The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Narrator’s POV:

“NO!” Aiden exclaimed, using his arms to pull Sophie into his protection but that was all in vein because two guards subdued the struggling Aiden while another calmly pulled Sophie out into the ring.

“My apologies, Lady Sophie.” The guard apologized, moving to help his fellow mates to get Aiden under control.

“Please don’t harm him, I beg of you.” She gasped quietly, feeling lost. It was either fight Harry Styles or die. The choice wasn’t a hard one but she knew nothing of the lad – at best the only things that were told were just fables from fellow fighters from the guards that got to go home every night.

“SHE CAN’T FIGHT HIM! MURDERERS!” Aiden screamed before a piece of cloth was shoved into his mouth and tied taunt behind his head. His hands were zip tied behind him as his feet met the same fate.

Harry was glancing over at Aiden before looking out at the beautiful rugged girl that stood before his cage, unafraid.

In fact, she took it a step further and opened his door, reaching in to guide him out.

Harry shook his head no and backed away.

“I will not fight you.” He stated plainly, flinching when she sauntered forward and took his arm, guiding him into the ring.

“We haven’t a choice. Fight or die, you saw Louis. That isn’t the worst they can do.” Sophie hissed, but it wasn’t harsh. It was soft.

“I don’t want to fight you and everyone knows that Harry fucking Styles doesn’t do things he has no interest in doing.” Harry glowered, making Zayn roll his eyes.

“Mate? Damien says jump and you ask how high, don’t even -” Harry shut him up with a harsh look.

“You know what? I do feel like fighting. Come on out here, Zayn.” Harry enticed, making Zayn shake his head and lean up against the cage.

“Doesn’t work that way, you have to fight.” Zayn sided with Sophie.

Harry looked back at Sophie as the one guard who had apologized to the girl walked behind him and cut his ties off.

“Kick my ass because I’m not fighting you.” Harry folded his arms over his chest, the two opponents standing close together.

Like before with Matthew, Sophie smiled in her gentlest manner.

“I suppose we’re both dying then?” She asked, reaching out to Harry but he caught her hand with suspicion.

“I suppose we are.” Harry muttered, his eyes meeting Sophie’s soft brown orbs in the loud protests of the crowd. Every yell invaded his eardrums like a siren and he flinched, the spotlight of attention on the two of them.

“I’m okay with that.” Sophie nodded, glancing at Aiden. His body was on the ground of their prison, positioned on his knees in an execution style.

“I’m not.” Harry argued, his eyes glaring with such animosity that it slightly frightened her.

For a moment they simply faced off, keeping eye contact with one another to see which one would look away first. Surprisingly, Sophie didn’t. Instead, she let her hand travel up to Harry’s hair. A piece of it had come loose from its place. It was bothering her.

Once again, he caught her wrist.

“Just punch me and get it bloody over with. Stop trying to use the art of surprise. Nothing surprises me anymore.” He glowered glumly, again tossing her hand away as threats above them were shouted. They didn’t bother to respond. It was simply a waiting game.

Despite the situation, Sophie let herself laugh. These boys were so…unique.

“I’m not going to hit you, Harry. I’m – “She paused as she tried again, catching his wrist in a blink of an eye when he went to stop her again. “Trying to help.”

Harry looked down at Sophie, frowning. Her fingers ushered the piece of keratin from his aging face. He looked so much older than he was.

“It was bothering me. I do it all the time for Aiden.” She defended her actions, mostly because she was getting a rather pointed look from Harry. He was looking at her like she was a fly that was buzzing around him and not leaving him be.

“You shouldn’t treat your enemies so well, Lady Sophie. Some may actually think you care.” Harry taunted, practically hearing Zayn roll his eyes.

He was right.

“Now the lads and I are with without a sliver of doubt know that Harry Styles will be single for the rest of his days.” Zayn retorted, making Harry spin around.

“Just like you.” He argued back, making Zayn smirk.

“I can get a lass, mate.”

Harry’s hands balled into a fist.

