First Survivor

Charles Spradley || 31 || Mentor

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

When Charles said that and the shock that went through his body Sophia felt guilt ridden to have asked such a promise neither of them could keep. At any moment a guard could take one them away for god knows how long if they ever gave them back at all.

She could tell he was in pain and not wanting to let it show and for that he was grateful but if he was going through struggles Sophia wanted to be there for him. “You’re not a slave.” She told him firmly, “We are both…prisoners. but we will be strong together.” She told him to forget what she said earlier instead telling him: “If they should take one of us away promise that you’ll have fought the best you could until the end. That you will never give up. and I’ll do the same”

She took his hand and kissed it. “We’ll get that thing off Charlie.” Sophia smiled and curled there pinkies together in a pinkie promise oath. “We’ll find a way together.”

Charles was quiet now. With a lot weighing on his mind, he just listened to what Sophia said. He didn’t have the guts to tell her that she was wrong. She was a prisoner, yes. He was a slave. He was held here against his will, forced to do a job in teaching others to fight to the death. Forced. She was held here against her will, but for no other reason than for being his only weakness. He was shocked again for the feelings he had in that moment. And this one, he had a harder time masking. He gulped once the pain had passed, breathing a bit raggedly as he rocked his own body slightly. 

How long could he last like this?

“You’re not going anywhere,” Charles protectively said the moment she made a comment about them taking either of them away. They could knock him down and torment him all they wanted, he would never be down for the count. But her? If they dared to kill her, he would make sure this place burnt to the ground. 

Biting on his bottom lip, Charles suffered yet another shock. An angry expression sat on his face as one subsided and formed into another shock. He breathed deeply, trying to clear the rage from his mind to stop this. “Soph...” he spoke through the pain, “Can we just get back inside?” He looked at her, his eyes showing more desperation than the man had ever felt before. He wasn’t used to being knocked down so far. He was terrified.

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia blinked and looked into his wide honest eyes. It was always great to hear it, and she knew he loved her but sometimes Sophia needed that confirmation.  “You keep me fighting too. I’d probably have drowned in alcohol if you hadn’t shown up.” Sophia said. one more day without Charles and she would have drank until her body could hold no more.

Finding a relatively secluded area, Sophia sat them at a bench surrounded by a flower garden. “Promise you’ll never leave my side again. please.” She whispered. “I couldn’t stand it, I couldn’t handle it, if you were suddenly gone.”

He listened to what she said and gave a little nod. Trying to lighten the air between them, he joked, “You might want to be careful there, Soph. I don’t think your liver will like you too much if you keep it up.” But she wasn’t joking. He knew that they fueled one another. And that without one another, in this place, who knows what would have come of them. 

Following the blonde over to the bench, Charles took a seat. His arm rested around her shoulders and he pulled her in to rest at his shoulder. What she said broke his heart. And if he could have, with a clear conscience, gave her those promises, he would have. But this place stopped him from being able to be the man she needed. 

Could he promise to never leave her again in a place like this? No, because the next time he was taken from her, it would be a break in that promise. It made him angry to think that this place would stop him from making her happy. Thus, another shock from his collar coursed through him for a few seconds. He tried not to make his pain apparent to Sophia, but he knew he had tensed up. 

A deep breath exhaled between his lips once the pain had passed. He felt his heart rate slow before he kissed the side of Sophia’s head lightly, “Baby, I love you. And as much as I can help it, I’m here. I don’t ever want to leave your side. But this place... I wish I had more control. I’m a slave here...” Another shock rocked his body, harder this time, more powerful. Had he ever said those words? Had he ever admitted that he was a slave?

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia took Charles hand and stood feeling like they finished eating at a fine diner rather then a psychotic institution. she followed him to the Courtyard and nodded when he asked about their first dinner with her parents. 

“Father was less than impressed but it could have been that the huge burp you ripped in the middle of the dinner.” She shook her head remember how hard it was for her not to laugh immaturely. “Mother thought you were ‘very charming in a rustic way.” Sophia added, using her mothers snooty voice for effect.

When they reached the outdoor she tilted her head back and moaned at the glorious feel of the warming sun on her skin. The air was clean, the garden trimmed as always. A welcome sight after days of staring at the ceiling and most definitely a welcome change for Charles.

Charles opened the door to the courtyard, a place that held much meaning to them after he’d officially proposed to her again. They made love in a patch of bushes there. It was the best night he’d had since arriving at Radley 13 years ago. “Your dad never cared for me,” he said knowingly with a casual chuckle, “Not because I was obnoxious, because he knew I was fucking his daughter. It might have also been because your father always had a stick up his ass.” 

A grin sat on his lips as he winked at Sophia. He knew she wasn’t too fond of her parents and therefore he had free reign to say what he wanted about them. He stood in the sun, stopped talking. Allowed the warmth of the sun to sink into his skin. He felt as if he wanted to close his eyes and hang his head back, but instead found himself watching Sophia as she did. “You’re so cute,” he commented quietly. 

Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, Charles pulled her closer to him. He kissed her forehead. “I am so lucky to have you, Soph,” he said, breathing deeply and enjoying the feeling of human intimacy. Five days in that hell hole with only Tessa shouting at him and teasing him, Charles almost didn’t believe he would make it. “You’re the only thing that keeps me fighting in this world,” he was entirely honest as he laid it out. 

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia watched him practically take pleasure in chewing his food and she did the same, for the past five days she had chosen to drink her sorrows, only allowing small snacks in between the liquor and hours of sleeping.

“Remember when that thing fell off?” She smiled remember how the top of their teachers head shone in the florescence. “It looked like a ferret!”  Many fun things happened in high school, most of her happiest memories were from their early time when nothing was wrong in the world.

“Charlie can we go outside when we finish? I haven’t seen the sun in days.”

Charles smirked, remembering that moment very clearly. Because the boy had been quite the trouble maker and of course had been the one to point out how their teachers head shined in the fluorescent lights. He’d called it jokingly dreamy at that time, and the whole class had laughed. He ended up in the principal’s office and got quite the beating from his father later that evening, but it was well worth it. 

He continued to eat his food, paying attention to Sophia and the smile on her face. She illuminated the room. She did that anywhere she went. Then at her question, Charles swallowed down the food in his mouth, nodding his head. “Yeah, me neither,” a wry laugh hung off his lips, “Let’s go.” 

He was starting to get his fill and he knew if he ate too much all at once, his stomach wouldn’t be able to handle it. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, then stood up, feeling a bit stronger on his knees now. Stepping around to her, he pulled out her chair for her and helped Sophia up. “You remember the first dinner I shared with you and your parents?” he asked, enjoying the reminiscence of their past. 

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia used all her strength to lift Charles enough to plop him on a nearby table and listened as he talked about their past in high school. she remembered it clearly too, the rough boy with disheveled hair sitting next to her while she paid close attention to the teacher but in the back of her mind she also was focused on his gaze on her.

Sophia laid her head on Charles shoulder wondering how she could have possibly been without him for so long. she didn’t care that her parents disapproved of him or the nasty things her friends said, Charles was her love.

“Hopefully me.” She smiled, kissing his cheek. “I’ll get us food and you wait here. breath, relax for me.” Sophia asked what he wanted and left to retrieve the much wanted food.

“No, not you,” Charles joked, the devilish look in his eyes giving it away, “Mr. Takbalm had the best damn toupee in town. Couldn’t pass up a chance to watch that beauty.” Once again, the man winked at her and let out a weak chuckle. He nodded as she told him to stay there and relax, then watched as she walked away. 

Charles kept his mind on happy things still. On Sophia. The first time they kissed. The first time they said I love you. The first time they made love. When he proposed to her. Everything up until Gregory, he reflected on. Then he cut it from his mind. Cut out the regretful decisions he’d made, the friend he’d killed. 

Soon, Sophia was back with two full plates of food in her hands. His was a steak and green pepper omelette with home fries and sausage on the side. The smell was intoxicating. As Sophia set the plate down in front of him, Charles wasted no time. He took up his fork and immediately dug into the food, shoving bite after delicious bite into his mouth. His eyes rolled to the back of his head with pleasure at the taste of the food. 

It could have been pickled eggs and Charles would have still eaten it as if it were filet mignon. 

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

When they arrived at the cafeteria Sophia’s stomach growled at the thought of actual food for both of them. Suddenly, Charles stopped walking and recalled begging for food. Sophia guessed his collar shocked him because he tensed and fell over. “Charlie!” She cried and uncaring of she would receive the same shock she hugged him. “Shh it’s okay I’m here, I’m here..”

She wanted to scream in anger as her love gagged and had trouble breathing. Charles finally regained his bearing and Sophia rubbed his back, squeezing his hand so he’d know she was always there to lend support and love him always.

“Of course I know baby.” Sophia said giving him a soft smile. “I knew the first time I looked in your eyes we we’re meant to be together. Always will. I love you so much.”

A lot of the patients in the cafeteria looked over. They stared at the weak man and the crying woman. While many had learned to love Charles in their time here already, others found amusement in the fact that such a “strong” man was now on his knees. He allowed himself to lean into Sophia’s embrace. 

Soph was at his side, as she always was. Now that he had her here, he couldn’t understand how he’d made it through 12 years at Radley without sight. He started taking small steps again toward the service line. He thought back to when he’d first seen her. History class. She sat at the front of the classroom, her legs crossed and her hands cupped together. She was so put together, her blonde hair pulled up into a tight pony tail, her pencils sitting on the desk neatly to the side of her notebooks. She watched the teacher, took notes diligently.

And all the while, Charles had watched her. He didn’t give two flying fucks about the history of the Byzantine Empire, but that girl... He needed to meet her. “You’re probably the reason I failed that class,” he chuckled, trying to stay on the subject that made his heart warm, “It was you or the teacher’s ugly old face, and obviously I took the more pleasant of the two.”

