The Silence That Surrounds

Harry’s POV:

It was early the next morning after dying my hair a slighter shade of brown and straightening it manually with the straightener we kept just in case, I was dressed and ready to head out. The other boys had awaken hours ago but it seemed Sophia was yet the last to be ready, in fact, she was still asleep. Which, any normal person at almost five in the morning would be.

When I opened the door I saw Dylan laying across the window seal, his back leaning against the wall – his one foot prompt against the other while his second foot hung to the ground lazily.

“Dylan?” I called, his head snapping toward the door but he didn’t reply anything. “Wake Sophia, say your goodbye – she will be returned to your father today – temporarily. She is not to know this, she is aware that we are dropping and picking up parcels, nothing more. Kindly keep this information to yourself, yeah?”

Dylan swallowed but nodded, this time speaking.

“As you wish, Harry but she is hardly ready. What if something happens?”

His voice was soft with worry. It was a new emotion from him in recent days.

“I won’t let anything happen to her. She’s part of this group now and we don’t let anything happen to our own. Get her up, get her ready. We leave within the hour. I barked with authority, hearing him let out an exasperating sigh.

I headed into the kitchen to see Louis huddled above a steaming hot coffee but he barely seemed with it at all.

“We’re clear on instructions? Louis, Zayn and Niall are to come with me, Liam stays with Dylan and Christian. The runt should respond to commands and if he doesn’t Li, simply put him in his place.”

My tone was emotionless and for the first time, I noticed just how cold it really was.

“Actually, I need Niall here. If there are any problems, should there be – it’s better to have two than one, right? Let me have Niall. That way you will have Louis, Zayn and Ms. Stone.” Liam reasoned.

I thought a moment before nodding.

“Alright. Zayn is better surveillance and security and Louis is great with combat. Consider it done.”

He thanked me quietly, going over to where Niall was preparing breakfast and standing beside him, wordlessly helping him.

I made my way over to where Louis was and sat beside him at my normal place, taking up the abandoned papers from the day before. The words WANTED still haunted me. In a way, I felt a little bit of anxiousness. I usually did before deliveries because none of us knew if anything would go wrong.

“A few days?” Liam asked, breaking the short silence in the room.

“Yeah, a week at most.” I confirmed, noticing everyone’s heads kept turning toward me – and it sure wasn’t because they weren’t clear on bloody instructions.

“You look – weird.” Niall commented before breaking out into a smirk and opening his mouth again, which I quickly shot down.

“Niall, think very carefully on your next words because they’ll be your bloody last.” I warned, earning amused glances from the other men. Since when did this group become so lax?

“I was just going to say, for a used car salesman, you look bloody brilliant.” He finished the thought knowing I wasn’t going to kill him.

“Better than mine. I look like a bloody emo.” Sophia interrupted the lighthearted banter.

“It’s not so bad, lass. Unfortunately, it was a necessary evil. It will grow back in a few years.” Zayn smiled pleasantly, walking over and guiding her to her chair.

“Not so bad? Give me a few bloody razor marks on top of these and I’ll –“

I cut her off with a simple clear of my throat, which made her finally look in my direction across the table.

She stared a few seconds but stopped her weak argument.

“Niall was being way too kind, you look like the beast from –“

“Sophia.” Dylan called calmly, entering into the room and over to his sister, bending down in front of her. “We don’t need to make waves, alright? Be good today.”

I watched the eye exchange that seemed to be their own blood bounded code that only they understood.

Sophia matched her blue eyes to his while her hand travelled gently to the short black tips of his hair, massaging the silk strings carefully.

“Alright, I promise.” Sophia nodded, making Dylan smile a little.

“Good. Just – be strong.” He kissed her cheek and stood up but took the seat next to her.

“We need to leave in a few minutes so we won’t be able to stay for breakfast. We’ll pick something up on the road in a few hours.” I announced and took a silk scarf out of my pocket. “Sophia, because you’re new –“

She started to shake her head and I sighed but was not going to fight her on this. Since Dylan is so attentive to his sister, he can do the honors.

