The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Narrator’s POV:

Louis helped steady Sophia, her weak body leaning heavily into his for support while Zayn expertly pulled a silk nightgown down her thinning body, the material elegantly stopping at just above her knees.

“There you are, lass; all clean and proper.” Zayn nodded in approval, his one arm moving to her legs and the other to her back, scooping her up so Louis could regain his own bearings.

“Thanks, mate. I’ll be in, in a second. Get her laying down and comfortable. I got to call Harry and fill him in on what’s going on, see what he wants us to do regarding her and the Deprave brothers.” Louis said, stepping out the same time Zayn did.

“Right-o.” Zayn nodded, turning to go back into the prisoner’s room, Sophia’s body laying slack in his arms.

“Tell Harry to come back.” Sophia murmured to Louis, her and Zayn already disappearing into the room.

Louis popped an eyebrow over the odd statement, but took his phone out and dialed Harry’s number.

It rand twice before a loud scream could be heard coming from the other end.

“What?” Harry’s gritted voice spoke through the other line, making Louis smirk.

“I see someone’s having some fun. Anyhow, I wanted to fill you in on the happenings going on. Lily and the Deprave gents are leaving around 11:50PM, the last ferry into Ireland, just as you requested.” Louis spoke, making sure to keep his conversation quiet so Sophia didn’t hear.

“Good, what of Sophia? Has she made her decision – I mean…” Harry trailed off, the screaming getting further away.

Louis scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“About that, I haven’t told her. Harry, I don’t think it’s a good idea- “Louis was cut off.

“I don’t care.” Harry stated flatly, making Louis groan.

“You know what will happen, right? A little thing called death and it’s not just you, mate. We’re talking all of us, if she chooses to – “Louis tried to convince Harry, but he knew once the lad’s mind was made up, there was no going back.

“I know.” Harry hummed, not letting Louis finish.

Louis gritted his teeth but spoke nothing further, instead, he decided to change subjects.

“Sophia says to come back, there seems to be something she wants to discuss with you that she will not discuss with the rest of us.” Louis informed their leader, looking over to the prisoner’s room – well, Sophia’s room for the time being.

“How is she doing overall?” Harry questioned, his footsteps pacing back and forth.

“Well, for starters? She hasn’t been eating much and has seemed to have lost weight. I’m also concerned about the deep contusions she has picked up while in captivity. I think Elliott did something if I’m being completely honest here and there’s a lot of damage done to her body that is now just starting to fade. You saw her fingers, didn’t you? They look like twisted, deformed witch limbs.” Louis replied, leaning his body against the walls, his voice dropping even lower. “Harry, mate, she has bruises in the shape of handprints on her hips and around her frontal vulva. From what I can see? They looked recent.”

He heard Harry punch a hard surface in frustration.

“Has she made mention of them? Is her menstrual cycle normal, not late? If it was sexual and unprotected, there might be a problem.” Harry muttered, almost worriedly.

“That’s the thing, she won’t tell us what happened. I can ask her about her…uh, actually, Liam can, I don’t – “Louis hated he was getting flustered over girly things, it’s not like he hadn’t seen womanly products and had even had to pick up sanitation napkins for Sophia before, but asking a girl about it outright was not Louis’s forte.

“Just get as many details as you can, if you can. Hell, we may have a few pregnancy tests laying around, have her take one for peace of mind.” Harry murmured.

“Why would you care if it gave her peace of mind?” Louis snorted, frustration pooling from his tone.

“More so my peace of mind than hers.” Harry quipped with the same frustration.

“Yeah, because it’s always about you, isn’t it?” Louis muttered, walking out into the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of water, the fridge door closing with a slam.

“Just…take care of her, huh? Make sure she eats and I’ll be back to you all as soon as I can. I just want to make sure she’s not in harm’s way, because as it stands right now? Damien wants us back at the playhouse for a debriefing and our new assignment. From what I understand after that, we can go home.”

Louis groaned in misery at returning to that torturous place.

“I know, Lou, but we don’t have a choice.” Harry spoke sternly.

“There’s always a choice, but I’m not getting into that with you again. I’ve got more important things to do. Liam is about to fix Sophia’s fingers, I don’t trust Sadistic not to turn her into one of his dolls and Damien had made mention of it. I’m not risking the chance.” Louis blurted out sternly, listening to Harry’s quiet breath on the other end.

It took a moment for him to respond, his brain probably trying to decipher Louis’s words.

“Damien never – “Harry started, but Louis interrupted him.

“Yeah, Harry. Damien has made mention of it. A few times, actually. If you can’t take my word for it, ask Liam, Zayn or Niall. They’ve heard him and Sadistic discussing details.” Louis quipped, gripping his phone into a fist.

“Liam is a good doctor, I trust him. Just make sure you take care of her and I will see you all when I come back. It should be no later than two days; Damien wants to see me after my business with Lucilius is finished.” Harry let him know.

Louis nodded, before rolling his eyes.

“Alright, Hazza. Good luck. I got everything under control here and I will make sure your princess is guarded, protected and in another castle.” He retorted with a snicker, earning him an unseen glare.

“She’s not a princess and I’m most certainly not a prince. Goodbye, Louis.” Harry said, the phone disconnecting the call straight after.

Louis shut his phone.

“How rude. Fine, he can be the ogre and I’ll be the prince.” Louis smirked, turning around and walking into Sophia’s room.

She was laying on her back with a blue blanket on top of her, her bad hand laying uselessly at her side and her good one on her chest.

Liam was sitting on her left side and Zayn was on her right side, standing above her.

“How is he?” Sophia asked softly, her eyes meeting Louis’s.

The silence in the room was peaceful, each member completing a job that they were supposed to follow.

“He’s good, flower. Says he hopes you feel better and that he needs to know a few things. Will you answer them for him?” Louis asks, coming to sit at the edge of the bed, reaching over and taking her good hand in comfort.

“What are they?” Sophia asked, her eyes nearly closed. She was tired from the pain medication.

“He wants to know what Elliott did to you and if you were raped.” Louis asked bluntly, feeling her hand tense against his touch. It was silent in the room, save for Liam getting things ready to reset her hand and Niall sitting in the chair behind Zayn.

“Way to be subtle, mate.” Zayn rolled his eyes, the honey dew browns lightening in a twinge of sympathy when he remembered the bruising to her private areas.

“Subtlety doesn’t get us answers, Zayn. Harry needs to know if she was raped so we can find out if she’s pregnant and then arrange for a termination if need be.” Louis continued unaffected, but Sophia gasped and pulled her hand from Louis’s.

“I won’t abort any child, you’re cruel. You all are!” Sophia cried, looking half panicked, which in turn caused Louis to backtrack.

“I meant – I didn’t mean…oh for the love of a drunk elf, I didn’t mean…I meant, oh fuck me anyhow!” Louis yelled, getting up and pacing.

Liam stepped in to calm the situation.

“Angel? If you’re late with your period, we might need you to take a test. Can you remember the last time your menstrual cycle was?” Liam tried to help, wiping some of the tears away from her frightened eyes, his own brown ones etched in concern.

“I don’t know. I’ve been asleep. I know I haven’t had one in a while, but it could just be stress.” She reasoned shakily.

“It could and with the abuse your body has suffered it most likely is, but we need to know for sure. We’ll try tomorrow morning after surgery.” Liam calmed her, picking up a device she hadn’t seen before.

The metal instrument curved slightly, the edges of it were thick and heavy.