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia smiled, a true real smile Even with everything he’s been through Charles was still her rock always thinking of her.She took Charles’ hand and said “Are you okay to walk? You could lean on me.” Scared he would fall. 

He told her she was beautiful hungover causing a giggle to bubble between her lips. Sophia missed his smile, his humor and his very presence.  She began leading him at a slow pace to the door and out into the hall. 

He loved hearing her laugh, almost like a drug to him. He wanted more. While Charles wished every day that Sophia had never been dragged to this place, he knew he couldn’t make it through all of these things without her by his side. Charles gave Sophia’s hand a little squeeze, then turned the corner through the double doors into the cafeteria. 

The place was pretty crowded already with patients, mentors, and guards getting breakfast. The sweet aromas of bacon, sausage, and eggs filled the air. Charles breathed it in and honestly could have fainted in that moment. His stomach growled, he sighed. 

“I kept asking for food...” he said, trying to stop himself from getting angry, but the flashbacks to the last week with Tessa couldn’t be prevented. “I fucking begged...” Charles stopped in his tracks. His face contorted in pain as he was shocked again, and his knees went week for a moment. He gagged, as if he needed to vomit, but he knew very well there was nothing in his stomach to get up. 

After a few ragged breaths, Charles stood up straight again. He shook his head, “Soph, I...” Perhaps he needed to keep the conversation on something that made him happy, “When I first saw you... I knew I needed to have you. Y’know that?”

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia flinched when he suddenly tensed up, the motion pounded in her head from being hungover. he explained more about how the collar worked whenever he got upset it’d shock him and Sophia was taken aback.

They put sensors in his brain? they neglected to feed him? it was crazy and horrible, Sophia wanted nothing but to hold him and cry but Charles said whats done is done and Sophia decided a change of topic was best, he was finally home that’s all that mattered.

She nodded and stood up, trying to straighten herself up. “Yeah I could go for something. What’d you like?”

Charles saw her flinch, hoping he hadn’t hurt her or scared her in any way. She took the news much better than he expected, and he was glad for that. Emotionally and physically, the man was exhausted. If it weren’t for loving Sophia so much, he would have preferred not to ever feel anything at all from this point forward. If it weren’t for her, he would have just given in at that point. 

“Anything the cafeteria had to offer,” he said bluntly, shaking his head. He stood up, wobbling weakly on his feet for a few seconds. Once he steadied himself, though, he held out a hand for Sophia to grab. He gave her a smile, through the pain and the weakness. 

She would always be his light at the end of the tunnel. As long as he had her to come home to, the rain clouds would simply pass. “C’mon,” he said, holding her hand as they walked over to the door and down the halls toward the cafeteria. Charles looked over at her as they walked, “You look beautiful even when you’re hungover.” He winked.

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia gasped again. Seeing Charles was like a breath of fresh air from her slow drunken stupor she hugged him tight and smiled. “I’m sorry baby. I’ll replace them later.” She giggled missing his humor.

He looked thin as if he hadn’t eaten in days most likely hadn’t… When he laid his hand on her thigh Sophia cuddled to his side, running her fingers through his hair. “I’m fine honey but about you? Where’d they take you?” 

Charles explained they were training him and that’s when she finally saw the silver band around his neck. A shock collar. Sophia was speechless, eyes wide as she took in his apperance. “What’d they do to you?”

The hug was welcome. Anything from Sophia would be welcome with open arms. He closed his eyes for a moment, just breathing her in. But as she asked what they did to him, he had to let out a sigh. “They drugged me, I think. Took me to a room...” he shook his head, but Tessa’s face filled his mind and he found himself growing angry. 

No sooner, his shock collar went off with a small zap into his neck. He grimaced at the pain, tensing up just slightly. Once it stopped, he inhaled deeply and shook his head. “Tessa. She’s a new therapist. I guess... they put sensors in my brain... They know when I’m angry. When I’m upset in any way... And every time, I get shocked...” 

He looked at Sophia with apologetic eyes, as if this were somehow his fault. “What’s done is done. Ain’t no undoing it now, right?” he said under his breath, “Are you hungry, Soph? I’m starvin’.”

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

[charlesspradley-blog]

sophialeonardrp:

Sophia’s blurred mind was brought back to consciousness when a hand rested upon her head, it was warm and gentle. Sophia thought she was still dreaming a dream she could never want to wake from one where Radley doesn’t exist and her fiancee was in her arms safe and home.

“Charlie you’re home.” She mumbled and turned over. “Sorry I couldn’t make dinner…go to bed…morning.” Sophia continued to sleep talk to the beautiful man she saw behind her lids. She could still taste the alcohol on her breath but the pain in her head told her it was already morning.

She scrunched up her face and opened her eyes to see Charles right over her. in the flesh, it wasn’t a dream! right? “Charlie? is that you?” Sophia asked the man willing her eyes to focus on just him.

