The Silence That Screams

Sophia and Louis' POV:

"You're late." Dylan told his sister unenthusiastically when he saw her running toward the front of the stage.

"I'm very sorry. Father needed me to model a dress for next month's dinner party." She replied, her heels clicking down the hard concrete to the stage where her brother and bandmates were tuning their instruments.

A small bag was draped over her arm, she shifted it to hold the garment at it's appropriate position by the hanger.

Dylan's eyes scanned the gray bag, the length of the plastic looking a bit too short for his caring.

"Not liking the length of it already." He admitted, one of his mates coming to the edge of the raised concrete to join in on the conversation.

"Not liking? Mate, your sister has a great ass. "His friend replied cheekily, flashing Sophia a smile.

Sophia looked at him from behind dark sunglasses, her lips in a tight frown. Dylan was not going to stand up for his sister, because from experience he knew she was about to bring out her bitch sword and slay this asshole – like she did every other week.

With a venomous smirk, she hit back at the disrespecting comment.

"Strange, that's what your dad said to your mum before he got the two holes confused and pulled out too late."

Dylan chuckled while hoots and oohs from the others around the stage followed, not deterring the ignorant bloke from trying to advance.

In hindsight, he wasn't her type to start. He had a pudgy round face, big fish lips and his brown hair was styled in a greasy slick crewcut, he was only 5'5 and he gave off a very uneasy perverted vibe that would have Michael Jackson rolling in his grave.

To top it all off, he had a small beer gut and smelled like day old cheese and curdled milk.

Not what Sophia was looking for in a man, if she had been looking at all.

He jumped down from the stage to stand in front of the Stone girl.

"Baby? When are you just going to give in?" He asked coyly, bringing his hand out to place upon her shoulder. "No girl can resist my charm and I eventually get what I want."

Sophia stiffened and looked directly at Dylan this time. She did not like the threat of promise that was laced in his voice

Dylan got the signal immediately.

"Brad? You have precisely five seconds to remove your hand from my sister's shoulder or so help me God, you are going to regret it." Dylan warned, also jumping down.

Brad turned with a sneer.

"Fuck off, I'm working my magic here, D. Don't be such a cockblock." Brad shooed, resuming his smile on the deadly blue eyes that could not be seen through the black lenses that hid them.

If he had glanced upon her cold blues, his dick would have given some blood back to his brain so it could warn him to run.

"The things we could do..." He trailed off softly, taking a step forward to close the space between them.

Sophia felt her face sweat with heat. She was absolutely livid and her body temperature was the reflection of that fact when it began to escalate.

Brad noticed too, the warming of her skin under his clammy hand.

"Whoa – you're burning up and I haven't even kissed you yet." He smirked, noticing her lip twitch into a near snarl.

"Mate – "Dylan warned, reaching out and taking the dress from Sophia so she wouldn't ruin it when she kicked Brad's arse back to toddler years.

She stayed still, her fingers pinching the framework of her sunglasses.

The other boys gathered around to watch the buildup.

Except the Scot, he had been too busy looking for Asher the past hour. They needed to get to the greenroom to tune.

"OI! YE' ALL SEEN ASH? He be no'ere ta b –" He paused his question, forgoing the original query and asking the most logical one. "Ay, wha' all be dun' in 'ere?"

Dylan stepped up to answer, his brown eyes flickering to his sister and the annoying guitarist that he now regrets letting in the band.

"Brad is being a dick and Sophia has no cool to give." Mark replied to the Scot, grinning like a jack o lantern.

Dylan shut his mouth, the harsh pull of her sunnies falling from her face and onto the floor. She had taken them off to reveal a nasty black eye.

He immediately threw the dress bag onto the stage, snapping his fingers for the other men to set it somewhere safe while simultaneously pushing Brad from his sibling and cupping the left side of her face.

"Not again," Dylan gritted his teeth. "What happened this time?" He demanded, reaching to caress her cheek.

Sophia backed away and jumped up on the stage to save her dress from Bryan, Mark's twin brother.

"Eachann?" Sophia called gently, her blue eyes dull under the gleam of the bright lights.

Eachann tilted his head at the younger lass, his curiosity coloring him to pay attention to the words leaving from her pale pink lips.

"Does Mr. Heart have some makeup I can borrow? I'm going to need to apply it on thick tonight." She asked, his warm smile thawing her soul up just a tad.

Eachann's smile turned to a grin.

