The Silence That Surrounds

Sophia’s POV:

The onset of time is lost to me. The only thing that stood out was the never ending pain that seemed to constantly surround the very breath that I breathe. It was so thick that it swallowed my body into this cocoon of rough material and trapped heat.

“Ugh.” I moaned out, my head hurting with a throbbing ache. I could already tell I was restrained, it was no use to even bother.

“So, you finally decided to wake up?” The familiar England accent quips at me, his demeanor less than friendly. He sounded downright chilling, like a psychopath about to make their kill.

“Unfortunately,” I groaned back, my head really starting to pound. “Painkillers? My head hurts.”

“There are plenty of those around but I don’t think you deserve any. You put everyone in this cabin in danger. What you did was stupid, extremely stupid and you only fucked yourself luv, because now you’re in a full strap down straightjacket – on suicide watch. Meaning, one of us has to be with you at all times.” His voice tinted with anger, coloring the already growing tension just a little bit darker.

“My brother – where is he?” I demanded while dismissing his animosity. I just needed someone familiar, someone I felt safe with and it sure as bloody hell wasn’t Harry Styles. The only thing he made me feel was anger, sadness and fear.

“Basement, chained up. Niall is watching over him today until I can take a reprieve from here. I got first watch on you, Louis will take the second.” Harry shrugged, making me tense against the jacket but I realized that I had also been strapped down to the bed itself. Instead I just looked at the gent with the dark jaded eyes. He was sitting beside me on the edge of the bed.

“I’m sorry about your mum, I lost mine too.” A small voice spoke suddenly, making my head snap to the chair beside me – how could I not have seen Christian?

I just stared at him, shock registering on my face. My mum? Suddenly my pain and headache didn’t seem that noticeable.

“My mum? What about her?” I asked, glancing at Harry.

Harry shrugged with indifference.

“Don’t you remember? Louis blew her to hell and back, blew the mansion up, after all – that was the reason for you grabbing the gun and trying to blow your brains out.” He reminded dryly, making me shrink and hold back tears.

“You should have let me.” I growled but my tone was weak.

“Let such a beautiful flower like you die? Why, Sophia, I couldn’t with a clear conscience let something happen to such a preciously valuable gem such as yourself.” Harry drawled sarcastically.

“What conscience? You’re a monster!” I screamed, my dry throat in desperate need of water.

Harry seemed to notice and reached over to the nightstand for the bottle of water before his other hand went under my head to lift it up.

“If I was a complete monster I wouldn’t have bothered with the water.” Harry smirked, forcing the bottle into my mouth and tipping it.

I closed my eyes, humiliation swarming red in my cheeks.

When he thought I had enough the bottle was taken away and that left me to just stare into his eyes, the darkness outside slowly coming out as the sun dipped below the trees.

“I want to see my brother. I want to know he’s alright.” I demanded but it was also weak. Anything I said seemed unimportant and without heart.

“You will see Dylan tomorrow before your training. He was a good lad today. He cracked the system – under the ghost account you two created apparently. The whole system is locked and under our control. However, he lied to me about not knowing the passcode and login. Louis accidently gave him some truth serum instead of sedating him and he was singing like a canary – well, more like a dodo bird, some of the shit he was saying was absolute bullocks.”

I felt sorry for Dylan, even more so since him being here was my fault and mine alone.

“So he does it anyhow and you still punish him? Over a rule that was broken? You broke one of your own rules, punish yourself! You raped me, you swore you would do your best to protect me and shield me from your father but you broke your own rule, the no rape policy – was that all bullshit too?! HUH!” I screamed, his hand slamming across his mouth.

“Would you have rather they fucked you to death? Hm?” Harry gritted his teeth, his own anger boiling over.

“I would have respected you more if they had. You took something from me! You took my innocence, you took my fucking sanity and you kidnapped and hurt my cat!” I argued while struggling violently with my restraints. This jacket was bloody hot, heavy and uncomfortable.

Harry laughed out loud.

“Your CAT? Jesus, I saved that bloody things life! I –you know what? It doesn’t matter because anything I say you’re going to counteract it, there’s no point even trying to have this conversation.” He decided and reached over again, grabbing a piece of green fabric.

