The Hostage and the Wanted

Isabella woke up in a cold sweat. She could feel the icy daggers of cold melt to her like a fine glove and all she could feel is fear.

She sat up, her body drenched and her green eyes wide, looking around for the Devil himself, only to find that Louis was now perched in the chair Niall had been and the smell of cooking filled her nose, making her gag.

Niall was nowhere to be seen and Harry must have still been in bed.

“Good morning sleeping beauty.” Zayn greeted, taking a break from the kitchen and going over to sit beside her on the couch, noticing her body was drenched and she had trouble breathing. “Are you ok?”

“N-Niall?” Isabella asked.

“He went to bed a few hours ago, love. He’ll be sleeping until the afternoon and I’m set to go to work this morning. You’ll be left in charge with Louis, Harry and Liam. You’ll be fine,” Zayn soothed, standing up and going back to the stove. “Are you hungry?”

“N-no.” Isabella stuttered, looking around before her eyes settled on Louis. He barely looked awake and all he did was grunt.

“Niall told us you only ate a few bites yesterday. I’m concerned, I know this thing with Ethan has you upset but I need you to keep your strength up. I’m fixing breakfast, we’ll eat and then you can take a shower. After that, you have free morning, if you want to reroute another plane, have fun. By the way, that made the morning news. I got to hand it to you, authorities are stumped, Simon is pissed and you, love, have single handed managed to cause it all.” Zayn chuckled.

“An animal that should be caged.” Isabella murmured suddenly.

Zayn froze.

“Where did you hear that, love?” He asked, turning around. It was something Ethan had said to them when she had been sedated and was having a seizure.

Isabella shook the memory away.

“Glen use to tell me that jokingly. Said I was dangerous to the general public –that I should be caged securely where I couldn’t hurt anyone. Anyone but the ones he wanted me to.” Isabella spat flatly, hating the very idea of that man’s voice in her head.

Louis reached over and massaged her shoulder before standing up and stretching.

“You’re eating today, understood?” He asked, his eyes kind but his voice stern.

Isabella nodded also standing up, her arms folding around her.

“Can I take a shower before though? This sweat is irritating my skin and –“

“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll set yours in the microwave.” Zayn offered as both men turned and watched her pad down the hall into the bathroom, and shutting the door behind her.

Once inside, she leant her body against the door and covered her mouth to muffle the sobs.

*

Zayn scratched his neck awkwardly, looking at Louis.

“I think this being held hostage thing is getting to her.” Zayn murmured.

Louis sighed.

“Well, there’s little we can do about it now, Zayn. We’re involved, whether we want to be or not. She’s not the only one beginning to feel like a hostage. We can’t even go out! We barely bloody know what goes on around here anymore until it happens. Yeah?”

Zayn nodded in agreement, his eyes going down the hall.

“We fix this and then we run again. Somewhere they don’t expedite.” Louis told his friend.

“How are we going to fix this when we don’t even know what this is? We know she’s the world’s most dangerous hacker. We know she has the brain capacity of a million mile ship. We know she’s running, we know she’s being hunted after, we know she has a fiancé –and we know that fiancé is the world’s biggest git, but we don’t know the full story and I am beginning to think we never will.”

Louis shrugged.

“I don’t know any more. I suppose it’s just a waiting game now, mate. See if maybe she opens up or we get another clue. It’s all we can do.”

Zayn nodded and glanced toward the bathroom again before setting a plate for Louis and himself.

“You going to take the girl with you? If you run, I mean.” Zayn asked after a moment.

Louis shrugged again, grabbing the morning paper.

“Maybe but she’ll most likely want to part ways –far, far away from us. It’s up to her, I’m not going to twist her hands behind her back but the way I see it, there are safety in numbers and Isabella definitely needs safety, at least right now. Who can say when this all comes to a halt? Maybe she’ll drive off into the sunset with the sun to her and us behind. Probably be for the best.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you mate?” Zayn asked skeptically, sitting down with his own plate, beginning to eat.

“I don’t know, but it’s the right thing to do, right?” Louis looked at Zayn.

