The Silence That Surrounds

Sophia’s POV

Pain. Pain was the first thing I felt when I woke up. Normally everything would take time to come back but everything hit me all at once. My hands were still connected with the zip tie behind me, my feet still tied together and my tongue still tasted the same foul aftermath of the rag that had been shoved to my face. I had been gagged and my world was as dark as the room I had awoken in due to the blindfold tied securely over my eyes.

The only difference, my body was hunched over and I was lying on a smooth wooden surface on my side. Because of the confined space I was unable to straighten, which meant the capacity was extremely small – a coffin. That was my first thought and I let out a muffled exclamation at the plausible possibility.

Whimpering slightly I tried to move but I couldn’t nothing cooperated, nothing obeyed my command because my shoulders were forced to the top over the box, and my head stretched and bent downward restricted me from doing anything other than laying there.

“Ms. Stone.” The voice called, which made me still and listen.

It was Harry.

“Your punishment will commence for three days. You will receive neither drink nor food during this time but you will be checked up on a few times daily to make sure you are okay. If you don’t answer and we have to pry the box open and discover there is nothing wrong, you will be placed back in and your time will start over; so ignoring us is not the best option if you ever get that idea to do so. You may notice that since you will not be let out for the remainder of your punishment that bathroom breaks are also out. Because of this we took the liberty of putting an absorbent pad underneath you that will preserve the wood of the box. If you have to go, then go. That will not be our problem until the end of the third day. I hope that this consequence serves as a reminder, Ms. Stone. I truly hope because if you get any more strikes, luv; I will have no choice but to put you in one of these permanently. Now, if you will please excuse me, I have to get dinner ready. Goodnight and pleasant dreams.”

With that I heard his feet travel up the steps and he was gone.

I would have hung my head if it were possible but it was already wedged downward. The thought of being stuck here for three days – no food, no water and a pad that was laid at the bottom of my prison cage like one would lay down for a dog to piss on was more indignant and humiliating then anything I had ever heard or experienced before in my entire life.

I felt the familiar tears start to well in the corner of my eyes but they did not fall. Instead they were lapped up by the absorbent material of my blindfold. I don’t know if I was supposed to be thankful for not being able to see the coffin I now laid in. It was fit for a midget more so than someone like me.

The cloth gag in my mouth was secured over with strips of duct tape. My throat was already dry and with my knees pressed into my stomach, it already made breathing a challenge. Three days like this made death almost seem blissful.

How did I end up back here? I travelled those paths – they lead me the opposite – at least they should have.

I moaned miserably and tried lifting my head up again but didn’t even have the strength to do that – not that I physically could. So with resonated despair I gave up and allowed myself to go limp and cease my struggling. It was painful but contracting my muscles and using up limited resources of energy wouldn’t help me in the slightest. I had to be smart – I had to wait it out. Maybe they would have mercy – maybe after they cooled down…

I mentally slapped myself. These weren’t the kind of people to show compassion. They were killers and I was probably only one of many victims entwined in their twisted web.

Somewhere outside the box I could hear faint laughter. I don’t know if it was a TV from upstairs or a draft that carried the wind but it was coming from outside my coffin and intermixing with the inanimate silence.

The reticence was the worst. It held mute secrecy that was heard only to the dead and it unnerved me how easily I accepted the lulled peace. How easy it was to accept the darkness without fear. Perhaps my voice too would be censored and I would join the whispered unknown of the spirits that resided within these walls; perhaps my death would be sort of like this – dark and endless with no meaning of time and no way to scream out to the heavens – no way to beg for the mercy of redemption.

I tensed again and whimpered into the gag again, my own morbid thoughts running away with me. I tried my best to shake the feeling of dread but it encased me, holding my mind prisoner like this coffin held my body. I was truly at the mercy of monsters and the unfortunate part of being a monster is they are not capable of compassion, they have no room for such emotions. Their hearts are consumed in darkness, their souls filled with bitter rage.

I could only hope for relief and relish in the prayer of small mercies but during the slow hours that descended into days, I would find that there was no relief to be found and the laughter outside my coffin would grow louder still until it fell into silent once again.

*

“Ms. Stone? Are you okay?” Harry asked, knocking on the outer wood of my prison. I heard his voice in the distance but didn’t have the strength nor will of heart to try to answer him. Everything hurt and my body had locked up hours after I had woken up in this hell.

The amount of excrement saturated through my jeans and soaked the pad underneath me. The feeling of sore, wet skin irritated me as I lay weak, helpless and unable to do anything. It had brought a new appreciation to the bed I was held prisoner on; at the moment I would give almost anything to be held down in it again; bound and gagged – anything to escape where I was. Death and the laughter of my spirit friends still echoed in my head as a reminder but they silenced at the monster above me – quieting to listen to his subtle taunts.

