The Silence That Surrounds

Sophia’s POV:

“Ms. Stone, time to wake up. Dinner is about ready and Harry asked me to come get you.” A deep British voice echoed in my muffled ear drums. It sounded like a bunch of cotton balls had been jammed down my ears. In return it made everyone else sound further away.

At first I laid there, not really caring who it was. I just wanted to sleep as my body felt like it hadn’t gotten a decent night’s rest for weeks.

“Ih shnm slem.” I mumbled, forgetting I had been gagged. I mentally roll my eyes before falling back into a light sleep.

I was woken up again by being shook none too gently.

“Ms. Stone, when Liam asks you to do something, I expect you to do it when being asked. You broke a rule but since I’m in a good mood and you were drugged, I’ll let this slide. Now, wake up!” Harry yelled, not too pleased that I didn’t listen.

My eyes snapped open, slightly blurred but not too bad. I noticed Harry had taken the gag out of my mouth before shaking me.

“I-I’m sorry, Harry. I’m just really tired, can’t I just sleep?” I moaned, the air in the room staling with awkward tension.

“You haven’t eaten anything besides broth yesterday night and nothing for three days before that. We need to get you on a set schedule, I don’t want you getting sick. So no, you can’t sleep, you have to eat. Up you get.” Harry insisted, pulling me up into a sitting position.

A second later he took out a pair of handcuffs and locked my hands behind my back securely.

I groaned but put my feet on the ground, noticing they had met the same fate as my hands. My ankles bound together without mercy.

“Harry? May I ask you a question, please?” I asked timidly as he leant forward and picked me up bridal style, carrying me from the room and into the kitchen, depositing me back into the comfortable white chair.

“Hm?” He only half paid attention, bringing a huge bowl of white shell and spiral mixed pasta to the table. Hamburger meat and tomato sauce mixed well within the bowl. Three loaves of homemade garlic bread sat nearby with a bowl of loaded tossed salad and Italian dressing lightly covering the leafy lettuce. A wine glass completed the ensemble. The food smelled delicious and subsequently made my mouth water. I just didn’t like the fact that they weren’t allowing me the freedom to feed myself. If my feet are cuffed, why did I need my hands restrained too?

“I –I don’t want to be fed, I’m not a child. I can feed myself. You have my feet cuffed, please –allow me some dignity. I’ve been good all day, except for this morning and I’m truly sorry for that infraction. I promise to do whatever you all ask and not fight you. If not tonight how long will it take for you gents to trust me?” I asked, watching him go back for the dark red Chardonnay wine bottle.

“That depends on you Ms. Stone. How long will it take for us to trust you?” Harry counteracting the question easily.

“This is a punishment for escaping, Ms. Stone. This is supposed to teach you a lesson and it’s not going to be over anytime soon. What you did was break the one major rule we have. You are our main job right now and we can’t have you escaping every time opportunity presence itself, so this is our solution. It’s detrimental to us and to your own safety that it doesn’t happen again. We will monitor your behavior and if there is an improvement then we will start granting you small freedoms. One of such is being able to feed yourself again. Trust me, we get no joy out of doing this but like they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your infractions took you a few days to earn and your redemption will take no less.” Louis said, grabbing the spoon in the pasta bowl and helping himself to a plate full.

“Besides, it does no good to try to escape. The road is a dirt road, which intermixes with the other dead end paths that lead back here to the cabin. Only the five of us plus our bosses know which way to travel and it’s pointless if you don’t know because it’s deserted for fifteen miles out. Nothing but woods and if not careful, you’ll find yourself attacked by wolves. We have had problems with them as of late.” Harry said, coming to stand next to me pouring a half glass of Chardonnay into my glass.

“Thank you.” I murmured, my head dropped down and my eyes going to my lap.

Niall sat to the right of me, Zayn on the other side of him. Harry sat on the other left side of me, Louis next to him and Liam beside him. It was a perfect circle, everything looked neat and foolproof. I seemed to be the only thing that looked out of place and I probably looked the worst out of the five men with how worn down I must have looked.

Niall filled his plate before filling mine. When he went to dump a forth ladle full, Harry cleared my throat and he seemed to get it and passed it over to him.

