The Silence That Surrounds

Sophia’s POV

As promised Harry returned a while later to check on me one last time before lights out. I was singing softly to a tune I had stuck in my head when the door opened. I instantly quieted and watched green eyes cross the room and over to the bed, his demeanor unwavering and intimidating as he looked down at me.

“Tomorrow we need you to make a ransom video.”

I swallowed, nodding under his scrutinizing stare.

“There’s no need but alright. My father doesn’t take well to blackmail. If you go to him and explain the reason you need money, I am fairly certain –“Harry went to leave, which sent me into panic mode.

“NO! Please, don’t leave. Don’t keep doing that, please. I’m sorry if I don’t understand or I am upsetting you but if you help me to grasp what or how much it is you want, I’m sure that we don’t even need to involve my father and I can handle his debt.”

Harry came back the few steps he took to take his leave.

“Talk is cheap, Ms. Stone. What I find interesting is you believe so wholeheartedly that this concerns your father. Do you know for sure?” Harry gestured out, his tone calm.

“No but –“He cut me off.

“Precisely. You have made an assumption and that would be bad for business. Now, if you will excuse –“I interrupted him this time.

“I need to pee, please?”

Harry looked annoyed but he fished the handcuff key from his nightshirt pocket and slipped it into the cuffs.

“Make it quick.” Harry said, grabbing my arm, leading me to the door before shoving me in and slamming the door.

I didn’t waste any time and locked the door before bolting over to the window.

Harry must have heard the click because he tested the door a second later.

“Ms. Stone? Sophia? Open the door!” He pounded frantic.

I didn’t waste a second as I ripped down the blinds and tried to unlock the window.

It was then I noticing the padlocks above to hold it down and secure.

“Bloody fuck!” I yelled, looking around to try and find something to smash the glass. “The chair.” I decided, taking a few steps back, Harry’s footsteps fading down the hall, yelling and pounding on the other doors that were there – most likely to get backup.

I didn’t concentrate on him I held the chair in front of me and ran full force at the window.

A second later I was sliding from the socks and making contact with the glass.

Luckily the chair broke all the way through the window and I was able to jump out, miraculously avoiding the shards down below. It wasn’t normal glass, it certainly didn’t shatter like it.

With the fresh breath of air I crouched off from the ground and sprinted forward in straight direction, my physical and mental restraints untethering the further away from the cabin I got. It was cold but hardly bothersome. I was free and I ran like my life depended on it.

“"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is He who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." I reminded myself, quoting from the many passages that I remembered from my father. He would often quote the bible before a huge meeting, which was funny considering he was not a religious man. Now I find it laughable that I was doing the same. I didn’t know what sort of belief I had but if it got me out of this situation I would pray to it daily.

The only thing I wanted more than life was to keep breathing – to escape.

The thicket of trees getting thicker as I travelled through them, my woolen socks getting caught up in leafs and small twigs, which made my footing uneven and slowed me down.

What was strange is I didn’t hear them after me – it’s like they hadn’t even bothered. A bit of a relief but at the same time it raised other suspicions. Like the way a prey has no idea they’re prey until the hunter pounces on them at the last possible second. That’s how I felt and it was eerily creepy.

“Okay, Sophia. Calm down. Calm…” I trailed off, looking left of the forest before choosing to go around a small thicket to a less clustered part of the forest. If listening to father has taught me anything, it was to go toward the right where the trees evened out and disbursed. The thicker the clusters were, the deeper you got.

The moon was hidden behind its own prison in the clouds and it left only a slight shadow in the skies but it was enough to outline the dire need to shine, like it was meant to do. At that moment, I could relate. I needed to get back home, I needed to get back to normalcy without the limitations – without the bonds to hold me captive.

With one last burst of adrenaline, I moved quicker. My feet shuffling in the leafs noisily but it was a mere background noise and I knew if I ever wanted to see my parents or brother again, I will fight. Giving up wasn’t an option and I was far too stubborn to lay on my back like a beaten horse.

“Faster, come on, Sophia – faster.” I encouraged as I tripped once before quickly gaining my balance.

The temperature seemed to drop another degree but the adrenaline warmed my body, I had to keep going my survival depended on it – didn’t it?

I saw the forest clearing out into trails and knew I was hitting upon civilization. The trails were cleared off into compact dirt and it even looked as if the trees were cared for with the way they were neatly clipped.

Once on the trail I decided to venture South before the trail broke off into a four way. I had to remember the direction I had been running before choosing to continue on straight. When in doubt, follow straight and stick to the thinning skyline. I was just thankful I had found the path and the moon, though still held in its fogged cage by the thick clouds, it lit my way enough through shadows to let me see my way around, the rays barely reaching into the trees but like a small ember – if it glows just a little, if you know where to look it can guide you to where you need to go.

“Thank you.” I whispered, the wind now brushing against my sweating skin, making it cool. I had been running for an unknown amount of time but it made me less nervous in knowing that I was far away from the cabin and away from my kidnappers. The cabin was far too quiet and my kidnappers – though not cruel, they showed potential of being capable of anything; especially Harry. If push came to shove, the bloke would sooner waste me than give it a bloody second thought.