“This is a graston. It, when the edges are pressed down and jerked up, will break your fingers. I’m hoping when I reset them, that when I use this, it will break where the deformation starts.” Liam explained, watching Louis cringe, slowly going to sit down on the bed beside her again.

Sophia wouldn’t meet his eyes this time, instead she focused on Liam.

“Can I stay awake for it?” Sophia asked softly, her stare almost pleading.

Liam began shaking her head, even before the question was completely out.

“Absolutely not. What I’m doing is very delicate. I pull wrong and I could injure you. I don’t want to do that.” Liam reasoned, taking a small syringe from the pile of items.

Sophia scooted away slightly, a little more than upset.

“How am I supposed to be strong, if I can’t have a chance to prove it? Let me stay awake, numb me, I know you could do that!” Sophia argued.

Liam closed his eyes and let out a breath, Louis pulled at the tips of his hair, Niall leant his elbows on his knees to get a better look at the scene with a more than curious look and Zayn folded his arms over his chest to see how this would play out.

“Angel? If I was awake for something like this? I would be screaming for my dead mum. Let’s just – “Liam tried, but Sophia shook her head stubbornly.

“No. I want to stay awake, I want to watch, I’m tired of not being a part of anything that goes on around here and I am DAMN tired of always being knocked out! Get that needle away from me before I take it and shove it up your –“

“Sophia! Hey! Now that’s enough.” Zayn stepped in, sitting down and stopping her hand from making a grab at the sedative.

“Jesus, what’s gotten into you? Relax!” Louis tried to calm, only for her to turn on him with as much venom.

“Says the gent with the abortion fetish! Don’t tell me to calm down! I AM CALM!” Sophia yelled, making Liam hold his hands up in surrender, the needle still perched tightly in it.

“Okay, okay, shhh.” Liam shushed, glancing at Louis.

Louis scratched his scalp, huffing under his breath to find a way to defuse the blowup.

“Okay, let’s all calm down. Sophia? Why do you want to stay awake? Do you really fancy watching Liam break your bones? Because when he starts working, the rest of us are leaving. Because I’ll be truthful, I don’t have the stomach to watch it.” Louis admitted.

“I want to prove I can handle it. I want to be strong, I want to be an equal in the group, I am in this group, yeah?” Sophia asked, slipping her hand from out of Zayn’s.

Zayn sighed and moved his hand up to Sophia’s black locks, seeing her red roots showing through as he tucked a piece behind her ear.

“You are, love. You are a huge part of this group, but you’re not helping us. We need to be able to tell Harry on your progress and you’re not letting us help. We just want to help; Louis didn’t mean anything by what he said. You will of course get a choice if you are pregnant, but for every decision that is made, there is a consequence that follows.” He gently explained to her, taking her hand again.

This time she didn’t fight him. Instead, she turned her head to the ceiling, a defeated look crossing her features.

“I never asked for this though. I never asked for any of this. I never asked to be kidnapped, I never asked to lose my family. Hell, I never asked to be raped and yet, it still keeps happening. When will it be enough? When I fall onto my knees and beg for death? When I finally reach a breaking point and slash my own wrists open? Tell me? When will it be enough until everyone is satisfied? What do you gents want from me? What can I do in this group that’s even remotely useful if you’re always sheltering me?” Sophia questioned, tears now forming at the corner of her eyes.

Louis and Zayn shared a look, one that was a silent conversation between the two.

“Who did this to you, Sophie? Who hurt you?” Niall spoke up, standing from his chair to sit down besides Zayn on the other side. It was getting to be a full bed with all four of them around her, but they were in fact only trying to provide comfort.

“Blade, Smith – a few others I don’t remember. A few that could have taken advantage of me while I was knocked out. I don’t know. I just know I’m tired of being a toy. I want to have meaning in this life I’ve been thrown into and I can’t even have control over my own decisions.” Sophia sighed, almost in defeat.

“And if there is a chance that you are pregnant? What of the child’s life? Would you still be able to love them? Knowing they were a product of forced conception?” Louis reasoned, glancing at Liam and giving him a small nod, his hand going to gently wipe the girl’s tears away.

Sophia looked upwards, her stare at the ceiling for a few tense moments, the sound of the cap disconnecting from the sedative.

“I’m not my father and the baby is not evil. No one is born evil, are they? Not even you, Louis. Not Harry – not Zayn, Niall or Liam…” She trailed off, her stare going to Liam’s brown ones.

“I’m not evil, lass. I’m different and so are you. In time you will see that, but that day is not today.” Louis reasoned, taking her hand, Zayn reaching and holding down her broken one.

Sophia took in a breath, feeling the small pinch on her forearm.

“Then make me stronger. Show me how to defend myself and win. I’m tired of being weak.” She murmured, knowing the drug would take effect soon.

Zayn nodded before patting her hand.

“You will outshine all of us one day, dove. Just wait and see.”

Sophia let out a small breath looking to her gang, each wearing a circle of subtle emotion around their eyes.

“Only a fool believes they are invincible. I suppose I am in some way the fool.” Sophia murmured, feeling her eyes getting heavy.

“Nah, Louis is the fool in this group. You, lass? Well, you are the survivor. Only someone who has that invincibility mindset ever makes it. You just have to know your limit.” Niall smiles, his hand going to her foot and patting it.

Sophia let out a mumbled response, fighting the drug that was now coursing through her system.

“I am shapeless, nothing is felt when I am touched, but I am essential to survive; what am I?” Zayn asked, looking down with admiration on the strong willed girl.

“Air.” Sophia replied, her eyes squinting open.

Zayn smiles.

“Smart as paint, lass. Now breathe it in and breathe it out. Just let yourself go, Sophia. I promise, it will be better when you wake up.” Zayn said, his hand preening her hair back comfortingly.

Sophia let out a small whimper, but otherwise nodded.

“Will she wake up before ‘er friends are sent off?” Niall questioned, watching Liam inject the second shot into her arm.

“Should be. Kinda need Flower to go with me anyway. Harry thought it might be better for her closure if she knew that her friends were alright and not dead in a creek somewhere. Can’t say I blame her, given our track record but Harry said that in order to receive trust, we must first give a reason for trust…or something like that. I tune him out a lot, he tends to drag his lectures over the fire and burn my arse with them anyhow,” Louis chuckles, taking one last look at the sleeping girl and standing up. “Since I was only here for entertainment purposes, I shall resume my place somewhere that is not here.”

Zayn stood up to follow.

“If it begins with an M and ends in an A, count me in.” Zayn interjects, going to follow him out, but Louis turned, placing his hand on the other lad’s chest.

“Actually, it begins in an E and ends in an A. Esmerelda is waiting for my long return and I really don’t want to disappoint her. Go find your own girl, mate and leave me to my own.” Louis chuckled.

“I thought Harry threw Esmerelda into the fire?” Zayn couldn’t help but laugh at the complete amusement on his fellow friend’s face.

“It took a lot of searching, dark magic and what not, but I managed to resurrect her from the dead and if you breathe a word of that to the Puritan, I will kill you. Now, excuse me. Little Louis needs some stimulation that doesn’t involve being kicked or scared shitless and Esmerelda has been patiently waiting.” Louis saluted, the look on his fellow group’s faces a priceless one.

Zayn searched his pockets for his lighter, deciding to partake in a little recreation of his own.

“Alright, well, if there’s nothing to be done here; I’m off to Oz. I’ll be back in a few hours.” Zayn smirked, waving the last two gang members off in the room before heading towards the marijuana plant that Louis and him shared.

