The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Narrator’s POV:

Louis settled the green purse across Sophia’s shoulders with bright blue eyes alit with an emotion that surpassed even Sophia’s understanding. It was evidently potent because he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and used his other hand to gesture towards the clear blue skies.

“Imagine that a thousand years ago, humans stood here on grassy rock and glanced up towards the clouds without even a coherent thought that would make sense. Now? We look up and see buildings and feel the rough cobblestone beneath our feet to guide us. The city is alive, flower and we need to sample it.”

Sophia could see the opportunity in front of her. Something she never got to do when she was tied down to her father’s company – sadly, that had been her whole life.

“I never truly got to go out into London. Even when I moved away from my father’s mansion. It was home, work and occasionally I would go on dates with my father’s clients to smooth over the accounts, but – my childhood was spent in the back of a limo. I don’t even think I know how a kid is supposed to act.” Sophia responded, her blue eyes staring up longingly to the earth above.

“Park? Surely daddy Stone let his little princess and prince go and play in the park. Hell, that was my favorite place to run away to.” Louis retorts, beginning to guide her down the street, smiling at the heads that turned their way.

“Once. I was young so I don’t recall much, just that mum went to the park to organize a drink and dine get together and it had been raining that day. I crawled into a puddle and that was the end of park visits.” Sophia furrows her eyes, struggling to remember what her mum had told her when she was six and asked to go to the park with a friend.

“So all your life, no slides, no monkey bars and no swings? Just pushing papers and getting pimped out to clients for daddy’s business?” Louis snarked with a scrunched face, as if he had just had mud slung into his mouth.

Sophia shrugged.

“I suppose, but the benefits weren’t that bad. I met Asher Heart, Tony Shalane, Micky Milano and Tracy Venetia. Sophisticated and refined young gents that I fell blindly for. Asher Heart was the first and made my ticker beat the fastest of them all. The others, they faded away when I couldn’t keep a relationship with them for more than a few days. Father prohibited me to keep relationships if they did not benefit the contracts. He called them pointless teenaged crushes, so I never got involved. It kept things peaceful with father and that was essential. Looking back, I wish I had not been so blind.”

Louis hummed, nodding in understanding.

“Yes, it showed how blind love can be, especially when you robbed the bloke of his clothes, threw his under drawers away and left him in the road with nothing but his birthday suit. Because that’s one way for your crush to know you just adore him.” Louis quipped, having a chuckle at the memory, though flinched when he remembered he got shot in the arse.

Sophia rubbed her forehead.

“I won’t deny that he is still as beautiful as I remember. However, he is much more jaded and he doesn’t fancy me after my father tried to rip his father off involving a percentage of his investment that mine had subsequently already spent. Long story short, Asher and I had been spending the evening together after the party, before we both heard an argument stemming from our parents. He took his father’s side and already damned me for being a seductress. I never did quite forgive him for calling me a whoring trollop – though I understand why he would assume so.” Sophia nodded, adding the last part as an afterthought.

“A whoring trollop? Quite the posh vocabulary that one has. Darling? Stick with us snakes and rats and you can’t go wrong.” Louis grinned, showing his pearly whites to the girl.

“Asher hit it off with my brother and they practiced together since they were both musicians, but something happened that my brother wouldn’t tell me and they quit hanging out. So, now I can only look at Ash while I cower behind a wall – and with us stealing and wrecking his car, he’s more than likely to call the cops or try to make a citizen’s arrest again if he spots us.” Sophia said, also laughing at the probability.

Louis waved her off.

“The chances of running into him is a million in one chance. Now, first stop; the park, because darling? You need to experience some life behind those eyes and we have the whole day.”

With that he drug her across the street to cut over to a corner and head another direction.

“What about Harry’s car?” Sophia questioned, not seeing it anywhere.

Louis shrugged.

“Well, I parked it someplace out of the way and put the tracker back in so he can find it. By then though, we’ll be way out of this area. The place I’m taking you, flower, is quite the ways up the road, hence your flat shoes – though, we’ll need to steal a motorcycle later on, I take it you never been on one of those either?” Louis asked, putting his arm across her shoulders to keep her up with his own pace.

“No. Father forbid – “She started, making Louis shush her in annoyance.

“Of course he did because your father was a right tool. Let’s get off him or I’ll go find his burnt body and feed the remains to a starving dog.” Louis threatened, his eyes hardening.

Sophia nodded, knowing that Louis would.

“Okay, drinking? Going out with friends? Dancing?” Louis named a few things off.

Sophia blinked hard.

