Monster

It was around twenty minutes later when Harry’s black range rover pulled next to a panic stricken Niall.

With the drop of the weather and the falling of white snow around them it wasn’t any wonder when Niall climbed into the side passenger seat on the left did he look half frozen.

His cheeks were an irritated red, which, Harry observed brought out the emotion in his blue eyes a little more clearly.

“Harry, oh thank Saint Patrick, oh God. Are you alright?” Niall asked, his voice coming out breathless as Harry’s tan skin looked just a little bit paler.

“I – I’m…” He trailed off swallowing, tears threatening to run down his cheeks.

“Harry, why does Louis Tomlinson have your phone?! How – why…what?” He couldn’t seem to make up his mind which question he should start with and Harry in turn didn’t offer anything back to clear up the confusion.

Niall reached over and turned the heater up in the vehicle full blast, the air filling in the silence.

“Harry?” Niall tried again, seeing his friend seemed to be off in a faraway state.

All around them the snow fell and the street lights lit up the area around them for as far as they could see, leaving little challenge to driving. However, Harry was barely functioning.

“Hazza? Come on, mate. Speak to Ni-Ni, what’s happening?” He pressed, putting his half frozen hand on Harry’s shoulder and rubbing it reassuringly. “What has gotten you so spooked?”

“N-need to go back to my flat. N-need to just sleep; bad day.” Harry replied, not at all helpful in answering.

Niall kept rubbing his friend’s shoulder, noticing Harry’s own frost bitten face; which means Harry had been exposed to the weather about the same amount of time that he had been.

“Harry? I don’t think going back home is such a great idea, um – I may or may not have stupidly given Tomlinson your address. 83B East London Ave – right? I am so sorry!” Niall panicked, knowing he needed to come out with it before Harry did something stupid.

Harry seem to pale a little more and from looking into his scared Jaded greens, Niall was pretty sure his friend was about to shit porcupine bricks.

“No, Ni. Flat 83E. Remember I changed out with grandma Styles so she could get around easier and it was nearer the lifts and bigger so she could maneuver around a little bit better?” Harry reminded calmly, making Niall swallow thickly.

“Alright, well – that’s good news. Isn’t it? I mean he doesn’t have your – “Niall jumped and fell silent when Harry slammed his fist against the driver’s wheel and glared at Niall with a look that suggested he better not finish what he was going to say.

“YOU GAVE HIM MY GRANDMOTHER’S ADDRESS! WHO THE FUCK DOES THAT?!” Harry exploded in panic, flooring it so he could go and save his grandmother from a psychotic sociopath.

“In my defense he told me you left your phone at his flat and he answered it, didn’t get his name at first. He seemed like a nice bloke, what were you doing at his apartment?” Niall asked, reaching to put his seatbelt on, least he die from Harry’s scary driving.

“Oh, so, he randomly answers and you didn’t bother going ‘yello, who’s this? Oh Louis Tomlinson? Famous murderer and drug Lord? Oh, okay, wrong number – bye-bye.’ Not fucking sell out my grandmother!” Harry’s voice boomed, echoing around the small space like thunder.

“Yeah? Well, how’d you fucking get involved with him, mate? A random murderer and drug lord doesn’t just invite you over for a tea and chat. Care to tell me how he got your phone in the first place?”

Harry let a small whimper, like he was thinking about how to start.

“For fuck sake, Harry, STOP THE DAMN CAR before you kill us both! Fuck!” Niall yelped, the car almost coming into contact with the side divider in the road they almost hit head on from Harry’s distracted driving.

“We have to get to my grandmother and warn her! This is all your fault!” Harry exploded, making Niall fold his hands across his chest.

“Oh? This is all my fault? From the way I see things, mate, we both need to take responsibility here. Like, why is Tomlinson after your arse, that’s the million-pound question.” Niall pointed calmly, his hand dropping from Harry’s tense shoulder.

Harry snapped his jaw shut, he wasn’t involving his friend in this any more than he already has.

“Come on, I’ll drop you off home. It’s late and I’m tired, I’ll go to the police in the morning.” Harry spoke in broken passage, looking absolutely drained.

“Harry? I’m your best mate, talk to me – please? I’m sorry about giving him your Grammy’s address. Maybe they’ll think I lied and forget about the whole thing on finding you?” Niall thought hopefully, looking at Harry with a frown.

Harry gently pulled over into an open parking spot on the side of the road and killed the engine.

“I couldn’t sleep so I went to the park to clear my mind until it was time to pick you up from works. It was a nice night, I walked and viewed the memorial and then sat and watched the lit area in the distance. I wanted to walk once around the late as when I finished, you would be calling me to come and get you. So I followed the path. I saw the lake and stayed on it until I heard – “Harry seemed to pause, his eyes close. “Niall? I saw Louis Tomlinson and another bloke, they had a slightly older gent on the ground – Walter, think Louis said his name was. He looked pissed, like he was beating him bad. The other chap, I didn’t catch his name, but he was just standing guard, probably just his lookout. Anyhow, I ducked behind a bush and some snow fell on top of me from the tree when I hit it to balance myself – “Niall cut him off.

“Why do I get this sudden sickening feeling?” He questioned.

Harry brought his hands up to his face and let out a small sob.

“His lookout, I thought I was a dead man. I thought he spotted me, like his eyes were glancing my way for a long while and I couldn’t even breathe, Niall. I was so fucking scared!” Harry let out an exclamation before slamming one of his hands over the steering wheel again.

