The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Narrator’s POV:

Two days had passed since Damien’s departure. Taking Dylan’s bag and anything else that looked to be his.

Luckily, Sophia got to keep her brother’s guitar with all the sheet music and that was only thanks to Niall’s immaculate cleaning. He had set the items under the bed to keep them out of the way. With the comforter properly tucked over the side, it obstructs the view underneath. Damien hadn’t bothered to check there. He simply saw Dylan’s duffle and took it.

However, today seems to be a boiling point for some in the hidden cabin. Mainly Harry, who couldn’t seem to keep the pain at bay long enough to stop shaking. Thankfully, Harry wasn’t stuttering nearly as bad but it wouldn’t be such an issue if he took his pain medicine; which he flat out refused to do. It left his head foggy and he insisted he needed to be alert in case there was an emergency; that in turn made the bloke nearly impossible to deal with without the threat of sedating his arse every five minutes.

At the moment Zayn and Liam were trying to get him to eat, a task easier said than done.

In their opinion, between Louis’s whining, Harry’s snapping and Sophia’s withdraw, they were all running high on tempers and that was stress they didn’t need.

“Come on Harry, do you want an I.V? I need you to try and work with me here, mate. Please?” Zayn begged, holding the small spoon up to Harry’s lips, his other hand cupping below to catch any stray droplets. Liam was his support, helping the green eyed lad to remain sit up since he could not physically do so himself yet.

For a moment the two men faced off in a silent stare down. Harry’s a look of indignant humiliation and raging fire pools of jaded forest that grew darker by the second in the depths of his hell-like irises.

“What do I bloody look like? A baby? Get that fucking spoon away from me and get the fuck out of here, I’ll CALL you when I require something. Until then, leave me alone!” Harry snapped, using his hand to swat at the offending object trying to intrude his mouth.

Zayn lifted the spoon up in a hurry to avoid the incoming hit, dropping it back in the bowl before Harry decided to rage war against the food.

“I don’t know about being a baby, they’re usually better behaved but you are acting like a spoiled two year old not getting his way. Come on, Harry; suck it up and let us help. You’re going to need a shower today because those wounds need attended to with soap and water. You don’t want them to get infected, do you?” Liam asked, his tone holding a light warning.

Piss off! It’s humiliating enough you three walk me to the bloody toilet and pull my dick out. I’ll be damned if you’re sponge bathing me to go along with it. I am not a decrepit!” Harry growled, throwing his hand forward to try to knock the bowl from Zayn’s hands but the bloke was smart enough to pull it back and set on the floor away from the mad Cheshire man.

Liam’s brows furrowed down, accompanying the gesture with a strong frown.

“If I need to, I will sedate you and we will do this the hard way. Your choice but either way it’s getting done.” Liam responded patiently before Zayn could make any sort of retort. He needed to keep the peace before someone said something that got them knocked out and Harry really didn’t need any more bruises on his face.

“Fuck you.” Harry grumbled, looking over at Sophia.

She was sitting up quietly, Niall holding the bowl under her but allowing the girl to feed herself with her functioning hand.

He looked down and then brought his hands up to meet his eye level, seeing them shake uncontrollably.

They were failing him but not as much as his body seemed to be. Harry couldn’t sit up on his own, feed himself was like a workout challenge in itself, and walking or using the bathroom without the help of someone accompanying him was impossible, which was obviously taking its toll on the young bloke.

Unfortunately, it had only been two days after the fact, the next few more were not going to be any easier on him or the ones around.

No one said anything for a moment, the room bathed in a short, tense silence before soft padded footsteps walked in and surveyed the scene. If there ever was a true saying, Louis would have really thought that misery loved company. Then again, his mood wasn’t much better.

“Liam? Is there anymore lip balm? I used my third one up and I need more moisturizer.” Louis questioned, somber as the rest of the group.

“There should be a box in the basement with more chap stick. We buy them in bulk but no more moisturizer. I’ll go into London and pick some more up, if anyone needs anything, write a list.” Liam sighed, knowing there was no way of getting out of it but at the same time, thankful for the small break.

“I’ll go too.” Zayn offered, looking at Niall and Louis.