“I have to take a piss or are you going to deny me that too?” I asked suddenly, my bladder feeling as though it would explode.

Harry swore and slammed the gag back on the bedside table, looking at Christian who was hunched up in the chair, quietly sniffling.

“Go get Zayn, Louis and Liam.” He spoke emotionlessly.

Christian nodded weakly and slowly uncurled from his fetal position.

“Can’t handle me yourself, Styles?” I smirked, despite the pain, despite my headache – part of me wants to piss him off enough so he’ll pull the trigger himself.

“You and Dylan are on a suicide watch – it’s protocol.” Harry shrugs, not giving me the anger he had just been displaying only moments ago.

“It’s bullocks.” I corrected, my tone now wavering and the smirk now gone. I was just so desperate to end the pain – to end everything I knew.

“Alright, it’s bullocks but like I said, luv, you did it yourself. You went against Damien and if you go against a God, you’re always going to lose and there will be consequences. My father is a God in his own right and you pissed him off,” Harry explained simply, looking up to see three sets of feet entering the room. “Liam, Zayn, Louis? Help me get her unstrapped and out of the jacket, she has to use the bathroom.”

“This is getting bloody ridiculous.” Louis muttered but followed Harry’s orders, coming over to me and unbuckling the straps that held me secure to the bed.

Liam and Zayn sat me up while Louis remained behind me, messing with the buckles of my prison suit.

“I say we code red her and not bother with the bloody jacket.” Louis muttered.

“We can’t, we’re just going to have to follow orders and hope Damien doesn’t keep her in this for long.” Harry sighs, my arms unbuckling from the self-hug position I was forced in.

When they unbuckled my legs I stepped out of the attached pants, my body only clad in a bra and underwear. The same ones I had worn earlier.

Zayn and Liam grabbed my arms on either side and hauled me into a standing position. I was walked forcefully from the room, passing Christian.

Once I was in the bathroom, I was let go once placed at the toilet, both taking a step back but not taking their eyes from me.

I sat down to relieve myself without any problems – though if they think they’re going to get me back in that jacket they are sorely mistaken.

“I need to check your stitches while you’re out of the jacket Ms. Stone. I need to make sure they’re not infected.” Liam told me while I stood up and pulled my underwear back up hurriedly. It bothered that any of them saw me naked – let alone wanted to…no, they’d have to sedate me first.

“No. I don’t care if they’re infected, no one’s touching me there – ever again!” I panicked, the irrational side of me taking over knowing Harry and the others would most likely hold me down and do it anyway.

“I’m afraid there isn’t any choice in the matter.” Liam responds sternly.

“You’re wrong, it’s MY choice! MINE!” I scream and with all the strength I can muster, I take my hands and push Liam before dodging Zayn who had a small look of sympathy etched across his face.

“Sophia –“He starts but I dodge his touch and slip from the bathroom, making a beeline toward the door. My whole body is weak and protesting but my human instincts were high and pain was replaced by adrenaline. There was no way –no way was I letting any of them touch me there.

When I blinked Louis was rushing toward the door, hearing the common from the back but I got the front door open before he reached it and I took off down the stairs and into the trees.

Louis took chase and since I was barefoot, no surprise, I felt every twig and leaf.

“Sophia! You’ll catch your death, its bloody freezing out here!” Louis called.

“GOOD!” I cried back, my lungs taking in deep cold breaths.

Louis’s footsteps gradually faded and so did mine but only enough time to look back to make sure he gave up the chase. He had but what I didn’t expect was the sudden footsteps and the rough tackle, strong arms wrapping around me.

“Sophia, stop!” Niall pleaded, his voice full of panic while the footsteps behind us caught up with ease.

“Good job Niall. Let’s get her back to inside, we don’t want her catching sickness…especially since she’s out here in her undergarments.” Louis sighed in relief while I struggled against them.

“Let me go! Please, let me go.” I begged weakly and tugged at their arms but they just tightened them and forced me back to the cabin.

“Sophia –this is the stupidest thing you have done yet. For a broken girl, you certainly have spirit in you.” Louis remarked dryly.

I felt tears prick at my eyes then.

