Project Vigilante

Six

The rest of the ride felt like hours. After no less than twenty attempts, we finally gave in to the fact that the door was indestructible. After all, we couldn’t make too much noises and that significantly limited our options. Flynn stopped Chip from busting his way out, pointing out that fact that we were traveling at 80 miles an hour on a busy interstate highway, and even if we don’t get crushed by the oncoming traffics, falling to the hard cement road from a high-speed vehicle alone would risk major injuries. On top of that, Chip refused to leave our fourth passenger behind. Flynn thought that Chip was wasting his time, and suggested each of us worrying about saving ourselves instead.

            “That doesn’t sound like the guy who risked his life to save me,” I reminded, half-jokingly. Flynn’s expression darkened.

            “I didn’t do it for you, sweetheart. For the last time, I was buying time to escape. I did it to save myself.”

            “Oh, you’re just saying that.”

            “No, I’m not. I don’t know you and I don’t care about what happens to you.”

            Ouch.

            I frowned, “Well, that’s good to hear. I’m glad that I’m that expendable.”

            Flynn shrugged and opened his mouth, but ultimately didn’t say anything and walked away. I stared at his back, and the gratitude I had for him slowly vanished. I must say I’d imagined the brave kid who stood up against Agent Malone and his gun to be completely different than the arrogant military brat standing in front of me. But I guess it didn’t matter. As soon as we get out of here we never had to see each other again. None of us wanted to be here.

            Chip turned to the sleeping passenger for what seemed like the hundredth time, “I still think we should wake him up.”

            “Do it then,” I said, “we’re going to have to sooner or later.”

            “No, we don’t,” commented Flynn.

            I rolled my eyes in annoyance, “Not everyone is as expendable as you think, Flynn.”

            “I’m not saying he is. But if you guys want to play rescue that’s fine by me, just make sure not to drag me down.”

            “Oh, don’t worry sweetheart.” I rebuffed, imitating his indifferent voice, “We’ll get out of your way.”

            Flynn shook his head and ignored my quip. Chip glanced back and forth between the two of us and quickly changed the subject. “Where do you guys think they are taking us?”

            “Somewhere I have no intention of being,” I said, grinding my teeth.

            “How are we going to escape?”

            “We fight our way out once they open the door,” answered Flynn, ever the casual tone. “I’ll take care of the redhead. You two can handle the other guy alright?”

            Chip immediately protested, “Who made you in charge?”

            “Nobody, but it’s our best chance.”

            “How do you know there isn’t more out there?”

            “Then we better pray and hope for the best. Besides, if there’s more, I’ll be gone by the time they realize what’s happening.”

            “So that’s it? You’re going to take off and ditch the rest of us?”

            “Man up, kid. You can do the same.”

            “I’m not a kid, don’t call me that-”

            I suddenly interrupted, “I can handle the other guy by myself.”

            I didn’t know why I said it. Maybe because their argument was getting on my nerves. Maybe I was tired of the all talk and no action. But deep down, I know I said it to prove to Flynn that I wasn’t just a damsel in distress, and I can be as tough as he was. Besides, I doubt tackling the bald guy would any trickier than breaking out of the interrogation room filled with FBI guys. The result of my remark was instantaneous. Flynn turned to me for the first time in an expression that wasn’t borderline condescending. It was more of curiosity.

            “Okay,” Flynn said without so much of a pause, almost as if he had expected me to speak up. “You take care of the other guy and Chip can watch out for any others. We all happy here?”

            “Oh yeah,” I said with a faint smirk on my face.

            “Who are you?”

            It was a stranger’s voice, and for a horrifying second I thought we were caught mid action yet again. But I almost instantly realized otherwise.

It seemed that our fourth passenger had finally woken up.