The Silence That Surrounds

Niall’s POV:

I slipped quietly out of the kitchen toward the door, opening it and crossing the threshold to the outside while closing it quietly behind me. I knew where the lad was heading – where he had the past couple of days while Harry and them were away. Despite the rules, we didn’t enforce the no outside one too much as we were out there the majority of the day training.

“Dylan? Come on lad, your sister is worried si –“I stopped and rushed over to the hunched figure with his hand to his throat, struggling to take in breaths. He had asthma and it was made worse the more stressed he got. He had a total of six attacks yesterday with the lessons and the day before he passed out twice. Liam knew the symptoms and got an inhaler for him, he was supposed to carry it with him at all times.

“Where’s your inhaler?” I asked calmly as my hands roamed his pockets and sides to see if he had it on him. “Fuck!”

I turned back and rushed inside, throwing the door open. I knew something told me to go check on him.

“Harry! Harry, listen, Dylan’s having an attack he needs his inhaler –“I couldn’t get another word out before Sophia was running from the room to the back, she must have known where it was.

Just like clockwork, not even ten seconds later she was running toward the door with me at her heels.

“Go straight, turn slightly right, you’ll see him!” I called when she ran passed me. The girl must have ran track because I couldn’t keep up. Harry though was right beside me with Louis up the arse before I could blink.

“He alright?” Harry asked when we reached them up ahead, he hadn’t gotten far – which was a lucky thing for him.

Sophia dropped to her knees and wrapped her arm around Dylan’s wheezing form before beginning to coo reassuring words.

I went over to help her steady Dylan while she uncapped the inhaler and shoved it in his mouth, pressing down a good four or five times, I finally had to seize the inhaler from her hand and take it away.

“Sophia! The medicine is in, give it a minute to work! Jesus!” I yelled, her eyes panic stricken and her body shaking. This was not how today should have gone at all.

“Soph?” Dylan coughed, looking to her with a forced calmness. I knew he was scared of what happened. He was shaking for hours when he first had an attack and now it seemed it did it to him again.

“God, are you okay?” Sophia asked her voice shaking.

“N-no.” Dylan shut his eyes, leaning forward into Sophia’s shoulder and letting out a sob.

I knew it wasn’t just the asthma attack, it was everything pressing against him too. The biggest one was time.

Harry knelt down beside Sophia on the opposite side of her while Louis stood next to Harry.

“Hazza? You need to call your father and explain that if Dylan is sent to his cabin, he is as good as dead. You know it, I know it. Let’s not play around with this. See if you can get us more time.” Louis frowned, watching the display in front of him.

“I’ll try but you know what he’s going to say. If he says what I know he’s going to say, exactly what do you want or suggest we do?” Harry muttered, taking his phone out and turning away so Dylan’s cries weren’t so loud.

“Kill him. It’d be a bloody fucking mercy.” Louis replied without a pause.

“NO!” Sophia panicked but I reached over and clamped my hand across her mouth, shushing her gently.

“Steady easy lass, Louis is just being a buffoon. No one is going to kill Dylan, that’s not on the card table, not even being considered.” I calmed, glaring at Louis. He in turn rolled his eyes and flipped me off.

“Damien, it’s Harry –yeah. Yeah, documents are signed, titles are signed they are at your disposal when you would want –yes, Stone is dead. Yes. It’s fair to assume that he suffered greatly before his death. I’m partly responsible but I did not deliver the final blow. No, Louis either but all three of us were witnesses to it.” Harry chuckled, glancing at Sophia who quieted and was embracing her brother for everything she was worth.

There was a pause, Harry concentrating on the tree in front of us intently.

“Yes, Damien. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Sophia Stone delivered the final – she stabbed him with a weapon that she managed to – yes, I understand she’s on suici – no, I was not aware of it until she had pulled the knife out and stabbed it into Daniel’s throat. She paused to make sure he felt it and then slit him from ear to ear. From there she dropped her – the knife.” Harry explained quickly, answering Damien’s questions before he finally just rolled his eyes and put him on speaker. “Ms. Stone? Give him the details if you will. He doesn’t seem to believe you had the guts to kill your own father. Explain in detail – from the things leading up to the actual execution, nothing more, and nothing less.”

I listened to the dead tone warning now in Harry’s voice and Sophia started shaking her head but a quick glare from Louis forced her to recount the story from the night before with the curling iron and the unfathomable details that left her mouth – with Harry backing up her commentary with additional details. That seemed to get Damien in a good mood because he was having trouble catching his breath from all the laughing he was doing. By the time she got to the actual execution, her tone was a wisp of what it once was. Sophia’s temper broke with her and the haunted eyes recounted the life she took only hours before. The girl that had been forcing her way through a positive mood – broke again right in front of us.

They say the first kill is always the hardest. I disagree. It never gets easy no matter how many times you witness it. I have seen many come and go. I have seen the lowest of human rubbish to the very ones that humanity was gifted to. It was a sad existence that many of the ones with the souls were the ones that got the most unjust treatment. Sophia Stone was a humanity and her father was rubbish in a shit box. All the good you could do with what you earn is thrown under a blanket and taken without any care at all and as I listened to the story come to the end, I realized Dylan had hugged onto her a little more tightly. Like a treasure about to be stolen from his very grasp. None of us were going to interfere with them. The comfort they expressed seemed almost important and his gentle massage of her black strand hair calmed the frazzled girl.

