The Silence That Surrounds

Harry’s POV:

“HARRY I STABBED HIM, HELP ME!”

From that moment, communication was abruptly cut.

“Fuck!” Zayn swore while Louis calmly pulled up his phone, pressing a few buttons and putting it on speaker.

“We may want to help her, Harry. You know – superman it in there and save flower’s pretty little neck? Just a thought because I think Damien would be pissed if her first mission turned out to be her last – what with getting brutally murdered by a deranged psychopath and all?” Louis sassed, rolling his eyes and listening in to the conversation as the tracer activated.

Harry please!” Sophia begged desperately, her voice shaking more than it had when she had been raped by Damien.

“Mate? We need –“Zayn started anxiously but I cut him off, holding my hand up to listen to what was happening. I would not risk our lives for a trap. I needed to be absolutely sure first.

“He can’t save you, sugar plum and I’m not going to kill you.” Daniel growled passively.

I let out a small sigh and gestured to the tracer.

“See? She’s alright. We wait until we have no choice to go in. The smart thing to do would be to wait until Daniel’s asleep. Tonight, possibly. His guard will be down then.” I counteracted. If it wasn’t such a risk, I’d go in and help Sophia but she has her switchblade as well as a quick thinking brain. She is Stone’s daughter in every sense of the word with being cunningly fast at problem solving.

“You said you were going to snap my neck and eat me!” She screamed shrilly, a small scuff of a chair could be heard moving.

Daniel laughed.

This carried on for a while, the conversation getting deeper and more personal. Though after hearing him tell Sophia that he would have pushed her mother down the stairs to avoid ever becoming a father – I had my hands balled tightly into fists. They were red and shaking. I was pissed. Not only because of that but because he was blatantly taunting me, calling me a child – he’ll learn. By the time I’m through with him; he will be a very sorry bloke. Honestly? My father was the devil incarnate but Sophia’s father was worse – if that makes any sense. Especially with how he spoke to her. It’s hard to imagine that this thing – this…man was as loving as Nightshade claimed.

“Wow and I thought your dad was a donkey’s asshole.” Louis snorted but I could see that the father-daughter conversation was getting to him as well and Zayn had left the back of the ambulance at the point of Daniel’s screaming for her to sit down and shut the fuck up to somewhere around where he insulted Damien and myself. I don’t quite know when but when Zayn goes solo – it usually means his buttons were pushed too far. I can’t say I blame the lad, though it seems to be heating up in the lodge.

“That company is no longer yours. The same as it is no more mine. You made a deal with the devil and now he’s here to collect and he did. I won’t take that hack off because I no longer have access to the server. Harry is now the main administrator, the rightful one. I’d rather see him in charge over the company then a heartless bastard like you. You can hurt me, I’ve been hurt – more than you’ll ever know. Damien is good at what he does and in turn, the little girl you knew – she’s long dead. She’s what monsters are made from and truth be told –“ I heard her pause suddenly, almost for dramatic effect before speaking again. This time with a little bit more sarcasm.

Oh shit.

“Now should we superman it to help mouthy or are we waiting for a bloody written invitation? Home girl’s gone fucking nuts.” Louis muttered. I nodded in agreement.

“Get Zayn.” I demanded, grabbing my gun and cocking the safety off, nestling it into my waistband, listening while I packed a few necessities into a small knapsack.

Louis didn’t have to be told twice, his hands pushing open the door.

“She’s accepted the darkness. She’s accepted her fellow demons and we go out drinking every Friday together. My place – Dylan’s place, it’s with Harry because face it dad, you’re on the loosing team and now that I know that the documents haven’t been altered, now that I know that your lawyer safely has them – it’s time to invite him over for a drink so we can sign everything over to their respective owners, don't you think? So, will you be calling Mr. Scar or shall I?”

“Fucking hell, Nightshade! Be quiet!” I yelled, knowing she couldn’t hear me. Though that wasn’t the worst thing to happen tonight evidently because Louis was back in a second, a frown deep on his face.

“Houston, we have a problem. Zayn’s not outside…” Louis trailed off, scratching the base of his hairline anxiously.

“WHAT?! Where the bloody fu –“I started, cutting myself off with a groan. “Bloody perfect! Come on – before he does something stupid, if he bloody hasn’t already. Fucking dumbass.”