“Hey, hey, hey – Harry? Calm down lad, you’re going to drop dead of a heart attack if you don’t breathe.” Niall soothed, his hand traveling to is friend’s back and rubbing in small circles in order to comfort his frantic mate.

“I screamed for help – like, when he turned back and grabbed the bloke, I thought they were hurrying to finish and I panicked. I thought I was next because Tomlinson had looked right over to where I was and I screamed for help and started running away but before I did, I looked over and they tossed the bloke that was on the ground into the water. They chased after me, I ended up falling and dropping my phone because I was going to call the police. I was in fog and -oh God, they’re going to kill my grandmother! They’ll torture her because they’ll think she’d know where I lived! We need to call the police to check in with her.” Harry breathed, beginning to try and think rationally. It wouldn’t do any good if he woke up murdered and panicking was not helping the situation.

“Good, very good Hazza. Let’s calm down and try to come up with something practical. Maybe call your Grammy and give her a heads up?” Niall suggested, taking his hand back when he saw Harry calm slightly but he didn’t miss the scornful look.

“Oh yes, ‘Hi Grammy, I realize it’s the butt crack of dawn but, my best mate – yes, Niall, the bloke that helped you move, well, he gave your address to a serial kingpin by accident because he got the addresses confused, I’ll stop over later to make sure he didn’t murder you, love you grammy, got to go! Bye!’ and then her heart will cease to stop right on the spot from fright. Niall, get realistic! I wouldn’t have to worry about Tomlinson murdering me – she’d take care of that herself. Woman maybe seventy-nine years old but she will end me.” Harry ranted, panic now seeping back into his voice, his eyes dripping with tears and he looked about ready to pass out from exhaustion.

Niall shushed him calmly, but was quite aware of the cynical look he received for the effort.

“Harry, your grandmother is a kind, wonderful miss. Tomlinson might be an arse monkey, but not even cold hearted murderers can resist her cookies.” Niall smiled, though it faltered some when his words did nothing to calm his friend.

“Trust you to bring up food at a time like this, Niall.” Harry closed his eyes, pulling in a deep breath to calm himself.

“Your grandmother would keep them talking for hours, she always has something in the oven baking. I mean, she’s probably up now – the women never was one for sleeping at nights. Give her a ring, Harry. You’ll see –“

Niall was cut off by his phone beeping.

“What on – “ Niall wondered, pulling out his phone to see he had a new text…from Harry’s phone. He opened it and nearly shit himself.

It was a picture text, Louis standing over Harry’s grandmother – a butter knife pointed to her throat. His smile was leery, made predominant by his steely blue eyes. The woman’s face was solemn, casted to the table.

At the bottom of the picture it said only ‘I’ll be waiting, you have one hour to meet me back in the park or your grandmother’s cookies won’t be the only thing cooking in the oven. One hour, Styles and then…well, you’ll find out, won’t you?’

Harry turned his face away from the screen with a whimper.

“He’s going to kill her.” Harry fretted, bringing his hand to pull at the roots of his long brunette hair.

Niall stopped him, calming him again.

“Harry? He’s holding a butter knife to her throat – she doesn’t look scared, something’s fishy and it’s not the local fish market. Here, I’ll take care of this right now.” Niall asserted and dialed 999, waiting for the operator.

When it was dispatched to one, Niall turned on his business personnel.

“I need a dispatch brought to 83B East London Ave, there appears to be a robbery. Two young chaps, one matching the description of Louis Tomlinson, another male is with him but I cannot quite make out his features. They are holding someone in their apartment with a knife, I can see it from my window. Their window is open in clear view.” Harry looked beside himself, eyes wild.

“What are you doing?! Are you trying to kill my grandmother?!” Harry hissed.

Niall waved him away with a shush.

“Alright, please check it out, thank you,” Niall hung up with a shrug. “Problem solved, they’ll check it out and –“

“My grandmother is going to piss cranberry juice! Niall! Tomlinson is dangerous! He threatened her!” Harry exclaimed, continuing to pull at his hair before punching the steering wheel again.

“That wheel is going to be crooked by the time you’re done.” Niall observed calmly.

“Fuck you!” Harry snapped incredulously.

Niall opened his hands up in surrender.

“Alright, but let’s go to my place. When we get there, we’ll sit down for a spot of tea to calm your nerves and then call your Grammy to make sure she’s in top help; from there, we’ll catch a few hours of sleep and go to the police after. Okay? Everything is going to be okay, trust me. I mean I am your best mate after all.” Niall tried to lighten to intense atmosphere.

Harry rolled his eyes, his body shaking involuntarily.

“Yeah, says the bloke who is trying to have my grandmother offed. If you wanted her cookie recipe, Niall, all you had to do was ask. No need to have my grandmother killed for it.” He joked shakily.

Niall threw his head back and left out a loud laugh. For some reason that cleared the tension a bit around them, something Niall was thankful for. Harry’s glare is intense otherwise.

“Rose will be fine, Harry. I promise.” Niall reassured, grabbing his friend’s shoulder and patting it.

Harry nodded and turned the key, pulling out of the parking space and headed toward Niall’s place for some well needed rest.

Unfortunately, one tiny little thing slipped their minds – Tomlinson had Harry’s phone. Harry’s phone had tracking. Niall’s phone had the same device and when one phone connects to another by, say, opening a picture text. That message, when opened turns on the phone’s tracking system. Not normally, but Louis wasn’t stupid and it didn’t take long for a small moving dot to connect with Harry’s phone, indicating a successful implant of the bug via the text they had sent.

“Got you now, Styles.” Louis murmured softly, standing up.

Notes