“So could I!” He roared, stepping forward but was stopped by Sophie.

“Yeah, you have to kidnap them to keep them in the same room. I don’t think that counts.” Zayn chuckled, unmoving from his position against the mesh wiring.

“The fuck is your problem, asshole? You’ve been nothing but a git – “He started but was shushed.

Sophie drug him further away from his cage, a look of solemn depression on her face.

When they stopped she turned to him again.

“I have no enemies. Not where I’m going at least. Harry, I don’t want you to die any more than you do. I want you to do what I can’t. You have to fight me.” Sophie pleaded, bringing her hand to his cheek. The whole thing was far too familiar and he stopped her by putting his own hand over hers.

“I’m not killing you, Sophie. I – “Harry started but the tears became visible in the corner of the young girl’s face.

“Then we’re both going to die for nothing.” She said, her voice becoming thick with emotion. She was begging him.

Harry remained calm and simply shrugged.

“That’s life, luv. It won’t end with you or me gone. Why do you care so much? I’m a lowly gang member and you’re -” He paused, realizing he didn’t know a thing about the girl in front of him.

“I’m something, I’m nothing – I’m whatever you chose to see.” Sophie murmured, reaching up to wipe away her tears but it was Harry’s turn to return the favor. The look she wore reminded him so much of Sophia. His Sophia.

“I’m shapeless, nothing is felt when I’m touched but I’m essential to survive. What am I?” Harry asked, his lip curving up slightly.

“Air,” Sophie replied, sniffing to clear her nose. “I don’t get your analogy.” Her tired eyes scanning the animalistic crowd up above, demanding their heads. The guards stood at the ready but nothing else was done.

“Breathe.” Harry told her simply, wiping another tear from her face.

“How can you be so calm? Aren’t you afraid?” Sophia questioned, her voice dropping a few decibels.

Harry shook his head but his eyes gave him away.

“Liar.” She accused, her own worried ones looking over to Aiden.

“I could say the same about you, milady. I won’t but I could.” He bantered, slowly losing his nerve.

“I never denied I was scared, Sir Harry. Just – not in the way you would think,” She glanced at Aiden again before continuing. “My brother Jake and I were brought here when I was only so young. My life, it wasn’t great but could have been worse. My grandmother, a strict Catholic woman, disowned my mother when she was pregnant with me. My mother was homeless and my father wasn’t around. It would be a few years before we caught a break,” She reminisced, gazing up to the gang leader in front of her, ignoring the violence erupting around their very heads. “Long story short, my mother died not long after my brother’s birth. She was murdered and we were shipped to my grandmother. The woman loathed us for years until she met a man, a man with powerful connections. We were drugged while in our beds and woke up here.”

“I’m sorry.” Harry offered but she shook her head, leaned in and put her arms around him.

He tensed for a few seconds but slowly returned the hug.

“It’s not the dying part that scares me, Harry; it’s who you leave behind.” She reasoned, knowing he understood – being a leader to a gang that acted more like brothers than hardened criminals.

She waited for him to speak but he didn’t and she broke the hug.

“I want you to live, I want you to – “She tried again but he interrupted.

“No. I’m not killing – “He tried but she raised her voice over his.

“I’m not asking you to kill me, Harry! I’m asking you to release me. I’m asking you to set me free, to let me go home to my brother. That’s all I want and you’re the only person who understands. You have to understand at least some.” Sophie begged, her hands balling into fists, the material of his shirt crimping between her fingers.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE ROSTER! IN TEN MINUETS WE WILL HAVE A SHORT BREAK AND THEN EXECUTION HOUR WILL BEGIN! THAT’S RIGHT! TWO EXECUTION HOURS IN ONE MONTH! TAKE BETS ON HOW HIGH THEY SCREAM AND IF YOU GUESS RIGHT, YOU COULD WIN FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS! BETTING CAGES ARE NOW OPEN! The announcer interrupted, making Harry look above at the feet of rushing betters as they ran to the cages to place their bets.

