The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Sophia’s POV:

I put down the now empty container Niall had been kind enough to hand to me a little over an hour ago.

It had been peaceful out here and my nerves relaxed enough to think rationally on what to do next, which was no easy feat as my plan to piss Harry off had gone off a little too well – though, I suppose he wouldn’t understand. I want to make him less stressed, but at the same time, I had my own agenda I was working with.

Taking a long exhale through my nose, I glanced at the small waterfall a bit ways up and played with a small leaf still attached to one of the branches.

“I was thinking of taking your advice.” I finally spoke, my eyes never leaving the serene water from my perch.

“Playing stupid?” Niall replied with a smirk, his eyes following in the same direction I was looking, his body laying a branch above mine.

“Something like that.” I murmured, wondering why I was even bothering to engage myself with Niall, but figuring that since he was obvious onto the happenings in my plan, I owed him at least a courtesy explanation of the plan that ran through my head.

I cleared my throat.

“I’m setting it right again. Zayn was just the necessary fall guy for it, but even still – manipulating the situation is easier than I imagined it would be. Both Zayn and Louis play an important part in all of this and Harry still hasn’t a clue.”

Niall’s eyebrow lifted, intrigued to say the least.

“Oh?” He responded with piqued interest.

“We both know Damien won’t let those lads escape. We know that Harry would have already informed his father and we are most certain that he is probably on a warpath back to the hotel right at this moment to collect the kids – or kill them. I’m hoping it’s going to be the first option as that would sort of defeat the plan.” I exhale again, trying to show him the bigger picture to what I was getting at.

He obviously didn’t get it.

“So, Damien takes the kids back, you frame Zayn, Damien kills him and Louis fits into this how?” Niall summed up, not seeming too worked up over the future death of his fellow gang member.

Or maybe he does.

“You’re not stupid Niall, yeah? Think how those pieces don’t even fit together and then rearrange them a little and you’ll have the answer to your query.”

Niall didn’t say anything for a moment, he merely shrugged and jumped down to walk back to the cabin.

“I know Zayn isn’t going to die, because Harry will eventually figure out the truth and then we’re all up craptown’s creek without a bucket, but whatever you think is going to drive Harry insane – just don’t go asking what happened when you get your arse burnt. Take it from me, lassie – the sight ain’t pretty.” Niall hummed calmly with warning, grabbing the container to take back with him to wash and put away.

“My arse is already red, it’s stick a fork in it done.” I muttered, continuing to sit there awhile longer.

I felt bad for what was going to happen, but it would give Harry enough time to think up something that wasn’t going to destroy his gang – although, I’ve managed to frame Zayn, manipulate Louis and piss off the leader…and the others all just seemed to go with the flow.

They’re either very stupid or very fearful – I’m betting on the latter. I feel like I know what I’m doing – I feel like this is the right move and as much as I WANT to meet Harry’s expectations, I know I never will be able to.

So, if I can’t and he won’t it’s time to set it back to how it was all originally meant to go – and that’s starting with my death.

Zayn won’t be the one who dies, I will.

*

Narrator’s POV:

Harry ran his hand through his long locks, grimacing from the oil that accumulated in the past day.

“I need another shower.” Harry muttered, having just got off the phone with his father – which went about as well as could be expected. They would all be due at Damien’s cabin first thing in the morning to get it all fixed up.

Louis and Zayn would be detained for questioning and in addition, Zayn would be able to get his teeth fixed by their own personal dentist from hell – Dr. Pain. Obviously not related to Liam.

Harry heard the front door open and close again, making his way back out into the kitchen where Niall was cleaning up from dinner.

“Where were you?” Harry demanded, his one hand on his hip.

Liam was in the basement attending to keep both Louis calm and Zayn pain free.

It was a madhouse as far as Harry was concerned and he still didn’t know where he went wrong.

“Outside with Sophia, sir. She needed to eat and everyone needed a bit of a cooling off. She’s still in the place I left her,” Niall gestured to the door. “If you wish to go and talk.”

He decided to be Ireland and let England and France have it out.

Harry’s stare darkened a little.

“I forbid her to eat, yet – “Harry started, though Niall stopped his rant before it could begin.

“Don’t even start, sir. You know the lass is trying and you’ve been a right git lately to everyone. She needs to eat and if she is willing, you’d be cruel to deny her that right,” Niall pointed out blatantly, before walking to the sink. “Excuse me, I’ve dishes to do and you got your bossly duties to return to. I’d advise talking to Sophia as I think there’s something simmering in that pretty little head of hers that isn’t entirely adding up to a full cooked meal and is going to end up getting her in hot water.” He finished off.

Harry just continued to glare at him, but rather than poke the bear, Niall kept his head down and returned to just trying to sort out the kitchen as that is where his place was and he was in no way about to interfere in the affairs of a mad, curly leader on a war rampage against humanity.

