Stockholm Syndrome - A Harry Styles Fic

Days passed like an endless array of infinite hours. There was no depiction of time, there were no indication that what would happen would even come. It was a never ending wait and Harry had about given that up all together.

“Good morning Sorrow, you feeling any better?” Harry asked, his voice soft and quiet-barely anything that resembled the former pop star.

Sorrow opened her eyes, the confusion on her face and the way her nose scrunched up at the different smells that probably hit her all at once.

“You had another bad night, Christian put you in here again, said you put Axel out this time. You have to quit doing that.” Harry continued to chastise softly but he couldn’t help the smirk that made its way over his dried, chapped and busted lips.

“If I did something so bad, why are you smiling?” Sorrow frowned, sitting up to meet Harry’s face, the cold ground making her shiver.

“I’m not opposed to pain. As long as it’s them getting kicked in the balls.” Harry muttered, suddenly not thinking the situation so funny on account of that’s exactly where Sorrow had gotten Harry the night before.

“Must be my lucky day.” Sorrow muttered with tired fatigue, not having the strength to discuss stupid stuff with the skeletal like rock star. All she wanted to do was sleep but her body fought against the tiring waves that was life.

“I know it’s mine. I get to see you, I get to know you’re alright.” Harry smiled, reaching out and moving the stray piece of long hair aside.

“They finally untied you?” Sorrow noticed but frowned, noticing the leather ties secured around her wrists.

“I’ve undergrown the belt, it stopped doing anything practical, which is useless if you’re able to slip your wrists out. Sadly the gag still fits though.” Harry muttered, although thankful he was only condemned to wear it twice that week.

“They need to feed you more.” Sorrow quipped but it wasn’t with amusement, it was more sad than anything.

“Not going to happen, they stopped-remember? Two weeks ago.” Harry sighed, his stomach growling, almost as if reminding him of his situation.

Sorrow sighed, leaning against the cage, her legs positioned toward Harry.

“Kohl will be here soon.” Sorrow mimicked Angel, who refused to answer or get involved after Sorrow’s initial reaction of finding her brother alive.

“I doubt that. It’s been two weeks. You’re having night flashes, trying to hurt people-killed Christian’s father, stabbed Christian, knocked Angel out twice, Axel out once-knocked me in the balls a few times. I’ve had enough crazy to last me a lifetime, I’m ready to get out of this coo coo house.” Harry ranted but grew silent when Christian walked into the basement, a smile on his face-a smile like he caught and ate the canary. Nothing seemed to be more stomach dropping then the pure deceit of his expression, curling at his lips.

“I’ve got some exciting news, for both of you.” Christian said, coming in to stand and the closed door of the cage.

“Don’t keep us in suspense.” Harry replied, rolling his eyes.

“You’re going to die tonight.” Christian said, practically dancing for joy and clapping.

Harry didn’t let the shock register on his face or the fear that began to radiate in his chest. It was heavy in his heart, which was worse than the ice cold feeling piercing through him.

“Oh? So it’s finally going to be over?” Harry said, his voice holding out a little hope but for the most part, relief. Knowing whatever played out tonight, it was meant to be.

“Yes! I kill you, Sorrow goes back to her beautiful self, Axel and Angel leave and I carry on in charge. Killing my father, it turned out to be a rather nice benefit. I don’t have to answer to him anymore and unlike him, I’ve no use for you. I stopped feeding you two weeks ago, hoping you’d die on your own but seeing as that didn’t-“

“If you wanted me to suffer, starvation takes up to a month, two months if they’re holding on.” Harry smiled, weak but hydrated thanks to Angel.

“What’s your excuse of holding on?” Christian chuckled, obviously liking the pained look that crossed over the singer’s eyes-a memory Christian guessed.

“Because I’ll finally free.” Harry answered honestly, his strength zapping the more he focused on Christian.

“You’ll be dead. Freedom is only granted when you accept the chains and you won’t. So with your death-there won’t be any relief. Considering your friends are dead and you’ve been here for a few months. I don’t call that a lucky break-especially for such a normally lucky guy like you.” Christian mocked, catching Harry’s eye and glaring down at the boy who could barely move.

“Then kill me now and get it over with.” Harry sighed, really not calling anymore.

