The Silence That Surrounds

Sophia’s POV:

It took what seemed like hours for me to gather my emotions – much to Harry’s merciless teasing.

“Come now, Ms. Stone, surely you can’t give a bloody fuck – the theatrics are quite impressive but keep your tears and fucking pity. A simply lesson – all it was. Father was all about education and educate me he had. I see the world very differently, something you would know nothing about. What, with your fancy limos and drivers? Money to spe –“

I cut him off with a hiccupped response, it came out weak but I stuck to my dignity.

“It has nothing to do with wealth nor pity, Harry. It has to do that a little girl was brutally raped and then murdered – how her parents didn’t save her, how a sixteen year old BOY was left to care for a child when he himself were only so young. I do not pity you. I pity what you are – what you’ve become. Perhaps had you not been exposed –“Harry started laughing and shaking his head.

“That is where you and I differ, Ms. Stone. I envy you. I envy your ignorance and simpleminded conclusiveness to my life. I hate that, after everything I’ve told you, you simply disregard the fact that I am keeping you prisoner, you chose to focus on something in the past that no longer makes a difference. It’s in the past, my treatment of you should not venture back to this story. I believe it’s time to go to Louis, his isn’t much of one but it’s a little less deep than my own. I believe our focus should be directed at your question, not about our genetic makeup that makes us saints or monsters.” Harry gestured to beside him.

I followed my eyes to meet Louis’s beautiful dark blue ones. There was just something so mesmerizing about them. I stole a glance around the table, realizing the other three were simply staring, waiting. Evidently, they were just as curious.

“I was given up for adoption when I was born. I suppose I drifted a bit different in the world of what a normal and not normal lad would be considered. One family died shortly after I arrived in a car accident – bad luck that they were coming to get me at the time. I spent interval periods in different state foster homes. Some great, others not so much but I never allowed myself to get tied down. I ran off, kept running until I turned sixteen. From there, I lived on the streets a year before running into Harry. I tried stealing his wallet, which I had pickpocketed. Beat the crap out of me but that’s to be expected given Styles –“His voice dropped, realizing he had just used Harry’s last name. He swallowed, almost afraid to breath.

Harry sighed in boredom.

“Yes, Ms. Stone, in case you were wondering, that would be my last name. Continue Tomlinson, it hardly matters now.”

I could see the table relax some.

Louis nodded.

“Anyhow, we got to talking, his reputation was fast exceeding him. The town knew who he was but not ever anything worthy of a bother. His father, however, was well feared and respected but I cared about that little so I got what I deserved. Everything is patched and I’m perfectly ace to remember little of those days, they were not the best. Surviving in the street, eating from rubbish bins and the like when stealing was scare. He and his father gave me a place, a job and a place so, loyalty was earned and I will never betray that. This set up means way too much.” Louis shrugged and went to get another helping from one of the plates.

I followed his lead awkwardly, trying to distract myself some. It had gone quiet again and I looked at the next person. Liam.

Liam shrugged.

“Nothing much to tell, Angel. I was kidnapped and served my three months here. It went a lot easier for me because I didn’t fight. I already knew my parents owed a debt and I was around when they received the warnings but being the product of drug traders and cheaters, what should it matter if I was in one hell or another? So when I was grabbed, I let them bind my hands and lead me away. I didn’t struggle.” He explained this so calmly, so emotionlessly that my red tired eyes simply went back to Harry who confirmed it with a half nod and half shrug.

“It’s true. Even as we led him away, no struggling, yelling –he had been expecting it. So there was little worry about him trying to escape. He just sort of rolled over and gave in.”

I picked up my plastic fork and dug into the rice I had before looking back, seeing Zayn’s stare grow a little bit colder. His honey dew drop eyes that caught the angle of the overhead light, glowered in a shadow of a more prominent and darker contrast color.

“So what happened? You never mentioned that one before. Just said there were complications to your parents getting the money.”

Zayn seemed a little bit pissed – I suppose they really didn’t know much about one another.

“They never bloody bothered. Fact is, they up and fled. I never heard anything after and Harry just told me it’s best not to ask questions you don’t want answers to.” Liam shrugged, unbothered by any of it.

“I suppose since Ms. Stone insists on this little group therapy session for us –it doesn’t harm to mention that your parents were found. Louis found them, the Devil’s Scythe –they took care of the problem. It may have been a year but they were leaving careless clues and it wasn’t hard to trace back.” Harry told him, his frown deepening. I was getting the feeling that this gang didn’t talk except when they were required to.

“It doesn’t matter, Harry. It’s all in the past where it should be left buried. Ms. Stone? Some of us really don’t like reliving their lives before joining or being kidnapped. Be careful not to stir too many ghosts.” Liam warned, his eyes now going to Niall.

Niall wasn’t even responding. He had shut off, his blue cold dead eyes were glancing at the hard surface of the table in a glare.

“If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have –“I started defeated but Harry interrupted.

“Of course they do, Ms. Stone. You asked us a question, we answer it. You wanted to know the people behind your abduction, you got it, luv. Just remember –you may not always like the answer. Now since it’s getting late, we’re going to finish up with this little counselling session and never speak on it again. Understood?”

I nodded, not arguing. I would be more than happy to get off this topic. The tension was so thick in this room it could be cut with a hot butter knife.

“Crystal.”

“Good, Zayn? Time to tell her your little sob story, mate. Yours happens to be my favorite.” Harry chuckled and I saw Zayn’s eyes darken even more, his orbs seemed almost black and for a moment he stayed silent, like he would even speak at all. Hatred and anger was radiating off him as bright as the Summer sun.