Harry finished with getting his own and passing the spoon down the table, reaching for a loaf of garlic bread and ripping some of the precut pieces apart, setting two of them onto my plate.

“Thank you.” I said again, feeling uneasy. I don’t know how this kind of punishment is supposed to make me learn a lesson. If the opportunity presented itself again, I can honestly say I would have taken it. It didn’t matter what they did to me, I just wished they told me what they wanted. They want money, that much was clear but there was far more by the sounds of what I got from the ransom tape and if it caused my father to leave for a hunting trip so abruptly and my mother to throw a neighborhood party to relieve stress – their instructions must have been pretty extreme.

Niall finished off filling the last space on my plate with the loaded tossed salad. It all looked appetizing and my mouth watered but I just didn’t have the strength. I was so hungry but the tiredness was overriding my will to eat.

I barely took notice as a fork protruded against my lips, the sweet taste of pasta sauce staining against them.

I opened my mouth obediently and allowed the fork entry, my jaws closing against the metal prongs, the warm pasta filling my pallet.

I chewed slowly, my thoughts searching for something familiar –something I could grasp onto. Unfortunately, there was nothing and the idle chatter around the table was almost nonexistent. The clatter of silverware on plates did most of the talking.

A moment after the utensil left, the wine glass was put to my lips, Harry’s voice a distant echo, which meant he was speaking.

“I’m sorry?” My subconscious thought for me to ask, bringing my dark blues up to Harry’s jaded greens, staring deeply into them as he seemed to wait for an answer.

“I asked if you were finding everything satisfactory.” He repeated, his eyebrow cocked up.

“Yes, yeah, it’s fine, thank you. My apologies, it appears as though my thoughts are somewhat distraught tonight.” I cleared my throat awkwardly. I was trying to be polite as possible but it was hard to retain manners when dining with monsters.

“It appears our conversation is at a standstill tonight. Would you care to enlighten us?” Harry smirked, taking one of the pieces of garlic bread and my fork, smearing a few forkfuls of pasta and sauce across it, bring it to my face.

“The less spoken, the better off I am, right? I don’t have much to say and I don’t know what else I can say, I’ve spoken my peace –it hasn’t gotten me into anything but trouble. I want to know why I am here, there appears to be more to it than a simple bounty but none of you will tell me and that’s fine, I get that you don’t want to or can’t but I just want to cooperate so I can go home. Will I ever return home? I just need to know.” I asked tiredly, biting gingerly into the pasta topped bread, the flavor of garlic and tomato sauce awakening my taste buds.

“I’m not sure, Ms. Stone. Depends if your father starts taking your kidnapping serious. If he doesn’t then I’m afraid the only home you’re going to is the inside of a permanent coffin.” Harry replied, his tone emotionless but truthful.

I gasped suddenly, having not expected the response, choking on some crumbs that went down the wrong pipe.

Niall patted my back rather roughly to help dislodge the bread that got stuck and I leant forward to try to alleviate the suffocating feeling.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the truth to, Ms. Stone. Here, take a drink, it will help.” Harry said, forcing the wine glass to my lips and tipped it up.

I let out a sob the same time he tipped the glass, which lead to some of the wine dripping down my chin and onto my pajama shirt.

Harry sighed in frustration before grabbing a napkin, wiping around my mouth, trailing it down to clean the liquid from my chin, swatting any droplets away from my nightshirt that hadn’t soaked in yet.

“We’re going to need to change you into other pajamas, Ms. Stone. Wine is nearly impossible to get out when it dries. Come on.” Harry stood, giving Louis a look.

Louis sighed, coming around to pick me up bridal style and take me into my room.

“I’m sorry.” I sobbed to them, my mind racing and my mental walls slowly shattering. If my father didn’t follow their instructions, leaving him three months to do it – they would kill me?

Harry unlocked my ankles and my hands, not saying anything as Louis walked out for a moment to go and get another set of pajamas.

“I’m sorry.” I cried again, wishing Harry would say something. I tried catching my breath again but I just couldn’t seem to.

“Be quiet Ms. Stone. You’re right, we have all spoken way too much tonight.” Harry switched back to his shut off self and I sat with my hands folded on the bed, looking down at my lap and wondering what the hell just happened.

