Stockholm Syndrome - A Harry Styles Fic

The hours dragged on well into the late evening, at about two in the morning, which Niall only knew from the clock on the TV that within a few short hours his friends would board their private plane to England-the last trip that they would ever make. Luckily, Harry’s mom took the earlier flight out with her husband on commercial, according to the news sources and would meet the rest of the boys in England with their families to plan what to do next.

Niall shifted, his back stiff from laying in one position for so long, his mind not quite grasping what was happening. He knew he was in danger but as a whole he didn’t quite grasp the concept-he couldn’t.

“Kohl?” Niall called into the darkness, listening for any response.

It was a few moments later but he heard the familiar approaching footsteps.

“You rang?” Kohl smiled, his face illuminated by the glow of the TV.

“It’s late, I thought you’d be asleep by now, wasn’t sure.” Niall replied, his eyes studying the slightly older guy.

“I’m a transporter, most of my driving is done at night and my job requires me to be awake at odd hours, I catch a few hours here and there when I can. I got some sleep earlier so I’m fine. What is it that you need?” Kohl asked patiently, going towards the cot and sitting down at the edge of it.

“Restroom, I’ve had to pee for ages but wasn’t sure if I’d be allowed.” Niall admitted, seeing Kohl give an odd expression.

“You could have called earlier, I would have taken you.” Kohl replied, going to undo the singer’s wrists from the cuffs, before he made his move however, he gave Niall a curt warning.

“Listen, if this is a trick I will warn you now that I have a gun and that if forced I’ll have to use it. Please don’t make me hurt you, I hate hurting people and-“

“I won’t, I promise,” Niall reassured, the fight in his eyes gone. “Even if I did escape, there’s a warrant out for my arrest. It’s not like I’d get far.”

Kohl nodded, sadly that was true.

“Alright.” Kohl agreed, unstrapping and cuffing Niall from the cot, allowing the singer to sit up.

Niall sat up with a groan, unsteady at first with standing but with Kohl’s help he finally was able to balance and walk off the weakness that had gathered in his body.

“It’s over here.” Kohl said, guiding Niall by the shoulder toward the bathroom. When they reached it, he gestured Niall in, shutting the door after him.

Niall realized right away that the bathroom had no windows, completely bare except for a sink, toilet and shower, with only one door as an exit.

“So much for living on a prayer.” Niall muttered, walking to the toilet.

Kohl stood outside waiting, his mind moving in all directions. He knew in his heart that the consequences that came would be well worth the punishment, he just wasn’t sure if Sorrow would agree if she knew. He knew she would be the one to suffer if they ever found out about his plan-but there wasn’t any time for regret. In a short few hours everything would go off like it was supposed to and that would set the motion for no turning back.

Niall walked out of the bathroom, his hands slightly raised. Kohl gave him a weird look but guided him back to the cot, watching the singer hesitate.

“I need some time-please?” Niall pleaded, sitting down on the cot but not laying down.

Kohl knew it was a bad idea, knowing if his partner returned and saw him like that, he would be in a world of trouble. Same thing went for Phillandrias but the look in the younger boys eyes made it hard to say no, so he shrugged.

“Sure. Perfect time for a late dinner, huh?” Kohl asked, walking across to one of the coolers and taking out a premade sandwich, bottle of water and a can of coca cola. Once he had the items he went back to Niall and handed them to him.

“You drifted off earlier, I saved you a few things I got from the gas station. Took five minutes to walk there and back.” Kohl smiled, watching Niall dig into the premade bread and processed vegetables and meat.

“Thanks,” Niall said after swallowing, looking more than a little somber. “Can I ask you a question?”

“I may not have an answer but sure, go ahead.” Kohl replied, keeping his tone light and sitting beside the singer, unthreatened by the fellow blonde next to him.

“Would you help me? I know you’re just a transporter but-if you could help me, would you? I know you can’t but…if you didn’t have your sister about, you would-wouldn’t you?” Niall asked, his voice low. He hated sounding so weak but he needed to know someone was on his side.