“Well, Ms. Stone, I dare say that is impressive. Why, it’s almost respectable but – you are a Stone and there is nothing creditable about your family thus far that I can even begin to express that limited hierarchy. However, I may have misjudged you personally. I was just going to keep you alive to suck my dick but you are vast proving something that maybe of further use other than a mere whore. Do yourself a favor and don’t disappoint me. I would hate to be wrong. When I’m wrong, people die.” Damien chuckled, wheezing when he sucked in a breath.

“She won’t. I will begin her training today but we have a slight dilemma with Dylan Stone. His training is limited, he would not be a good edition to your gang – nor your cabin. He wouldn’t make it.” Harry cleared his throat before scratching his head.

“Alright, then he’ll die. Either way, the lad is coming with me, tomorrow. You have business as usual to get back to, Harold because I got another job for you all. It will take place in a month and it is a one-eight-seven.” Damien continued to explain with little interruption. We all simply listened.

“A murder?” Sophia murmured but it was loud enough for Satan incarnate to hear.

“I see Harry has brought you up to code terms, very good news indeed. It further means that my son isn’t completely fucking useless after all. Alright what is an RCE?” He tested her, which made her eyes go wide. I snapped my fingers softly, drawing her attention to my face.

“Execution.” I mouthed which she repeated with only a fraction of hesitation.

“Wonderful! Now all we need to do is bleed those pesky emotions out of you and you’ll be grand. Don’t worry, I will personally take care of that when I get there tomorrow.” Damien chuckled, which left Dylan to finally speak up.

“You know what? You’re a jackass. You only are where you are because you thrive off fear, you thrive off of people’s pain. Guess what? You’re not going to get it from me you fucking fa –“Dylan’s words were cut off sharply by Louis, his hand firmly sealing the younger boy’s mouth.

“Please, what about this Master Styles, I take his place in your cabin. He stays here to get the proper training so he can better assist you.” Sophia spoke quickly to deter her brother’s straggled cry, her eyes full with fear. Her skin was paling to a murky cream – just like her sibling. They were both frightened and there was nothing we could do.

“Now Ms. Stone, what makes you think that you’re strong enough to survive in my cabin of nightmares if your own bloody brother isn’t? I said I may have judged too quickly but that doesn’t mean that I find you competent. None of my other little slaves are adequate, Harry included, so why would you assume that I would automatically go for this little tradeoff? Your brother means everything to you, you are related after all.” Damien’s voice narrowed on facts and all Sophia did was glance at me, wanting to know what to say. I shrugged unsure, which she turned to Louis – his response the same. Even Harry dropped his eyes to avoid contact.

“I want to protect him, isn’t that to be expected? Do you have any siblings, Master Styles?” Sophia asked, trying to get him to see reason. He saw it alright because the deep chuckle was bone chilling. If there was anyone as soulless it would be Damien Styles.

“Three sisters, six brothers. I am the oldest of ten. However, blood is thinner than water. I grew up in a time where my name on the street was my lifeline. I lose respect, I lose my stature and I couldn’t let that happen. The oldest sister, Adela, her throat was the first one I slit before I travelled room to room and did it to every one of my siblings – all but one. Seth. He had the same interests as I but with less ruthlessness,” He paused for a few moments, laughing again as he recalled the memory.

“All died that night, parents included. So to answer your question, Ms. Stone, if I could do that to my own family – what presumption are you going to assume when I call one night, demand Harry put you on speaker and make your brother scream in agony as I torture him for hours on end without mercy – his final straggled scream the only thing you hear before nothing at all? Think about that, kitten, because that’s what’s in his future. He’s merely my punching bag but you, well, your pussy will suffice for now until I see exactly what you’re made of. Like I said, don’t disappoint me.”

Sophia didn’t gasp but her breathing was coming out shallow and I saw her eyes roll up into her head before I grabbed her to me to stop from hitting the ground.

“Congrats Master, you managed to make Ms. Stone faint – you got talent with swooning the ladies, don’t ya?” Louis remarked sarcastically.

Damien chuckled.

“You’ll have to work with her on that, Tomlinson. In fact, she is your responsibility from here on out since Harry’s soft heart seems to be touching down again onto land but like always, when I’m done, it will have blown over just like a hurricane. Goodbye lads, see you tomorrow.”

A click and moment later, the line was dead and we were all left to our silence.

“Niall? Go get the smelling salts and tell Zayn, Liam too, that I’m assembling a group meeting and to come out to join us.” Harry ordered, still kneeling down on the ground, his hand reaching over and tugging Sophia from my grip, laying her flat on the compact earth.

Dylan groaned when Louis finally took his hand away, his attention on Sophia and anger apparent in his crisp blue eyes.

“You stupid girl.” Dylan grumbled but pushed her hair from her face gently, pausing when Harry placed a hand on his shoulder.

“For what it’s worth Dylan, I’m sorry. I can’t do anything more other than call in a favor to see if another cabin can take you and have them call in a favor to Damien to get you transferred there instead but it won’t be much better. If you end up in a waiting cabin or a code red cabin you will have stricter rules and they are much less hospitable. Damien, if you do what you’re told –“

Dylan didn’t let him finish. Looking closer at his face there was sorrow –hopelessness. It shone in his eyes like a dying star in a black sky, the ember fading to nothing. He lost his faith, the light no longer reaching his orbs.

