Strings and Schemes

Chapter 3

Louis parents had just returned stateside after a few years abroad in Afghanistan on a hardship mission and we were only too excited to get to spend all of our free time together. Louis knocked on my door as if it was his personal drum set; I could hear his joy through the door. I smiled so hard it hurt my face. I opened the door and imitated his Doncaster accent, "'ello luv!" I yell, pulling him so hard into my and through the door in a massive hug that he almost looses his balance, his hand reaching for the door frame to stay upright.

"Rain," Louis says relaxing into me, "I can't believe I'm here, in your apartment; after all this time." He pulls back and his blue eyes stare into mine, a grin coming to both of our faces.

"I can't believe you managed to get here with this snowstorm outside!" I say, "Come in, take off your shoes, let's have a proper cuppa and catch up."

I feel my heart rate calming, thinking of the peace that I have when I'm with my best friend. Almost laughing to myself at the juxtaposition of that while I'm rolling around in the trunk of this sedan. I recite facts to myself about the men who grabbed us, and the cars.

We drank our weight in hot toddies that night; the best drink to warm your soul from a cold winters night in a city entirely unprepared to handle it. Dancing around in my living room, pretending like we're rockstars, made me feel so much more like myself.

"I wish we could do this everyday," I laugh, appreciating the moment.

Louis nods, "We can! I heard that your parents are getting posted in London after my parents leave, so we can do this everyday for at least the next 6 years."

I smile, "and after that I'll be done uni, which means I won't be moving from place to place with my parents."

"We should live in flats next to each other, with adjoining doors," he gushes. I laugh, not noticing just how close we've gotten. And suddenly his blue eyes are sparking in a way that could only mean one thing.

Maybe for old times sake? I think.

"Fuck it," we both mutter at the same time, dropping the remote that was a mic and he pulls me in, butterflies erupt. He kisses me like all those times before, except, it's not awkward anymore. It's intoxicating. I kiss him back, fully throwing myself into the moment, not caring about the repercussions tomorrow. He backs me up so that my back is against the wall next to my balcony, overlooking the capitol. Part of me is afraid of being caught, the other part of me loves the thrill.

I hear shuffling outside of the car, and blaring lights hit my eyes. I divert my eyes as I am pulled up harshly from the boot of the car. I quickly use the leverage to kick, hitting my assailant in the groin. He doubles over, and I notice I'm in an interrogation room with a mirrored glass. Great, I'm being watched as I'm being assessed.

I find a sharp corner of the table and quickly undo my zip tied hands like they taught me the last time, getting out in record time. My momentary pride in myself lapses as the interrogator walks into the room, looking crustier than I recalled from last year.

The whole point of this exercise is to see how long we last under duress. Usually, there's a secret code we have to keep hidden from the interrogator and not break, no matter what. But this time, there's none. I panic, what if this isn't a training? What is they're actually looking for my secrets?

My stomach drops.

Louis is in this exact same scenario, right now, likely in the room next to me. What are they going to do to him? How many secrets will they try to break? We've got nothing but our word, and all of our insider knowledge. I sigh, this is going to be a long day and a half.