“Tonight. I want everything to be perfect-and it will.” Christian promised before gleefully humming and leaving, letting Harry’s imagination get away from him.

“He’s an asshole.” Sorrow glowered, her beautiful blues opening again.

“I’m gonna try sleeping for a while, I really haven’t slept all night, wanted to make sure you were ok. Your night sleeping dreams are getting pretty dark…pretty out of control too.” Harry sighed, the conversation a moment before slipping their minds.

“Ok, I’ll try not to scream too loud.” Sorrow murmured, letting her own body and eyes relax.

Harry followed her lead, his breathing shallow.

What either Harry or Sorrow knew was that help was practically around the corner-about six hundred miles away.

While they slept, Angel was pacing around his room, texting the living hell out of his phone and getting vague answers. He didn’t know what to do. He was out of both time, patience and sanity. With Kohl not giving him a straight answer, he was beginning to lose it.

*

“Why exactly aren’t you giving him the answer he’s sent you over twenty times? That beeping is beginning to annoy me.” Niall sighed, his head resting on the floor, against the side of the plane as Kohl piloted.

“What’s the fun in letting the enemy know we’re coming? Relax Niall, it will all be over by tonight, I promise.” Kohl said, dodging another high top branch as they flew low through the air-considering if they went higher someone would be bound to notice something out of the ordinary.

“That’s what worries me.” Niall muttered, really having nothing else to say. Either he got a bullet in the head or he and Harry went home. Those were the two options left at that point.

“Worry not, with two people on your side-what can go wrong?” Kohl riddled, which Niall only looked at his head as it was visible from the pilot’s seat.

“A lot. Thousands of things if we’re not smart.” Niall replied, deciding he’d rather sit up front of the jet instead of in the back on the floor. So he got up and sat beside Kohl on the other unoccupied seat, putting his seatbelt on.

“Focus on the best, worry on the things we cannot control later.” Kohl winked, continuing to zip towards their destination.

“I just care about getting Harry back, the rest can piss off, they’ve done us no favors.” Niall growled, he really was not in the mood for positive reinforcement and he usually lived for the stuff.

“Don’t believe we’re going to get out of this, Niall?” Kohl smiled, his eyes hiding something in the crest of their orbs.

“At this point? It’s not for me to say, is it?” Niall shrugged, his eyes still reflecting agitation.

“We’ll reach them in the next hour or two. Just make sure you’re ready, Christian is ruthless and he will show none. With being outnumbered it won’t be long-whatever happens.” Kohl sighed, hoping he wasn’t too late to help his sister.

“I’m more than ready for this to end. I’m ready to live or I’m ready to die, there is nothing else. Live or die…that’s simply it, right?” Niall questioned, although he still didn’t much understand.

“That’s all life is Niall, maybe you should stop over thinking it and simply remember what the plan is. Especially if Axel turned a corner. I like him but he’s not reporting back anymore. Angel is sparse but has confirmed that Axel’s changed a little toward the situation-although Angel told me she nailed him in the balls a few times, nightmares or something. She’s been a little off since the blood transfusion.” Kohl shook his head.

“Does she know were coming? Did Angel tell her? Did he tell Harry?” Niall inquired almost thoughtfully, putting his knuckles under his chin in thought and his knee up to the seat for his elbow to rest on it.

“I don’t know. Angel hasn’t gotten back to me. He says his contact will be limited until we arrive as he doesn’t want to arouse suspicion with Christian-which, we’re already going to have a challenge with not getting our heads blown off by just approaching the cabin. It’s possible for Angel to take him out but he’s not one hundred percent on Axel. If he shoots Christian, then Axel might retaliate to try and gain control – which, knowing that little weasel, he’d try to take control and – I’m not even finishing that thought. The absurdity of it is too ridiculous to comprehend.” Kohl shook his head and continued on up into the sky.

“I thought you said Axel could be trusted?” Niall rolled his eyes. There really wasn’t any honor amongst thieves.

“I never said I trusted him,” Kohl smiled, looking over at his counterpart. “I just knew if I sent him in that he could get the job done. Obviously his usefulness has run out and it’s now up to me to finish the job…Angel too. Once Chris is taken care of then my problem here in lies with the two remaining A’s.”