“Went out with clients for a drink and dinner sometimes. Friends? I – “She shook her head and looked away with a shrug. “I had a friend when I was younger, but she didn’t want to be my friend anymore by primary school. So, no friends really. Dancing? I slow danced with clients at parties. My father had a ballroom coach teach me.” Sophia replied, slowly realizing that she herself had been blind to er life and what she had been missing.

Louis seemed to notice and nodded gently.

“Precisely. You’re different than most, flower. You were born into privilege, but all the money in the world never prepared you for this or anything else. You were your father’s pet and he used it brilliantly. He used your youth and beauty to make himself profitable. He didn’t let you have a life outside his rules, even if you lived in your own apartment, he made sure you kept focused. He had you working for him since you could walk and in return, right here, right now – what has it gotten you in return?” Louis reasoned, smiling and stopping her again so they were facing each other.

“Kidnapped, raped, stripped of dignity, stripped of freedom, family killed and beat up nearly every day so far. Sums it up, I think – unless this is supposed to be a AHA! moment – then, yeah, flew right over my bloody head.” Sophia sassed, really not pleased in the direction this conversation turned.

Louis beamed in delight at her sass.

“Flower? You’ve been given an opportunity. You are standing here without chains and without restrictions. If you wanted to, say, trip a stiff in a business suit that’s walking passed, then I’ll be right beside you showing you how. The city is ours to do with what we will today,” He threw his hand to the skies with the lighting of the sun that shined down on them in a heavenly like glow, illuminating their auras and projecting a rainbow like mist around them.

“Tell me your wish and it is done, but don’t think of this as an end. Think of this as a beginning to an endless array of freedom. You’re right, princess. Your life has changed, though it’s not changed for the worst. You have friends among you and that’s something you couldn’t have in your old life. You have Harry who is willing to lay his life down – or did. Niall, he’s a special snowflake all his own, but we love him anyhow, Zayn – he has issues, no doubt he’ll work through them before he turns ninety, Liam – well, he’s Liam and then there’s me. I want to be your guide – your friend, because maybe I need one too and you seem like a pretty cool bird. So, what do you say? Friends? Cause if not, I’m telling Harry you stole the car and kidnapped me again.”

He threw her his best smile.

Surprisingly, she found it easier to laugh around Louis. She wasn’t as on guard as she was with Harry and she loved that he didn’t take anything too seriously. It wasn’t like before and the way her light went through him and illuminated some of his darkness, a blackness that even he admitted was far overdo to light away.

“I feel like I’m falling deeper. The more I’m around you, the more I find myself wishing I had met you, Niall, Liam, Zayn and Harry under different circumstances. Like at a café or the park. Somewhere I could turn, smile and start a simple conversation with a ‘hello’” Sophia said, feeling a small spark of sadness rumble down her chest into the pit of her stomach.

Louis shrugged.

“There are no such things as first bad impressions. So, allow me my lady,” He bowed and slipped his arm from her again to gently grab her good hand and kiss the top. “A lovely morning it is, miss. I’m Louis Tomlinson and it is a pleasure to meet you.” He smirked knowingly with a wink.

Sophia laughed.

“I’m Sophia Stone and I dare say Master Tomlinson, that you are very brash. Grabbing a lady’s hand and placing a kiss upon it without permission? Very bad form indeed.” She pretended to be offended, though she held a smile, especially at the look Louis now wore.

“My apologies fair maiden, I did not mean to offend. Allow me to make it up to you then? Say, a stroll through the park, my hand in yours as we go once around the lake? It should make up for my impertinence.” Louis played along, his hand going into hers and gently guiding her along the street, the turn of heads watching the couple.

Sophia nodded and followed him leisurely, noticing a bag hanging from his belt – actually, he was wearing dress pants and a white button down shirt with a black cover jacket to match.

“You changed too? You look spiffy.” Sophia noted, watching the side of his lip twitch.

“Darling? I look like a God, don’t hold back compliments now, because you look like a Goddess and we are walking together. See? A perfect match made for mischief.” Louis chuckled, though corked an eye brow at Sophia’s curiosity of what was in the bag that was perched from his belt.

“Cups, darling. I bought one for each of us – well technically, I bought three extras for me because as much as I adore those pretty blues, they hold a view for wanting to make me childless and I don’t trust just one of those to hold up. I even got curly one for safety reasons,” Louis shrugged, chuckling. “Not that I believe he ever has business siring any children, but in case he does, I got him covered.”

Sophia grinned.

“Do you have the nerf gun with you?” She asked, watching Louis lift his shirt up slightly, showing it was tucked next to his real one.

