The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Sophia’s POV:

Liam and Niall were ordered to look after Zayn and keep him grounded until we came back. Harry may have also threatened Niall and Liam with certain death if the sheets to the bed weren’t changed in the guest slash prisoner room. I don’t blame him for being short; hell, I don’t blame him for being mad. I blatantly disobeyed him, killed Zayn’s girlfriend and inevitably gave Damien something to smile about. Not an easy feat – even for me.

It seems the only ones I didn’t piss off was Liam, Niall and Louis – though Louis keeps giving me disapproving looks as we quietly drive into downtown London. Just the three of us, which makes me hopeful that when we get home that Zayn will be calm, Niall and Liam will have gotten everything clean to keep Harry happy because right now his eyes sparked fire from the ninth circle of hell and to be truthful, that worried me – a little.

“I have uniforms in the back that we have to change into. They are standard hotel uniforms and that alone will give us access to all floors as they come with security scan.” Harry spoke; the first words in over two hours actually. We had another hour or more before getting to the hotel.

“When you two kidnapped me, you got me in my limo. Why are we going into a public place?” I asked, my voce quiet.

“Your father gave us the keys to the limo. This particular father is currently at another hotel, bidding up against one of Damien’s men for a pharmaceutical trade. Meaning, the company is going under and Damien wants it for a cover up operation. The other bidding, which is a fixed bid and Damien’s man will overbid to put off the trade, but in case this particular guy doesn’t back off as he has a bad habit of not doing, we are to standby at the hotel where his two sons; Daylen and Jace Attwater are staying and if Damien loses the trade, Jared Attwater loses his two sons.”

Harry’s voice is as cold as the night, smooth as silk but husky and deep while he explains our business in London and the potential outcome.

“Damien said we were kidnapping them anyhow. So, that’s a crock of horse bollocks. What’s the story or you can go kidnap the little rugrats yourselves, I will not be an accessory to kidnapping.” I told him firmly – good thing he was driving or he’d have probably taken his hands off the wheel and strangled me into next week.

“You will go with us, you will participate and you will do it with a smile or so help me god, I will make sure you don’t last the week!” Harry yelled, promise in his voice.

I shrugged, still reeling from the incident with the knife. I felt guilt, but I also felt relief to know no one could hurt Perrie anymore.

“Beat me, stab me, bleed me – it’s pain. Pain is fast becoming my best friend.” I shrugged, knowing that would piss him off.

Harry’s hands shook against the wheel, struggling to control the anger red color that was crawling up his face – oh man, his eyes were vibrant with fire and I enjoyed causing it. I shouldn’t, but the monster inside me was ravishing in his rage.

“Belt up, flower. He’s driving and I don’t want him pulling a Sophia on the freeway.” Louis spoke up, making both of us go quiet temporarily.

“What do I need to know about Jared’s two sons?” I asked Louis, figuring Harry would have told him most, if not everything before the drama broke out between everyone.

“Jace, the oldest, is twenty. He has a second degree black belt in karate, he loves cartoons and he is from the West lands of Oklahoma. Jenks Oklahoma if I’m not mistaken,” Louis furrows his eyebrows, reaching under his seat and pulling up a file, his fingers scanning through it. “Yeah, American, born in Jenks, lived in Tulsa Oklahoma and currently just moved back home to Jenks due to his girlfriend and him having problems.”

I furrowed my eyebrows.

“You seem unconcerned that he has a second degree black belt in karate – may I ask why that is?” I asked calmly, because Louis couldn’t possibly believe he and Harry aren’t going to get a little bit beat up by this kid.

“Because Harry and I have the experience to counteract it, that’s why.” Louis shrugged.

“You seem so sure, what if you’re wrong?” I pressed, making Harry clear his throat.

“Ms. Stone? Louis and I have a system. We have been using counter defense techniques for years, you will come to know that soon enough when we teach you, but do not assume a black belt means anything. It’s knowing the movements and your opponent.”

I nod and lean back.

“Sounds like this is going to end well.” I agree sarcastically.

“It will, get ready to be impressed.” Louis insisted, a smirk growing on his face.

“She doesn’t need to be impressed, Louis. She needs to learn her place and since there are two hostages to deal with, I need you both on your game. No mistakes.” Harry interrupted our banter.

“What exactly did you want from me regarding Jace? I’m not going near him. Black belt – I’m a no belt, not happening.” I insisted, making Harry slam his foot on the wheel prematurely and stop the car in the middle of the road, which happened to be deserted.

“You will do WHAT we tell you, WHEN we tell you and HOW we tell you. You wanted to stay? FINE! You’re here, you’re in training and you will follow orders or I will slit your throat without a second thought.” Harry clenched his teeth, eyes ahead and unblinking.

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked ahead as well, but not without a glare.

“Anyone ever tell you that you have the charm of a snake and attractiveness like the black plague?” I hummed calmly, forcing myself to remain looking ahead and not at his turning neck.

“Anyone ever tell you that you don’t know when to belt up and leave things be?” Harry mocked back, his voice dangerously low.

Louis suddenly reached across to stop Harry’s hand from hitting me.

“For the love of Loki! Will you two stop trying to beat the shit out of each other? Harry? I’ll deal with flower, you drive and try not to get us killed on the way to London. Sophia? Lass, I am begging you to shut up, belt up, pocket ze mouth, chew on wood – is this all not clear language to SHUT UP?! Christ in a mailbox!” Louis exploded.

“HE wants ME to help with a BLACK BELT! I don’t want to get beat up!” I exclaimed to him.

“I thought pain was your best friend?” Harry remarked, mimicking my earlier words.

“Not when the pain gets me a second degree concussion.” I growled, flipping my hair back and looking him dead in the eyes.

Harry shrugged.

