The Silence That Surrounds: Screams of the Damned

Narrator’s POV:

Sophia’s body was cramped in the small like dog crate she was forced in hours ago. It wouldn’t have been so bad if her hands weren’t still cuffed behind her.

A few feet ahead was a coffin locker type space where Harry had been all but stuffed in, his body still in the full length strait jacket and his jaw still tightly trapped underneath rough leather that kept his mouth locked shut.

He tried moving again but when he moved his neck, the leather one the jacket restricted his airway and caused him to still again.

“Harry, stop. Please? You’re not getting out of there anymore than I am getting out of this cage. Save your strength.” Sophia mumbled softly, her gag having already been gone when she woke up. She half suspected Andros for that slight comfort.

Harry looked over at her, his hood already removed, leaving a clear sight to glance at one another but trapped behind each of their own cages where they could only look.

Harry didn’t bother with a reply but he assessed himself to see what he could move and the only thing to move without difficulty was his toes, everything else was immobile.

“Harry?” Sophia whispered, catching his attention with a light wisp of unsureness.

“It was true, wasn’t it? Elliott’s gang? That they weren’t going to give up until they found us?” Sophia continued, her voice struggling to keep her tone silent so only Harry could hear. Not that anyone was around, they were currently being held in a dark basement, one light bulb hung above, encircling down on her cage, swinging back and forth slightly.

Harry groaned, closing his eyes. He shook his head, trying to force his jaw open to answer, even trying to rub the muzzle off but in the end he just sighed and repeated his action but not without cutting off his air supply from the supporting collar on the straitjacket that held his neck up.

“Then it was by chance?” Sophia pressed, earning her a slight growl. He was trying to figure out a plan and her constant questioning was starting to annoy Harry but he had to remember she was just as worried if not more frightened as him.

He nodded, gagging on air and wished she stop probing for answers because he couldn’t really do much to answer them. He couldn’t do shit other than sit with his knees hunched into his caved in chest. Almost like being stuffed into a small locker in a sitting position, the cage mesh keeping him from moving even further as it kept his back pressed into one side and his knees pressed into the other.

“Can you do me a favor, Harry? Please? Not now but –but could you lie to me? Could you tell me everything’s going to be okay? Even if it’s not? I just –I just want to pretend it’s going to even if it isn’t.” Sophia continued, her eyes meeting the opening door of the basement.

Andros and Mistress Dawson stepped in, their footsteps clanking on the cement steps as they descended. Hers were of authority and his light with obedience. Upon further inspection, it truly was uncanny how much he and Dylan looked alike – right down to the hair. The only difference was, his was blonde with brunette streaks. The length was passed his shoulders while Dylan’s had been down to his arse. He stood about 5’10 with dark hazel green eyes but in the light, they could pass for a dark blue and he looked only about twenty-six years old.

From her position, Sophia took in every detail – including the girl.

The girl, Mistress Dawson, was about 5’5 with long black and blue striped hair. Her one eye that was brown was now green, giving her one blue orb and one green one. It had been fairly obvious the brown color was a contact lens. Her face was young, no older than sixteen by just the look alone but her posture held far more years then what Sophia was going to even try to guess.

“Good evening, Sophia,” Andros nodded down toward her before glancing at Harry and giving him the same nod. “To you as well, Harry.”

Harry glowered but remained unresponsive.

“Such pleasantries, Andros. Do I dare wonder about that or am I to assume it’s your overly friendly nature towards hostages in general?” The girl asked with a tight smile.

“Neither, Mistress Eli. A simple greeting was all, your father would not disapprove. To be quite fair, he might be overly concerned that you have them bound up so secure. If they are not allowed to stretch their legs, they will end up with blood clots and die. Almost defeats the purpose in taking them in the first place; if I am allowed to speak freely on the matter.” Andros replied, his hazel greens a beautiful concern, especially glancing down at Sophia.