“I do and your knives are in my pocket. I’m a loaded weapon, doll face.”

Sophia nodded and continued along, the rich London air a fresh relief to the woody scents of the forest they left behind.

“Enjoy it today, because tomorrow we’re going to be in so much trouble.” Sophia chuckled, also a little shocked that the conversation seemed so lax – especially where Harry is concerned.

Louis snorted, walking her across another corner and turning into an alley to shortcut to the park.

“Harry is like a kitten, you just got to know where to scratch his stomach to make him purr and sweetheart? You’re the hand that is going to make him speechless and make his cheeks go redder than your arse.”

Sophia blanched.

“How am I supposed to do that?! He’s going to be busy screaming death at us when he catches up.” Sophia shook her head.

Louis laughed a little.

“Our trackers are not able to be deactivated, but I stuffed them up for a little bit. I put this special liquid into the frequency and if Harry looks, it will show we’re in another city or another country all together. His phone will show that location instead of real one. Though truth be told, I’m shocked he hasn’t called me yet…must have smashed his phone into the ground again. He does that sometimes.”

Sophia merely sighed.

“Alright, another subject. How about – “Louis started, but stopped abruptly, catching Sophia as she stumbled at the sudden halt.

“Fuck my great aunt Mildred with a horny smurf.” Louis breathed, catching a familiar pair of eyes at the exact same time that they looked over at the clearing the two had come out from to continue to the park.

Sophia was confused until she saw a woman, a little older than herself, marching forward with a very angry look on her face.

“Not good, not good, not good.” Louis panicked, looking for an exit.

Too late.

“Louis FUCKING William FUCKING Tomlinson! Where the bloody fucking hell have you fucking been!?” She screamed with a glare that could make a hell hound go yapping for its mother and freeze the very fires of hell with just the intensity alone.

Louis’s panic gave way to a very big sarcastic grin.

He had no idea what to say, because he did not expect to run into his old flame – more so, he didn’t expect her to run into him.

“Ele-babe! I have found you at last! The Gods have – “He started, but a harsh slap to his face by the enraged female quickly silenced him.

“Don’t you dare fucking try that with me, swine!” Her eyes caught Sophia, darkening in contrast to what they were before – if that was even possible. “And who the FUCK are you?!” She demanded.

“Sophia, Louis’s friend. Now I see where he gets his vocabulary from.” Sophia noted, seeing that the two were indeed a perfect match.

Eleanor hauled off and took a swing at Louis’s other cheek, his head snapping sharply to the side.

“Fuck a pigeon! Will you stop slapping me?! I don’t think I deserve that and the least you could do is say hello!” Louis yelled, rubbing his right cheek.

Eleanor gritted her teeth and meshed them together.

“Hello.” She growled out before her hand went to the cheek she had already hit before, making Louis groan.

“Fuck Eleanor, stop overreacting.” Louis responded calmly, his emotional blue eyes filling with memories of the two as teenagers.

“Overreacting?” Sophia flinched, because the last thing you do is tell a girl they’re overreacting.

“Yes, overreact – “Another hard slap.

“FUCK YOU!” She screamed and turned to stalk away.

Louis grabbed out to catch her wrist.

She hauled her body around to give him another good slap, but when he caught her wrists, she brought her leg up between his legs and gave it a good hard kick.

Bone met hard plastic and Louis couldn’t help but grin widely.

“IT WORKED! Little Louis is saved!” He cheered, making Sophia gap at him.

Eleanor jerked herself from his touch and gave a well-aimed punch to Louis’s gut.

He went down like a rock, hunching over in pain.

“I see you two have some issues to work out. I’ll be around.” Sophia excused herself, biting her lip as she walked away.

“Come back, don’t leave me alone with Satan’s mother!” Louis grunted out, his voice higher pitched.

Sophia flinched when Eleanor attempted to kick Louis in the dick again.

“Blue smurf balls! That doesn’t work!” Louis argued.

Evidently the kick to his stomach thereafter did.

Sophia shook her head and headed to where she thought the park was, leaving Louis alone to get acquainted with his old girlfriend – if Eleanor didn’t just kick him into la-la-land, because it was unnaturally silent behind her after and Sophia was not turning around, because truth be told, she did feel just a tad bit sorry for Louis.

“So much for a peaceful day in London.” Sophia muttered, cutting through to another corner block and going to cross the street.

“Miss?” Someone called, the same time as a blare of a horn sounded close by.

Strong arms reached around Sophia and pulled her back to the sidewalk just as a car passed through, their speed not even slowing.