“Not important in the grand scheme of things. We need to secure the second hostage at the same time. Daylen should be easier. He’s eleven years old, long shoulder blonde hair, brown eyes. Jace is the one with the jock cut, chocolate wavy brown hair and light tan chocolate eyes.” Harry said, relaxing his posture and flipped the vehicle into drive again.

“He know karate too?” I asked, my tone flippant. That in turn made Harry clutch the wheel to stop from slapping me.

“No, he’s just a lad that Jace will try his hardest to protect at all costs. We need to be ready to eliminate the threat and grab the other one before security comes about. According to paper, security comes around every fifteen minutes to patrol.” Louis answered.

“So, I ask again; how do you two think I can help with Jace? Press myself against him and lay a good one on his lips?”

Harry growled softly while Louis perked.

“Hey, that could –“ Louis looked hopeful when Harry stepped in, shooting the idea down.

“Tomlinson? If you finish that sentence, you are walking home. She will not be laying lips on anyone. Kissing or touching a hostage is against the rules…or did we not just get a similar lesson in that? You know, when you stabbed Perrie in the heart and killed her?” Harry replied, a tight lipped frown to adorn the serious look he now wore.

“You were going to choose her for punishment, don’t act so fucking innocent!” I snapped, my fist shooting to bang on the dashboard.

Harry’s lips seemed to grow in mirth at my reaction and chuckled.

“Oh, Ms. Stone; you have so much to learn,” He shook his head with a soft sigh, his eyes growing lighter at my annoyance. “If you were paying attention, you would have seen what Damien was doing, but you didn’t. You were too focused on trying to save a situation that couldn’t be saved.”

I sat up and moved my head back, choosing to try and calm down because that’s what he wants. He wants me to lose control.

“What would you have done?” I asked tiredly, closing my eyes to try and lower my beating heart.

Harry was silent for a few moments, his shoulders eventually shrugging.

“I would have punished Zayn.” He replied with uncaring feeling. Like he was discussing the mild weather outside.

“Because he broke the rules that happened so many years ago?” I pressed, snorting at how pathetic it sounded.

“No,” Harry said, lip-hard. “No. I would have punished him because Perrie was not ours to execute. She meant the world to Zayn and I was not going to take that away from him. He needed to be the one to end her and you took that choice away from him.” Harry scowled and Louis looked down, a reflection in his own eyes.

“Flower? We knew about Zayn and Perrie…shit, do you think he was quiet in his sexcapades? That lad isn’t quiet about anything except talking. He’s a bloke of few words and a lot of actions.” Louis nodded, smiling slightly.

“Then why was Harry’s eyes black when Damien mentioned it?”

Louis shrugged and looked at Harry.

“Dunno, like to know that myself, actually.” Louis looked at Harry and corked an eyebrow up.

Harry sighed and used one hand to rub at his ongoing headache.

“I knew, but that was a secret that was supposed to be kept to himself. No one else was supposed to know and for him to mention it to you and get caught pissed me off. I lied to Damien because that lie saved all our asses, not just his or yours.” Harry growled.

“Why bother? You enjoy seeing people wither under pressure. You enjoy the power – enjoy the weakness of others. He isn’t any different, like you have made mention of multiple times. So why bother to save anyone? Unless it would have been your own skin in trouble.” I shrugged, not really caring for the argument. To be honest, it was moot and pointless.

“It would have been my skin as well, Ms. Stone. I don’t just save people’s arses unless there is something that benefits my own wellbeing.” Harry smiled, glancing to his side to look at my emotionless face.

“Like you don’t go to the store and get fruit so a seventeen-year-old boy could eat? Yeah, you’re selfish, Harry.” I rolled her eyes.

“I was hungry and they only sold one size. No use letting food go to waste.” Harry shrugged, strumming his fingers on the wheel.

“Is this going to be the normal conversation between the two of you from now on? Because truthfully, I preferred the lovey-dovey crap more.” Louis piped up, rubbing away a headache.

“No. The conversations from now on will be her saying ‘yes sir, no sir or I don’t know, sir.’ That is the only time she will speak because we are going back to how everything was before. Unless it needs to be said, it will not be said.” Harry finished firmly.

Louis gapped at Harry like he was a nutter running in the heart of London in nothing but his underpants…actually, Louis looked a bit more disturbed than that.

“You can’t be serious, Harry. What is that going to do? Everyone has been more alert since your kidnapping and they’ve been allowed to speak freely. What will punishing everyone accomplish?” Louis protested, noticing I simply closed my eyes and chose not to speak.

“I’m serious as a heart attack, Louis and so should you be. You’re my second in command, I am counting on you to step up and your mouth as of recently is going to get us KILLED. You rely on humor to calm a situation down and it is not warranted, nor wanted. I need to take it back to basic rules. If discussions don’t need to be discussed or things don’t need to be told, we remain silent. It works better because it is easier.” Harry explained, his voice harsh and his face stony.

“So we go back to bowing down to your ass? Alright, I’m sure Niall and Liam won’t mind, but Zayn and I have a complaint.” Louis crossed his arms over his chest.

“Put it in a letter of concern. I’ll reply to it when I give a fuck,” Harry responded just as sarcastically, slamming on the brakes. “Also, I will be going through each of your rooms and collecting things that I think are distracting you all from the focus of your job. From here on out; there will be no porn, no drawings, no writings – unless they are journal entries, no marijuana and no music.”

Louis was on alert, his mouth open to protest.

“I – you…if you touch my Esmerelda again, you will be very sorry.” Louis growled threateningly.

Harry just looked back at him calmly.

“Louis? We have a month to get Ms. Stone into shape and we aren’t going to do it high as a kite or sexually frustrated. I’ll think about returning all of your property the time after Sophia wins.” Harry continued unaffected.