“Look, it’s alright. I just need –I need to know Sophia will be taken care of. I want one of you to fucking bloody promise me that SOMEONE in this godforsaken group will protect her. That’s all I want, someone promise me.” Dylan swallowed, anger now mixing with sadness. His emotions were switching and he was swallowing to try to stop his voice from cracking. It’s not like he had stopped crying completely but amongst the monsters such as us –there really wasn’t a difference in either.

“Niall? Sophia is on the ground, passed out. She has been like this the past few minutes, will you please kindly get your head outta your arse and go get the bloody goddamn smelling sal –“Harry started ranting, ignoring Dylan completely.

Louis rolled his eyes and stood, dashing towards the cabin in a sprint.

“Sorry, Harry.” I apologized, unable to move. I felt paralyzed but the tears were trickling down Dylan’s face, right onto Sophia’s cheek.

“Promise me. Promise me you won’t let that fucking demon touch her like that.” Dylan begged and looked around at us but we remained silent. There was no way we could promise him something like that.

“I’m sorry, lad but the order stands and I can do nothing more to protect her than I could you at this point. What I can do is teach her how to defend herself so she has a chance. I can’t promise you something that I know can wind us all tied up and gagged in the basement again with having to watch her be raped. I can’t DO anything then, Damien makes sure of it.” Harry explained, his voice a mere growl at the end of his short speech.

“Then why don’t you kill him? Why hasn’t he been stopped?!” Dylan yelled at Harry, demanding an explanation.

I held my breath and Harry paused, considering it.

“Because it is against the code of conduct. A member whom kills another of a higher ranking member or boss will lose their life. I can’t do it because he is my boss but I also cannot do what you ask because he is my old man. Family still means something, no matter how drifted. Sophia begged me not to harm Daniel but she in the end betrayed her own emotion. She killed him. That is something I do not get the luxury of doing. If my father breaks the rules, consequences will be issued to him but he is God in these parts, you will learn that soon enough.” Harry finished softly.

“He maybe your god but he sure as fuck isn’t mine! I will DIE before I ever bow down to something like him! Do you hear me, Styles? I will bloody fucking DIE first!” Dylan growled, pounding his fist on the ground before letting out another sob.

Harry reached over and placed his large hand over the younger boy’s shoulder.

“Then God be with us because if you die, one of us dies and you wouldn’t want anything to happen to your sister, I know you wouldn’t. Just think about what you say before it leaves your lips, alright? If you really want my word – as a leader or as a captor I can only give you this as a comfort; I promise, to my ability that we will protect Sophia as much as we can. I will see that she is kept safe on jobs and that she is looked over and kept well. If Damien wants her for his needs – I will try to disinterest him but I can do nothing more.”

I heard the tense breath that Dylan let go from the way he had been holding the air in with anticipation. Although as he let go, his shoulders slumped.

“You have what you need, why can’t we go? We have no idea how to find you, we have your names but what good will that do if there’s no proof to accompany any claims? You have all the documents signed and sealed, the titles – everything to the company. I want my sister to have a fresh start – I want a fresh start. I want to get in my Ferrari and I want us to disappear. What would happen – really happen if you could find it in your nonexistent heart to just let us go and have that chance? Sophia’s not herself, she’s not even a shell of what she was and she’s forcing happiness that she doesn’t even realized is being forced! Damien couldn’t be too upset if –“

Harry put his other hand over Dylan’s mouth, a deep frown and furrowed brow following.

“Damien Crow will find her, she is now his property – OUR property. Just the same as you. Don’t you get it? There is no escape. You and her have trackers –ones that can never be taken out unless the upper boss deems it. We are slaves to this system, nothing more. I have one in my arm and Niall there has one in his. It’s a way to make sure no one leaves. There is no ‘leaving or starting new’. Accept it and move on.”

Harry pushed his hand off the boy’s mouth and wiped it on his shirt.

It was then I heard rushed footsteps heading back toward us.

“Sorry, I couldn’t find the salts. They were in Liam’s room from when Dylan passed out. Evidently we’re going to need to start stockpiling around here if that keeps up.” Louis muttered, dropping to his knees and putting the already uncapped vile up to her nose.

Her eyes shot open and she unconsciously slapped the vile from her face – spilling the salts into the grass.

“Bloody wonderful!” Louis cheered with sardonic gladness, picking up the now empty bottle.

“Sophia.” Dylan breathed sitting her up and letting her face rest up against his chest while he kneeled.

“Don’t leave me Dylan, please never leave me.” Sophia cried in a low whisper and I finally felt my heart crack, the rock around it smashed by one sentence. It reminded me so much of Caroline. It reminded me –no, no…I won’t let myself go back there.

I stood up, turning around and coming face to face with Zayn and Liam.

I bypassed around them and headed toward the cabin to clean the kitchen but Harry’s words stopped me in my tracks.

“Horan? I will end you if you take another step. You’ve been dwelling in that goddamn kitchen since Damien left, it’s spotless, let it go. WE however, have more important matters – like getting Sophia prepared and trained or are you going to let happen to Caroline happen to Sophia? We have one chance, mate, ONE. So decide what you want to do because it’s not only her arses on the line – it’s ALL of us.”

I turned back to the group who were all looking at me, waiting.