Louis scowled but remembered there was absolutely no way he’d be stepping out of the cabin with burn marks across his face. The red, raw skin was hideous to look at in the mirror and had been a surprise when he came back from his drug induced vacation to see himself in the way that he had. Needless to say, Louis screamed like a girl and shook the windows; sadly, they all thought it was Sophia and ran into Harry’s room.

That had been something to record for the books. It took Liam, Zayn and Niall nearly three hours to get Louis calm again, restraining him into a vice-like embrace until they were sure he wasn’t going to go postal and do something stupid. Thankfully, Louis didn’t remember trying to go to London naked and they had already pretty much decided it was water under the bridge. Whatever Louis didn’t recollect, nobody was going to enlighten him.

“I’ll watch over Harry and Sophia, you two go. I’ll get a list together.” Louis grumbled, leaving to exit the room.

Liam looked at Harry.

“Do you need anything?”

Harry forced his arms over his chest and didn’t say anything for a moment but reluctantly looked over to Sophia again.

“Do you?” Harry murmured, looking away when she slowly met his stare.

For a moment nobody said anything and the whole room froze again.

“S-something to read?” Sophia suggested quietly, biting her lower lip nervously and putting the spoon back in her soup bowl, forcing herself to look at Niall. “I can’t eat anymore, thank you.”

Her voice was a mere wisp, hardly heard in the stillness of the caught air.

Sophia had eaten about five or six spoonful’s of the bland broth, giving her lunch an effort but she wasn’t hungry. Hell, who would be after being brutally tortured by England’s most sadistic sadist?

“You have to eat more than that, love. Come on.” Niall encouraged her softly, taking the spoon and spooning up a small amount of the liquid.

She turned her head away, back to face Harry, seeing his dropped to his lap, watching his shaking hands quiver, unable to stop them.

“I don’t want it.” Sophia muttered, glancing up at Zayn. The guy looked utterly helpless, unable to persuade Harry to eat or her to eat more. Everyone was in a rut and no one had anything to offer to help the other person out.

Louis felt irritable but he pushed it down enough to limp over to the bed and take the bowl from Niall’s hands, gesturing with his head for the blonde to get up so he could take a seat.

Niall got the message and dropped the spoon back in the bowl, getting up to glance at Harry. His reserve was cracking again, he could see tears glistening the sides of his cheeks. He assumed of frustration and pain but who really knew? Harry was a mystery.

“Harry, do you want to write a list or have one us write you one?” Niall tried, earning a quiet groan from Liam. Evidently something he shouldn’t have said but shit, he couldn’t win for losing, especially in the past few days. Anything he did wasn’t good enough and anything he spoke just got him scolded.

“Yeah, I’ll write one Niall because my bloody hands aren’t shaking or I’ll tell you all just so you can fuck it up!” Harry snapped, his voice choking on the air around him.

Sophia was so absorbed in her own pain and guilt but despite the pulling of what was left of her shredded heart, she tentatively reached over and took one of Harry’s hands into her only good one, pulling it to her, causing him to follow the simple but comforting gesture.

“Stop being mean to them, Harry. This isn’t helping matters and it’s no more their fault as it is ours. We’ve all lost something these past few days. I lost my brother, I lost everything that he gave me, everything that was his. You lost something temporary, something you will get back in time, I never will. So be thankful they are caring and willing enough to help us. Be glad you have somebody willing to try.” Sophia lectured him, her voice painful to her own ears. She hated it, hated the weakness in it. Damien was right, she was worthless. She was nothing but a weak, pathetic girl.

Those words were dominant and echoed around Sophia’s head like a bad memory, her broken hand cradled against her chest protectively.

Niall smiled kindly at the broken girl but when the tears slipped from her eyes, it was heartbreaking and that was enough to quiet Harry, guilt showing in his own pained face.

“Soph, I’m sor –“Harry started but she interrupted his apology. She didn’t want to hear it.