Harry gently released her fingers from his prisoner uniform.

“Suppose we don’t have to worry about it now, luv. They seem to have gotten the message.” He shrugged, hearing a groan from his cage. He recognized it as Louis’s.

He went back to it and looked in to see Louis waking up.

“Hey, Lou? You alright?” He asked with concern, meeting Zayn’s eyes with a frown. “Keep an eye on him, yeah? We need to make sure – “Harry started ordering but Zayn moved to the front of the cage, stepping over Louis’s legs to meet Harry face to face.

“You know this is all your fault, don’t you? Louis wanted to initiate rescue and I stupidly went with it. Now, Broker is dead, Sophia is missing and us? We’re going to fucking DIE here because somehow Damien never got the signal. You went into London knowing full well Elliott Dawson was after us. Worst of all? You endangered Sophia. She’s a captive in the hands of a sociopathic monster and you’re standing here giving ME orders? Fuck you, asshat.” Zayn seethed, his eyes angry.

“Perhaps it could have been handled better but you need to watch Louis. I need to make sure the both of you are safe until rescue comes.” Harry counteracted, his voice calm but stern.

“Rescue won’t be coming but I’m glad you still have faith of that notion.” Zayn glared, turning away from their leader and kneeling down next to Louis. “Lou? Come on mate – wake it up.”

Harry didn’t hear Sophie’s footsteps but he felt her hand on his shoulder.

“Harry?” She questioned softly, making him turn with a sigh.

“I’m not releasing you either God damn it. I swear, you and Sophia are both the bloody same.” He huffed, making Sophie smile.

“You have a gentlewoman of your own, Sir Harry?” She questioned, going toward her own cage and kneeling down so she was eyelevel with her beloved.

“No, Sophia and I are the furthest thing from together,” Harry answered, straightening his back and clearing his throat tensely. “She’s a former hostage and relationships cannot happen between us without one of us getting hurt and I don’t have those kind of feelings for her. She’s a convenience – nothing more.”

Sophie’s smile fell a little bit.

“Perhaps she is more and you are too prideful to admit that aloud to a stranger?” She challenged but with the anger that clouded over Harry’s face – it was best not to justify his words.

“She is comparable to Niall – our cook…well, unofficial cook. God, I miss his cooking.” Harry muttered but kept his attention to the young fawn in front of him. “Sophia is special in her own way. She has a light that shines enough so that we aren’t so shrouded in the darkness as we were before but she is just another member. Nothing more, nothing less.” He shrugged.

Sophie nodded and reached her hand into the metal mesh of Aiden’s containment, touching the young bloke on his face. This caused him to look up from the ground, tears staining down his cheeks.

“My love.” She spoke, her shaking hand held steady by placing it against Aiden’s face.

Aiden closed his eyes and leant against her touch, processing it into a memory that only he would remember.

“We both knew that this day would come – “She paused, realizing her beloved would not look at her. “Aiden? Please look at me.” She pleaded, her tears slowly making their way down toward the ground.

Aiden let his beautiful orbs follow to hers and if he could, he would have smiled. Even in their saddest moments – she was his light as much as Sophia was Harry’s.

“Aiden? I have loved you since that night I awoke to find you knelt over me. The day you told me where I was…the day you taught me to survive. The day you kissed me. I have loved you through it all – but now you have to let me go. I’m ready to go home now. I want to go home. I want to see my mum and my brother, I miss them Aiden – and I’m tired. I am so tired of fighting, darling. I don’t want to fight anymore; I want you to do it for me.”

Harry listened to her confess her peace, Aiden’s chest heaving heavily with muffled sobs.

“When we say goodbye, it isn’t forever. It’s only for a little while until we see the ones we love again. When we say farewell, we expect the ones we say that to, to take care of themselves while we are away. I’m not leaving you forever, Aiden. I’m just going away for a while. I need you to understand. I know I said I would try…but I have no reason to go on anymore,” She told him truthfully. “I love you with my entire soul, Aiden, but I need my family. I need to go home so they’re not lonely. Even if we got out of here – by some miracle of God; you know we would never have a normal life. Not after everything we’ve done and not after what we’ve been through ourselves” Sophie explained, looking up to Harry.