“Maybe it would be a mercy, Harry. Maybe killing her would be a fucking bloody miracle for her – for us because something’s happened in this cabin, you feel it – ALL of us are feeling it and it’s happening in a span of days. Remember Caroline and the way you tried to destroy and break her? Remember when she walked into the room and you would smile? Remember she finally broke through your walls? Remember the day you called Damien and he showed up? Remember her death? How dragged out it was? How we could do NOTHING!? I LOVED her, Harry. I LOVED Caroline and now it’s happening again! We’re going to get hurt!” I screamed to them, trying to control my anger but all I was seeing now was red.

“Do you want the same for her? What bloody fucking prayer in hell does Sophia have if all Damien wants to do is KILL whatever he touches!? WE can’t do anything Harry so stop living in a fucking fantasy of trying to seek happiness because if that’s what you’re looking for mate, you will surely be mistaken. He will steal that and he will crush your soul once again. Think on his words, REALLY think on his words. He said he would fix YOU tomorrow – but not before bleeding her emotions out.” I pointed to the crumpled girl, her arms slung around Dylan in a vice like grip and that was all I needed to finish my thoughts. “Look at her man, she’s weak. She isn’t going to survive here and you know what? If you gents won’t, I will.”

I spoke calmly and took my knife out. Harry was up off the ground in a second and Louis was now standing in front of Sophia and Dylan in a protective stance. Zayn and Liam stood stock still but they didn’t attempt to interfere. They were waiting for Harry’s orders.

Harry reached behind his back and took his gun out, uncocking it.

“Don’t bring a knife to a bloody gunfight, mate. Drop it, we are NOT going to start acting irrational, not when so much is at stake,” Harry spoke calmly, turning his head slightly but kept an eye on me. “Louis? I’ll let you start with Sophia. Knife throwing, we have all day, if that’s what it takes. Niall? Hand your knife to Zayn and you and I are going to go for a walk and have a little chat, yeah?”

He should have been angry but he was calm.

I didn’t say anything and closed the knife before handing it over to Zayn.

Zayn took it and patted my shoulder, his eyes seeming to recognize my concern. I would not sit back and watch Sophia die at the hands of a monster. I would bloody fucking kill her myself in a far more merciful way than anything Damien could conjure up.

Harry put his gun away, taking a step back and helping both Stone siblings from the ground, whispering in Dylan’s ear before nodding at Sophia.

Dylan wrapped his arm around his sister protectively, squeezing her to him and nodding, glaring at me but through his glare and anger – there was something he understood in my words because it wasn’t as intense as it should have been.

Harry came and grabbed my shoulder as we began to walk towards the group, the meeting forgotten – or, adjured.

*

SOPHIA’S POV:

I watched Harry and Niall leave, the other three standing in the clearing, looking almost lost for lack of better things to do. I didn’t care, Dylan was here, he wasn’t gone. He didn’t run away and leave me. I don’t know how someone can faint and dream but I never want to dream what I did ever again.

Louis forced a smirk and clapped his hands, taking his switch knife from his back pocket and handing it to me before borrowing me from Dylan’s grip. He didn’t stray from me and I was thankful for his presence.

“Dylan will be the knife fetcher today since he insists on shadowing. Anyhow, we, lass, are going to work on your knife skills. Trust me, it will come in handy for when you need it to. Learning to throw a weapon is the difference between life and death for some of us and in our job category – we tend to need to be good at a lot of skills and I truly believe you will. So we’ll start with something simple like throwing a knife at a tree and try to make it stick – we’ll work on aim later.” Louis explained, his smile no longer apparent.

I opened the knife cautiously, the blade gleaming in the hidden sun. It was going cloudy above us but the sun still tried to break free from its dark prison.

“I know how you feel.” I murmured absently, returning my attention to a tree only a few kilometers ahead of us and gripped the handle.

Louis saw my grip and tsk’d me.

“You’re fisting the handle, lass. You want your grip to be loose when you throw. Here, let me show you,” Louis instructed, moving my thumb to one side of the handle and my index finger into the other to where I was gently gripping it instead of with my fist. I noticed the difference right away. “Good girl, now, raise your arm straight up.”

I did as he instructed, feeling in control, well, would have if I didn’t have tear marks down my face from crying. My eyes were still wet but I knew they were right. I had one chance to survive here. I wanted to survive – I wanted Dylan to survive.

“Good, not tighten your arm and as you swing out, flick your wrist for more precision.”

I nodded at Louis’s instruction and tightened my arm as much as I could, throwing forward and snapping my wrist down – which, evidently you AREN’T supposed to do as the knife embedded itself into Louis’s boot – earning a chuckle from Zayn who stood watching quietly. Liam didn’t make a peep.

“Holy fucking shit!” Louis exclaimed, collapsing down to the ground and grabbing the handle – luckily it was only the top of the toe that got it.

“Did I –“

Louis grumbled a ‘no’ before unbedding it from his boot.

“Lesson number three, flower, you let go BEFORE you bring your wrist down. Holy fucking drunk elves, we’re going to need to practice.” Louis breathed, looking down at the knife hole in dismay “And you owe me another pair of boots.”

“Put it on the company tab.” I counteracted in a huff, making Liam chuckle this time.

“Sophia, we need to keep it serious. Again, same thing.” Louis frowned, handing me his knife again before standing.

I took it and repositioned it to the correct position again.

“Snap your wrist forward, Soph and let go as its snapping straight.” Zayn smiled lightly, his gaze washing over my posture. “It might help if you took a proper stance. Think of the times you had to sit at the supper table with a book balanced upon your head whilst eating. It would do best if you tried a more poised position. Might work better with your mark.” He suggested, his warm eyes making their way to my murky blues again before winking at me with encouragement.