“What if she loses?” Louis pressed, stomping his foot like a petulant child that just had his favorite toy taken from him.

“Then she dies and everything remains the same as it has been. Either way, it’s been that way of life for us for quite a while if you don’t recall. Then she comes and wrecks it all to hell.” Harry gestures.

I opened my eyes again and snorted.

“Yeah, because I tore those walls of yours all to itty-bitty shreds and made your heart beat again, right? Because the dead, cold vampire couldn’t resist my ever elusive charms? Oh forgive me, SIR, I forgot to address you properly.” I mimicked, making Louis slap his and over my mouth and give Harry a look.

He looked amused, snorting with a shake of his head before driving again.

“Yeah, it had nothing to do with the fact that your dead brother inconvenienced me with having to order more acid or you freaking out and not letting us dispose of the body when we needed to. Nope, didn’t have to do with the fact that I pitied you or the fact that I thought that I would give you a chance to leave. It was all because I was weak and fell for you, that’s it, because that’s the only logic your delusions of grandeur will let you believe.” Harry mocked, making me punch him in the cheek – which in turn forced him off the road, making Louis scream like a girl.

Harry got control of the vehicle before it could flip over.

“She’s not even driving and she still manages to scare the right piss out of me!” Louis panicked, throwing his door open and beginning to walk towards London.

“Get back in the car, Louis.” Harry ordered calmly, though he was gritting his teeth and hissing through them. It was almost scary to see the leader so angry and calm at the same time.

“Not with her near the wheel! I will not wake up dead because she decides to do something careless and you’re poor company too! KICK THE FUCKING SHIT OUT OF EACH OTHER AND GET IT THE FUCKING FUCK OVER WITH!” His voice went high pitched, his foot flinging back and kicking up dry dust as he brought it forward in anger.

“Get. Back. In. The. Car, Louis.” Harry repeated, his voice dropping a few notches.

“No.” Louis decided with a hiss back of his own, though he stopped when Harry disarmed his gun and cocked it off safety.

“It wasn’t a request. We are tight on time and we need to make the grab before the old man gets back because as of tomorrow, the Attwaters are checking out and going home. I need you to help me complete the job, the same as I need Ms. Stone’s cooperation. Up to you, Tomlinson, but I’d choose the easy way.” Harry suggested, his eyes a steady dead green, darkening above as the night fell upon us.

Louis just stares at Harry and myself before turning to walk again.

Harry shoots down at Louis’s feet, his gun going passed me and towards a certain spot, shooting It off at the ground, barely missing Louis’s boot by an inch.

Louis jumped and whirled back, seeing Harry smiling.

“Next one is going in your boot, Tomlinson. Now, come back to the car.” Harry ordered.

Louis smacked his foot down on the hard packed earth, but began to make his way back without protest.

“The desert bird here will switch seats with you. I truthfully don’t want her near me right now or I might slit her throat.” Harry waved me off and shoved the side of my body with force, kicking me from the vehicle door.

Louis bent down and helped me from the ground, the force of my weight landing on my bad hand.

“Come on, lass. Sooner we go home, sooner we can put this all to bed.” Louis muttered and crawled in next to Harry, helping me into the truck.

I closed the door after I was in and chose to remain silent the rest of the way; after all, the less said – the better it was for everyone, like Harry said.

*

Narrator’s POV:

Sophia rubbed her sore arm apprehensively, the three of them at the hotel, standing at the back of the covered up bed of the truck.

“Louis? You took care of looping the security footage for the next half an hour, yes? Disabling the cameras to the ground, elevators and top floor suites?” Harry questioned, leaning in to Sophia’s ear and gently placing a communication chip in it in case they get separated.

“I still know how to do my job, Styles. Yes, I took care of everything.” Louis replied curtly and took the other earpiece from Harry, putting it in his own ear while Harry finished with connecting his.

“Good, we need to keep on alert. Question everything, undermine nothing. Check to make sure communication is open in case we all get separated.” Harry ordered, making Sophia press her earpiece.

Louis pressed his and spoke into it.

“Bond to Goldfinger and Pussy Galore, come in, over.” Louis bit out with a snarl, no humor to accompany the names.

Harry ignored him and pressed on his communicator.

“Over.” Harry responded tightlipped while Sophia couldn’t help but at least fight off a smile. Even with Louis severely pissed, he was just Louis – which Harry seemed dead determine to ignore.

“Pussy Galore over and out.” Sophia lost the battle with herself, smiling.

Harry’s head snapped over to her and a hard but gentle tap with his knuckles to her cheek wiped the smirk gone from her face.

“Get serious and get it real quick, Stone. We have a job and I won’t see it fucked up.” Harry said, determined to keep his eyes ablaze and his soul guarded again. There was no way that she was breaking down his walls again.

Louis’s side lip twitched at the response, but he walked ahead to make sure it remained unnoticed.

Harry grabbed two backpacks from the truck bed before grabbing Sophia’s arm and dragging her towards the entrance, looking around to make sure they went unnoticed.

Sophia let Harry lead her to the ladies’ bathroom and unzip the first backpack, shoving a form fitting white dress with blue tassels on the shoulders and gold buttons in the front of it at her.

“Two minutes, go.” Harry ordered, going opposite to the men’s room with Louis following.

Harry headed to one of the stalls and began to strip, replacing it with the black pressed trousers and plain white button down shirt with the blue overcoat jacket.

“Uh, mate? I think you forgot to give these to Sophia – unless you’re planning to wear them.” He held up a sleek pair of black heels.

“Go give them to her. Tell her one minute and you, Tomlinson, better be dressed when I come in or you’re in trouble.” Harry told him, walking to the mirror and straightening his jacket while rubbing his fingers through his curly locks.

