The Hostage and the Wanted

The gun pressed hard against her head, digging in almost painfully.

This wasn’t the way it was supposed to end-this isn’t how she pictured she was going to die. Stuck against some boy’s chest, him screaming commands at the local cops and her…too stunned to do anything but stare ahead and wonder what just happened. How one seeming little innocent action tossed her in the middle of a standoff.

Her body perspired with sweat, the boy’s body heat making it that much more noticeable each time he moved.

“Come on lad, set that pistol down, yeah? You don’t want to do something you might regret.” The one police officer cautioned, his fingers pointed down and his one hand out as if trying to calm the situation and pacify the would-be robbers.

The other boy, who stood beside the one currently holding the girl prisoner, smiled at the officer in the most sarcastic way possible.

“Begging your pardon, officer, but it would be you who might not want to do something they regret. We’re perfectly fine letting our actions speak for our words,” Green eyes spoke, chuckling at the paraphrasing, looking to the girl and then to his friend. “Right, Louis? I mean, I’m perfectly fine with cutting out her eye and leaving it on the floor for identification but then, that would be considered a bit brash.”

Louis rolled his eyes and tightened his arm across the girl as he felt her (moving) trying to move from him slightly, their skin sweating through their clothes, the air around them thick and stuffy.

“I’m bored of this idle chit-chat, to be frank. Harry? Would you be so kind to bind these lovely policemen and any of the other patrons around this establishment before we take our leave?”

“Please, you have to let me go, I have to go!” The girl who had been quiet for the past fifteen minutes pleaded desperately, trying to break from the hot body that she was pressed to but he again held firm, watching the green eyed stranger named Harry walk over to the officers, his gun pointed at them with confidence as he reached into their back pocket.

Louis ignored her and looked passed Harry, watching his friend make quick work on the officers and the young looking cashier who was kneeling on the ground near the till.

“What’s your name, love?” Louis asked the girl against his chest, his eyes scanning the small gas station before releasing her but keeping the gun trained on her so she didn’t decide to get brave.

“Isabella, please-“She started facing the slightly older boy and went quiet again. He smiled, not cruelly but it was enough of a warning to know that she needed to choose her words carefully.

“You gentlemen are on your last mark, the next time you’re caught, you’ll be going away for fifteen years. You know that, yes?” The one officer asked, unamused by the boys behavior – especially just getting out on bond for another robbery charge.

“Only if you report our crime to the magistrate and I don’t believe that you will.” Louis smiled, his eyes scanning Isabella before watching Harry finishing cuffing the till worker and going over to the girl he had just kept hostage against his chest and pull her arms behind her, forcing a plastic tie over her wrists and pulling it taunt against her skin, shoving her to the floor and putting the left over ties in his back pocket for future use.

“Food for the road?” Harry asked and took a few plastic bags and began to fill it with water, soda, junk food and premade sandwiches, amongst other necessities that would be needed.

“I need to go, please, you don’t understand! I have to go!” Isabella exclaimed, the panic in her throat reaching a panicked level.

“You’ll be let go love, after we leave. No worries.” Louis calmed, looking down at her with slight concern, wondering what got her so upset-although robbing the place and holding her at gunpoint was a good enough reason to freak out in his book.

“I need to go now! I have to go-“She tried pleading again but stopped when Louis knelt down to her level so they were face to face.

“I’m afraid I can’t help you out any faster. We’re grabbing what we need and scurrying away as fast as we can, I’m sorry I scared you, if I did but this situation isn’t entirely our fault.” Louis shrugged, glancing at the officers who gave him a pointed look.

“You’re the ones who broke the law, arrested four times, you will have to pay for your crimes.” The officer told them, his voice stern and without sympathy.

“Please-“The girl begged, her eyes going to Harry who came to stand back with his friend, a knowing smirk never leaving his lips.

“I think we got all we need; time to get going-I propose we steal one of their police cruisers and have some fun.”

Louis chuckled, thinking that was not a bad idea but it was too much of a risk and they needed a car that was inconspicuous.

“Nah, we don’t have time for a joyride but I’m sure one of these upstanding citizens has a car worth borrowing?” Louis smiled pleasantly and looked at the man who had been working the till when they were held up.

“My mum drove me, so I’m afraid I can’t be of much help, mate.” The till guy replied, a little embarrassed at having to admit his mother drove him to work.

Louis chuckled but turned to the girl, his hand traveling to her side pockets, dipping his fingers inside with ease to feel around for the keys.

“They’re in my coat pocket, please, you have to let me go! It’s an emergency!”

“You said that already, love. I told you, we’re hurrying.” Louis sighed, grabbing into her coat pocket and producing the car keys that would help in their getaway. “What’s the car model?”

“The blue one out there with the dented boot. God, please-“Isabella begged, a few tears escaping from her eyes. She knew if she didn’t leave soon that she had a good chance of not making it out of the situation alive, especially since she too was running from someone but not from the law.

“Shh.” Louis soothed, putting his hand over her mouth and looking up at Harry and nodding. “It’s time to go; we’ll head back to the flat and figure out what to do from there.”

Harry nodded, his eyes going to Isabella and nodding toward her.

“What’s her problem?”

“No idea but we got to go.” Louis stood and turned to make his way outside with Harry.

He never made it that far as a few more patrol cars pulled into the parking lot. Without much choice, Louis knew what was about to go down and as much as he didn’t want to, he knew desperate measures were about to be taken.

“Harry? Grab the girl, we got ourselves a hostage.”

Harry looked at his friend like he went insane.

“Are you bloody fucking nuts, mate? Do you know how long a prison sentence that carries?!” Harry exclaimed but faltered when Louis gave the door a sharp look.

“We either take the girl or get arrested, your choice but I don’t fancy prison food anymore than the company I would keep there.” Louis said, watching Harry grab the girl from the ground.

“NO!” Isabella exclaimed as her mouth was seized again, silencing her pleas before they even began.

“Time to put on a show,” Louis muttered, cocking his gun back and pointing it at the door as Harry did the same, the tip pointing at the girl’s temple. “Follow my lead.”

Harry nodded, his green eyes tense and excited as he waited.

Notes

Enjoy!