“My father has grown a soft spot as of late and he should thank me for bringing them in. I did his job. Since mother died a few years ago, he seems to think the importance of a good productive day is moving product from one warehouse to the next. Merely an oversight to a much bigger problem. Especially when other rivals are killing members of our own group. He gave no order to bring these dip fucks in and so I had to step up. He will be proud, he has to. If Lilyana can make him gush at a stick figure drawing of our fucked up little family, then surely my accomplishment will be of higher propriety.” She finished, folding her arms across her chest and glaring down at Sophia before her eyes made contact with Harry.

“Perhaps so little miss but your father doesn’t want a war with Damien Styles and treating his son and other member like this –“He paused and flipped his hand to gesture to their current state before continuing. “Well, I don’t think the word proud is a term I’d use to describe what he’s going to be feeling when he sees how you’re treating other human beings.” Andros reasoned but she simply brushed him off.

“My father returns in two days with Blade. Until then, Ms. Stone and Mr. Styles are not to be removed from their cages. No restroom privileges and they will get nothing to eat or drink. My hospitability extends to their cages as they protect them from me. Ms. Stone is lucky you were nice enough to remove her gag because that is the only comfort she will get. Mr. Styles gets nothing of the satisfaction. He will remain in that body jacket and gagged with his muzzle. Let them piss where they lay and let them starve because that is more than they will ever deserve.” Eli glared, her footsteps echoing on the cold hard concrete as she approached the side of Sophia’s cage and bent down behind her, inspecting the chains still keeping her hands behind her.

With mock gentleness, she reached in and grasped Sophia’s two broken fingers, inspecting them as the frightened girl let out a whimper. Harry tensed and tried to struggle, gagging from his limited breath, forcing air in and out forcefully through his nose, making a few muffled noises to try and get the demon spawn’s attention but it wasn’t working. No, Eli’s focus was on the broken girl.

“Eli? What are you –“Andros began but saw the teenaged girl grasp Sophia’s two healing fingers and bend them back suddenly, causing two simultaneous snaps to sound, followed by Sophia’s agonized screams.

Eli had broken the older girl’s fingers again, all those weeks of healing for nothing.

Harry struggled in his prison, thrashing about wildly.

“Eli!” Andros chastised, dropping to the ground to inspect what the eldest Dawson had done.

Eli shrugged and retreated her hands from the oldest Stone and stood up.

“Merely showing them what I am capable of and if you don’t want to see a bullet between your eyes then I suggest you keep yourself in check as well, Andros. I’ll leave you to sprawl your bullshit words, I’ve better things to do with my time. Lilyanna is going to need fed soon and low and behold the unfortunate task is handed to me to make sure the little bitch doesn’t starve. I swear, dad should have stopped with me because Lily is fucking weak. She brings nothing useful to this family.” Eli glowered, making her way towards the stairs and stomping up them like a child throwing a fit. It was clear to see the mention of her youngest sibling wreaked havoc on her teenaged mind.

Andros shook his head and reached into the open door of the cage, petting the back of Sophia’s head gently.

“I am so sorry about her. I can’t do anything about letting you out of the cage but I will see that you guys at least get some water and food when I can. Hopefully when Master Dawson comes back, he’ll let you guys go or work something out with you two.” Andros apologized, his voice rising slightly above Sophia’s pained yells.

“It hurts! Oh God!” Sophia sobbed, her arms straining and twitching behind her as pain shot up her arms from both the pain and being held behind her for so long.

“You need to keep her quiet!” Eli screamed down, making Andros groan and get up, walking to the laundry basket on the other side of the basement before finding a thick purple piece of cloth and walking back over.

“I’m really sorry about this but she’s going to hurt you more if I don’t get you quieted. I’ll try to come back later and bring something for the pain but I don’t know how well she’s going to keep the basement guarded.” Andros said, dropping back to his knees and quickly but gently slipped the cloth inside Sophia’s mouth, tying it secure but not tight.

“I’m really sorry.” He apologized again, closing the door to the cage and replacing the padlock on it.

Sophia was shaking with fear as she heard his footsteps dissipate up the stairs again, followed by a soft click.

