Room 25

This is why you don't ask questions

It had been easily 30 minutes. Chris had repeatedly tried to pull her wrists out of the cuffs but with no success. Her wrists were now red and sore, and her fear had been replaced with frustration. With one last failed attempt, she finally accepted her fate with a sigh of defeat. "Finally given up?" The gunman had been listening to Chris fumble with the cuffs, amused by her stupidity and determination. No response. "You know, this is gonna be a long drive. Could at least talk to me." Chris was stunned. "Talk to you? Talk to you!? Are you fucking kidding me right now, asshole!?" The man chuckled in surprise. "Hey! She can speak! And she has a mouth on her too!" Chris gritted her teeth, anger swelling inside her. "Answer the question dickhead." The man looked into the mirror at Chris. No response. "So do you just get a kick outta kidnapping helpless women or?" The man suddenly got somewhat serious, glancing at Chris in the mirror before focusing back on the road. "That's rich, coming from someone as despicable as you." Chris was about to retaliate when a phone began to ring.

The man pressed a button on the car. "En route with target now." The man said. A woman's voice responded, "Fretland Branch office has been compromised. Please divert to another secure location with target. We shall update you with further instructions as soon as we can." The man scrunched his face with confusion. "I'm close to Mindon Branch. I can divert there." The woman responded. "I shall elaborate. All branch offices within your vicinity have been compromised. Please divert to an alternative secure location." With that, the call disconnected. "Fuck me." The man slid his hand down his face, frustrated with these recent developments. "A9, turn on navigation mode." The car pulled up a map. "Show all nearest state police stations with holding facilities."
"Fuck sake." He said, looking frustratingly at the words 'no results found' displayed on the screen. He then looked at the time. "Already 11, should probably stop soon then." He paused. "Show all nearest motels with a 4-star plus rating." His eyes lit up at the sight of a singular result on the screen. "Thank fuck for that. Start journey." With that, the sat nav began directing him to the motel.

Chris had calmed and was now thinking more rationally. She began to look around the car, trying to find anything that might help her escape. As she lent forward, she noticed something on the front passenger seat. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was her bag. There was also something else, something that looked to be paper. She couldn't quite make out what it was however, but at least she now knew her bag was with her. This meant her phone and keys were here too, things that could prove useful for a successful escape.

The man looked back at Chris through the mirror. "Hey, listen up. Don't think for one second that this detour means you're going free." Chris quickly whipped her attention back to him, remembering the mention of a police station. The man seemed annoyed. "Hey, you hear me?" Chris quickly responded, "Why would a kidnapper like you want to go to a police station?" The man glanced back at Chris. "You know, this whole oblivious act was kinda entertaining at first, but now it's just pathetic." Chris frowned. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"
"You know full well I'm CIA asshole."
Chris' heart missed yet another beat. "Wait, you're. You're CIA!?" The man made a smug astonished look as he made glances back at Chris. "Wow, you really not giving up the innocent role, huh?"
"What do you mean? The hell have I done?"
"Come on, stop it now."
"I'm serious, what the fuck have I done wro--."
The man quickly slammed on the brakes, sending Chris into the back of the front chair. He then paused for a second before turning back at Chris. "You terrorists sicken me. Do you actually not see just how much pain and terror you cause? Oh wait, of course you do. That's the point of your little shows, isn't it!" The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath before turning back to the wheel, leaving Chris speechless. He had now regained his composure and had begun driving again. "That was your fault." The man finally said, "You shouldn't ask so many idiotic questions just to rile me up."