“Zayn, just tell her. It’s ridiculous to even fight. You know you won’t win.” Liam coaxed, his voice was wrapped in a softness of defeated indifference but he was concerned what Harry might say or do if they didn’t.

Zayn sighed.

“I was traded. My sister was kidnapped, she was older by a few years but unbeknownst to my family or anyone else she got close to one of the gang members who kept her hostage. She got taken because my bloody father tried to give them bloody counterfeit notes. He owed a huge tab on a couple of bets he made at the races. Harry’s father runs those schemes and my father bet money he didn’t have. Nearly a million pounds.” Zayn shook his head, disgust clearly shining in his face.

My mouth dropped, looking at Niall who looked back up, seeming to have shock in his own eyes.

“What the fuck? A mill –“Harry’s hand rested over my mouth and cleared his throat.

“Oh, it gets better, Ms. Stone. Shut up and listen.” Harry said before releasing my mouth, his eyes lighting up sadistically. He must have remembered this rather well to find amusement in the other boy’s pain.

“My father was taken to Harry’s father and knowing he had been making bets under phony pretenses, Harry’s father was nearly going to beat him to a centimeter of his life but my father in his panic told Harry’s father to give him twenty-four hours. So he agreed. That passed he gave him the fake notes and when it was discovered dad had given them fake notes, my father was viciously attacked. Harry’s father was merciless and told him that he would take his payment in some other form. My sister. She was grabbed not even two days later but she fell in love with one of the gang leaders. The leader fell hard for her too and she proposed a deal to Harry’s father under false pretenses.”

I stared at the dark haired and genuinely quiet guy. My heart racing a little.

“She told Harry’s father that I was more valuable to the family and knowing doing this would sign her death warrant, the leader, Loreto, disappeared with her. They’ve both fallen off map and are now living someplace happy and carefree. When you have family like mine, who the fuck needs enemies, right?” Zayn counteracted a rhetorical question my way, finally looking at me.

I didn’t know what to say. It seemed to be a circle of bad parents or none to speak of at all.

“I’m really sorry Zayn, I’m sorry that happened.” I managed to swallow the hard lump in my throat and hold his stare.

“It had been a week later, I was taking my late nightly jog to clear my mind. Harry and Louis made the decision to grab me then. I ended up giving Louis a broken nose and Harry needed to get stitches on his lip from me busting it,” Zayn somewhat smirked in the memory before it faltered again. “I fought them but it doesn’t matter how hard you struggle, they will not give up until they have secured their target. That’s why it surprises me, Ms. Stone. Impresses, actually, that you have remained so strong – even at your weakest moments. It took them a year to break me but everyone breaks here – some sooner than others.” He directed the last statement at Niall.

I followed his gaze but Niall wasn’t even responding. In fact he started to get up and leave the room, Harry stopping him in his tracks.

“Niall, I don’t believe I’ve excused you from this table. Come back here right now and sit down. You don’t want to tell her, you don’t have to. I’ll do a sum it up.” Harry offered, his eyes misting over again in agitation.

Niall came back and plopped back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest.

“I already gave her a rundown but here, Ms. Stone, let me sum it all up for you. Zayn’s family, despite him being traded, tried to strike a deal with Harry’s father. Harry’s father was pissed the girl and his better gang member escaped. That left Harry’s dad to track and brutally murder his father and mother, he had a few younger siblings as well that were traded into the human trafficking business. They were split up, beaten, murdered and disposed of like rubbish,” His hands slowly formed into fist, his eyes a murky blue now.

“As for me, I was kidnapped under mistaken identity. Harry saw too late but like I said, his father made him own up to it. My family didn’t have anything to offer for my return and so they were murdered and I’ve been here. Six long years. You want to know why none of us leave? Everyone one we knew or loved is DEAD. So, there’s our stories. Find comfort in them and be thankful that you will never experience that pain because you will be dead long before -” Niall’s words were cut off by Zayn reaching over and putting his hand over the blonde’s mouth, his eyes wide.

Niall jerked Zayn’s hand off, Harry stood up, ready to shut the conversation down.

My stomach dropped as I looked at Harry.

“It’s true! Why fucking bother to sugarcoat it? No matter if her mum or dad cooperate or not, you or your father will kill her anyhow. This is a place you get sent to, to die! This place is the final stop, end of the line and all we ever do –“

ENOUGH!” Harry screamed, cutting Niall off with a sharp pound on the table. “You don’t know what we have planned for Ms. Stone, no one does. Shut. UP.”

“I know enough.” Niall challenged, his eyes so cold that Harry seemed to take a step back.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, Niall, but you need to get a grip and I think tonight is going to be one of those nights. Zayn? Escort him back to his room and lock him in for the night.” Harry ordered.

“Wait, I –I want to know something. Amongst this hell, despite this place being where you kill –“ I had to cut myself off from finishing the sentence, my blood still running cold from Niall’s outburst and revelation of the cabin I was hidden away in. “Have any of you been in love? Truly and unconditionally allowed yourself to fall for someone? Even to try to like them and see beyond the situation?”

“Our job allows us only the pleasure of our hands and I don’t have the stupid mentality to believe for a second that a captive can truly love her captor. To trust them, love them or like them. We are only seeing to a job and they’re simply seeing the monsters that keep them chained. You said so yourself, Ms. Stone, we are simply monsters with no emotions.” Harry gestured out sarcastically.

I shut my mouth, the other three men agreeing…all but Niall.

He simply stood and left the room, avoiding contact with the rest of the gang.

Zayn stood a second later, following him from the room to make sure Harry’s order was preceded.

Notes