“I want it to end. You hate me so much Louis, take the knife and twist it in yourself!” I cried, the tears now sliding down my face.

Louis stopped and walked in front of me, his look stern but the silence no less unnerving.

“Is that what you think, flower? I don’t hate anyone – actually, I hate everyone so don’t take it personally. There are no friends in this business and don’t be fool enough to mistake soft cooing or gestures such as this…” He trailed off while bringing his hand to my hair and preen a few loose strands behind my ear as he talked in a mockingly soft whisper before smiling and continuing. “Or this, most of all – never fall for this.” He finished in the same tone, his lips touching delicately to my own.

I panicked; bringing my hand back and slapping him hard across the face.

His head snapped back but he didn’t flinch, he did something worse. He started to laugh.

“You’re doing it wrong, flower.” He chuckled and returned the sharp slap – this one sent me to the ground, which in turn caused Niall to lose his grip. “You have to put more strength in your palm like that.” He pointed to his hand.

I whimpered, finally laying down on the ground submissively; my life feeling as though it could get no lower than the cold ground that laid beneath me.

“Nothing to say to that, Sophia?” Louis antagonized cruelly as I just laid there, beaten.

“What can I say? What difference would it make?” I asked quietly, the tears unrelenting and the shaky breathing unmerciful to my wayward emotions.

Louis rolled his eyes and hauled me back up, Niall taking my arm again without a word.

“Nothing…none. You are dangerous to this group, Sophia but you are a part of it and it’s time – starting from now that you act like it. Because I’m such a nice person –“He smirked again, leaving me wondering how anything he had done for me up till now could be considered nice. “I’ll try to convince Harry to leave you out of the jacket.”

I glanced at the side of Niall’s face, he looked remorseful but his fear seemed to have magnified since Damien’s visit. He was scared into submission.

This was all too much to take in – a cruel joke that God had strategically planned. I saw no purpose in this group, I saw no promise of a better life and the night that now almost completely covered us was further proof that bad things always happen in the shadow of a never ending darkness.

“You go everything you needed. Let me rest in peace now. Please just –“I started but Louis had his hand over my mouth.

“There you go again love, unthankful for small mercies. Maybe I should let you suffer and I would if I weren’t such a gentlemen…that and if I didn’t feel slightly guilty about Harry being a bit of a bitch in your plight with the jacket.” Louis chuckled.

If that was him showing guilt, I wondered what his malice was like.

“A mercy would be to end her, she’s ruined Lou and you damn well know it.” Niall spoke up in my place, depression and familiar eyes boring at my soul.

“No. Through pain there is strength, she chooses to let pain rule her.” Louis replied, giving me a hasty look as we reached up the steps of the cabin and went inside.

The heat of the living room warmed my skin instantly when the door shut. Harry, Zayn and Liam stood there waiting.

Harry viewed me with distain but didn’t comment on my state. Instead he snapped his fingers and issued orders.

“Zayn, Liam? Get her back in the jacket and strap her back in the bed. Louis? You get night watch, Niall? To make it easier on all of us, get the lad from the basement and tie him up to the chair. I will deal with them tomorrow.”

Louis cleared his throat loudly and Harry looked at him, cocking an eyebrow.

“She’s going to need to pee again sometime during the night and I don’t want the extra work, leave her go mate. I have no objections to tying junior up but leave her where she lies. I will be in the room attentive and Christian will be in there to assist should something go wrong. If she is part of this gang as everyone keeps saying she is, then we need to start somewhere.” Louis shrugged, glancing at Christian by the kitchen table.

Harry regarded him before shrugging.

“Fine but no weapons of any kind.”

With that he was gone, leaving Niall to go and get my brother while Louis forces me back into the room, sitting me down harshly on the bed.

I cried out, putting my face in my hands and letting out a sob, I just wanted to die.

Louis glanced at the door to see Louis come in, snapping gloves onto his hands.

“I need to check her stitches, lay her down.” Liam requested, his tone of voice now tired.

Louis pushed me back, his hand going to my underwear and pulling it away. At this point, I was too defeated to protest and too tired to care. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered and had I knew what laid ahead, I probably would have preferred Harry’s bullet to this but it was too late and now, the only question that remains…what is going to happen to us?

Notes

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