“You want me to dress in the woman’s room? Are you mad?!” Louis hissed.

Harry shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well, you do scream like one.” He remarked dryly, making sure everything looked perfect.

Louis scowled at that and walked passed Harry, swiftly but not before bringing his foot underneath Harry’s knee and tripping him to the floor.

“Whoops.” Louis mocked, slamming the door to the men’s room shut and going into the woman’s room to see Sophia at the mirror, struggling to pull down her dress.

Louis stopped for a moment, her black underwear barely hung to her thinning and scarred frame, her one hand tugging in frustration at the hem of the non-stretch thigh length material.

“Bloody hell.” He murmured, going over to her and calming her motions with a gentle rub to her shoulder.

“I can’t get it!” She panicked, spinning around to give Louis a more detailed view, her eyes close to tearing, but he knew she was trying to control her emotions.

“Alright, alright, shh.” Louis shushed, his strong fingers wrapping around the unforgiving dress and pulling it down with his strength so it glided over her body in a heavenly, figure-fitting shape.

“I have one hand, Louis. What am I going to do with one hand? I won’t be able to handle Jace, not alone.” Sophia voiced her concern, watching Louis go to the door and lock it, turning around with a determined look.

“Listen to me and listen well, okay? Harry shot down the kissing idea, but I need you to trust me and use it. You need to knock Jace off guard, because with him momentarily stunned, Harry and I can advance.” Louis explained, seeing the door to the women’s room shake, followed by Harry’s voice coming through their earpiece.

“Louis, open the fucking door!” Harry hissed lowly through the earpiece.

Louis pressed his own earpiece.

“No speak a Englaish, one memento por favour.” Louis replied, earning a slam of a hand against the door.

“Louis! I’m not playing around!” Harry replied into the earpiece, raging lava clearly heard through both their ears.

Louis rolled his eyes and started stripping from his regular attire, putting on the matching suit Harry was wearing.

As he stripped, Sophia turned away, using her one hand to reach under the dress and pull her underwear down, stepping from them and placing the garments in the trash.

Louis said nothing, but gave her a questioning look all the same.

“They keep falling down. If I don’t need them, why wear them?” She asked, sadly looking into the mirror, dead blue eyes glancing back at her.

Louis smiled softly, glancing into the mirror himself.

“How’s the back of me look?” He asked her, straightening the jacket, growling when Harry broke through the earpiece again.

“Louis! You are going to be very sorry when we get back to the cabin, you and Sophia both!” Harry growled with promise.

Louis rolled his eyes and pressed his earpiece.

“Yeah and what are you going to do? Lock us in a dog cage, spank us or just beat us? I dunno which I prefer more.” He responded to Harry just as shortly.

“Unlock the door, Louis.” Harry ignored Louis’s retort.

Sophia sighed, pressing on her own piece.

“He’s helping me with my dress. I couldn’t pull it down, the material was too tight. I’m putting my heels on now, sir. Please give us a few extra seconds so I can get my barring.” Sophia responded to pacify the two men’s rising tempers.

Louis knelt down to help her into her heels – which took a moment for her to remember how to walk in them. It had been a few long months since she had a pair on.

When Louis was sure she was steady, he adjusted her dress and placed his hands on her shoulders, his lips going to her ear.

“You got this, angel. I know you do.” He whispered to make sure Harry didn’t hear outside the door.

She looked back at Louis through the mirror, her good hand going to touch his fingers.

“Pussy Galore, to the ready, sir Bond.” She smiled, making him choke on a chuckle.

“That’s my lass, knew there was a reason I liked you.” Louis said, mirth in his eyes.

“You’re not a bad one either.” Sophia agreed, both standing in silence for a moment.

“The bloody fuck is fucking going on in there?! Are you two snogging or are you just trying to piss me off? Because it’s working!” Harry’s voice came through after the moment they shared was rudely interrupted.

Sophia pressed her earpiece, a small look in her eyes.

“Sorry, sir. Louis was trying to help me get my underwear back on, they fell off.”

The earpiece went dead silent for a few seconds, Louis shooting his hand over his mouth to keep his laughter in.

“GET. OUT. OF. THERE. NOW!” Harry hit his hand against the door, this time with more force.

“Right away, sir.” Sophia responded, unlocking the door, both their faces blank and emotionless.

When they saw Harry – boy was his face red and if Louis didn’t know any better, he would say that Harry’s eyes were a matching color - with a little green tint mixed in.

Harry looked at the two of them, the long silence between them broken when he turned and walked towards the elevator, backpacks swung over his one shoulder.

Sophia and Louis followed wordlessly, getting on with him when the elevator opened.

“I mean what I said before. We get in, we get out, no hesitations, no mistakes.” Harry liquefied, looking at the elevator’s numbers going up.

“I have one working hand, what do you suggest that I do with it? I was given no instructions; this is not how a kidnap should be operated.” Sophia protested, her good arm folding underneath her breast.

Harry didn’t bother looking at her, his sights were set on the floor they were approaching.

“I don’t care what you do, Ms. Stone. Just get the job done and don’t disappoint me.” Harry replied, his voice husky and breathless, he was sic’ing himself up.

She turned toward Louis, receiving a nod of assurance.

“Yes, sir. I’ll get the job efficient, as per your command.” Sophia bowed her head slightly, walking ahead when the door opened and saw a large maid’s cart, she grabbed it and headed towards the only suite on this floor.

Harry stopped her, grabbing her arm and tugging her back.

“Code blue, 391756983, agent 329. That’s security clearance the lads are taught to know. Jace knows it, he will let you in once you’ve cleared it, it’s important; so don’t fuck this up.” Harry glowered, pushing her forward, along with the cart.

