The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Narrator’s POV:

“You have been right quiet today, angel.” Harry noted when he saw her faraway stare.

At first she didn’t respond but Harry’s hand found its way to her shoulder that gesture alone snapping her out of her thoughts.

“I’m sorry, H. My mind is rather troubled for some reason. I feel anxious and I haven’t a clue as to why.” She murmured back, her good arm rubbing her broken fingers to ease the pain.

“I know how that feeling goes.” He smiled, sitting down in front of her. “Why are you anxious?”

Sophia shrugged, taking her good hand and reaching for Harry’s one, the balls of her fingers going over his fingernails.

“I guess because I’m scared. Scared of losing you, scared of being alone if Elliott tries to kill…” She didn’t finish her sentence but rather looked Harry in the eyes. “I don’t know why I care about it so much because there’s nothing we can do but I don’t want –“

“ELI MAY DAWSON!” Elliott could be heard screaming at the front of the house.

This was followed by a muffled response and a fist connecting to a wall – a third voice accompanying the action with a sardonic response and finally footsteps.

“What’s going on?” Sophia gulped, her hand tightening on Harry’s in an attempt to draw comfort.

“I don’t kn –“The door burst open with a very pissed off Elliott and grim looking Andros.

“Chain Mr. Styles up to the wall and separate the girl. She will no longer be staying in this room until they are moved to the cage – that will be arranged for tomorrow if possible. Right now, get her out of here.” Elliott ordered, his tone cold and emotionless.

“No! Harry –“She whimpered, both catching one another’s stare.

He reached up gently with his other hand and preened a piece of lose hair behind her ear from where it fell.

“It’s okay Sophia. Just do as they say and it’ll be alright.” He promised her, glancing up at Elliott Dawson with a look that clearly asked why.

“No! I’m not leaving you.” Sophia shook his head while Andros came forward and grabbed her away from Harry.

Harry stood up to go forward but Elliott stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

“Nope, you’re not playing hero.” Elliott told him before bringing his leg under his knee and knocking him back down.

Harry just looked up with a pained expression from the brutal kick before trying to pull away. He wasn’t stupid enough to use a counter move against the older man. He knew Elliott could be vicious when he wanted to.

“Why are you doing this, what did I do?” Harry asked while staring straight up into Elliott’s eyes.

He heard Sophia sobbing down the hall and wanted desperately to go to her.

“YOU did nothing but now I got a problem. My daughter took your friends. Tomlinson and Malik – they ring any bells?” Elliott counteracted his question while dragging Harry to the wall where the chains hung by a death grip.

“W-what? No, let them go! They aren’t part of this.” Harry begged, his wrists forced upward to the wall as cold metal shackles were clicked around them, connecting his hands together.

“I can’t. What’s done is done. Tomorrow you three will be transferred to The Cage. I’ve no use for you let alone your gang. The decision is already made so begging will not do you any good,” Elliott said sternly, taking out a thick strip of cloth and forcing it between Harry’s teeth.

“Nothing personal Styles but I can’t have you talking to them. You and they will remain gagged until transport tomorrow, so hang tight.” He patted Harry’s head before whistling.

Harry watched as Louis was drug in by his arms first by Blade and Zayn by a different man he hadn’t seen before.

“For God sakes Blade, take those prongs out of his arse before you try to sit him down! Jesus Christ.” Elliott yelled when Blade tried to sit him up into a proper posture position and earning a muffled yelp from Louis as the prongs slipped deeper into his flesh.

Blade grumbled and pushed him back on his stomach, fisting the four thick prongs and pulling them out none too gently.

Louis whimpered, tears spilling from the corner of his eyes.

“Where’s the key to his muzzle? Those aren’t meant to be worn long term. I’ll fit him with some cloth – Zayn can remain how he is.” Elliott ordered, stepping up to take control.

Blade chuckled, a smirk crossing over his wide face.

“Eli ordered me to ‘lose it’ so it’s lost…about four hours from here.” Blade revealed, sitting Louis up while the other guy sat Zayn behind him so they were back to back on the mattress.

Elliott growled and took his knife out, walking over Louis.

He bent down, swiftly making quick work of Louis’s muzzle.

“Thank you.” Louis croaked when the leather fell off his face and on to his lap.

“Blade? Use these to zip tie their shackles to one another. Find some rope and restrain them how they are.” Elliott instructed ignored Louis, his eyes completely void of emotion.