Charles smiled at her sleepy mumbling. Thankful for the fact that she was unharmed. Thankful that he didn’t have to feel any anger or resentment. Thankful for the lack of electricity coursing into his neck. When she awoke, his smile remained and he simply nodded his head. “You been drinkin’ all my booze?” he chuckled, wishing he could have a drink -- or ten. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, just to be sure. And as he did so, he moved around the couch to take a seat beside her. He laid a hand on her thigh, moving his fingers to squeeze just lightly. He was still there, he wanted her to know that. He wouldn’t zombie-out on her. Even if he had to feel this pain... he would do it for her. 

Sighing, the man gulped thickly. He knew he needed to explain. Charles rose a hand to touch the metal contraption locked around his neck. His eyes glazed over slightly. “They’re trying to... train me...” he said as calmly as he could. He was trying not to harbor anger over what commenced the past five days, “Like a dog almost... they... there’s a shock collar...” 

[charlesspradley-blog]

A New Man || Soles

He was released from the room he’d been kept in for the better part of a week. His steps were heavy since he hadn’t stood in five days, his feet feeling almost as if he needed to retrain himself how to walk. There were bags under his eyes, a product of not sleeping very much. And his cheekbones were slightly caving in. His stomach ached and growled, longing for food. But the direction he headed in was not to the cafeteria. He went toward the mentor suites, and he found his. 

With a hesitant hand, Charles reached out to take the doorknob. His eyes dropped to the floor for a moment, a deep breath inhaled then exhaled. Whatever was behind this door, he would have to handle it calmly. Calm wasn’t something Charles did well. 

Stepping through the door, Charles quickly noticed that the place was still a mess from his struggle with the guards. He also realized that his liquor was not lined up in its normal placement. He examined his surroundings for a split second before he saw the mess of blonde hair on the arm rest of the couch. It crossed the man’s mind that she may have been hurt while he was gone. 

But he knew with his new piece of jewelry he couldn’t afford to jump to conclusions. Slowly, Charles made his way over to the blonde, resting a hand gingerly against her head and brushing her hair back behind her ear. “Soph...?” he asked softly, and as he saw her stir, he breathed a sigh or relief. 

[charlesspradley-blog]

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks || Tessa & Charles

Charles had been just getting out of the shower when he was ransacked by a group of some of the strongest guards Radley had to offer. Had the man not been taken off guard, he may have had a chance at beating them off. But there were too many of them against only one of him. And once a syringe was jabbed into the side of his neck and something was injected quickly into his system. He felt himself slipping away before it all went black. He felt his hands grasping out to punch at the silhouettes around him. 

Then, nothing. 

For hours, nothing before he stirred slightly at a loud sound and a movement from beneath him. His eyes slowly fluttered open and as he became aware of his body, Charles noticed that he was strapped down to a medical bed with leather straps. He pulled hard against the restraints, but not one of them would budge. There was a bright light above him, shining directly into his eyes and blinding him from anything around him. 

“Hey!” the man growled, “Let me out of here!”

A small laugh came, and a dark shadow came to approach Charles side. He still couldn’t see the exact features but it was definitely a curvy woman. “Keep calm, dear, we wouldn’t want you to pop an aneurysm,” she teased, her voice carrying a strong British accent. 

Charles quickly realized who she was. Tessa. Michalla Attwood’s newest favorite. He rolled his eyes, shifting still against the restraints because he didn’t give a damn what Tessa had to say. “What’d I do this time, hm?” Charles spit out the angry words, “Lemme guess: I breathed wrong.” 

Another small laugh. She figured she would humor him at the very least since for the next... well rest of his life, this man would be at pain caused specifically from her hands. “Well, a lot of people here would have an argument to say that the fact you breathe at all still is a problem,” Tessa nonchalantly commented, and he could barely see as her head tilted to the side, “But don’t worry. I’m not one of those people, Mr. Spradley. I believe in teaching misbehaved animals to behave properly.” 

The man groaned, struggling still to break the belts holding him to the bed, “I’m a fucking human being not an animal, you fucking bitch!”

“Ah, but only animals react just the way you do, Charles,” Tessa said matter-of-factly. She poked a finger into Charles’ side, then trailed it down the length of his torso. He looked down, able to see her long fingernails painted black and curved into almost claw-shapes. “I’ve been assigned an important task by Doctor Attwood. Would you like to know what that is, Mr. Spradley?”

Charles scoffed, “Michalla ever get sick of sending others to do her dirty work?” He shook his head, and a grin found his lips, “You know I spent twelve years here so far and Michalla herself has punished me, tortured me, experimented on me... twice, I think? I mean, at that rate, you’d think she’s a crazy lady who...” Charles feigned a gasp, “Doesn’t like torturing innocent people?? Wow, that’s quite a concept to grasp, ain’t it?”

She smirked at Charles, but he couldn’t see her face so it didn’t make a difference to him. She then said, “You can keep joking like that while you can. What I’m about to do to you will strip you of what little sense of humor you still have.” Tessa leaned against the hospital bed, and he could feel where her hips resting against it caused a slight indent, “The thing is, if this works, Michalla’s greatest problem will be solved after twelve long years. What do you think will be in that for me, Mr. Spradley? Not just a coveted spot of trust here, but probably a new home, a new car, anything my little heart could desire...”