"If'in I fin' im' tan I will ask, bu'he be no'ere roun' as far as I'yan t'll."

Sophia chuckled, putting her hand up for a high five.

"Love it mate. Complete ace that." She met his palm against hers in a brisk meet, giving him a quick hug.

He didn't hesitate and returned the affection. His mouth lingering close to her ear when they connected.

"Sumtay luv. Sumtay thes w'll all be ta pas." His thick accent skipping over his words.

Sophia smiled, inhaling the sharp spice of his cinnamon breath that had tickled against her earlobe and flowed up into her sinus.

It was calming, especially the way his muscular arms secured her to him protectively.

She closed her tired blues and let herself enjoy the brief touch of comfort that he was providing her sore body. Which was another pain entirely as her father didn't just stop with the black eye.

"I hope so, Eachann."

He nodded and dropped his arms.

"Aye, but query ta yer min' lassie – wha' 's stoppin' ye na?" He winked and walked off to resume his search of Asher without another word.

Sophia's brow furrowed.

He made a point – what was stopping her? She was of age and able-bodied. So, what was the problem?

A small sigh left her mouth.

Oh yeah...

"You bloody know why." Dylan interrupted her gear-turning thoughts, seeing the hopeful look disappear.

Sophia's shoulders slumped.

He was right. She did know; though wished that wasn't a constant reminder.

"Yes," She nodded, clearing her throat of the tears she felt trying to force their way up and restrict her breathing. "All too well."

Dylan agreed, motioning for Sophia to follow him.

"Come on, I can hear Ash's mate yelling for him – he's got fans to meet and we have a show to do." Dylan said, deciding to go help Eachann.

"Did he try upstairs? There's a private balcony and it has a closet that can be used for some pretty wild things," Sophia grinned, shifting the bag on her arm. "That room has history."

Dylan pretended to cover his ears at that.

"Nope. Nope, not an image I actively want to envision." He shook his head to clear the vivid picture.

Sophia rolled her eyes.

"I meant smoking. Last time he took me up there, we smoked. I'm still a virgin, asshole."

With that she jogged from the stage into the back where Louis had entered, climbed up the stairs and headed right to where the closet was.

"Mr. Heart? You have a show to do. Get your lazy arse out here!" Sophia called, banging on the door and then opening it.

Louis had taken it upon himself to play statue when he heard the footsteps but wasn't worried as he was crouched upwards above the balcony and towards the back.

"Butter milk kitty tits! Hey! We're going to need some help up here!" Sophia panicked, seeing Asher's still body laying out cold on the floor, a stomped out joint lying next to his head.

Dylan was already behind her, having followed her to the closet to see what the hell his crazy sister was on about.

"Ye fau'n 'im?" Eachann called up, his footsteps hurrying at the sound of the lassie's holler.

Sophia rolled her eyes.

"No! I found his twin brother Ashley." She remarked sardonically.

Which happened to be ironic, considering he did have a brother named Ashley.

Unfortunately for him, Ashley was thrown down a tree from birth and hit every common branch on the way groundward.

He wasn't ugly by any means, but he was ordinary with bland features despite having the genetical blonde hair and blue eyes. Asher had virtually the same features, only his outshined his older brother by an inch and a half with a heart stopping smile that could make the straightest man go gay for two seconds.

Sophia's eyes gazed upon the superstar with a brief second of thought, disengaging the mere notion of it immediately.

Asher had broken her heart years ago when they had been coursed into attending a banquet together that her father had hosted. His father had been a CEO to her father's company up until his recent death, which was coming upon its first year and the only reason they were even associating with one another now.

"Qui' be'n a smart arse!" Eachann chastised, hurrying from the round room and up to the balcony.

He pushed through to the back where Dylan was hanging outside the closet in favor of watching Sophia.

Sophia was bending down, snapping her fingers next to the singer's ear.

"Wake up," She demanded, flicking him in the inside of his ear. "Come on slag-fucker, give me one reason. Just one bloody reason not to kick you in the reproductives."

Asher didn't even flinch.

Dylan decided to step in before it got any more heated.

"Okay, that's not what he needs right now," He calmed his irate sibling. "We'll take it from here."

Sophia just looked up, not budging.

"No. He hasn't seen me for a few years and I want him to know exactly fuck all." She reasoned, the stress of the day and seeing him face to face proved to be an emotional overload.