Sophia tripped on her heels, catching herself against the edge of the suite’s door, knocking on it while Harry and Louis hid out of sight beside her where the peephole couldn’t see.

Soft footsteps padded to the door, opening it a crack, the chain still attached.

Sophia nearly smiled at the little blonde boy with the cute little Chihuahua dog nestled in his arms, petting it calmingly so it wouldn’t bark.

“Hi little one, how are you doing tonight?” She offered pleasantly in her smooth and calming tone.

“M’good. Was bout to order food for m’brother an’ I.” He responded innocently.

Sophia adored his Western charm, the way his pronunciations wavered out his mouth made her heart flutter with adoration.

“Aw. You are cute as a button. You remind me of my younger brother – speaking of, honey, is your big brother around? I need to talk to him about cleaning the room, a maid was ordered up earlier according to records.” She smiled, glancing slightly to the side to watch Harry’s reaction.

He had none and neither did Louis.

“Yeah, but you got get clearance.” Daylen said, looking off to the side at the slightly harder footsteps.

“Who’s at the door, squirt?” Jace asked, shoving Daylen away from the slightly opened door, his eyes looming over Sophia, a smirk crossing his face. “Le ma’ma, and what would your name be, cheri?” Jace asked, using his bodyweight to lean on the frame opposite of the door.

“Button.” Sophia replied sarcastically, earning a light jab in the side from Harry.

Jace chuckled.

“Well, you are cute as a button. Darling, as stunning as you are, I am going to need your security clearance or I’m afraid I can’t let you in, baby, and I would really like to let you in.”

Sophia wanted to punch this kid’s teeth down his throat, but forced a seductive smile with a tight lipped overlap so she wouldn’t bare her teeth – or try to bite him.

“Security color; blue. Code number 391756983, agent 329 – housekeeping. Your father left me with the information before he left.” Sophia replied without slip and made Louis smile with a nod.

“Ding, ding. Now, how old are you, baby? Because you are way too young to be in housekeeping. Housekeeping is for old farts and beautiful? You are a Juliet to Caesar’s Cleopatra.”

Harry tensed and shot Louis a look.

Sophia smiled innocently.

“I don’t understand.” She turned her head, keeping the panic from her voice.

“It means, I met the cleaning staff and baby? You weren’t one of them. I’m calling security.” Jace smirked, going to close the door in her face.

Sophia gasped as Louis and Harry pushed her out of the way of the door and kicked it simultaneously with their foot, causing the chain to break and a clear entry into the room.

Daylen yelled and backed away, Jace stumbled back from the force of the kick, but quickly got into defense stance mode like his teacher of ten years had taught him.

“I have a second degree black belt, don’t come any closer!” Jace yelled in warning, casting his eyes to Daylen. “Get into the bathroom, squirt! Barricade it, call dad.” He ordered the younger lad calmly.

Sophia went to catch the younger one. Louis tried to grab her, but he wasn’t quick enough, which resulted in Jace catching her by the neck and slamming her against the wall, the other hand shooting up to her windpipe, adding pressure to it.

“Who are you?! Who sent you?” Jace demanded darkly, eyeing Sophia and then her bad hand.

“Damien Style’s son, at your service, Master Attwater.” Harry introduced just as darkly, a glimpse of recognition blinking in Jace’s eyes.

“Styles? The underground Styles?” Jace demanded, choking Sophia slightly.

“Yes and she’s my hostage, could you try not to kill her?” Harry gestured calmly, flinching when the bathroom door slammed shut.

“Hostage? Bullshit! She was helping you!” Jace seethed, turning his head to Sophia and taking his arm off her windpipe.

When he did that, she brought her head forward and attached her lips to Jace’s mouth, the action knocking the boy completely off guard.

Evidently it knocked Harry off guard too because he stood frozen while Louis leapt into action.

With a swift and cunning move, he stepped forward and brought his foot up straight into the younger boy’s side to knock him breathless.

Sophia backed away when Jace grunted and watched wide eyed as the other boy drew his fist back and brought it to Louis’s stomach since he was in such close proximity and left a vulnerable place on him wide open for the taking.

“Harry! Get hopping, mate!” Louis groaned, his body jerking back in a defensive position, blocking one of Jace’s hits and forcing himself back.

“The fuck! I want to know what is going on right now!” Jace demanded, backing away to the bed so he could keep the three of them within his sights.

“Your father, Master Attwater, is bidding on a particular company that my father has also had his eyes on; a pharmaceutical company that’s going belly up. I trust you are aware?” Harry gestured out, hearing a panicked bang from the bathroom.

“Jacey! The phone die, it won’t turn on!” Daylen panicked, unlocking the bathroom door and stepping out.

“Get the fuck back i- “His words were cut short when Sophia shot forward and wrapped her bad arm around the small boy and pressing a knife to the kid’s throat with the other.

“No!” Jace panicked and went to take a step, but felt a hard kick to his chest from Harry, the movement of the younger leader’s body elegantly positioning the striking blow with a sort of poise that even Louis himself lacked.

Jace braced himself, catching Louis’s foot when it too came to knock him off guard, twisting it harshly with a crack.

“Mother Mary of a Buddha smurf! Crack a fucken midget!” Louis exclaimed, his body being forced downward.

“Back the fuck off curly or I’ll break his leg!” Jace roared, narrowing his eyes at Harry.

Harry’s breath came out in pants, his own eyes slitting red.

“Break his leg and Ms. Stone will slit your kin’s throat.” Harry antagonized back with a low, throaty growl.

“Slit his neck and it defies your purpose for even being here entirely. My father won’t pay you a cent for ransom. He is a man of integrity. Go back home, it’s your last chance before I get angry.” Jace warned, putting his hands fisted back into defense mode.

