Out of Time

chapter 21- chaos

I believed in fairytales when I was younger. My mother used to recount the story of a boy and his quest to vanquish the terrorising dragon that plagued a quaint, little town. I aspired to be him. But, then I wanted to meet the boy who had saved the villagers, and most importantly - at least after a couple of years - for someone to protect me as he had with his town.

I gradually recognised that I had been fed falsehoods and mistruths. No one was going to rescue me from my life, and no one would be there for me if I ever fled it. However, I often wandered to the very fairytales I knew were deception as an escape from my horrifying life.

I no longer do that. I must save myself from the threats today, or there might not be another day for me to live. The American Mafia is volatile and unpredictable, so I must be incredibly meticulous and cautious as I venture my way around this place.

I know that I can't text or call anyone to help because they've probably bugged my phone to monitor my movements. That doesn't mean I can't try. I roll my eyes at Dillon's insistent texts and press onto his contact.

He picks up straight away. "Lara, where the hell have you been," he badgers. I chuckle lightly before beginning with phase 1 of my plan.

"Oh, don't worry, Dillon. I've been to the teahouse for the last few days, and you know how the reception is there," I reply dismissively.

In the Viper Association - or at least our branch - we have codenames for our current statuses. Teahouse means that our position is majorly compromised and needs immediate assistance. This is the first time I've ever used it, although I've only been on a small number of missions.

I crack my wrists as I wait for his response. By the silence on the other side of the call, I can sense Dillon's surprise at my request for help. "Oh really?" he asks condescendingly, obviously enjoying the fact I'm in danger.

"Yeah, it's the one that Callum suggested." I try and make him realise that the American Mafia has captured me.

He chokes out a cough at my insinuation.

Well, it looks like he understands my situation.

"Oh, that one." He ponders in a moment of silent franticness. "Well, I'll go leave you to whatever you're doing."

"Ok, bye!"

And he hung up, leaving me to escape this prison on my own. The windowless room is horribly beige, probably attempting to be warm and comforting, but actually makes us incredibly bored.

The empty walls are an off white, looking slightly too dirty for a room with a patient in it, and the sturdy floorboards are a mid-toned brown. A singular light let off a bright, stable white hue, casting shadows ubiquitously throughout the small room.

It has 4 cameras, a surprisingly large amount for just one room. This makes my already impossible task harder. One fault in a camera can be chalked up to a systematic error, but 4 is a suspicious abnormality. However, they'd likely check even the tiniest of discrepancies when it comes to a prisoner like myself. At least, that's what I would do.

Deciding against my instinct - something I rarely do - I settle on leaving all of them but one inoperative, leaving the one facing the door working. I take out my phone and invade my way into their system. Harvey had made an app, using a myriad of satellites to hastily insert our way into any server we please. I don't fully understand it.

The system is extraordinarily messy for a mafia, but I have an inkling that it's this way on purpose, as though they want to confuse the enemy by inserting useless and chaotic details to throw us off the path.