The Silence That Surrounds

Louis’s POV:

Harry and I struggled to keep hold of the wiggling boy. He may have been slim and unmuscular but he was limber with the flexibility of a contortionist. Which made keeping hold of him a challenge.

“GM MMF MH!” Dylan screamed into his makeshift gag, the only thing that had gone right was the plastic ties we had found in the car. One for his ankles and one for his wrists. The only reason he wasn’t knocked unconscious was because in our hurry I had forgotten the chloroform in my room.

“Shut the fuck up!” Harry yelled, tightening his hold on the boy’s upper shoulders as I did the same with his lower ankles. Together we hauled him up the flight of stairs and into the cabin. Once in, Harry started to whistle for the other members.

“I’m right here, mate, or did you forget?” I chuckled when he whistled my number.

“Shut up, Tomlinson. Go assist the other boys with Junior here, I’m turning in for a few hours. Make sure to get him properly gagged, yeah? Balled up undershorts and a long tshirt tied into his mouth hardly seems appropriate.” Harry muttered and dropped Dylan to the ground with a garbled exclamation as the wind seemed to get knocked out of him.

I dropped the boy’s feet, looking down as he looked up with wide eyes. If he was able he would have backed up.

“I’ll see what we can do.” I promised Harry, smirking down viciously at the young man who was about three seconds away from pissing himself in fright.

Zayn was the first to come into view, he looked half asleep but stood directly in front of Dylan, glancing at Harry before our leader could completely disappear.

“We weren’t sure whether on what you were going to do on the bathroom dilemma so we brought those absorbent cups up from the basement and some of those protective boxer shorts; the ones we had for our last code red. We’ll need to pick up more supplies as there’s only a few left but we found the bedpan if you didn’t feel like wasting the extra time and can put him on a schedule -” Zayn started but Harry shushed him harshly, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

“You did well, Malik. Liam, Niall and Louis will assist you with getting junior here strapped down for the night. You might need to get Liam to sedate him though, the boy’s been struggling nonstop for the past four hours. After you sedate Junior Stone here, strip him, put the protectives on him, there should be some absorbent strips to line the boxers, use those too just in case, position the cup on him and he should be good for the night. We’ll figure out a schedule with him tomorrow. By then Sophia will be awake and she can try to get more information.

Dylan’s eyes seemed to widen in surprise, his mouth, if it could it would have probably hit the floor.

“Mhhf!” He protested inaudibly.

I chuckled down at the young calf that got caught up in our trap.

“Oh junior, your dad’s been keeping some important secrets from you, hasn’t he?” I tsked, motioning for Zayn to help me lift the youngest stone from the ground.

It was then Liam and Niall stumbled into the room, looking less than a little awake.

“Niall? I grabbed a duffle bag of his clothes and the cat, go get them. Liam? Go get one of the sedatives. It will make getting him situated easier.” I ordered as I guided Zayn backwards, leading him toward the guestroom as he helped me drag the fearful fawn to slaughter.

Niall muttered something under his breath but went out into the cold morning to grab the items I had requested and Liam had followed us into the bedroom.

“I took the liberty of putting one in here just in case.” He said, walking to the bedside table and uncapping the syringe just as Zayn and I set Dylan down onto the bed, taking hold of his body to keep him still.

Liam pricked the needle into his neck and released the drug, the boy’s screaming effectively muffled by the pair of undershorts and t-shirt in his mouth.

I rolled my eyes.

“He’ll be out in a minute, take his gag off.” I ordered Zayn as he carefully reached under Dylan’s head and untied the folded shirt before reaching into his mouth and pulled the undershorts from his mouth.

“Hope those were clean, mate. Jesus Christ.” Zayn muttered and made a face.

I laughed halfheartedly.

“Why!? What – where?” The boy panicked, looking from Zayn’s face to mine. I smiled, coming over to stand at the side, reaching down and adjusting him so he wouldn’t fall off.

“All will be explained tomorrow, mate. Tonight we’re going to get you set up nice and secure. That okay with you?” I asked sarcastically, his eyes beginning to drop closed. He was fighting the drug.

“S-Sophia, you have Sophie? Dad told me she was on a cruise. I called – I called h-him a-after.” He was losing consciousness, which prompted me to raise my eyebrow and kneel down so my face was by his.

“After?” I prompted, bringing my hand to whisk a piece of fallen blonde hair from his face.

“S-she called m-me. I called dad, t-told hi –“Dylan’s voice faltered off, his consciousness slipping.