Although, speaking to Harry like that wasn’t the brightest thing Niall could have done in the moment and he only realized the error after as plastic cup was thrown at his head.

Thankfully, he had enough sense to duck from the flying object, which missed its mark and landed in the sink beside the container he had just started to wash.

“New rule, Horan. No one is to speak to anyone else unless they are spoken to by me. If it is not important, then it needn’t be said. Am I clear?” Harry asked with an authority that was to be met with only one appropriate response.

There wasn’t one. Niall simply nodded and continued to wash the dishes in silence, figuring Harry needed to cool down and anything said in the moment would only be ignored.

Harry returned the nod and went downstairs to see Liam injecting another pain shot into Zayn and Louis was laying dazed, looking up blankly at the ceiling.

“What’s going on down here?” Harry asked, going over to Louis and rechecking his restraints, his finger moving in front of the older bloke’s face.

Liam was unamused to say the least.

“Louis freaked when he came to and saw he was strapped down to the bed and Zayn freaked when he saw he was back in the cage – both are now sedated. So, sums it up pretty grand I’d say.” Liam observed dryly, patting Zayn’s shoulder and making sure both men were alright before leaving them alone with the leader.

Harry watched the doctor go, figuring he didn’t need to be told to keep quiet. The bloke pretty much kept to himself and his books.

Speaking of which – he still needed to go through their rooms and it would be much easier to have control when he knew exactly what to control.

“Louis? Can you hear me?” Harry demanded, watching Louis’s eyes blink once, but that was the only reaction he got out of his second in command.

He waited just to be sure, though found Louis merely kept his gaze up toward the ceiling, unresponsive to their leader’s calls. Which was fine by Harry as he simply continued on with what he needed to say.

“I don’t know what you and Sophia did, if you did anything, but I promise – if I find out that you two did something, you both are going to wish I knew the meaning of mercy.” Harry vowed, standing back up and throwing a blanket that had been discarded on top of the older bloke haphazardly and walking back up the short four stairs to the main cabin, turning toward the front door to go and find Sophia.

He needed to get to the mainframe that was that girl – without her kicking him in the balls.

Keeping that in mind, he made a short stop to his bedroom to find a cup. He was not taking any more chances when it came to her.

*

Sophia’s POV:

I don’t know how long I was sitting out here – probably a few hours, maybe even a little over an hour, but it was just too peaceful to go back to the chaos that was now my life.

Maybe I don’t even know what I want anymore, maybe my plans are going to be for nothing – maybe something. I don’t know. At this point in the game, I’m unsure of anything other than if it doesn’t work out, then I have caused the death of not only myself, but everyone else around me and that I know for a fact, isn’t what I want.

I heard footsteps in the distance – dominant ones…Harry.

I tense up and go to jump down from the branch I had been laying against for hours, but his presence was a lot quicker than my action and I found him standing below me in what seems like a blink of an eye.

“Don’t get up on my account, Nightshade.” Harry spoke, his voice rung with thick sarcasm that I knew was more of an order.

I sat back again, putting my feet onto the branch in case he changed his mind and decided to pull me down. This Harry was unpredictable…this one was dangerous.

Can’t say I blame him though, he’s lost all control and he doesn’t even know where to begin to collect his eggs again.

“You’ve come to retrieve me and bring me back to hell?” I asked after a moment of tense silence, taking a chance of glancing into the monsoon storm that was his dangerously vibrant jaded eyes.

He scoffed, wordlessly climbing up on the same branch I was currently laying on and sitting opposite of me so we were facing one another.

He hung his leg down leisurely from the branch before finally replying.

“I would hardly call that place hell, but to each their own, yeah?” He replied easily, not bothering to fight my opinion.

I watched his movements cautiously – he was hiding his intentions, it was laced with the way he spoke and carried himself. I couldn’t predict his next move, he was blocking that from me and I didn’t trust it whatsoever.

“What are you doing here?” I queried to him with carefulness, my eyes not leaving his.

It was like a game of cat and mouse – and boy did I feel like the mouse.

Harry looked out toward the small waterfall, the sound of waves lapping the air serenely and had it not been for the threat sitting next to me, I could easily get back to feeling at ease.

With the snake charmer beside me – that notion just went out the window.

I care for Harry, but that doesn’t mean I trust him. It doesn’t mean I don’t love him – or that I don’t feel something deeper. It just means, he’s Harry Styles, he is unpredictable and he tends to sometimes scare me.

“You’re thinking I’m going to do something to you, aren’t you?” Harry hummed, his eyes lighting up in a way to suggest that is exactly what his intentions were.

I decided to get comfortable and mimic Harry’s façade demeanor, also hanging my foot over the branch, prompting my foot upward so that my leg laid comfortably against my chest.