Louis groaned but couldn’t fight either. Eli had Blade give him another jolt of electricity before they pulled up into the house and all he could do was lay or sit like a ragdoll until it wore off.

Blade took the zip ties and quickly did as instructed. Louis’s wrist chains were connected to Zayn’s shackles to ensure escape would be next to impossible.

“Go get some bloody rope! Jesus Christ, why is everything going to jack shit?! He screamed but turned his head toward the door when he heard a tiny gasp.

“Lily? Daddy’s working right now.” He explained calmly, her little feet running past him.

He looked to see her little arms wrapping around Harry.

“Mr. Bear? Why are you like that?” She asked, ignoring her father.

Elliott went to quickly remove his little girl from the room but she turned toward Harry, waiting for an answer. All Harry could do was close his eyes.

“He can’t answer you right now, pumpkin. Daddy had his voice taken away for a little while. He was being bad.” Elliott explained, using terms she would understand.

Harry cocked an eyebrow in question because he didn’t do a damn thing wrong for once.

“Lirm.” Harry accused.

Elliott shot him a look before reaching over and making quick work to tighten the cloth in his mouth and tie the knots on it more secure so they couldn’t slip.

“Harry isn’t a good person, Lily. You need to stay away from him. He’s very dangerous and what have I said about dangerous animals?” He warned, pulling Lily away from Harry gently.

“That they need to be killed to protect our family but daddy, Harry is good, he fixed Mr. Bear.” She insisted but Elliott shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter if he does one act of kindness, he is still a monster.” Elliott growled, removing Lily from the room but not before issuing one more order.

“See to it that Tomlinson is properly gagged and the other orders are as well followed because if –“His threat was left unheard as pained yells erupted down the hall – followed by clanking of metal.

“LET ME SEE HARRY!” Sophia screamed, catching Elliott’s attention.

He groaned leaving the room with Lily in his arms.

As he got down the hall and turned into the kitchen he could see forks imbedded into the wall, her one good arm raised to strike another one at Andros.

Andros was holding his hand by one that was sticking out of his chest.

“Ms. Stone? Why are you screaming? Let’s sit down and talk, okay? I can’t have you hurting my men.” Elliott responded calmly, seeing Eli cowering behind a couch in the living room – a few forks embedded into it. “Eli? I believe it’s best to go to your room right now, you’ve upset all of us – me especially. If you wanted to have me murdered – really, you could have just tried yourself because Damien is going to find me and he is going to torture me but not before he kills me a hundred times over.”

Elliott set Lily down, grabbing her hand to make sure she stayed.

Eli rolled her eyes and stood up, ducking again when the metal prongs landed inches from her head.

“Stop!” Elliott bellowed, turning on Sophia in a glare.

“Stupid cunt slag bitch.” Eli muttered, stomping her feet towards her room and leaving the house in a silent tension.

“Sophia? Daddy is good. He can make everything better.” Lily tried, seeing Sophia’s eyes water from fear.

Sophia shook her head and let out a sob.

“Just let me see Harry. I want to be with him and the guys, I promise I won’t untie them.” Sophia begged sincerely.

Elliott simply declined her quest with a simple shake of his head.

“You will not see him or the others again. Goodbyes are irrelevant when they are being sent to The Cage. It’s best to hold your memories of them because you will not be seeing them again.” Elliott explained to her in finality, letting go of Lily’s hand.

She ran and hugged Sophia as she fell to her knees in tears.

“What good am I here without them? Why can’t I go with them?” Sophia cried, her arms gently locking around Lily’s small body to draw out her own comfort.

“The cage is not a place for proper ladies, Sophia. You would never survive there. It’s a place people are sent to, to survive. You would not last an hour as Harry, Louis and Zayn will be lucky to last a day. It’s easier if someone else kills them because I don’t have the stomach for any more blood to stain my hands.” Elliott continued, unaffected.

“Then spare me not, let me go with Harry. I will die with him. I want to die with him.” Sophia continued, her breath choking in her throat.

“No. I want you to stay here and be my mum. You got to stay here.” Lily said, her own little cry coming out.

Elliott looked at Andros who was looking at him.

He shrugged.