“I can’t help you there, mate. If it is meant to be then it will happen and if it’s not –it won’t.” Zayn shrugged, letting the room die to an comfortable silence before turning the television on via remote and decided to watch the looping report on Simon. He couldn’t help the smirk that flashed on his face.

*

Isabella took a moment to compose herself, her hand reaching to find the light switch. She guessed blindly before finally finding it.

It turned on with a click but no light came from the ceiling and that left her a little concerned. She knew it had worked yesterday, unless the bulb blew but then the boys would have surely changed it. Something was not right and she could feel it.

She stood there frozen for a moment before deciding to go and get one of the boys to check out the light.

As she turned though and almost as if sensing the hesitation, the curtains of the shower ripped open and before Isabella could think to scream, a hand was over her mouth and pushing her against the wall with forceful and harsh force.

“Hello sunshine.” The voice whispered, using his other hand to catch the girl’s frightened hands and force them above her head against the hard title. “Miss me?”

Isabella screamed against the hand but it came out barely anything then a moan.

“Uh-uh, no, no. We’re not going to have you alerting anyone, now are we? Not unless you want them to die a very slow and painful death.” He growled, releasing her hands and using that hand to press against her throat. Her hands automatically going there to keep him from choking her.

He threw her toward the shower, trapping her against the corner.

“Be quiet and listen!” He hissed, turning on the shower, the water soaking their bodies but the spray was loud enough to drown out his voice.

“Ethan, please, please don’t –“Isabella began to plead but felt her throat being gripped again and her head consequently knocked against the wall.

“Shut up!” He growled, the steam surrounding them, fogging around like a cloud.

She cried, beyond frightened –although another head slam quieted her and all she could do was stare back into Ethan’s beautiful dangerous blue eyes. They were vibrant and so angry that if looks could kill, Isabella would no doubt be dead.

His long dirty blonde hair was matting to his face from the water and his tall figure loomed over her like a deadly shadow but all she could see was Ethan –her Ethan. The one she wanted to touch, the one she needed to hug.

“It’s been a long time, Ana. I’ve missed you.” He started placidly, his one hand gripping her by the throat while the other mockingly preened a lose hair behind her ear.

“I –“She felt him press against her throat, his lips pursed.

“You don’t have permission to speak. You get to listen.” Ethan warned, watching her hesitantly nod. “Good. There seems to be some rather confusing complications, you blocked signal to those vans and now they’ve gone completely off grid. Saudimere is pissed, where did you send their location? I was only able to track you after receiving the signal to my van and follow it to its source. I knew from Glen that he would not have sent those coordinates. We cannot contact the other respective parties and you blocked the signal, so we can’t even get through to them. I want to know where they are. The coordinates keep bouncing around.” Ethan explained, spitting water from his face as it cascaded over them.

Isabella couldn’t help but smile, although it didn’t last long as he brought his face to her own.

“I wouldn’t be smiling, princess. Where are they?” Ethan demanded, his voice a whisper but he only asked instead of resulting to violence –although it looked like he was holding back.

“Ireland.” Isabella responded casualty, this time earning her a push.

“Get them back here!” Ethan demanded, making sure to keep the conversation in only decibels they could hear.

“No. I don’t want them to hurt –“Her head was slammed again, this time harder.

“I don’t care what you want! You’ll do what you’re asked like a good trained kitten.” Ethan degraded, glancing over her body in disgust. “You’re thinner than what I remember.”

“It happens when you’re constantly running.” Isabella spat defiantly, letting her face slip close to his, feeling the ghost of his breath through the steam. Her tears mingling with the water that spilled over er like a slow and cascading waterfall.

“It’s time to stop running, Ana. It’s time to come home where you belong. You’re out of inhalant and if you have another seizure, no one will find you and no one will care. You’ll be a permanent paperweight. At least with you under my care –“

“I’d rather die!” Isabella growled.

Ethan sighed, almost sadly.

“What happened to my Ana? This isn’t you.”