“Might not want to do that in a nightgown, doll, you’re showing me everything,” Harry retorted with a smirk, his eyes leaving mine and traveling in the direction he had just come from while I stayed silent, looking in the same area.

“It’s funny, isn’t it? To assume I’m out here to physically hurt you. I mean, that hasn’t worked yet and I found that mental agony has far better results,” Harry continued on cryptically, chuckling when we simply met each other’s gaze once more. “Shame that Louis hasn’t taught you how to zig and zag yet, but you’re still a young and foolish girl, I don’t expect much when it comes to strategic response.” He antagonized with a small chuckle.

I cocked my head and gestured out.

“Was there a point to your whole cryptic speech or do you just enjoy listening to yourself talk? Because no offense, you’re sounding a lot like Eli and her rants. They were always mostly nonsense too.” I finally responded, watching his jaw clench slightly, but it was so quick that he immediately followed up with his own noncommitted reply.

“I shouldn’t have to spell it out for you, but I will. To sum this all up, I know something is going on and I think it’s more than Zayn’s betra – “I snorted, amused to say the least.

“You have no clue, sir. None whatsoever.” I interrupted, a smell of burning paper and other materials hitting my nose.

I looked back to where it was coming from, my head snapping back to Harry, who was grinning like a mental Cheshire cat.

“What did you do?” I demanded, about to go investigate, but a sharp click stopped my actions. I looked over and Harry was pointing a gun point blank at my face.

Well, he has my attention.

I had my knives in my pocket, but knew a bullet was much quicker.

“Hand them over, Nightshade. I know you nicked them from my nightstand.” Harry told me bluntly – which I technically did, but they were my knives to begin with.

“Broker gave them to me, they’re mine. What right do you have to take them?” I asked, but handed the blades back to him.

Harry took them gently as I was holding the blades with my bare fingers with the handle pointed towards him to grab.

He took them back wordlessly with his other hand and carefully put them in his back pocket.

“Broker’s dead and I believe I have every right as I am still the leader. It’s hard to remember with all the free willed thinking coming from your brain, I know, but do try to see things from my perspective.” Harry mimicked the end of his sentence with thick sarcasm.

If he wanted to match wit, fine. I could do that.

With a small smile, despite the gun pointed at me, I responded to his instigation.

“I’ll TRY to see things from your point of view, but given the circumstances – I’m not so sure I can get my head that far up my arse. It’s going to be a challenge, but I promise, I’ll try my damn hardest.”

Harry’s eyes narrowed at that, but he didn’t seem to let my words affect him; instead, he jumped down from the branch we were on and reached his hand up for me to take.

I did so and he helped me down onto the ground – which was suspicious in itself.

“You were so curious to go see what I have cooking, darling. I figure we can go see together – that way, I can see the full effect. I mean, not to brag or anything – but Niall isn’t the only one with exceptional skills for culinary.” Harry said slickly, grabbing my good hand and leading me towards the smoke that was beginning to rise up.

He put his gun away as we neared, gesturing me forward.

“After you, milady.” Harry smiled, his eyes lighting up with a darkness aura. He was getting satisfaction from this and it was then I slowly realized the dread filling my chest.

“What did you do?” I demanded, walking to a fire pit that was in a nearby clearing, the sight of charcoaling paper and melting plastic growing stronger.

I looked at the good-sized pile of artbooks, notebooks, journals – moisturizing creams… Louis’s porn…oh for the love of God.

“Louis is going to be fucking metaphorical birds again when he sees those gone…and how many Esmerelda magazines does he own?” I quipped, my eyes landing on a busted in half acoustic guitar – I recognize it as Niall’s. “Harry? What did you do to Niall’s – wait,” I paused, stepping forward and noticed a guitar case and my brother’s notebook set aside away from the flames.

Harry’s eyes grew darker, mixing with a sick sea green – he…no fucking way!

I rushed to save the last of my brother’s things, but Harry grabbed me and forced my body to the ground with his.

I struggled to kick him, though that was limited as he forced my hands behind me and locked them together with a zip tie. I guess he figured I couldn’t get out of one yet.

He was sadly mistaken.

“NO!” I yelled out in panic, my brother’s face flashing through my mind.

Harry quickly took a piece of cloth from his pocket, a knot already knotted in the center of it.

He showed it to me when he hauled me into a sitting position.

“I will gag you if you prove to be difficult. Now, this isn’t the direction I wanted to go, but you obviously forced my hand and need to know who you’re dealing with,” He reasoned, leaning in so his lips were by my ear. “Here’s a hint, beautiful – it isn’t spongebobfuckingsquarepants.” Harry gritted his teeth, struggling to keep control of his emotions.