I hummed softly just for the sake of hearing something as I slowed my pace and walked. It was obvious they had given up on me – having never even really gave chase. I suppose that is what I was trying to convince myself. It was far easier to talk myself into that theory than to look over my shoulder every second that I heard a noise. It was either the shuffle of my own feet or my erratic breathing I was trying to get back to normal.

Continuing down the path I felt relief hit me as I came to a circled clearing, a car parked in the driveway away from the building and the light seemed to be on in the cabin. I had followed the path away from North West and headed toward South West.

I didn’t waste another second and ran into the clearing and up the ten or so steps and pounded vigorously on the door.

“Help! Please, someone help me! I’ve been kidnapped! Call the police!” I screamed loudly, hoping that someone inside could hear me. I was making enough noise to wake the dead so I all but assumed my voice had no trouble carrying to whosever ears had been listening. “My name is Sophia Stone, I need help, please help me! I don’t know if they’re chasing after me or –“

My voice was cut off by the sound of the door jerking open.

Almost immediately the familiar course of fear coursed through me at the sight of a less than happy Harry. In fact, his eyes were so jaded green that they were almost black. The way he stood there so calmly, made me almost faint.

I turned to run but he was lightening quick and reached out, forcing me to his chest with brutal force.

“Welcome back Ms. Stone, how was your run? I hope you enjoyed it because you won’t be taking another one for quite a long time.” Harry growled, dragging me back as I let out a shrill scream.

“NO! LET ME GO! HELP, SOMEONE HELP ME!” I begged to whoever would listen.

“Oh, I’ll help you Ms. Stone. I’ll help you alright.” Harry promised darkly, throwing me with force into another set of arms that held me securely against their chest. I looked and found it was Zayn.

“How?! I ran – I ran away…please, why am I here? Why are you doing this to me? Let me go!” I begged as I saw Niall follow up beside me and place his hand harshly against my mouth, locking my jaw. My mind was so riddled with confusion. I shouldn’t have ended up back here – that was impossible.

“I think a few days in the box may do you some good,” Harry ordered, his eyes going further into the room and a nod was given. “Bind, gag, blindfold and knock her out. I’m done being nice. If warnings aren’t enough to curb naughty behavior, Ms. Stone, then so be it; you will just find your time here less than pleasant. It doesn’t matter to me but perhaps if not for your own sake, then the sake of your family because I would have no problem shooting them in front of you, lass. I am not below that and the sooner you cooperate, the sooner you will find your stay here can be somewhat comfortable. For now, take a few days in the box and think on it. Expect no food nor water. Perhaps going without will give you an appreciation for what you had.” Harry said, his words so easily said that the more he spoke, the less I wish he had.

I struggled for all I was worth as Niall’s hand left my mouth and the two forced me on the ground onto my stomach, wrenching my hands behind me.

Niall whistled once and before I knew it my hands were forced together and a plastic tie secured around. It was tight against my skin, pinching them painfully.

I screamed and tried to kick out at them before my feet met the same fate.

“You’re making this worse on yourself Ms. Stone. If you don’t stop I’m going to add onto your punishment.” Harry warned, kneeling down so he was eye level with me. Louis followed his lead and wrapped his arms around my chest, stilling me.

“Liam? Put her out.” Harry ordered.

Blood rushed in my ears as shifting was heard behind me. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me.

“Harry, please, I’m sorry! I just wanted to go home! I want to go home, please.” I sobbed, my whole plan going out the window. I was truly their prisoner and at their mercy.

“I know you do Ms. Stone but we gave you a chance and you blew it. Everything has a consequence and you need to learn that. We will start you back at square one after your punishment but for right now, I would be more worried on what grief you caused your family because anything you do here, they will inevitably pay for. Remember that next time you think about escaping.” Harry finished before his eyes met behind me and a curt nod was given.

A second later a chloroform soaked rag was placed over my nose and mouth.

I had taken a breath a second before and held it; knowing what was going to happen but too afraid to breathe it in.

Louis saw what I was doing and finally met the group of boys around me.

“Mrs. Stone? You’re just avoiding the inevitable. I promise we’re not going to kill you.” He stated calmly, his hand going toward me. I flinched, whimpering in the cloth.

Harry rolled his eyes and before I even had a chance to comprehend what was going on, he balled his hand into a fist; which promptly connected to my stomach.

“That works too.” Louis replied, chuckling a little as the air left my lungs and I was forced to breathe in the stale air.

I moaned weakly; the dizziness hitting me all at once.

“That’s it Ms. Stone, keep breathing.” Niall encouraged, my vision blurring everything above me together.

I felt someone’s breath tickle my ear.

“Welcome to Hell, Ms. Stone and sweet dreams.”

With that my vision darkened to nothing and my body fell completely slack in the awaiting arms of my captors.

Notes

Sorry it took me a bit to update! Enjoy!!