“Holy fuck toads!” Sophia breathed, unaware she had gone out in front of a car.

“Are you hurt?” The guy asked, turning Sophia around to meet his face; while his eyes scanned over her rapidly.

“No, just a little shaken. Sorry, my head was in the clouds.” She apologized, smiling.

The guy sighed in relief, frowning a second later when he scanned her over again and saw the scars littering her body.

Sophia seemed to notice to and swallowed hard.

“Thank you, for saving me. Have a good day, sir.” Sophia nodded, about to walk away from her savior, her eyes shut in embarrassment.

How could Louis foolishly believe that anyone would notice anything else but her reminders from the months in hell that she spent?

“Don’t I get a name, miss? I’d like to know the beautiful woman whose life I just saved. If perhaps something more – such as a coffee and pastry? My treat.” The man smiled warmly, holding his hand out for Sophia to take.

Sophia looked back with a frown, studying the warm green eyes and pale lips, his circular face with the milky complexion of beige.

She narrowed her eyes at his softly blowing auburn ash red hair that was cut into a natural boy’s clip, with his tall figure reaching about one hundred and eighty-five centimeters (6 foot) tall.

He put on his best smile, looking down at her as she was a few inches shorter than him and not to mention, his body build wasn’t too bad either.

If Sophia had to compare, she would say that he had Harry’s build in the shoulders and chest, but his arms were slightly less muscular.

He cleared his throat when all she did was analyze him.

Seeming to snap out of her thoughts once more, she shrugged.

“I suppose, but isn’t it more cordial to introduce oneself before being expected to be given a name? After all, you are a stranger.” Sophia sassed back, taking Louis’s advice from early, using a play on his words against him with a small smile.

Confidence. If you display confidence, they want to know what’s inside you and not what is on your body.

Sophia reminded herself, making sure to maintain eye contact – just as her father had shown her to do with clients.

But he isn’t a client.

Sophia’s eyes conflicted for a second and she had to look away, her confidence momentarily lapsed.

“Colton. Colton Grear and the pleasure is all mine, miss.” Colton smiled and held his hand out for her.

Sophia stepped forward cautiously and raised her arm out, gently taking his hand.

“Sadie Star. A pleasure as well, mister Grear.” Sophia replied back, her eyes meeting the way their hands touched, shaking ever so slightly in a formal greeting, though it seemed rather odd, considering she had no practice at this stuff, other than what her father taught her.

“I feel as if we just met to sign a business agreement. Judging by your face, how serious it is – you are a business woman. Your handshake is firm, but also gentle. Which means you are not of low intelligence and recognize a ruse when you see one.” Colton observed, making Sophia pop up an eyebrow at his accurate perception.

“You seem so sure of yourself, Mister Grear. I was simply observing your mannerisms, which are making me second guess taking you up on your offer for breakfast and coffee. So don’t assume, because you never will. Now, take my hand like the gentlemen I saw earlier and lead me to the café.” She spoke deadweight, eyes hiding behind a hardness that now protruded from her stare.

Colton bowed slightly.

“As you wish. Forgive me, my boldness was not warranted.” He apologized and gently took her hand to lead her to the café.

Sophia strolled with him, she knew the area and for some odd reason, she was as curious of him as he appeared to be of her.

“If you ae not a businesswoman, lady Sadie, then what are you? A crime fighter perhaps? Or a dancer?” He observed her dress with a smile.

Sophia rolled her eyes.

“I used to be in business, that however I found is not what I am supposed to be doing with my life – according to fate and it’s muddled up view of what reality is supposed to be. My current profession is an off topic for me as I am in between careers. Though, Master Grear, I would love to know what profession you’re in. A dog walker would be my guess as the red team shirt and neatly pressed blue jeans would suggest nothing professional – unless it’s casual Friday and today is not Friday.” Sophia responded back with a chuckle.

“Touché, Ms. Sadie. However, I am not working today. I was on my way to buy groceries for me and my flat mate, when a stunning woman in a drop dead green dress happened to walk in front of me and attempted to commit suicide by speeding car. So, no more judgments missy or I’ll recant my offer and you look like your half-starved.” Colton noticed, the bones of her spine protruding from her skin, not severely, but just enough to be noticeable.

Sophia shrugged.

“T’would be your loss. I was heading to the park anyhow, seems a good place as any to clear one’s head, does it not, Master Grear?”

Colton nodded in agreement.

“Indeed. So, how about this? Coffee and breakfast, no talk of our professions and we’ll follow up with a walk around the lake? After that, you can decide if you want to see me again for a second date. Is that courteous enough for you, Ms. Sadie?” Colton smirked, enjoying the girl’s sass.