Liam turned toward Niall.

“I suppose you will be going to the kitchen?” Liam asked him, reaching for Sophia’s hand and positioning it down to his lap, the graston placed just under the deformed limb, he slowly started adding pressure to it.

“I can stay.” Niall shrugged, watching Liam suddenly jerk and twist the bone upwards.

The bone separated with a sickening crack and Niall’s pale skin became slightly paler.

“Uh – “Niall stumbled, Liam’s eyebrow cocked up.

“Niall?” Liam questioned, setting the tool up higher on the same finger, slowly adding pressure again.

“Y-yeah?” Niall swallowed the bile, looking up at the doctor.

“Go to the kitchen.” Liam nodded out the door, pulling violently upwards again.

After the second crack, Niall didn’t have to be told twice. He practically ran out the door, leaving Liam alone, much to the doctor’s relief.

“Alright, angel – let’s get you fixed and good as new, yeah?” He questioned the unconscious girl, taking her finger and pressing down, carefully trying to align the bones together.

*

Harry knelt down to Jinx’s level, their eyes meeting in a silent stare down.

“So, Lucilius didn’t kill you, huh?” He asked rhetorically, his head tilted slightly to the side. Like a curious puppy dog.

“No, I assumed you would want the pleasure yourself, nephew.” Lucilius smirked, coming into view, his footsteps silent as he strolled in and leant on the edge of the door.

“Oh, I want the pleasure alright, but what’s the occasion?” Harry chuckled, grabbing Jinx’s face and forcing him to look the green eyed leader in the face.

Jinx let out a muffled grunt, tightening his resistance against his restraints while holding an unwavering glare.

Lucilius hummed out a short breath of happy birthday, mixing it in with a small rendition of silent night a few bars in.

“Call it a belated Christmas and birthday present. I bet Damien hasn’t given you any new toys to play with as of late and sweet puppy did make mention that Sophia was some sort of romanticized fantasy that you hold onto – don’t know why, but hey – you found a girl, for a moment I was almost worried Damien made you a unisex or had you rooting for the same team. Who traps a lad in a house with four other lads and not expect things to get a little funny inside the cabin? So tell me, nephew, who is the best kisser?” Lucilus asked with a grin, cackling out a loud laugh when Harry choked on his spit.

“The fuck have you been smoking, uncle? I’m not gay! Besides, this isn’t a present, it’s a piece of shit.” Harry grunted, completely bemused.

Lucilius walked forward, his eyes twinkling in delight.

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Harry. I went through the extra trouble of making sure his arse got here alive; the least you could do is play with him a little before you decide you don’t like him. I mean, look at him, barely a mark.” Lucilius gestured to their prisoner.

“Got a gun I can borrow?” Harry asked, glancing up at his Lucilius with a wonderment in his own stare. His eyes were a vibrant dark green – which usually meant ‘run’.

Too bad Jinx wasn’t going anywhere.

Lucilius reached behind him and cocked the safety off the trigger, handing it to his nephew with ease.

“Like my credit card, I never leave anywhere without it. After all, never know when –“

BANG!

Harry hadn’t even paused, taking the gun from his uncle’s hand and placing the nozzle of it point blank at Jinx Kaiser’s shoulder and pulling the trigger.

A loud wail left Jinx’s mouth, his head flinging back to hit air, his lungs struggling to take in breath as he gagged, drool seeping from the corners of his silenced lips, slowly leaking down his chin.

“Aw, does Jinxy need a bib? How about a dummy too? For someone who acts so tough, you sure are a big babe when it comes to pain. Guess it’s different, huh? When you’re the one being taunted and hurt it isn’t so fun, is it?” Harry glowered, his teasing voice slowly turning dark.

Lucilius clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Hazzy? That’s no way to treat your new toy, lad. You want to be nice to your toy, because he’s no good if you kill him when you just got him. Now, go easy,” Lucilius laughs, loving the loud cries echoing within the confides of the room. “Here, let me help you get that bullet out of him.”

Harry stood to the side a little, seeing Lucilius pull out a small pair of pliers from his pocket.

“I don’t even want to know why you’re carrying those around.” Harry stated matter of fact, making Lucilius smirk wider.

“I use these for piercing. Here, let me show you.” Lucilius stated, kneeling down to Jinx and opening the pliers.

Jinx screamed and tried moving away from him, but with his body confined in restraints, he couldn’t move much but his head and Harry grabbed the back of his neck and squeezed, using his other hand to wrap around his front, his air pipe pressed into the gang leader’s big palm.

Lucilius opened the pliers and attached the metal prongs to the septum of the left and right nostril of his nose with glee. If he had been anymore excited, Harry was sure Lucilius would have been doing a happy dance right then and there.

“Aw, Harry, you’re so nice to share with uncle Luci. Did anyone ever tell you that you were my favorite nephew?” Lucilius chuckled, pinching the prongs tightly to his victim.

Harry rolled his eyes.

“I’m your only living nephew. You don’t have any others I should know about, yeah?”

Lucilius’s eyes just lit up a little more, the sparkle of them absolutely blissful, his hand slowly beginning to twist the pliers.

Jinx’s eyes went wide in fear; his flesh being forced to twist with the prongs.

“Oh, Harry, look! His eyes are popping out. He thinks I’m going to rip his septum! I love toys that when you hug them their eyes bulge out!” Lucilius exclaimed happily, like a child in a toy store.

Harry’s eye brows popped up, glad that his uncle had something to focus on that wasn’t terrorizing him or his gang. He hated to admit it, but Lucilius possessed something that not even Damien had and that was his mood swings. One moment he would be happy and then the next he was threatening death to friends and loved ones of every level.

Lucilius reached over and wrapped his arms around Jinx, squeezing the captive’s body into his own, making the other gasp for air.

“You look like you needed a hug, you poor, poor babe.” Lucilius told him, his hold getting tighter.

“He’s about to pass out, his face is turning red.” Harry made note, his voice completely emotionless as he heard Kaiser gasping for the much needed precious oxygen.

“Aw, no fun.” Lucilius pouted, releasing him from the death hold, bones cracking against the pressure.

Just like that, air was granted back to the former cage owner, something he’s learning not to take advantage of again – though it was still hard to intake breath when your arm feels like it is on fire.

“Harry? In the kitchen, there’s a corn holder – you know those prongs you put on either side of a corn cob so you can eat without burning your fingers? Bring me one of those.” Lucilius requested, Jinx’s wheezing screams breaking through the echoing space once more before Harry’s phone began to ring.

“What?” He asked into it, moving away to retrieve the requested item, his voice still understandable, considering the walk in freezer WAS in the kitchen.

Lucilius hushed Kaiser with a hard yank to his septum and punching him in the throat to quiet him enough to eavesdrop on his dear nephew’s conversation, smiling at the newfound information that was shared between the door of the two rooms.

“The little fawn is pregnant?” Lucilius quipped with a fond aw in his tone when Harry came back to the freezer’s confinement.

“Not sure, uncle. I hope not, because dad will blame me for it – though, essentially it is my fault. I brought her into that situation.” Harry cleared her throat and settled back beside Lucilius, his long legs spread slightly behind him, resting comfortably on his knees.

“Good God, lad. You really have feelings for this bird, don’t you?” Lucilius asked, his elbow gently poking Harry’s side in good nature.