I jerked my head away from the sound of his deep voice and looked up into his vibrant greens once more. They were dark again – the dangerous type of mystery that I knew I wouldn’t want to venture into at the moment.

“You can’t do that. That notebook – “I started calmly, but like I had before, he cut me off.

“Is mine. I own everything in this cabin; my men, you…and like my men, I own what they have. You are part of my possessions; therefore, you own nothing and with me having full power to give and take away…” He trailed off menacingly, a dull smile now adorning his pale lips. “Am I making this clear for you, Nightshade or do we have to go back to square one? I don’t mind in the grand scheme of things, especially when my PROPERTY is causing me enough stress to send me to an early grave without the help of my father.”

He dug through his back pocket to fish out his phone, clicking a few buttons and showing me a screen with transparent numbers – most importantly, the last fifty calls to my brother’s old cell. Which was a relief that it cut itself off after fifty, otherwise there would be a lot more to explain.

“I have a hidden log stored inside my cell, Sophia. You can erase the calls, but the last fifty, I will know about. Louis installed the program for me on this particular one a few years ago, imagine my surprise when I called it and got your dead brother’s voicemail.”

I chose to keep my eyes toward the pile of burning notebooks, artbooks and journals.

Harry’s stare was unrelenting as he continued unaffected.

“You nicked my phone, you lied to me about almost everything – at least that’s what I’m assuming, I can’t be sure as no one will tell me ANYTHING!” Harry finally exploded, his hand painfully squeezing my shoulder.

“Hell, I even broke Niall’s guitar against his door and all he did was cry – he didn’t divulge anything to me and that’s dedication. You’re shifting control and I’m NOT going to have it! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!”

I flinched as his yell echoed through the trees, the birds taking flight in the air to escape the sudden sound.

I nodded, figuring a verbal response wasn’t going to do much good at this point.

Harry scoffed.

“Your actions speak otherwise. So, my conduct has to at least match up to yours and what I think is right.” Harry responded calmly, picking me up bridal style and setting me back on my feet.

“For example, you think me setting fire to Louis’s porn, Zayn’s artbooks and journals maybe wrong – “Harry gestured to the burning mass of charred paper, the guitar taking a little bit of a longer time to burn down.

“No, I think you truly believe what you’re doing is right. It’s not, but no words will ever change your mind, because you’re so blinded by confusion and anger right now that you’re missing the big clues.” I replied just as calmly as before, despite my heartbeat pounding in my chest.

Harry hummed, walking to a pile of logs and adding some into the pile of stuff.

“Alright luv, then let’s play the honesty game. It’s where you tell me the truth and I tell you what I think the truth represents. I’ll go first, so you’re not confused by the lack of rules. I went through each of their rooms and took everything that posed a distraction – just as I said I would. Is that the truth or is that a lie?”

The way he asked was so direct, that from the tone alone it couldn’t be anything but true.

“It’s the truth.” I responded to his query, flinching at the way the plastic tie dug into my wrists.

Harry nodded, making his way on the other side of the fire, picking up my brother’s notebook that he had left for me.

“Correct. Now, is it true that I’m going to burn your dead brother’s notebook?” He asked with cruelty, his hand slowly extending it over the intense flames, the smell of lotion hitting my senses.

I didn’t know, judging by the look he possessed – it certainly seemed like he would and it virtually killed me when I watched the pages start to fall downward, stopped only by the spiral metal that kept it attached, the back covers facing me.

I didn’t answer right away and that prompted him to chuckle and throw the book back beside my brother’s guitar case unharmed, marching up to me again and opening his phone again, dialing the familiar number of my brother, his finger lingering above the call button.

“Fair enough. You don’t know yet,” Harry nodded, switching to another question. “Fine, then, how about this? Truth or lie, I had your brother’s phone number shut off so there wouldn’t be any future attempts to call a dead relative? By the way, your voicemail to him was adorable, Nightshade. In the turn your stomach acidic sick sort of way. He’s dead, get the fuck over it already and move the fuck on! You harping about it isn’t going to help you move on or help him any further. His life is over, he’s DEAD. Alright?! DEAD!”

With that he pressed the call button and shoved the receiver to my ear.

It rung once, a female’s voice coming over the line instantly.

“We’re sorry, the number you are trying to reach has been disconnected. If you believe you have reached this recording in error, please hang up and dial your number again or talk –“

The phone was taken away and ended.

“So, truth or lie, luv – did I call and have your dead sibling’s number disconnected?” Harry asked calmly, noticing the tears gathering in my eyes.

I couldn’t help it. Harry was being cruel and in hindsight of what I was trying to do, he was helping to make this much easier for me to go through with.

“Answer me or I start throwing in his music sheets.” Truth or fucking lie?” Harry grit his teeth, grabbing my arm and shaking it.