Sophia hummed, pretending to think it over.

“I suppose, but could you do me a favor?” She asked, looking at him with a pointed glare.

“I suppose.” He chuckled back, enjoying the banter, though he wasn’t sure if she was kidding about the favor or not.

“Call me, Flower. It’s a nickname everyone seems to calls me and Sadie is a bit foreign.” She smiled, her eyes lighting up at the café they were heading – the place served the best pastries and their coffee was always fresh.

“Flower?” He tested the name on his tongue, the word slipping easily from his mouth, sensuous – though he was far from laying it on thick, it seemed a perfect name for her. “I like it.”

Sophia dropped her smile to a small one.

“It’s grown on me.” She admitted, the smell of sweet confection hitting her nose.

“Call me Colton. Master Grear is my father and he and I don’t see anything eye to eye – more or less.” He grinned, opening the door for her to step in.

Sophia bowed her head in a thanks, dislodging her hand from his and walking in.

Colton followed her in, his heart and head completely spun backwards.

*

“For the love of monkey balls! Ele? I know you’re upset, but – “Louis flinched, hanging on for dear life atop a large statue to get away from the woman below who was pacing furious around it like a lioness waiting for its pray to fall and Louis really needed to go after Sophia, because if he lost her – Harry would definitely do more than scream at him.

“Upset?! UPSET?!? NO! I’m not UPSET I am downright fucking PISSED! You left me! No words, no goodbye, no contact! I want to know WHY?! Was it that girl that walked off, huh? Was it because of her you couldn’t be assed? I’d fucking LOVE to know your pathetic excuse.” Eleanor screamed, making a few more people turn their heads to watch the spectacle.

“No! It’s not because of her! She’s not – we’re – El? It’s complicated, goats fucking at the gates of circle 10 hell, it is. You wouldn’t understand!” Louis pleaded, grunting when he started slipping again. “Thank God for no bird shit today. This is a new suit.” Louis muttered, noticing the statue was recently cleaned.

“I wouldn’t understand? What wouldn’t I understand? That you left me after taking my virginity? That I waited a MONTH at our spot and you didn’t come? That I spent months and months wishing to run into you in London so I could ask what I did wrong?! What did I do wrong, Louis?” Eleanor demanded, watching him pull himself back up the statue for fear of bodily injury he’d sustain down there with her. He already had a black eye where she clocked him when he was already on the ground.

“I never stopped thinking about you, Eleanor. Just – listen, I promise I’ll explain if you A: Calm down, B: Keep an open mind and C: Not kick or punch me anymore. My stomach hurts and we need to go find Sophia, she’s walked off somewhere and Harry will kill me if I lose her. I’m training her and I –“

“What do you mean ‘training her’? What sort of sick shit are you into, Louis?” Eleanor interrupted, walking to the front of the horse statue – Louis on the brazen saddle, his arms around the horse’s neck to stop himself from falling backwards.

“Sophia Stone. You’ve read the newspapers I’m sure. That was her and I am not into anything ‘sick’ I – will you just let me come down and I can explain? Show you, perhaps? I’m not lying, I’ve never stopped thinking about you. Since I was a teenager, your face is all I’ve imagined touching, thought about and seen in my dreams – aside from Esmerelda, but she’s a porn magazine fantasy.” Louis said as an afterthought, though he didn’t really mean for that to slip out. There was just something about that pinup that got Louis stiff in all the right places.

“Ugh, you know what? You’re sick! No, I don’t want to know. Go get your psycho-whore, I’m not going to stop you.” Eleanor snapped, beginning to walk off again, leaving Louis on the statue, hitting his head against the bronze surface.

“Fuck a sheep with narcolepsy, this day cannot possibly get more bazaar. Okay, get down from statue, find Sophia and then try to find Eleanor again to clear up misunderstanding. Oh, Louis. You have ninety-nine problems and women should not even make that list, but here you are,” He ranted to himself, realizing he was high up. “And how the fuck did I manage to get up here in the first place?”

Louis noticed the crowd had cleared and he was now alone with the statue.

“Wonderful, they come for the party and leave before the cleanup. Okay, just slide back – “Louis coached himself, sliding backwards and slowly left his hands fall away from the horse’s throat.

Unfortunately, bronze is a slippery and they tend to coat the statues to make cleanup easier. So when Louis released his hold, he fell backwards with a loud thump to the ground.