"Woun'it make more sense ta wait? He dunn't even know he's slobberin' on 'imself." Eachann pointed to the unconscious bloke, also aware that Sophia's eyes had darkened.

The girl was a mental mess and everyone knew the reason why.

They knew, because half of them had also been present at the banquet during the drama that unfolded. It was a miracle no one was maimed permanently.

Sophia huffed.

Louis leaned forward in interest at that.

"Let's get Ash down to the greenroom and conscious again." Dylan ordered, gently helping Sophia from where she was kneeling.

"We only have a short time before the show starts and we haven't even sound checked." Complained Mark.

"Quit yer bellyachin' grandma Glutz. If'in tat be all that'n the shithole, ten we are a'head of ta game." Eachann replied, helping Dylan to pick up Asher and begin the trek downstairs to the VIP area.

"See tat the lassie be given s'mthen strong ta drink. It be all'n the house ta'night." He addressed Dylan's group, passing by the rest of the boys that had come to see the fallen singer.

Sophia watched them all turn away to follow the others –well, all except for Brad. He hadn't moved from where he stood.

She noticed the wide lipped smirk spreading across his face at the realization.

"Piss off and go fuck yourself." Sophia glowered, walking out of the closet and closing the door.

He brushed himself against her body coolly when she closed the wooden structure.

"Baby, the only one I want to fuck is you. Come on, everyone is finally downsta – "Brad's knees came into contact with the hard-concrete platform and searing pain ripped through his testicles like an electric shock.

"FUCK ME!" Brad cried out in pain, noticing Sophia's hand firmly gripping his manhood, twisting it to get her point across.

"Not in a million years. Now, FUCK off." Sophia growled, pushing him from her and standing up to make her way downstairs.

Brad wasn't giving up without a fight.

"You BITCH!" Brad snarled, grabbing blindly for her, his fingers wrapping around her wrist.

How could everyone leave? One would think one person would have stayed to make sure Brad left her alone, but no. Nope, not one of them was using their right heads tonight – especially the rapey bloke in front of her.

"Go molest your sister! I'm sure if she looks anything like you, she wouldn't mind the attention!" Sophia lunged the insult easily, grasping her other hand over his to Aleve the pressure he was causing.

His fingers curled with rage, the sharp jag of fingernails burrowing down into skin.

She flinched at the pain.

Louis shifted forward so he was able to see down onto the balcony.

"Harry – hey, mate...what's our policy on beating the shit out of a lass and then raping her within an inch of her life before she dies?" Louis whispered into his earpiece, fingers gently touching the intercom inside.

Harry answered back.

"Louis! You better fucking not! That is against OUR rules. I don't care what the bloody hell my fa –"

"Dude! Not me, there's some creepy cadaver fucker type bloke here whose got his hands on our goods and there's no security." Louis interjected in harsh whisper to make sure it was quiet enough for only Harry to hear.

"We don't get involved." Harry ended without pause, the line going dead straight after.

Louis sneered at the other lad, his dark blue eyes going a murky tint of black. He hated those types of people and given his profession, he's met more than he cared to.

If Harry said not to get involved though, then he wouldn't get involved. Simple as that.

"Brad! I will hurt you." Sophia warned, trying desperately to pull away.

"Try it and I'll throw you over the balcony!" He bit back, tightening his hold and pushing her body up against the rails so his lay trapped up against her.

Sophia calmed down a little, her eyes darting around nervously.

Louis noticed the shiner on her eye had begun to grow closed and if he hadn't been about to shoot her in cold blood, then perhaps he would have offered a solution to bring the swelling down.

"You know that no one really gives a damn. Everyone knows that you're broken goods from the get-go, what with what happened to your mum and all. How she whored herself in the streets," Brad chuckled, his hand going to caress her face. "Like mother, like daughter. The fruit never falls far from the tree and I predict the things the way they are – it will ever only be a matter of time until the pattern repeats." He continued tauntingly, his mousy voice attempting to sound mysterious and seductive. His stale breath billowed against her with every vile word he spoke and the stink of his breath was prominent in the small space he had almost closed in on.

Sophia took a small intake of air to replenish her deprived lungs.

"Even if the rumors had been true, I'd rather be the daughter of a whore than a son of a bitch." She hit back, jerking her shoulder outward to knock her attacker off balance.

Brad deflected the move by stomping his large foot over hers and crushing his weight on her frame, his hand forcing hers together.

