Becoming A Spy

Chapter 5 : Panic attack

Chapter 5

A few days later...   

Riker POV

Aubreigh didn't tell me to bring my swimsuit today, so I'm hoping there's no ice water punishments. However, she told me to come in early and to not eat breakfast before I came. So I was scared. I don't want her to make me eat something gross or something.

So I left and drove to training.

When I got there, Aubreigh didn't say anything. She just took me to the interrogation room with Curt. I sat down across from him and Aubreigh put the index card down in front of me again that said I'm not Riker.

"What's your name?" Curt asked.

"Jeff Sterling."

"You're not Riker Lynch?"

"No."

"Where are you from?"

"Ohio."

"How old are you?"

"16?"

Aubreigh slapped my arm.

"Ow!"

"Sound confident," she said.

I rubbed my arm.

"How old are you?"

"16," I repeated.

"If you're from Ohio, why are you in California?"

"I'm visiting family."

"Who?"

"My aunt and uncle."

"Do you have any siblings?"

"No."

"Then who is this?"

He showed me a picture of Ross.

"I don't know."

"Are you hungry?"

I paused, not knowing how to answer.

"Yes?" I asked.

Curt put a bag of fast food on the table.

"Well maybe if you were Riker Lynch, I'd let you have this," he said.

He opened the bag and took out a breakfast sandwich. I'm so hungry.

"So let me ask you again. Are you Riker Lynch?"

"No."

Curt stood up, handcuffed my hands behind my back, and took me to a different room. It looked like a jail cell. He put me inside and then locked the door.

I waited around for a while, but he didn't come back. So I just sat down on the floor, bored. I'm so hungry and I wish I'd eaten before I'd come here even though Aubreigh told me not to.

Later...

Riker POV

Curt finally took me out of the jail cell and brought me back to the interrogation room.

"What is your name?"

"Jeff Sterling."

"Are you Riker Lynch?"

"No."

He put another fast food bag on the table and took out a burger and fries.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"I'm sure."

"This is your last chance to be honest with me. Otherwise you're going to go hungry. Are you Riker Lynch?"

"No."

He made me stand up again. I thought we were going back to the jail cell again, but Aubreigh stopped us.

"Are you sure you're not Riker?" Aubreigh asked.

"I'm sure," I said.

Aubreigh stepped behind me and then put a rope around my neck, choking me.

"What about now? Are you Riker now?" She asked.

"No!"

She let go of the rope. My heart was racing and my throat hurt.

"Good. You passed. You're dismissed," Aubreigh said.

Curt took the handcuffs off of me. Aubreigh left.

But my heart was still racing and I just felt very scared. I leaned against the wall and slid to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest. I feel super shaky and like I can't breathe.

"Riker, you're ok. Just take some deep breaths," Curt said, sitting down beside me on the floor.

I started crying. I feel like I can't breathe and my heart won't stop racing.

"Riker, deep breaths. You're ok. You're safe," Curt said, gently putting his arm around me.

I rubbed my neck with my hand. It still feels like I'm being choked. And I can't calm down.

"Riker, you're having a panic attack. You need to breathe slower."

"I can't be a spy," I cried.

"Yes, you can. You just need practice."

"I'm not cut out for this."

"Riker, just try to focus on breathing right now."

I took some deep breaths and felt my heart slowing down.

"Good. Keep going," Curt said.

I took some more until I was calm again.

"Have you had a panic attack before?" Curt asked.

I shook my head no. I still felt super shaky. But part of that might be from not eating all day.

"Let me buy you some dinner. We can talk about some stuff," Curt said, standing up.

He held his hand out to me and I took it. He put his arm around me as we walked out of the building. I think he was worried about me because I was so shaky. 

I honestly just wanted to go home. But I'm also starving, so I followed him to his car so he could take me to dinner.