The Silence That Screams

Harry’s POV:

“You need to give him the pill.” Envy said to Harry after a small wave of silence fell over the group in the crowded space, it had been about ten minutes since anyone had moved and it was going to take a lot of convincing – possibly some restraining with permanent injury to get Louis Tomlinson to take a foreign pill that even Lust didn’t know all the potential side effects.

“If you’re feeling brave mate, have a go.” Harry offered the pill to Envy.

He snorted.

“Last time we met, he nearly kicked my nuts off, I’ll pass. Ask Wrath.” He pointed at the angry young man standing at the door with his arms crossed.

The short bob haircut made his deep brown hair wisp cleanly above his even darker brown eyes, holding all the intensity of Hell’s fire.

With a lanky frame of 5’8, he wasn’t the shortest of the group – but he sure as hell had the shortest fuse.

Hence the name.

Truth was they all came together the same time as Harry’s gang. Each member paired up with the younger lads for training, which they had achieved from a youthful age given that they were brought over when they were just a few years old.

Wrath smiled.

“Do I look suicidal? No. I don’t. Tomlinson has mastered the art of injury and I love a fight as much as the next bastard, but the bloke don’t play fair. Your co-leader, your issue green eyes.” He gestured toward the hall to where Louis’ room was.

“I’ll go!” Zayn volunteered cheerily, stumbling to his feet unsteadily. There was absolutely no fear in his voice.

Harry helped him back down into his chair.

“Somehow mate, I don’t think that would work out well for you.” Harry patted the drugged bloke’s shoulder.

Man, that pill kicked in fast.

“I could show him peace, what’s not to work out?” Zayn asked, blinking rapidly to try and clear the foggy webs from his brain.

“A kick to your manhood – figuratively and literal I’d imagine.” Harry muttered, scooping the other white pill from the table with a sigh.

“Not if there’s peace.” Zayn replied, leaning back to help ease the vertigo feeling.

“Peace doesn’t exist in the world. You want peace, go to Mars.” Harry hissed, his eyes a now intense green – he was not looking forward to this encounter in the slightest.

Shit, he just wanted to go to bed he was bloody tired from the day’s events.

He marched the dark hall reaching Louis’ room in seconds, which was directly across from his – the temptation to divert was extremely tempting.

He put his hand to the wooden structure.

“Hey Louis, can I come in? We need to have a discussion.” Harry said, using his best stern voice.

No answer was returned and he sighed in response.

“Okay, then let me talk without you interrupting, savvy? I’m sure you will see reason once I put this in perspective, hm?”

Silence was the only thing that answered, prompting him to go on.

He took a breath.

“Alright, the straight truth is; you know you broke the rules. There are consequences to breaking these rules and you have to pay the piper for his song – or whatever metaphor you want to fill in. I’m not as good at those as you are. Anyhow, I will plead the case to my father; however, for the time being you are going to keep Zayn safe, because there is no way to delay the inevitable. You have to go with them. No matter what, look after one another. Do you understand?” Harry asked, waiting for an answer.

He received none, making him ball his hand into a fist and slam it against the door.

“DO YOU BLOODY UNDERSTAND?!” He growled, his deep gruff tone back in action, scaring the living life out of Niall – he had been drying a dish at the time and ended up dropping it on the floor.

None of them liked when Harry woke the dead – it was usually time to run and Niall would have, except the men guarding the door appeared to be far scarier than their leader.

Liam sighed, finishing up with sloth’s hand, clipping the tape from the role and smoothing it onto the wrapping.

“There, all set Lazy.” Liam nodded, gathering his supplies bag and standing up.

“My name is Sloth.” Sloth rolled his eyes, making Liam smile.

“Same thing, mate. Excuse me, I’m needed elsewhere.” He excused himself politely, going to the table to check up on Zayn, noticing he was slumping in his chair.

Doing some quick vitals, he deemed them normal and headed back to check on Harry, he seemed to be the one having the meltdown.

“Harry, your blood is rushing to your face. Calm down for Christ sake, before you drop from an aneurism.” Liam cautioned, noticing Harry’s cheeks were bright red with anger.

And they thought Wrath had rage issues. Harry could very well be named the prince of darkness.

“He won’t answer me!” Harry growled, slamming his other hand against the door with his fist. “OPEN THE BLOODY DOOR!”