“You threatened to hurt her, my feelings of admittance are contained to those whom I know won’t use them against me for cooperation. Besides, it won’t matter after tonight.” Harry shrugged, not really having a good feeling of it all the same. He was about to make the worst decision of his life and he damn well knew it.

“Oh? Are you going to kill her? Please say yes, I want to be there to watch!” Lucilius smirked, trying to get a rise out of the younger one.

“No – but she won’t ever be hurt again. I think about in the cage, how jackass here, had me change her into an outfit that gave the guards free range to her and I came to the conclusion that I cannot protect her. So I’m not.” Harry shrugged, though he nearly flinched at the careless gesture. He still did care about her, more than anyone would ever know and sometimes that meant you had to put them before yourself and that’s just what he planned to do.

“In that case, I would love to meet her someday, lad. Not out of torment mind you, just, well – for some reason, no one introduces me to their lovelies anymore.” Lucilius pouted, his hand going back up to the pliers still attached to Jinx’s nose and taking the corn cob holder from his nephew.

“Could it possibly be because you murder and torture them in cold blood? Damien told me what you did to his associate’s wife a few years back. I think you broke her jaw and pulled out all but her two front teeth?” Harry reminded him, which made Lucilius laugh.

“Ah! Mercedes! Yeah, that fat cow – I remember her. God, that was just a joke! People really need to lighten up! I figured since she resembled an overweight hippo that she may as well look the part too. Besides, I did the man a favor.” Lucilius said, pulling the flap of skin down and fisting the small cob prong, moving it back.

Jinx tried to move his head, but stilled when the pliers cut into his skin.

“Oh and what favor was that? She couldn’t open her mouth to argue with him?” Harry asked, watching Lucilius slam the jagged cob prong in between Jinx’s sternum, blood spilling from the large gage.

“That and with just her two front teeth, he mentioned it was the best damn blowy she had ever given him. I still think punching me in the face before the fact was a bit rude, but hey, some people can’t take a joke.” Lucilius shrugged.

Harry shook his head.

“Which is why you will never meet Sophia. I value her the way she is and without counting the fact, Damien already ruined her.” Harry raised his voice over Jinx’s screaming before turning and punching him without mercy in the throat.

“Shut the fuck up!” Harry yelled, taking the cob holder on both sides and yanking down with all his strength, releasing the holder from Jinx’s nose by violently ripping the skin.

Jinx had tears trailing down his face, snot mixing with the blood of the now useless flesh.

Lucilius pouted.

“I wanted to have some fun with that first before you just destroyed my work. Thanks a lot Johnny no mates. No wonder your toys never last long, you don’t know how to play nice with them.” Lucilius shook his head, turning and punching Jinx in the throat; not because he sounded like a hiccupping, drunk mouse, but because he discovered it was fun to see Jinx turn different colors. His favorite one so far was the bright red from lack of proper oxygen, though his lips had a slight blue tinge etched to them that he was also growing fond of.

“Sorry, but Sophia is a sore subject. I want to keep her safe and if she is pregnant, I have no idea what Damien will do to me.” Harry let his thoughts turn panic for a moment.

Lucilius shrugged and stood up, holding his hand down for Harry.

Harry grabbed it and stood from the ground.

“Thanks.” Harry muttered, turning sharply and bringing the tip of his boot up to meet Kaiser’s bottom jaw.

A sharp crack was heard loud and clear in the freezer, Jinx’s bladder giving way and the barely abled agony that was now his voice.

Lucilius threw his arm over Harry’s shoulder and guided him out.

“Come on, lad. Let me grab Adam and we’ll all sit down to some ice cream. Ice cream solves everything and right now, it looks like you got a lot to solve.” Lucilius smirked, guiding the leader out and locking the door behind them, leaving Jinx to suffer in his own pain for a while.

Once the freezer was shut, Harry took to sitting heavily in one of the kitchen chairs.

“Lad? If she means that much to you, if the fawn is pregnant; I’ll take the baby and raise it as my own. After all, I was told by these sweet grandmothers the other day while at croquette that I would make an excellent father.” Lucilius smiled proudly, making Harry’s head snap at him in disbelief.

“Yeah, they’ll be the only child in nanny care to know how to rip fingernails out of other children for stealing their toys. No! You will keep your hands off the innocent tykes! No, I’ll figure this out myself.” Harry insisted.

Lucilius let out a cackle.

“You know me so well, Harry. But hey, at least the kid will know how to defend what is theirs and it will teach other children at a young age not to fuck with and take what is not theirs. Something parents are severely lacking to teach their young now a day.”

Harry shook his head.

No way. No way in hell would that happen, not that he had much to say on the matter, since it was not his decision. It would be Sophia’s and hers alone.

“With any luck, It’s just a scare. If it’s not; I’ll handle it how I think is best and no offense, giving them to you as prey is not one of the options.” Harry muttered, hearing the fridge open and before he could turn around, a quart of ice cream was being dropped down on the table in front of him, a spoon following.

“You talk as if it were your child. It’s not, is it?” Lucilius asked, coming back with two more quarts and spoons.

“No, but Sophia should have a right to –“

Lucilius began to laugh.

“Harry, lad? You don’t even have a right to change your shorts without Damien’s approval. What makes you think that our newest little fawn has the right to a choice over her body? She’s Damien’s weak slag. A simplistic number in the many women that have come and gone in this circle. She is no different. Even if you manage to get her to Damien’s specifications, he will always see her as a toy. Nothing more, so get with the program, because this isn’t a bloody goddamn fairytale and you aren’t a goddamn prince!” Lucilius slammed the items onto the table, his face now dark.

He pulled Harry up so he was standing, his eyes meeting menacing ones.

“Listen to me close, nephew. There is little I care about more than myself. You are a close second and the weaknesses you display, only further push Damien to react. If he knows you love the girl, never mind like her; he will kill her and he will make you watch. If you want proof, what was her name? The three-year-old?” Demanded Lucilius, snapping his fingers.

“Evelynn.” Harry murmured sadly, the little girl’s beautiful face flashing in his vision.

“Evelynn, right. She was three years old and Damien ordered her execution, but it was you who ordered her innocence to be robbed. Damien and his gang saw that weakness and prayed on it. Face it, Harry. That girl is better off dead and you know it. Nothing good ever comes out of the circle, not even rare lights like Sophia.” Lucilius growled and pushed Harry’s shoulders back down to force him to sit.

“How did you know about – “Harry asked, not really able to finish the question.

“Niall. Our wittle pup dog apparently has a sensitive spot for the girl as well. I let him have it as he spoke about her like she was some sort of Goddess savior. I was simply going to shoot her in the head during the raid, but somehow I couldn’t bring myself to really give a fuck at the time, though, think about this, my young lad; everything you worked hard for was undone the moment you sacrificed it. The moment you allowed that girl to live, was the day you died. Everything you worked so hard at – the things that I SACRIFIED to bring you to that point was gone, all because of this girl. A girl that will now die anyway because you can’t protect her. Everything you touch, dies, nephew. Every good intention is paved in a road that leads to the darkest circles of hell that you can’t even begin to understand.”

Harry gulped, his eyes tearing up; knowing what his uncle was saying spoke volumes of truth.

“I sacrificed my position, because I thought I could change things.” Harry defended himself, his arms crossing over his chest.

“Yes, but they ended up changing you, didn’t they? Now you’re stuck with limited time, with a window getting smaller by the second.” Lucilius sighed, patting the boy’s shoulder.

