Captivated // n.h.

0.1

{A/N: This is a rewriting of my original story that I deleted a while back. It will have a similar plot, but I was unhappy with how the story was going so I'm starting over. Remember to vote and comment! Enjoy! }

{ Reminder: I also have another fanfic called 1953! Feel free to check that one out as well! }

Lauren's POV

"Where are we?" Liz whispered, as we stood in front of the large brick building.

The glass windows were tinted and foggy, but I was still able to see the vast number of sweaty people shoving past each other inside the dimly-lit building.

Large pieces of aged brick walls were lying on the concrete sidewalk while vibrant graffiti covered the sides of the building.

No other buildings stood around it, as it was located just outside the city limits.

An eerie vibe radiated off the architecture, sending strong waves of discomfort down my spine and
a dense forest of tall, strong evergreens sat behind it; the darkness between the trees only adding to my paranoia.

"I don't know," I shrugged, still staring at the building. "I just followed the directions he sent me."

"Is that blood?" Liz gasped, pointing in the direction of a stain on the wall.

I squinted my eyes in attempt to get a better look, but the dark red droplets slowly slipping down the brick told me everything I needed to know.

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

"No," I admitted, "but it's worth a shot."

•••

We sat directly across each other at a wobbly, wooden table in a dim corner of the building.

"Why would they ask us to meet them here?" Liz hissed, in both confusion and annoyance.

I shrugged again, slowly swirling the drink in my glass around with the tip of my finger.

"I guess that's for us to find out," I spoke simply, my attention still directed at my drink.

"Where are they?" Liz whined as the minutes slowly passed by, impaciently tapping her painted finger nails on the hard tabletop.

"He texted me saying they'd be here in a minute."

"And how long ago was that, Lauren?"

I quickly glanced down at my phone, checking my most recent text conversation.

"Fifteen minutes," I grumbled, sighing as I did so.

Where the fuck were they?

"I had hope for this," Liz groaned.

"Oh, please," I laughed, rolling my eyes at her naive comment. "They're our best friends, you couldn't possibly have expected good manners from them!"

Liz pursed her lips in annoyance, knowing I was right.

"Still," she finally laughed, "it's been months since we last saw them! I just expected better."

The small set of sleigh bells that hung on the door jingled, signaling that someone had entered and I heard a familiar shout.

"Oh, c'mon, Eddie!" Louis laughed, obnoxiously throwing his hands in the air. "It's June! Get those damn Christmas bells of the door!"

My body quickly whipped around on the uncomfortable bar stool at the sound of his voice.

"I wouldn't talk back to the man who buys your rounds every week, Tomlinson," the pudgy middle-aged man behind the bar shouted back.