“And do what exactly?” Louis croaked, not moving a muscle as any sudden jerks would get his leg broken. “Turn into the incredible hulk? Dude, please do. I need more of a challenge.” Louis antagonized him, gritting his teeth when Jace gave his body a hard tug so it spun onto the ground.

Louis landed on the ground with an oof, a foot stepping on the mid of his back and keeping him pinned.

“Your best is only second class, Master Styles.” Jace mimicked back to Harry, the heel of his foot pressing into Louis ever so slightly, his bones cracking under the applying pressure.

Louis groaned.

“Mate? Stand a little to the left will ya? I got a sore spot that could use – AAH, smurf cookies, okay, Jesus, I’ll shut up.” Louis decided when the kid’s heel got shoved harder into his spinal cord.

“I thought you said you could counteract him, Louis? Why aren’t you counteracting him?” Sophia asked, her hand twisting on the knife.

“I am, can’t you see that I got him exactly -grrrmmm – mate, if you break my spine, I will hurt you.” Louis hissed, wincing.

Sophia seemed unconvinced and held onto the younger boy in her grasp.

Daylen was whimpering and Sophia felt bad for the boy, but the situation needed under control and this didn’t seem that either of them had much control.

“Harry?” Sophia asked, turning toward Harry, he looked back at her with soulless conviction.

“Louis has this under control, Ms. Stone. Your job, should you be competent enough, is to watch the boy. I’m not without knowing that his brother has no doubt taught him a thing or two. Watch his movements, not ours.” Harry told her, nodding to Daylen.

Jace scowled, eyeing Sophia and the cut on her neck. It looked deep. There was no doubt a miss somewhere in the equation that the younger boy didn’t understand.

“Ms. Stone? Sophia Stone? Daniel Stone’s daughter, Dylan Stone your younger brother?” He questioned, looking down with a sneer at the back of Louis’s head.

“Yes. How would you know that?” Sophia let her reserve slip a little and indulge her curiosity.

Jace chuckled.

“My father was your father’s first North American investment. We met, but it was a long time ago. I believe I was only eight or so. I’m surprised that it took me this long, but your face was rather an easy one to forget.” Jace smirked, making Sophia scowl.

“I agree,” Sophia concurred, a sour look on her face. “It is rather easy to forget a child. I believe you and Dylan sat at the children’s table, my father insisted that I sit and entertain our first US investor – tell me, Master Attwater, how is your father nowadays?” She asked with a sneer of her own.

Harry watched them, eyes going back and forth between the bickering two.

“He is well, Ms. Stone. Thank you for your concern. Now that pleasantries are out of the way, I want you all to leave.” Jace gestured to the door, stomping his foot down on Louis’s back again.

Louis groaned at the notion.

“I’m going to need a chiropractor after this.” Louis muttered, slamming his foot against the carpet when Jace only increased the pressure.

“Mother of a smurf! Will you STOP!?”

Sophia looked somewhat amused.

“I thought you said you had this under control, Louis? Why do I get the impression that you know absolutely shit in self-defense?” Sophia turned to the withering bloke on the floor.

“Don’t knock him yet, Ms. Stone.” Harry advised, his head prompting to the side with a cocky smirk.

“So, he’s just biding his time on the floor getting hurt? Okay, I’ll believe that when you, Louis and the rest of your lads form a boyband and become famous, because that’s the only way I’ll be convinced you two have anything under control.” Sophia said, rolling her eyes and gestured with her head back to Jace, pulling Daylen back a little tighter, gripping the knife firmer and leaning in to whisper something in his ear.

A moment later Daylen nodded, a whimper escaping him.

“I’m afraid I’m not cut out for that sort of future. I’d miss this life too much, luv. Considering it’s the only joy I have left.” Harry snapped hotly, narrowing in on Jace and sizing him up.

Daylen suddenly jerked himself back and used his small fist to abruptly hit Sophia square in the chest, pressing her by force to the wall, knocking the knife from her hand.

She didn’t try to fight and watched as the lad picked the knife up and sprinted back in the bathroom, locking the door behind him and started screaming for help.

“Wonderful. I give you a simple task to complete and you defy me by letting the lad get away and giving him a weapon on top of it all. Just dandy,” Harry rolled his eyes, eyeing the bathroom, cringing and scratching his head. “Kid is going to wake the dead. Louis? Take care of him, I got Jet Li.” Harry ordered, looking down at Louis who was now laying perfectly still.

“Louis? Get up!” Harry growled, eyeing Jace who was smiling.

“There’s a pressure point, by the neck – your father taught you the place well, I assume?” Jace asked, stepping to the side and kicking Louis in the side to make sure he was out.

“Quite well and then some.” Harry answered, his hand going to the back of his pants pocket, fingering something he didn’t want to have to use.

Jace chuckled.

“I assumed so. You see, my father has taught me the business well, taught me who to deal with, taught me who to steer clear of and the one thing he addressed me on was making deals with the devil. Your father, most specifically.” Jace gestured.

Harry shrugged.

“Damien is a man, just like any other, lad. Your father simply told you to be smart – admirable, but pointless all the same. You and Jr Attwater are going to come peacefully, whether it be by force or cooperation, either is fine with me.” He flicked back just as carelessly.

Jace folded his arms across his chest in a b-boy stance, cocking his head.

“I’d rather thought the son of a famous underground would be more of a challenge. I think I might be a little disappointed.” Jace mocked in an artificial pout.

Harry smirked, chuckling deeply.

“And I would have thought the son of a top businessman wouldn’t be so stupid. Do you really think it’s that easy to beat us? We were specifically trained in kidnapping and executions. Life is of little consequence to the bigger picture, Jace. We all have skeletons in our closet, even your daddy.” Harry said, looking at Louis, waiting. He knew what the older bloke was doing and couldn’t help but shake his head.