The man shook his head, laughing at her pathetic attempt to threaten him, “Am I supposed to be impressed that you’re playin’ teacher’s pet?”

Tessa seemed to get a bit annoyed by his chattiness, though and she slammed a hand onto his mouth hard to close it, leaning down into his face. The light shining behind her head almost looked like a halo. But she was damn far from an angel. “No, but you can certainly bet that I’ve worked day in and out to ensure that this plan is fool-proof. You’re going to be but a shell and ghost of the man you are now when I’m done with you.” 

She suddenly leaped from the bed and he could feel her footsteps until they stopped just above his head. He struggled a little bit until he felt her slip a mask over his face, covering his nose and his mouth. She stood beside him, “Say goodnight, Charles. When you wake up, you will have a whole new life.” 

The sound of a machine at his side came on, a dull humming, and the sound of some sort of ventilation system. The mask filled with a gasp which was forced down into his lungs. He struggled like hell. Like he always did. And he even got to rocking the bed back and forth a little before finally the drugs did their job and he succumbed. 

Hours of surgery passed by and Tessa was meticulous with every last detail she put into place. It wasn’t until late that evening that she stopped what she was doing, pleased with her results. She closed Charles back up, then injected him with enough drugs to keep him asleep for the next day or so. He would surely need his rest after a surgery of that caliber. She went home that night and slept better than she did most nights. She came back to that room around 8 o’clock at night the following evening, and she injected a stimulant into Charles’ bloodstream to wake him. 

He groaned, obviously in pain from the recent brain surgery. His eyes took a while to open. And once they did, he immediately tried once again to struggle against his restraints. But instead of the persistence he had before the surgery, Charles was met with a strong jolt of electricity from a new collar secured around his neck. This jolt sent him shaking and sent pain all the way down his spine. He cried out, “W-What the fuck is this!?” But another shock met him with the anger he felt rising in his chest. 

Tessa shushed him, because his breathing was becoming frantic, “The more you fight. The more anger you feel. You will be shocked. And the worse you act, the stronger the voltage.” She rested a hand on his chest, “Shhhhh. Just breathe. You don’t have to be angry about everything , grumpy.” A soft giggle came from the woman’s lips. 

Charles’ brows furrowed. He couldn’t believe that so quickly she had installed something so life-changing. “Stop this!” Charles roared angrily, unable to calm himself. Because every time he was shocked, the more angry he got. And the more angry he got, the more he was shocked. It seemed at that point to be an endless cycle. “This’ll fucking k-kill me!” he screamed, fists tight at his sides on the bed. 

She chuckled and shook her head, “Only if you don’t learn to behave.”

“Fuck you!” he yelled, then screamed out, face red as the collar shocked him with a high intensity. Tessa laughed again, “You’ll learn. And you have plenty of time. I have permission to keep you here for 5 more days. By then, you should be mostly healed and... assimilated. And well, for your sake, I hope you learn to accept this.” 

Charles growled, then whimpered as another shock hit him. His eyes were filled with fury and with pain all at once. Tessa left the room, left him there to suffer over and over until at last the pain brought him to pass out. The next day, she returned to taunt him and to give him fluids. She didn’t feed him. He hadn’t learned his lesson yet. 

Each day for the next five days, a routine was set in place. Charles would become less resilient with each day, learning that with vulgarity and anger came pain. He stopped talking all together by the forth day she returned. She didn’t feed him for all five days, no matter how much he begged. His stomach growled. She just gave him fluids and tested his limits. 

And she was satisfied by the end of her experiment that her test subject was making progress. “You’re becoming a new man yet, Mr. Spradley,” Tessa commented on the last day she held him captive. He didn’t respond. “I’m proud of you, my little pet,” she chuckled. 

He growled, another shock sent into his neck, down his spine. 

And Tessa left the room, sending in a few guards to unstrap Charles and to escort him back to his suite about an hour after she’d left. Charles followed them, tempted only in the back of his mind to kill the guards escorting him. These thoughts, however small and diminished, were still punished with a shock from his new piece of jewelry. 

Maybe it was true. Maybe Radley had finally found a way to break Charles Spradley. 

[sophia-leonard-blog]

Blood Or Love || Soles

[sophia-leonard-blog]

“Maybe… But still. I can’t help it…” She looked away from Charlie, starting to count the tiles on the wall. She felt weak. She wasn’t a helpless child ,she was an adult, she had law degree, she was a well respected lawyer with a great case record. How had she become this? Sniveling, scared, and sad Sophia. She had never thought she would become this. 

Pain had only ever pushed her in the past. It was a motivator. When she was talked down, she grew higher and higher until she was beyond insult. When she lost the love of her life she simply threw herself into her education and career. But now she was falling apart piece by piece. She hated it. 

“Oh I know. I know just how sexy you are.” She said, running a hand down his shoulder and placing a soft kiss on his jaw. “And you are all mine now, so I must be pretty sexy myself.” She told him nuzzling his neck affectionately. Everyday she found something new to love about him, just one more thing on the long list of amazing traits Charlie had. He was everything she could’ve ever hoped for and so much more. 

