I own the plot, storyline, and additional charecters. The only thing that is not mine is One Direction themselves and the songs I use.
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Just before we start, I was just wondering if anyone would be willing to make me a cover for this story? I really need one, and if you're interested, please feel free to inbox me or contact me/ Anyways, enjoy! :)
- 15 years ago -
“Liam! Aria! Come in for dinner please!” The woman called outside to her two children who where pushing each other on the swing set. Both of the twins heads snapped over to their mothers voice, pouting.
“But mommy!” The little girl, Aria Madeline, called. “We where about to play the island game!”
Liam and Aria's mother looked at both of her children's appearances'. Liam had mud and dirt splattered over his cheeks, the gooey brown substance dripping off her sons vest collar. Aria had mud braided into her hair, the trim of her pink jacket and jeans where almost black. In enough words, their mother thought they looked horrid.
“Please?” begged the twins, sporting their cutest faces. Their mother didn't give in.
“Now, now. It's time for supper.” She walked out to the swing set, grabbing the arms of both her kids. The two held a grudge, refusing to budge an inch. They wanted to play!
A cool breeze swept through the scene, making the mother shiver under her knit sweater. Red and orange leaves flew past the children's feet, tickling as they did so. The sky was starting to turn a light autumn color, the usual shade for the past couple October days. Little black birds flew up to paint pictures in the sky, squawking and squealing as they moved in circles.
The mother bent down to the kids height, while they stared at her intently. “If you go and wash up now, you can go to the field after dinner if it's not too dark out.”
Grinning from ear to ear, both of the 4 year-olds trampled their way up the wooden stairs of the deck, pushing themselves inside to get to the bathroom. The mother stood up straight, stalking back into the warm household that smelt of apple cinnamon and pumpkin pie.
A young man listened from a seat at the dining table as his children fought over who got to use the soap first in the bathroom across the hall. “I see you got them to come in.” he chuckled.
“I told them they could go down to the old field after they ate.” she replied.
Just as the mother set down the last dish full of food on the table, the youngsters wobbled to their seats. Each of the parents prepared a small plate of food for each kid, filling it with a turkey burger and few crisps, glasses full of milk. They shot their parents toothy grins as they started to dig into their food while the couple filled their plates, too. The parents filled the silence with talking about upcoming Halloween.
Within minutes, the mates scoffed down the burger and crisps faster then ever before. They bounced in their seats, eager to go back to the outside world and play at their favorite place. Their mother slipped on each of the children's jackets and scarfs as best as she could to two jumping kids. After she pulled on her daughter's last brown boot, she kissed both of her kids red cheeks and tightened Liam's scarf.
“Alright, what are the rules for the field?” The mother challenged the kids. Aria stuck up her little hand in the air, a fervent smile on her face.
“We go straight to the field then back, and we come back home when we hear the whistle.” She answered cheekily. The mother smiled at them as Liam rose his hand as well.
“We don't talk to any strangers, no matter what.”
“Good, Liam. Now, you'll protect your sister, right? You'll look after her?”
Liam smiled wider, grabbing onto his twins' hand tightly. “Yes. I won't let her get into any trouble.” Aria pouted and the mother laughed and ruffed her kids hair.
“Okay now. Go have fun!” She urged them through the front door and out into the cool air. The two ran their chubby little legs across the street, giggling and smiling the whole way.
As they slowed down, Aria stared at the large field. It was just like any other field; tall, worn-out spires that stood above the twins heads. Dirt grass, nothing special But to the two children it was their favorite place in the entire world, the place they went to every day to play. It was their place, and their place only. Not even the kids' mother was allowed in the field. It was a place where to two played games, pretending to be pirates and giants. To the twins, it was magical.
Liam tugged on Aria's hand. “Come on, Mads. Let's play hide and go seek!” Then he let go of his sisters hand, running off into the brown stems. She caught on quick and soon ran off to go find her brother.
“Liam!” She squealed, the only thing in her view being the tall stalks of corn. Her sprint slowed down to a slow walk, her hands brushing up against the rough twines of dried-out stalks. They tickled her palm, making Aria Madeline giggle with delight and quicken up her pace. She almost forgot she was supposed to be looking for her older twin, but lost all train of thought when her hand got caught up in one of the stalks.
“Ow!” She cried, yanking her hand to untangle it, only to make a large gash in the middle of her palm. Maddy whimpered, but didn't cry, no. She never cried, not even when she was born. She was as quiet and pleasant as an old man. Crying to Aria Madeline meant shortness of breath and red eyes, pale face. It made her throat scratchy and uncomfortable, and she hated it. So, simple enough, she did not cry once in her life.