Louis was already ahead of me, running to catch up with Zayn. I on the other hand needed to approach this thing more strategically.

I looked around for the stun gun Sophia had when she put Razor down but it was nowhere to be found and I needed to catch up with dumb and dumbfuck. That is Zayn’s name until further notice. I don’t know what’s gotten into the lad and why he seems to be smothering Sophia but he’s not thinking with his head – not the right one at least. His actions could potentially fuck our chances to get what we came for.

“Fuck it.” I muttered, throwing the knapsack over my shoulder and running toward the lodge. I had to hand it to Stone, money can buy you a hideaway. I have a hideaway and want to see the stars by clear skies. I suppose you wonder how the other half live but then again, what does it matter? I’ll never be free from Damien and I’ll never see the sun by anyplace but the tip of the trees.

Louis was nearly halfway there, I was only maybe a hundred feet from the ambulance and Zayn was evidently nowhere in sight. He either aborted the mission entirely or is attempting to go assassin’s creed with trying to attempt a way in. My gut feeling says it’s the latter, especially if Sophia is involved. I saw the way his eyes light up when he looks at her. His guard is completely down and he’s not thinking of the what if’s – he’s not thinking about what could happen to her the longer she’s in or the more missions she’s required to participate in. We could still lose her, he needs to remember that. None of us have a guarantee, none of us know when one of our missions may be our last.

“Lou?” I called, my voice a hiss in the shadow of the darkness.

He was too far up ahead to hear but I could see him reaching the lodge and disappearing behind the side of it – evidently following Zayn’s lead. I on the other hand, choose to be the normal one and see if the front door is unlocked before taking alternative measures.

I got to the front door once I broke out into a run, the last one and evidently the most obvious but there are methods to my madness – actually I take that back.

With an expelled breath, the cool air surrounding my oxygen released in a light cloud but it wasn’t cold enough to bother with a jacket and to top it off, I was hot from running. Without any more hesitation I turned the nob and pushed open the door. Unlocked, yes!

I stepped in at the same time Sophia ran passed me to the steps but she stopped, turning wide eyed.

“Harry, look out!” She screamed, which made me look off to the left to see Daniel come at my direction suddenly. Although he seemed more surprised to see me standing there then I was to see him and that left me to panic and switch to survival mode. With one quick movement my hands balled into fists and I gave Daniel a sharp cut to his right cheek, sending him to the ground.

“Tyke, huh? Lad? Think again, Mr. Stone. I’m a bloke with severe anger issues and you managed to piss every single one of them off.” I growled, seeing the older man glance at me but it certainly wasn’t in fear. No, the bloody bastard was smirking.

“Harry? Damien’s boy, right?” He chuckled, sitting up from the ground, acknowledging neither the punch nor the severe stab wound in his shoulder. Damn, Soph got the fucker good. Score one for the lass in precision.

“Unfortunately.” I confirmed, smiling down at the man. I loved having the thrill of power over the helpless git.

“You interrupted a nice family meeting, lad. Didn’t your daddy ever teach you it was rude to disrupt things that didn’t concern you?” Daniel tsked, making his way to his feet – abet slower than he normally would but I wasn’t going to stop him. In fact, I was reaally looking forward to sending the bastard back onto his ass again.

“You call it a family meeting, I call it interrupting a potential murder scene by the looks. Girl running, crazy psychopath chasing after her. Only, she has the weapon so why she didn’t just stab you in the eye and chalk it up to target practice is beyond me,” I responded in a sneer, a look of disgust now cutting across my face. “It would certainly be an improve on your face.”

Daniel snorted.

“Is that the best you got, lad?” He challenged, sidestepping me to the coffee table where his –ah, fuck.

I grabbed the loaded gun from the hem of my jeans at the same time he grabbed his, both of us pointing pointe blank at the other, our hands unshaking and fearless eyes sizing up the enemy. Why did it feel like I was in a surreal scene of a movie? Also, where the HELL are my two brainless idiots I call partners?

“No, I got plenty more where that came from but considering there’s a gun pointed at my face, you’ll forgive me if I choose to continue this discussion with you later when you’re tied up and sedated.” I responded to Daniel’s question.

Daniel chuckled, the pitch in octave dropping several notches from his throat, creating a deep, dark laugh. He sounded downright satanic. Shit, if he was trying out for an evil villain, the laugh itself would get him the part.