“So what should I do, uncle? Kill her myself?” Harry asked, his hands slightly trembling.

To be truthful? He didn’t know if he could try to kill her again.

“The way I see it? You bring her up to Damien’s specification, perhaps above specification. That’s her better chance if she’s hoping to survive Damien’s gang. If that isn’t a hope, then, fake her death – you know, Romeo and Juliet style. Let her go and be free somewhere, never think of her again or there’s killing Damien and freeing yourself from the agreement you made and then the last option, which is kill her.” Lucilius laid out, plopping down in his chair next to Harry and opening up his ice cream before whistling for Adam to join them.

“Damien will always find us; no matter where we go.” Harry thought aloud, opening the lid to his own dessert.

“Not if you remove her tracker.” Lucilius pointed out, dipping his spoon into the cold vanilla cream.

“What if I’m weak enough to follow? What if I don’t want to do this anymore?” Harry gulped, the feeling of vanilla assaulting his taste buds.

“Then you and your gang are dead little hawks. Damien will search to the ends of the Earth to find you and if you are with the little princess, he will move Hell and Heaven to see that she would not survive the night. He will destroy the last piece of humanity in you and nephew? I rather like this weakness you display for this girl, because it means my efforts in controlling you are not lost to my own agenda – however, my problem is big brother and if you truly want to be alone with this lassie, you’re going to have to kill me and your father to achieve that. My agenda is not as selfish as your old man’s, but it is my own and make no mistake, if you leave, I will come for you and kill the girl.” Lucilius stated calmly, his tone of emotion was deadly serious.

“I understand.” Harry nodded quietly, his hand slightly shaking as he dipped back into the ice cream again, almost certain that he’ll be throwing it back up later.

Adam slowly made his way into the kitchen, barely able to keep himself upright.

Harry stood up and walked over, taking Adam’s weight into his and helping to sit him in the unoccupied chair before returning to his own.

Lucilius smiled, the pale skin of his captive a sight to see.

“Eat up, Adam. You need all the strength you can get and then you’re going to go with Harry here and you two can play with his new toy!”

Adam whimpered, barely able to move. Whatever the new toy was, he had no interest in participating.

“N-no thank you, Master Lucilius.” Adam whispered, swallowing hard when Lucilius slammed his fist down onto the table, making it shake.

“Wasn’t a choice, mumbles. You will assist Harry, end of discussion, now what do you say?” Lucilius folded his arms and stared down his new worker.

“T-thank you, Master Lucilius.” Adam swallowed.

Lucilius perked up.

“That’s my boy!” Lucilius perked up with a smile, slapping the lad’s back and causing him to fall forward with a grunt.

Harry looked at the kid with a small emotion of sympathy - considering Jinx’s torture was far from finished and Adam looked like he was about ready to faint at any second.

*

Hours passed by naturally, Aiden and Andros Deprave slept soundly, their breaths slow and even.

Lily however, had woken up around three PM and had went to the kitchen for a late lunch. Niall was in there cleaning the floor, dancing goofily with the mop, smiling a little wider when Lily came out and caught him in the act. Even before Sophia, when everyone was gone, he liked to sing and mop the floors, imagining he was dancing with a beautiful woman in his arms as he leans into her and guides her to the beat of the music, his voice singing in her ear – a secret made only for them.

“What can I do for you, lassie?” Niall grinned, setting the mop down and walked out.

Lily giggled, grabbing his hand.

“Spin me, I wanna spin like you spun that!” Lily pointed.

“I dunno, luv, my mate there will get jealous if she caught me dancing with another girl, such as one pretty as yourself.” Niall laughed, but guided the girl out onto the semi wet floor and guided her bare feet across it, spinning her a few times, kneeling down to push her gently out, her little arms stretched out like small elastic bands as he spun her back to him, catching the girl in his arms.

She laughed with joy, hugging him around the neck as he picked her up and set her on the counter, her legs lazily hanging off the side.

“So what does the little princess want for lunch?” Niall asked, his elbows resting on the counter beside her, his blue eyes sparkling, for the first time in months it seemed, he was at peace.

“Cookies! Chocolate chip.” She pointed to the container of cookies that rested on the counter in front of them, it seems someone had already gotten into them.

“Cookies for lunch?” Niall playfully scorned, but went to the container and opened them. “How many do you want, little lass? Three?”

“Six!” She exclaimed, smiling widely with bright eyes.

“Alright, four.” He compromised, getting a plate and reaching in to grab her four of the homemade chocolate chip cookies.

He went to the kitchen and realized they had no milk, it had spoiled over a month ago, he pouted slightly, going to grab a can of pop instead.

“Okay, we are out of milk, but I scored you a can of grape soda.” He said, opening the drink and bringing the plate and soda to the table. He turned back to pick her up, setting her down at the table the same time Louis came out of his bedroom.

“Afternoon.” Louis yawned, rubbing his hand through his bedhead.

“Hey Lou! Want some cookies?” Niall offered, seeing Lily pick one up and bite into it.

Louis stopped dead in his tracks.

“Niall? Tell me those weren’t from the container over there?” Louis panicked, going to Lily and taking the plate away, noticing she had just finished eating one, a frown on her face.

“Hey those are mine!” She exclaimed, noticing he walked to where the container was and let out a panicked squeak.

“Fucking shit turkey, pheasant butts! Niall! THESE ARE MY WEED COOKIES! LIAM! HARRY! EMERGENCY!”

“Fuck! I didn’t know, there wasn’t a label on them!” Niall defended his actions, thinking they were just regular cookies.

“Oh, what should they have been labeled, lucky charms? Louis’s magical cookies, do not eat? If there are cookies in the house that are homemade, there is a chance, ten out of ten times that they are laced with Louis’s magical flying plant SO HE CAN ENJOY SOME ASPECTS OF LIFE! Do you ever bloody think? LIAM! HARRY! EMERGENCY, RAWL, RAWL, RAWL, ALARM, ALARM, EMERGENCY! SOMEBODY GET THEIR FLYING ARSES IN HERE!”

“Harry isn’t here!” Niall panicked, running to the back where Liam’s door is, throwing it open and seeing him asleep.

He wasted no time in slapping the wood of his door and yelling, the same time Louis was out there screaming for someone to help…which beyond that, the poor frightened child had no idea what was going on and started to cry for Andros.

Liam awoke with a start, panic in his barely functioning eyes.

“What the fu –“

Niall cut him off.

“Louis’s weed cookies on the attack! I didn’t know! Lily ate one.” Niall panicked, his wording not making any sense.

“Huh?” Liam tried to understand.

“Lily, Louis’s weed cookies, ate one!” Niall summed it up, seeing Liam calmly get out of bed and go to the door, the same time the one across from him flew open, Andros and Aiden running out in a panic.

“The fuck is going on?!” Aiden asked, him and Liam following after Andros who came in and swooped the cry girl up into his arms.

“Niall was an idiot.” Louis exclaimed, pointing a finger at the Irish gent.

“Me? WHO DOESN’T LABEL THEIR COOKIES?” Niall accused, folding his arms over his chest.

“A lot of people!” Louis yelled back, kicking an unoccupied chair over.

“What’s going on?” Andros asked calmly, rocking Lily and trying to defuse the yelling around him.

Zayn walked in the door, stumbling slightly over his feet with a big grin on his face.

“Hey gents, I’m home!”

“Good, now you can hel – wait, are you high?” Louis asked, walking closer to see Zayn’s bloody shot eyes.

