Firecracker (On Hold)

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

I am really tired. I've been in this cell for three days now and I'm starting to suffer from the lack of sleep. I jump up off the bench and start doing some exercises, to get my blood pumping and shake off this tiredness. Just as I'm doing some sit ups, I hear footsteps, so I stop mid sit up and glance at the bars of the cell.

Officer Palmer speaks, “Your escort is here. You need to have your cuffs on.”

I stand up, shake myself off and turn my back to the bars. I turn my head, so I can still see what Palmer is doing.

“You still not slept?”

“You still pretending to care?”

“Arya, what is your problem? I'm only asking you a question. Why do you have to be so defensive all the time?”

“Why do you have to be so annoying all the time?”

He sighs but doesn't have a chance to respond because we're out the front and I'm placed in front of a pretty big dude. He's wearing dark jeans and a relatively tight grey t-shirt. He's also wearing a pair of tan cowboy boots. As I take in his boots, I snort. The guy has blonde hair and brown eyes. He's not ugly, but I'm not saying his drop dead gorgeous or anything. He's just average.

He speaks to Palmer, “This her?”

“Yes sir. Arya, this is US Marshall Smith. Smith, this is Arya Flynn.”

“She needs to be cuffed in front.”

“Err, we can't do that...”

This time I actually laugh. Smith glares at me and grunts, “Something funny?”

“Yeah, your face...”

Palmer warns, “Behave Arya...”

“What? He walked into that one...”

“Sir, we can't cuff her in front because she has a habit of breaking out of them or attacking officers. You can't give her even a tiny bit of freedom. She'll run with whatever you give her.”

“She tries anything funny then I'll shoot her.”

I smirk, “Good. Then I won't have to go to this awful place. That'll be very helpful, thanks.”

Everyone looks at me in shock and Smith says, “I won't be shooting to injure.”

I get his hidden meaning, so I smile and say, “Even better. Then I won't have to deal with a bunch of filthy pig scum...”

His eyes narrow and I can almost see the steam coming out of his ears. This makes me chuckle.

Palmer hisses, “You want to die?! You'd rather die than go to this ranch? Are you for real?”

“I told you, I don't care. Never underestimate a person who doesn't care.”

He turns to Smith and says, “Just keep a close eye on her and don't let her get the upper hand. She'll do everything in her power to get you to react, but don't take the bait. She feeds off your reaction...”

I fake pout, “Aww, you've ruined my fun, Palmer.”

“You need help, Flynn.”

I chuckle but don't reply. Smith manhandles me as he starts walking me out of the precinct. Under my breath I mutter curses, which Smith ignores completely, so I work on a plan to get him to react. The journey to the airport is silent. To be honest, I can't really be bothered to rile this guy up. I'm stewing because I really don't want to go to this freakin' ranch.