“Harry!” Liam exclaimed putting his hand over the younger lad’s shoulder. “Rationalize the situation, act accordingly – your father has told you numerous times that you react how you see the situation.” He reminded, rubbing his shoulder to try and calm down the hot-tempered male.

Harry turned to give Liam a death stare, but his dark green eyes were ablaze with hot coals gleaming like they were in the darkest cave known to man. Shining beauties that smoldered with dangerous intent.

Just like true emeralds.

“Okay – alright, Liam. You’re right.” Harry nodded and turned back to his second in command’s door a little calmer.

He casually took his gun out, put the nozzle to the lock and shot two bullets through the mechanism.

The force of the bullets shot the lock apart with very little effort – mechanisms and gun power just didn’t mix.

“Harry – “Liam cautioned, choosing to remove his hand from the bloke’s shoulder before he permanently lost it.

Harry huffed out a small mutter, pushing the door open all the way while at the same time holstering the tip of his gun safely back into his jeans band.

The room was empty. All except the open window right to the side of his bed.

Harry knew it shouldn’t surprise him, but all the could do was stand there and stare incredulously into the night at the falling snow.

Then he did something that concerned Liam. Something the doctor hadn’t ever seen before.

Harry began to laugh.

It started as a small rumble in his throat and gradually picked up in rhythm to a snort until it became a full out laugh.

Like he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

In a sense he did – because the icing on the cake was that Louis was still racking up points on the shit ‘o’ meter and was heading right into Harry’s kill very slowly ‘o’ meter.

“I’m gonna skin him alive!” Harry exclaimed cheerily while laughing, his loud cackles coming out clearly into the kitchen.

Niall walked back to take a look at what was happening.

Pride and Envy walked back with Niall, confusion etched in their faces at the empty bedroom when they got inside.

“Harry should probably go to bed now.” Niall signed to Liam, then signing to the other two and pointing to Harry.

Pride chuckled.

“No idea what you’re saying Irish – but then again, there’s nothing I like more than a silent bloke – makes it easy to get things done.” Pride chuckled, flipping his blonde hair back from his blue eyes.

Niall frowned.

That didn’t sound inviting in the least – he should probably go into his room and hide until they’ve gone.

“He asked if you had another of those pills for Harry –“Liam answered, glancing at Harry. “Mate? Niall is spot on. It’s time to go to bed. Let’s say I help you get settled and Niall goes and gets some warm milk? Come on, you need sleep. Lust will find Louis – who more than likely went to find Ms. Stone. He can have fun playing Devil’s advocate.”

Harry looked down at the pill in his hand, his brows furrowing.

He stopped laughing and threw it to the back of his throat, swallowing dry.

“I’m not a pensioner. I don’t want warm milk, I want Louis’ nuts on a spike!” Harry roared, feeling Liam take his arm and guide him out of the room.

“Be right back, lads. I’m just going to help Harry get situated.” Liam called, heading him right across to his own room and making sure the leader got into bed – still fully dressed, minus the gun Liam made sure to confiscate.

The last thing they needed was it discharging – that would be quite painful and since Harry had reloaded when he got inside the chambers were full, minus the two he used on Louis’ door.

“I got everything under control, mate. I promise. Just rest, it’s been a long and disastrous day for everyone. I will make sure to set the rules straight regarding Lou and Zayn before they leave.” Liam promised, walking toward the door after a few moments of Harry muttering.

He shut the door with a soft click, the whole process taking less than five minutes.

Liam handed Pride the loaded weapon, pointing to the kitchen.

“Set it in the kitchen.” He ordered, watching Pride’s eyes narrow, opening his mouth to protest.

Instead of listening to him proclaiming that he didn’t have to do it because he was God, Niall walked out of Louis’ room, grabbed Harry’s pistol and marched back into the kitchen to finish the dishes before going to bed.

The other men watched him go, unbothered by the Irish lad handling a gun – as Niall couldn’t shoot one if his life depended on it.

Liam waited a moment, nodding in satisfactory.

“Right. Alright, lads – best do what your leader asked you to. Go on, off you pop. Get cracken.” Liam suggested, choosing to walk off before they all pounced on him.

Smart move – because if looks could kill, Liam would combust.