“They’re going to torture me until I die. Until I beg for death and I want to leave with my dignity. If you have even an ounce of mercy in you, Harry – then release me!” Sophie begged, standing slowly to her full height again.

Harry shook his head and backed away, looking at Aiden’s murderous glare. Sophie caught it too.

“When I am gone, Aiden – you need to forgive our trespasses. Your heart will be far less heavy. I love you as much as one possibly can love another human being inside the confines of a cage and as much as we physically are able to being chained down but it isn’t enough anymore. I want to be free…I want to stop being afraid.”

Her words were so truthful in nature that all Harry could do was continue to listen.

“I just have one regret.” She told Aiden, his panicked eyes silently questioning her statement.

She took a deep breath, glancing around to make sure they weren’t about to be manhandled by guards, it looked like they were busy breaking up fights at the betting cages. So she took a breath to calm herself.

“That we never had a dance. Remember we tried to dance in our cell and our legs kept getting tied up in our shackles?” Her voice trailed off, choking on the air that had heavily settled in around her.

Aiden hesitated but nodded, twisting his wrists around to try and snap the zip ties. Unfortunately, they were fully secured.

“I wish we could have that chance again. I just want to remember what it was like to be free. It’s been so long since I felt the sun.” She remarked, forcing a smile and leaning inward when Aiden’s forehead pressed against the door in defeat.

She gave it a gentle kiss.

“This isn’t goodbye, love. It’s simply -a temporary parting.” Her words were struggling to keep up their upbeat charade. She was afraid and Harry could tell.

With a sigh – because he had a strong feeling he would live to regret this; he walked forward a step and held out a hand.

“I’m not Aiden but -if you are certain of what you truly want, milady…then, may I have this dance? It would be an honor.” Harry spoke, eyeing Aiden for silent permission.

Aiden didn’t glance his way but a silent nod was given. There was no way he would be able to hold or guide her. The guards would have to remove the plastic ties to his hands and feet and he knew as well as anyone that wouldn’t happen. So he granted Harry the honor.

Sophie saw the nod and looked up at the leader of the most feared gangs in London. Somehow, she didn’t see the threat that others have. He looked out of his elements and out of place in a place like this.

“You can dance, Sir Harry? I would not have guessed.” Sophie smiled but it was weary.

Harry chuckled despite himself.

“I know a few moves; best to hurry though – the time we have is not very long and we’ve spent most of it in argument.” He ushered, her hand settling into his.

He pulled her up with gentleness and put his other hand on her shoulder. She copied the same stance, while keeping their one hand interlinked.

Harry moved forward, turning around to step in time with the tune in his head. He hummed the soft music that he often hears. It was a song lost from days long past.

“I’m so lonesome I could cry.” Sophie sung when he was just getting to that part, her voice and his hum coming in perfect unison with the constant instruments that helped to keep their steps steady. He pulled her one hand up and fragilely spun her outward, her feet turning effortlessly and stepping freely into the dirt.

The other prisoners were silent, each one taking in the scene before them and some even smiling. It was no secret that Sophie wanted to be a dancer and perform for the crowds – now she accomplished that. Sadly, it was her first and last.

Knowing this sent another frown on her face, making Harry stop his humming but not his movements. He guided her back into him and they both spun forward, keeping their steps in time with the others.

“You’re still sad. Why so, milady?” Harry asked, his charming voice curious but in his heart – deep down, he knew a simple dance would not cheer up the damned soul of the young woman before him.

“Because I have to say goodbye. I want to say goodbye but I don’t want to leave.” She explained, her eyes quickly glancing to the far left of the arena to watch the guards.

“You wish they would come back, wish for one last hug and smile.” Harry nodded in understanding.

Sophie mimicked the nod but didn’t believe Harry was capable of feeling that way.