“What? They’ve been helping-I mean, Angel? You said he’s trustworthy. Let that one live if anything, he’s been one hundred percent honest with you from the likes of it. God sake.” Niall shook his head but didn’t move other than that. He was no longer even looking at Kohl.

“I’m taking down this organization and the decent ones are going to have to face the music, just like the corrupt ones will. I’m taking this organization down from the inside…Angel and Axel are on the inside…so they will be eliminated. My reasoning may be cruel but…you, Harry-Sorrow, you guys will survive to tell the story. Hell, take some credit with you Niall. You’ll be hailed some kind of hero.”

“I don’t want the bloody credit, I want my friend in normal, ten toed condition without the scars but that won’t happen, huh? Too little, too late.” Niall argued back, folding his arms over his chest but said nothing else as the plane dropped to a dead silence.

“Just be ready for when we land, huh? Maybe try sleeping.” Kohl said, scratching his neck awkwardly.

“I’m not tired.” Niall replied emotionlessly, retreating back into his thoughts, letting the plane go back to silence.

Kohl understood how the kid felt, he really did but when in war there are always casualties-even the ones who were on your team.

*

Harry groaned as the rubber of the gag made contact with his cracked and bleeding lips but molded perfectly to his teeth and locked back to the back of his head, the last hole of the strap tightening it firmly to his face.

“Sorry Harry, Christian’s orders. He wants me to get you ready. I don’t know what he’s planning but-whatever it is, it’s not the standard performed when we gank someone. A bullet to the head or an ear to ear knife slash and then a burial in the woods is our standard.” Axel sighed, forcing Harry onto his stomach and bringing his knee to the singer’s back before forcing his hands behind him.

Harry didn’t bother to struggle, he was honestly and truly tired. He had given up hope a while ago. In fact, he was looking forward to the end, to peace…whatever that was. It had been so long since he felt any sort of comfort. Being starved, caged, tied up-his existence was meaningless. It was pathetic and he knew whatever happened to him that the pain would be temporary. He knew after this pain would be peace and he welcomed it with open arms. Just to feel any type of warmness on him again would make him smile.

His figure was skeletal, his lips chapped and bloodied and his hair long matted from the kindness left over a month ago. If his life was a continuance of this treatment then he wished they’d just take the knife or gun out and do it quickly but of course, as per usual, Harry’s request was silenced underneath thick rubber and an endless array of bondage.

“It’s almost over.” Axel coaxed, binding his hands in rope and helping him to sit back up again, taking the key and releasing him from his anchored prison before using the last of the rope to bind his feet together.

“You were supposed to help us.” Sorrow voiced, sitting up against the bars herself-her hands cuffed behind her and her feet tied the same ways as Harry.

“Things change, circumstances change.” Axel shrugged, smiling gently at the girl who use to be beautiful but like Harry, she had lost weight, her face was dirty and her complexion dead. She was use to the conditions of the basement, especially after being put there so often now a days.

“Christian knows then? About everything?” Sorrow asked, sitting up some to relieve pressure from her arms.

“He knows about Angel and Kohl, yes. Kohl won’t make it passed tonight should he choose to show up. Regardless, the organization will again come out on top and everything will be as it should.” Axel said, picking up the bottle of water he had left by the girl, putting it to her mouth.

She turned her head violently away from the refreshment.

“What of me? Is he going to kill me too? I deserve it more than anybody. I deserve-“Sorrow started but couldn’t finish.

“You’ll go back to his side and make a family. Your place is next to him, it always has been and you always will be.” Axel said with final conviction, offering her the water again, only for her to spit at the object and glare at its holder.

“My place. I don’t have a choice of whether I want to tell him to fuck off. I am property, not an equal.” Sorrow spat, her mood soured by the realization that escape was only an illusion and neither Harry or Angel-Kohl or Buddha himself could save her.

“It’s about time that sunk in.” Christian smiled, walking in and throwing something into the closed bars before pointing at Sorrow. “Make sure her noise level is minimal. No last words, no I love you. Just get him secured and her quiet. Come see me after, I’ll fill you in on everything.”

“You’re a coward!” Sorrow yelled, making Christian stop and glance down at his once prized beauty-his property, his glowing possession.

“Maybe but thanks to you I finally took over and am running things how I want. Should shoot you more often if I get such satisfying results such as this.” Christian smirked.