“High as a kite, mate.” Zayn laughed, cocking his head to take in the scene.

“Well he won’t be of much help.” Niall decided, making Louis glare in his direction.

“Yeah? Well maybe we wouldn’t NEED help if you didn’t give Lily drugs!” Louis yelled, making Andros and Aiden panic in unison.

“WHAT?!” They yelled.

“What? You gave their kid drugs? Not cool, mate. If you wanted to knock her unconscious, we had sedatives.” Zayn shook his head, laughing slightly.

Leave it to Zayn to clear up the confusion.

“Shut up, Achmed.” Louis hissed, pointing to him.

“What?! What did you give my kid?!” Andros panicked.

“Weed. By accident! It was in a homemade cookie; Louis didn’t label his cookies.” Niall defended the situation.

“I didn’t think I would NEED to! If you don’t make them, don’t offer them!” Louis growled, taking out his phone and dialing Harry. He needed advice.

After the third ring, Harry’s voice mail picked up.

“Harry? We got a situation. I may or may not have baked some magical flying plant cookies if you catch my drift and Lily may or may not have eaten one and I may or may not kill Niall for this. So if you can call me back, like, right now…like right, right notw– like –“

“This voice mailbox is full, please try again later.”

“Bloody ducky boxers!” Louis yelled, seeing Liam scratch his head and try to force the sleep from his eyes, stepping up to Lily and taking her from Andros’s arms.

“I have something I can give her, it will make her throw up, do I have your permission to do this? While weed is not dangerous, it’s better not to take a chance. Some people react very badly to weed and some -” He looked at Zayn who was close to tears in laughter. “Well, it just makes them plain idiots.”

Niall looked guilty, but glared at Louis all the same.

“Next time, Lou? Please label your cookies, yeah? We don’t want this to happen, it’s already happened once,” Liam chastised him, turning to Niall. “And you, Niall, if it’s homemade, you now know it is not safe to eat.” He stopped the fighting, the only thing in the room to sound was Zayn’s laughter, his knees to the floor holding his stomach.

Liam looked down on him with a heavy sigh.

“Zayn? Go to bed, mate. You’re pissed to the sky and back. Aiden, Andros? Come, I’ll administer the medicine, you can stay with her until it clears from her system.” Liam calmed the situation and both of Lily’s guardians down.

Aiden and Andros followed behind, leaving Louis glaring at Niall and Zayn laughing on the floor.

“Quit glaring at me, you’re the one who didn’t label them.” Niall huffed, going to help Zayn into his room.

Louis stepped over and grabbed Zayn’s other arm, helping Niall get him off the floor.

“You gave them to her!” Louis argued, helping Niall walk Zayn to his room, his laughter echoing down the hall.

“Because I don’t automatically think, hmm, cookies, THEY MUST BE MAGICAL!” Niall glowered.

“You two are funny as shit to watch.” Zayn laughed, his face red and tears in his eyes.

“Shut up, Achmed!” Louis and Niall growled, pushing his door open and shoving him in towards the bed.

Zayn stumbled, landing stomach first on the soft mattress, his laughter as loud as before, the two gang members slamming the door and leaving him to laugh himself into unconsciousness.

Once the door was shut Niall and Louis came to a standstill, each eyeing up the other, neither speaking for a moment.

“Knock it the fuck off you two, before I break it up for you.” Aiden threatened, coming from out of the bathroom to fall witness to the death matching glares each bore.

“Fuck you, lucky charms.” Louis growled and turned away to his room.

“Yeah? Well fuck you too, Santa’s helper!” Niall yelled back, turning to go to his own room, both doors slamming simultaneously.

Aiden stood there utterly confused at what just happened and went into Harry’s room to help Andros tend to Lily.

*

It was well into the evening when Liam went back into Sophia’s room, two syringes in his hand.

One to wake her up and the other to keep the pain delayed as long as possible. He knew Sophia would be feeling intense pain for the next several weeks, but at least her fingers were realigned correctly after a few hours of setting and casting her hand.

Liam knelt beside the poor girl and injected the pain shot into her arm first and then followed it up with the adrenaline.

It took a few minutes of rubbing her arm before she stirred, but when her beautiful blue eyes fluttered open, Liam couldn’t have smiled any more genuinely.

“Welcome back, angel. I need you to shake off the cobwebs, Louis is dropping your friends off at the ferry in an hour and told me he would like you to accompany them.” Liam told her gently, helping Sophia sit up.

“Why?” Sophia yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“I don’t know, but after today, he nor Niall will be allowed around small children with cookies.” Liam chuckled, knowing she missed all the excitement.

“What happened?” Sophia frowned, sitting up to place her feet on the floor, Liam steadying her and bending down to help her into her ballet type slippers.

“Niall gave Lily some pot cookies. Louis’s fault, he didn’t label them. They’re both blaming each other and refusing to speak – in fact, I count that as a blessing, though not so much since Niall accidently on purpose dropped a bowl of hot soup in Louis’s lap and Louis ended up tripping and kicking Niall in the place no sunlight goes. So, my day in a nutshell. Both lads are currently sitting at the kitchen table with frozen peas in their laps on timeout.” Liam ranted, just needing to unload his stress onto someone who would listen and Sophia was the perfect one.

Sophia had to stifle a small laugh.

“So, Zayn was the star pupil today?” Sophia smiled, her eyes glassing over, the pain medicine kicking in.

“Zayn was on the floor pissing himself in laughter and high as a kite in a thunderstorm.” Liam shook his head.

Sophia snorted.

“Lads will never learn; half this rubbish doesn’t nearly happen as frequent when Harry is here.” Sophia chimed in with a hum, slowly coming to stand up and take a few steps.

“Oh, it happens – he’s just the one it tends to happen to. Anyway, can you walk?” Liam changed the subject and helped the weak girl to her feet, aiding her a few steps.

“I’m going to give it my all, just stay beside me in case my body decides that it wants to say hello to the ground.”

Liam chuckled.

“I can do that, come on, let’s go meet Louis out in the kitchen and I’ll get you a bowl of loaded baked potato soup. Evidently, Louis says it was the best damned thing since carrots. Don’t ask.” Liam shook his head again.

“You must be stressed.” Sophia murmured, turning to her side to half-way grin at him.

“Why would you say that?” Liam counteracted calmly, a half lipped smile this time.

“Because this is the most I’ve ever heard you speak. You are either really stressed or you inhaled some of those marijuana fumes and they’ve gone completely to your head.” Sophia joked.

Liam let out a ‘hah’ and left it out that, the two finally reaching the kitchen.

When Sophia entered, she could see Niall in his seat and Louis in his, both glaring at one another across the table.

“Hey gents.” Sophia greeted softly, Liam helping her into her regular chair.

“Sophie.” Louis and Niall greeted at the same time with a smile, before glaring at one another again.

Sophia just smiled.

“I see you two have had quite the day.” Sophia acknowledged.

“You don’t know the half of it, lass.” Niall agreed, groaning when he shifted, making Louis smirk at the action, which only made Niall glare.

“Fuck you, Santa’s elf. You don’t kick a man there.” Niall scolded, his Irish dialect really coming out in his annunciations.

“Yeah? Fuck you too lucky charms. You don’t try to serve soup with a side of Little Louis and his family jewels! My dick is scorched thanks to you! You’re not in the Irish mob! There is not a reason to be that cruel!” Louis yelled, slamming his hand on the table.