Harry tried calling Sophia’s name but nothing really escaped and Sophia was too settled in her own pain to pay attention.

Eventually, her cries quieted but her body continued to shake from the stress brought on by her newly broken fingers. One thing was for sure, the girl couldn’t catch a break.

*

More hours pass and then more on top of that. It was hard to really keep track other than how many times Sophia had pissed herself. If it was as humiliating for her, she wondered if Harry had managed to hold it in as guys had more control of holding their bladders than women. They could hold them up to twenty-four hours whereas some women could hold it up to eighteen.

Harry let out a groan and tried to move, banging his head on the cage mesh behind him.

Sophia looked over and saw Harry try to shift uncomfortably before leaning against the mesh and closing his eyes, a hot pink sweeping across his cheeks.

Sophia imagined it had been at least eighteen to twenty hours since they were taken down here and shoved in these cages. Her body was so stiff and cramped that she would gladly take a bullet right in the moment to avoid feeling such agony.

More footsteps were heard making their way quietly down the stairs, Andros coming into view a few seconds after.

“Hey princess, I’m back. I managed to smuggle you guys in a few things. I stole a pain shot from the medical closet and I hope you don’t mind a few bottles of water and couple of granola bars. It was the only thing I could get without being suspicious. Everyone upstairs is asleep. Hopefully Master Elliott comes home soon and sees what terror princess is doing around here.” Andros whispered, going toward Harry and removing the lock from the mesh wire cage, opening the door.

Harry shook his head and murmured something, his eyes going to Sophia.

Andros went behind him and unbuckled the muzzle, letting it fall from his face.

“Sophia first, give mine to her.” Harry croaked right away, worry clearly evident in his eyes. “Soph? Are you okay?” He sounded beside himself.

Sophia moaned, her head moving back and forth. She was feeling far from okay by the way things were at the moment.

“You need to take a drink, Harry. I’ll get Sophia in a second but you have to keep hydrated and you’ve been in this cage almost twenty four ours now with that muzzle on. After you take a sip for me I’ll get Sophia, alright? While I do that, you can stretch your legs out to get some movement back into them.” Andros compromised.

Harry just glanced at Andros before reluctantly nodding his head in agreement, seeing him pop off the top of the water bottle and put it to his dry and chapped lips.

Harry drank slowly even though his whole body was telling him to swallow it all. When he downed everything but a few sips he turned away and belched quietly.

“Sophia, now.” Harry ordered but realized his mistake and added a ‘please’ afterward.

Andros nodded and went and unlocked Sophia’s cage, helping her out of it.

When she was sitting up he untied her gag and threw it away.

“I’m going to give you this water, okay? I’m going to need you to drink it slow. I don’t want you getting sick.” Andros warned, putting the tip to her mouth, watching her latch on and begin to drink.

“Why are you being so cordial? Elliott’s gang isn’t exactly known for being hands on or nice for that matter.” Harry asked, keeping his voice low so only Sophia and Andros could hear.

Andros merely shrugged.

“Elliott Dawson is feared but he isn’t as bad as those who make him out to be that way. As for me? I believe everyone should be treated human. If I could get away with it, I would let you two up to shower but Mistress would have my head.” Andros sighed, letting Sophia finish off the water, tossing the evidence in a nearby recycling bin.

“You could help us?” Sophia whispered into his ear, her eyes hopeful.

Andros shook his head, preening a piece of loose hair behind Sophia’s ear.

“I want to but I have to maintain my status here in the gang,” Andros paused seeing Sophia’s face fall slightly. “However, I can promise you that I will try to as much as I am able.”

Sophia managed a small smile despite her agony.

“Let’s get you that shot, huh? It’s Fentanyl. A pretty good morphine based drug that will have you singing in no time.” Andros chuckled, uncapping the syringe and gently inserting it into her arm.

Sophia jumped but relaxed her body against Andros, letting him support her. For some reason, she trusted the older lad. Hell, he looked like her brother, what was there not to trust?

“You look like Dylan. I wish you were him.” Sophia murmured, feeling the tip of a granola bar touch her lips.