“Nothing can be said or done about it now, Harry. Nothing will change the past or bring Christian or Dylan back. No I’m sorrys, no prayers, rituals or deals with the devil will change what happened. I’m sorry is just another way to ask for forgiveness and I’ve uttered those meaningless words more times to my brother the past few days than I have in the last twenty-one years of his life. I thought, if I prayed hard enough, if I asked Dylan for it, he would somehow tell me it was alright somehow. I thought, stupidly, that if I saved Christian I could make it up somehow for my mistake. Dylan said he would never leave me and he left! I thought, maybe, if I took some part of your punishment, Harry, I would feel better – that it’d be enough for him to be beside me like his letter promised he would but he isn’t, he left me alone and it’s all my fault. I don’t have anything of his anymore, I -” Sophia was unable to continue, the heaving of her chest with the sound of her shattering heart made Louis toss the bowl on the table and reach over to hug the girl to him gently.

She released Harry’s hand and threw her arms around Louis’s neck, nuzzling her face into his chest and letting out a sound that haunted them, a muffled scream, a wail that stopped time momentarily in the room, where nothing moved and no one spoke.

“I deserved this, I deserve worse.” Louis was just able to make out, his shirt acting as a gag against her mouth, muffling her speech as she pressed further into him.

He looked at Harry helplessly and though Harry was in pain, he tried to move over towards her. Zayn and Liam held him to his spot.

“No, you’ll hurt yourself, let Louis handle it. He’ll figure it on his own.” Liam whispered behind Harry, making him scowl darkly but he knew that if he said anything he would just upset the girl more. So he kept his mouth shut.

“Is the offer still open for that morphine shot? I don’t think I’ll be able to handle this pain much more.” Harry muttered, though he himself didn’t know if he meant the physical pain or the mental anguish of the broken girl beside him. He didn’t know what to do and he was fully to blame for the way the girl was now. He should have made Damien refuse the girl his extra lashes. The power of being completely helpless was unbearable and he didn’t want to deal with it any longer. So he didn’t.

When Zayn nodded and picked up the shot of Morphine and injected it into him without a words, he felt relief wash over him. The world becoming fuzzy and pastel, dying in blissful ignorance. Of course Sophia was still heard in the background of his fading world but when another shot was injected into him, Harry simply let him it take him away.

Liam and Zayn exchange looks while Niall left the room unnoticed, his figure slipping from the chaos into the silence of the hostage room, dropping to his knees by the bed.

“Bloody Damien and his bloody damn – hey, what’s this?” Niall started ranting pulling the guitar case from under the bed, a notebook dragging with it.

He left to get Dylan’s guitar realizing that Sophia thought Damien had taken that as well, he wasn’t aware of the notebook, one that had ‘For Sophia only’ written on the cover, remembering it was the notebook he had been kind enough to give Dylan his first day after Sophia left to finish off the required job of getting the titles transferred.

Niall debated with himself, an argument of such to see what Dylan had left behind but knew it was not his place, it was for Sophia and her eyes alone. So with the losing debate, he grabbed the guitar case with the notebook and headed back into Harry’s room.

Sophia hadn’t moved from Louis but now the slightly taller boy was rubbing her back in a soothing up and down motion, whispering senseless words in her ear that seemed to work because now the only sounds that were escaping Louis’s damn snot-covered shirt was quiet sniffles. Harry looked better, more relaxed and less irritable but he was still eternally struggling with something, which was probably the fact that Zayn was still trying to prompt the boss to eat and like before, he was still having none of it.

“Tastes like piss, I am not eating it. Wanker off and leave me alone.” Harry grumbled, turning carefully to lay back down. His facial expression blank but Liam wasn’t letting him off that easy. No, he needed to sit up for a little bit, dwelling in bed accomplishes nothing.

“Nu-uh, mate. We’re not doing that. You need to sit up for a little bit and if you told us what you wanted, we would make it. Well, Niall would but if you don’t give us any indication what you’d like to eat, we won’t know. We are many things my friend but mind readers is not one of the talents we possess. Now, since we have established you don’t like the soup, what would the boss like?” Zayn tried to lighten the mood some but Harry grunted, folding his arms across his chest again, looking down to his lap, his hands still shaking slightly. His body went through so much physical trauma and with how hard Damien whipped him, Liam wouldn’t be surprised if he caused the bloke slight nerve damage.

“For you to stop talking down to me like I’m two. I’d really like that. I’d also like for you to stop treating me like a child.” Harry replied honestly. He was used to being in charge and giving orders. With his position taken from him, he didn’t know what to do – which he suspected was Damien’s plan all along. To make him feel as helpless as Sophia.