Louis came back with a pair of boxer shorts and a blue tank top that was clearly a few sizes too tall and a guy’s style to match.

“Someone may need to pop by her apartment and get some of her things. We’re running out of clothes for her to wear.” Louis said, handing me the articles of cloth.

I looked between them, Louis and Harry backing a few steps from me but not taking their eyes off my general direction.

“I-“I started but Harry gave me a warning look.

In all honesty, I felt so childish around them, they didn’t let me feed, bathe, dress or be alone except when I was restrained and though I haven’t been on this punishment very long, I doubt I would get used to it anytime soon. I doubt I could handle it at all.

My hands shook as I pulled the stained pajama top from my body, covering my chest as I discarded it beside me, hurryingly grabbing the tank and slipping it over my head.

Louis and Harry bore similar expressions.

Cold, calculated and calm.

I slipped the bottoms off, grabbing the shirt and placing it over my vagina to keep modest. It didn’t matter though, Harry reached forward and pulled my protection from me, making me move quicker to slip the boxer shorts on, fear evident in my eyes. I had done something wrong – I had pushed Harry for an answer and I had gotten it. Raw, truthful and unsugar coated. This metaphorical pill seemed to remain stuck in my throat as I continued to choke on it.

“Harry, I’m sor –“I tried again, my voice wavering but stopped when he took a grey bandana out from his back pocket.

“Do you want to finish eating or do you want gagged? If I have to tell you to be quiet again, you will spend the night in the basement. Blindfolded, bound and gagged. I’m tired of giving you warnings.” Harry warned again, walking forward and making sure I knew that he wasn’t playing around.

“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to make you upset, Harry. I’ll be quiet, no more from me tonight. You have my word.” I whispered, swallowing and looking to Louis.

Harry seemed to take a breath to calm down before he spoke again.

“We’ll go out and finish eating but when you are finished, Ms. Stone, you will spend the night in the basement. I told you to quit and you didn’t. Just like your father, all promise with pretty words but no action to back them up. Louis? Cuff her and then bring her out to finish up. You know what to do from there.”

With that Harry turned and walked out, his steps loud and agitated.

“I’m sorry. I truly am.” I insisted to Louis, tears still continuing down my face.

Louis shook his head, taking the cuffs and redoing my hands behind me and imprisoning my ankles once more.

“You need to work on your listening skills. Harry doesn’t play – you’re lucky he’s even allowing you to finish eating. Come, let’s get this over with.” Louis said, picking me up bridal style and heading back out in the kitchen, dropping me next to the bipolar monster as he finished his own plate.

Niall had finished his by the time we got back and was finishing off his second or third helping, a dent in the pasta bowl was obvious but there was still quite a bit left.

Niall glanced at me, finishing his own plate before picking up the discarded bread and putting it back to my lips.

I bit into it wordlessly, finishing everything on my plate that was offered. When I was done, I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice a whisper.

“Can I have some water, please?”

Zayn heard from the fridge and opened the drink drawer, pulling out a cold water bottle for me, tossing it to Harry.

Harry opened it wordlessly, putting it to my lips as I took a long drink.

“Thank –“I stopped myself, swallowing hard.

Harry seemed to ignore me, something he was vast becoming good at.

“Do you have to use the bathroom?” Harry asked, his voice monotone and bored. Whatever hint of good nature was in there early all but disappeared into the abyss.

“Yes.” I responded simply, figuring that was my best bet now.

He nodded and picked me up, taking me to the bathroom.

Instead of undoing my ankles from the cuffs Harry balanced me on the ground, pulling the boxer shorts down my thighs and setting me on the toilet. I don’t think I had been in so much shock in my life over the appalling treatment. This type of punishment had gone way too far. Since I was being reprimanded and banished to the basement it didn’t matter what I said, I decided to just not care and speak my mind.