“Fuck my great Aunt Jermaine, that’s going to leave a mark.” Louis groaned, knowing the next time he gets chased somewhere, he’s going to try and find a safer place – like a tree or a rubbish bin that locks from the inside.

It took him a minute for his head to quit spinning where he fell, but once his world turned upright again, he sat up and slowly got to a standing position, staggering in the direction Sophia headed.

“Attempted murder by one lass and the other runs off, I can’t win. Now to hope pain in the arse didn’t get herself kidnapped again.” Louis muttered, following where he saw Sophia walking as he was getting his ass literally handed to him by his old flame.

He hovered in the same direction as the park, hoping Sophia was waiting for him there.

He crossed the street and looked around, finding only store shops.

“Okay, park’s this way.” Louis nodded and started walking across another street and crossing over to another corner under a streetlamp.

He pursed his lips when he saw the playground of the park deserted, but decided to head left, hoping to find the girl before she got herself in trouble.

“Me and my big gab. When I said get into trouble, I meant take me with you!” Louis grunted, rubbing tenderly at the black eye Eleanor gave him with a flinch. “That lass’s worked on her left hook, also, me and my stupid self for teaching her. Women!”

Louis continued onward, slightly worried when Sophia was nowhere to be seen.

*

Harry’s search through the cabin revealed that he had one throw away phone left. It was stuffed in a box in the furthest part of his closet. The set up didn’t take any more than ten minutes and once he programmed all his apps into the phone and vital programs, he turned on the trackers to everyone residing in the cabin.

“Locate, Louis Tomlinson and Sophia Stone.” Harry gritted the commanding order to his phone.

The phone took a few moments to send out the signal, giving him time to walk into the kitchen where Liam, Niall and a groggy Zayn now sat.

“Last known location of Louis Tomlinson – Antarctica.”

Harry blinked at the phone in disbelief, earning an arched eyebrow glance from Liam.

“Well, if I was going to run away; I would have chosen some place a lot warmer.” Liam commented, a small twitch of amusement showing on his face.

“Last known location of Sophia Stone – Herat, Afghanistan.”

Liam snorted.

“A little too hot for me. I was thinking Florida.”

Harry gripped the phone in a death grip.

“Get serious, Liam!”

Liam shrugged, uninterested again.

“I was. Those locations can’t be right, try mine.” He suggested calmly, picking up his cup of tea and taking a sip.

“Locate, Liam Payne.” Harry demanded the phone.

The phone sent out a signal and came right back.

“Last known location of Liam Payne – Home Base, England.”

Niall cleared his throat and raised his hand slightly, catching Harry’s attention.

“What?!” Harry snapped, becoming frustrated and giving an order to find Zayn.

“Maybe the signal bounced off a spare tower, try again,” Niall encouraged, glancing at Zayn in concern, the bloke was practically hunched over on the table unconscious. “and I think that maybe Zayn needs to sit this one out. He’s not even with it.”

“No! Liam? Make yourself useful for once, pump Zayn full of adrenaline to get him jumpstarted. After that, put the two brothers out and make sure you put them unconscious for as long as you can that is in the safety timeline, because I need to find Louis and Sophia before they burn down London and Zayn is the best at tracking. You two will need to come as my backup, one to drive my car back – if it’s fucking bloody drivable and to make sure there are no further trouble. AKA: Zayn trying to murder Sophia again. CLEAR?!” Harry’s voice boomed.

Zayn groaned, the other two simply nodded.

“Good. Now, locate, Louis Tomlinson.” Harry ordered the phone, the signal once again being sent out.

A few more moments passed.

“Last location of Louis Tomlinson – Beijing, China.”

Harry kicked Sophia’s chair out from the table and slammed his fist onto the wooden table.

“Guess he got tired of the cold climate and decided to stop in China for some takeout.” Niall chuckled, earning a small headshake from Liam, signaling that cracking jokes was not a good idea at the present time.

“LOCATE SOPHIA STONE!” Harry yelled into the phone, ignoring Niall.

It was quiet for a second before the electronic voice responded back.

“Last location of Sophia Stone – Nigel, Jamaica.”

Harry scratched his head.

“Well, they either acquired super human speed and are sightseeing or Louis stuffed their trackers up to avoid location. I’m going with the latter,” Harry muttered, trying once more. “Locate, Louis Tomlinson.”

“Bloody hell, mate – if he stuffed them up, you’re going to keep getting a bullshit location. Let it go.” Zayn moaned, his brain barely a wake enough to function.

“Liam? Go take care what I asked you to. Brothers asleep, Zayn needs adrenaline and caffeinated coffee, go.” Harry ordered the same time the automated voice spoke.