“Something I don’t imagine you would feel?” She questioned, smiling when his strong arm slithered between her shoulder blades and gave her a dip backwards, their faces close but she wasn’t Sophia. She was Sophie and she was Aiden’s.

“I never said I couldn’t relate to you, luv. Truth be told? I miss my mum every single day. I was taken from her when I was thirteen but the one thing you don’t do around Damien Crow Styles is complain about it.” Harry shrugged nonchalantly, bringing her upright and increasing his steps so they were moving in full circles – like a prince guiding a princess across the ballroom. It was a very elegant dance and it was one he would have to teach Sophia for the upcoming ballroom assassination they would be doing – if Harry got out of this fucked up hell in time.

“You are quite the dancer, Sir Harry. Thank you.” She smiled, her vibrant aqua irises shining through their sadness while they quietly stopped back in front of their respective cages.

“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Sophie. You are quite beautiful, inside and out. Aiden is a lucky chap to have found someone such as you.” Harry complimented sincerely.

“As I am sure the same could be spoken about your gentlewoman, Sir Harry.” She curtsied slightly, breaking away from the gang leader.

He bowed his head with a smile, having enjoyed the dance. It didn’t feel threatening and if made the lass in front of him happy – there was nothing to truly regret…except one thing.

“I’m almost positive if she were here that she would disagree wholeheartedly. She was my hostage, love tends to be harder to come by in that respect,” He told Sophie with a chuckle, taking her hand and turning it so her knuckles were facing upward before placing a gentle kiss. “I am only sorry I can do nothing else for you. My orders stem from Damien. If I don’t have to kill, I don’t. I’m a monster but I’m a well-trained monster as they say.”

Sophie nodded and stepped forward, placing a friendly kiss on Harry’s cheek.

“Perhaps your reputation exceeds you, milord. I don’t see a monster when I look at you; I see a young bloke who only tends to want to belong. As does anyone on this earth and I have no doubt that you will one day find your place. You just have to break away from those whom are false influences.” She smiled before going into her cage and closing the door, dropping to the floor beside her beloved and removing his gag. He had calmed down and simply knelt there in submission.

“My beloved,” Sophie whispered softly, hugging onto Aiden tightly and kissing his tearstained cheek. “I love you so much, my gentle prince.”

Aiden didn’t respond at first but the loud sob to accompany the intake of air told Harry that he was devastated.

Instead of gawking at the couple, he went back into his own cage and knelt down next to Louis, removing his gag and patting his back.

“You did well today, Lou. I’m proud of you.” Harry praised, his voice keeping an air to it but Louis could definitely hear the sincerity in the gang leader’s words.

“I’m hardly able to walk, H. I ran like a coward and I didn’t fight – Damien would be disappointed.” Louis croaked, feeling Harry adjust him so he was comfortably leaning against the wire mesh.

“Who cares? You’re a lot braver than any of us, lad.” Harry shrugged, squeezing Louis’s shoulder.

“Speak for yourself.” Zayn muttered, making Harry glare up at him.

He stood up, grabbing Zayn by the shirt collar.

“Go ahead and repeat that, Achmed.” Harry challenged, making Zayn glower at him.

“I guess you’re deaf, dumb and stupid mate, because I said; speak. For. Yourself.” He drawled, spacing each word out slowly so Harry wouldn’t miss the jab.

Harry forced Zayn against the metal mesh and making it vibrate from the force.

“What the fuck is your problem, Zayn? Hmm? You nor Louis hadn’t any obligation to come and rescue me. You were best under Damien’s protection! Now you’re stuck – bloody hell, I’m stuck! The bloody fucking hell do you expect me to do, Malik? Huh? Because I’m powerless. I can do nothing; I have no pull here!” Harry exclaimed, pulling him forward and then pushing him back again so his skin was indenting into the metal.

“We were starving, Harry! Damien refused us food and even littler water. We got desperate to escape and Louis knew Broker would most likely be able to help. He knew the cage; he knew the history,” Zayn panted, groaning when Harry moved his face toward his own, the jaded green monster showing so clearly in the reflection of his leader’s eyes.

