lie to me in the Future

Prologue, part 1

She wasn't supposed to be here. His team of three men stood beside a woman; her hair held tight by one of them as he sneared threats into her ear. The woman yanked on the ties that bound her wrists and ankles to the thin chair but could not escape.
"I don't know anything!"

She screached, becoming hoarse as tears wetted the blindfold.

"Where is River Matthews you little bitch."

Another man from the group scoffed and kicked the chair.

"Please..." She begged, spluttering out words.

"No more excuses," their leader was done watching, and strode towards the chair, "Where is River, Danny."

His tone was commanding without being demanding. She shook her head, letting it fall in defeat.

"Leave her."

"Sir?"

"Leave her." He ground out.

The men nodded and left the room, their leader following behind. Danny could make out four men, though she could have sworn there had been another man; light on his feet with a scratchy voice. Where had he gone?

"Argh!"

The chair screeches across the floor as she throws her weight, but remains upright.

"Fuck!"

Danny pulls on the ropes and growls a rumbling sound of anger from deep within. What in all hell has River done! Who were these men? Bounty hunters? Old friends?
Danny scoffed; definitely not old friends.
How was she going to escape?
A scuffle from behind a nearby wall brought her out of her thoughts. Footsteps. Oh no, they were coming back! Danny rubbed her shoulder against her head, trying to pull the blindfold. If she could just get a glimpse of them.

Danny watched as the door flew open and River Matthews was tossed into the room.

"Guys. C'mon, now. You got my girl? What'ya thinking, pulling her into this? Let's just talk it out."

River stood up and patted his body as if to check for injuries. Danny noted that the men were dressed in the most peculiar outfits. Two of the four kidnappers were wearing a suit of blue silver. All of the four had on a full face of tinted material that obscured their features.

Danny stared at the man she had loved for the last two years, unable to recognize who he was in this moment.

"Matthew?"

Danny interrupted the men.

"Don't worry, babe, it's all a misunderstanding. I promise."

His voice had wavered; it always did that when he lied to her. Indeed, it was such a trait that allowed Danny to trust in this man; he was darn awful at lying.

"Ha, ha, ha."
Danny instantly recognized the man's voice; he was the leader. The man strode closer to River. His suit was gray, and he was not armed. She watched as he towered over her lover.

"We had a deal. You didn't hold up your end. Fair is fair, ain't it old pal?"

"You can't. I have a life. Let's just forget all about this?"

River was shaking, retreating slowly away from the group of men.

"If only it were that easy mate. You've got three seconds to pay up."

River looked over at Danny, and she froze. He wasn't seriously considering using her as payment, was he?

The leader turned his gaze to her for but a moment before backing River further towards the wall.

"If I wanted those services from the whore I would have taken them hours ago."

"N..name your price man. Whatever you want, it's yours."

River held up his hands in surrender as he stammered.

"Anything?"

"Yeah, man, whatever I own, it's yours. No hard feelings?"

The leader chuckled and whipped out a concealed blade before thrusting it into River's side.

"No!" Danny screamed, throwing herself and the chair face first into the floor.