“I’d ask you the same question –what…what happened to you, Ethan? What made you so bitter?” Isabella asked, her voice breaking into a sob, her hand going to her mouth so she wouldn’t alert anyone of her distress. She couldn’t put them in danger.

Ethan’s eyes were beautiful, his hand a soft touch to her cheek and his lips were perfect. Everything about him was perfect. She felt herself falling, yearning to touch him.

So she did, she brought her hand to his cheek, his hard jawbone set firm but his skin was smooth against her flesh.

He smiled. The dimples on his lips becoming visible which sent her heart racing.

“Oh Ana.” He breathed, his body forcing itself against her own, his hand going from her throat to the hem of her shirt, pulling it from her body.

She let him, she couldn’t do anything and she wanted to –she wanted to stop him but the look he gave her, the look that filled her very eyes seemed to mirror in his own but as she went to wrap her arms around his wet and slender toned body, he caught her hands in his again and shoved her back into the corner, their lips almost touching but the smile had turned hateful and his eyes guarded themselves with the same emotion.

“Oh Ana, why would you think I’d give you the satisfaction?” He chuckled, glancing down to her scared body, running a finger teasingly along one of the many that lined her body – leaving a long, red trail until the pink scar hit smooth flesh – that’s when he stopped and looked back into her eyes. “I suppose we’re more of the same then we both think.”

“I love you, I’ve loved you since the day we met –since the day I ran.” Isabella pleaded, seeing his smirk widened.

“Is that so, sunshine? It couldn’t have mattered too much. Our son –remember him? The one that wasn’t mine? Yeah, Glen, he told me everything. When I got the full story I swore I would never stop searching and I haven’t – I haven’t because when I return you, he said I would be released from my contract. He told me that I could treat you, he’s allowing me to do this because you’re a valuable asset to the company but I’ll finally be free and my debt, excuse me, your debt, will be repaid.” Ethan explained casually, allowing his mouth to move closer to Isabella’s seeing her flinch back.

“He raped me –you know he did. Ian was our son. He may not have been a product of love but what he had –what we had, it was special. You and I saw something special, something we knew we couldn’t live without. You can’t just throw all that away. You can’t just turn me in like I was nothing. I took your last name before we even were supposed to get married. I did that as a vow of my faithfulness. I did it because I loved you whole and through. I’d of taken a bullet for you –I’d of died for you.” Isabella sobbed, feeling his weight retreat a little, his blue eyes hard.

“The day those men came searching, when you begged me to go with you but wouldn’t tell me why, when they came, you ran and didn’t even look back. I don’t call that taking a bullet for anyone.” Ethan smirked, peeling the shirt from his body and pointing to the center of his chest. “However, I took one for you, sunshine. I slowed them down –I was foolish enough for it too.” He spat bitterly, seeing Ana’s mouth drop and a gasp escape her lips.

She went to touch the deep indentation but he gripped her hands and forced her against the corner again, this time unrelenting.

“A pathetic coward that’s all you are. Talking just to talk. If I meant anything, you would have tried – you could have and you didn’t. You ran.”

Isabella was sobbing heavily now, wishing she could wrap her arms around him and apologize for the hell he went through – for her leaving, for getting hurt. For everything.

“I’m sorry.” She recanted, feeling her head make contact with the wall again, only this time the push was weaker.

“Enough.” Ethan said, his voice weakening. He was tired of her begging.

“If it meant nothing, then kiss me. Say it meant nothing but don’t pretend not to care. Don’t pretend to be so cold.” Isabella said, her voice raspy, watching him intently, his bare chest against her own, the water now cooling and dissipating the steam.

“Who’s pretending?” Ethan chuckled, his lips going to her ear, lingering there for a second before thinking better of it and gently giving what Isabella wanted, giving her what she needed.

He pressed his lips softly against hers, so softly in fact that she met him the full way; his breath had the faint aftermath of mint and he smelled like a waterfall from the deodorant that lingered from him. It was her heaven – her Ethan. His touch, though not soft, it was him. It was her love.

She broke the kiss off as the emotion became too much for her and she started to collapse to the ground, his body following hers, their eyes never leaving each other’s.

