Chapter 13: Trapped

"Aria, Aria please wake up," A soft whimper cut through the aching blackness. I felt my body turn over, small fingers pressing into my skin. My whole body felt cold and numb as if I'd been in a blizzard in the mountains. "I'm scared. I need you."

Thalia. My mind awakened at the sound of urgency in her soft voice. Once my grey eyes opened I saw we were in a dimly lit white room; the windows were blocked but they let small rectangles of light through so we could see. My fingers felt a loose silk fabric covering my body and I realised I was dressed in some skimpy night gown, champagne coloured with lacy designs on the ends and heart shaped neckline.

"Thalia." I whispered. Her almond eyes were filled with tears and her arms were wrapped around herself now, protecting the baby that grew inside her.

"They took them. All of them. It's just us." She sniffled, shaking her head.

"What?" I rubbed my head where I could feel a swelling.

"I woke up on the car ride here; they threw us in the jeep and kept saying that they had stuff planned for the boys. But they mostly talked about you." Her voice shook as she spoke, her full lips trembling.

"Me?" I furrowed my brows.

She nodded, her straight auburn hair covering her face,"They said they had plans for you too. They said something else, but I can't remember." She started crying, resting her head in her shaking hands.

She was fragile and not made for this world. I grabbed her and pulled her to my chest, trying to silence the sobs that echoed through the room. She may be older than me by two years, but she was like a child who needed comforting.

"Nothing will happen. I promise." I cooed in her ear. I just hoped the others were alright.

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Harry's POV

"Let's us out! Let us out, you assholes!" Felix yelled at the heavy metallic door, pounding its indestructible frame with his hands.

He's been doing this for the past couple of hours and it's driving me up the fucking walls. I was stuck in a cell with him and Niall while Liam, Tyler, Thalia, and Aria were somewhere else in this hellhole.

I had to find them. All of them or I'd go crazy.

"Give it a rest, mate." Niall said, also tired of his consistent yelling.

Felix turned his head to my friend, glaring hard at Niall as if what he said made no sense. "And what? Let them take us all out one by one? I need to get to Thalia and Aria," He paused before looking towards my place on the one single bed. "Why don't you do something?"

"Because doing something will get the girls killed. Just sit down before I beat your head against that door." I leaned my head back, closing my eyes to try and rid myself of his voice.

Of course I wanted to get everyone out of here, but I knew these people. I knew what they were capable of and I was going to play every step safe and smart.

"Aria could be getting hurt right now and you're sitting here as if you don't care!" I felt Felix grab my legs and throw them off the bed, making me move into a sitting up position. Usually I would be fuelled with anger, but I was just too tired to even tell back or even deliver a single punch to his stupid face.

"Aria can take care of herself, you should know that. You need to be more concerned about Thalia," I watched as his face screwed up with many emotions. "If you want all of us to get out of here alive then I suggest you listen to me and sit the fuck down."

Just as Felix was about to say something, the heavy metal door moved open, revealing three hooded figures, one of them smoking a cigar that was halfway used. How he was able to find one nowadays, I had no idea.

"Styles. Captain wants you." The one with the cigar spoke, the butt it burning an amber orange.

"What does he want?" I stood up from the bed, moving past Felix to stand in front of the trio.

"No questions." He grunted as he shoved my forward out the door, almost making me trip over a loose floorboard in the dim hallway. I took one look back at the two in the cell; Niall sitting in the floor, head back and Felix watching the whole scene play out.

I sighed before making my way down the hallway, already knowing my way around since I've lived here pretty much the whole five years of the new world. Hunters lined each turn I made, their dark glares more intimidating than I remembered, but I made sure to keep my face free from emotion.

"Up ahead." The cigar loving prick behind me said, shoving me one again.

"I know that." I rolled my eyes before stepping in front of the door that led to the Captain's quarters. I haven't seen him in a while but I knew he'd still probably be the same cruel and unmerciful dick that he always is.

Once I opened the door, I was welcomed to the smell of sickness and the sight of a girl straddling the waist of the dear old Captain. There are barely any women Hunters, but sometimes when women are found in the streets they were taken to be pleasure girls for any Hunter.

