The Hostage and the Wanted

Isabella was helped from the back of the car when they finally made it to the flat. She was surprised how rundown and broken it was from the outside. The pavement around was unkempt and the only buildings around were condemned. She half suspected the flat to be abandoned as there wasn’t a soul in sight around it or otherwise.

“Welcome to our humble abode. We hope you enjoy your stay.” Louis gestured with a proud smile as Harry took Isabella gently by the arm and guided her up the graveled pavement that looked to be beyond repair.

When they got inside she noticed a staircase that seemed to go up several stories. From the outside of the red rusted brick building, if she had to guess, she’d say it was a good eight stories.

“We’re on the top floor, bit of a climb but just go slow and steady.” Harry advised, patiently helping her one step at a time.

Louis decided to go ahead of them to unlock the door to their flat and get things situated. He had no idea what they were going to do with the girl, he had never taken a hostage before and it wasn’t like there were any how to guides on kidnapping. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if they had anything but the flexi-cuffs that Harry stole from the officers. He knew they had to keep her tied up when she wasn’t being watched, given that their apartment couldn’t be locked from the inside and some of the windows didn’t close.

He did feel bad for taking the girl but he needed to secure his guarantee of not going back to prison – which was not insured at all. Louis was taking a gamble, risking not only a robbery charge but about seven other felonies as well.

“Bloody perfect.” Louis murmured, walking into the large, rundown flat and heading to the living room, spotting the sickly puke green colored couch and matching ottomans on either side of it, with a coffee table directly in front with some used candles on top.

He went to the couch and repositioned the pillows, setting one at the end of the couch and another at the bottom, setting them against the sides.

“I’m going to need to go out.” Louis muttered, sitting on the ottoman’s foot cushion and taking a lighter from his back pocket, lighting a few candles so they had light.

It was about fifteen minutes later that Isabella and Harry walked in.

“Come on, luv, this way.” Harry guided, leading her to the couch, helping her sit down onto it, smiling a little as the cushions folded under her weight, contouring to her body.

Louis hadn’t moved from the ottoman’s footrest, he simply observed Harry and the girl for a brief moment before standing up.

“Hazza? I’m going for some supplies. We need to get some stuff for the girl if she’s going to stay here. I’m making a side trip to the hardware store after for some extra security. Think you can manage her for a few hours? She’s tied up so I doubt she’ll cause you much trouble,” Louis smiled a little, seeing the girl’s face fall. “Don’t worry, love, this is a very short and temporary situation. I promise you will be released. For the duration of your stay, however, I would really appreciate your cooperation. If you prove to be trustworthy then you will earn more freedoms. I don’t like having to be the bad guy but I’m afraid until I’m sure the pigs didn’t report the robbery to magistrate, you and I are going to have to suffer with one another’s company.”

Isabella’s wheels had been turning since the convenient store and she figured if she could get them to see her as a person and not a hostage, she may be able to convince them to release her sooner.

“I understand, I-“ She trailed of, watching Harry take out a few of the flexi-cuffs from his pocket and bend down, looping one into the buckle, fixing it so her ankles were tied securely together. She whimpered at the tightness but at least it wasn’t cutting off her circulation.

Harry glanced at her before strategically connecting a few together and placing it above her knees, locking her thighs.

“Sorry, luv.” He apologized for her discomfort, making sure the restraints were secure but allowed for blood to continue to circulate.

Louis watched his friend, noticing Harry seemed to be unsure on what to do, especially when it came to the girl.

“I’ll do anything you want; I honestly just want to go home.” Isabella frowned, looking at Louis, flinching when she went to move. She literally had no mobility but then again, that may have been the point.

“I know, love, and you will.” Louis told her sincerely, looking at Harry. “You want anything while I’m out, mate?”

Harry shook his head, looking at Isabella. “What about you, luv?”

“I wasn’t offering her. Isabella’s a hostage, she gets what we give her.” Louis told Harry dryly, standing up to leave, leaving his friend alone with the girl.

Harry waited until his friend was gone before rummaging through the bags he collected to see what all there was in there to eat.

“I’m sorry about Louis, he’s a bit rough around the edges, we don’t go kidnapping pretty girls everyday so forgive us if we miss something.” Harry chuckled, trying to make light of the situation.

He pulled out the food and beverages, taking a small bottle of water and opening it, offering it out to Isabella.