“I didn’t know I killed your father, I didn’t kno-“Sorrow cut herself off when Axel picked up her long gold scarf from the floor.

“Of course you didn’t but like I said, you did me a favor.” Christian chuckled, nodding at Axel before leaving.

Knowing what it meant she turned to Harry quickly.

“Thank you Harry, for being a friend even when I-mmh.” Her words cut off by the knotted scarf being jammed to the back of her throat and tied securely.

Harry met her eyes and although he barely had enough strength to keep his body up, he managed a small nod, accepting her apology. Her dignity, her beauty. He never saw a true monster-maybe by definition of her coldness but his kiss-their kiss, it still meant something to him and he wished he could take her pain away but he couldn’t even rid his own.

“Boss said no last words. Even Angel didn’t get any lasts and my text from his phone-they’re bound to know something is amiss.” Axel chuckled, checking over their ropes once more before standing up and dusting off his hands. “Later love birds, I’m going to go see what Christian wants.”

Sorrow growled and bit hard on the silk cloth, screaming and hitting her head back against the bars as hard as she could. For good measure she did it again and again before they gradually stopped, a small patch of skin bloodied, smearing the bars.

Harry chastised her silently but didn’t attempt to struggle, or speak-it was all pointless and he didn’t blame her one bit. Unconsciousness was better than this fucking reality.

Sorrow seemed to realize it too and hung by a thread. To life, death-an illusion. What was the difference? It was all oblivion.

*

Niall flinched as a gun was put back in his hand, this time with Kohl looking closely at the guarded Irishman.

“Alright, you have no speaking parts but don’t overdo it. I am highly suspicious that Axel dropped the ball and I need your attention, focus and backup if it is indeed needed,” Kohl told Niall with absolute clarity before smiling at the slight fear that crossed the singer’s eyes. He wanted to put him at ease and knew what might help. He cleared his throat before continuing “I wanted to keep the surprise until after we got Harry back but I suppose I can tell you now. The rest of the guys were let go today, they’re back with their families-just as you and Harry will be shortly if I have anything to do with it. You can call them if you don’t believe-“

Niall smiled, but shook his head.

“After Harry. It’s dark, I want to get to him before it’s too late.”

Kohl patted his shoulder and started to guide him a mile toward the cabin. They parked out further so Christian was less likely to hear them coming.

*

Hours passed slowly and when the sun made its way beyond the sky, Christian returned back to the basement and to the cage, smiling at his captive.

“I got a special surprise Harry. I didn’t want to spoil it but I suppose I already did by announcing that you were going to die tonight. I just forgot to mention how.” He laughed, unlocking the cell and coming in, glancing at Sorrow as he did so, addressing her. “You’ll be untied after I kill Harry there and you and me? We’re going to fuck until the sun comes up and then just for fun, we’re gonna do it again and again until the sun goes down.”

Sorrow remained stoic and remained with eyes cast to the ground, picking them up only to look at Harry one last time.

He seemed to smile a little, despite the gag, Sorrow could tell. His eyes sparkled with a dead like aura and he silently sent a prayer to the girl in front of him, a promise-their kiss.

Christian noticed and roughly grabbed the singer by the arm, dragging him out of the cage.

“Axel!” Christian yelled, his voice an emotion of rage.

Axel ran straight to his master with his head down, helping the scarred man in front of him to pick up the half dead boy in front of them.

“Good dog.” Christian snarled as he and Axel carried him down the long hall, through the kitchen, to the living room and out the door.

Amidst of going outside they carried him across the yard to a dirt ground. A place with a metal pole and large chunks of wood thrown around it in a huge type pit. Harry realized what they were going to do. They were going to build a bon fire and Harry Styles was the fucking centerpiece.

He moaned into the gag but quieted when his own voice barely carried anymore. He did feel fear as burning alive was not a fast way to die…with so much wood from the metal pole, Harry would die from carbon monoxide well before the flame would reach him…of course he didn’t know this and with the gag restricting his lungs to expel the smoke, he would be out in less than five minutes.

“Get him decorated.” Christian smirked, allowing Axel to take over tying him to the metal pole. He dragged Harry over the wood, standing him up against the pole and began to secure him to it, when he was done he checked his handiwork and gave a thumbs up to Christian who stepped forward.