The girl was kissing down the Captain's neck, her hips rocking against his thighs. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I stopped myself.

"Styles," He smiled at me. "Where've you been?" His hand was placed on the girl's back, the other on her moving hip.

"Places," I shrugged, looking him straight in the eyes. "I see you've found yourself a new one." I nodded to the dirty blond on his lap.

"Don't try and change the subject," His voice was hard and stern, much like his blank eyes. "You know why I called you in."

"Really?" I tilted my head. "Because I actually have no idea." I moved forward to where he sat behind an old desk, nothing on it except a gun, making me almost hesitant in my step.

"Well then, let me elaborate," He snapped his fingers and pointed to the seat in front of me. I felt hands grab my shoulders and arms, forcing me down onto the seat. Even when seated, their grip never lingered away from me. "You leave the camp, take one of my soldiers with you, and expect me to just let it slide? If you abandon the group, you know the penalty." His voice rose with every word and I'd be a fool to say that I wasn't at least a bit terrified.

"I was doing a patrol--" I tried to speaking but was cut off by a fist connecting with my jaw, making my head swing to the right and a groan to leave my mouth.

"Don't lie. You also have turned some of my best Hunters against me. Liam and Niall were loyal to our group. Now they side with you and dare to speak to me as if I wasn't their leader." He stood up quickly, making the blond squeal and fall to the floor, her skimpy champagne coloured dress raising to show a bit of explicit flesh.

Another hit to my right made me feel pain and I grit my teeth to silence the hell that wanted to rip through me.

"So," He continued, walking around his desk and standing in front of me, moving back his black hair with his knuckles. "What do you think I should do about this?" He waved his hand in my direction, referring to my whole being. When I didn't answer he sighed and stared to one of the men holding me down, "Get the girl."

My heart stopped. The girl. Aria? I hoped he wasn't talking about her and if so, what did he have planned?

I tried struggling out of the hands holding onto me, but their fingers dug into my flesh, possibly leaving nail marks.

"Ah, there she is," The Captain grinned just as she was thrown to the ground, her chestnut hair disheveled and the same dress the blond was wearing clothed her as well. My breathing picked up as Aria raised her head, turning to see me and her eyes widened. "Get up, honey."

She didn't move for a few seconds but she finally got to her feet and crossed her arms over herself, probably trying to cover up as much of herself as possible. But the Captain was already undressing her with his eyes, his hungry gaze making anger fuel up in me.

He was about to make a step towards her, but I wasn't going to let that happen. "Don't touch her. She hasn't done anything." The Captain turned to me chuckling.

He grabbed her arm roughly, his mouth close to her ear. I watched his lips move as he spoke to her in a whisper, rubbing his thumb along her smooth skin and I was about to have no control in a second. Aria's eyes stayed on mine and I tried to give her reassurance as I looked back.

"How'd you two meet?" The Captain snaked his tattooed arm around her waist, fingering the loose fabric of the short gown she wore.

"What does that matter?" I spat out. Who cares how Aria and I met? Why was he suddenly interested in this?

"I just need to know." Was all he said. I needed Aria away from him. Seeing as she was in that same skimpy dress as his lap bitch had me guessing as to what he was going to do.

"We met at the hospital." There was no need to say which one since the Hunters only had one to patrol.

"And why did you feel the need to keep her alive? Was it because you wanted her all to yourself? Your own pleasure girl?" His fingers ran up her arm again, tickling the underside of her jawline. Aria flinched away from him, her face holding a look of disgust.

"Stop touching her." I was three seconds away from going ape shit on him.

The Captain glared down at me, his teeth digging into his bottom lip. But that was soon gone as he broke out in a large smirk, looking from me to Aria.

"Oh, I see," He nodded, still chuckling. "You like her." He grabbed her face in his large hand, stroking her cheekbone and tilting his head from side to side to scrutinise her.

"Stop." I huffed out.

"She is a pretty thing. Lovely eyes, soft skin, beautiful lips. I can see why you're so infatuated with her, Styles." Aria looked more angry than scared. That's what I admired about her--even though she was in the clutches of the devil, she wouldn't back down. She was strong.

