Twenty-Nine Dolls [H.S. AU]

16. Callie - 2013

Don't forget to vote and comment xo

--

Fatigue. 

Every muscle, tendon, fibre in your body aches as the sound of your own blood pumping through your blood vessels engulf your ears. You try everything to move but gravity would be defeating you. It hurt. Everything hurt. But there's nothing you can do about it. All that had to be done was rest.

But that's the thing. I was restless. I wanted to run. I wanted to hide. I wanted to seek sanctuary from what was the demon in disguise. I wanted to keep as far away from him as possible but there was nothing to be done. The bowls of warm tomato soup and cups of warm honey and lemon tea increased my strength but it was nothing compared to what it had to be to get out of the four walls that kept me captive. 

My hands brushed over the grey fabric that covered my body. Sitting up to lean against the wall, I looked down again to see it wasn't the only thing that was grey in this room. I had thought my eyes were playing tricks on me before I passed out but... Everything was just a blur of grey. The walls chipped where they met, cobwebs marrying the ceiling and the walls. The ground was covered in different rugs, all in the different shades of grey. My fingers were tickled by the fibres coming off the wool blanket. It was knitted if I wasn't mistaken. Being engulfed by this world of grey, I questioned if I was even in the same house Mr Styles had me in before.

And it was as if it was magic. The man himself came to the doorframe and watched me. I had lost all fear of what he was capable of. I was ready for anything. If he was to keep me alive so be it but I'll make sure he wished he was dead.

"What do you want?" I spat, locking my eyes with his. His green irises never shone to that extent before, it'd be an understatement to say that it frightened me. 

"Nothing from you." He said as he pushed himself off the wall to come closer. Instinctively, I concealed away from him, shuffling quickly away from him to the other edge of the bed. My breathing was jagged. I couldn't help but close my eyes and squirm away from his close proximity but all I heard was a sigh. Opening one eye, I watch him stand a foot away from the bed with his hands on his head, looking down upon my feeble figure. "Callie I know you hate me but you need to see that I'm doing this for you. You're not the only one I protect. You can't be so selfish." He muttered, but I only heard one word.

"Selfish? I'm the selfish one?" I croaked, my voice not allowing me to increase the volume of my voice anymore - for now.

"Yes, there are others beyond those walls who cherish this warmth when they were abandoned. When they had no one I-" He pointed towards the rest of the house but he missed my point.

"Mr Styles I do not care for your stories or your anecdotes or your compassion. All I  need, and I mean need, is the warmth of my own home." I cried, trying to make him understand.

"This is your home."

"THIS IS NOT MY HOME!" I shouted, startled at the sound of my own weary voice. Mr Styles also seemed stunned by my sudden reaction but I continued with my sharp tone none the less, "What do you not understand by I want to be surrounded by my family? I want to be around people who aren't sadistic and psychopathic like you are!"

"Have I done anything to hurt you?" He narrowed his eyes, watching me, waiting for an answer. I could tell he was through with the annoying front and facade I showed him but he persevered none the less. I knew the answer to the question perfectly but I didn't want to give him the satisfaction- "Callie, answer me."

"No."

"Then what are you describing? Who are you trying to portray? If there's one thing you'll ever learn from me is that I may be misunderstood but that is not my fault. It's people like you who are blinded by what they want, who, who..." His hands ran over his face, groaning in what seemed to be utter annoyance. I wanted to listen but this wasn't what I needed to hear, "Who just chose to interpret what they please!"

"I-"

"No! Stop! You've had your time to shout! It's now my turn!" He shouted, the veins bulging in his neck, "I was at the top of my league. I was the mastermind of the arts. But one misunderstanding brought me here. One whisper brought me here!" He turned on his heal, showing off his surroundings with a slow turn, his breathing was audible, his strain was visible, I'd be stupid to interrupt so I just listened. 

"Do you not think I miss my family? Do you not think I miss what I had? Do you not think I wished for something better than I was given?" He screamed, pounding his fist on his chest, coming up to my face, his minty breath covering my face, "I never chose to be like this, Callie. I never wanted to hear things, see things, believe things... You think I wanted that egotistical maniac who sits in the clouds to take my sister away from me so immorally?" The area of his chest he was beating was getting sore, I could see him try to conceal a wince with every punch. 

His nostrils flared as he released a deep breath while retracing his steps back. He looked at my feeble entirety before he continued, "You're not a victim alone in this. Everyone in the world, every single fucking person has been victimised once in their pathetic lives. Some less than others but some are so damned that they will never see the rays of happiness ever again." His breathing heavy, his words strained... Nothing could hold back my pathetic tears as they started falling again. But unlike the norm where Harry would give me a tissue or try and comfort me with his embraces, he remained cold. He remained emotionless. His eyes pierced my mind. I felt naked in his glare as he seemed to be searching for something. His lips parted, but no words came out. He was about to turn to leave but something seemed to be stopping him. I clenched my fists, preparing to fight but he did nothing. He did absolutely nothing. 

He just watched me till he finally said, "I watched you, Callie. You caught my attention. You surprised me." His words were quiet but I could hear. His words were soft but I could feel. "I watch you be happy for 5 years, then suddenly, one winter's day, you started crying on your way home every day and that upset me. I wanted to talk to you, I wanted to see if you're okay but someone else was watching you too. I saw the way he would follow you home in front of me and try and talk to you. I watched how he hated himself after you watching him kiss the other girls. I knew it hurt you but I couldn't save you." 

"No one could," I whispered, the words surprised me as they slipped through my lips. However, it was true. I was lost. I was purposeless

 "But then, someone decided to kill you." Mr Styles said. My head whipped up to look at him again, "Someone tried to bury you alive, someone tried to send you up to the inevitable too early, but I saved you. I didn't realise it was you. But when I did, I kept you alive and away from that ever happening again." He stopped. He looked at his feet as he adjusted the beanie that rested on his head. 

Abruptly, a manic laughter erupted from his mouth, tears started to build in his eyes and his hand lifted to point at me. My own tears were falling like streams, "Then you treat me like this." He shouts, storming forwards to tower over me. Throwing his legs over my body, either of his knees were on either side of my body and I started to tremble, his hand cupping my jaw so tightly it was a matter of seconds before it cracked off so delicately, "You make me feel like I have done you wrong when all I wanted to do was protect you." He whispered against my face, his lips fanning mine. 

Venom coated his lips as he pushed my head against the headboard, his own forehead pressed against mine, "If this is how heroes are treated, Lord, help the wicked."

--A/N--

No, nothing sexual happened after that. Get your mind out of the gutter.