancholy. Isabella didn’t know how she was getting out of this. The idiots chasing her in the van were easier to evade then this group of boys. Strangely, she was impressed with Harry. She wouldn’t have guessed for him to think that critical –let alone what he anticipated her to do. He mostly had it right, except for one small thing. Although she wasn’t giving away any secrets.

Before she could think further, she heard a voice clear outside the shower, she cautiously let her head sneak out, careful to keep her body hidden behind the curtain.

“Hey dove, think you can step on it some, yeah? I got an appointment across town in less than an hour regarding some things and don’t want to be late. Also, don’t worry about the pajamas, just hand them to me and I’ll get them in the wash.” Niall smiled patiently.

Isabella smiled as genuinely as she could back, keeping her body a mere shadow behind the curtain as she picked up the soaked material and handed it to him.

“Why are you being so nice to me? You and Zayn have been wonderful and I don’t –I don’t know why. I’m not worth the time. I’m not worth anyone’s time.” She asked, looking down, truly feeling bad – especially with what she was going to have to do.

“You’re our guest. You maybe Harry’s hostage but as far as I look at you, you’re a guest.” Niall shrugged, walking over and taking a clean purple towel, she noticed it was bigger than the one Harry had set out for her. “This will cover you more, hurry up dove. I’ll give you ten.” He winked, his eye briefly going to the window but before she could blink it had disappeared and he nodded with a smile, stepping out and closing the door.

She blanched at the door for a moment before hurriedly drying off and wrapping the towel around her body, tying it securely.

Isabella knew Niall had an inkling of her plans –he had to. Otherwise he wouldn’t of looked at the window, he wouldn’t of nodded and just let her unsupervised –would he?

Whatever it was, she was glad to have someone presumably on her side and sharing in the same urgencies of escaping. She had to run and she had to run before it was too late.

Too late for her, too late for them –too late for a chance to survive.

Her survival instincts were kicked back into hyper drive and she went to the window and opened it, poking her head out to determine if the coast was clear.

Hearing only the silence, she pushed herself up, slipping easily out the window and gently onto the soft grass in the most graceful and modest way she knew how.

Looking around she pushed herself into the building and looking left and right, taking a few steps forward, the grass feeling nice under her bare feet.

“Well fancy seeing you out here, luv.” Said the familiar voice, making Isabella stop dead in her tracks.

Notes