Half Bad //l.s

Chapter 7

♡ chapter 7 - Louis ♡

            Confusion floods over me as I tried to absorb Harry's new baffling information about his brother. They looked exactly alike, aside from their eye color, but Harry didn't seem the slightest fond of his brother's presence. His hands were clenching and unclenching down by his sides, his jaw tightened I fear his teeth may crack. The tension in the air only inclines the awkwardness of this predicament.

            Jessie offered me a small smile, sticking his hand out to help me up. Harry turned to glare at him, one of the sternest glares I've seen on him yet. But Jessie just rolled his eyes and said, "Relax, Harry I'm just helping the boy up."

            I took his hand cautiously, surprised he could even touch me at all. Harry seemed to grow angrier as Jessie pulled me up, his chest rising and falling heavier the longer our skin stayed connected. Once I was on my feet, I tore my hand from his and rubbed it against my thighs nervously.

            "W-well, I'm Louis," I said.

            Jessie smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Louis. Sorry you got stuck with the little brother over here," he teased and nudged Harry.

            Harry rolled his eyes, folding his muscular arms across his chest. "What the hell are you doing here, Jessie?" he snapped.

            Jessie nodded as if he remembered the reason for magically appearing in the woods to save me before my death (miraculous, much?). "Right," he said, "they're heading this way, Harry."

            Harry darted his attention to Jessie full on, eyes full of aggression. "Who?"

            "Members of Marcus' group. That's why Ria here tried to attack Louis," Jessie explained. "I've been chasing them down the past hour or two, clueless as to where they were headed, but it makes since now."

            I frowned, my eyebrows pinching together as Harry's did the same. "Get to the fucking point," Harry grumbled.

            Jessie nodded, swallowing as he gave me an apologetic look. "I think Marcus is after Louis."

            "What?" Harry shouted, but I stood still, completely baffled at this proclamation. My world seemed to be spinning as I absorbed his words, trying to orient them in my mind. It didn't make since.

            Jessie continued, "Look, Marcus has always wanted you on his side, Harry. But his recent sidekick escaped and well... didn't make it." Jessie suddenly looked away.

            "Whoa, back up," I finally found my voice. "A sidekick ? I'm confused."

            Harry sucked in a sharp breath while heaving a hand through his hair. "Marcus never likes to rule without a companion by his side. Of course he doesn't treat them equally, so many of them try to run away and well... he fixes that by killing them, basically."

            "And I think he's coming for you, Louis," Jessie said the words Harry refused to say. "That's why Ria was going to get you."

            "I'm still confused," I commented in a quiet voice.

            Before anyone could say anything, what sounded like war chants came from the left side of the woods. Harry and Jessie both snapped their gaze in the direction of the hollering, but I didn't have the chance to look as an arrow flew straight towards me, flying into my thigh. I yelped, stumbling back against the tree I was just leaning on. Harry snapped his stare to me, his lips parting before his face shifted with aggression and anger. All too quickly to process, about fifteen people ran into the clearing, weapons raised high in pride as they charged.