A Perilous Challenge

→❀ Chapter 15

"You do not understand what I say?" Richard hissed.

I remained silent. Just like Liam. The man - who was over six feet tall - leaned slightly toward us. My nails were sinking back into my friend's arm.

"I'm going to..."

A scream cut him off and he straightened up immediately. I was panicked. Richard glanced out the window as the screams echoed again. He moaned as voices rose, right next to the cabin. I tensed, recognizing them. It was those of Louis and my best friend, Amy.

"Let us go!!!" Exclaimed Louis. "What are you doing here?"

"Ouch!" Shouted Amy. "You hurt me!"

Liam glanced at me furtively. He was as worried as me.
Richard sighed before opening the cabin door. I began to advance, Liam followed me.
Maybe we had a chance to get out of there. I began to walk to the door when Richard's voice rose again.

"Frank!"

Frank? Wait? Who is it ??
I stopped when I could see a silhouette in a faint darkness.

"Who is it?" Liam asked, frowning.

He did not see the silhouette very well. It was that of a man, a man named Frank. Surely a friend of Richard since they were hooking.

"Enter!" Richard snapped, playfully.

He turned, and he jostled us so that we go back to the bottom of the cabin. Behind Frank, Amy and Louis were tied to each other by a kind of rope. I opened my eyes.
But where did he find that?
Amy glared at me, while Louis shrugged as Liam whispered Niall's name.
He wasn't here. He was not with them. Only one was missing. And it was Niall.
Frank suddenly closed the door, which made my friend jump. I could see his eyes filling with tears. I really hoped that Niall was safe, and that he could finally call the police. Still, he had to know where we were. Which was not won.

"These are called Louis and Amy." Frank announced.

"Margot and Liam!" Pointed to Richard.

Ok. Presentation made. And now what do we do? Maybe we can think of leaving? They can leave us alive, right?

"And if we played a little?" Smiled Frank.

Tell me it's not true. Tell me it's a staging. That everything was invented by Marlene and her band - because they are jokers - and that Frank and Richard are themselves actors. Tell me that all this is not real.
From afar, I could see tears running silently down my best friend's cheeks. Louis was trying to reassure her, but he could not do anything. She stared at the floor, pinching her lips until it blew. Like me, she was scared.

"To play what???" Richard answered him.

My heart was accelerating. Amy did not look up. From a distance, I could distinguish his limbs trembling.

"I do not know, they want to play what young people?" Said Frank.

To nothing. Frankly, nothing.
We can even stop there.
Beside me, I felt the weight of Liam's eyes on me, but I preferred not to look at him. I did not want him to see how weak I was and how anxious I was. He stared at me though. He did not let go of me. But I was looking elsewhere.

"You may have ideas, young people?" Asked Frank again.

I stared at the floor.
No, I do not have any idea of games. And I do not want to play.

"Maybe I have one." said Louis timidly.

What?
I raised my head hastily. My eyes rested on his, and he gave me a faint nod. Apparently, Louis had an idea behind the head. I prayed silently for it to work, whatever his idea.

"Which one?" Asked Frank, turning to him.

Amy refrained from not screaming. His gaze remained fixed on the ground. She was trembling, at the same time she was crying. And she did not even try to hide it.

"The guessing game." Said Louis, staring Frank straight in the eye.

Ouch.
Frank turned to see Richard's expression. He remained perfectly neutral.
Frank shrugged before staring at my friend, Louis:

"Why not!"

Thus the game of riddles began.