“Yes and now Broker is dead. My friend – our friend, is dead because you two didn’t stay away. He’s dead because of us. You should have done what I did during times of forced fasting. I would sneak whatever food I could find that Damien wouldn’t know about or forgot we had. Some of it would be expired by three years but – “Zayn interrupted Harry was a scowl and gritted teeth.

“We did! We were eating infant food for Christ sakes! Niall and Liam would make it for the child dolls and they would make us extra so we could at least keep up our strength. When we met up with Broker, we had eight or nine baskets of fish and chips. I never felt so starved in my whole bloody life. Your father is a monster!” Zayn growled, making Louis clear his throat to get the arguing gang members attention.

“I hate to break up this husband and wife quarrel of who has the bigger cock but– we’re about to get some visitors and they don’t look like they’re stopping by for a cup of tea.” Louis nodded outward with a flinch, making Harry release Zayn.

“This isn’t over, Zayn. We will talk about this lat – “Harry was interrupted by the guards ripping open his and Sophie’s cages at the exact same time.

Ouch pulled out Aiden while the guard from earlier grabbed Sophie.

Harry only got a quick glance at the guard before he himself was forced out and down onto his knees.

When he blinked, Jinx Kaiser was standing in front of the three prisoners with a fuming expression etched across his normally handsome face.

“I have NEVER been so humiliated. Dancing? You’re supposed to be fighting! EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!” Jinx fumed, hauling back and letting the back of his hand strike Sophie’s face when they all kept silent.

Harry tensed and made to stand up but was pushed back down by his assailant behind him.

Jinx’s attention caught the movement and he smiled.

“Your father is watching. I wonder how embarrassed he is to have a son who would not fight a girl. A girl so fucking weak and useless that even a mentally challenged halfwit would have been able to beat her.” Jinx sneered and let his hand fly across the young girl’s face again, this time making her cry out.

“Do that again and you will be sorry.” Aiden growled, struggling against his captors.

Jinx turned on him with a laugh and balled his hand into a fist before letting it swing.

Aiden grunted, feeling the strike across his cheek, which in turn made Sophie gasp.

“You are a monster! Let Aiden go, he hasn’t anything to do with what Harry and I did. Harry refused to fight me and I would have welcomed the death he would have been merciful enough to give. So kill me! GO ON, ASSHOLE! Bloody KILL ME!” Sophie screamed in a challenge, growling when all Jinx did was snap his fingers.

“Gag them, will you? Make sure you do it proper; I do not want a single syllable allowed through their mouths. The two in the cage as well.” Jinx ordered, seeing the guards take out different colored cloths and forcefully pull the material into and around their heads, their protests muffled.

When the gags were securely tied taunt, Ouch went into the cage where the two other lads were restrained.

Louis didn’t move when Ouch bent down with the same sadistic smile as this morning on his face.

“You have such a beautiful mouth, pretty boy. It’s even better when it’s - ” He started to taunt, making Louis look at him tiredly as he cut the older bloke off.

“Ya know what? Just do it, mate. I’m too tired to argue with your dumbass.” Louis cocked back as Ouch obliged and nearly choked Louis in the process.

Louis felt the material sit tight around his head, pushing his flesh inward from the tautness.

“Better. You have a pretty face, Tomlinson but it’s even prettier without your constant talking.” Ouch smiled and slapped his cheek.

Louis added a muffled ‘fuck off’ but was ignored while the guard’s attention went to Zayn.

“Achmed.” He greeted, making Zayn grit his teeth.

“Asshole.” Zayn counteracted back, feeling a punch to his cheek for the trouble.

His body landed down beside Louis. Louis gave a slightly questionable expression, watching Ouch ball his hands in and out of fists. Kneeling down with a different colored piece of cloth, he pulled the ends tight and forced the middle of it into Zayn’s mouth.