"No one is going to help you. Security is understaffed and they're trying to get things situated outside. The rest as you can see are attending to their prince – which leaves the little flower all alone with the big bad wolf." Brad cackled, leaning forward to force a kiss onto her lips.

Sophia wasn't having it and bucked her head back.

Louis saw and cringed even before the sharp crack of bone on bone resonated.

"Owie." He flinched, enjoying the sound of Brad's cries.

Sophia pushed herself forward with velocity, grabbing the creep's arm and flinging his body over the balcony in one quick rush of adrenaline.

Brad's yells became dire, his eyes now mirroring the right amount of fear to satisfy the redhead.

"Whoa!" Louis gasped when the girl outright defied possibilities.

She practically Magnitoed that asshole in the air as if he weighed nothing and flipped his ass over the balcony to let him dangle.

"Fuck yeah!" Louis whispered with his arm in the air.

He may have had to kill her, but he sure as hell respected the girl for the no bullshit policy she seemingly had set in place.

"Tha'ta lass." He cheered, smirking at the look overlapping Brad's face.

He was scared and with good reason, because if he fell he was breaking bones.

"What the bloomin' tater briskets be goin' on ou'ear?" Eachann yelled from the stage where he had run to.

Louis rolled his eyes.

"She was having tea and crumpets with the Queen you stupid porridge wog." He responded sarcastically to himself.

"Pick him up!" Eachann demanded, his feet moving from the stage, past the greenroom where he yelled for Dylan to follow him and into the small round area outside the VIP and toward the stairs.

Sophia was leaning against the rail casually when the men approached.

"Pick me up!" Brad screamed, tightening his fingers around the bannister.

"No," Sophia warned with a raised hand, making sure the other blokes knew what he tried to do. "I warned Brad that if he touched me that there would be consequences. He tried to kiss me, so I in return gave him the Glasgow handshake."

Louis' eyes twinkled. He really liked this girl.

"Let him up, Soph." Dylan ordered, seeing Brad's grip was slipping from the rail he now death gripped.

"No, don't. Don't do it! Let the body hit the floor, lass." Louis jeered on silently, rooting for her like a heroine on the tele.

"Sophia..." Dylan warned, reaching over to help Brad up. She turned around briskly and slapped his hand away.

"Yes! You tell that arsehat what's what. Don't take no bullocks!" Louis agreed mutely, his beautiful blues darting back and forth on the drama unfolding below him.

"He tried to force himself on me and everyone just bloody left! Do you guys really not give a fuck?! I mean, I say we leave him there till he falls so he can be as helpless as I bloody feel right now!" Sophia exploded, a tear slipping from her eye.

Eachann hurriedly grabbed Sophia to him and pulled her away by the chairs so she could get herself under control, allowing Dylan to help Brad up at the same time.

They had other problems and it was all just turning into one big clusterfuck. Especially since Asher was still out like a light.

Someone even went down the street to the pharmacy to pick up smelling salts in hopes that worked.

"You're done. This is your last show, we'll find a replacement until we decide on a permanent guitarist. I warned you about Sophia and what would happen if you didn't cut it out." Dylan reprimanded, helping him plant his feet back on the floor.

His slimy carcass slid over the rail like a leech out of shit and onto his feet unsteadily from the harsh hit he had encountered with the Stone girl. He hated challenges, why couldn't she just bloody go with it?

Brad shrugged Dylan from him, frustration filling his eyes.

"Well, if you're sister wasn't such a prude cunt – I mean, your mother was a whore and look how –"

Brad never saw the punch coming.

In fact, he saw his head go over his tits, coming down with a thud on the cold ground before it had even registered he had been pummeled.

The pain that resonated from his jaw a second after made him scream like a woman whose skirt had just caught fire. He hadn't heard the loud crunch from the way his heart beat in his ears, but he felt it soon after.

However, the punch didn't come from Dylan but Eachann; who now stood over him with a murderous glint.

The man was about 5'9 with orange red hair and came a few inches over the ignorant bloke. His features were rugged with facial hair and to see him, you knew that pissing him off was a risk to your own health.

Brad just found that out the hard way.

Louis decided it was time to go back into hiding and let the man of Scots finish chewing on his new-found chew toy in peace.

"Nope, I like solid foods. I'm not tangling with that beasty." Louis shook his head, flinching at the punch Eachann delivered.

"You broke his jaw!" Dylan exclaimed, bending down and taking out his cellphone, calling 999.