Aria was about to wrap her gushing red hand with her scarf, until someone tapped her on her shoulder. She spun around, expecting to see her brother, but only to be facing a pair of legs covered in dark jeans. Her eyes traveled upwards, realizing it was a middle-aged man standing in front of her, ink and different colored paints spotting his gray jacket. Aria Madeline did not say a word, instead stared at the mans features, noticing how dark his brown eyes where, yet a reassuring smile was plastered onto his face.
The mysterious man cleared his throat and pointed to Aria's bleeding hand, now forming a dark blotches of red liquid on her boots. She frowned and looked up at the man.
“Look's like a nasty cut.” He said huskily. Aria nodded soulfully, putting her head down. Aria's mother and father would be unhappy with Aria for getting blood on her new boots, and her hand was still throbbing with pain. But no tears where behind Aria's eyes, not one. “You know, I could bring you back to my car and bandage that up for you.”
Aria's head shot up to meet the mans buttery eyes. She thought for less then a second, not even thinking of her brother or her moms rules'. The man can't be harmless, Aria thought. He's trying to help me. I'll be back before Liam even notices I'm gone!
With one last thought, Aria took the mans outstretched hand in her own non-injured one. The man hustled them out of the field, and walked her over to a silver car parked behind a big red barn that her father used to buy their eggs from.
“What's your name, sweets?” The man asked her as she sat in the backseat of the mans car, him crouching in front of her, outside the car and patching up her wound.
“Aria Madeline Payne.” She grin, her little teeth shinning. The man chuckled and glanced up from wrapping a thick white gauze around her entire left hand. “What's your name?”
He chuckled shakily again. The reek of alcohol wavered off him. “That's not important right now, sweetheart.”
Aria Madeline pouted at the man. “I told you my name. Now tell me yours.”
“You're a stubborn little one, Aria. Aren't you?”
She didn't say anything, just kept her frown set evident on her face. The man looked at her face and sighed, starting to put the gauze back in a little white box. “I'm Michael.”
“See? That wasn't so hard, no was it?” Aria giggled. “It's nice to meet you, Michael.”
“As you too, Aria Madeline. May I call you Maddy?”
Aria grinned at Michael. “Yes.”
“Great.” Michael stood up and pushed Aria back in her seat, buckling her up. “Maddy, would you like to go get some ice cream with me? I really don't want to go alone.”
“I'll go with you!” Aria Madeline squealed. Michael smiled slyly at her, shutting her door and getting himself into the drivers seat. Sooner or later, the car drove out of the barns back and onto the highway of Wolverhampton. Aria concluded that she really liked Michael. He was a nice man who helped her with her slash and now was taking her out for ice cream! How could it get any better?
A little more then 20 minutes later, Aria watched out the car window as they passed a sign saying 'Now leaving Wolverhampton', and soon following was yet another sign. But this time, the sign read a city name that Aria could not read out. She was not even in year one yet, Aria's reading level was low. The only reason she could read the name of her hometown was because her parents had taught her it.
“Why are we leaving Wolverhampton?” She asked quietly from the backseat. Micheal’s hands clenched and unclenched from the steering wheel, his teeth gritting together as he edged for a sip of the beer in his cup holder. But he had to keep up his act, he knew Aria would question what it was. Michael was pretty sure even she knew what alcohol was.
“Oh, I just have to pick something up at my house that I forgot. Don't fret, we'll be there soon.” He tried to say steadily, but still came out slurred from the 3 cups he had earlier. He was starting to feel an urge to the little girl in his backseat, but he had to refrain himself. Just at least until he reached his house.
Aria seemed to not notice the strained expression on Micheal’s face, as she just stared at the greens that passed by.
Pulling through the wooden area that surrounded Micheal’s house out in the wilderness, he swerved on the dirt and gravel flooring until he reached a large wooden house. As he parked in his parking garage, he checked in his rear mirror at Aria, who's mouth was hung open in awe. She was obviously in wonder of the big house, and Michael would've cared to show her around, but the yearning in the pit of his stomach was over-ruling him. Just 5 more minutes. Then I can do whatever I want to do with her, Michael thought.
He gritted his teeth, but kept a small smile on his face as he reached the backseat to retrieve Aria Madeline. She took his hand instantly, making him feel slightly bad on what he was about to do, but it was his duty. This would show Michael if Maddy was worthy yet or not.
“Where are we going?” Maddy asked with curious in her tiny voice. Michael halted his thoughts for a moment. Was Maddy the right one?
Michael glanced down at the little girl again and analyzed her. Her long brown hair fell down to her tiny waist. He watched as her twinkling brown eyes stumbled over the contents of his yard. He decided, yes. She was perfect for this role.
Leading Maddy to his backyard where everything was set up, he unlocked his fence doors, letting Maddy go out about while he locked them with ease. He stared at Maddy for a minute while she took in his backyard. The impulse to do his deed was over-whelming now, and he tried his best to keep his voice steady and strong, trying not to shine his slur through.