Sophia laughed with Charlie, glad that he found that story ass amusing as Sophia did. When it had first happened she had been pissed, seething anger for hours afterwards. But about a week later she started laughing about it and had been laughing ever since. When Charles pulled her into a kiss, she was initially surprised by the kiss but melted easily into him. “Well some of your fire had to rub off on me baby.” 

[charlesspradley-blog]

Her small kisses on him nearly made Charles insane. If he wasn’t so aware of how weak and small she felt at that moment, he would have seduced her at that moment. He would have had her cumming over and over again, dripping with pleasure and clinging to her every breath. But he knew better than to allow her small teasing notions bring him to that point. A woman who was just violently raped did not want to be fucked, or even made love to -- she wanted to be held. She wanted to feel warm. She wanted to feel safe. 

“Please,” he joked back with her, his voice low and quiet, “Sometimes I think I got all my fire from you.” It was true. There was never a shortage of fuel behind the fire in her soul and behind her eyes. She had always used threats, criticism, negativity as fuel to propel her further. She never looked back. Sophia didn’t linger on the past, she used every experience to make herself better and stronger. 

In that way, Charles had always respected her as stronger than even him. 

“C’mon, baby...” the man whispered, reaching up and turning the knob to shut off the water. He cradled the woman again and used his knees to push himself up to a standing position with her. Stepping out of the shower, he grabbed a few towels from the rack and piled them carefully atop Sophia’s stomach. He then brought her over to the bed where he laid down the towels on the surface of the bed before laying Sophia just on top of them. 

He left her lying down for just a minute while he shuffled through the clothing in his closet to pull out one of his red and black flannels, he knew this was her favorite. Then, the man came back to the bed and carefully peeled her soaking, dirty clothing from her body. He used another towel, gently rubbing against the soft supple skin of her body until it was dry. Then he pulled the blonde up to sit and helped her into the flannel. He smiled at her, kissing her forehead tenderly. “You drive me crazy with how much I love you,” Charles smiled, narrowing his eyes as he looked directly into hers. 

[sophia-leonard-blog]

Blood Or Love || Soles

[sophia-leonard-blog]

“I just feel like it’s my fault she’s a prisoner now.” Sophia was starting to feel like everything was her fault. Even the fact that Patton had taken an interest in her. She always tried to figure out what she could’ve done to make him think she was boring. Anything she could’ve done to make him take no interest. But every scenario in her head ended the same way. 

“You’ve seen more than anyone here…” She whispered to him. “If I have nightmares about what I’ve seen, I can’t imagine what you’ve witnessed.” She held onto him, and let the water roll over both of them. This poor man, someone who wasn’t nearly as brash and angry as he seemed. To her he was gentle and kind, the most loving person she had ever known. But what had he seen? In so many years here, what horrors did he watch? 

“Oh, I heard all about your reputation.” She smiled slightly. High school had been quite an interesting time. “They all liked to claimed you were a bad boy, but every single girl in that school wanted you. They always warned me to stay away so they could get you for themselves.” Sophia laughed quietly, she was already feeling a bit better. “But I’m one of a kind, and I got you and I kept you.”

“When were together, a kid came up to me one day. This boy, I don’t even remember his name. But he said, ‘if you can tame Charles, I’d like a piece of that. Call me if you ever get bored’. I was so mad a kicked him in the groin and told him to shove his dick in an oven.” Sophia remembered that incident in high school, she still laughed about it to this day. 

[charlesspradley-blog]

He shook his head at her and smiled softly, “You blame yourself too much, baby. You always have...” Sophia was a perfectionist at heart, and one that wore her heart too often on her sleeve. He loved her for this, but worried for her due to it. Because having too big of a heart was sometimes a plague to people. He was sure her pain would be lessened by caring less for others, he was sure her pain would be lessened by knowing the difference between what she could and couldn’t change. But who was he to tell her to change the very best parts of herself?

Charles paused as she brought up the nightmares he must have seen. And she was right, but he would not tell her - at least not right now. She was already haunted by the thoughts of what she’d just been through, she didn’t need to be haunted further by the thoughts of what he’d endured. And Charles, as much as he hated the thought of it, knew that Sophia would blame herself for every experience he’d had here over his twelve years. 

“I’m sexy, what can I say?” he teased, raising an eyebrow down at Sohpia. The small smiles and laughter from her as exactly what he needed to see at that moment. He needed the proof that she was not lost to him. That Patton had not broken her spirit. Because if Patton dared to do any permanent damage to this woman... Charles would kill him without hesitance. 

At her story, Charles laughed out loud. It was surprising that after all their years together, they still had stories to tell one another. He shook his head, then put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her up for a gentle, yet passionate kiss. As he pulled away, he looked at her with a spark in his eyes, “’Atta girl.” And he truly was proud of the fact she’d kneed that boy in the groin. He was just glad he wasn’t in that boy’s place. 