“Dylan? Get her blinded, that’s not a request. Christian? You are to follow Liam and Niall’s every instruction. The same goes for you emo boy. I’m going out on a limb here and trusting you with use of the cabin but if you break it, I will know and there will be consequences,” I warned, pointing out to the younger lad. “You will still remain chained at night but daylight is yours to roam with the agreement that you stay inside. If this is broken, I will punish Sophia because it seems to be the only thing that gets to you so I will use what will hurt the most. Is everything explained and clear?”

Everyone nodded, with the exception of Sophia, who was all but forced to follow us outside. When they made it to the clearing, I jogged up the pathway and to a small off hidden road where the vehicles were kept. I took the one that would blend us the closest with society. An ambulance. Which is a lot less noticeable than the limo and easier for pick up and discreet deliveries.

I drove it around and parked it, waiting for Zayn, Louis and Sophia to join me.

Louis grabbed Sophia’s arm a bit roughly and forced her toward the passenger side of the vehicle on the left. She didn’t protest or try to fight, she walked with him in silence. Dylan following up in the rear while Zayn took his place in the back, joining Louis.

Dylan climbed up the stairs to the large vehicle, his presence causing Sophia to turn her head.

“Hey sis, I came to see you off.” He smiled, the small wave barely reaching his eyes but there was something there, especially being near his sister.

She didn’t smile, instead her fingers made their way toward his black strands again.

“You looked better as a dirty blonde.” She mused sadly, her thoughts getting away from her.

Dylan chuckled dryly, reaching up with the silk scarf in his hands.

Sophia stopped him but only briefly. She was taking in his blue eyes like they were the last thing she would ever see. It was almost saddening.

“I love you, Dylan.” She whispered softly, like a lover’s kiss – only the passion was true feeling, one that she hadn’t seemed to utter very often before the cabin. The one thing she understood, the unsureness of life here in this world and I believe wholeheartedly that she felt the danger blossoming around her.

“Always, Soph.” Dylan responded but I could tell it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

Louis banged on the side in an indication to get going.

Dylan noticed and quickly but securely tied the scarf around Sophia’s eyes, pecking her cheek with a gentle kiss.

“Just do as they say, Soph. I’ll see you when you get back.”

With that he bid me a nod of his head and jumped down from the stairs, entering back up into the cabin with Christian on his heels.

Niall and Liam watched from the clearing, waving us along until our backs were driving forward and them behind.

“Are you comfortable?” I asked Sophia, making her turn towards the sound of my voice.

“Why do you care and what does it matter?” She responded monotonously.

“London is a few hours’ drive, I’ll take the blindfold off once we are inside the city.” I ignored her question and she seemed to go quiet again. The other two in the back were holding a soft conversation of their own.

I tried to hear but the siding was too thick. Apparently though, Sophia could hear them just bloody perfect.

“You’re curious what they’re discussing.” She noted, clearing her throat. Which made me glance closer and realize the scarf I had grabbed was bloody see through.

“Oh bloody fucking hell.” I swore, tugging the fabric from her eyes. That was a rookie move. Instead I slammed my hand over her eyes before slamming the brakes on, calling for Zayn.

Zayn zipped out of the back and toward the right side where the driver’s side was.

“The blindfold was faulty, she rides in the back with you chaps.” I nodded, watching him run to the passenger side and guide her down toward the back. She wouldn’t appreciate being in the back with Louis but hey, not my problem.

Once everyone was in I continued to make the long trek into London. The city was as beautiful as it was dangerous and I was the danger…though, sometimes, there are more dangerous ones than myself.

*

SOPHIA’S POV:

The drive was long and winding. I was kept in a bake box with Zayn and Louis. When I came to the back, I was surprised the energy was so neutral and there didn’t appear to be any hostilities between anyone.

“What are we doing first?” I asked Zayn, knowing I’d get a more detailed response from him than I would Louis.

“Picking up Razor – according to his chart, he’s what we refer to as a waiter. We are to deliver him to the appropriate place and make sure he is received. What they do beyond our vision is up to them but there’s a side note attached with the instructions that say to… clip his…teeth.” Zayn gave the paper an odd look before looking to Louis.

Louis shrugged.

“The bloody instructions get more complicated every year don’t they, mate?” Zayn snorted before knocking twice on the siding, making Harry open a communications window between us – one I hadn’t noticed was there earlier.

“Yeah?” Harry called to the back, his hands easily able to keep driving.