“Truth.” I whispered, stopping a sob from leaving my throat.

Harry nodded, releasing me and helping me to sit on the ground once more.

“Here’s the deal, Sophia; you tell me what’s going on or I throw your brother’s stuff in with the rest of the trash. I don’t want to, but I will. Niall, Zayn and Louis aren’t being straight with me – and the only thing I could really burn of Liam’s is his medical books, so that is kind of a bust and your brother’s items that he left to you. I’ll give you a moment to think what’s more important.” He concluded, sitting down beside me and moving a piece of hair from my face that had fallen.

I jerked my face from his touch, a small sob escaping.

If I told him, he’d ruin it and if I didn’t – he’d destroy everything my brother gave to me during his last days in this hellhole.

“I told you I could be cruel and that anything you do, I can do worse. Just make it easy on yourself and tell me what scheme you were trying to accomplish?” Harry prompted, lowering his voice to a somewhat gentle tone.

I shook my head.

“No. I don’t have any guarantee that you’ll keep your word.” I shook my head, my throat hoarse from trying to control my emotions, though the tears didn’t seem to want to stop.

Harry nodded, his large hands reaching behind me and gently unclasping the necklace that Louis had gotten fixed for me.

I panicked, my hands straining against the restraints.

“NO!” I screamed again, Harry’s hand slapping over my mouth.

“I told you that if you screamed, that I would gag you. Please listen to me for once in your life and don’t try my hand. Relax, I’ve not done anything just yet and I’d like not to, but you got to give me something.” Harry bartered, the necklace hanging neatly between his fingers when he unclasped it.

He took his hand off my mouth, showing me the red cloth.

“One more time and I’ll put this in your mouth and throw you in the coffin. I don’t want to do this as my time is better spent doing something productive – like coming up with an excuse why those children escaped so my father doesn’t shoot me in the face, but here I am…chasing after you and cleaning up something I have no clue how to start with, because everyone is playing Devil’s advocate against me.” Harry sighed, rubbing his fingers against the worry lines in his forehead.

“Give me something, Flower. Please?” Harry finally relented, his eyes mirroring the color of the murky sea after a storm and I had to admit, it brought my body to a slow simmer of feelings that coursed through me.

“I don’t know what you want me to admit, Harry.” I swallowed, watching how his thumb smoothed over the surface of the onyx stone, before he suddenly fisted it and threw it into the flame.

“BULLSHIT!” He accused, going from calm to enraged in another record that only Harry was capable of.

I felt my breath hitch when the necklace went into the fire, seeping down into the ash that already accumulated from the other destroyed material.

“I will follow through – “Harry started, but I interrupted him.

“Please don’t.” I whispered, bowing my head so that I was looking at my lap.

“Then tell me what the fuck is going on! I know you know something.” Harry prompted, reaching over and forcing me to look at his face.

I just stared at his drastically changing emotions, his eyes changing such beautiful shades of green. It was also then that I realized that I didn’t know which shade was the most dangerous.

“I know I feel something for you. I know that I don’t get a lot of what goes on around here – but I can’t fathom this, Harry. I don’t understand what you’re trying to prove by hurting me. You’re making sure I know my brother is dead – I know he is. I miss him and that voicemail was the only thing that was his that I cherished, because it was him. It was him talking, him speaking – the rest is materialism that is only a reminder. I only wanted to be able to hear his voice. I can’t even do that now and it’s because you’re not even understanding! You don’t even get it!” I yelled at him, jerking my chin from his grasp.

Harry growled, taking my chin back and clamping his grip on it tighter.

“Then help me understand, Sophia. What is going on? If I have to ask you again, you won’t even have a reminder that your brother was here, let alone alive. I will BREAK it from you piece by piece and memory by memory. Don’t make me do this.” Harry warned, his muscles tense.

I jerked away from his touch and shook my head.

He took that as my answer and shrugged.

“Alright, let’s start off with the notebook then.” Harry sounded defeated, starting to stand up.

I struggled against the restraints, knowing I needed to work up strength to break through the plastic tie.

“Wait. Please?” I begged him, trying to halt him from going on a warpath with the drawings my brother left me.

Harry paused, but got up and went over to where the notebook was, his hand on the first drawing.

“Start talking.” Harry demanded.

“I did lie and that’s the truth.” I confessed, my eyes watching his actions carefully.

I watched him nod with confirmation to what I said.

“I figured it either had to be you, Tomlinson or Malik.” Harry muttered, walking over and kneeling in front of me with my brother’s notebook in his large hands.

“It was, in a sense at least. Louis took me to London for just cause, Harry. Malik wasn’t stable enough to be out hunting us – we were all wrong in a sense. Me for instigating, me for manipulating…because Louis is probably going to think this whole thing was his fault and Malik…even you, for what happened to Louis’s friend.” I seethed, watched him go to fist the first page.

