The Devil's Mouth { Larry Stylinson }

Chapter One - Into the Devil's Mouth

Louis POV

The Rainforest was alive with noise. Birds called to one another from the towering trees, insects buzzed somewhere deep in the undergrowth, and the distant roar of a waterfall echoed through the humid air. Yet despite all the life surrounding them... 

Louis couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. 

He adjusted the straps of his backpack as he followed the narrow trail, his boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. Ahead of him, Harry walked beside Liam and Niall, animatedly talking about the cave they had travelled halfway across the world to explore. "...and apparently only a handful of people have ever reached the final chamber," Harry was saying,  unable to hide the excitement in his voice. 

Niall laughed. 

"Which means we're either about to have the adventure of a lifetime..." 

"...or make the worst decision we've ever made." Liam finished. Harry grinned. "I'm choosing adventure." Louis smiled to himself, that was Harry. No matter how dangerous something looked, he always found the beauty in it first. 

"Lou?" Harry called, glancing over his shoulder. "You've gone quiet." Louis looked up. " I'm thinking." 

Harry raised an eyebrow. "That's dangerous." Niall burst out laughing. "I was waiting for someone to say it."  Louis rolled his eyes dramatically. "Very funny." 

Harry slowed until he was walking beside his husband. "You okay?" Louis looked through the trees ahead. "I don't know." Harry frowned. "What do you mean?" Louis hesitated before pointing ahead. "There." 

The other three followed his gaze. The trees slowly parted and suddenly there it was. Devil's Mouth Cave. The entrance towered above them, half hidden beneath hanging vines and moss-covered cliffs. It didn't look like a cave. It looked like the open jaws of some enormous creature waiting patiently for someone to step inside. 

A cold breeze drifted out from the darkness, even from where they stood Louis could feel the temperature drop. Niall swallowed. "Okay..." He folded his arms. " That is officially the creepiest thing I have ever seen." Liam nodded in agreement. 

" I was just thinking the same thing." Harry however. Harry smiled. "It's incredible." Louis laughed quietly. "I knew you'd say that." 

Harry looked at him. "You still don't like it?" Louis glanced back at the cave. "I can't explain it." Harry gently took his hand. "We don't have to go in." 

Louis looked into Harry's bright green eyes, he knew how much this expedition meant to him. He had spent months planning it, reading maps, watching documentaries, and researching every known route through Devil's Mouth. Turning around now would break his heart. Louis squeezed Harry's hand. "I'm coming." 

Harry smiled warmly. "You sure?" Louis nodded. "As long as we stick together." Harry lifted their joined hands and kissed Louis' knuckles. "Always." 

Liam cleared his throat dramatically. "You two finished?" Niall smirked. "Because some of us are trying very hard not to interrupt." Harry laughed. "Jealous?" 

"Absolutely not," Liam replied. "I'd just rather survive the cave before watching you two flirt." Everyone laughed. For a moment, Louis' worries faded. Maybe he was overthinking everything. Maybe today would simply become another adventure they laughed about for years.  

He hoped so. 

*************************** 

Harry could barely contain his excitement. He'd dreamed about exploring Devil's Mouth Cave for years. Standing here now felt unreal, he looked around at his three favourite people in the world. 

Louis, the love of his life. 

Liam, the dependable one who always kept everyone calm. 

Niall, the one who could make anyone laugh, even in the worst situations. 

If he had to choose anyone to share this adventure with, it would always be them. He clipped his helmet into place before turning to the others. "Ready?" Liam adjusted his torch. "As I'll ever be." Niall gave a nervous smile. "If I scream at any point..." 

"I'm blaming the bats." Harry laughed. Louis shook his head fondly. " I somehow knew you'd say that." Together they switched on their headlamps. Four beams of light pierced the darkness. One by one they stepped inside. The cave swallowed the daylight almost immediately, the air became noticeably colder.

Water dripped steadily from the ceiling, each drop echoing through the enormous chambers. Harry stopped walking. The walls glittered with thousands of crystals, reflecting their lights like stars. "It's beautiful" he whispered. "It doesn't even look real." Liam looked around in amazement. "I've never seen anything like this." Niall slowly turned in a circle. "I've changed my mind." Harry laughed. "About what?" 

"It is worth coming." Louis smiled despite himself. "It is amazing." They continued deeper into the cave, laughing as they explored chamber after chamber. None of them noticed the tiny stones beginning to fall from the ceiling, none of them heard the deep crack spreading through the mountain above. 

Far beneath their feet... 

The earth shifted. 

The mountain had begun to move.