“Ah, you’re the bloke Sophia called when we took her. I was wondering who she managed to talk with before we knocked her out. Well then – I feel better knowing she only called her know it nothing prick of a brother.” I smirked, patting the boy’s cheek roughly.

He groaned but finally fell into oblivion.

Niall walked in with a medium sized duffle bag and a meowing Tum Tum. Stupid bloody cat – Harry’s idea of all things.

“Harry took a liking to the bloody thing.” I shrugged when Niall pointed at it with more than a bemused expression.

“Sophia’s going to flip.” Niall warned, which made me snort.

“Who fucking cares, she has about as much say around here as you three idiots. Come on, we’re wasting time. Zayn? Help my strip junior’s clothes off. Liam? I’m doing a layer gag for our little friend here, bring me three scarfs, some duct tape, a pair of those noise cancelling headphone and a pair of earplugs if we have any laying around. Everything should be in my closet or hallway storage. While you’re doing that Niall and Zayn here will help me in getting Dylan –resituated.” I shook my head in disgust. I really hated code red hostages. The care and time were almost always wasted.

Zayn began to strip off the boy’s undershirt, tearing it from his body wile Niall grabbed the hem of the boy’s boxers and pulled them off in much the same fashion, leaving him exposed. Luckily for us it was much more of a comfort zone to redress boys than it was to dress females. Harry was lucky his awkwardness had been bled from him. The same thing could not be said for certain members of this group – myself included at times but I was able to push past and ignore it.

“Do we still have those long John shorts?” I asked, looking up at Zayn as he went over to the box and reached into a dark blue bag, pulling out one of the protective boxer shorts, a plain white protective strip and the foam cup.

I found having products like this rather odd. I would have gone with just putting them in plastic briefs but Harry found that the boxers were more dignified for everyone involved – including the hostages.

What a bunch of rubbish. I really was glad we didn’t get more code red ones in, those were normally reserved for the alternative gang at another cabin.

I observed the item in Zayn’s hands. The boxers were the same material as normal boxers but the crotch was layered with a slight core. With the absorbent strip added in and the foam cup securely placed over, he would be more than taken care of in that department. The unpredictability of some code red hostages is their ability to try and outsmart us and a few have tried – none have succeeded.

Liam left to get me what I requested and I rolled my eyes realizing Zayn was waiting for me to cut Dylan’s feet free.

I reached into my pocket taking out a folding knife and cutting the ties holding junior’s hands and feet together. They came apart easily; from there I was able to direct his feet into the boxers and help Zayn pull them up, pausing before completely slipping them on.

“I doubt those long john shorts would make any difference, mate but I didn’t see them downstairs and we went through every box. The two layers and the cup will be more than enough. You got anything we can put over the boxers?” Zayn counteracted, already pulling the duffle bag to him and unzipping it.

“Grey sweats and a cotton towel shirt.” I responded as he found the items and pulled them out.

While he did that I fitted the absorbent strip over the main core of the boxers before taking the foam jock cup Zayn set at the side of our prisoner and fitted it over his shaft, positioning his member and lower anatomy into it. It was the shape of a sports cup but the whole material was an absorbent foam. When I was sure that everything was in place I cleared my throat and Zayn picked up the younger bloke’s waist so that I could strategically pull up the boxers and make sure everything that was positioned stayed where it should.

Zayn lifted his power half back down just as Liam walked in, a slight look of relief on his face.

“Got what you wanted. I think I may have ended up grabbing four of them, mate.” Liam said, placing the items beside our latest hostage before folding his arms over his chest. “Can I just go on record by saying this is a bloody waste of time?”

I snorted.

“I share your sentiments, Liam but Harry’s father’s orders were clear. Until we know the specifics Harry wants junior here restrained, we’re playing it safe. His hearing, his sight, speech, his movement –all of it will be under wraps. I’m not getting in trouble again because you jokers fucked it up. I’m his replacement and the last thing I need to happen is a sudden pink slip and bullet in my bloody head.” I snapped, grabbing the grey sweats from Zayn and pulling them onto Dylan while Niall lifted his waist again so I didn’t have to struggle. Zayn was busy putting on the matching shirt.

When we were done Sophia’s brother was peacefully oblivious and we got our morning workout. Unfortunately mine was far from done.

Before we strap little Stone down, I’m going to make sure everything is done correctly the first time.” I glared at the three before taking the long black satin scarf and knotting the center of it five times, tightening the core and shoving the knot roughly into his mouth, pulling the ends so it pressed into his face before tying the ends taunt to the back of his head. I made sure it was securely fastened before taking another scarf, folding it and forcing it into his mouth over the knot. The layered gag was much more effective than most and it would guarantee us his silence.