"Yep, an' I a done a wee m're if'en I could withou' bein' put in ta paddy." Eachann said, pointing to were Sophia was sitting on one of the plush seats. "If'en tat w're my sista – Brad tare would be'n a box meters 'nder wa'er," He pointed with threatening intent. "Ya get me Stone?"

Dylan nodded.

Oh yeah, he got it alright. He received the message loud and clear. He just didn't think Sophia needed help – given she could give just as much as she could take, but this was different. This situation got out of hand and he needed to be aware of his sister when she was around their band.

"999, what's the emergency?" A disinterested tone asked, her fingers clicking away at the keyboard in front of her.

"Hi, I'd like to...order an ambulance?" Dylan asked with confusion, looking up to Eachann with a shrug.

Brad's screams were choking in his throat, so Dylan was able to talk over his cries of pain.

Eachann slapped the palm of his hand against his forehead.

"Yes, or'er a 'mb'lance like ye or'er a pi'zza." Eachann remarked with a snort.

"Okay, what's your name and why do we need to dispatch an ambulance, sir?" The operator questioned with boredom.

"Fight. Someone got their arse beat and I'd like to remain anonymous, please. I don't think given the people who are involved that there needs to be a filed report." Dylan replied, tilting his head when Brad tried to grab his phone.

Dylan pulled his fist back and brought it to the side of Brad's temple to knock him out and to get back at him for degrading his family.

It wasn't that he never defended his sister, it was just that she usually held her own. Today must have been a breaking point, given the last week had been hell for both siblings.

"Where are we dispatching?" She asked in annoyance.

"East London?" Dylan replied with question, hearing a sigh and then a sharp click. "Hello?"

Eachann grabbed the phone from Dylan's hand.

"Ya git! Tay mea'where! WHERE!" Eachann shook his head, looking at Brad. "An' you'in haven'ta be splainin' why he gots an extra knock n'his 'ead."

Dylan just popped a brow.

"I thought they wanted to know where we were. We're in East London." Dylan said, shrugging slowly.

Louis slapped his own forehead and pressed the inside of his earpiece.

"Mate? I don't think I can physically kill these kids in cold blood – the girl just went Bruce Lee on some punk all cool-like and the boy is a stupid, cute naïve little puppy." Louis whispered to make sure that he was heard by Harry, but that his voice didn't travel.

"Ah, fa fock sake!" Eachann exploded, dialing 999.

That caught Louis' attention.

"Hi, I like ta 'ispitch a 'm'blence to ta 'tar wrang 'enue please." Eachann requested, looking at the phone a moment later as if the phone was growling at him.

Dylan just continued to kneel there and watch the Scot try to dispatch an ambulance.

"Wrang 'enue! Wrang 'enue!" Eachann yelled, scratching his head.

"Wrang? What street is that located on?" The male dispatcher asked, typing fast to bring up a map, hoping that would help see the approximate location.

"r'st'intwe've!" Eachann exclaimed, shaking the small phone.

There was a pause.

"Uh – why do you need them dispatched? Are you lost?" The guy asked, figuring the Scot that was calling was either lost of drunk. "Are you sure you don't want me to try and dispatch the police instead? They might be able to assist you more." He politely offered.

Eachann looked at the phone with disbelief.

"I'an no need ta police! I'an need a 'm'blence! There be a bloke 'ere. Got ta shit beat 'ou a 'im."

Louis was disappointed that Harry didn't reply, but he did admit that this was the first assignment that he could genuinely say that he was amused.

"That's assault, sir." The operator responded dryly, trying to get a track on the call.

Eachann groaned and stomped his foot.

"Yeah? 'An next ya be tellin' me tat madar is't illegal?" Eachann challenged sarcastically, feeling his blood pressure spike, his face starting to match the color of his ginger hair.

"It is, sir." The operator replied with the same dry sardonic tone.

Louis chuckled softly, waiting to see the conclusion of this night. He somehow didn't want it to end, because if it ended, it means he would have had to do his job.

On one hand, he knocked Asher back to teddy bears and nap time for a brief period of time, but on the other one, the events transpiring were pure chaos and he was loving every moment.

Eachann hung up the cell and tossed it back at Dylan.

"Call latar." He shrugged, walking back to Sophia.

Sophia had been watching the exchange and was unamused to say the least. She had just shut her cellphone, having texted 999 to fill them in on details – without naming anyone to a crime. She just told the operator that there had been a fight but wasn't present for specific details. She nor the other lads could identify anyone, they didn't know who Brad was and given his jaw was broken, unless he wrote it down then the gang wouldn't have much to worry about.

