The Agency

Chapter 3

For the third time I awaken from my false slumber, and not unexpectedly, I am again surrounded by thugs. Naturally my brain plays a bit of spot the difference; every thug is now carrying a rifle and each has a gun holstered at his belt. Of course the other difference is that they have chosen to tie my hands in front of me in the hopes that my escape attempts will be easier to spot; at this I smile inwardly. My eyes are unblindfolded, a nice change from last time, but I do not assume it is so that I can admire the beautiful faces around me, so it must be that whatever shit’s about to go down in this place, I’m supposed to see it.

Fin strolls in to the room as if he hopes not to see me sitting there, as if I were intruding on some prearranged meeting with a strict guest list. I notice that he himself is not carrying a weapon, though this does not make me feel any more at ease with him; his real weapons are the ones he’s probably going to spit at me during the next half hour. I hadn’t had time to ponder, even briefly, over how much he may know about the agency’s purpose and activities. I cough and wriggle my wrists a little, managing to gain a little extra space in the loop but tightening the knot in the process. Fin looks over at me as I cough and begins to speak, giving me perfect opportunity to subtly move my wrists within their bonds.

“Well I must say we were impressed with your escape yesterday” Oh Jesus, I’ve been missing for three whole days..., “The short time in which you did it anyway...”

“I’m glad.” I glance around at the newly armed thugs then back to Fin, his blue eyes piercing mine. “So what will you have me do next?”

“You’re surrounded by armed men, each man carrying five different weapons…” A slight miscalculation on my part, but no matter. “…and there is plenty of ammo. Somehow I don’t think even you can escape this.” Fin smirks, tilting his head slightly towards the thugs and their guns.

“You think so?” I smirk right back at him, sliding my hands completely out of the bonds; I hear the rope land on the floor. Fin watches as the rope drops from my hands then shoots me a genuine smile, and it’s all I can do not to smile right back.

“Well, you’re very welcome to try, Anne.” I see him nod very slightly towards the thug on his right but I stay sitting. The whole room knows full well that I’m not going to try anything right now. “I guess you have no choice but to rely on your intellectual wits this time.” This time I feign a smile.

“That’s not a problem.”

“Good, then we will begin.” Fin taps the underside of his own wrist and two thugs step forward. One lifts the muzzle of his rifle to my forehead and I hear the safety catch click off, the second reaches for my wrists. In his moment of brief distraction, I jolt my knees up swiftly to meet his thigh and he cries out as he falls to the floor. I can’t hold in my snort of laughter but after I release a couple of breathy giggles, I reign in most of my composure. “Now really, what was the point in that?” Fin steps forward and treads on my toes as he ties my wrists in an uncomfortably tight knot. The thug gets up behind him and seems to be waiting for him to finish. “Yes Si?” Fin looks up at the thug, Si, an amused expression making creases in his face.

“I’d like to ask permission to give her a well earned slap.” I could see the anger roiling in Si’s face and if I’m not mistaken, a momentary flash of anger in Fin’s. This flash vanishes instantly, replaced with his emotionless marble face. “Si, there will be ample opportunity to let out your anger later.” The one called Si trudges off to stand near the back of the room, next to his...colleague?.., Jax from the other day. Fin turns back to me, his face maintaining its emotionless state. “So seeing as you are equipped with full knowledge of what we need to know, I thought that you could enlighten us.” I smirk at his jovial manner.