The Quiet

Gemma felt like she was on the Titanic. Everything around her was falling apart and she couldn't rid of the sinking feeling in her chest. She felt like she was the only passenger on board that knew the boat was sinking. Maybe it was all in her head.

No. It wasn't in her head, and she knew that. There was something wrong and she was sure of it. Her phone had been empty of calls from her brother for a few days now. He never came home which was unlike him, he was a homebody.

The comforts of his bed were what Harry longed for every day after work. The fact he wasn't home and didn't even answer her texts or calls worried her a lot.

Of course, she knew Harry was old enough to take care of himself. Intelligence wasn't something he lacked and if he was in any danger, he would've called by now. However, that was the problem. What if Harry was in danger and unable to actually contact anyone? Was she being paranoid?

The shopping center was particularly quiet that day which she was thankful for. She felt on completely edge and working in such an overcrowded environment really overwhelmed her when she was filled to the brim with stress. In hindsight, she should've thought about that before she started working there but a job is a job and unfortunately, you get what you can.

It was her lunch break though, so she was currently walking around the shopping center with a worried look on her face. It was Tuesday and every Tuesday, Harry met her for lunch at their favorite diner. However, after waiting twenty minutes with no sign of him, that's when Gemma felt her heart completely shatter.

There's no way he would have missed this and not said anything. There was something wrong and she was sure of it now.

Shakily, she stood from her seat and paid for the coffee and sandwich she had, before deciding to head back to work.

She still had ten minutes of her break left, and last minute decided she needed to talk to Zayn. She needed to make sure Louis had nothing to do with her brother disappearing.

Inside the shop, music played quietly through the speakers. Though it was meant for customers, she knew that everything playing was in Zayn's taste since it looked like he was the only employee there at the time. She recognized the song as Milk by The 1975 and smiled quietly to herself.

Obviously, because the shop had been empty for hours, Zayn didn't expect anyone to be paying him a visit anytime so he was quietly humming along to the song. Occasionally, he sang the lyrics but he was more of hummer rather than a singer.

Clearing her throat, Gemma caught the attention of Zayn. The tanned man looked up startled from where he was doing something behind the desk. His eyes widen when he saw her.

Despite knowing it was impossible Gemma knew anything about Harry being kidnapped by Louis, he was still on edge. A part of him felt guilty that he was going to have to pretend to be oblivious to the fact Harry was literally starving in Louis' giant mansion. But he did as he was supposed to and pushed that feeling down, smiling at her.

"Gemma, how can I help you this fine afternoon?" Zayn asked playfully, leaning on the counter with both elbows. The girl glanced at his position before letting out a rather long sigh. Though he'd only met Harry briefly, Zayn noticed that he and Gemma had the same enticing green eyes that Louis happened to love so dearly.

But, despite being the girl, the sister, Harry was more doll-like. Gemma's skin was pale but not in a porcelain way. Her eyes were enticing but nowhere near as bright. Her lips were less pouty, though still the same bow shape and her hair was straight whether that was because she chose to straighten it or not, Zayn didn't know. All he knew was this was precisely the reason Louis chose Harry to kidnap.

Both the Styles siblings were beautiful, but Gemma had something about her that made it seem harder to manipulate. Her features weren't as soft. She wasn't so doll-like. She didn't fit the mold Louis would want.

Her voice was low as well, obviously not as low as Harry's and not as smooth, but it still had the same droning effect Harry's had.

"Have you seen Harry lately? I'm really worried about him, he hasn't answered my texts or calls and he hasn't been home in days," she asked, watching his movements. Zayn stood up and put his hands on the counter.

"Nope," Zayn lied smoothly.

Gemma sighed.

"I'm sure he's fine, though. He seems like a smart lad, you know." Gemma narrowed her eyes a bit. He's never even met Harry, so why would he just make an assumption like that? Was she being too quick to pick something up or was she on to something? She shrugged it off for now, her anxiety taking over once more.

"I don't know..." She mirrored Zayn in the biting of her lip, and the man noticed Harry also had that habit. Louis told him everything. It was creepy.