“Oh lad, that’s not going to happen. The only way this is going to end is with one of us dead and it sure as hell won’t be me. I am GOD!” Daniel growled, the humor completely gone now. He clicked his safety off – his safety was on? Harry Styles, you fucking idiot. How have you not fucking died yet?

“There’s only one God, Mr. Stone and you’re looking right at him.” I smirked suddenly, seeing Zayn creeping alongside the wall, silent as the dead with his gun drawn.

“Are you two seriously cock sizing one another? I got news for the both of you, there is no God.” Louis said out of nowhere, coming suddenly into view but neither Daniel nor I had time to register what happened next because wires came springing forward and Daniel Stone dropped like a sack of rocks – but not before his gun unexpectedly went off. Louis seemed to expect that and he grabbed my shoulders in a timed reaction, pushing us both to the ground, the bullet shooting just above my head.

Holy fucking Christmas trees, that was close.

“You two like to do things the complicated, stupid way, don’t you?” Zayn asked, clearly not impressed with either of our behavior.

“You’re one to talk! I didn’t give you any sort of order to leave post!” I growled, watching Daniel’s body jolt and seizure on the hard wooden floor thanks to the unknown volts going through him. Score two for us.

“Is this your first mission? Cock measuring your enemy when he has a gun on you was a stupid move, Harry! I don’t know what’s gotten into YOU lately. We never had problems with you before. I dunno what you’re trying to prove or to whom but we all need to get our fucking heads back on straight!” Louis chastised with a low hiss, shaking his head.

I thought for a moment, realizing he was right but first thing’s first. We needed to find Sophia.

I got up to head up the steps, Louis already stopping me.

“Nu-uh. I’ll get flower, YOU get tall, dark and psychotic tied down to something and we’ll wait until he finishes pissing himself and convulsing to get what we need from him – providing we can get the bloody LAWYER out here. If we can’t we’re going to have to keep Daniel secured until he does and babysitting Sophia’s father was not part of the plan. If there is a bloody God, he’ll get that Scar fella out here tonight because I don’t fancy staying here any longer than I have to.” Louis finished his rant, marching up the steps like a tyke who just threw a temper tantrum and didn’t get his way. Sometimes though, not everything goes so smoothly in this business. He should know that by now but – well, it is Louis Tomlinson and he has little patience and even littler faith.

*

Louis’s POV:

To do list: Kill Harry…think that about covers it. What the bloody hell? Cock sizing someone who has a gun pointed at you? Real smooth, Styles.

My mood was already soured by the day’s events and I couldn’t fathom what Harry’s problem was and Zayn – I’m not even getting started on that idiot. I truly just needed to calm down and relax and right now, Sophia is the only one currently not on my hit list. Let’s see how long that lasts.

Why Harry didn’t react in the first place when Sophia first screamed out for him was as confusing as it was unnerving. I didn’t understand but for someone who has very little regard for human life, why was I the only one out of the three of us that seems to get it? Fuck, I need to keep focus because I’m going way out of base here.

When I got up to the top of the steps there were eight doors. Four on the left and four on the right, two doors facing the other two in perfect alignment on each side. If Sophia ran up here it would be easy to find her – with any luck.

“Flower?” I called, keeping my voice calm. The last thing I needed to do was traumatize her any more than she was.

I went into the first room on the left.

“Sophia? It’s me, Louis. It’s safe to come out, love.” I called evenly, my eyes searching the room. It was a bathroom and she clearly was not in there…unless she was hiding in the shower but everything was out in the open and the curtain was pulled up so – room one, clear.

I headed into the next room beside it. This room was breathtaking. It had green carpet and a neatly made bed. A perfect bedroom for Sophia – but judging by the nearly naked girl posters and Porsche car images lining the closet and doors – I’m going to guess this was Dylan’s room – or Mr. Stone’s – if he was going through a midlife crises and trying to relive his youth as a teenager. Shit, I bet the only think he wanked off to were black and white photos of Marilyn Monroe.

“Sophia, flower? Are you in here? It’s safe, come on out, lovely.” I called but the air was still and silent. Room two, clear.