“Okay, well, I’ll consider your request when you stop acting like one. We’re trying to help you, not bruise your ego. We have to help you to the bathroom because you can hardly stand let alone walk and it takes two of us because you lean all your weight on us when we do help and that turns into a two man job. I’m just saying, give up trying to be in control and let us handle everything, we’ve been doing pretty well for the past two days, considering.” Zayn finished with a shrug.

“Yeah but you’re idiots.” Harry replied honestly. He wasn’t saying it to be mean, he was just being truthful.

“No, just Niall.” Zayn argued, earning a snort from Louis.”

Niall rolled his eyes and came in further, stopping at the door so he could simply observe the group.

“I’m hoping I can redeem myself for the other day when I failed to stop Louis from going out nake –“Niall clamped his mouth shut and Louis looked at him wide eyed.

“Please tell me I didn’t climb the roof again?” He groaned, closing his eyes.

“Nope, you stripped naked, grabbed the car keys and wanted takeout from London this time.” Niall couldn’t help but chuckle.

Louis’s cheeks burned scarlet, which matched the line across his face perfectly.

“Niall, tell me I didn’t –please?” Louis practically begged.

Niall could have fun with this if he wanted but it would have been mean, even for Louis.

“No, you argued with Zayn and then couldn’t remember where the correct car was for the keys you grabbed, the alarm went off and you fell on your arse.” Niall explained, walking to them and sitting at the end of the bed.

Liam shook his head, adjusting himself so he could keep a better hold on Harry and balance himself.

“So that explains why I had dirt up my –“Louis began but didn’t finish the thought and Niall wasn’t interested in any mental pictures.

“ANYHOW! Long story short, Liam came out and asked how you were doing and then sedated you. I stayed with you all night until early morning before turning in.” Niall finished explaining.

Zayn looked from Harry to Sophia noticing they both appeared calm, Sophia almost asleep against Louis’s chest and Harry just looking to his lap mindlessly. Now would be a perfect time to leave.

“Haz? Are you sure there’s nothing you want us to pick up for you? Reading material, a TV? Takeout? You have awhile, Sophia might be out of bed in the next couple of days when she regains her strength but Damien got you real good this time.” Liam asked, making Harry look up at Zayn, a frown on his features. For some reason, he just didn’t care, he couldn’t do shit about it now anyhow.

“I don’t care, if you order takeout, order it for everyone. You know where the money is and if you go to Nandos, you know my usual.” Harry replied lowly.

Zayn nodded, smiling softly.

“We need to stop by the store while we’re there for our monthly shopping, do you have anything in mind specifically you want made for another time?” Liam asked.

“Pasta, grab a few bottles of wine, garlic bread. Some pheasant, cow meat. I don’t know, chicken? Chips? Crackers? Just buy out the whole bloody shop like we always do.” Harry glowered, becoming tired of the questions but he leaned forward and beckoned Zayn forward a little.

Zayn leaned in, Harry’s hand cupping over his ear whispering into it.

He nodded and patted Harry’s chest twice to let him know he understood.

“I’ll check it out, see if it’s still there. We’ll be back in a few, alright?” Zayn asked, feeling he should get Harry’s confirmation, just to make it seem like he was still in charge.

“Okay. Stay safe. Elliot Dawson’s gang is looking for us, so be careful.” Harry murmured.

Zayn nodded.

“We will, do you need a drink before we lay you back?” He asked kindly.

Harry nodded.

Liam reached over and grabbed the water bottle, handing it to Zayn.

Zayn took it and popped the cap open, bringing it towards Harry’s mouth but he turned his head away.

“I want to do it, I can at least hold a goddamn water bottle.” Harry grumbled, not meaning to be rude but he wanted to be independent.

The raven haired bloke didn’t argue, he respected Harry’s wishes, gripping Harry’s wrist gently and putting the water bottle into his hand, letting go of his wrist cautiously as he did so.

Harry grasped the flimsy plastic, his hold struggling to keep the water from shaking out. His shakes became worse and as he tried to take a drink, the bottle tumbled from his hand and if it weren’t for Zayn’s quick reflexes, the bed and himself would have been wet.