She bit down with a small groan as she hadn’t had anything since Broker’s cart.

“Broker?” She asked suddenly, looking into Andros eyes.

“The cart guy? He’s fine, just a flesh wound. I went back just to make sure but kept my distance, Damien was there with the rest of his boys and I think yours too. They were helping him take out the bullet and Damien was grilling him on something or other.” Andros frowned, moving his fingers so she could take the last bite of the granola bar before getting the other one, looking at Harry who sat with his legs out of the cage but didn’t move otherwise.

“You sure you don’t want this, mate? I’m not sure how long it will be before I can sneak something down.” Andros warned but received a firm head shake.

“Sophia, give it to her. She needs to keep her strength up far more than myself. I’m concerned for her wellbeing and hers alone.” Harry replied, moving his jaw back and forth to try and loosen it.

Andros nodded and tore open the other one, feeding it to the girl, allowing her to finish off the few remaining sips from Harry’s water bottle to wash it down. It was about that time that he noticed her eyes were completely dilated.

“You feeling okay now, Sophia?” Andros asked, preening her other hair behind her ear on the opposite side.

“Yeah.” She smiled, leaning her head back against his shoulder and closing her eyes. This made Andros sigh, wishing he could just leave her like that but he knew he needed to put them back like he had them.

“Sophia, sweetheart? You can’t stay like this. We got to get you back inside the cage and laying down, okay?” Andros called but received no reply.

She was out like a light.

Being careful of her newly broken fingers he managed to get her tucked back inside the cage, locking the door as he did so.

At least for a few hours she would be comfortable and get some well needed rest. When he made sure her cage was secure he went to Harry, shooting him a look of apology.

“I’m sorry but the muzzle has to go back on.” He told Harry, his apologetic look extending further with the matching tone in his voice.

“You know? If you were serious about joining my gang, you would make a good impression in hostage care and I don’t’ pay those compliments off lightly.” Harry said, his thought sparse.

Andros laughed.

“Well, you’re not too bad yourself, Styles,” Andros replied, reaching into his pocket and taking out a syringe. “This would help you get some sleep. I think whatever is to come, you two need all the rest you can get. I’ll watch over Sophia while you’re out but your body is going to start cramping painfully if it hasn’t already and sleep is next to impossible when that happens. It’s the same thing I gave Sophia, it will relieve some of the pain.”

Harry hesitated, looking into Andros’s eyes.

“Just promise me you will try and keep her safe? I don’t hold human regard in high standard but Sophia is different. She’s…a light that has been missing from my own life for a long time and I want to give her survival. I want to give her a chance to thrive but I can’t do that when I’m just as helpless.”

Andros nodded and reached up, taking hold of the muzzle and fitting it under his jaw again, strapping it to behind Harry’s head, locking it to him.

“You have my word.” Andros promised, making sure he left some slack so Harry could at least part his jaw a little. It wasn’t as secure but it still kept him from talking.

Harry nodded his thanks, moving his feet back in and watching while Andros uncapped the other syringe, inserting it into his shoulder before closing him off from freedom once more, trapping him in again.

“Goodnight Harry, sleep well.” Andros called, hiding the evidence of the water bottles and food wrappers before jogging up the steps and leaving the two prisoners alone to sleep.

It took Harry about fifteen minutes but eventually, he did fall into some much needed rest.

*

More hours passed and more after that before yelling and footsteps could be heard reaching the basement, by the sounds these steps were frantic and taking two at a time to reach the bottom.

“Eli! I did not give you orders to kidnap Harry Styles, are you fucking crazy?! And who the bloody hell is the girl?!” A dark haired man appeared over Sophia like a shadow, his eyes slightly panicked.

“That’s their new member, father. Sophia Stone; you know, Stone Enterprises? Stocks and accounts?” Eli responded calmly, disregarding everything else the man had said.

