Project Stockholm

Chapter 1.

I sit looking out the window of the bus, watching the rain droplets I've grown to actually like this past week, roll down the window. I watch as two droplets seem to race each other and mentally cheer myself on as the one I picked to win hits the frame first. I glance up as the bus pulls to a stop next to old looking white washed house, encased by hedging and gravel. I sigh gently waiting for these holiday makers knowing they are supposed to be the last guests to get on before we get to the airport. This week had been a fresh escape on my own from my home life and I had loved every moment of it, but sadly it was time to go back to America and to face reality again.  I was going to miss the rain the most, it was uncommon to see in California as we are going through a drought. I check my phone seeing I have three hours left to get to my flight and breathe a sigh of relief as I see the couple we dropped off here on my first day emerge from the house and then a lone figure follows them out. I notice he has a long dark overcoat on with peroxide blonde hair in a tight cut and his skin is not much darker than his hair. The contrast in his coat to his skin is startling but I look away feeling rude for staring. I notice he has no baggage though, even though he is also getting on the bus. How odd.

"Roger? Roger come in?"

I flick my eyes to the bus drivers radio, listening to it crackle as someone transmits to it. I furrow my brow at how concerned and panicked the voice sounds. Why is someone trying to get through to him over the radio?

*bzzz bzzz*

His phone starts to ring as the person repeats his name over and over again each time more and more worried as 'Roger' makes no response. I peek out the window to see if I can see the driver to maybe signal to him someone is trying to make contact.

"Roger you need to get off that bus! There is supposed to be an attack from a terrorist group member at Rose House B&B! You can't collect from there!"

My eyes widen and I look to the sign at the entrance to the house, 'Rose House B&B'. Shit. My fight or flight instinct kicks in and I stand up, look around seeing others looking worried and afraid and I step towards the front of the bus to get off. I haven't a clue where I am but I needed to get out. I take a step down the front steps and then I'm stopped. It's the pale man. He looks at me and his thin lips curl up into a cruel smile. My heart drops and I can feel the blood leave my face.

"I think you should sit back down, dollface, the bus is about to leave", he sneers at me.

I try to step around him but I spot a glint of silver under his overcoat and out of fear I sit back down. He flicks the switch on the radio off and stays standing as the bus driver climbs up the steps. The pale man turns to him and smiles his cruel smile and pulls out what the glint of silver was; a handgun.

"Sorry old man, but thanks for the new recruits"

*ping*

The driver crumples to the floor and my heart starts to hammer in my chest. A woman shrieks and her boyfriend or husband wraps his arms around her trying to shield her in the event the pale man turns the gun on us.

"Do not be afraid. You are Project Stockholm's new recruits."

As he walks along the aisles he keeps the handgun in his right hand and he counts us all. There is 5 couples, 7 kids, 2 single people - myself included. I counted as they boarded. He asks for the men to sit at the front of the bus, pushing me back a few rows, to sit with other women and then the children were placed at the back. I start to pick at my wrists to try calm my anxiety but of course it's to no avail. The man starts to bus back up and takes off down the road to a destination I do not know, nor do I want to know. I'm going to die here.