*

Louis’ POV:

“I have it on firm belief that Good King Westlaw – or…Witchlaw? Winkles? Oh, fuck trying to remember the dude’s name. His parents should have been shot for giving him such a bloody complicated title. I know he didn’t go trekking across the snow to go find a peasant to dine with him – why bother? I’m tracking a pain in the arse hostage and even I’m debating on it being worth it. Why the hell would one freeze their balls off just for that? Christmas songs are a load of bullocks, bah-humbug.” Louis ranted, the cold wet snow seeping into his sneakers – whereas boots would have been far more appropriate.

He stopped, cocking his head to scan the area with his ears.

Nothing.

“Yep, no more fucks could be heard out here in the dead of night, quote the Louis nevermore.” He muttered, silencing himself when soft crunches of snow could be heard up ahead then, moving slowly as if to avoid detection.

“Hi!” Louis called with faux cheer, making the movement cease.

“Louis? What the bloody fuck mate? I ordered Harry – never mind. What’s going on?” Lust asked, turning to walk back where Louis was.

“Lusty! Man, you got to come back to the cabin asap! Harry’s gone mental, he’s climbing up the wacko ladder and eating every step on the way – dude, your presence is like if all the std, HIV and schizophrenia levels mutated together and had a threesome – “Louis started, seeing Lust approach from the left side of him with a somewhat agitated look.

“Louis? I’m going to need you to go back to the cabin. You’re a code yellow – how did you get out here?” Lust asked, stopping a few feet from him.

Louis took his fingers and moved them back in forth up a line.

“Like how all the other two leggers do it. I walked. I certainly didn’t Peter Pan it here and think happy thoughts. I wish – wouldn’t be freezing me balls off if that were the case, right?” He asked rhetorically, folding his arms across his chest.

Lust closed his eyes, breathing in and out a few times to calm himself.

“I suppose you make an honest point.” He smiled after a long moment of checking himself and the way he handled the situation.

Lust was the Casanova of the group and he learned long ago you get far more flies with honey than you did with vinegar.

Too bad Louis Tomlinson WAS the vinegar. No use trying to trap him, he wasn’t going to budge. His mind was already made up.

“I make facts not points, but seriously – Harry is going floating psycho board. Don’t blame me if you come back to four little pigs instead of six – I’d say ten, but let’s pretend the rhyme goes seven so I don’t have to picture the other 3 get brutally murdered, cool? Alright, savvy that. Better pop – got a girl to find. Have a good evenin’, gov’nr. Stop by again on the third of fuck off and we’ll get together then. Bye!” Louis waved, starting forward to go in the direction, the same one he had been blindly following without light for the last forty minutes.

“I don’t believe you!” Lust called, knowing damn well Harry wouldn’t dare stab his men.

Silence, followed by a loud snort.

“I don’t give a fuck.” Louis sang back, jumping up into a tree to get a better aerial look.

Lust’s eyes narrowed coldly to the direction of his voice.

“You will!” He said, the threat in his tone clear as day.

“Right and snowflakes bleed.” Louis replied, making his way onto the next branch.

They didn’t, obviously.

“Louis – “ Lust tried again, attempting to go back to coaxing him from making a stupid mistake.

“Save it. I need to find Ms. Stone before hypothermia does. You continue to track her your way and leave me to mine or whatever. We don’t have time to dick measure – because mine is without a doubt far more superior than yours will ever be.” He finished, moving at a faster pace to try and spot the girl in the dark.

Lust sighed and went right – he may have overestimated knowing the grounds. Apparently, time really does change everything.

*

Sophia’s POV:

Sophia wasn’t sure how much time had passed. She had been out there longer than an hour, she was almost sure of it. The snow had been covering her feet, but now she sat on the cold, dark ground in a forest she was a hundred percent certain she was going to freeze to death in.

Maybe Zayn was right? Had she just gone with him, she might have ended up tied to the couch, but she would have been warm.

“B-bloody hell. This c-can’t get w-worse.” Sophia moaned, pulling her knees up into her chest to try and help with the chill blowing on her skin.

A snap of a tree branch.

“I’m afraid it can luv,” Louis replied to her statement, having saw her a few minutes prior. He just didn’t want to startle her without warning. “Hypothermia is far worse than what Harry or I could do.”