“Ms. Stone? I’m going to go and get Louis and Zayn. They’ll get you out of there and take you to shower. I’ll go and get you something to eat. If you try anything though, you will go right back inside of there.” Harry warned as I heard him whistle.

A few moments later I heard the echo of additional footsteps hitting the stairs.

The laughter started again and I joined, unsure if my voice carried. It sounded aphasic to everyone around but me, I was joining in on their jokes and I didn’t even realize I was laughing at all – not until I heard Harry speaking orders.

“Get her out of there, she sounds delirious. Remove her blindfold and gag, I’ll go prepare something light to eat and get her something to rehydrate. She will need to be bathed, you two will be in charge of that. When you’re done, chain her back on the bed in the guestroom.” Harry spoke calmly as the other two remained silent.

That’s all their world was, that’s all I ever heard, silence.

The duct tape had casted to my skin like a glove over my mouth and would take extra prodding to come undone. I knew when they pulled it back, I would lose skin and no doubt that included some from my poor chapped lips.

“Do we still have that medical bond to get the tape off her mouth? Otherwise –“Louis trailed off as his question seemed to be answered with a silent answer.

He seemed satisfied and they worked on prying open my tomb. It took a few minutes but the precise estimation is unknown. It was only when my blindfold was untied and I saw the blurry vision of light from the stairs and the illuminated shadows of my kidnappers did my brain compute that I had been freed. In returned I cried from the sheer relief and in return, the ghosts of laughter died completely with it.

“Let’s get that tape off you, it’ll be easier to remove your gag, okay Ms. Stone?” Zayn asked, his voice neutral but not unkind.

I nodded automatically. They could have asked me if they could perform a lobotomy and I would have most likely agreed to it. Anything to get rid of the pain.

Although, you don’t know pain until you’ve been lifted bridal style from lying in a fetal position for days at a time. Every fiber in my body protested the move and I could only lay like a ragdoll as I was carried up the steps, through the kitchen and down the hall into the bathroom.

I don’t know the specifics – maybe it’s best I didn’t but I could feel myself being freed from the plastic ties holding me prisoner, the faint whiff of my own body odor and the discard of my clothes as they were gently removed. The relief I felt as my body was put in the shower and the hot water was turned on, softly cascading down my abused body. I remember their hands touching me, washing my flesh with soft wash clothes and fingers raking through my hair with shampoo while somewhere in between that time my mouth had been freed from the tape and my gag removed.

My throat felt like sandpaper and I watched through faraway eyes, unspeaking and unknowing. The only thing I was sure of was that I survived my time in hell and the laughter of the dead were well and truly gone, their spirits left to laugh in the basement while now the only thing I had was the same old quiet that had been bestowed upon me from the start and in the moment of my weakened mind it became too much and I let out a sob. The first real sound I understood.

Reaching over slowly I latched onto the nearest one that was around me and pulled myself weakly to him. He had been drying me off while the other had a set of new pajamas I guess they were going to put on me.

My arms latched around his shoulders and my inner strength kicked in because I hugged my captor in gratefulness.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” I cried, my throat barely above a squeaking whisper as I begged for their forgiveness, sobbing for everything I was worth, my strength zapped from me. I had kept it together for days and now I finally felt safe to fall apart, the smell of his cologne seeping into my nostrils but I couldn’t tell you what kind or even the scent itself. I was far too preoccupied with gripping onto reality that seemed to be leaving me.

I didn’t feel any arms return my embrace or hear any words of kindness. I heard the silence – I felt its icy grip hold me prisoner. The only thing I remember clearly was being pulled off the warm body I had latched onto as my only source of comfort and the cold atmosphere being replaced by soft clothing.

The one that pulled me off his mate, picked me up bridal style and before I knew it, I felt the soft bedding contour to my body once more.

I was so happy to feel the familiarity that I smiled, my eyes already closed. I didn’t even mind the cuffs, the only thing I knew was relief.

It didn’t last long before I felt my head being pulled up into a lap and a cold glass of apple juice protruding my cracked lips.

I drank it, choking slightly but I didn’t care. I had finally found heaven.

“Slow down, Ms. Stone. You’re going to get sick.” Harry warned but I couldn’t be bothered to listen. I drank it as fast as he tipped the glass.

The next thing I felt was warmed chicken broth. It felt so good running down my throat to my stomach. It satisfied and dulled my hunger. I was with bliss, despite their stone cold demeanor, I was in a delirious bliss. I didn’t care. Everything was good.

When the bowl was emptied I heard it set on the nightstand and felt another piece of fabric slip between my teeth with ease. His warm hands slipping under my head and tying the fabric taunt. Another moment later my head was lowered to the pillow.

“Goodnight Ms. Stone, sweet dreams.” Harry said, his soft padded feet leaving me alone in the dark but that didn’t matter. I was out like a light before the door even shut.

Notes

Holy crap - talk about a deep level of writing. I hope it came out okay! Let me know :-)