She gladly accepted the kind gesture, although a bit awkwardly considering she had never had something like this happen to her before. It almost seemed surreal.

“Thank you.” Isabella said kindly, looking at the angry indent marks Harry still spotted from her biting him between the sensitive webbing. “If it means anything, I’m sorry I bit you.”

Harry looked at his hand and shook his head. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry we kidnapped you.” Harry returned the apology before continuing. “You’re not from here, are you? You don’t have the normal accent that comes with being from here.”

Isabella licked her lips, watching Harry cap the bottle.

“I’m from the states, Kansas City. I moved to England about two years ago for a new start. Unfortunately you know what they say about your past. You can run from it but eventually it catches up. Mine’s catching up.”

Harry tilted his head slightly.

“Is that why that van was following you today? What did you do to make them go to such extremes?” He asked curiously, taking a candy bar from the pile of food he stole and ripped opening the packaging, offering a bite to Isabella.

Isabella shook her head, declining the offer.

Harry noticed Isabella closed off almost instantly, the question obviously having struck a nerve.

“I’m sorry, it’s none of my business but if you’re in trouble, you need to go to someone, the police – maybe someone you trust if you feel you can’t trust them. It’s never good to try to handle stuff like this alone, take it from me, luv.” Harry advised, biting into the candy and savoring the taste.

“No one can help me and I don’t trust people for that reason. It keeps them safe. This thing is bigger than me and I’m too in over my head to get out. Just – I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Isabella stammered, the wheels turning extra fast. The very thought of that van gave her a panic attack.

“Alright, darling, we won’t.” Harry swallowed, concerned. Not just for the girl but themselves, considering they might have unknowingly just gotten involved in something they shouldn’t have.

“Why England? I could think of better real-estate in other countries, especially in Holland.” Harry tried to clear the air but noticed Isabella had shut herself off. He sighed and let the silence fill the air, standing up and stretching before leaving the room a moment, returning with an old looking MP3 player.

“You like music?” Harry tried, holding out the device.

“Yeah, who doesn’t?” Isabella replied, watching Harry smile.

“You’d be surprised.” He told her, turning it on and pressing a few buttons. “I figure we can listen to music while we wait for Louis.”

Isabella tried her best to shrug but ended up flinching.

“Harry? I don’t know how long I will be able to last with my hands tied like this, it hurts and it’s causing me a lot of pain. Please, can’t you do something? Put them in the front maybe?” Isabella asked desperately.

Harry leaned back and checked Isabella’s cuffs. He knew the flexi-ties were designed to be used long term. Although he understood the girl’s plight, there was nothing he could do until Louis came back. He knew one trick that would help temporarily to relieve the pressure though.

“I can’t do anything until my mate comes back, luv, but I know something that might help. Want to try it, see if that works?”

Isabella nodded, flinching as another jolt of pain went down her arm.

“Alright, let’s get you laid up.” Harry said, putting down the mp3 player and brushing his hands on his pants, walking to the couch and facing Isabella.

Isabella watched Harry gently pick her feet up and turn her around so her body was fully on the couch.

“Ok, let me try to get you comfortable. Judging by Louis and his agenda, we won’t be seeing him for a while. So the only thing I can do is get you in a position you’ll be able to stay in until he decides to get back.”

Isabella nodded, letting Harry pick her up slightly and move her so that her head was positioned on the pillow at the side of the couch. She felt his hands underneath her, trying to position her arms a certain way, when he found the place he was looking he moved them there and let her body sink into the couch, grabbing the other pillow and positioning it under her knees to make sure they were elevated to relieve the pain from her joints.

“There, that should feel a little better.” He smiled, picking up his mp3 player and going to sit on the ottoman.

Isabella glanced at Harry, his face illuminated by the burning candle, he generally seemed happy to help her out…given he and his friend put her in the situation to begin with so she shouldn’t look too much into it.

“Yes, thank you.” Isabella replied, wondering why he even bothered. She knew when the opportunity presented itself that she would escape, there was no doubt about that.

“You’re welcome,” Harry nodded, turning the old looking mp3 player on and turning it up to full volume, putting it on his favorite album. “You’ll like this music.”

Isabella didn’t reply, she simply observed Harry and the wistful look he got in his eyes as the music seemed to surround and take him away.

With any luck she could use these observations to aid in her escape. She had to get away from them as soon as possible because the longer she stayed, the more danger she put everyone else in.

Notes

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