Sophia felt almost relieved, but the reality was still moot. It was unimportant because she had failed at her attempt to get back to her family and she couldn’t even hide properly.

Her father was right, she was completely useless.

It showed in the nearly frozen tears that left the sides of her eyes, the congestion of cold death gathered in her lungs – she would get sick if she stayed there any longer, but she also didn’t want to leave in fear of invoking the wrath of Harry Styles.

“Just let me die.” Sophia replied weakly, making Louis roll his eyes.

He didn’t say anything, choosing to kneel down next to her as he approached from the tree.

“That doesn’t make problems go away. It only makes them worse for someone else. Come, luv – let’s warm you a bit.” Louis dismissed her dramatics and unzipped his leather jacket from himself, throwing the article of clothing onto Sophia’s shoulders and guiding the stiff limbs of her body into the sleeves.

The remanence of heat from the older male clung to her pale flesh. She could feel it start to thaw out the icy patches where her shoulders had been completely exposed.

“Don’t expect me to thank you.” Sophia muttered, noticing her bare feet were discolored – not exactly frostbite, but she was sure to have it if she didn’t get warmed up soon.

Louis smirked at that.

“Flower? I wouldn’t dream of it. A sophisticated lass like yourself probably spits on the help when they bring you the wrong nail polish.” Louis chuckled, zipping up the material so it fully enclosed around her.

He was freezing his nut sack off, but what the hell? If he was at the seven’s cabin, what was the point in caring? Louis would gladly beat Damien to the bullet – if it came down to it.

“That’s not true.” Sophia protested quietly, her arms literally stuck down at her lap. She had become nearly frozen in the time she sat down to have a breather – only realizing she didn’t have enough mobility in her joints to stand back up again, hence why she hadn’t run away when Louis came down from the trees.

Maybe part of her wanted to be caught – if only by someone other than the Styles gang.

Louis shrugged, gently putting his one arm behind her back and the other under her thighs, lifting the girl like she weighed nothing at all.

Since she was awake and not a dead ton, it was a true fact.

“I call them as I see them, luv. You are without a doubt, very posh. Now, let’s beat Lusty to the cabin – maybe even see if Harry has calmed down any.” Louis hummed, turning to walk back the few kilometers Sophia had managed to get.

“Don’t bet on it, Tomlinson.” Lust growled, his feet crunching loudly on the snow as he fast-paced it over to them two-step.

“Ms. Stone? Meet Lust, he’ll be your sitter for the remainder of however long Damien Styles chooses to keep us in suspense awaiting his dramatic return from Ireland.” Louis sneered, wondering when Lust planned to approach them – it was obvious that he had taken the Tarzan approach to tracking the girl as well, though he would make a safe bet Lust had copied off his paper and cheated.

“I never bet on anything, mate. I am a do it on a whim type of lad, but thanks for playing your royal deadness. Will you excuse us? I need to get her defrosted and back to Harry.” Louis explained pleasantly, sidestepping the deadly sin and going about his own way.

Lust was right there walking beside him, his black hair blowing back and Louis could swear the dude’s nose piercing was turning blue.

“Lou? Come on, man. Stop taking the hell out and tell me what I can do for you to transition to where it not only makes you controllable, but at the same time have a compromise that will also make me happy? Give me ideas here, dude.” Lust gestured for the Brit to help him out.

Louis cocked his head, looking down at the stiff girl and then back to Lust.

“When I’m searching for ideas and can’t find any, they’re either hiding or me brain went stupid and they all abandoned the sinking ship – you seem to be on an island inhabited by village idiots. If you lost one, check your spot of land, for there seems to be –“

“WILL YOU QUIT MUCKING ABOUT!” Lust finally yelled, his growl carrying off the forest trees and echoed upward to disturb the nightly prowls of hunting animals.

They scurried off in hopes of avoiding the wrath of the screaming human.

However, Louis only smiled at his outburst.

“Have a wank, mate. You sound like you could use one. Maybe even your blowup doll could be due for some action, yeah?”

Lust gritted his teeth, choosing to match Louis’ smile.

“Sure. I’ll just make sure I imagine it’s your sister.” He replied calmly, knowing that would get Louis hot under the collar. Considering Lust did have a brief romance with her when they were younger.

Sophia felt her body hit the snowy ground before she even realized what was fully happening.