"I just feel weird. I mean, everything was fine and then he met Louis." She shrugged, fumbling with her fingers. The fact that Gemma's mind immediately flew to Louis worried Zayn. He warned Louis many times that he wasn't being discreet enough. He showed up everywhere. He knew where the poor boy was at all times, he knew his address, where he ate his lunch, which bin he threw his lunch out in. It was creepy and not subtle in any way, shape or form.

"Louis?" Zayn played it cool, "What does Louis have to do with any of this?"

"My brother is nineteen. What would a grown man like him want to do with my brother?" She scoffed. "It's weird."

"They're not that far apart in age," Zayn defended, "I just don't think Louis has anything to do with the disappearance of Harry. As you said, the kid is nineteen. He's probably gone somewhere with his friends and forgot to tell you because that's what they do at that age. Besides, I saw Louis yesterday and Harry wasn't with him."

Whether it was a good idea to bring up Louis again, Zayn didn't know. However, he couldn't let the king get caught. Especially not by Gemma of all people.

"He would've called by now, wouldn't he?" The girl sighed.

"It's only been a few days, I don't blame him for wanting to get away." Gemma cocked her head.

"Why's that?"

"Because he's a teenager under a lot of pressure."

"What pressure could he possibly be under?" Gemma snapped. Of course she knew Harry had a lot on his plate, but how would Zayn know?

"School, work, your family. That's a lot. Stop worrying," Zayn said, "I'm sure he's fine." Gemma's face hardened.

"How do you know about any of that? You don't know him," Gemma interrogates, her

"Louis talked about him a lot, he really likes Harry. You need to calm down, Gemma," Zayn snapped, crossing his arms. Gemma didn't want to believe him. Something just felt off about this. But she shrugged it off for now. Just until she had more to work with.

"You're right, I'm sorry," She took a deep breath, "I'm just worried, but thanks for talking with me." Zayn's defensive look fell into a smile.

"Anytime."

Gemma smiles back at him turned on her heels and made her way out of the shop, heading next door to her own job. Though Zayn told her not to worry she couldn't help it. That sinking feeling in her chest was still weighing her down and it was heavy.

In a way, she felt guilty that she was considering leaving Harry to do what he wanted. She was trying, she really was. She wished she wasn't so protective but she couldn't help it. After everything they've been through with their dad, she couldn't help but feel protective of her brother; it was natural.

Though she tried hard not to think about it, she couldn't stop. And everyone knows the Titanic sinks eventually.

******

Darkness engulfed him, putting pressure on every part of his body. He felt suffocated, both physically and mentally. He felt as though all four walls were touching him in some way, grabbing him forcefully and pulling him in all directions trying to claim him as theirs. He felt suffocated by his own thoughts, that weren't even clear anymore. They were just fuzzy images of the free life he used to live.

For all Harry knew, he'd been in darkness for months.

Every few minutes his stomach would let out a low grumble, reminding him of the lack of food. But even if he was given food, he refused to eat it. He didn't want anything belonging to that monster.

On the bright side, he'd made a friend in the darkness. Sometimes a little bit of light would peak through cracks in the ceiling, reassuring him that no, he hadn't gone blind, but yes, he was unfortunately still alive and living like an animal. So, the small spider that kept him company was his friend.

If he was honest he didn't quite know if the poor creature was dead or just lazy. He didn't know what was worse. He didn't enjoy the idea of living with a dead spider.

Harry didn't know how long he'd been down there and in reality, his perception of time was completely messed up. However, at some point in his time in Louis' basement, a light switched on. A bright light, may he add. It was one of those stupid bulbs that had no shade and was just hanging from the ceiling by a wire.

"Morning, Doll." A sickly sweet voice was heard as Harry's eyes blinked furiously, trying to adjust to the new setting. He wondered what made his kidnapper's voice so light and airy. It was a complete contrast of his true personality.

Doll.

The name sent shivers down Harry's spine and his eyes met Louis', emitting an icy glare that hit the crazy man's face. Though he didn't like the way his hostage was acting, he still placed a sickening smirk on his lips, bending down so he was eye level with Harry. The boy didn't dare speak, he didn't dare move. He didn't dare do anything.