Harry’s eyes met Axel’s eyes, bowing his head once in soft and silent gratitude. He wasn’t sure if the rock star was sincere or being sarcastic but regardless he nodded back with a small smile of his own.

“It was a pleasure, Harry. Nothing personal but-it’s time to put the sheep to sleep and I needed this opportunity. You and Sorrow provided me with it, so thank yo-“

His words were cut off by a sudden shot. His body hit the wood pile dead before he even knew what happened.

During his little speech Christian had taken his gun out and shot the young boy in the back of the head while he was preoccupied taunting Harry.

Harry looked on with hardened eyes, almost envious of the dead boy that laid at the bottom of the wood pile.

“He’s going to be the starter wood.” Christian snorted, taking a match out and tossing it on Axel’s body without care or any other thought. He was tying up loose ends and Harry was only one of many.

Harry moved but felt the ropes grow taunt, knowing he wasn’t going anywhere, knowing he couldn’t fight.

“It’s almost a shame, Harry.” Christian began conversationally, grabbing a jerry can from the ground and tossing the golden fuel around the body, allowing the would be smoldered flame to grow alit quickly before circling around the bon fire and tossing the gasoline on the outer wood. “I was just beginning to grow fond of you too but you were always dangerous…now you’re not. Now you’re simply-nothing.” He said, making sure the logs were soaked before coming to stand in front of the rock star again, glancing at the rising flames. “Your death will be the start. I will take, kill and torture the people you love, directly-indirectly. This organization will be here long after your body is ash and bone – long after I’m dead, long after Sorrow-“He paused, smiling as the smoke came off the flame, the smell of charcoaled body and flesh wafted in the air.

Oh my God! Harry thought frantically, realizing the black smoke wafted up toward him, he tried expelling the disgusting scent in his nose by coughing it out but no air got passed the gag which made him start to choke when he went to inhale again.

It was like being asphyxiated, slow and painfully. No fresh air was being inhaled and more stale air was being replaced with what was expelled. Harry wanted to throw up. The smell was horrendous, the waft of human flesh was indescribably and a smell he would probably never forget – wondering briefly and in a blink of a thought if that’s the smell he would give out when the flames were merciful enough to reach him. At that moment he was praying for it. He was praying for relief.

I’m going to throw up…I’m going to… Harry’s mind was beginning to slow down. He was still struggling to take in air, struggling to couch, struggling to understand why-praying to wonder the justification of his death and the pain, the joy, the relief.

He looked out through the flame that had risen, the heat beating down on his half naked body, drenching it in perspiration. If carbon monoxide didn’t get him first – which he now understood it most likely would, then the perspiration now forming on his skin would dehydrate him to the point of heat stroke.

“Goodbye Harry.” Christian chuckled, noticing Harry’s head was beginning to nod forward, only fighting against it slightly now, his struggling and moaning, coughing and gagging was beginning to die off. It happened in only a few short moments – just as Christian knew. He knew it would be quick but drawn out, the pain and agony by asphyxiation could only be described as sheer panic – although the end result was a bit of a letdown. He expected more out of Harry but he would remember the singer like that for as long as he lived and could not wait to get back to Sorrow to tell her every gory detail. Christian finally had the girl back, the organization and one less rope that needed to be tied up. With a pleased look he turned around – not having suspected to see Kohl face to face.

“Hello old friend,” Kohl smirked, his gun out and already trained on Christian before using it to pelt the man upside the head in order to disarm him, another hit and he was unconscious. “I see we’re having barbeque for dinner. Shit served with emancipation…delicious.” Kohl mumbled sarcastically, bending down and grabbing Christian’s keys, looking around for something that might help kill the flame.

When Kohl didn’t find anything he swore, taking off his shirt and trying to smolder the fire raging body that was completely engulfed – as were the first pile of logs.

Niall saw what was happening and ran toward Harry at full speed, crying out his name in hopes of his friend would stir; but it was too late. Harry was unconscious.

Kohl caught Niall before he could delve into the fire, watching the flames lick closer and knowing their window of time was growing more limited. Harry’s heart would be slowing down, beat by beat and his lungs would no longer function, the smoke making it impossible to breath.

“HARRY!” Niall screamed and tried to go after his friend again, Kohl stopping him, his eyes catching Niall’s frantic ones.