[sophia-leonard-blog]

Blood Or Love || Soles

[sophia-leonard-blog]

“I don’t think she’s a guard anymore. Or, at least, she lost the privileges of one.” Guards had the ability to leave Radley. But Michalla Attwood and her merry band of demons wouldn’t ever jeopardize their facility by allowing the possibility of information to leak out.  Loyalty was ensured by the staff, a trait that was required among those that were on Michalla’s payroll. 

The moment Michalla allowed Patton to get his hands on Lana- and she had approved of it, Patton wouldn’t touch an employee without her permission- Michalla had effectively created a liability. Someone tortured by Radley had every motive to go to Law enforcement. Lana lost her power, because now she was just like Sophia, a prisoner. Just with a slightly better title. 

“She’s like me now Charlie, she’s just like the rest of us. Just with a slightly better title.” Sophia felt her entire body tense. Her hands shook. “Patton, he stuck a needle through her arm, down her shoulder. She screamed so loud…” Sophia could still hear it echoing in her mind, bouncing off the walls of her skull. The private symphony of the devil himself. 

Sophia listened to his story, and she felt herself smile. “I remember, the day I was first in class.” Her family had just moved, a smaller town, quieter. North Carolina had a lot to offer a rich family. Her ather had southern roots, so they moved. Everything Sophia had known before changed, and she was isolated in a school. “After class, some girls came up to me. They warned me that you were looking at me in class.” 

She smiled at that memory too, the day she had first heard the name Charles Spradley. “Said you were from the wrong side of the tracks. Said to avoid you. You were the bad boy apparently.” Sophia laughed quietly. “When I turned to look at you in the hallway that day, I couldn’t help but thing ‘they are wrong about him.’” 

[charlesspradley-blog]

Charles listened carefully to everything she had to say. It was clear she still had many thoughts dancing around in her head. And he had to admit, she wasn’t wrong to think that Lana was now a prisoner of Radley. Radley would never risk one of the ill-thinking employees escaping and going to the authorities. “Even if she is a prisoner,” Charles swallowed thickly, memories flickering by in his head. His life here for the past twelve years had been something out of a horror film. 

“Soph, she’s alive,” Charles pleaded for her to understand that in a place like this that was the most a prisoner could really hope for, “I don’t mean to say she deserved anything she got, but... I’ve seen what they do to employees that pose a risk to them.” They terminated them. Sometimes publicly to set an example for the other staff and the patients as well. 

His gaze was far off for a moment, remembering a particular incident 5 years into his stay at Radley. He would never forget that woman’s screams. He would never forget that he played a role in her death. And just like all the patients he trained and sent off to that island, and just like all the patients he killed in his years on the island: her blood was on his hands. 

He was snapped from his grim thoughts at Sophia talking about the first day they’d seen one another. He forced a smile, because he couldn’t show her the grief he felt over the past as she was grieving. Her needs were on the table, his would have to be shoved into a drawer for now. He didn’t mind that once bit. Charles remembered his teenage years well. 

“I didn’t like bein’ home,” Charles explained with a small smirk, “So I had a lotta trespassin’ and partyin’ under my belt.” He chuckled, pinching the bridge of his nose with the free hand he wasn’t cradling Sophia with as if the memories gave him a headache. “I guarantee you, though,” he winked at her, “All the girls that gave me that bad reputation -- none of ‘em were anything like you.”

[sophia-leonard-blog]

Blood Or Love || Soles

[sophia-leonard-blog]

Sophia started to cry again when he talked about how wonderful she was. Of course he believed that. He had always seen the best in her, even if Sophia saw nothing good in herself. It was something that she loved about Charlie, he always made her feel loved, important, always pushed her to be greater and better. He always motivated her, always restored her faith in herself. 

“I love you, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for everything.” She clung to him, he was the only thing that she had to hold onto anymore. The only person she dared trust. The only person she dared love. He was her everything here, and he always had been. 12 years apart, and he was still the only man she allowed herself to love. The only man she would ever love. 

“She didn’t do anything, it was my fault…. I failed her Charlie, and I hope she hates me for it. I deserve it.” All Lana had done was show Sophia a bit of kindness. The poor girl had just been a decent human and the result were nails in her hands, a needle in her shoulder and more. “H-h-he put n-n-nails…. T-t-through her h-h-hands. H-h-he made me w-w-watch.” Sophia felt as if that memory would never leave her as long as she lived. 

“I wouldn’t hit you Charlie.” She laid her head on his shoulder. This was the safest place in the world for her, wrapped up in Charlies arms. Yet she still felt like someone would come and drag her away at any second. She managed a small smile at his teasing. “Please never forget I love you…” She whispered into the skin on his neck. “You’re everything to me Charlie, everything.” 

[charlesspradley-blog]

“I love you, too,” Charles said it with a certainty, “Stop saying sorry.” It hurt him to see her like this, but he knew it was his job to be strong for her at this moment. He knew that if he showed his anger, it would only serve to make her feel more guilty. One of these days, Charles would get his hands on Patton. One of these days, he would wring the little fucker by his neck. But it would have to be a day that Sophia was safe from Radley. He would not put her at risk. 