“I’m going to have to insist you remain here. It will do Lily some good to have a mother figure and I won’t need to worry about her so much if Eli is caring for her or not and she trusts you. So I’m afraid you will just need to get used to being here,” He paused, Sophia shaking her head in protest but carried on regardless. “When time passes and you eventually accept your fate then you will be given more roaming freedoms. Day outings and the like. I can give you what you want, Sophia. I can offer you a normal life – something Harry won’t give you, something he can’t give you and something Damien would kill you for.” Elliott reasoned but it had no effect on Sophia.

“What is The Cage? At least tell me that. Harry doesn’t deserve to be sent there. None of them do! Eli kidnapped us, she should have to answer to her consequences!” Sophia wiped her tears.

“Eli is an adult, the courts recognize that legally in London so you try telling her that. As for The Cage? You needn’t be concerned. Harry and the rest will be taken care of there. It will be fast, my orders were specific.”

Sophia looked down at Lily as she looked up.

“Please, mummy? You could be so happy here and Mr. Bear will be happy there.”

Sophia gently detached herself from Lily, feeling uncomfortable by the name and looked at Elliott.

“Let me say goodbye. Please? Please just let me say goodbye to them and I will do whatever you want.” Sophia sniffled, tears leaking down her face like teardrops.

“You will do what I order anyhow or you will be punished to the basement and locked in one of our cages down there. Do not try my hand, Sophia. I can promise you won’t like it.” He warned, making Sophia nod.

“Daddy? Can I show mummy my room before lunch? I want her to play with me.” Lily begged, her eyes red from crying. All she did was want a mum and Sophia was the kindest one she had met.

“Andros? Go with them. Help Sophia find her way around. I’ll see Lily and her at supper, I’ve got things to do. Like call Damien.” Elliott ordered, watching Andros stand up from the place he had cowered behind and pull the fork she got him with from his chest.

Lily clapped excitedly and grabbed Sophia’s hand, guiding her down the hall.

“Sorry about the fork.” Sophia muttered to Andros.

Andros shrugged.

“S’alright. If I was you, I’d probably have tried stabbing someone.” He smiled kindly, reaching Lily’s room.

When they stepped in Lily jumped up and down with excitement.

“This is mine!” She exclaimed proudly, making Sophia look around.

Pink.

All around the room was pink.

Pink ruffles on the bed, pink stuffed animals, pink pillows, pink carpet, pink window covers, pink lamps, lampshades, rugs, toys.

“Oh God, Dr. Dr Suses world evaded this room and shit pink everywhere.” Sophia mumbled, horrified.

She hated pink. She’d wear it in a dress but that was about as far as that got for her. Her father disapproved of the color when she was a little girl, forbidding any sort of expression in her room other than white.

Sophia went and sat down on the bed while Lily went and started rummaging through a toy box.

Andros saw the older girl’s resigned look and sighed.

In his gentle manner he took a seat next to her, grasping her good hand in his.

“Don’t cry, Sophia. I promise you it’s not that bad here – Elliott can be really kind and he’s giving you a choice. Harry never did, did he?” Andros asked kindly, his thumb rubbing up and down against her knuckles.

“I didn’t have a choice to come here either. I was kidnapped! I don’t want to be here.” Sophia insisted but Andros only shushed her calmly.

“I promise you that in time, it will get better. You will learn to like it here and Lily really does need someone besides the guys to treat her kindly. She’s taken a liking to you, be very thankful for that because had she not – you probably would join your men and you are far too pretty to be going to a place like that.” Andros told her, looking down at the wounds Sophia created when she stabbed him with a fork.

“Harry showed you some lethal moves, doll face. I think it’s time to reconnect with your feminine side.” Andros chuckled, hearing Lily’s footsteps running toward them, a barbie doll…with tape over her neck came into view.

“Mum! This is Diane! Isn’t she pretty?” Lily exclaimed, holding her hand out to show her.

“She’s very pretty, sweetheart.” Sophia forced a smile, glancing at Andros for a little help but the look went right over his head.

“Sweetheart? Could you call me Sophie, instead of mummy – please? It makes me uncomfortable.” Sophia told her truthfully, making her eyes drop.

“But you will be, won’t you? I never got to meet my mum, she went to heaven and daddy doesn’t want to get another mummy. He says our family is perfect the way it is and all I ever wanted was a mum. Then you came!” She smiled, making Sophia’s heart drop.

“Honey? I don’t know if your daddy is going to keep me permanently. I want to go home with my friends and –“Sophia couldn’t finish when she dropped the doll and wrapped her arms around Sophia’s neck.