“Regarding the kids, that’s what you want to know, so here it is,” I breathed, my eyes meeting his. “I manipulated Louis into letting them go. Not because I believed we could successfully get them out of London in the time you and Damien took to realize they were gone. It’s because I knew their father wouldn’t just get them out. A businessman will always think of their company first. Not their children. Their children are an asset, not a practical business decision.” I explained, his hand unclenching the now slightly mangled page.

Harry’s orbs narrowed, the slits in them would send chills through a dead corpse.

“Why?!” Harry shouted through gritted teeth. “You KNOW what happens –“

I cut him off.

“EXACTLY! YOU STUPID GIT! Harry, think what I’ve been wanting, think of what I needed to do to accomplish it. I want out, but I want YOU to get me out. Whether it be at the end of a bullet or by your side – I want you to do it straight. I want your men unharmed, trying to get them killed was not my intention. As much of an ass as Zayn has been, I’d NEVER attentionally get him –“

Harry cut me off.

“Hurt? Louis beat the shit out of him! Besides, he had to of been a part of that, I got a text today – used Zayn’s name specifically to let them know that the kids were back in London. I don’t call that coincidental.” Harry muttered.

“I let them escape, Damien gets word – he ends it. He orders you to end it or he does. Either way, that’s why I did it in a way that there was no proof or disproof of Louis or Zayn helping – except with that text. You need to get rid of it. I accept all responsibility. I will tell Damien everything and the full blame will go on me, now, for the love of everything Godly – please put my brother’s notebook down. I told you my – “His hand suddenly flicked forward, the notebook flying from it and landing atop the freshly burning logs.

“NO! Harry, I told you everything!” I promised; which was the truth, but only my luck would have it that Harry suspected there was more.

“You just did something that might get Zayn killed regardless and possibly Louis. Damien doesn’t view the whole picture like that and he won’t. You’re playing dangerous games and winning dangerous prizes, Nightshade and now, I have to make a decision – based on the corner YOU just backed me into, which one of you is going to die.”

The way his ragged breath was coming out, I knew he was controlling every fiber of his very soul not to shoot me right now.

“I just said I would –“ I tried, but he wasn’t having it.

“YOU DON’T GET TO MAKE THAT DECISION! You don’t get to decide when you die, I do and you just fucked the whole pig, because now I can’t even make that! I told you when you decided to stay that you needed to adapt – that doesn’t mean manipulating my men to your whim. That doesn’t mean trying to get out early and forcing my hand, it means you understood what staying could imply. I would have dealt with the consequences to my own actions, because I could have saved my men. Now? What do you suppose is going to happen?” Harry’s voice dwindled down to a mere grunt.

He was seething, but his energy was spent and I saw that through his eyes.

I didn’t answer him and in turn he didn’t elaborate.

Harry simply stood up again and went to my brother’s guitar case, picking it up.

“Allow me to at least keep that. You said if I told you –“

“I asked you not to try my hand and you made the conscious decision to do that; therefore, I never gave you my word. I told you I would break it out of you, I never said I would spare anything after and I’m not entirely sure you’re telling me everything. This was happening regardless. There’s just one more thing.” He said, hauling the thick plastic case onto the logs and reaching back into his pocket, taking out the familiar piece of paper.

It was taped together neatly, the drawing in the back visible from where I sat as Harry’s eyes swooped over the words.

“Just look beside you and I’ll be there too…he was sentimental, wasn’t he Nightshade? Just like you. Weakness seems to run in this family, wouldn’t you say?” Harry asked mockingly.

I just looked to the letter he held, the last thing my brother gave me, I couldn’t let Harry take that. I needed it.

I felt weak when the tears started flowing again, my voice straining in emotion. The weight of guilt felt heavy against my heart.

“You don’t have to prove anything to Damien, Harry. You don’t have to do this. Don’t do this to me.” I begged him quietly.

He just snorted.

“The same as I asked you not to make me do this? Begging goes both ways baby and you just – “He trailed off, closing his eyes. “You know what? I’m done. I’m done sparing your feelings, I’m done trying to fight you and if you cared about me, you would see that there’s no other way. There’s no fighting this.” Harry reasoned with defeat – like he had tried to a million times before, but he hadn’t. He doesn’t understand, just like I knew he wouldn’t.

“There’s always other ways and I’m not asking you to spare my feelings, because God knows you won’t. I’m asking you to let me keep that letter, because you just destroyed everything else.” I continued, watching his eyes go through the notions of deep thinking, before he simply smiled and shook his head.

“I guess we’ll never completely see eye to eye, angel and it’s not going to matter. If I can’t convince Damien a damn good reason why this all happened, we’re all fucked and the letter will be useless in the end anyhow. Look at it this way, you’re being pulled back by his memory and now, you won’t have to worry about that problem any longer.”