The man closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

“I do love you Eli but half the time I want nothing more than to strangle you. I told you not to do something stupid while I was away and you have these two in my basement, which means you did something very stupid. I don’t want a war with Damien fucking Styles! This could lead up to it! Kidnapping his son and girl?! Do you ever think, El? Hm?!” The man yelled, his voice echoing off the wall as he got a good look at the prisoners.

“They’re covered in their own fucking piss, they look dehydrated and virtually starved. I raised you better than this!” His tone carrying out in a hefty boom, making Eli flinch.

“I was doing what you couldn’t. You’ve become weak since mother died and she died giving birth to that little bitch upstairs so don’t blame me for your weakness. Blame her for it.” Eli huffed and turned, running up the stairs, a slam of the door following.

The man crouched down and looked in on Sophia who hid her face as best she could from him. He scared her, his voice was deep and rich, dark and full with authority. She did not want to make him angry.

“I-I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry!” Sophia begged, seeing the lights of his clearly angry eyes. When he saw her start to shake he backed away with one arm raised in surrender.

“Don’t be, lass. This is clearly not your fault. Give me a few, I’ll go get Andros and he can take you two to the shower to get cleaned up. I’ll go start dinner and when you both get out, I’ll show you to the room you’ll be staying in. I’m obviously not going to keep you in here.” He said calmly, glancing at Harry and approaching his cage, jerking open the metal mesh and unlocking the muzzle from around his mouth, throwing it out of the cage.

“Your daughter broke my girl’s fingers, they were already broken because of Damien. Three weeks down the drain.” Harry murmured, looking right into Elliott Dawson’s eyes. He would know his face anywhere.

“My apologies Mr. Styles. I will make sure Andros fits her hand into a sling and that she is comfortable by way of pain medication. This obviously was not my idea so do not get short with me. I pick my battles carefully and Razor had murdered a young girl. I do not condone that in my gang but Eli liked him and she took it harder than any of us.” Elliott shrugged.

“I’m not getting short but I’d really like a bathroom. I’ve been sleeping in my own piss for almost two days now. I won’t try anything, you have my word. I want to work whatever this is out with you but my main concern is Sophia, I need to make sure she’s taken care of.” Harry replied, glancing up at the man.

Elliott nodded and stood, leaving Harry still in the jacket but went to the bottom of the stairs and yelled up for Andros.

Andros came down, his steps still as light and submissive as ever.

“”Yes, sir?” Andros called, reaching the bottom of the steps, his one arm behind him at attention but his posture was relaxed.

“Undo Harry’s jacket and fit him with some loose fitting cuffs behind his back. Leave Sophia free to follow to the bathroom. Once they’re in you can unlock Harry’s shackles and leave them to shower in peace. Stand guard outside the door until they knock and then show them to the one guest room. There’s a bed on the floor, make sure Harry is secured but leave Sophia to roam. She won’t go anywhere without Harry and vice versa so there shouldn’t be any problems.” Elliott explained, gesturing toward the prisoners before going upstairs.

Andros sighed and went to Harry’s cage where a pair of cuffs were already hanging off the side, he took them and went back to the curly brunette, kneeling down.

“I don’t want to have to call for backup so please don’t try anything. Sophia can follow and I’ll help her if needed but I’m asking you this as someone who knows what Elliott is capable of to just stick to your promise of not trying anything. Alright?” Andros asked, beginning to unstrap Harry from his straitjacket.

Harry nodded.

“Yeah, you have my word.” He confirmed, making Andros confirm with his own nod.

“Good.”

It was silent after that as he helped Harry peel away the heavy material jacket, urine running down his legs as it was technically made with waterproof fabric.

Once he was out, Harry scooted out of the cage and put his hands behind him, allowing Andros to help him stand.

“Oh God.” Harry murmured, nearly falling back down.

Andros waited until he got his bearings before fragilely cuffing his hands behind him.

When that was done he made quick work of un-cuffing Sophia’s hands and helping her from the cage. She hadn’t spoken anything since Elliott left and that made her all more thankful she didn’t have to face the man.

“Come on beautiful, it’s time to shower.” Andros spoke, helping her very slowly from the ground.