“You have fight, lad. I think you’re going to fit into The Cage without a problem.” Ouch told Zayn, knotting the material to the back of his head, patting him on the face when he was done.

Harry gritted his teeth against the cloth and silently glanced up toward Jinx, his own jaded greens hot with temper.

“I’m going to educate you in case you didn’t hear the announcer,” Jinx smirked, kneeling down directly in front of Harry and taking his hair with a rough pull.

Harry winced at his burning scalp.

“You will participate in execution hour. You didn’t want to kill Sophie? That’s fine my lad, you will be the reason she screams. The reason she bloody begs for death. If you don’t, I will have the same done to Louis and Zayn. If cooperation isn’t given, Aiden will torture you and kill his beloved. If that isn’t accomplished – you all die.” Jinx Kaiser laughed, reaching his hand over and using one of his fingers to bop Harry on the tip of his nose. “Such a cute kid, I remember – what happened?” He taunted with a shake of his head, standing up and whispering to one of the closest guards.

The guard nodded and hauled Sophie to her feet.

Aiden went to lunge but the other guards were on him faster than Harry could blink.

“Get the Styles prince to his feet and lead him in that direction, they’re our first participants.” Ouch ordered, staring at Aiden with a cruel smile. “As for Deprave here – throw him back in his cage. We’ll see how well Styles can make a lass scream…because if he can’t…” Ouch trailed off knowingly, winking at Aiden.

Aiden tried to attack Ouch but with his hands and feet bound, he was as helpless as a kitten.

“Now, now Aidey; it’s not my fault Jinx didn’t let you make your girlfriend scream but I can promise you that from what I know about Styles – he hardly fails at that job.” Ouch laughed cruelly, watching Aiden being drug back to his cage and thrown in with a grunt.

“Come on boys, we got to go help Sophie and Harry get settled in. They’re the first guests of honor after all.” Ouch motioned, following where the two prisoners had been forcefully drug.

One of the guards hesitated, standing by Aiden’s cage, his eyes conflicted.

In the end though he ran after them, his hands clenched to his sides.

Up ahead he saw Styles stiffen, his eyes up towards the audience.

“DMM!” Harry exclaimed, seeing Damien watch the scene with absolute disgust.

Damien met Harry’s eyes and shook his head, motioning out a hand before turning away without any other form of expression.

DMM! DM!” He panicked, trying to move forward but was violently restrained from doing so.

E watched his father leave. His father stood up and calmly walked away without a blink or indication that he was sending rescue. Had he fucked it up? Had he fucked up their chance?

DMM! FM – DAMM!” Harry screamed as loud as the gag would let him, a small tear falling from the corner of his eye but that was all he could manage. He still held out hope.

Damien had watched Louis fight Sawdust and Harry ‘fight’ Sophie. Both were disappointing where challenges went. Louis ran away and Harry – Harry was a disgrace to everything the Styles name stood for but he had already known that since Harry was thirteen. He would always be the weakest one out of them.

Damien kept walking towards the exit, walkie-talkie to his mouth.

“This is Damien Styles to base. Come in base.” He ordered, taking his finger off the button and waiting for their reply.

Ten seconds…eleven seconds…twelve –

“This is base, status on Styles Jr and party? Initiation on The Cage twenty minutes out.” Base responded but Damien came back right away.

“Belay that. Rescue mission aborted until further notice. My son needs a right lesson; we will regroup in the near future. Perhaps the time allowed will let Jarry grow a pair. Groups six, nine and twenty-seven – meet me back at the Playhouse for further instructions.”

Another pause.

“Aye sir – but do you think it’s wise to keep them there? Jinx is not a fair player.” One voice boomed over the walkie-talkie, making Damien chuckle and reply with equal amusement.

“Let me worry about Jinx Kaiser. He isn’t a worry and Harry is in no immediate danger. I know what’s good for my son and this will help him in later endeavors. Conversation belayed. Damien over and out.” Damien spoke, quickly finding his car in the full parking lot and speeding away with a satisfied smirk.

Notes