That was rude, he had just dropped her.

“Between you and Achmed – the tides always come back full circle. I hope that someday I get to watch your demise, but I have plenty of images to keep me company until then. You betrayed her – “Louis trailed off, realizing Lust knew the pressure points to go for to warrant a reaction.

Lust scooped Sophia up and began walking away.

“Maybe, but Lou? I’m not the one who is fully to blame here. I did what I had to survive and in time you will see that. I did it because I knew if she attempted to do what she was going to do, you, Harry and the rest would have been killed. Sure though, let’s just blame me for it all. If you remember, I loved her.” Lust attempted to point out, making Louis shake his head with disgust.

“Nah mate. You loved yourself. Stopped trying to put the wool over my eyes and call it a hat. I see it all for what it is.” Louis dismissed.

Lust could only shrug, holding tight to the girl that had gone rigid in his arms, she didn’t like the guy at all, she needed to work out how she was going to get out of this instead of wondering what the hell those two were on about. It didn’t appear to be very useful information.

“Then you are blind.” Lust finished, not bothering to engage in conversation with Louis after.

Fortunately, Louis didn’t try to provoke one back.

*

Harry’s POV:

“Harry? Please get down from the tree? I am begging you, mate. There is no cat named Mr. Whiskers.” Liam pleaded, looking up from the ground as Harry – who was thankfully still fully dressed and climbing the tree to get what he thought was his pet cat.

The only thing up there was an owl and he was just looking at the batshit human with large yellow eyes and a sort of curiosity that only birds could perfectly express.

“He’s right there! See?!” Harry pointed up at the near top.

Liam looked at Niall.

“I’m doing a full analysis on those pills, because this isn’t normal.” Liam declared, not exactly sure why Harry woke up and started running around the cabin…laughing.

If dark laughter Harry was worrisome – lighthearted Harry was concern enough to call in the whitecoats.

Niall shrugged, looking over at the other lads.

They were waiting to see what would happen and offering no help to the poor doctor or the cook – because fuck all, why would the 7 deadly sins think about anyone but themselves?

“It’s not a cat, man. It’s a owl and he’s gonna bite ya if you don’t retreat.” Envy warned, sweeping the glass out from the front seats.

“He wouldn’t bite! He’s Mr. Whiskers.” Harry declared, reaching his hand up – which thankfully was not anywhere near the animal’s beak.

“Are those pills a hallucinogen?” Liam demanded, turning to glare at the men.

A few chuckles responded.

“Dude? The effects are many. Some talk until they lose their voice, some scream from flashbacks, some think they’re kids – some hallucinate and some just go to sleep…like your friend inside.” Envy thumbed the back of the van where Zayn had been put.

Liam clicked his tongue with annoyance.

“Right and how long can these effects last?” He interrogated more, rubbing his eyes with exhaustion.

“Two hours to two days, most it’s ever gone on is four.” Gluttony answered, biting into a cookie that he had stolen from the kitchen on his way out.

“Okay and he’s hallucinating, yeah?” Liam tried to find out, watching Harry take another step up to harass the poor bird, the animal now looking slightly miffed and ready to defend his territory.

Envy shrugged.

“Hard to say, you could be dealing with one or multiple.” He replied, glancing up in amusement, before returning to finish up on his orders.

Liam groaned, his patience now a very thin line away from pulling his hair out or screaming.

“Harry, get down and stop pissing the owl off! Come on, mate. You’re twenty-four years old for bloody sake!” Liam was desperate to stop his leader from doing something stupid.

Harry looked down with furrowed brows.

“Liar! I am not! I’m six!” He went back to setting his sights on the bird – or as he saw it, Mr. Whiskers.”

Wrath cackled, wiping the snow off his leather jacket.

“Guess that answers that.” Liam grumbled, signing something to Niall and pointing up.

Niall signed back, shaking his head.

Liam nodded.

“Yeah, alright. I guess a chainsaw wouldn’t be logical would it?” He asked, turning to the cabin to go get his tranq gun.

He hoped Harry would be himself by morning, because Liam would be damned if he was going to put up with that bullocks for four days.

He stopped short of the steps when he heard footsteps approaching.

“Whiskers, come on! Get DOWN!” Harry yelled, making the bird open its beak and let out a screech.