“I would help, yes. You’re a good guy Niall, you don’t deserve this.” Kohl replied earnestly, bringing his hand up to put on the boy’s shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

“I want to warn my friends so badly, I know there’s something you could do-“Niall started but saw Kohl was about to interrupt, he beat him to it though. “I mean, if your sister was one of the ones on that plane you would, right? Well, those guys have families, they are brothers and sons to someone and they are loved very much. If you would call to warn them, spare their life-I will join you-here, I won’t fight, I will agree to do whatever is asked of me, whatever you ask of me. I’m begging for their lives, the same way as I am willingly giving you mine in exchange-please? Please spare them.” Niall begged, reaching his hand up to his shoulder and putting it over Kohl’s, taking it from his shoulder.

Kohl swallowed. Niall’s pleas were compelling but they were also a prison sentence.

“You realize what you’re agreeing to, right? This is a prison sentence. You’ll never see your family again, you’ll never see beyond a van wall for more than a few hours at a time. Death is much more appealing and take it from someone who knows.” Kohl sighed, looking up at the TV, this was exactly what Phillandrias had hoped.

“I know but I need to make sure they’re ok. You make that happen and I promise, I will do whatever you say from here on out.” Niall promised, finishing up his sandwich and opening the can of coke, taking a few gulps from it, handing it to Kohl.

Kohl took it and took a swig from it before handing it back to him, thinking on the offer for a few moments. He could play this to his advantage. He knew others in the transport business that could help get Niall safely over the Atlantic back home where the Organization would have a harder time reaching him but it would be dangerous, especially since he was going on blind faith.

“Alright, you have a deal but if you go back on your word-“Kohl warned, leaving the threat empty. There wasn’t anything he would do to the boy, considering he already made the call hours before to his buddy who agree to have the planes switched and take the bomb ridden one across the ocean, ejecting from it right before it blew over England soil. Smoke and mirrors, that’s all it was and Phillandrias would be none the wiser until the boys were spotted, it would leave the pig pissed but Kohl couldn’t care less. They would be alive and Niall would be safe. Getting him out of here safely would be a challenge but he would worry about that when shit hit the fan.

“I won’t,” Niall reassured softly, setting the can on the floor and the bottle of water, laying back down on the cot and placing his wrists in the cuffs. “Your reassurance.”

Kohl looked down at the singer, doing up the straps on his chest and stomach, closing the cuffs across his wrists but not locking them, which meant Niall could take his hands out anytime he wanted.

“I believe you, call this gesture one of blind fate.” Kohl smiled, patted his arm and stood up, walking back into the dark, taking out his phone and dialing a number he didn’t think he’d ever dial again. He waited to see if they’d pick up.

When they didn’t he frowned but left a voicemail.

“William? Hey it’s Kohl. I wanted to check in, see how Sorrow is. I know you told me not to ever call you again but I want to let you know that I will be coming to get my sister, you won’t know when but when you see me I need you to step down. I’m leaving the organization and I trust you will keep that secret. Not only am I leaving, I am blowing this Popsicle stand wide open. This Organization has to fall, it’s destroyed too many lives already and I’ll be fucked if I allow it to destroy anymore. Get yourself to a safe place, I owe you that much warning. Goodbye Will, keep Sorrow safe until I come. Don’t let any harm come to her, I’ve made too many mistakes in my life and I won’t allow Sorrow to be that casualty because I was too scared to take a stand. She thinks I’m dead, tell her, her brother has been resurrected from the dead and he’s coming to save her-something he should have done in the first place. Sorrow, if you’re listening to this, I love you. If I don’t come out of this alive, I need you to know that I always have and always will. Goodbye squirt, take care of yourself.”

With that Kohl hung up, staring at the lite screen in front of him with a sort of sadness, turning back to the direction Niall was, seeing the rock star stare into the darkness, having heard the sentiment to his sister.

“Something I had to do.” Kohl explained, walking away to the bathroom, dialing another number, this time to Jackson.

“Jackson? It’s me Kohl, I have some news you may want to hear. We have a betrayal in the group, Phillandrias. He needs taken out. If you don’t believe me, the proof is in the photo I’m about to send you, judge for yourself, I await for your orders.”

With that he hung up the phone and sent the picture that would start the beginning of the end.

Notes

enjoy.