Louis stayed silent, backing up a step.

I tried again, tightening my arm and bringing it back – but I did it too quickly and the knife flew back, making Zayn and Liam duck – it landing only a centimeter from Liam’s head.

“I don’t think this is going to work.” I gulped, seeing the men grow a little more frustrated. Dylan’s was a look of concern but he knew he couldn’t interfere.

“You only did it twice, love. You can’t give up after trying twice. Besides, no one got injured.” Zayn encouraged.

“Yet.” Liam muttered, standing up and tossing the knife back, the blade landing perfectly beside my feet – holy shit, how did he do that?

I looked at him wide eyed and he let out a good natured laugh.

“Precision and patience, angel. You will make plenty of mistakes before you get it right, go on and try again.” Liam nodded – though there was no smile to accompany his face. He called me angel – not Ms. Stone. I remember only one other time he had called me that – at the table, the night they told me their stories.

“Alright,” I nodded and picked it up. “Third time is a charm, yeah?”

No one said anything and I raised my arm out, tightening it again – my muscles were going to be killing me if I had to continue this all day.

I poised myself straight and stepped forward a step, letting the knife go flying to the tree – the handle bouncing off the wood with a dull thunk.

I frowned, looking at Louis who smiled.

“Way to go, flower.” He praised as Dylan went over to the tree and retrieving the knife.

“I didn’t get it into the tree, it bounced off. That’s not good.” I frowned, willing myself not to get emotional and stomp my foot in anger.

Louis must have noticed because he sighed and willed over Zayn.

Zayn jogged over and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, picking my wrist up.

“This is your weapon, sweetheart. Your hands. The dull ‘thunk’ you heard, if you threw that knife at someone’s head, it would have landed at their temple. It would daze them or possibly knock them out. Sometimes it’s about aim – not whether you embed it into someone’s head like Buffy the vampire slayer.”

I smiled at the reference.

“Okay, again. I’ll help you this time okay?”

I nodded.

The knife was put into my hand and positioned with Zayn’s help. I felt his soft breath by my ear and felt a small sliver of warmth grow through my stomach. I didn’t have feelings for him, I didn’t even particularly like him but it was something different. Something I couldn’t explain.

I tightened my arm and with Zayn’s help at aim, he assisted it right into the tree.

I smiled this time, looking to my left to meet Zayn’s honey browns. He chuckled with a smirk.

“Good job, flower.”

He released me and stepped back behind me while Dylan went to fetch the knife, a soft smile on his face when he handed it back.

“Good job sis. Now, put it in there without their help.” He spoke softly, his blue eyes simply a smoldering ash. He looked sad but when his eyes traveled over to Zayn, they shared a silent look before Zayn nodded in an unspoken agreement.

Dylan nodded back and stood next to Louis.

I positioned myself and copied Zayn’s example, making it go into the tree, this time with no help. I looked at Louis in astonishment.

Zayn and Liam clapped, Louis winked and Dylan going to get the knife, bringing it back and hugging me.

“You’re not weak, sis. Most people would break – you’re proving Niall wrong and I know you’re going to get past this, with or without me.” He whispered, kissing my forehead and backing away.

“This one’s for you, D.” I murmured back, now focusing my attention to the stabbed bark and letting it fly with more force.

We spent hours just throwing the knife – Zayn even taught me a really cool trick – one that I tried once and one that had everyone hitting the ground as it came back – you can make a knife come back, it is possible but unless you are skillful at catching said knife at the handle as it’s hurling back at you, I don’t recommend it.

Harry came back with Niall. He looked more sullen but not as worked up. Whatever Harry told him seemed to bring him back into his normal silent demeanor.

“How’s the training?” Harry asked, coming to stand by me.

“Great. I’m getting better; although my arm is killing me and I’m sweating like a boar.” I complained, which earned a chuckle from Harry.

“Alright, show me what you got, nightshade.” Harry gestured as I was about to throw again.

So I did, the knife going perfectly to the center of the tree. It went into the same spot fifteen consecutive times now. With only a thousand knife points everywhere else. This was my tree – I marked it, this is where I would come to practice…if I lived past tomorrow.

Harry smiled, his eyes sparkling.

“It took me days to get the hang of that, god, nightshade – you’re going to put us all underground someday. What about target practice? Have you worked closely with her on that yet?”

“Nope, not yet – should we?” Louis asked, glancing at Dylan as he now sat on the ground, a tired look on his face.

Harry followed his eyes and he looked at his watch on his right hand.

“No, it’s nearly four. You’ve all been out here since a little before eleven. I think we’ll work on a quick defense lesson and pick up on it again tomorrow.” Harry decided, coming to stand beside me while Louis fetched his knife from the tree.

“What happened to your boots?” Harry questioned Louis, looking down to see a hole on each boot now. Which I may or may not have slipped and forgot a few things, resulting in his other boot having an almost matching hole to the original one I made. It only happened twice and they only had to duck to the ground one other time before I began to get the hang of it.

“Sophia owes me new boots, her beginning lessons didn’t take too well at first. It’s ace now, Hazza, don’t worry about it.” Louis dismissed with a wave as Harry’s arms suddenly seized my shoulders, his arms crossing over my chest and restraining my hands into one of his larger one, his other seizing my mouth.

It was sudden and I let out a squeak from the sudden movement. I had no warning at all. When he said defense lesson, I thought he meant show me how to defend myself, not hold me prisoner…maybe those were a poor choice of words considering.