“If you don’t want cooked body bits, don’t piss me off!” Niall compromised with gritted teeth.

“Do I need to gag you gents? Because I’m this close!” Liam interrupted them, his voice in a firm warning tone, like a father scolding his two troublesome sons.

“No, dad. Don’t need a choke put on, thanks.” Louis muttered, settling back in his chair.

Niall didn’t reply, he sat there quietly after, still holding the frozen peas on his sore groin.

“You said we’re leaving within the hour?” Sophia yawned again, shifting when Liam brought her a bowl of soup, the spoon already inside of the bowl.

Sophia didn’t need to be prompted, her good hand reaching for the spoon and taking a bite from it, her eyes going wide.

“Wow, Niall? You’ve outdone yourself. This is amazing!” She exclaimed, taking another swallow almost right after.

Niall beamed and looked squarely at Louis with a smirk as to tell him ‘haha, told you so.’

That in turn caused Louis to kick his foot under the table, hitting Niall’s leg.

“Asshole.” Niall muttered.

Sophia cocked her eyebrow up and looked at the two that were again facing off.

“Someone should put you in opposite corners with your noses to the wall until you learn to be nice. Stop being mean, we got to keep it together until Harry gets back. Try to get along, huh?” Sophia frowned, having no idea what in the hell had them at one another’s throat.

“Darling? I’ve been putting up with this all afternoon. If they don’t knock it off in the next two seconds, 24 and 25 or not, I will take them both over my knee.” Liam threatened, making Louis snort.

“Kinky, Liam – really.” Louis rolled his eyes, knowing the doctor was at his breaking point. Niall again, said nothing.

“Louis? If we’re to make the last ferry, should we be leaving?” Sophia asked, keeping her tone light.

Liam nodded and stood up with a painful groan, grimacing.

Niall smirked.

Louis mimicked his smirk.

“Good luck moving, mate.” He bid his final word to Niall, slowly making his way outside where the two brothers were with Lily.

Sophia stood up as well, making her way at a snail’s pace to Niall’s side, wrapping her good arm around him in a short hug.

“For whatever it’s worth, Niall. Thank you for such a beautiful song. I heard it when Louis was trying to wake me up. Not many people know my middle name and not many would know a song to accompany it.”

Sophia kissed his cheek with a soft peck, detaching herself and heading sluggishly in the direction that Louis went.

Liam looked down into the soup bowl, noticing she had only ate three or four bites from it. He didn’t know if it was self-conscious or purposely. He hoped not the later.

“Mate?” Liam sighed, sitting down on her unoccupied chair once the front door closed.

“Hmm?” Niall returned, eyeing Liam’s concerned face.

“Angel didn’t eat much after she woke up from the breakfast you made her, did she?” Liam question, eyeing Niall.

“Nah, few bites, but she’s probably just not that hungry. When she’s hungry, she’ll eat. We’ve never had any problems with her before, why worry about it now?” Niall reasoned, flinching when he stood up, placing the now thawing peas besides Louis’s.

“I suppose you’re right.” Liam reasoned, standing up to dump the soup, only for Niall to grab it from Liam’s hands.

“I’ll wrap it and heat it later for ‘er.”

Liam nodded and went to check on Zayn, seeing that he was fast asleep, his figure still hunched over the bed on his stomach – a smirk on his face.

Liam shook his head.

“Not gonna even ask what kinda dream he’s having.” Liam decided, the quiet cabin finally at peace once more, the silence once again surrounding.

*

They reached the ferry dock a half hour before the last ferry was scheduled to debark.

“We’re here.” Louis smiled softly, stepping out of the black van, coming around and helping Sophia from the front seat.

Aiden and Andros got out, a tired Lily holding tightly onto her father’s neck. They shut the back doors and walked beside Sophia, with Louis in the front to make sure he could spot anything out of the ordinary.

“Mommy?” Lily questioned tiredly, her hand tracing a pattern in Andros’s shirt.

“Yeah, baby? What is it?” Sophia smiled, her heart heavy with the gesture, knowing it would be the last time they would see one another.

“Come with us.” She begged, her small fingers now grasping lightly at Andros’s shirt, his eyes too bearing a heavy heart as he forced a small grin and kissed the back of his child’s head, his lips going by her ear.

“She can’t come with us, princess. She has to stay and marry Harry.” He laughed, winking at Sophia.

“Mr. Bear can come with us, we could be happy, you said you wished she could.” Lily murmured, small tears filling the sides of her eyes.

“I know, but –“

Louis interrupted the conversation turning to Sophia, his eyes filled with an emotion that was between pain and anxiousness.

“Actually, Soph – you can.” He interrupted.

Sophia’s face fell into one of shock, the way he so bluntly stated it, made her think she somehow misheard.

“What?” Sophia tried again, watching Louis take out a syringe.

Inside the syringe laid a black murky tar; it’s color so trenchant that it looked almost lethal if it were to be injected into someone.

“This beauty will dissolve the tracker. I inject this into you and you would be free to run and never turn back. You would be free from this life, free of us – free of being raped…free.” Louis finished, his tone truly unsure of how to continue.

“At what cost? Freedom always has a price, what is it? What’s stopping you from being free? Why can’t you leave? Why can’t the boys?” Sophia pressed all at once, her eyes a tormented emotion, wondering if this was all a sick trick.

Louis smiled sadly and put his hand gently within hers, walking over to a bench, sitting down next to her, Lily being sat down in her arms by Andros a moment later so she could hug onto her.

“I only managed to snag one of these from the playhouse. Doctor sadistic uses these to melt the tracking devices off dead circle members or dead prisoners. I only managed to take one, I was saving it for a rainy day – actually, I was going to knock Harry out, melt his chip and ship him to Australia.” Louis chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

“Lou?” Sophie frowned, not seeing in the humor.

Louis sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Alright, I got it a few years ago. It’s been sitting in my drawer. I was saving it for a time that when it was necessary, it would be there to use. Harry feels the time is finally right and who am I to argue with the ogre?” Louis smirked, sobering quickly when Sophia just looked confused.

Aiden and Andros stood and listened intently, their eyes almost mimicking Sophia’s confusion.

“That night, outside in the clearing, when you were about to die; did you ever wonder why you survived?” Louis asked cautiously.

Sophia nodded, rubbing her hand up and down Lily’s back in a comforting gesture.

“Plenty of times, but Harry never told me. No one ever told me what happened that day. I remember you left me tied up in my room and asleep” Sophia struggled to remember.

Louis nodded.

“Harry was on the phone to Damien most of the day, begging him for a time expansion on your case. He told Damien that he thought you could be useful. In truth, he was trying to find a solution to get you out of this mess alive. He saw you as a challenge – an unbreakable force that no matter what was happening, you resisted some sort of part to become completely captured. No other person provoked that reaction from him before – none that I’ve seen at least.” Louis explained, smiling at Lily who was practically asleep on Sophia’s shoulder.

“Damien said no, I’m guessing?” Sophia guessed, a sad smile at what she could only imagine was the end of her life.

“He said no.” Louis confirmed with a grim look.

Sophia nodded.

“So what changed? What happened that day to make him resent me? When I was saved, he resented me so much and I still see it sometimes, but not so often anymore.”

Louis chuckled.

“The only way he could strike a deal with Damien, was to give up the one thing he knew Damien would take as negotiation,” Louis looked out to the sea, a deep breath leaving his mouth.

It went quiet for a few moments, each one trying to process what the other one was asking or saying.

