//Julianne//

My eyes shoot open as yet another loud noise erupting above me fills my ears. I swear they have a caged animal up there or something. I try to ignore it, but this is the sixth time that it’s happened, and each noise gets louder and louder. Each noise is different though – it went from sounding similar to shattering glass to beating on the wall.

I’m not sure of the time, but I assume it’s early in the morning hours. I lean up on the bed – there’s something I need to ask Niall. It’s nothing serious, it’s just a question. My feet hit the floor, it’s even colder now than it was hours ago. The journey to the door doesn’t take long, and before I know it I’ve turned the light on and my hand is knocking on the wood.

Instantly I remember what Niall told me. I cough a few times, trying to clear my throat so I could call his name out. I bring in a deep breath, hoping to get enough courage to do this. “Niall?” I say in a normal tone, he said he’d hear me – but how could he hear anything over the roaring noises.

“Niall?” I repeat, just a bit louder this go around. Nothing seems to be working, the knocking and the name calling isn’t doing the trick. Half a minute passes by but still I get no response. I groan to myself as I lean against the wall. My knees buckle and I fall to the floor.

I bite the inside of my cheek, why isn’t he answering me? It’s no surprise to me that once I met someone I can actually trust, they break their promise to me. Yet, perhaps he’s busy or asleep. Maybe I just need to calm down and go back to bed, my question can wait until morning.

With a sigh leaving my mouth I pull my knees to my chest and lock my arms around them. I begin to think it was best if I would have stayed home and suffer my days way, because this running away idea isn’t doing me much good anymore. At least I’m free of my father’s torture, but at the same time here I am locked in a room.

“Julianne?” I jerk as I hear a unfamiliar voice call for me. I suck in a breath, there’s no telling who that could be. I close my eyes tight leaning my forehead on my knees, I will do anything I can do to hide myself from these people. It’s not that I don’t like Niall and Perrie, it’s just I’m sick of being restricted – the whole reason I left my father behind was to escape punishment, not to be put right back into a room.

The knob does that squeaky noise again. I hear the sound of the door opening, I keep my breath in my lungs – not releasing it. I don’t want to make a sound at all. My ears gather the sound of footsteps close to me.

“Oh gosh, love! Are you alright?” I hear a high pitched accented voice say – the accent similar to Perrie’s. I lift my head just a tad, enough to attempt to see who the voice belonged to. “It’s okay darling, I won’t hurt you.” I feel a touch on the side of my leg and I lean my head up all the way.

My eyes lock with those belonging to the mysterious kneeling person. He gives me a smile and drops his hand from my leg. He sits down on his butt, crossing his legs in front of me. “I heard you calling Niall, he’s not here right now.” He tells me with a sigh, shrugging his shoulders a tad. I don’t say anything in return, I don’t even know who this is – but something just tells me couldn’t be the one above me, making so much damn noise.

“I’m Louis. I wasn’t supposed to come meet you for a while, but I figured why not?” He says with a chuckle. I gently smile back at him, just a gesture I guess. “So is everything okay?” Louis grin is big and bold, but yet not obnoxious – more full of a kindness and joy than anything it seems. I’ve met three people in this dark, gloomy house – but they’re not depressed or sad, they’re throwing out smiles and jokes.

What does the place have to hide? Better yet, what are these people trying to hide? Louis’s high voice brings me out of my thoughts suddenly – a place I like to be nestled in. “It’s quite early. I know you went to sleep a few hours before dinner last night, so I guess you don’t need much more sleep.” He insists, letting out a sigh as his eyes drop the stare we were holding.

I release a shaky breath, thankful that his glaze had ended. “Niall will, uh, he’ll be back in a few hours. I’ll send him in.” He states as he goes to stand up. Just do it, Julianne, stop being a coward – Mom would want you to say something to him, thank him at least!

“Wait, um… Louis?” I say his name a lack of confidence, I believe I said it correctly. He looks down at me with a light smile, not at all similar to the one he gave me moments ago. It’s duller, like he’s now upset – it’s mostly likely my fault though, I’m good at ruining things, at least according to my father’s words.

“Can you stay.. and.. and talk to me? It’s.. very boring in here.” I sigh out, returning a hopeful smile to him. He nods a few times before letting out a chuckle. Louis joins me back on the floor, the same position as before. “This room is rather nasty. I tried to get them to clean it, but no.. they never listen to me.” He rolls his eyes as he lets out a laugh.