“Alright, scenario, nightshade. I’m a rival gang member, I saw you and opportunity and seized it. You’re against me, my arms are around you, my hand is over your mouth, you can’t yell for anyone’s help, you can’t get your hands or arms free – how are you going to get out? Think fast on your feet because you have exactly five to ten seconds before you are incapacitated or killed.

My eyes widened and I tried to bite down on his hand but he felt was I was doing and tightened his hold on my jaw, moving his hand up to clamp my mouth shut before tightening it more to my face.

“Nope, he’s going to expect that move…and you are now knocked out or dead. Let’s try some critical thinking points, alright?”

“Mmh.” I tried to nod but my head couldn’t quite move.

“Okay. Don’t look for what you can’t use, look for what is available to you and use that. Your mouth isn’t, you are hand gagged, he isn’t going to let go so you can scream for help. Your arms and hands – though basic good weapons, they are going to be tied behind your back or they are going to be restrained to you. What body parts do you have free?”

He removed his hand from my mouth so I could answer.

“My legs and feet.” I responded, making his hand go right back over my mouth, I looked at Louis who only returned the stare. He was watching with intensity, evidently not expecting Harry to grab me.

“Good, there are several ways to go about it; one, is –“

Before he got too far it suddenly clicked and I brought my heel back to smash into his crotch.

He let out a loud grunt and fell forward, grabbing his throbbing member. I took to then crawling on his back as he was down and connecting my hands into his hair, pulling it so he was now completely incapacitated on the ground before wrapping my arms around his throat.

It was only over when he tugged the tip of my hair gently as a sign to say that he gave up.

Louis let out a loud laugh and Zayn clapped, Liam smirked and Niall was placidly observing before going to Harry and helping him from the ground.

“You need to start wearing a cup around her, mate. She doesn’t fight fair.” Niall said, his gaze brushing over to me and frowning.

“I used what was available. It’s not about being fair in fighting, it’s about surviving. That would have been a survival move.” I defended myself but Niall shook his head.

“Louis was right, you are quite the ignorant little bitch. No, that move, once you got free – providing he isn’t up from the ground in a bloody fucking rage and chasing after to murder you, it would have been a way to get free so you could scream out for help but that doesn’t mean it will always be around. We may be knocked out, tied up – or fucking dead and you just kicked a rival gang members whom you do not know has other members around and you’re screaming for help. Guess what? His friend just showed up.” He walked toward me, grabbing me and restraining me against him roughly, his hand to my throat, squeezing only a little. I stilled.

“You’re dead, you didn’t use your fucking head!” He growled, his voice dropping a few octaves in pitch before shoving me to Louis who caught me easily, frowning at Niall.

“Niall? Why don’t you go cool off, she didn’t think that far through because it’s only supposed to be an introduction and scenario. You took it way more advanced than we were going for today…and for the record, I called her ignorant, not an ignorant bitch.”

I saw Harry slowly pull himself together with a tired sigh, his eyes no longer light – I think I kicked that out of him.

“Alright guys, that’s a wrap. Niall? Go dwell in the kitchen, start cooking.” Harry ordered but it was slightly higher pitched – which made me frown.

“Are you okay? I didn’t think I kicked that hard.”

Harry only nodded.

“I’m fine, nightshade. Go clean up. Both of you.”

Dylan nodded, grabbing my shoulders and connecting himself to my pace as we walked away from the small group, their eyes on us the whole time.

*

Evening passed slowly to late evening and everyone began to wind down. I was still sat at the table in the kitchen, listening to Harry explain the rules. They were fairly simple and I got more rules to follow on hostage protocol – as I would be assisting the boys in the future with their care. I learned what waiters, code reds, high profile, regular profile and death ringers are. It sure was going to be an interesting experience but I still couldn’t get Dylan from my worried thoughts. He wouldn’t even let me sleep with him tonight. He said it would be easier in case he had to leave without getting to say goodbye but he told me to come to the room when I was done with Harry and Louis. The rest had retired already, Dylan chained down to the bed as per usual and Christian, who took to cleaning the basement spotless today, was currently out like a light on the worn out green couch.

“I’m usually up late, nightshade. When you’re done with Dylan, feel free to come to my room, there’s a side cot set up in place at the other side of the room by the window – you’re always falling asleep on the windowsill or by it in general so I put it there, figuring you’d be more comfortable.” Harry nodded, seeming deep in thought, a frown on his face.

“You seemed worried.” I noted but Louis stepped in.

“We always get nervous when Master Styles comes, Harry is just thinking ahead, that’s all flower. Why don’t you go and spend some time with Dylan, I know that’ll mean a lot to him.” Louis coaxes, nodding his head toward the hall.

I nod and stand up.

“Alright. Goodnight, Louis.”

He nods toward the hall again and this time I don’t need any more prodding but I saw the look Harry had and that unnerves me even more. There’s definitely an unspoken language going on in this cabin.

I headed down the hall and went into my bedroom, seeing Dylan at my favorite place and joined him over by it, wordlessly taken the shackle off his leg. It went without saying, seeing my brother chained down upset me even more than I could express but Harry didn’t say anything and time was passing way too quickly – I hated time, it needed to stop because we were all living on a prayer of it. My brother most of anyone here.

“Hey D.” I forced a smile, seeing he had his guitar. I scooted myself at the opposite side of the windowsill so I was facing him. He only continued to tinker with the strings but I saw a small twitch of a smirk.