With that, his hand let go and just like a slow-motion playback the paper fluttered down, the flames licking at the tree skin as it browned the white sheet and transformed it into dead ash and melted tape.

I felt my breath just leave me, it felt like he had punched me, when he didn’t lay a finger to do it.

Harry watched me a few seconds, the snap of the fire filling in the brief sound of silence between us, before he spoke again – this time somberly.

“Do you know why you don’t get to make the decisions around here, Nightshade?” He asked, coming to kneel next to me and force my stare into his.

He wordlessly took his thumb and flicked off the excess of cascading tears that had resonated from my dark irises.

I didn’t answer him – I couldn’t, my breath was still caught in my throat along with my suddenly stopped heart. I didn’t feel a heartbeat anymore – I felt numb.

When I didn’t answer him, he sighed and ran his hand through my hair.

“It’s because you can’t accept the consequences of your decisions. You decided to make a choice and in accordance to that judgement, you didn’t stop to think of the residuum that would follow after. It’s simple equation – but a difficult outcome in some cases.” He finished with a nod to the fire.

The silence settled once more, our bodies heated by the nearby fire to defend against the cooling air around us

With another sigh, Harry stood up and hauled me with him, my feet unsteady and weak as they were forced to hold the weight of my frame.

“You’re going in the coffin tonight. We have to be at Damien’s tomorrow morning – first thing.” Harry told me without emotion.

I halted, tensing my wrists against the zip tie, getting ready to break it – just like Louis showed me, but Harry was behind me and grabbing my arms to stop the action.

“I have a cup on and I will knock you unconscious if you try it.” Harry warned, his chest pressing up against my back with hands trapped against his stomach.

“You’re trying to prove to everyone how cruel you can be, but I can’t help wonder if you’re trying to convince us, yourself or your father. Either way, at the end of the day? You’re still a Goddamn coward. At least I’m not afraid to express my feelings instead of hiding them behind rage. Sooner or later, everyone else will figure it out if they already haven’t.” I instigated, my sob ringing loud through the grove of trees.

I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of fully breaking down, but my heart physically hurt from all the memories that were just destroyed in his rampage to prove something that was already obvious.

He didn’t care though, he never would, because his pride came before anything else.

Harry’s lips met the back of my head. The kiss was cold and unfeeling, just like the burning of his touch. I cared about him – I just knew that I could no more help him, especially since he couldn’t even help himself.

He clicked his tongue in a sardonic tsk, shaking his head.

“Poor little rich girl.” Harry mocked, showing me the red cloth again.

He gripped it at each end and moved the knot to my lips, resting the material against them gently.

“I think you’ve said enough for today, cupcake. Don’t make me forcefully silence you – because if I have to, I will do this unwillingly and your punishment will only get worse.” Harry advised, waiting for my response.

Instead of fighting him, because one way or another – he was determined to do this, I moved my head away from the knotted cloth.

“I was never trying to shift control. I need you to know that, Harry. I was only trying to make things right again and in doing so, I made them worse. However, you have to react to the appropriate consequence. You know what it is and you know that Damien will force you. You know I won, because you know when he finds out that he will kill me without any hesitation. It’s the right decision and the only one who doesn’t seem to see it that way is you.” I confessed my thought, moving my lips back to the knot and opening my mouth.

I was tired of fighting and I was tired of talking. We’ve had a bad day and I needed to be alone with my thoughts tonight anyhow. Whether it is in a coffin or tied to a chair. I just needed away from him.

He moved the knot further inside my mouth and roughly folded the cloth to the back of my head, tying it securely.

“Like I said, you don’t get to choose the fucking outcome. You don’t get to decide when you die and you’re going to realize that soon enough.” Harry growled, bending down and hauling me over his shoulder, making his way back to the cabin.

I swung helplessly as we moved along, the familiar dirt path coming into view, before I saw the steps and carpet of the familiar cabin – a place that has started to become my hell.

Harry kicked open the basement door and went the short distance to the coffin; which had been stored in the corner.

He set me down and took the seven padlocks off the latches that would hold down the top and keep it firmly in place.

I felt the wet patches on my ass from the tree and ground that I had been sitting earlier due to the rain. I wanted to get cleaned up first as the feeling of mud was uncomfortable, but I had bigger problems.

When he set me down, I turned toward where the cage was, feeling my heart skip a beat.

Zayn looked absolutely helpless. He was awake, just staring out unblinking, his mouth gagged and his face bruised from Louis’s assault.

I admit, he looked pathetic – but didn’t we all at the moment?

Still, he didn’t deserve this much. He deserved what Louis gave him – but I had already come clean to Harry, so there was no reason to continue to punish the bloke in the cage anymore today.