Louis’ eyes landed up top and even he didn’t know what to make of the situation – why was Harry in a tree – agitating the wildlife?

“Harry mate? How are you not freezing your nuts off?” Louis asked, approaching the tree in concern.

“Also, why are you trying to get bit by a fucking owl? Leave that thing alone – unless it nicked something valuable. Then by all means make an owl biscuit out of it.” Louis gestured, watching Harry’s eyes go wide.

“You swore! I’m telling mom.” Harry tattled with a deep voice, going back to looking up. “Seriously Mr. Whiskers, get down!” Harry swatted at the bird.

Louis looked at Harry, then at Liam and then at the rest of the useless idiots.

“Who drugged him and should I be concerned I’m next?” Louis asked with bemusement, then turned his attention to Lust. “Alright death becomes him, what did you give my friend? He’s acting…well, very unHarryish.”

Lust had a frown on his face, walking to the van and handing Sophia to Wrath. He did not directly answer the question, but even he seemed confused.

“Wrath? Secure her in back, give her a dose of calming agent and make sure she’s warm. I’m going to talk with Liam.” He nodded to the deep brown eyed beauty with psychopathic tendencies.

Liam snorted, saving Lust the trouble.

“Yeah, Harry decided the pill you were going to force him to give Louis, that he’d save you the trouble and just take it himself, which was stupid. He thought it was a tranq…not something to make him think he’s a six-year-old in a grown bloke’s body. Make him snap out of it! I’m not child sitting a twenty-four-year-old for God knows how bloody long because he thinks he’s a kid!”

Lust frowned.

“Louis was supposed to take the pill.” Lust replied, dismissing Liam’s rant passed the part that Harry had taken it instead.

“Louis is right here and Louis needs a vacation from reality land, give me two and double the fun. I’m dying to go to fantasy world.” Louis interjected, holding out his hand to Lust eagerly.

Lust only glared at him and pointed to the van.

“Not a fucking chance. I don’t think any of us could deal with you at that stage. Go on, in the van.” He pointed to the open door in the back.

Louis flipped him off and walked to the tree.

“Harry, if you come down there’s some cookies in the kitchen.” Louis called up.

“No there’s not.” Gluttony responded with a chuckle.

Louis groaned, looking at the guy that should weigh two thousand tons at this point from over accession to everything he gets his hands on.

“There was two whole tins worth, mate. Maybe cutting down, yeah? Now how am I go – “He looked up when Harry yelled, the bird cawing and moving forward in striking motions.

Louis didn’t even blink, he took the knives from his pocket and flipped the tips, aiming at the agitated owl and released.

The death sound escaping from the creature was horrific – often believed to be a bad omen of death, but he was going in for the attack and Louis had no choice.

“Mr. Whiskers!” Harry yelled, watching the body of the bird fall off the branch.

It amazed Louis that he even got the animal from how high it was.

Liam groaned when Harry started to yell the poor cat’s name and Louis just stood there scratching his head.

“Welp, there’s always going to the local adoption shelter and picking him up a cat?” He suggested, feeling Lust grab him by the arm.

The look in his cold-hearted greys told Louis that Lust was done giving orders and that he needed to follow what the deadly sin asked him to do.

“Alright Van Helsing demon god, I’m going.” Louis growled, tugging his arm away and jumping in the back with Wrath, beginning to help him secure the hostage, ignoring the fact that he was stepping on Zayn in the process.

The bloke was out, he didn’t give a damn either way.

Lust sighed, walking over the tree and using his calm voice to get Harry back down the tree, Liam beside in case Harry needed coaxing.

It took twenty minutes, but after many tears shed over a dead owl – or cat as Harry still saw, the others were safely inside the cabin and the rest of the gang was pulling off down the long path to the main roads.

Louis sighed, leaning back against the van with his arms crossed.

“So, this is where nightmares come from?” He asked the silent group, their glowing reflective eyes not going unnoticed.

Lust simply laughed, him and Wrath in the back while the others rode in front.

“I suppose you could say that.” He replied, looking at the knocked-out girl.

A small bit of him felt sorry for her, but in his circle, it was every man for himself and he was afraid the three outsiders would just have to suffer the consequences – hell, what could he do? He was simply the sex trader. Damien Styles was another force all together.

Notes