“Niall! Calm! We need to move the other body away, which will allow us a smaller fire path.” Kohl told him calmly, watching Niall grip a flaming piece of the roasting human before screaming and pulling his hand away. “Not that way! Niall, think!”

“I can’t! My friend-my fri-“ He stuttered, completely at a loss as he looked up at Harry, his flesh sparkling in the light of the flame, his own beginning to glisten.

“Deep breath, deep breaths Niall. You have the snake boats I gave you, we will use our shoes. This is the key to Harry’s gag, get it off, get him away from the fire and start CPR. We have maybe less than a minute, come on.” Kohl coxed calmly, guiding Niall to the flaming sack of human mass and began to kick it away.

Once a path was cleared, save for a small trail of fire going inward to the second pile of wood, Niall set to work on Harry’s gag, getting it off in a couple of seconds with the exception of his shaking hands slipping a few times, untying him from the metal pole.

By that time however, the flame surrounded them both.

Niall growled and drug Harry through the flame, their flesh singing and burning against the high rise flame, catching Harry’s pants on fire and Niall’s shirt.

Niall got them both away from the flame before dropping and rolling tearing his shirt away as Kohl beat the flame out on Harry’s stretch pants.

“God damn it! I don’t remember h-how t-to” Niall swore to the skies before gripping his searing skin while Kohl put his head to Harry’s chest to see if he heard a heartbeat.

Once it was determined Harry was well and truly unresponsive Kohl began CPR. His eyes going someplace else, a memory, as if he was learning all over again.

“Over chest. One, two, three. Over chest. One, two, three.”

He tried to check for breath but determined false.

“Ok, resuscitation.” Kohl spoke in monotone as he plugged the singer’s nose and breathed deeply into his mouth, watching his chest rise from the sudden inflation before pressing six more times.

“Niall, I know you’re pretty burnt up but Harry needs you right now buddy. I need to do the chest presses, you plug his nose and breathe in when I tell you to, alright?” Kohl instructed calmly, seeing Niall beside himself with grief as tears spilled from his face.

“We’re too late.” Niall sobbed, looking down at his friend who looked more peaceful then he ever remembered seeing him.

“No!" Niall, I need you to stay with me, ok? It’s not too late! Come on pull it together.” Kohl tried keeping his patience but realized Niall needed a little push so he did what he had to.

Reaching over he forced Niall onto his knees, making his one hand plug Harry’s nose and point to Harry’s face. “When I say breathe in, you let in three breaths. Ok?”

Niall was shaking but nodded his head, seeing Kohl place his hands back on Harry and press two sets of three before instructing him to give air.

Niall did as he was told, repeating exactly what Kohl instructed, his heart racing in his chest.

“Come on Harry! Come on!” Niall yelled, breathing in again and again.

They worked on him for over three minutes before Kohl tried one more time, his face monotone, looking over at his counterpart who still breathed in despite Kohl stopping.

“Niall-Niall, man, he-he’s gone.” Kohl stuttered, watching Niall ignore him and continue to try.

Niall’s chest was an earthquake of agony, yelling and pounding the ground before looking at his dead friend, feeling a surge of determination and anger course through him.

“YOU ARE NOT LEAVING ME! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, HARRY!?” Niall screamed as Kohl reached out and grabbed the younger boy to him but Niall was determined. He pushed the older man off and balled his hands into fists, punching Harry’s chest as hard as he could blindly, and enraged. They were too late, he was too late. He failed Harry and he would never forgive himself. “WAKE UP! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? YOU’RE GOING TO WAKE UP!” Niall continued to scream and pound before falling onto his ass and allowed the sobs to rack his world, giving one last weak pound, right above the singer’s heart, allowing his hand to go limp there. His agonizing cries stretching through the air as Kohl finally wrapped his arms around the heartbroken boy.

“Five minutes sooner I could have saved him, just five min-“ Niall started sobbing before they both heard a loud gasp rip through the air, louder than Niall’s sobs.

“Harry? HARRY! ” Niall screamed, back on his knees, seeing the singer inhale a huge intake of air, his eyes popping open from the dead.

Harry felt all the smoke clearing from his mouth, he wasn’t able to respond to Niall’s calls but he could breath, he could cough – he-he…he was alive?