“Last known location of Louis Tomlinson – Wacko, Texas, USA.”

Liam shook his head and finished off his tea, turning when Niall spoke again.

“Well, Wacko sounds about right. Because, Louis is crazy if he thinks he’s going to get off without some serious punishment.” Niall replied, watching Harry walk down the hall.

With a defeated sigh Liam followed in the direction Harry went, knowing he’d be in trouble if the leader had to ask him again.

“Harry?” Liam called, putting his hand on the upset leader’s shoulder, stopping him from taking another step.

Harry faced Liam, his lips tight lined and his eyes still a hot blazing spring.

“Just calm down before you approach this situation; think rational and then react accordingly. Get upset, but don’t get flustered. Mistakes will happen and when that happens, people get hurt. So be careful.” Liam warned, pushing passed Harry to follow the orders he had been given.

Harry watched him go, walking into his room and closing the door with a tired sigh. He truly did not feel like dealing with this situation and a part of him felt conflicted with Sophia, but he had to press forward. He realized that to get her to focus, she first had to be at ease around him. That’s why when he was out with her today that he did keep his temper in check, even if he wanted nothing more than to shake the girl until she lost consciousness.

“Alright, let me call Louis.” Harry breathed, his eyes going down to the phone to dial his number.

He waited a moment to make sure that he didn’t end up screaming at the older gent, because that is not what he is trying to accomplish. He wanted Louis to understand his point of view and in return he would damn well make sure to try and understand Louis’s.

With another tired exhale, he pressed send on his phone and put it up to his ear.

The other end started to ring, continuing about three times until someone abruptly picked up.

“William’s phone, William speak – “Louis started, but didn’t get to finish.

“Louis!” Harry hissed, standing up again, his temper flaring. “You have five seconds to explain yourself before I send some of father’s snipers to bring you back.”

So much for not losing his temper.

“Edward! Hey mate, I was wondering when you were going to call. I take it your other phone was savagely murdered? Cause this is a new number – should I add it?” He dismissed Harry’s anger.

Harry growled, picked up a small knickknack on the bedside table and thrusted it at the wall with all his strength, the glass breaking apart like glitter.

“YES! Add the bloody number! Now, explain to me why you are in London with Sophia? We have a month, Louis. We have ONE MONTH to teach her and she has a fucking broken hand and you want to take a field trip to the city for WHAT?!” Harry exploded.

“To get her relaxed. We have a month and we both know that she isn’t very skilled in physical strength. She’s gotten a few moves over on you, compliments of Andros. However, we need to start thinking tactic and to do that, she needs bloody confidence and no offence my friend, you are destroying her chances at that. So we’re in London and I’m teaching her how to use what she has. When I feel she is ready, we will go somewhere private and I will commence shooting lessons, so don’t wait up for us, we’ll be out late tonight.” Louis finished his rant, holding the phone away from his ear.

Harry’s voice exploded loud and clear through the speaker a second later.

“GET BACK HERE WITH MY CAR RIGHT NOW!”

Louis shook his head.

“Are you serious right now? Mate? Are you even hearing yourself? It’s like you’re not even listening; to any of us. I have to do this and you need to learn to trust me, because if you don’t trust me – how else am I going to step up?” Louis demanded, stomping his foot in slight anger.

“You’re not. Someone who does this? I can’t trust them; consider yourself disqualified. I’ll find someone from another sector and – “Harry scratched his hair, pulling it in frustration. “Just bring Sophia home and my car back in one piece.” He finished.

“I put the tracker on your car back in, find it yourself. I meant what I said before, mate. I have my ways of teaching and you have yours. Stay the fuck out of my mine and I’ll stay the bloody fuck out of yours. Now excuse me, I seem to have misplaced a redhead when I was getting my ass handed to me by my old girlfriend – I tell ya, I’m beginning to see why we kidnap our future wives. Hell of a lot less fucking complicated.” Louis growled, disregarding Harry’s threat.

Harry stood up, a little tenser, not missing a beat to Louis’s rant.

“Wait, rewind; you LOST Sophia?” He demanded, his cheeks reddening in a pink blush to further describe the immense anger coursing through his system.

“Not lost, lost. I’m sure if I whistle for her and yell to the heavens about what a good little dog she is that she’ll just come bounding down the street, tail a wagging and jump in my lap from praising her. Do you NOT see how you’re talking? She’s not a dog, she’s not a pet and she’s not a hostage. You need to untie her and let her walk some, because if you don’t, she’ll take her own life eventually and what’s stupid is, you’re too blind to see any of this. You’re so focused on winning against daddy. Newsflash, Harry. To want to fight, you first have to WANT to be live. So think about that, we’ll be home late tonight.” Louis finished, hanging up on the curly haired leader.