"I'm cooking up breakfast," Louis announced.

Harry tried so hard not to look directly into Louis' blue, mesmerizing eyes, but it was difficult. There was something about Louis that made Harry tingle, made goosebumps rise on his skin. Maybe it was because he was his kidnapper but for some reason, Harry wanted to convince himself that Louis could be a good person. There was obviously a reason he was still alive.

Surely if Louis was a bad person he'd be dead, not cooking breakfast.

"You like pancakes?"

Harry stayed silent.

"Answer me," the blue-eyed man ordered sternly, not shouting but snapping. The young boy flinched and shook his head. As a matter of fact, he loved pancakes, but he wanted nothing to do with Louis or his food.

"No." He was thankful he didn't stutter. At least he was still able to form a coherent word.

"Right," Louis stood so he was taller than Harry again. They both knew Louis was nowhere near taller than Harry but he looked so intimidating when he towered over the boy who'd been cramped in a hole for days.

Louis watched as Harry looked at the ground, his curls flopping everywhere, hiding his perfect porcelain face. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see something move on the ground. His blue eyes rolled in annoyance and a crushing sound was heard as Louis' foot stepped on the creature. Snapping his head up quickly, Harry looked at Louis' foot as it moved to reveal the spider Harry had become friends with.

If it wasn't dead before it definitely was now.

"So be it. Starve."

He didn't know why but Harry's eyes filled with tears, pooling until eventually, a droplet slipped out, cascading down his soft cheek before falling to the ground. Suddenly, he was sobbing.

"You killed it." Harry choked out, his lip quivering.

Louis didn't know what to say. He had never seen someone cry over a spider. Harry never thought he would cry over a spider. Yet there he was, crying in Louis' basement over a spider. A spider who he's been talking to for days.

"Pathetic," Louis mumbled before he left.

******

"Louis?" Zayn's voice was tentative as he entered Louis' office. It was later on and from what he could tell, the man was tense, obviously still pissed at the fact Harry was refusing to eat. He offered him pancakes that morning, a sandwich of his choice for lunch, and pasta for dinner.

He refused it all.

"What?" He snapped angrily.

"I..." Zayn trailed off, not knowing what he was supposed to say. "I need to tell you something."

"Go on." Louis sighed, rubbing his forehead frustratedly. He looked so tired. The bags under his eyes were so predominant, and he was pale.

"Harry's sister, you know her, right?"

Louis nodded.

"She uh, she suspects. She's noticed Harry is... missing." Zayn paused as he waited for a response. Louis paused, sitting up in his seat.

"And how do you know this?"

"She asked me. She asked me about you, actually," Zayn admitted and saw the rage slowly building on his best friend's face. "But I steered her away! I tried to make her think you weren't involved." He saw the tension leave Louis' shoulders but the anger in his eyes were still there.

"Why would she think I was involved?" Louis' voice was angry and he practically growled. Zayn scoffed.

"Because you followed the poor kid everywhere! I don't blame her for suspecting shit, you weren't subtle at all." Zayn immediately regretted his words as soon as they escaped his lips. There was this empty air that surrounded them. It should've been filled with words but Louis had none.

"I didn't follow him everywhere," Louis argued. Zayn rolled his eyes.

"That's a lie and you know it," Zayn argued back.

"I-I care for him."

"Shit Louis," Zayn rolled his eyes. "Then that makes this totally okay now. My mind has completely been changed on the situation. The best thing for Harry is to starve and rot away in that basement of yours," Zayn spat out sarcastically, gritting his teeth.

"Shut up," Louis said quietly.

"What was that?" Zayn asked, pretending not to hear him.

"I said shut up!" He seethed.

Zayn flinched, knowing he hit a nerve.

"Congratulations, King," Zayn said, walking towards the door. Louis was his best friend but he could really piss him off sometimes. "You've ruined an innocent life, once again."

"I-I—"

"You care, I know." Zayn let out a sigh, stopping with his hand on the door knob. He turned around to give Louis one last bit of advice before storming out. "You don't offer Harry food, Louis. You give it to him."