Taking just two long strides, he grabbed the bottom of Maddy's hair forcefully, making her wince. He brought her now-frightened face close to his.
“Take off your clothes.” He ordered her lowly. Maddy's eyes got wide for a minute, he knew she was catching on. So, he restricted his arms around her torso, pressing her against his chest while she struggled to get away.
“Let me go!” She screeched. Michael clamped his hand over Maddy's mouth.
“Don't scream. I hate it when people scream.” Michael whispered in her ear. Maddy was shaking slightly by the way he was holding her. “Now. Undress. Now.”
Maddy nodded briskly, Micheal’s arms disappearing as he stalked over to the small blue tub at the other end of the yard. Aria's fingers trembled as she pulled off her top garments first, leaving her in the jeans and white shirt her mother had left her in earlier. To be frank, Aria was starting to feel very frightened of Michael. What was he going to do to her?
The chilly breeze almost knocked Aria down, but she regained her balance as her arms shivered with the cold. Glancing towards Michael, she watched as he filled up the tub with a hose. Confused, she stripped off her jeans and shirt Aria heard the sound of the hose being turned off, and as she was about to turn around, one hand was wrapped around her neck while the other picked up her bottom half. Instantly, she started to squirm and tried to break free of his grasp.
“Let g-” she started, before the hand on her neck moved to cover her mouth. The rest of her words came out muffled and scared as Michael lead her over the tub until she was hovering over it. For the first time, tears pricked behind her eyes. Micheal’s hand was gone, and as she was about to scream out, she was dropped and plummeted into the tub.
Aria thought the water was going to be cold, but turned out to be blistering hot. With her mouth open trying to scream under water, she inhaled it while two hands kept her under. Her legs scrambled, only to be boiled, like the rest of her body. It was so hot, Aria thought she was going to pass out. It felt like she was being broiled to life, like a human lobster. The scorching water seared through her throat, eventually making her choke on it. It only filled with more. If she could cry right now, she would. But it seemed impossible, as Aria was starting to run out of breath. Just as she was about give up and stop struggling, the hands yanked her up to break the water, Aria gasping for air.
She took this chance and called out, “MOMMY! DADDY! LI-” She was forced under again, the roasting water filling her entire body again through her throat. Michael brought her up again, slapping his hand over her mouth, as she was about to cry out again.
“The more you scream and struggle, the more discipline you receive!” Michael screeched, all trace of the man he was earlier, gone. Tears flowed freely down Aria's face at this point. When he thought he was going to stop, she couldn't help herself as she screamed out again.
“Liam! Help me!” Aria cried, only to receive a harsh punch to her right cheek. It almost hurt as much as being burned alive.
“Shut up!”
Then she was dug under the boiling water again. Her breathing shortened, but like all the other times, she was brought out and flung out of the tub. Aria gasped to regain her breath, only to have it replaced by a throbbing pain deep in her throat and all around her numb body. She looked down, inspecting her body. The entire length of it was covered in deep red blisters, each one popping and then oozing blood when she looked at it. Aria touched the cheek that Michael had punched, slippery by either tears or blood, she couldn't tell. Again, she flinched when she brushed her fingers over the now-cut on her cheek. Aria whimpered and Michael threw a towel at her, picking her up bridal-style.
Aria Madeline knew better then to scream out for help this time, she'd only get battered up even more. So she kept quiet, and besides, even if Aria wanted to scream out again, she didn't think she was physically or mentally skilled to do that. Her body throbbed with the aftermath of the boil, shaking uncontrollably and her sight blurred by tears.
Just kill me now, Aria begged Michael mentally. She couldn't endure anymore pain. She couldn't.
A door opened, and Aria was thrown deep inside it, her head hitting something hard. Before she could react, the door had slammed again, leaving Aria alone in the pitch black dark. She couldn't see anything, not one outline of one thing. Getting on her knees, Aria shuffled around the little room, still not being able to feel anything that felt familiar.
Coming in contact with something metal and cold, she realized it was a metal door. She was being held hostage in a closet. That was locked.
Aria shuddered, another wrack of tears overtaking her small body as she sobbed. The cool feeling of the metal on her hands felt good, so she leaned her whole right side to it, soothing it just a bit. It was better then nothing, at least
Not being able to help herself, she layed back in the corner. “Mommy, Daddy,” she cried quiet enough so that Michael wouldn't hear her. Would she ever see her parents again? Would Michael kill her before she could be found? Aria knew she was kidnapped, she knew what that meant, her class had watched a documentary on it earlier in the year.
All of the faces she knew flashed before her, before one brown-eyes boy with a birthmark on his neck shined through them all. “Liam.” She whimpered at last. Her twin brother, her best friend. Liam was supposed to protect her, he had promised their mommy that he would look after her. If so, why was she here right now?