"Let go of me." She said to him, her eyes moving from mine to his, grey eyes like a storm in the winter.

The Captain grunted out a laugh, moving his hand from her face only to run his nose down her neck, his tongue lining the edge of her collarbone. She squirmed against him as I clawed the wood on the arm of my chair, fuming because I couldn't get to her.

I have become so protective of her I can't think straight at times. I hate it but loved it at the same bloody time. She was so different and not someone that ran from the first threat that came at her. She faced her fears and tried to control the situation even if the control wasn't even in her grasp. She wasn't like Matilda.

"Taste so sweet." I heard him whisper to her and I almost lost my temper. I had to play it cool, but my anger always got the best of me at some point.

"I said let go!" Aria was able to bring her small hands up and push at his chest, moving him far away to slap him across the face, a loud smack ringing in my ears.

I widened my eyes because I knew The Captain was seconds away from doing something. He brought a hand to his cheek, rubbing the spot she hit. He let out a low chuckle, filled with malice.

"Boys, grab the whip. This little bitch is going to get it." Before they left, I felt rope bind me down to the chair, constricting them against my wrists so there was no way of breaking out. The Captain glared down at Aria before back handing her across the face, making her body fall to the ground with a whimper.

"I swear to God if you touch her again, I will fucking kill you." My voice became gruff. I tried to twist my hands through the rope, resulting with my skin becoming chaffed and tired.

"Shut up or you're next." He grabbed Aria, throwing her against the edge of his desk, her back facing me. The Captain gripped the back of her gown and ripped the fabric to her middle, exposing the flesh of her back.

"Here, boss." I looked to my right to see the whip I have seen many times used. There were different kinds The Captain had his men make--ones that were made from harsh leather and others with hooks. Thankfully, he was given the leather, but I knew it would still cut into her skin.

"Whip me instead. I can take it." I pleaded, making sure my voice still sounded stern.

"That's why I am not going to whip you," He pushed my chair back so I could get a better view. "If he closes his eyes, get me the hooked whip." He told the men behind me.

Aria made no sound, but from the way her body shook, I knew she was scared in this instant. But she was so strong she barely showed it.

"I'll do anything. Just whip me instead." I knew there was no chance in begging, but I needed him to use that whip on me instead. Not her.

"Shut him up." He commanded and soon I felt two hard punches to my stomach, letting the air from my lungs leave me and make me cough.

The Captain stroked the whip, studying Aria's back. He cracked it in the air, causing her to jump a bit and grip the sides of the desk, accepting what was going to happen. He didn't say a warning as he slammed down the rope of the whip onto her back, her scream filling the air. Immediately a gash was made in her skin, blood dripping down.

Two more lashes were delivered and each time Aria let out a scream that made me want to hurt everyone around me. I could only watch from my seat. I wanted to close my eyes so bad, but The Captain threatened to bring out the worst whip in his cabinet and this was bad enough.

"How does it feel?" He brought it down again, the whip curling around her arm as well. I could see her legs shaking from trying to stay still and not drop.

He didn't even hesitate now. Every second a new lash was made until her back was bloody.

When he finally stopped, he dropped the whip that had Aria's blood on it. She fell to the floor, her dress pretty much falling off of her.

"I'm done for the night," The Captain sniffed and motioned to Aria. The guys behind me moved towards her, picking up her limp body. I struggled more when they took her out of the room. He looked back at me and sighed, "This is what happens when you let a girl win you over."

I knew who he was referring to and I wanted to do everything in my power to strangle the fucking life out of him.

"Take him back to his cell." He said to someone else. Next thing I knew, I was unroped and being made to walk. I needed to see her and make sure I can get rid of the pain she felt. But I knew they wouldn't let me go near her for a while.
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a/n: ....... so um...that happened. i hope you enjoyed the chapter! originally harry was going to be the one getting whipped but i thought having aria become the victim seemed different. usually everyone gives harry the torture scenes, so i mixed it up..

-haeli xx