“No! You can’t leave me.” She cried, her wild curls shaking about.

“I’m not, honey but it’s what I want. Like you want a mummy, I want to go home with my friends to make sure they’re safe.” She explained patiently, knowing she upset the girl and God with a soul, she didn’t mean to.

“Daddy says Harry is bad, he isn’t – is he?” She questioned, making Sophia swallow and really think on it.

“Harry can be as kind as he can be cruel, Lily. We all can, even me, even you but you are a beautiful little girl with a pretty smile and you mustn’t lose that.” Sophia explained kindly.

Andros cleared his throat and leaned in.

“If you promise not to complicate things, I will let you say goodbye to Harry and them. I take guard over their room tonight so I can sneak you in for a few minutes.” Andros replied, biting his lip.

Sophia paused, wondering briefly if it was a trick.

“Why would you bother? You said so yourself, you’re not here to be our friend, you’re here to be our warden.” Sophia challenged with tired red eyes.

Lily looked up at Sophia, her eyes sad.

“Can I? I just want to have a mum. That’s all I ever wanted. Eli says no one wants to be my mum because I killed my first mum and everyone around here hates me but won’t tell me. I don’t want you to hate me and I didn’t mean to kill my first mummy. I promise I won’t hurt you.” Lily begged, her tears falling again.

“It’s just a name, Sophie. Please? Eli really does make her life a living hell and I’m the only one who steps in to keep Eli in her place –not that, that works half the time but what she needs is a woman’s guidance and protection and she chose you.” Andros nodded toward the young girl like he was showing an example.

“Alright, you can call me mum.” Sophia resigned, hating herself but forced a smile. She knew that to survive in the place that she would have to adapt. Still, her hope wasn’t completely gone in Harry escaping.

“Yay! Mum!” Lily hugged her tightly, running over to her toy box again and digging through it again. While she was occupied, Sophia leaned over to whisper to Andros.

“Again, why would you help me get closure? You’re a part of Elliott’s gang, you’re supposed to be ruthless.” Sophia demanded quietly, she wanted to know.

Andros paused, the only thing sounding was Lily rummaging through and tossing toys out. It remained that way for several tense seconds before he gathered his thoughts enough to reply.

“I wasn’t here by choice either, Sophia. My brother was sent to The Cage because my father didn’t yield to Elliott’s demands. They kidnapped us both because we were together at the time and I was spared only because of Ms. Dawson. She couldn’t change Elliott’s mind on my brother but she took me under her wing and he eventually trusted me enough to train so I could protect his family when time came,” Andros began cautiously. “Ms. Dawson was very kind and very beautiful. I was younger than you, about twenty. So I understand what it’s like to not be able to say goodbye, I never got to say it to my brother. That bothers me every day and I don’t want you to feel that way. So that’s why I’m willing to do it.” He explained, his eyes filled with emotion.

Sophia looked down, repeating her question.

“What is The Cage?” She murmured, picking up her eyes again.

“It’s not my place to explain but take it from me, hun – it’s a place I would never send my worst enemy.” Andros swallowed, reaching over to give her a gentle hug.

“I’m sorry I can’t do more to help but know that if you need to talk, all you have to do is ask.” He let her know, Lily running back over to them with a beautiful red headed doll.

“Here, it’s for when you get lonely. She’s a good friend. I know cause she’s my friend and makes me feel better when Eli’s mean but I want you to have her.” Lilly smiled brightly.

“Aw, angel, I don’t want to take your doll, sweetie. You need her.” Sophia responded calmly but took it from Lily’s hand and hugged it to her chest to show she appreciated the gesture.

“No I don’t cause I got you, mummy. I finally got what I always wanted, I don’t need her anymore. You’re sad, so you need her now.” Lily crawled up on her bed beside the distraught young woman and threw her arms around her shoulders, nuzzling her face into Sophia’s neck.

“Please don’t be sad mummy, I love you.” She replied innocently and for some reason, hearing those words from such an innocent child hit home to Sophia and she felt herself tearing up again. She didn’t realize exactly how three little words could hold so much emotion but hearing them comforted her. Someone cared, even if it was only a small child. The gesture was still greatly appreciated.

“Tonight, Sophia. Everyone will be asleep.” Andros nodded, standing up to take his place outside Lily’s door, his hand closing the wood with a soft click, leaving the two girls in there to bond.

Notes