“Hey Sophia. You did so well today, I’m proud of you. Especially with ruining Louis’s boots that was my favorite part to witness.” He praised straight away and I don’t know why but I burst out laughing. Just the tone he used – it was sarcastic and brilliant at the same time.

“Dylan, stop. They’re really not that bad.” I defended, which made him hum out a small unsure disagreement. In the end, he just started to play familiar cords to a song, one I knew well.

*

Dylan’s POV:

I watched my sister’s head drop to the wall of our little hideaway. She looks tired and worn, her eyes want to close but she forces a smile and keeps contact with me as I play the fifth song in. I know it’s got to be at least an hour since she came in and I’d do anything to stop what was going to happen but like Harry told me, there wasn’t much to be done…at least nothing they could do physically. However, I could.

“Sis, it’s late, at least twelve now, why don’t you go to bed?” I hummed, smiling at the yawn she suppressed.

“No, I want to stay with you – want to make the most -yawn- of the time we got, please? Play another song and tell me a story, something funny.” She begged, which, one would assume I was the older brother by the child like behavior she was expressing but she was tired and I knew in a strange way, she was making a memory. She kept me talked, she was trying to remember my voice, taking in everything – she truly believed tomorrow was the end. For her it might be, for me – tonight would be the beginning.

“Okay, so, there was this bloke, he’s walking down the street and he spots a gorgeous looking girl. This girl stops him and says six pence for a snog and he goes, really? That seems like a good deal, so he agrees. They get up to her place and she starts stripping, right? Okay so he goes to remove his belt but she stops him, saying –

“Dylan, come on – not Charlie’s adventures in London again, that bloke never learns. Didn’t the girl have a husband and a boyfriend who walked in on him and her, a brawl broke out and he ended up already being naked as he climbed down the fire escape as a police car happened by? He ran from the police but got picked up a block away by a church, a funeral was just letting out, right? He was led away, naked as a jaybird, yeah?” She asked already knowing, interrupting the story and ending it abruptly. She never was good for the punch lines.

“Okay, why don’t I just play guitar and we talk?” I suggested, seeing her eyes close and a mumbled hum in response. To be honest, the more I glanced at her, the more my reserve broke. I could feel the tears sliding down my face but since it was dark, our bodies only slightly lit by the dim moonlight, I didn’t bother to wipe them away. I needed to let myself feel and I can honestly say, I never felt so much love for one person. She was my sister, she was the reason I was here but she was also misinformed and for that, I hold no ill will or anger. Everything was forgiven, it had to be because we were the only family left…until tomorrow.

I hummed for a few moments, realizing Sophia had fallen asleep, her breath even and her eyes now closed.

“Sophia, go to bed.” I smiled but decided to sing her one final song, even though I knew she most likely would never hear it. I sung it to her when we were teens. It started out as a joke but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Sophia did fit the song. It was a child’s song but she seemed to have this glow that brought everything to light. Something changed when she went out on that job – everyone with her was different. She was a sunshine.

I tuned the guitar slightly and strummed the cords to ‘you are my sunshine’, singing it lowly to her, my voice soft and merely only a fraction above a whisper. I knew it flowed through the whole room as only the silence met me back beside Sophia’s soft breaths.

“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away

The other night, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
When I awoke, I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You never know, dear, how much I love you…”

I trailed off to silence again looking at my loving sister, more tears assaulting my vision but I didn’t care. My heart was tightening in my chest knowing this was the very last time I would ever get to look at her. At least physically. I don’t know if Heaven exists or if it is as beautiful as people say but I guess it’s as any good a time to start believing, it would be now.

“I love you, Soph. Please never forget that.” I gulped, a small sob leaving my throat but I could voice no more. If I tried, I would lose it and most likely wake her so I took in her face, her peaceful looking face and I wouldn’t even get to see it. I never would again and she’d be alone – she’ll be at their mercy. I covered own face and sobbed, concentrating on not waking Sophia. I felt anguish in my body that was almost paralyzing. No one knew what I had planned. When you spend half your life feeling not good enough and a week in a place worse than hell, you want that release – you want to feel free and I know if I don’t escape, I’m dead anyway. What’s the difference between now and tomorrow? Pain and torture or something that will only last but a brief moment?

Sophia will hate me – at first but she’ll come to understand why, she has to and despite my feelings of these men, Zayn has been the only one thus far I see trust in, despite Harry’s reassurance, it was not much of one at all.

I took a deep sigh and put down my guitar, making sure not to jolt my sister in her sleep. I wanted to get her to Harry and finish preparations.

With a numbing feeling, I brought her to the door, opening it and heading toward the kitchen where the light was still on and Harry sat – his usual chair with a notebook open, a frown still on his face.

“Hey.” I whispered, catching his attention and making his head snap to me. His frown growing deeper.

“What are you doing out here, lad? Thought Niall chained you in.” Harry asked, but it was a little louder than a whisper.

I shrugged and nodded down at my sleeping sister.

“She unchained me, she did it last night too. Don’t be mad at her, you can chain me back to the bed but I’d really like to get her settled before you do, yeah?” I compromised, hearing him give a defeated sigh.

“Yeah, let me show you where to put her.” He gestured, slipping past me and down the hall to the end. It was only when he opened the door to I see just how big this room was, it made mine feel like a small closet. It wasn’t huge but it had way more space. By the window, a small but clean looking cot was set up, the window open, allowing the moonlight to shine almost a little bright, in turn that made me smile. Sophia would have loved it if she had been conscious.