Sophia stepped forward, her eyes trained to the back of Harry, his hand gripping a rectangular box – a stun gun. She knew them quite well.

“Harry? Don’t. He’s just a lad, a child in many ways. I am begging you to do it another way.” Sophia requested softly, earning a snort.

“We are running out of time, Ms. Stone. Besides, what would you have me do? Reach over and pluck a kiss on his lips like you just did? I am afraid he is far from my type.” Harry retorted sarcastically.

“I was following orders; my orders were clear. It worked, but you botched it by leaving Louis to handle the situation. You froze. Face it, Styles, you failed Louis – just as you will always be second best. Compared to Damien, he will always be the darkness and you his shadow.” Sophia shook her head, noticing his grip tightened on the stunner.

“You follow MY orders. For that, you will spend the night in the basement. I will not have my commands disobeyed. Especially if you want to live as bad as you claim.” Harry rolled his eyes, noticing Jace was following the conversation back and forth with his eyes.

Sophia shrugged.

“Chain me up and send me downstairs – it doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve been beaten, raped and chained up for weeks while you were at the Cage. The shackles are just another part of this world, both figuratively and literally. They make us bleed and help us remember who we are and where we are.” She stated passively, glancing at Jace that had his eyes locking to the door.

“That will be discussed later, I need to know what went on during your time at Elliott’s. For now, we get back to currant business.” Harry narrowed, stepping forward.

Jace took this chance to run towards the door, but Harry was on him immediately.

The moment Harry’s hand touched Jace’s arm, he rapidly turned and grasped the end of Harry’s wrist and shoulder, using his bodyweight to swiftly flip Harry over him to the carpet below.

Harry didn’t pause or relinquish his hold on the boy and used his leg to wrap around Jace, knocking him down on the floor and flipping onto him.

Before Jace could react, Harry pulled the stun gun from his belt and put it to his neck, pressing the button.

Jace’s body contracted upward in stiffness with the electric releasing its current through his body at rapid speeds.

“Sorry lad, but we simply don’t have that much time to match off,” Harry told him in an apologetic, sardonic tone, looking at Sophia. “Ms. Stone? Would you come here, please?”

Sophia nodded, noting that Jace’s mouth was open in a silent scream.

She walked to Harry and he in return relinquished the button on the stunner.

“Keep him down. I need to go wake sleeping beauty up.” He glowered, noticing that Daylen had quit screaming.

“How long until security comes through?” Sophia asks, dropping to Jace and taking the stunner from Harry, pressing it to the younger boy’s throat while Harry rushes to Louis and presses the nerve on his neck that would wake him up.

“Roundabout? We got a few minutes max. We’re going to have to put the lads in bed and hide until security makes their rounds.” Harry let her know, knowing they would also need to re-loop the security cameras again to make a clean getaway.

Louis groaned and awoke with a start, his hand going to his head.

“That lad sure knows his pressure points.” Louis mumbled, pushing himself from the ground slowly.

Two shots were forced into Louis’s hand.

“Put the youngest one out. He’s in the bathroom.” Harry ordered, grabbing another two and making his way back over Sophia.

Louis nodded and made his way to the bathroom, pausing when Sophia spoke up, eyeing Harry as he knelt down and forced the stun gun from her hand and replaced it with one of the uncapped needles.

“Don’t scare him, Lou. The lad’s already frightened enough.” Sophia said, meeting Harry’s eyes, directing it down to the needle.

“I’m showing you how to inject one, in case you ever need to.” Harry answered her silent question, making Sophia nod in response.

He grasped the back of her hand, his palm overlapping and molding perfectly to hers, bringing the needle to Jace’s neck, noticing the boy’s eyes stood open in wide eyed fear, paralyzed to do anything but look up helplessly.

“Quick pinch, lad. You’ll not feel a thing.” Harry assured, the thin metal sliding easily into his neck.

Jace didn’t react, the after currents keeping him silent and compliant.

Sophia’s finger was forced over the plunger by one of Harry’s and the release was easy to press down, the liquid from the tube emptying into his system.

Sophia frowned, watching Harry inject a second one into him, satisfied when Jace’s eyes slid closed.

Louis was over by the bathroom door, a small piece of crooked metal in the keyhole.

“Smurf cookies. I have no idea how this happens every bloody time.” Louis mutters, jerking the crooked metal around to unlock the door.

“You need to stop being afraid to hurt people. I don’t know how you can kill children, but you can’t bring yourself to hurt anyone – it’s something you need to get the fuck over, Tomlinson. We all know how this ends. Two bullets, two bodies – and you behind the pistol.” Harry finished coldly, reaching under Jace and picking the boy up.

“Yeah, because killing kids is my specialty. Sure. I have to because you can’t.” Louis counteracted, his tone just as stonily.

“You’ve done it before.” Harry waved him off, throwing Jace on the bed and covering him up.

“How long?” Sophia asked, tugging her dress down in frustration. It was the last time she was wearing anything formfitting.

Harry looked at his watch.

“Four minutes according to my watch. Louis? Get in there and get the kid sedated, we got to hide when security does their sweep. There’s a window ledge outside, we’ll take that; Sophia can hide under their bed.” Harry ordered, hearing the bathroom door click.

“Oh and be careful, Lou. I gave Daylen a knife.” Sophia advised, making Louis pause in opening the door to turn back to give her an incredulous look.

“Really?” Louis made sure to clarify, knowing it wasn’t a joke when Sophia nodded. Just for the hell of it he looked at Harry to confirm.

“She told him to run back into the bathroom. He pushed her, she dropped it and he grabbed the knife and totted back in there. We’re pressed on time, Louis. Three minutes.” Harry looked at his watch.