“You are an appalling impertinent twit! A Chav! If not the most agreeable useless idiot I have ever had the displeasure of meeting! That sir, is what you are! This punishment is neither sending a lesson to what I am supposed to have learned, nor is it even fair! I am sorry escaping, more so that I got caught but you must understand my reasoning for doing what I did. I simply just want to go home and you guys keep telling me that my father is hunting, my mother is throwing parties –it is like I don’t even matter to anyone, that my purpose is moot! That if he doesn’t start taking this serious, if he hasn’t in the three months that he is given that I will die! What right do you gents have to play God? Hm? WHAT RIGHT DO YOU BLOODY GODDAMN HAVE AT ALL?!” I screamed at the top of my lungs at Harry, his face still calm and emotionless. He didn’t get upset. He didn’t even seem to care, which was infuriating and it worked my nerves to the point of insanity. The only thing I could do to relieve it was to hit my head back against the wall as hard as I could before just allowing myself to cry. I needed to and no one attempted to stop me.

The others had gathered by the bathroom door, watching the display. Each displaying a type of emotion ranging from nothing to annoyed. Louis had one that I couldn’t place but it certainly didn’t seem to have anything to do with me.

Harry turned toward his group.

“Lou? Take care of Ms. Stone. When she’s finished, tie her back down to the bed in her room and leave her there. I’ll think of an appropriate punishment tomorrow. I’m far too tired to deal with her antics.” Harry said before taking out the same grey bandana from before.

I didn’t bother fighting him but I made sure I got the last word in.

“You know what’s so pathetic, Harry? Aside from your life choices in crime? Is that you have to order people around to make your dick grow bigger. You order those other four guys around like slaves, you treat me with the appalling nature of a caged animal. Muzzling me when you don’t want to hear me. Binding me to keep me under your control. What are you afraid of Harry? Do I frighten you that much or are you truly afraid of losing your power?” I asked, my voice a low menacing growl.

Harry seemed to consider my words carefully before slipping the gag back into my mouth, tying it tightly before grabbing my jaw and bringing his face close to mind, our noses nearly touching.

“Neither Mr. Stone. You’re as easy to control as a kitten, the only thing we need to do is take care of that mouth and like I said, you are my temporary property to do with as I please and tomorrow, I’m going to get enough use out of you to make what I have done to you so far seem like child’s play. For tonight though, I’ll let your body rest and your imagination wander the rest. Maybe I’ll even share my progress in a video with your daddy, show him what I’m truly capable of –what only a monster from the deepest circle of hell can dream up. Get ready princess, you wanted to see my dark side? Well luv, you’re going to get it,” He smirked like a nutter, turning to his mate and continuing. “Louis? Tie her down extra tight tonight. Use the straps under the bed, I want her chest, her hips and her knees tied. Leave the cuffs on her ankles but use the cuffs already on the bed to chain her wrists. Make everything tight, make sure she can’t sleep. I held back before, I’m not holding back anymore. When you’re done with that, go to her apartment – shoot her cat.”

I let out a loud muffled exclamation at the last part, watching Harry walk away, the other boys following. All but Louis and Niall, who now bore a conflicted look of annoyance and anger.

“Congrats Ms. Stone on your personal goal of pissing everyone in this cabin off. You have scored a homerun because I have not seen Harry this mad since BBC cancelled Torchwood.” Louis ranted sarcastically, stepping toward me and before I could blink, a sharp slap sounded in the echo of the hollowed bathroom, followed by a hot painful sting to my cheek.

The silence fell on the room again for a brief moment, the air tense.

“Niall? When she’s finished, clean her up and bring her to her room. I should have her bed readjusted per request to Harry’s instructions by then.”

Niall nodded and stepped in as Louis left, his feet stomping hard on the ground as he went.

I flinched as he came toward me but watched him take a turn to the faucet, grabbing a wash cloth and running it under the cold water before walking back to me, placing the cool cloth on the painful red hand print that was forming on cheek.

I moaned and closed my eye in relief.

“Your mouth seems to keep getting you in trouble, Ms. Stone. Take it from someone who knows from experience, let the silence become your best friend because in the end, dove, that’s the only thing that will be there to comfort you.”

I held Niall’s stare until he looked away, returning the washcloth to its rightful spot. I hurriedly relieved myself as he was doing that, waiting for the humiliation to end so I could go back to my sanctuary. I was ready to take Niall’s advice because truthfully, the silence was the only thing now that I understood, the only thing that truly comforted me. It was becoming my best friend but at the same time, it frightened me how easily I accepted that fact.

Notes

Oh man I hope this came out okay guys. Let me know :-)