This went on for a few rooms before I was close to giving up. A game of where the fuck was Waldo certainly is not my favorite search book and playing where’s Sophia in the lodge of horrors was even less so. When I got to the last door, I knew she had to be in here and when I open the door and stepped in, I approached with caution. This time I waited to see if she was in deed in her and when I heard her quiet breath with caution. I looked around and realized It came from underneath the bed.

“Sophia? Darling? It’s me, Louis. It’s safe to come out now, love. Harry and Zayn have your father contained downstairs. He can’t get you, come on now – it’s safe.” I tried coaxing but she didn’t move from her hiding place.

“Sophie? Lovely?” I called again, coming to sit down heavily on the thickly covered pink carpet by the twin sized bed. Yep, this was definitely her room.

“What took you all so long?” She asked quietly, slowly bringing her fingers out from underneath her hiding place. She looked lost and frightened – not like she did when she hit Razor over the head. That was her confidence and now –it was intensified and plagued by distrust. This was a different kind of panic and I felt something in my chest. Pity or annoyance, wasn’t sure which.

“Harry was being a jackoff and Zayn went all mission impossible, disappearing and I was chasing after both of them.” I explained, seeing Sophia still held her switchblade. Good thing I said something then, last thing I needed was her stabbing me in the foot.

I reached over and helped her from underneath the bed, a smirk falling onto my lips.

“Honestly? If I knew there was a pretty lass like you under my bed before falling asleep, getting me into it would have been a lot easier.” I attempted to lighten the mood but she didn’t even smile – though, she did reach over and wrap her long arms around my neck.

“Thank you.” She whispered in relief, her muscles contracting themselves so they relaxed into my body. I never felt as awkward. She’s supposed to hate me and I need her distanced. Right now, we all need to distance ourselves. Unfortunately, I could understand Harry’s reasoning but it still didn’t change what is and what needed done.

“Sophia, you need to let go, flower. You can’t do that.” I explained patiently, attempting to pull her away and luckily she disengaged.

“He was going to kill me, he hurt me! So I yelled for Harry because Daniel hurt me, look.” Sophia said, pulling down her dress so her one breast fell from the top of the low neckline.

I saw dark fingertip bruises at the mounds of her flesh, circling up to her nipple. I reached out to examine them but stopped short, not touching her but simply looking.

“How?” I demanded, feeling my eyes grow darker. I may not have regard for human life but I do have it for those close and Sophia has come equal to that. I would never admit it to her or to myself – not consciously but I was seeing red and it was Harry’s fault just as much as Daniel’s.

“He –he touched me, he’s always done this but never that roughly before. It’s always been –“She went to explain but I cut her off from going into detail.

“Daniel’s done this before?” I seethed, already knowing the answer but with a nod of her head, she confirmed all I needed her to.

With controlled rage radiating off the very aura around me I stood up and marched back downstairs quickly, coming into view of Harry and Zayn. I marched up to them, my hand balled into a fist and let one swing right at Harry’s cheek. I might be smaller but the bloke landed on the floor, his rightful fucking place.

“Daniel hurt Sophia, he also touches her, don’t believe me? Go look for yourself. Next time she calls out for help, you damn well better have a fucking backup plan to get her out of the situation sooner. We don’t leave our own to the fucking wolves, you taught me that, Styles. Next time, we send her inside someplace that we can assure she will be able to get out safely. Either that, we give her a gun to protect herself but I’m not quite on that trust level with the lass, yet. She screams, we go in. No buts, no exceptions,” I gave the ultimatum, balling my other hand into a fist and cracked Daniel across the jaw. “Touch Sophia like that again and I will choke the living life from you, bring you back and kill you again with my bare fucking bloody hands.” My voice dropping to a dark whisper before I glanced at Zayn. “And you better get your head outta your arse, mate, or you won’t have one."

It seemed I killed the mood everyone was going for because our leader was on the floor holding his face, Zayn had backed up a few paces and Daniel was clocked unconscious.

With a sigh, I reached into my pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes and a match.

“I’m going outside for a smoke, Zayn? Sophia’s in the last room, right side, left door. Stay with her, see if she’s alright, she looks it - just a bit afraid. Though, lucky for us she’s not crying, yeah?”

With that I threw my hands up and stepped outside. I really needed to calm down.

Notes

Not my best chapter but...hopefully you enjoyed. Next chapter has detailed torture so be aware :)