“You’re very.. happy, you know.” I tell him honestly, it’s nothing mean though. “Around here it’s so hard to be happy.” He mumbles, his eyes falling to his lap where he laces his fingers together, just staring at his hands. “I try to find the best in a moment, you know, I.. I try my best to get everyone laughing again. But, things change you know.. Once something horrible happens to you.. everything sorta just.. well.” Louis stops himself with a shrug, unsure of what word choice to use.

“Falls apart.” I complete his sentence for him, understanding entirely. “Yeah, and no matter how fast you try to pick up the pieces.. you can’t ever gather them all.. because every damn time we turn around something bad is happening again.” Louis’s voice becomes monotonous, like it doesn’t interest him at all to talk about whatever has happened to them. I swear I understand everything.

“I.. I know the feeling. My.. my mom.. died when I was.. little.” I nervously admit to him, it’s no secret I keep – but it’s something that’s hard to say, I don’t even like to think about it let alone tell someone else. “I’m sorry to hear..” He says, glancing up at me with a gentle curve of the corner of his mouth. I smile just lightly back, I’m glad someone cares enough to say sorry.

“Can.. can I ask you.. a question?” My heart skips a nervous beat, I hadn’t even realized I asked him anything until it was too late. “Sure, love.” He gives me a nod. I take a deep breath, I can’t decide whether I’m afraid to ask, or if I’m afraid of the answer I’ll get. However, I suck it up and just do it – I can’t go my entire lift wondering about things. I have to at least attempt to get an answer.

“Why am I.. in this room?” My voice is soft, just in case. Louis huffs lightly as he brings his knees up, resting his elbows on them as he drops his head back, staring up at the ceiling. “It’s hard to.. explain.” He sighs out, his head tilting back up. “Please.. tell me.” I mutter out, gulping gently as his eyes lock with mine again. He licks his lips and nods very lightly, I barely noticed he did it.

“It’s for your safety, I swear that’s the main reason.” Louis states with a serious expression on his face, he seems legit about it so I definitely believe him. “And.. well. We want you enjoy it here, but it will take time to get used to.. everything. We don’t want to overwhelm you with the.. way things are.. and all that. But I promise, as the days go on.. you’ll get more freedom.” Louis gives me an assuring smirk.

I let out a breath of relief – at least I know I won’t have to spend the rest of my days rotting in this dusty room. “But.” Louis’s sharp voice scared me a bit, I jumped in my skin as my eyes dart to his – why did he say that so sternly and loud? “Do not leave this room alone. I don’t care what anyone else tells you. Never, and I seriously mean never, leave this damn room without one of us. Do you understand me?” Louis says, a firm line plastered on his face.

“Yes.” I whisper my reply to him. He nods with a deep sigh, “Anymore curious questions?” Louis asks with a beaming smile, his entire demeanor changed in the split second, just with the blink of my eyes. I swallow the lump in my throat, there has to come a time where I eventually stop being shy, and right now I need to at least strive to speak up for myself, and my thoughts.

I glance around the room, only to get my thoughts together again. The personality change I just witnessed sort of knocked me off my tracks. My eyes land on the boarded, curtain covered window in the room. “Why.. is it so.. dark?” My voice slightly cracks – I’m very shocked and proud of myself for actually speaking to someone.

“Well.. some things need to be hidden. But I’ll say this as well.. normal people have no idea how beautiful the darkness is.” Louis explains, a half smile on his face as he lets out a deep chuckle. He’s wrong about me, just like everyone else is – I’m far from normal or average, he knows absolutely nothing about me.

“I’m not normal.” I retort in a soft voice, I might have the strength to speak to him but I surely don’t have the courage to raise my voice. Louis’s pretty blue-green eyes connect with mine as he leans just a tad closer in my direction. He parts his lips and lets out a gentle laugh.

“I promise you doll, in this house.. you’re very normal.” He gives me a soft wink. I gulp faintly in my throat – what are they hiding from me?

Notes

// new character introduced :):) Hope you guys are reading, and thanks so much for the lovely comments! I'm so glad y'all enjoy the story and silent readers please don't be afraid to give me your opinions, I love you all! ♥♥ let me know what you think! ♥//