Falling Into Ashes | Stray Kids

Chapter 3: Secrets

When Bain came to, she was faced with someone she never thought she'd see again.

"Wilson? Is that really you?"

The AOH agent sitting across from her looked almost exactly like he did the last time she saw him. He had the same salt and pepper hair and wore glasses that probably belonged to someone's grandma at some point.

Plain black suits were the only thing he ever wore and when she was a kid, Bain was convinced he slept in them too. His attire was almost as consistent as the frown on his face. Which was probably where the deep wrinkles around his mouth came from.

A strange mix of nostalgia and wariness stirred in Bain's gut and she feared she'd throw up if any other emotions were thrown at her. Not to mention the incessant throbbing in her forearms that started when she woke up.

"Bain. It's good to see you again." Wilson said, placing a thin file on the metal table between them. "Though I wish it had been under better circumstances."

A metal chair dug painfully into Bain's spine and she took in the familiar room. The walls were painted a dull grey and the table she was cuffed to was old and desperately in need of replacing.

Blurry memories of watching Wilson interrogate criminals from the other side of the glass popped into Bain's mind. She always enjoyed watching them crack. Her brother called her sadistic. Bain preferred the term "curious".

She glared at the two-way mirror behind Wilson for a moment, wondering who was watching her through the glass in her place. She hoped they were scared of her.

"How have you been?" Wilson asked. Those same cold eyes held a tinge of sympathy. Yes, Bain might throw up.

"I-I've been well." Bain said. She cursed the way her voice wavered. She didn't have time for this. She needed to focus.

Wilson raised an eyebrow at her. "Have you now?" He said, face as straight as ever. "Well you've certainly been busy, that's for sure."

Whatever vulnerable, non-verbal exchange had happened between them, it was over for the time being. Back to business. And back to Bain figuring out how the hell she was gonna get out of this.

Wilson flipped through the file on the table, obviously taking his time. Bain caught a brief flash of her own name on the pages, and tried not to let her curiosity show. If that was the only file the AOH had on her, it sure was thin. She couldn't fight the smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Ah yes, my colleagues will be joining us for our little chat if that's okay." Wilson said. And, as if on cue, someone knocked on the door.

He got up to open the door before Bain could answer. Great, more people to get past. Just what she needed.

A strikingly handsome man entered the room. He wore a plain, grey hoodie and jeans, not typical attire for agents. His messy black hair fell delicately over his forehead and his high nose bridge looked like it was crafted by the gods themselves. Bain had to fight to look away from his mesmerising purple eyes, which stared back at her intensely.

But the man following behind him captured her attention. And boy did she wish he didn't.

His eyes were a smooth brown, and his skin a milky white. He had a calm expression on his face that seemed carefully crafted to put one at ease. Her inner child wanted to crawl into his arms and tell him her woes.

But the angry orange that glowed at the heart of his brown eyes was too familiar. And all of Bain's instincts told her to run far far away.

Bain tore her eyes away. Sweat was beginning to run down her neck, causing her shirt to stick uncomfortably to her back. It was as if there wasn't enough air in the room. Maybe if someone could just open a window. Could she get to the door-