“Set her down on the cot, I’ll assist you back to your room. You got a big day tomorrow and we need you to function as highly as possible.”

I nodded in understanding. Too bad he didn’t realize that I didn’t plan to stick around.

I walked Sophia to the cot and set her down on the already pulled away blankets, gently positioning her onto her back, making sure the pillow under her head supported it correctly. When I finished fussing I knelt down beside her, gently rubbing my two fingers against her wrist.

“Never forget.” I whispered, a small like groan escaping from her mouth.

“Dylan, she needs rest and so do you, come on.” Harry whispered now, coming towards me but I simply smiled and let my gaze fall again, taking in her every detail – just knowing, feeling that it would be the last time. I wanted to remember her touch but it already seemed to be fading – all I could hold on to was the hug she gave me earlier today.

“I’m gonna miss you, Soph.” I felt my voice break again, knowing I looked like a wreck.

“You’ll see her tomorrow before you leave.” Harry promised, grabbing my arm gently. I tugged it away and pressed one final kiss to her forehead before allowing Harry to guide me back to the room I was held prisoner in. Instead of locking the chain around my ankle, he made sure I was sitting on the bed before turning to leave.

I just needed to have some reassurance.

“Harry?” I called, tears still glistening my face but he stopped and turned at the door, his shadow darkening the light from the kitchen so his silhouette came inward from the threshold.

“Yeah?” He cleared his throat, looking a bit uncomfortable but his face no longer resembled worry, he just looked sort of lost in his own thoughts.

“I know you can’t promise me Sophia’s safety but could you at least promise me that you’ll try to protect her – anyway that you can?”

He sighed, leaning against the door in thought, it seemed to run deep like my own has lately.

“I promise I will do everything I can to keep her safe. If it means so much to you, then you have my word,” Harry relented tiredly before going to close the door. “Goodnight, Dylan.”

“Night Harry.” I called, the darkness surrounding me as soon as the door shut, a click accompanying the action a moment later. He had locked me in instead but that was fine, it gave me the reassurance that if anyone came to check up on me, I would know.

The first thing I did was get out my notebook that Niall had been kind enough to give me. Forming words were never a strong suit of mine but I wrote Sophia a note, hoping that in my absence she could take comfort in them – I pray she could, even if it wouldn’t be right away, eventually, she would understand.

I finished the poem I had in my head, writing it down in neat and proper penmanship, going into the letter that would comfort her and finally – on the back, I drew us at the windowsill, my guitar, looking out the window into the trees and her – asleep. It didn’t take long because I had always been a faster sketcher than a color and paints bloke but I knew she would see the details and on paper, she could truly remember the moment, because I took in her detail and from my own face, what little detail I remember of it, I drew what I could see with my own two eyes. Hopefully she can remember it a little more clearly.

With a sigh, the process haven taken me about an hour and a half, though it didn’t seem like it – I knew it was closing in on 2AM and everyone would be asleep.

With a sad smile, I kissed the paper, tearing it out and setting it underneath the pillow, hiding my notebook underneath the bed, hopefully for Sophia to discover.

When that was done, I reached underneath and found the coarse rope I had managed to steal when I was helping Christian with the basement on the first day Sophia and them were gone.

I plucked it from its hiding place, the noose already fitted and ready – now, all I had to do was pray the steal latch above – where it use to hold some sort of curtain would hold my weight – otherwise, I’d have a lot of explaining to do.

With a slow breath, not helping the tightness in my already closed off throat, I threw the noose over the latch, reaching up to tie it around the clipped part and under it, tugging it to hard to test its hold. It was stable and I let out another soft sigh, my thoughts drifting to Sophia once more.

I slipped the end of the rope to tie off on the steel frame of the bed leg to add support. I knew this was my only chance and Niall’s words kept ringing through. He of all people would understand me, he’d know why I’d rather go out this way than endure the torture Damien could ever think up. I will not die by his hand – I’d do it by my own first.

I made sure the noose was higher up off the ground so it would tighten when I jumped off the sill, knowing this was my only chance I threw a prayer to who or whatever maybe listening and stepped onto the platform that would be my final stage. I looked around, imagining it was a venue and I was simply performing my final show, letting the music surround my head was calming. It was much better than the silence. I closed my eyes, picturing Sophia in the front row, smiling. Her carefree blue eyes sparking with a happiness I hadn’t seen in a long time. We were free –in my mind, right now, we were free.

My hands shook, reaching out to the rope, slipping the noose over my neck and adjusted it so the knot was just behind my left ear. When I jumped, my neck would hopefully just snap and I would feel only a moment of discomfort – if not, I knew I would slowly asphyxiate.

“Thank you ladies and gentlemen for coming out to see us today. My last song –“I felt my voice slip again, the cries no longer controlled. I just kept picturing her face, her smile. She was my sister…the only one I’ve ever had. Now it’s gone to shit and my father was to blame.

I stood there a few moments lifting my foot out, feeling nothing but air below me as I again paused.

“Goodbye Sophia. Dad? See you in hell, you piece of shit.” I growled to the empty air, letting my thoughts snap back to my sister, descending forward, my body flying temporarily in the air for only a brief second before memories started to surround me, there was an awkwardness to them as I seemed to fly backwards and then, just like that – everything faded out and I felt nothing more.

Notes

So....good or bad?