I'm Broken but I'm fine

Part 18

"I'm scared" I blurt out.

My heart is beating out of my chest and my hands are clammy.

"I know, but you both need to go, find a hiding spot and stay there. Don't move until we come looking for you.. No matter what!! Promise me" Al says.

"Yeah we promise" Noah says.

Noah grabs my hand and Al leads us to the back door.

"It's okay Lou, I'll keep you safe don't worry" Noah whispers to me as he reassuringly squeezes my hand.

"Okay boys, go quickly... straight ahead of you and don't stop until you're deep in the woods and you can hide. I promise you, we will find you" Patty tells us. Looking us both in the eyes.

"What about you, will you be okay?" I ask frantically.

"Yes Lou, we promise, we just need you two safe, backup is coming, now go, please... quickly" Al tells us.

Noah grabs my hand and we sprint the 500 meters towards the tree line. It's freezing outside and we don't have coats or jackets on. Just our sweats and thin sweaters. We make it to the tree line and hide amongst the trees, just In time to see four cars pull up outside the cabin and gunfire break out. My breathing picks up. Fuck, I'm so scared and frozen in my spot. Tears sting my eyes, I want Harry and the boys.

"It's okay Lou, I need you to move though buddy, let's go we have to move" Noah tells me, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I look at him, he wipes my tears away and we turn back to the house to see four guys with guns making their way towards the forest and us.

"Shit, let's move buddy, we have to go... fast" Noah says pulling on my hand urgently.

We both turn terrified and run as fast as we can, Noah never lets go of my hand as we run, Noah leads me and is the faster one with longer legs, I keep up though. We can hear the men behind us but we can't see them, they are shouting for us and it feels like a game of cat and mouse.

"Boys.....you can run but you can't hide" A husky voice sing songs through the silent woods.

Noah picks up the pace and all we can hear are twigs snapping and our ragged breathing. My body is so sore still but we don't stop, I can't stop, we are getting scratched by tress and I fall a few times, Noah never leaving my side, he helps me up and we keep going, we have to keep going.

"We will find you, and when we do we are going to have so much fun" another evil voice echoes.

Tears start to sting my eyes, we are being chased and we have no idea how long we have before we are caught.
Eventually after what feels like forever we come to a river. The river is running fast and the rapids are quite big. We notice a rickety old bridge up ahead and we have no option than to cross it. It's so old and feels like it will break at any moment. We have no choice though, those guys are gaining on us. We make it to the other side before anyone sees us and straight infront of us is a cave of sorts but it's hidden by branches. We both head towards it and hurry inside, just as it starts to rain. As soon as we are seated in the cave out of view, the four guys come out of the trees on the other side of the river.

"Which way did they go?" One asks.

"Fuck should I know?"

"Shut up, you two stay on this side, Paul and I will cross the river and look on that side" one says.

"What do we do if we find them?"

"Whatever the fuck your want, make it look like an accident though, torture them, make them kill each other,Fucked if I care just end them" Paul yells.

My breathing picks up at his words and my whole body is shaking and not just from the freezing cold. Noah notices and manoeuvres his body so he is behind me and I'm against his chest, we watch as two guys take off on the other side of the trees and Paul and another guy begin to cross the bridge. The bridge looks like it is going to give way any second and a snapping noise is heard. I can't help but hope it does and they get rushed down the river, they make it across safely though and I can feel myself about to pass out. All they have to do is find the cave and we are dead, I can't deal with this, I'm so scared. I don't want to die.

"Bud, I know you are terrified but I won't let anyone hurt you, just calm your breathing for me, they won't find us I promise" Noah whispers in my ear.

I nod against him and try to calm down, Noah brings me closer so my back is completely flush against his chest, he snakes his arms around my waist and whispers calming things in my ear, it's so soft I just hear them.

"Just relax"

"They aren't going to find us"

"We are safe"

When the two guys get across the river they start walking and stop right in front of the cave. We can see them through the branches and leaves but we are hidden from them. We can smell them and their cologne, they are so close.

"I'm going to fucking enjoy slitting their throats when I get my hands on those fucking kids" Paul yells angrily.

I can't help help the slight whimper that escapes my throat. Noah brings his hand up slowly and covers my mouth.

"It's okay, I won't hurt you, just breathe or they will find us Lou, it's okay but we have to be so quiet" he tells me in a soft whisper.

It's the longest three minutes of my life before the two guys run off in the opposite direction, yelling our names.

Noah relaxes behind me and let's out a deep breath before he releases his hand. He turns me around and we hug each other so tightly, tears stream down our face as We both try to catch my breaths.

"It's okay, they are gone babe shhhhhh" Noah tells me.

We calm down and we huddle in the cave together, we don't move and won't come out until Harry comes for us, like we were told.We are both shit scared and pray that those guys won't come back and we won't be found. Two hours until Harry will get here, we need to last until then.

We don't say much to each other, scared if we are too loud we will be found, instead we hold each other tight, relaying all our feelings and comfort for each other in our embrace.

"Please hurry Harry" Noah whispers into the cave and we grip onto each other silently praying for Harry to hurry.