“Harry!” Niall helped the singer sit his weakened body up, hugging it tightly to him. “Oh my God, thank you, thank you, thank you!” He gripped his friend for dear life, which made Kohl step in.

“Easy there Niall, he’s just coming back to the world of the living, be gentle.” Kohl coaxed, making his friend release his death grip from the singer.

“Is there a Heaven?” Niall asked, watching Harry slowly able to breathe on his own.

“There is from where I’m sitting.” Harry croaked, his weak arms finding the last of their strength to reach over and hug his friend.

Kohl smiled, standing from the ground and going toward the cabin. He had a sister to catch up with.

*

Hours later, the night sky was again getting light. Harry had finally been able to shower, wash his hair and change into proper clothing. Sorrow helped him like she had all those months ago but she didn’t speak much. Something had changed. Harry didn’t know what to say, what to do – knowing what he knew of the child, her brother coming back…Sorrow seemed more broken than fixed.

“Sorrow? Are you ok?” Harry asked, hugging her closely to him while draping a blanket over her shoulders.

She gazed into Harry’s eyes, her frail hand wiping the worry from his face with a small gesture of kindness.

“You’re free, that’s all that matters.” She replied softly, her guilt eating more inside her with each second she glanced up to his beautiful green eyes.

“You are too, we’re free we’re-“She silenced his lips with a gentle kiss and a sad smile.

“I’ll never truly be free, Harry. Once Kohl sends the information to Broadway-he’ll come after us, he’ll keep going after us until there is no one left. There’s only so many places we can hide…and I can’t go from one cage to another.” Sorrow said, hugging Harry and turning from him, walking to the living room and giving her brother the tightest hug she could manage at her still weakened state.

He turned with a beaming smile and hugged her back tightly to him.

“I’ve dreamt so many times before…this.” Sorrow gestured out, loving the feeling of her brother’s arms finally embracing her again, a brother she presumed dead.

“I will never lose you again.” Kohl promised, kissing her on her forehead and packing up the rest of the necessities. Britain was a far piece and they knew, especially with Niall traveling with them, there needed to be enough food.

She flashed him the same sad smile she had given Harry, kissing his cheek.

“I forgive you, I love you-I always will.” Sorrow said before looking down the hall. “I can see Christian before we go? I want to make sure he knows how it feels.”

“I prefer you didn’t but I’m not going to stop you. You are free to make your own decisions after all.” Kohl smiled before chuckling.

Sorrow smiled genuinely this time and gripped his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze before traveling down the hall and seeing Niall in the kitchen-helping himself. She decided to formally introduce herself-even though it seemed to be a rather tricky subject…and she needed to get something, something lying in her plain sight on the counter, she could only guess it had been Christians.

“Hi Niall.” She smiled softly, coming into the room, seeing him spin around looking a little guilty, like someone who got their hand caught in the cookie jar-which, technically, was where it was.

“Hey…hi. Uh, what’s up?” Niall asked, flashing a smile, taking his hand out from the glass jar and setting it on the counter again empty handed.

“I wanted to thank you, for not giving up and to apologize for taking part in the crime itself. I-I realized too late, I never should-“Sorrow stuttered, surprised to feel Niall’s hands wrap around her as she fought to speak the right words.

“He’s safe now. You're safe –despite what happened, despite-Harry cares for you, and he wasn’t lying when he said he wants to make it right. He told me what he plans on doing for you. So you don’t have enemies here Isis. You have a second chance.” Niall smiled, relieving the tension and giving her a gentle hug.

Sorrow could almost feel the tears shower down her face, she could almost believe him that everything really was ok-almost. Her rational part in control knew that it was just a matter of time before that too would end. She got her second chance. She got to make peace, to meet her brother again, to see Harry get his freedom. Her promise was fulfilled. There wasn’t anything awaiting in her second chance and she was far too tired to pretend, far too broken to be repaired.

“You’re good people, Niall. You and Harry both. It takes a lot of forgiveness and humanity, especially with everything done, everything said…it doesn’t seem repairable.” Sorrow frowned sadly but hugged the blonde haired boy back and detangled herself, quickly grabbing the cold metal piece from the counter and heading back to see the one final person who made this nightmare and hell happen…today she would see that he pays with his life. Despite leaving him there in his filth, despite starving and dehydrating him…it wasn’t good enough. She knew justice wouldn’t be served in the court system. It would be tied up for years and she refused to let him wait in a comfortable cell. Sorrow wanted him dead. She wanted him to burn in hell with her-because if she was going, she was taking someone with her and he was after all her ‘soul mate’.