Harry let out a frustrated yell, picked up the lamp and hurled it into the wall.

“FUCK ME!” He screamed, his hand sliding across his hair in stress, the lamp busted into a million different pieces.

He looked at the mess he caused and grunted, marching to his door and throwing it open.

“NIALL! Get in here.” Harry demanded, hearing his legs move quickly to the hall, swallowing thickly at the anger of Harry’s unpredictable temper.

“Y-yeah?” He swallowed again, blue eyes wide.

“There seems to be glass on the floor and a broken lamp in here. Clean it up and then meet me in the kitchen, understood?” Harry narrowed his eyes, glaring hard at the dyed blonde.

“Yep, crystal clear, Harry.” Niall nodded, brushing passed Harry and going to do as the leader wanted, not wanting to get into any more trouble that day.

“Gold.” Harry muttered and stalked back out into the kitchen where Liam was refilling his tea cup and bringing over a second cup.

“Locate, Audi R8.” Harry demanded, nodding a thanks to Liam who set the second in front of him.

Zayn seemed to be more with it, he was rubbing his eyes and groaning a little from the caffeine headache.

A signal was sent out and like before it responded back.

“Last known location of Audi R8 – Second floor car yard, London.”

Harry’s eyebrows furrowed.

“The car yard doesn’t have a second floor, It’s all ground level.” Harry responded, speaking into the phone again.

“Locate, Audi R8.” He requested again.

A few seconds went by, the voice speaking again.

“Last known location of Audi R8 - First floor car yard, London.”

“What the fuck – “Harry muttered, demanding the phone locate the car again.

“Last known location of Audi R8 – no current location given, censors are offline or damaged. Please try again later.”

“Wha – oh, no. He parked it in the scrapyard – there’s a car yard and then there’s the scrap – oh blessed mother of Mary, please – locate, Audi R8.” Harry panicked, standing up and looking helplessly at Liam in panic.

“No current location existing for this device, please say your device and try again.” The phone spoke, making Harry’s eyes go from smolder flame to hell’s highest flame.

“LOCATE MY AUDI R8 YOU PIECE OF SHIT PHONE!” Harry boomed, making Liam stand and calmly put his hand on Harry’s shoulder.

“Harry, it’s clear something happened to the car. It might be something minor or something major, but screaming and breaking things isn’t going to help. So breath in and out and I’m going to go get Niall. Zayn? We’re taking the Range Rover. You’re driving, get it together and pull it upfront. Harry isn’t in any condition to drive – “Liam paused, watching Harry intently, his teeth were gritting together and he looked about ready to scream or sit and cry – Liam would be betting it was the latter.

“Right, because I’m any better.” Zayn muttered, but didn’t argue as he went to follow orders.

Liam took his hand off Harry’s shoulder cautiously.

“You going to be okay as I go and get Irish?” Liam asked, his tone somewhat concerned.

All Harry could do was growl and nod his head, plopping back down in his chair, but not before grabbing the hot tea and smashing it into the opposite wall, liquid flying out from it and pieces of glass shattering to the floor with the dark wet following.

“FUCK!” Harry let out, slamming his fist into the table, before just flipping the whole damn thing over – the wood splintering apart from the force.

Niall ran out from Harry’s room and out the door, slamming it shut to get out of sight from the leader’s rage filled eyes.

Liam walked out calmly, hearing the door slam shut and Harry sitting where the table used to be, his favorite cup on the floor broken and Harry’s cup scattered everywhere.

“Well, Zayn is going to have to fix the table and you owe me a new mug and you better hope to hell that you didn’t scare poor Irish up the tree again. Really, Harry? You need to learn what’s important and there are bigger things to worry about right now than a car. So get it together and man the fuck up.” Liam told him, not at all pleased with Harry’s temper.

“I’ve lost all control, Liam and I don’t like it. To save a life, you must first become the villain and take one. It’s an inevitable and unspoken law. If that’s what it takes to save this group, then so be it. I am the villain.” Harry relented calmly, standing up and walking in a tight line toward the front door, leaving Liam to catch up.

Liam simply stared after Harry, his green vibrant eyes smoldered back into a murky green – almost the same shade as his father’s icy olives.

“This is not going to end well.” Liam shook his head, walking out the front door and toward Harry’s Range Rover, sliding in the backseat next to Niall. Harry was already in the passenger side, glancing hard out the window in silent thought.

Notes