Charles shook his head as she spoke of Lana. He wished silently that Sophia would stop thinking about the other woman’s well-being, but he knew better than to voice those opinions. Sophia was the kind of person who cared deeply for other. She had an empathy that Charles often lacked. “She’s a guard here, Soph,” Charles tried to reassure her, “She can take care of herself. She’s in more of a position of power than you could hope to be here...”

But the thought of Patton driving nails through anyone’s hands was enough to make even Charles shiver slightly. He’d been in a cell with that maniac too many times to count. And he would be lying to say the things that man had done to him had not stuck in his mind. Gulping, Charles didn’t know quite how to respond, “It’s... It’s gonna be okay, baby...”

He chuckled as she whispered another loving sentiment and nodded his head, “You ain’t gotta tell me twice. You know that.” Then he looked into her eyes for a few moments. The warm water still pounded down on the two of them. His hand gracefully slid over her cheek, then to tuck her wet hair behind her ear. “I ever tell you about the first time I saw you?” he asked. But he already knew the answer: he hadn’t.

For some reason, it just hadn’t come up even in the years they were together. He smiled just thinking of it, “We were in World History together, I sat in the back of the classroom, and you sat up at the front. You were always up front.” Another soft laugh, because it was just like her to sit at the front of the classroom at all times. “I stared at the back of your head that entire class, and don’t remember shit that we were taught that day. All I remember thinkin’ is... who’s the girl behind that gold hair? And I knew I’d have to talk to you.”

[sophia-leonard-blog]

Blood Or Love || Soles

[sophia-leonard-blog]

He called her perfect. After everything that had happened to him because of her, Charlie still called her perfect. That only made her cry harder, and she clutched the cloth of his T-shirt and felt like the entire world was crashing down on her. Why was he always so kind to her? So gentle and patient, so caring. Why did he love her so much? She had put him here. 

“I-I-I don’t d-d-deserve you.” She said, trying to make herself understandable through the crying. “I-I-I don’t d-d-deserve to be p-p-p-protected…” Yet he always did protect her, and so did Lana. And she let these wonderful people take the pain for her because she couldn’t handle it. Because she was scared and stupid. “H-h-h-how Can y-y-you love s-s-s-someone like m-m-me?” 

When she asked the question she looked up at him, her blue eyes glassy because of tears. A part of her wanted him to say that he didn’t, that she was horrible. Because at least then she would know, because the best person in the entire world would’ve confirmed what she was. But a larger part of her knew that she wouldn’t survive here without Charles, and if he didn’t love her, there was no point to any of it. 

Sophia let him carry her like a child, let him start the shower. Let him bring her inside. She felt him start to rinsee away the blood, and she watched the rust colored water swirl down the drain. “He tortured her.” She said, no longer crying. Her voice was dead and tired. “In front of me he tortured her. And when she screamed, he would come to me and rape me until I disobeyed him in any small way.”

She shook despite the warm water. “She tired to protect me but there was no way she could’ve not screamed. I tried too. I knew it was better to be raped than for someone to go through so much pain just for me. I’ve cause enough suffering, I just wanted to try to protect her. But I couldn’t…. I couldn’t…” 

[charlesspradley-blog]

Charles just smiled softly and shook his head at everything she said. Sophia was crazy to think she didn’t deserve him. If anything, he was the one who didn’t deserve her. He couldn’t help it at her question, he let out a small laugh. It wasn’t to ridicule her or make her feel stupid. It was just to show her how much he couldn’t believe the things she was saying. “Someone like you?” he spoke softly, staring into her eyes. To him, they were the most beautiful, clear oceans he could ever dive into. 

“You are one in a million, Soph,” he said it simply because to him, it was just that: the simple truth, “No, actually, you’re... one in 7 billion. There ain’t anyone else in the world like you. Ain’t anyone as beautiful, as humble, as talented, as smart... And there ain’t anyone in this world that has the heart to love a man like me, but you got it.”

Charles felt something in his stomach at the mention of Lana being tortured. In his years at Radley, he’d seen employees being killed because they couldn’t be trusted to leave. That was the norm, but torture and letting the woman live and continue to work here? Something was up. Either way, Charles was actually quite thankful. He was glad Lana had taken the brunt of the physical abuse for Sophia. 

He’d rather anyone take it than Sophia, including himself. 

And he even thought for a split second that he wished Sophia had just up and dis-obeyed Patton the whole time. It just went to show how different he and Sophia were. How she thought of others’ pain and couldn’t stand to put them through that. How he would sacrifice anything and anyone to keep her safe. “He put you in an impossible situation, baby...” Charles kept his voice calm. 

He’d become better with time at maintaining his temper around Sophia. But surely as she slept, he would release his frustrations on a sparring dummy later. “You couldn’t do anything...” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her gently on her forehead, “It’s okay... You can cry. You can... talk about it more if you need. You can hit me and pretend I’m the bastard if you want.” 

He winked at her, then poked her nose gently with his index finger playfully.