Well, Brad wouldn't because he knew what her father was capable of. This would paint him in a negative light and heaven forbid that happened.

"Relax, the ambulance is on their way. We don't know anything, we found him up here unconscious. If he knows what's good for him, then he'll keep his mouth shut." Sophia nodded with finality.

Louis smiled, taking his phone out and texting Damien; the king of hell himself.

He honestly saw potential in this young lass and he didn't know if it would do anything, but he was willing to place it all on the line just to see if his intuition was right and if he were to brag, he would swear it had never been wrong.

After a six-paragraph explanation that was probably going to piss Damien off, he went back to the entertainment happening below them.

"Hey! He's awake!" A voice cheered from the other room, following the exclamation was immediately echoed by loud roars of applause.

It meant Asher had finally woken up and that the show could go on – once the room presumably stopped spinning for the poor stoned musician.

Louis rolled his eyes. He didn't hit him THAT hard.

Dylan looked at his sister, his eyes motioning toward the stairs.

Sophia shook her head. She would end up killing the boy if she saw him again.

"No, go on and go do your thing, Dy. I'm going to stay up here for awhile and think. I finally got some time to do that," She smiled, looking up at Eachann. "You too. Don't worry about me. It's a closed space and the ambulance will be here soon so I'll be okay up here until then. Brad can't bother me and you all have some more pressing issues to attend with." She gave them her reassurance, collapsing her tired body back down in the comfortable plush seat.

Eachann was hesitant to leave, but with her brother heading down the stairs and Brad unconscious, in their minds there was no particular danger or harm to let her stay by herself while she watched for the paramedics.

"A'right, lassie. Scream if'in ya need 'ny 'elp." Eachann replied after a brief moment of silence, following Dylan down the stairs to find out what was going on with Asher.

Louis watched them go, smirking from ear to ear, which was about the time that his earpiece came to life.

"LOUIS! Louis, did you text my father? Please tell me you didn't! Fuck! Do you know how reamed my arse is right now?!" Harry screamed in his ear.

The older bloke flinched at the volume but couldn't reply. He'd be caught if he tried, no matter how soft he spoke, given it was extremely quiet up in that area at the moment.

"LOUIS! He is demanding to know why I am questioning his orders on the kill, do you have something you want to tell me?" Harry pressed on icily.

Louis felt like he'd rolled his eyes at least twenty times already.

Yes, he had plenty to say. Yes, he had texted Damien and yes, he would love to explain all this to his high-strung leader because he didn't want to get murdered. Unfortunately, with it being so quiet, his voice, no matter how soft he spoke, would carry and give his position away.

He didn't need that.

"Louis – "Harry began calmly. "You and I are going to have a very long chat tonight and we will continue this chat right up until I shoot you in the bloody fucking head. You had one job to do and you're not doing it. Father doesn't like being questioned."

Louis snorted in his head.

His father could suck a dick.

With that thought in his mind, Louis picked up the phone and texted Damien a counter offer. It was one that he knew he shouldn't have even considered and one that will get Harry in some deep shit – and in turn himself when his leader finds out what he just did.

I'm sure he'll hear about it in just a few ticks – considering Damien seems to be going off at Harry, which leaves him free to move forward and observe the twenty-three-year-old girl for a moment.

She was leaning her head back against the headrest of the bright red plush chair, the smooth wooden armrests supporting her limbs and the dress bag still draped over one arm, falling off the side.

"God, I wish my life was like a story. A story I could write and control." She murmured to the ceiling dully.

Of course, there was no one around to hear her wish – well, except Louis and unfortunately, the only story he'd be able to give her was a swift ending.

"YOU DID WHAT!? LOUIS! LOUIS, YOU BETTER BE LISTENING BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO SHOOT YOU THROUGH THIS EARPIECE!" Harry raged, a sound of his fist coming down onto something that most likely is now broken.

Louis took the communicator from his ear and switched it off, picking his phone up again and texting both Zayn and Harry.

Get our vehicle and park it by the alley. I'm taking the girl – call it a half-assed plan, but we're jumping the gun. She can be useful. I know she can. Give me five minutes and have the trunk open.

Louis sent the text.

He paused, texting just Harry this time.

PS: Don't let Zayn see that goat poster on the store window out there, he might get distracted.

