No Strings Attached

Chapter 1: The Train

Noticing my solemn face, James asked me what was wrong.

"Nothing, " I grunted.

"Are you sure?"

I turn my head to meet his worried eyes. "I just want to get on the train without getting my head blown off."

James sighed, but he didn't press for details.

Just as the train's hurried pace began to slow down, its front entrance slid opened.

Dozens of passengers poured out of the subway like legos escaping from a cardboard box. Some walked while others-like the children-bounced their feet along the granite floor.

As soon as the passengers part ways with the train, James grunted: "Thank God, now we can-"

"Look out!" Marco cried.

A piece of shrapnel soared past James' nose as two men in black suits scrambled towards us.

One of the agents had tanned skin, dirty blond hair, and a red scar over its left eye. Whereas his partner is an African-American man with a perfect buzz cut, a chiseled face, and a golden wedding ring tightening his index finger.

For some reason, I have decided to nickname them Arnold Schwarzenegger and Will Smith because they kinda remind me of the two actors.

But despite their appearances, they wore pitch black business suits, dark-tinted sunglasses, and menacing looks.

Taking a closer look, I saw them wielding two M11 pistols.

Being the daughter of a highly decorated military officer, I knew the men had experienced.

Not only that, but they didn't pay any mind to the screaming civilians running out of the subway station.

Some were grabbing their children and raced upstairs, while others were sprinted away from the chaos.

"How did they find us?!" Aria squealed, ducking the soaring bullets.

"I have no idea, " James cried. "But we need to move now!"

He then shoved Ari, Marco, and me into the car, slammed the door, then quickly entered inside.

There were no signs of anyone occupying the car, except a sleepy blind woman and her dog sniffing the stale air.

The men in black fired multiple gunshots at the subway train, only to be disappointed when the machine slowly gained its speed.

"Stop!" one cried, firing his weapon at the glass window. "We will persist!"

His partner shot three more rounds at the windows, but luckily they didn't cause any damage.

Just as we sat down, I looked at the agents again, but this time they didn't seem happy that we were getting away.

"SHIT!" Arnold Schwarzenegger yelled, slamming his gun on the ground.

His partner, Will Smith, catches up to him then gives him a calm look.

"Don't worry, " he reassured. "We will catch them one day."

Leaning close to the window, I tried to make sense of their conversation but the train has already entered the tunnel.

The two men quickly vanished from my eyes as pitch darkness blinded me. Because of this, I couldn't see the stone structure or clouds of smoke.

And despite my withering fear, there is nothing that I hate more than traveling on a subway train.

I didn't like fast rides, trash, and random strangers gawking at you every time you sit down.

Plus, I didn't know if any of these seats have been sanitized.

Settling down next to me, James gives me an unsure look.

"You okay?" he asked again.

I glance to see James and the others sitting close to me like a tight-knit family. Whilst Marco and Ari sat on my left, James was seated quietly on my right, checking on me to see if I am hurt.

"I am doing fine, " I responded, "I just hate riding on subway trains."

"Why, is this your first time?"

"Yeah, I wish we had taken a bus or something."

Marco rolled his eyes. "Sure, but bus ticket prices are expensive these days. And besides, I don't want my mom to drive us: she's too nosy."

"She's your mom." Aria reminded.

"Yeah, but what I am going to tell her?" he sighed. " 'Hey Mom, sorry I missed dinner. I was being chased by two FBI agents'?"

Taking a deep breath, Aria patted his shoulder gently.

"We'll get through this," she vowed. "I promise."

"You can't make promises you can't keep," I grunted in disbelief.

Aria glares at me. "Shut up, Nadine."

"What?" I snort. "It's the truth. Sometimes when you don't have any options you just have to accept failure."

"Debbie Downer," she grumbled, still shaking her head.

"Yeah, " Marco agreed. "Who told you that nonsense?"

"You wouldn't be surprised, " I said, staring at them intently.