With a frustrated yell of mental anguish, he took the bottle, squeezing the life from it and tossed it against the far wall by the window with a thud. His lap damp with the excess water that was forced out from his grip.

“Harry –“Liam began but didn’t continue when his boss’s reserve finally cracked, a deep sob leaving his chest.

“Leave, just go!” Harry cried, turning to gently lay himself back on the bed. In his haste to hide his tears and weakness, he hadn’t even realized that he laid back on the bed without aide.

Niall stood up the same time as Zayn and Liam, deciding to give Harry his space. It was a hard few days for all of them and there wasn’t any point in making the situation worse.

They would leave their boss to his dwelling with his dignity intact. They’ve all been there, each and every one of them had a breaking point of weakness, and Harry had finally reached his. The only person who sat unmoving was Louis. He was waiting for the others to leave.

Niall wordlessly left the guitar by the edge of Sophia’s side of the bed, giving the notebook to Louis without another word spoken.

Louis nodded and tossed it beside them, watching the three caretakers exit the room, the door softly clicking closed behind them.

Setting Sophia down on her back, Louis went over to Harry’s side and sat beside him, running his fingers a few times through his hair before carefully setting the same hand on his shoulder, avoiding the bandaging.

“I’m not sure exactly what’s happening with you and I won’t pretend I do. I just worry this new change taking place will end up being the undoing for the rest of us. You are a strong person, Harry. Stronger before Ms. Stone came to the cabin, which, it’s not her fault because this change was a breath of fresh air but Damien is going to play on that. You got tortured, severely. Your body is healing, it is hurting but it is most assuredly healing, it’s just going to take time. The lads and I won’t judge you, this is simply a setback. It doesn’t make you weak. It makes you a victim of circumstances, like me,” Louis lectured, keeping his tone calm and his voice strong. He needed to get through to him. “I know you don’t want to hear this but –I think you need to reconsider the importance of your life as well as the rest of ours. Damien is a threat and we deal with threats the way they need dealt with. How long until he takes Sophia and rapes her beyond repair? How long until he takes a bullet and puts it to the back of one of our heads? He killed that Christian lad with absolutely no mercy. Sophia watched him die, she watched herself kill that boy to save him from suffering –what are you going to do when that’s one of us? Are we really that expendable to you?”

Harry’s cries had died down while he listened to Louis but his mind was foggy and he felt himself fading into tiredness fatigue.

“He’s still my father.” Harry whined with a croak, his deep voice for once, sounding unsure.

“Maybe so but a father doesn’t abuse his child to the point they are helpless and bed ridden. A father, from what I’ve seen will die to protect their own. Like I would die to protect you, like I would to protect Sophia. We may not all be here by choice but we are here by circumstance and Harry, if your gang is more willing to protect you than your own father, there is a time when you will have to choose who your real family is. As much as Zayn and Liam say that we aren’t a family, they’re right. Not in the traditional sense…but, nothing about this is traditional. Not in the underground at least.”

Harry curled into himself a little more, trying to get away from the thought of anything that involved his monster of a father.

“C-can we, can we –“Harry wasn’t sure how to phrase it but Louis seemed to.

“Sure, Hazza. We’ll talk about it later. Get some rest, you need it.” Louis understood, patting Harry’s shoulder, taking his hand from it and standing up; walking back over to Sophia.

“Can I get anything for you before I leave, luv?” Louis asked, reaching over and tucking her body underneath the comforter.

She shook her head no but reached towards the notebook Louis had left at the side. He wordlessly handed it to her, smiling softly.

“Next time Niall comes in, you should thank him. He hid the guitar from Damien – or, he cheated on his cleaning and did the junk under the bed routine he always does. I think the latter but, the guitar is beside you. So, in a sense, your brother is right here with you too. I hope it makes you feel not so alone.”

Sophia hugged the notebook tightly to her, tears of relief and sadness falling from her blue pools.

“Thank you.” She whispered, gingerly turning toward Harry, reaching her hand out to grasp his.

Louis didn’t say anything further he simply left the two to mourn their own losses. Harry with his independence and Sophia with Dylan and Christian. He couldn’t help them, he tried but he wasn’t so sure that in time, perhaps even a long space continuum from now that the two couldn’t in some way, help each other.

Notes