Sorrow crept to where the basement was and opened the door, seeing Christian was in the cage. His mouth locked firmly into the same gag he had kept Harry in for all those months, the same restraint belt he had forced on Harry was firmly locked, forcing his hands behind him and his ankle shackled to the cement wall.

His eyes perked up when he saw Sorrow, he yelled out a command that she didn’t understand. Instead she smiled and waved the gun she stole from the kitchen, going to the gate and unlocking the cage, stepping in and returning it to locked position, sitting down next to her once lover.

“How does it feel? To be helpless, not able to talk…uncertain of your fate?” She provoked low and dangerous, laughing when all he did was give her a confused look; like it hadn’t even sunk in.

“That’s how I felt, all those years ago, how Harry felt for months before finally losing hope. He’s broken, I’ve seen it a million times and it’s something we did to him…something we need to answer for.” Sorrow said, her tone calm but emotionless as she cocked back the gun, the metal piece heavy in her small fragile hands. “That’s why I came to say goodbye, that’s why you have to say goodbye because I have to answer for my crimes, you have to answer to-“She stopped as the door opened and Harry came in, his eyes wide when he saw the scene before him.

“Sorrow? What-w-“

“I’m making things right, Harry.” Sorrow replied calmly before turning to Christian, who was struggling in his restraints as hard as he could, yelling into the gag, the same pleasure he felt only weeks before looking down at Harry was strangely satisfying for Sorrow and she rewarded his struggle with a gentle kiss to his temple before pointing the gun to her lip’s mark. “Goodbye, my lover.”

With that she pulled the trigger, watching Christian’s body jerk violently to the side before stilling all together, his eyes stuck in blind wide-eyed fear. The blood splatter painting the walls behind and beside them, Sorrow’s face and chest covered in the dark liquid life force.

“Oh my God! Sorrow, oh God! Kohl, Niall!” Harry yelled as she pushed Christian’s corpse onto the ground like the filth it was.

“I have to answer for what I’ve done to you-what I’ve done to all those innocent people who-who I didn’t help; who died. It’s not all about you-“Sorrow started but Harry ran to the bars, trying with his limited strength to tug opened the prison.

No! Nonono! Sorrow, love, listen to me, please? You don’t have to-you don’t have-“

Kohl and Niall ran in, panic evident in their eyes.

“Isis!” Kohl yelled and ran to the gate, trying with his iron-clad strength to get to door to open. “Sis, come on, give me the gun. We can sit and talk about this-we can work this out, come on.” Kohl coaxed gently, looking more frightened then he had in the past few months Niall’s known him. He just got her back, he wasn’t about to lose her again.

“We won’t outrun the police, the feds-once our names are connected to the kidnappings-all those victims…there will be nowhere to hide and I can’t spend my days in another cage. This is the only way, you know it is, Kohl.” Sorrow replied sadly as Harry watched her cock the gun again, putting it to up into her mouth.

“What about my promise? You’re not allowing me to give you your second chance!” Harry pleaded, his fists ghost white with how hard he was squeezing the bars.

Sorrow smiled against the gun’s tip and pulled it from her mouth but not uncocking it.

“You gave me my second chance, Harry. You gave me my humanity back-you gave me my soul. Something I will never be able to thank you enough for” Sorrow cried, her chest heaving, feeling this was the end of the road, the last hope.

Her peace and salvation awaited her elsewhere whether it be hell, heaven or endless darkness with no awareness.

“I can give you a second chance beyond this prison! I can give you love-I can give you forgiveness! I forgave-“

Before Harry could finish, Sorrow pulled the trigger.

BANG

“NO!” Harry screamed as Kohl beat on the door in panic, watching her body slump.

“Oh God.” Niall covered his mouth, a few tears sliding down his cheeks.

“No!” Kohl cried weakly, sliding down the door to the floor.

The silence resumed in the eerily quiet basement, except the low sobs radiating from the room of two heartbroken souls.

Notes