“The instructions say to clip his teeth – the bloody hell are we doing, Harry?” Zayn asked, his eyes hardening in suspicion.

“It means pull. We’re to pull his teeth out before delivery.” Harry clarified.

I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth, eyes wide in disbelief.

Louis chuckled, reaching into his pocket and pulled out a small packet of candy.

He popped a piece into his mouth and started to suck on it slowly, offering the pack out to me when he noticed my stare.

I shook my head.

“The bloody hell is your deal, Tomlinson? Huh? What’s so funny about pulling someone’s teeth out! That’s horrid!” I exclaimed, folding my arms – wincing at the reminded pain. I hate this, I hate every time I move that I’m reminded of their filthy hands roaming all over me.

“Harry, get to the pickup point tickly, the children are starting to argue back here.” Zayn muttered, making Harry let out a huff.

“We’ll be there in a tick regardless, ten tops – go over the procedures with Sophia since she’s new.” Harry ordered, closing the hatch to the bake oven we were trapped in.

Zayn nodded to himself, sitting next to me and letting me look over the information on the paper.

The photo was downright satanic. His teeth were – razored.

“Explains the nickname. What’s he convicted of again?” I turned to Zayn and Louis in curiosity.

“He raped and brutally murdered an eleven year old girl. Her father, a political figure, wants this job done nice and quiet. He’s going to deal with the bastard himself but the girl was ripped apart – initially, her body needed to be identified by dental records, she looked to have been shredded by a wild animal. Because of the prosecutor’s mistake, the guy got off scot free. The bite marks were consisted of his DNA and teeth markings.” Zayn explained, rubbing my back in comfort when he saw my face pale.

Another chuckle from Louis, this time followed by a snippy response.

“Still think it’s so horrid to cause pain to a monster such as that? Someone who did that act to a child and didn’t get to see justice for his horrendous crime? Hm? Honestly, Sophia? I wish I lived in your perfect little storybook where everyone hugs and there’s dance parties day and night and everything is G Rated but sadly, we live in the real world. If you want to see justice done, you have to do it yourself.” Louis growled, his eyes darkening.

“Then may God have mercy on your bleeding souls. You kill children, men and women for the right amount of money. Where’s their justice?! HUH!? WHERE’S MINE!” I screamed, making Zayn wrap his arm around me, noticing Louis’s eyes blacken – this wasn’t good.

“Lou, she’s anxious and upset. Just drop it. Soph, hey, look at me.” He coached, knowing he needed to get this situation under control.

I refused and looked away with arms crossed, speaking again.

“Where’s their justice? Where is mine? This job is a death sentence. It’s only a matter of time before I fuck something up and put myself and the ones I care about in danger. This is a slow death sentence and you all know it.” I cried, looking at the two men.

“You aren’t dead though, not yet – not if we can help it. You’re with us now, Sophia and we’ll be there to steer you in the right direction but you need to trust us. You need to trust when we send you on jobs with us that we believe in you too. We don’t let anything happen to our own. As for their justice? There will never be any. Like Harry has said, we don’t kill because we want to, we kill because we have to. I was ordered to get a message across to Stone, I did – be it was a tiny bit messy but it got the point across. I’m no angel but I’m not the devil incarnate either.” Louis scratched his head, all trace of a good mood gone. He was being serious and there was no sarcasm attached to his words.

“It’s not our decision though, justice will be saw fit when karma decides – “

Zayn’s hand slipped over my mouth when the ambulance stopped suddenly. Harry confirmed his departure with a close of the door, which also prompted Zayn and Louis to follow suit. I put my hand into Zayn’s and let him guide me. He did so without complaint.

We were parked in the worst area in London that you could be – it was eerily familiar when Louis picked Harry up on one of these streets the time of my kidnapping.

The ambulance barely fit the side street alley we are parked and the steam from the busted pipe nearby gave the illusion of mist – it was everything that you would find in a horror movie – with the exception of the rising sun cracking in between the buildings at early morning dawn. It had a distinct smell of moldy bread and stale pastries, I think we were near the rubbish bins by a bakery of some sort because despite the unappealing smell, it was all somehow familiar. This was my city – or, use to be.

I felt a wave of sadness rush through me as Zayn pulled my hand, guiding me from the alley and into a dark vacant building.