Sophia tried helping herself up at first but gave up and leant on him for support, looking at Harry and smiling.

Harry returned it and walked behind them up the stairs, through the house, down the hall and to the last door on the right.

When they reached there, Andros unattached himself from Sophia and let her go into the bathroom, helping Harry from his cuffs as he passed through into the bathroom, shutting the door behind both of them.

When the door was closed the first thing Harry did was wrap his arms around Sophia as she cried. Shushing her as he half walked and half dragged her to the shower, turning it on to warm.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” Harry whispered, trying not to make the situation worse than it already was.

He let her lean against him with her bad arm while he removed his now ruined shirt from her body, the urine soaked stretch pants following, leaving her naked but she was so used to it now that she hardly even blinked.

He set her on the toilet and stripped naked himself, checking the water to see that it was warm. With a half nod of approval, he glanced into the shower to see a few things were already set in there for them.

Sophia noticed the bathroom was almost identical to the one at the cabin. Only this one was newer looking with a few more amenities, which included a tanning bed to the far left side of the room and shinier white tiles for the shower. No blue on the bottom, the whole thing was white and it hurt her eyes if she stared too long.

“Come, angel.” Harry requested, walking to her and helping her back up, both stepping into the shower and under the water at the same time.

Harry drew the curtain for privacy around them, the atmosphere not as intense now that it was just the two of them.

The water cascading over their sore bodies like a pure waterfall, cleansing their spirits. Their breath evening in time, blowing out steam and letting it absorb back into their lungs with each breath.

Sophia still cried but they were silent tears now, allowing her good arm to wrap around Harry and lean her head into his chest.

Harry reacted by wrapping both arms around her and allowing his chin to rest atop of her head, tilting it down to place a gentle peck on it, the water falling off their skin like glass tears, the refreshing liquid staining their skin in raindrop kisses and making their flesh shine like two angels losing their innocence for the first time. Even then the innocence was long lost to them, which just left them in their own pain and sadness.

“You asked me to lie to you before, that we would be okay. I can’t lie to you because I don’t want to. I want to tell you the truth.” Harry murmured, his chest vibrating as he spoke.

He removed his chin as she looked up, all the sadness in the world in her blue eyes.

“What is the truth?” She asked quietly, water traveling down her dark wet hair to her face.

“That we are going to be alright. I know we will because Damien will send rescue, it might take a few days but I know he’s going to come through.” Harry nodded, his hand traveling to her hair.

She closed her eyes and leant her forehead back into his chest, his fingers untangling her beautiful soft strands from one another, his other arm holding her up.

“I just want something to be alright again, Harry. I feel like nothing ever will.” Sophia said, her voice truthful and that made Harry’s heart pang with a soft stab of quilt.

“It will my Nightshade. It will.” He promised, his hand stopping the movement with her hair to guide her chin to his face, their eyes speaking an unspoken language. Harry pulling in ever so slightly until their lips nearly touched, stopping just a mere centimeter away. “I promise.” He finished in a whisper, connecting his lips to hers in a kiss.

She didn’t fight back, Sophia merely pulled away and hugged him for some sort of lost comfort. She missed comfort, she craved it. Even if it was with the man responsible.

“It’s not a lie then?” She asked, her voice soft.

“No, it’s not a lie my beautiful.” Harry replied, closing his eyes to draw comfort from the girl in his arms. In truth, it was what both of them needed.

“I want to go home. I want to go back to our cabin.” Sophia murmured, feeling Harry tighten his grip on her but still did so gently.

“We will, just give it time.” Harry encouraged, rocking her body with his back and forth but did ever so slowly.

“How do you know we have that much time to begin with?” Sophia asked, keeping her eyes to his, his movements comforting to her.

“I don’t know, angel. I can only hope,” Harry replied, preening a hair behind her ear and leaning forward. “Because right now, baby, we’re both living on a prayer. All we got is each other.”

Sophia nodded, her blue eyes captivated by his green ones, her lips drawing closer to his.

He met her the other half and together, they finally shared an emotion they were both seeking…

Compassion.

Notes