He sent the text.

About ten seconds later he got a reply from both Zayn and Harry.

Louis! Louis, you better bloody answer me! I'm yelling at you, are you even listening to me?!

Louis shrugged nonchalantly.

No. Your voice sounded like my great grandmother Ellen on helium being humped by a Saint Bernard wearing a cactus strap-on. It was hurting my ears. Now, go bring the car around sos we can sort this later and if Damien doesn't agree – then I will kill the girl and her brother as ordered.

He sent back, opening the text from Zayn.

FUCK YOU!

Louis smirked, pocketing his phone and stealthily making his way down from the light fixture.

Sophia wasn't even paying attention, she just looked done with the world, which is why Louis still felt a little guilty.

However, the temporary alternative was better than the original plan by far.

He approached Sophia, his gun already drawn from his pants and pointing to the ground behind his back.

"Crazy day, hm?" Louis asked her, noticing she jumped a mile upward in her chair.

Sophia's breath hitched and she stared wide-eyed at the older lad, taking in his features and then relaxing some.

"Who are you?" She asked shakily from the scare, ignoring his initial question.

"A genie of sorts." Louis smiled in reply, sitting down beside her a chair over.

Sophia was beginning to feel as if his innocent features were a lure to false senses of security and if she had known who he was, then her intuition would have been right.

"I don't remember summoning a genie – are we sure you aren't just a leprechaun in disguise?" She asked sarcastically, her palms getting ready to push herself up and away from the stranger.

Louis chuckled, ready for her predictable move.

"I knew I made the right call." He said to himself, twisting his body up out of his chair and straddling the younger girl's lap to keep her grounded in hers.

She opened her mouth to scream but his hand was quicker.

"Nu-uh, Ms. Stone," Louis tauntingly sang, his hand tightening over her mouth so she didn't draw attention.

Sophia's blue eyes gave way to panic, because she had no idea who this person was, but they obviously knew her.

"We're going to leave here without drawing attention to ourselves, yes?" He continued mockingly, pointing the gun directly at her temple this time.

She left out a muffled gasp, stiffening completely.

Louis was satisfied with her reaction and took his hand slowly from her mouth.

"Ms. Stone? if you scream, I will be forced to shoot you and I don't want to have to do that just yet." Louis threatened darkly, his steely eyes slitting to a glare to let her know that he wasn't playing around.

Sadly, for Louis, neither was Sophia and she made that very clear to him when she bumped her forehead into his and let out an ear-piercing scream that could wake not only the dead, but Heaven, Hell and purgatory in between.

It was so painstakingly loud; Harry and Zayn had heard it clearly outside by where they had parked by the alley.

Zayn looked at Harry with an expression that clearly said he was expecting it. After all – it was Louis who came up with the rogue plan.

"Zayn – "Harry began, watching Zayn fold his arms across his chest.

"No." Zayn cut Harry off.

"Zayn!" Harry snapped, clearly not in the mood.

He pointed toward the building where a gunshot went off.

"Are you fucking kidding me, mate?! I'm not going in there!" Zayn protested, watching Harry pull the only gun he had left on him.

"Zayn? He needs help and I'm still trying to convince Damien not to kill us. Do you understand? I need you to go and get him." Harry pointed frustratedly down the alley, his phone buzzing continuously in his pocket.

He wasn't going to answer that right now...

Because he wanted to try and fix this without his father murdering everyone before he could make it known that this was all Louis' idea.

Zayn tightened his arms around himself.

"We have rules, Zayn. I can't go in there. It's too high risk and you're not much good either, but I have to send you in because you are good at getting us out of these kinds of situations – I'm not." Harry held up his hands in surrender to show this was not on him.

Zayn wasn't buying it. This was his fault for bringing Louis along in the first place.

"Yeah? Whose idea was it to include him? Oh! How about we make another rule while we're at it? Like, how about: No more being fucking racist?! He's trying my patience, Harry. I say we let the pandas arrest his ass or let Damien kill him." Zayn muttered, hearing another gunshot and more commotion, people spreading away from the building in terror.

Harry went to hand him his gun.

"Only if you want us all to die in the process. Now, go grow a set, because we don't have time for this." Harry reminded grimly, his green eyes smoldering in anger.

Zayn growled, taking the gun.

"Fine. I swear though, if he makes one more goat remark – "He left the threat hanging, turning from Harry and jogging back toward the building.

Notes