Lie To Me

Aidan

"Welcome back to the land of the living."

A distinctly dry, drawling voice greeted Aidan as he stirred, returning to consciousness, and Aidan groaned.

"I wouldn't be surprised if I actually had died," Aidan responded, throat scratchy from several hours' disuse. "You pumped enough sedative into me to down an elephant."

Samar chuckled, shrugging. "So I've been told. But at least it does the job."

The glare that Aidan leveled upon Samar's impenitent countenance prompted the beginnings of a throbbing headache behind his eyes. Smirking knowingly, Samar dug an aspirin bottle out of his pocket, popped off the lid, and tapped two tablets into his palm.

Meanwhile, Aidan inspected his surroundings. The room that he was in was plain and compact; windowless cement walls, a small bed in one corner; it was a holding facility of some sort, Aidan suspected. Aidan was currently seated in the center of the room, Samar leaning against the wall, facing him.

He was strapped into a sturdy armchair--securely, he discovered, discreetly testing his bindings. His hands were bound together, and two separate lengths of nylon rope wound across his chest and upper legs, respectively, securing him to the chair.The chair itself was bolted to the floor, he noticed with a rueful gaze.

"Why am I here?" Aidan asked as Samar dropped the two aspirin into his hand. "What do you want with me?"

Ignoring him, Samar turned and sauntered to the door, twisting the metal knob. He cracked open the door--iron, Aidan guessed--to call for a glass of water. Presently, a small plastic cup was handed through the sliver of doorway, and with it in hand, Samar strode back to Aidan.

"I want nothing from you," Samar replied shortly, handing the cup over.

Aidan threw back the pills, dry. "So it's Kieran, then."

A glance at Samar's face confirmed his thoughts.

"It won't work, you know," Aidan continued nonchalantly. Reverting from the lazy Australian drawl that he'd been affecting to his native Irish accent, he clarified. "Whatever you're planning, it won't work. Kieran Stone hasn't been outsmarted since he was nine."

Samar tilted his chin. "He hasn't faced Raven yet, either."

Closing his eyes briefly, Aidan let out a breath. "Of course." He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. She may be good, but my brother is better."

A brief smirk slanted Samar's lips. "You don't know Raven like I do."

"And you don't know Kieran like I do," Aidan returned. "He wins--always."

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A/N:

Ahhh I feel like it's all coming together now!! I just hope that I can transfer my thoughts expediently onto the page and make this story all that I want it to be, all that I know it can be. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, darlings, and vote if you liked the chapter! Also: Ismael Samar, the guy who over-tranquilizes everyone. I love it!