“What did he give up, Lou?” Sophia finally spoke, their thoughts catching up to them.

“He was going to be free, Sophia. Damien was going to let him go after obtaining what he was owed from your father.” Louis revealed, shaking his head and turned back to the astonished girl.

“I thought you said that once you were in – “Louis nodded to her question.

“By free, I meant dead. We can’t leave – we can’t ever leave. That’s what he’s been trying to tell you all along, Sophia. You live this life so long, you begin to beg for some sort of peace You can’t pull the trigger yourself, that’s suicide and a cowardice way to leave the circle, but if by initiation right, someone that you trust does it – you’ll still have honor.”

Sophia nodded, hugging Lily a little tighter.

“So you were going to be his replacement? You were going to pull the trigger.” Sophia put the pieces together, Louis confirming.

“Yeah, I was supposed to be his replacement, I was the one meant to kill him. But that day, as time got nearer, he threw the deal on the table, exchanging his life for yours and in addition, he would agree to continue to work lower circle. Harry, if Lucilius had anything to do with it, wanted him to take a higher rank – which meant longer missions, but Harry never wanted that. He wanted to be free, because being free is more priceless than gold.” Louis smiled sadly, a small bout of emotion showing on his face, admiration it looked like for the young, curly leader.

“You asked what the cost of your freedom was, you already know the answer to that. None of the rules have changed. It doesn’t matter if we were involved in your escape or not, you know that if one member leaves, the rest are dealt with quick and swiftly. That is the price, a price that Harry is willing to pay to keep you safe.” Louis saw small droplet of tears falling from her face, the glow of a crystalline trail that seemed almost magical under the dark lampposts.

Andros took the now sleeping Lily, Sophia’s arms wrapping around Louis as soon as he did, her head burying itself into the older bloke’s shoulder.

“Oh flower, there, there. No crying, it’s a price that he’s willing to pay and I know that in his heart it still wouldn’t be enough.” Louis tried to console her, but her heart felt heavy.

“What about a choice? What about what you want?” Sophia sobbed.

“Harry is my leader, I follow him to the depths of hell, to the ends of Heaven and the purgatory that’s in between. This isn’t my choice, flower. This choice has to be yours and yours alone.” Louis said, kissing her forehead.

“I want to be a normal adult more than anything in the whole world.” Sophia murmured, making Louis smile.

“Harry wishes that every single day too, but we aren’t normal, Sophie. We’re different and we always will be. Our lives are not scripted to a nine to five job. Our jobs are to risk everything like our lives were nothing; and they’re not, flower. Our lives are meaningless in something that is bigger than us and won’t end with us.”

Sophia shook her head.

“But he can’t protect me, how will I get stronger if I’m always weak?” Sophia fretted, standing up slowly and walking a few steps to the banister of the pier, looking down into the water.

Louis stood up and stood beside her, his hand a comfort on her shoulder.

“I can’t promise you won’t die, but Harry made me promise to try and convince you to leave so you at least have a chance for what you want. So, this is me giving you something to consider.” Louis relented, scooting his body behind her, his lips lingering by her ear, dropping his voice to a mere whisper.

“Close your eyes.” He demanded gently, seeing her do it, with silent tears still showering her face.

“Imagine a house, any type of house you want, a husband waking beside you every morning and children asleep across the hall. Imagine waking up every day and readying the babes, cooking breakfast before you drop the babes off at a nannies or maybe your husband’s mom watches them – maybe you decide to stay at home…the world is a huge possibility for you with so many options to choose from. You are free to do whatever you wish, whenever you wish without expectations from anyone. No one can hurt you in this world, you are untraceable. No one would find you because I took that option away, because Harry gave you that choice.”

His voice faded out again, his mouth from her ear gone, hugging her from the back, his chest pressed to her back and his arms around her chest.

“It sounds nice, doesn’t it?”

She nodded

“Then what’s stopping you? Tell me yes and I’ll do it, I’ll set you free.” Louis whispered, his eyes looking over her to the open black waters.

“I can’t.” Sophia said with emotion, reaching over to wipe her tears away, but the more she wiped them away, the more they came down.

“Why is that, luv? What’s stopping you?” Louis pressed, a small sliver of hope rushing through him.

“Because –“ Sophia trailed off, lifting her eyes to the stars above, knowing her brother was among them. “You don’t give up on family. The past few months, I lost my family and in replace of that, when I lay awake at night – I can’t help but feel that I was supposed to end up here somehow. I can’t leave knowing I would never see Harry again or you with your swears that would have a nun eating soap or Niall’s cooking, Liam’s dry personality and Zayn…I don’t know, he’s like a brother and if I leave, it would be like killing my family all over again. I couldn’t do that, knowing I would have killed innocent people.”

Louis let out a laugh.

“We are hardly innocent, lass, but the gesture is still heartfelt. Thank you.” He said, kissing the back of Sophia’s head.

“Sorry to interrupt guys, but that’s our ride.” Andros nodded, gently handing Lily off to Aiden and stepping toward Sophia at the same time she turned to meet him the rest of the way, their chests lightly touching, his arms around her in a fragile hug.

“I wish you were coming with us, lass.” Andros whispered, knowing she had made her decision.

“I know, but if I came, I know in my heart that Damien would never stop until I was caught and I couldn’t bare it if something happened to you guys. It needs to be this way.” Sophia murmured, kissing the corner of his lip and smiling.

She stepped away from Andros and over to a sleeping Lily while Louis took the opportunity to shake Andros’s hand, taking a small wad of money and a piece of paper attached.

“Ten thousand pounds and if something ever happens, Harry’s number and mine are attached. Call only if it’s an emergency. I know Elliott and Eli are still out there and I know how determined for revenge those cunts are, it’s just a feeling and my feelings are hardly wrong.” Louis warned.

Andros nodded and took both items, turning to watch Sophia take Lily from Aiden and rock the sleeping girl, being mindful of her bad hand.

“She’s sure is something.” Andros murmured, tapping Louis in the back. “Take care of her or I’m coming back to kick your arse.”

Louis chuckled.

“You’re not the brother I’m afraid of. Aiden, though? Yeah – dude throes a hell of a punch. Now go on and get. Ireland awaits.”

Andros threw a small salute, gently grabbing Lily from Sophia and placing a final goodbye kiss to Sophia’s cheek, a dimpled smile of his own showing.

Aiden reached around and kissed her forehead, waving to Louis and following his brother, the ferry almost docked.

Louis walked over and slid his hand in Sophia’s waving off the two brothers, standing there until the ferry was loaded, them being the only passengers to dock at this specific location since the timing was so late.

Soon enough, the ferry docked and both gang members watched, making sure it was out of sight before turning to head back the short distance to their car.

As they walked though, something was off and Sophia was the first to notice.

“Lou? Do you hear some –“

Louis barely had enough time to register what was happening before the lampposts all went out simultaneously, the dock now completely pitch black with their care only a few feet ahead.

“Lou? What’s happening?” Sophia panicked, looking around in fear and squeezing Louis’s hand.

Louis didn’t respond, but squeezed back reassuringly, a signal to keep quiet and listen to anything out of the ordinary.

Sophia whimpered in the pitch black, stepping close to Louis.

“Shhh, we move, we die. Don’t move, don’t breathe.” Louis whispered, picking Sophia up bridal style and waiting for the signal to move.

That came a second later when a bullet whizzed past his head, straight into the tree beside them.

From there, all hell broke loose.

Notes