“Say it meant something –say it meant anything.” Isabella sobbed, her chest heaving quietly.

“It meant nothing. I was just doing what you asked. You deserve those words and much more but I’m not that cruel.” He spat, making sure she didn’t hurt herself before standing and towering over her again, taking a small plastic circular device from his pocket and throwing it to the girl with an emotionless look. “You’re going to need this.”

Isabella didn’t say anything, she simply wrapped her arms around her exposed chest and brought her legs up, covering her mouth.

“Goodbye sunshine. I’ll be seeing you in a few days. Just remember, take the block off those vans or I’ll come back and you won’t like the consequences.” He smiled before climbing out through the bathroom window, the lights coming on a second after.

When Isabella was sure she was alone, the sobs she had held back so quietly came forth. They were loud and agonizing, her head was spinning but she didn’t care. She wanted an escape from her pain – escape from this hell she was living.

Ella?” Harry called, his voice panicked slightly, coming in to see the girl in the shower, her knees hiked to her chest and sobbing loudly into her lap that thankfully, was still covered. “Oh luv, what happened?” Harry asked, going to get her towel, turning off the shower and draping it over her, kneeling down so they were eye level. “Talk to me, what happened?”

Isabella went forward and threw her arms around Harry, her sobs never ceasing or slowing.

“It meant nothing. I loved him and it meant nothing!” She sobbed as Louis and a half awake Niall came running into the bathroom to take in the scene.

“What happened?” Louis demanded, coming in further, seeing a man’s shirt laying on the floor of the shower. “Ella, love, what happened?” He tried but they couldn’t get anything out of the girl.

“Move her to the couch, let me try.” Niall offered as Harry helped Isabella to her feet, walking the distraught girl down the hall and leading her to sit on the couch.

“It meant nothing, it never meant anything.” Isabella sobbed as Niall shushed her, sitting down next to the soaked girl.

“What happened?” Niall coaxed, wrapping his arm around her, his voice still heavy with sleep.

“Ethan, he broke in. He cornered me, he threatened me, he kissed me and it meant nothing!” Isabella sobbed, latching onto Niall who was equally as confused.

“How did he get in?” Niall asked confused, looking at the other guys with concern.

“The window in the shower! I have to unblock the signals from the van or he’ll come back.” Isabella revealed, her hands tingling from his touch that still warmed her drying skin. She had touched him, kissed him and he didn’t care. That was probably the most heartbreaking thing of all.

“Sometimes the ones that we would take a bullet for, are the ones behind the trigger, dove. He wasn’t worth it in the first place if he doesn’t see how special you are.” Niall soothed, hugging the girl to him.

Louis and Harry looked at Niall before Harry went into the bathroom, bringing back the hard plastic circular device, placing it in Isabella’s shaking hand.

“Take this, luv. In case you need it.” Harry said, sitting down on the arm of the couch and rubbing his hand through the girl’s tangled hair and looked at Louis. “I think it’s time to leave, mate.”

Louis nodded in agreement, looking at Niall.

“One more job, yeah? Something good and reliable?”

Niall nodded solemnly, hugging the girl tightly.

“I suggest you three split too, we don’t know what’s going to happen or what danger we’re all in exactly. I’m just sorry for the trouble.” Louis sighed.

“Don’t worry about it, mate. You’re our friend, we got your back. We’ll split somewhere till we’re sure the coast is clear.” Niall promised.

“They’ll never stop searching.” Isabella cried, her heart shattering in a million pieces as it all finally sunk in.

“Shh now, none of that talk, yeah?” Niall shushed, untangling himself from the girl and motioned for Louis to take his place so he could secure them some vehicles.

Louis hesitated but took Niall’s spot.

Isabella didn’t hug onto him, she simply turned away and cried into her hands. Although it surprised her when Louis wrapped his own arms around her and pulled the girl into his embrace, letting her shattered heart cry.

“That’s it, love, let it out.” He sighed, rubbing her back and glancing at Harry who only looked on with concern.

Notes