I don’t know how I was going to tell Harry this, but I was sure damn well going to try.

“Hm – Harrm…Harrehm.” I nudged my foot against his shine to get his attention when he moved to take the five remaining locks around what would soon be my confinement for the night.

On the plus side, it looked a lot more spacious than the box.

He turned toward me.

“What?” He snapped, the question meant to be rhetoric.

I rolled my eyes and moved my mouth to my shoulder to see if I could at least get the message to him that he needed to let me say what needed to be said before he shoved me into the box.

Harry shook his head.

“Forget it. You’re going into the coffin and that’s that. Do you understand or do I have to talk moron?” He asked, his hand on his hip, pausing at the second lock on the long side.

I shook my head, causing him to nod in approval, but I cleared my throat and kept doing it until I caused myself to gag. The in turn made his attention shift to me, his hand ripping the cloth from my mouth when I started to choke.

I took a moment to cough out the flam that had gathered, clearing the feeling away and taking advantage of the situation by backing up a step away from his reach.

“Harry, I think Louis had something to do with that text. If you really want to see if Zayn is guilty, text the number back and say someone nicked your phone – “I spoke quickly to try and explain before he could gag me again, but he interrupted me.

“You DID nick my phone.” Harry responded to that without amusement.

I nodded in understanding.

“I did,” I confirmed with a nod, continuing. “Louis nicked it from me though and when you saw me hug him, I wasn’t doing that to coddle him. I was doing that to steal the phone back so I could put it back on your nightstand and then that way, he wouldn’t get in trouble.” I explained, backing up a step when he took one forward.

“Get to the fucking point, Sophia. I’m tired of hearing you and I just want to go and shower, put the whole day to bed sorta speak.” Harry demanded.

That pissed me off and my eyes narrowed at him.

“Text Colton Grear and have him confirm the identity. If it matches Zayn, then by all means, keep him caged, but it’s not going to, because I think Lou had something to do with that text to him. Please? I believe the ass got what he deserved, but looking at him right now – he doesn’t deserve this.” I gestured with my head to try and play into Harry’s humanity – but that was locked up again apparently.

Harry took another step, making me take three back.

“You don’t get to fucking decide what he does and does not deserve. I will deal with all of this in the morning. Take a step towards me, please.” He continued to order, which made my adrenaline soar.

Unsecond thought – I got my second wind back. I would not be going into that coffin unless I was dead.

I tightened my muscles against my arm, jerked my wrist forward and slammed it down to give it the velocity to separate my hands from behind my back.

The plastic snapped and Harry stood there looking shocked…maybe even impressed? I wasn’t sticking around to ask him.

Instead, I turned and hauled arse up the short flight of steps and threw open the door, Harry’s boots thudding hard against the ground after me.

I calculated how far he was behind me and stopped suddenly, bringing my foot up and kicking it out and down, moving swiftly so his body flew forward, his head meeting the hollow end of a tall tree a few meters straight.

I stood there for a moment in shock, unbelieved that it actually worked! Dylan had been right; Bruce Lee was a genius!

Speaking of cleverness.

You know when someone hits something solid and the others who witness or cause it tell the cool kid to watch out for the wall?

Well, that’s stupid. My brother and I always introduced them.

“Hello tree, meet Harry – you’ve met? Awesome, well…bye! See you tomorrow, don’t wait up!” I yelled to the unconscious bloke that just snogged the tree with his face and jetted into the thick bushes, whistling Liam’s number loudly in hopes he heard it.

I may have been a bitch, but I wasn’t heartless. I wanted to make sure Harry was alright. I certainly wasn’t going to check him out though, because he could have been faking it and if he caught me, I knew my tailfeathers were cooked.

Instead, I ran further in the opposite direction, only stopping when I knew I was safe, which was about two kilometers close to where I knew the path would take me to the main road.

It was when I drew closer to the entrance of our hideaway that I heard voices…what the hell? No one was supposed to be out here.

Instead of going back, something drew me closer to the sound, curiosity taking over my adrenaline. I was so tired, but if there was any sort of danger lurking, Harry deserved to at least be made aware of…after he woke up.

I really need to sit down and make peace with him. I’m angry for what he did, I’m tired of being bullied – but something isn’t adding up to his actions and I really need to find out more.

With that aside, I neared the sounds of a high pitched squeal, their voice carrying over to the tree I was hiding behind.

“Tonight, they all die! Tonight, we can capture the prince and kill his men!” Eli screeched – wait, Eli?

I took a chance and looked out from the tree to see I didn’t mis-guess and to my horror…I didn’t.

Oh, fuck a purple penguin.

I began to back up slowly, I needed to go warn Harry…or, someone that would at least listen to reason.

With that I turned and hauled ass back in the direction I thought the cabin was.

Notes