“Sure, send Louis in to get shish-kabobbed by an eleven-year-old, he only needs one working eye and half his intestines.” Louis muttered, opening the door and entering the bathroom quietly.

Harry went over and grabbed Sophia’s arm.

“Under the bed, now.” Harry growled, shoving her next to the big comfortable frame.

Sophia looked up at him, her tired blue eyes glancing up into furious green ones.

“I never asked for you to take it easy on me, I don’t and never wanted that, but you’re really making me regret staying. I stayed to save your life, no regard for my own and you so willingly traded it to the devil for a show of who has the bigger dick. I hope it was worth it.” Sophia murmured, hearing a yell from Louis inside the bathroom, followed by a vicious growl.

Both Harry and Sophia looked up in time to see a long furred Chihuahua come flying out of the bathroom, via a kick from Louis.

The dog yelped, but turned back for a second attack.

“Watch out for Cujo’s teeth! Fucking sucker bites!” Louis yelled, making Harry look at the dog, taking his stun gun out to sedate the frightened creature.

Sophia shot up and shoved Harry from behind, using her foot to bring the leader to his knees.

“Don’t you dare!” Sophia panicked and grabbed the dog, backing away to the bed.

“We don’t have time for this!” Harry growled, getting up and approached Sophia, grabbing the dog by the neck and looking around.

He saw one of the boy’s suitcases open and approached it, throwing the dog in and zipping it up.

“Happy?” Harry gritted, looking at his watch. “Louis! One minute!”

Sophia dropped on the floor and gently slid under the bed, Louis opening the door with an unconscious Daylen a moment later.

“Throw him on the bed, we go out on the ledge.” Harry ordered, going to the window and opening without hesitation.

The dog started barking through the suitcase at the sound of Louis’s voice, which made Harry groan.

“This can’t get any worse.” Harry said, regretting it when there was a knock on the door a few seconds later.

Louis grabbed the suitcase the dog was in and unzipped it, dumping him on the bed.

Thankfully the thing calmed down and quieted.

“Now!” Harry hissed to Louis, stepping carefully out onto the small ledge and to the left, Louis following Harry out and going to the right, their heels barely supported on the piece of cement.

Louis pressed himself into the brick, looking straight ahead. The last time he looked down from a forty story building, it was safe to say he screamed like a girl and almost passed out. Thankfully, after doing it a couple hundred times, he’s learned how to master the short space between him and Death.

“Still prefer this to Sophia’s driving.” He tried to convince himself.

“Shut. Up.” Harry growled, spacing his words out.

They waited a few minutes, trying to hear inside.

“Hey Frank, the kids left the window open again, should I close it?” One guard asked, his voice a mere whisper.

“Yeah, lock it. They’re leaving tomorrow anyhow, they don’t need it open right now, out like lights those ones.” Frank replied and just like that, Harry and Louis found themselves locked outside on the fortieth floor of a rather high hotel ledge.

“Don’t panic. Do you hear me, Louis? Do not panic.” Harry repeated, getting a look at Louis’s pale face and noting his rapid breathing.

“Panicking? Whose panicking? I’m not panicking, I’m doing a fucking tap dance in excitement at the prospect of being stuck out here and falling to my death!” Louis replied back, feeling faint.

“Calm down, Louis. Do you see me panicking?” Harry reasoned, though he’d never tell Louis that he was a bit concerned – considering his one foot was hanging over the side of the ledge and his heels were barely hanging on.

“No, but you’re part machine your feelings don’t count, because you don’t have any!” Louis closed his eyes, whimpering and just wanting to now get off the edge.

“Hurtful, Tomlinson. Truly, hurtful and here I thought we were friends.” Harry rolled his eyes, wondering where Sophia was.

‘Do you think Flower will unlock the window or leave us to die?” Louis changed subjects, knowing no one can hear them outside and they themselves can’t hear what’s happening inside.

“I hope so, unless she’s caught. In which case, we might have to call Damien and at that point he’s just going to throw us off the bloody edge.”

Louis groaned.

“Then let’s hope she – “Louis didn’t get to finish, the window suddenly opening, Sophia poking her head out.

“Oh my god!” Sophia exclaimed, reaching her good hand out to Harry. “Here, take my hand.”

Harry looked at her hand and then at Louis.

“Get Louis first, he’s about to pass out.” Harry noted, watching her turn to Louis and grip his wrist, gently leading him into the window and away from death.

When she turned to help Harry, he gingerly maneuvered his one foot and put it on the windowsill, crouching his large body into the open gap and stepping back in.

Sophia watched in amazement, impressed to say the least.

Harry caught her look and smirked.

“A lesson for later. You will find yourself out on the edge with us soon enough. For now, your usefulness is limited to uselessness. This whole exercise has been a total failure.”

Sophia’s shoulders slumped, her heels clicking against the carpet as she walked.

“Har – “Sophia stopped short when his fingers wrapped lightly at the back of her throat.

“Harry is reserved for prisoners and those of trusted status. You will call me sir. Nothing more, nothing less. Am I clear, Ms. Stone?”

Sophia nodded, walking to get the cart from outside to hide the boys in.

Louis noticed the dog was sound asleep beside Daylen, though its breath was slower.

“I sedated the dog, sir. I figure it would be easier that way.” Sophia told Louis, noticing he took out his phone and began to break into the main security again, looping the footage to repeat for another half hour, allowing them plenty of time to escape.

“Good girl. Bring the cart here, we’ll take care of the rest.” Louis replied absently, his eyes working to make sure the parking lot was on loop as well.

Sophia nodded and brought the cart to Harry, turning to stand near Louis as he finished up. Honestly, all she wanted to do at that point was fall asleep.

Louis put his phone away without a word and began to help Harry dump the Attwater siblings into the laundry cart that was left outside the door from earlier.

Notes