“God, is that really necessary?” Zayn questioned, watching me work.

I didn’t reply. I simply knotted the second one and made sure it didn’t push the knot back too much before finally tying the third scarf over his mouth.

“Harry said to gag him proper. I believe this is as proper as one can get.” I shrugged. I really didn’t give a bloody fuck. I wanted to sleep and the sooner I secured the little prick, the sooner my head could hit the pillow and put this night behind me.

“What the fuck are we doing with the cat?” Niall asked, the cat’s meowing becoming frantic. He wanted out of the crate he was brought back with.

“He’ll stay in your room with the other pain in the ass. It’s too cold to put him in the basement now.” I told him, smirking at the annoyed look that crossed the blonde’s features.

“Wonderful. Want me to put boxer boy in there too or –“I glared darkly at Niall’s sarcasm, grabbing the ear plugs and handed them to Zayn.

“Zayn? Put the plugs in, secure the headphone with the tape so he can’t dislodge it. Niall? Put the cat in your room and quit being a smartarse. It’s going to get you killed one of these days. Liam? While they’re doing that, help me get the prisoner secured. He’s in ten points. Zayn will take first watch and then you will take over. Niall will take guard about midday and I am going to assume Sophia and Harry will work out the rest. Is everyone clear?” I issued the orders as they each mumbled a bitter ‘yes’ before following what was directed.

Zayn used the fourth scarf to blindfold Sophia’s brother before securing the earplugs and headphones over them, cutting out any outside noise around him. His word was dark and silent and for some it was that method of torture that usually broke them the quickest.

He secured the cloth like tape around the side of his head and over the blindfold, making sure they couldn’t be dislodged.

I put his hands down into the medical straps at his sides but paused.

“Do we still have those medical mittens? The ones with no fingers?”

“In the hall closet.” Zayn replied, finishing up with the tape and standing, leaving the room for a moment before coming back, avoiding a crash with Niall as he took the annoying creature into his room. I smirked, knowing he wasn’t much of an animal person.

“Here.” Zayn handed me the medical mittens and I slipped them easily onto his hands, knowing now he wouldn’t be able to fiddle or slip from the straps.

I continued to strap him down, his body pressed securely into the soft mattress, his head propped up on the pillow his sister had occupied. Everything was beginning to fall into place.

As the last strap was attached, I looked him over with a satisfied smirk. He was the epitome of a mental patient.

“Ms. Stone should be thankful she was only high profile.” I laughed, despite the situation being less than amusing considering the work that was going to go into taking care of the hostage.

“Harry warned her – maybe after she sees, she’ll understand.” Zayn muttered, standing from the floor he was kneeling and sitting on the chair to start his watch.

“I still think this whole thing is bullocks.” Liam argued before shaking his head at the young lad and leaving the room.

As he left Harry entered, his eyebrow raised in an inquisitive manner before his eyes began to examine the hostage. Chuckling as he did so.

“Way to think on your feet, Louis.”

I smirked, a small surge of proudness rushing through me.

“Code red – you didn’t specify so I had everything ordered just in case, I assume I wasn’t overstepping?” I questioned, seeing Harry shake his head. Giving that as an okay, I continued.” Zayn’s taking the first shift, Liam will take the second and Niall is to take the third. I wasn’t sure about you or Sophia so I figure I would have you settle that out. I will take the fourth watch. You said he will need guarded twenty-four seven. I took care of the first day.”

Harry simply reached over and squeezed my shoulder. His green eyes were worn down and exhausted but he had a lot on his mind. I could see it in his face.

“This is why your my replacement. Your attention to detail. You’re going to be a fine leader.”

I simply smiled and nodded, watching him yawn.

“When Sophia wakes up, I want you to bring her to my room. I have much to discuss with her today and get her ready for father’s visit. If everyone remembers the rules we should all be fine. Just keep in mind what I told you.” Harry reminded before going to exit out the door again.

I yawned, my own tiredness getting the better of me.

“I’ll catch you later, mate.” I told Zayn, bending down on the ground and for safe measure, locked the metal anklet that was attached under the bed to Dylan’s foot before carrying out toward the door, hearing the word ‘overkill’ being muttered by a less than pleased Zayn.

I was too tired to give a fuck and went across the hall, entering a door on the far left, right across from Harry’s and went in, welcoming the darkness with a soft click.

Without a moment of hesitation I dove onto the soft mattress of my bed and pulled the covers up over me, spreading flat onto my stomach and drifting off within a few minutes, the early morning wind howling silently outside and the faint voice of Niall swearing at the cat.

Notes

Enjoy Louis's pov!