The hallways are narrow but wide enough to go through with no problem. It was down this hallways that we found a door…or the only door rather.

“Think we should knock?” Zayn asked, gripping my hand and pulling me slightly behind him just in case. Louis was stationed behind me, sandwiching my body between them but not to where we were physically touching.

“They left all the instructions but what to do once inside, so, yeah – I’d say knocking would be our better bet unless we want guns pointed at our head like last time.” Harry muttered, his eyes emotionless and cold. The same dark jaded green I’ve come to know well. He was a man focused on his mission and I only prayed I didn’t fuck this up.

He stepped forward and knocked hard – a moment later, we heard a soft but sinister ‘come in’.

When we opened the door and peered through, there was a man – the same one from the picture in the file we received.

His head was shaved completely bald and his skin was deathly white, his frame of medium build but the slight muscular protrusion from his arms suggested he worked out moderately. He was taller than Harry by the way his tied – no, no ties were present on his outstretched feet. In fact – it looked like he chewed through all his bindings…and his guard by the way another body laid on the floor, his lips and shirt stained crimson, the floor around the two of them dripping the same color.

“H-Harry? He’s not tied up.” I stammered, Razor’s attention drawling to me, a sickly smile plastering slowly across.

“I’m well aware of this Soph, thanks. I am also quite conscious of his midmorning snack too – if that helps.” He responded sarcastically to my obvious warning but I could detect a slight waver in his voice – which meant Harry Styles was nervous…and as much as I would be giddy with glee any other time to witness this, when a dude with razor sharp teeth bottom to top is looking at you as an opportunity for a second meal, everything in your brain goes straight to survival mode and that is what the boys went to – survival.

“Aw, what’s the matter pretty boy? Gonna piss your pants?” Razor antagonized, his eyes going toward Zayn – who was still holding me behind him but Louis was now standing by Harry, his hands on his hips.

“So, Harry – the rabid dog chewed through his lead – and gag by the looks and is now sitting there – one would think he would be smart after eating his meal to make a run for it – what pray tell do you think he’s waiting for?”

Louis was speaking to Harry but at the same time antagonizing the very scary looking man in front of us right back. I wanted to die but being mauled by another human being was not on top of that list of ways I wanted to go. I preferred a fast death.

“Aye, I was. I was waiting to greet you blokes –though you have pleasantly surprised me with a beautiful young fawn for the prowling. Once I finish shredding you into pieces, I’m going to take her –“He paused for effect to further show me his razor sharp teeth, they glinted in the dim light of the room. “And do things that will make the devil blush.”

Zayn’s hand tightened his hold and Harry blocked his view of me.

“Trust me, mate – you won’t get a chance to touch her.” Harry growled, his hand reaching behind him to touch my back, pulling me close.

“Oh?” Razor chuckled, uncrossing his legs and standing up. “Wanna make a bet?”

Harry growled at a response, letting go of my completely and making an attempt to cross over to where Razor now stood but Louis grabbed him, frantically whispering into his ear.

Harry hissed something back and Louis agreed, coming by me and whisper into my ear.

“When I tell you to flower, run the fuck out of here and lock yourself into the ambulance. Do you understand me?”

I nodded, scared out of my bloody mind. I was three seconds away from pissing myself.

“Good. Zayn? Code 4, code 21, code 9 and if that doesn’t work, use your feet, stay away from his mouth.” Louis instructed so that only we could hear.

“Secrets, secrets, secrets. You know what the problem with those are?” Razor laughed, walking towards us from across the room.

Zayn dropped my hand and covered me.

“Flower, run!” Louis shouted as all three boys ran towards Razor, just as he was approaching them, his pace quickened with the boys as they charged one another. I didn’t turn back, I did what they told me to do. I ran the fuck out of there.

Immense pain shot straight through my back, the cold air blowing against my skin as the commotion of human on human contact and yells of pain hit the air. I opened the door but didn’t stray toward the ambulance. That was a death trap, if he hurt them I didn’t want him finding me. Instead, I ran down the gang ridden alleys and far away from the carnage happening inside. My only coherent thought that screamed out in my mind and I truthfully don’t know why, was ‘I hope they’re okay.’

Notes

Thank you all so much! You're amazing readers! This chapter's for you guys, enjoy!