Chapter Text
Rena's Restaurant
Harry was starting to get frustrated. He didn't know exactly when it had started but he couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was being followed. He knew that it wasn't a fan because it didn't feel like one of those harmless curious gazes. This gaze felt like the person had intent. Whether it was good or bad Harry had not figured it out yet. Since then he had been less reluctant on the idea of being anywhere by himself. He knew that the others were starting to worry about him, particularly Louis who had been trying non-stop to get it out of him, but he had just shrugged off the concern telling them it was nothing. He sighed taking another sip of his iced tea. Those stories that had recently been popping up in the news about the recent murders and kidnappings of young boys around his age didn't help any. He felt a hand envelope the top of his, dragging him out of his thoughts.
“Hey, You alright?”
Harry paused, biting his lip. He badly wanted to tell his boyfriend of the fear that he was being followed, but was worried that maybe he was just being paranoid. What if it was just a fan? What if he was just making too big a deal out of nothing? Then to top it off he'd been starting to receive mysterious letters that someone had been leaving on their doorsteps telling him how pretty he was and how the person was always watching him from afar. Harry knew however that things like this even if they started out innocent enough, had the potential to turn dangerous if ignored.
“-arry? Earth to Harry!”
Harry blinked, causing Louis to chuckle a bit, “jeez you're just being a little astronaut today aren't you?”
Harry just smiled weakly using his other hand to pick at the loose string on the sleeve of his sweater.
“Louis?” he began hesitantly.
Louis smile turned serious on hearing the hesitance in his boyfriend’s voice. “Yes?”
“You’re probably going to think I'm crazy or something...but I think that someone’s following me.”
He paused expecting Louis to laugh it off as just a fan or tease him about having watched too many horror movies. However, he didn't; instead, he just squeezed Harry's hand urging him to continue.
Harry took a deep breath. “It’s not a recent feeling either... I have been having it for a while now. And I know it’s not a fan..I just.. it doesn't feel right..it feels like the person has an intent you know. But every time I go to turn around to try to see who it is, they disappear leaving me to wonder if it’s all in my head. And then there’s the letters I’ve been getting..”
“..What kind of letters?”
“The kind you get from a really intense secret admirer...they're always going on about how pretty i am and how they're always watching me...”
They sat in silence for a while. Harry letting everything he had just told the older boy sink in.
Louis finally broke the silence. “Does anyone else know about this?”
Harry shook his head. “You’re the first one I told.”
Louis nodded. “Right. Well how about for now we keep it that way? There’s no need to worry the other lads until we've found out more information ourselves, like who is this person, and what is it exactly he wants from you.”
Harry just nodded, relieved that Louis had not written it off right away that it was just his imagination. He wished it was though, He had enough on his plate what with worrying about the coming out of their new album and upcoming world tour, his life was exciting enough without becoming some episode from a crime show.
****
He didn't want to do this anymore. He was tired of it, the constant cries and screams. The blood. The constant need to look over his shoulder because he was afraid that eventually someone would fit the pieces together. The man looked at his latest victim. He was younger this time. His once straightened black hair now in disarray from when he had grabbed a chunk and used it to pull him. His face was streaked with tears and dirt. There was a long rip from the top of his shirt from the struggled they had had earlier when he had tried to unload the boy from the van. This was why he always kept a bottle of chloroform and cloth on him. It subdued the victims, made them easier to handle..Until it wore off and they woke up again.
“Please...please just let me go. I promise I won’t tell anyone. I just want to go home please.”
The voice was hoarse now from the hours of screaming and pleading. On finally realizing that he would not get an answer, the boy quieted.
He felt sick. Why was he even doing this? He was a father for god’s sake. He was being one of the people that he had always warned his daughter about to avoid. He couldn't even begin to imagine the pain and confused look that would be on his daughter's face if she ever saw him at this moment.
“Daddy...why is that boy all tied up? Please tell me that you didn' do this...daddy...daddy he's bleeding! You didn’t hurt him did you daddy? Daddy...daddy...DADDY”
Letting out an animalistic cry, he picked up the bottle of brandy that was on the table and launched it the wall, watching as it shattered into the wall, liquid and glass going everywhere. Upon hearing the noise the young boy jerked up in alarm, his blue eyes filled with fright. Hands still shaking he reached into his pocket pulling out a small grey flip phone and dialing the first number that came to mind.
“hello?”
“I cant do it anymore Matt.”
“cant do what?”
“this,” he gestured with his other arm to the boy in the corner. “The lying, the taking innocent kids off the streets, the killing..I just”
“and you think he''ll let you go just like that? Remember the last time someone tried to leave..”
He froze, shivering at the terror of the memory. The boss was ruthless and never blinked twice when it came to having to rid of people he suspected would jeopardize his operation and him.
“I just... but Emma..”
“i know man..”
“I'm letting him go”
“are you crazy?! How do you know he won't tell? The boss will kill you if he finds out!”
“dont you think I know that?!” the brunette screamed frustrated.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. He froze. He wasn't expecting anyone so who could it be this time of night? Feeling a sense of dread he edged towards the front door. By the time he had reached the door, the knocking had stopped. Opening the curtains he peered out trying to get a peek of who it had been. Still not able to shake the feeling of dread he turned around only to find himself facing down the barrel of a gun.
“hey there Georgie!” piped the woman in a sickly sweet voice. “long time no see.”
“what are you doing here Julian?”
“Boss heard that a little birdie was having doubts so he just sent me to check on you.”
“ Hey George you still there? Who's that with you?”
'shit' he had forgotten about Matt on the phone. He tried to discreetly slip the cell into his pocket but the woman had already seen.
“oh ho nice try. Now hand over the phone don't wanna be leaving any evidence behind after I finish the little job I'm supposed to do.”
“and what job is that?” George asked trying to keep his voice from shaking.
“just a little cleaning.”
Just like that, before he had time to react, it was over and done. He felt himself falling, his vision going hazy. He didn't feel the pain until a couple seconds later, where the bullet had hit burning as if it had been touched with a red hot iron rod. The last thing running through his mind before his world went black was the devastated look that would be on his daughter's face when she realized her father was never coming home again. George closed his eyes. 'i'm so so sorry Emma'..