The first thing Ariadne noticed when she regained consciousness was she laying on her back on something cold and hard, she moved her fingers a little to feel the texture. It was concrete. She took a deep breath the scent of moist filled her lungs. She heard the sound of a drop of water splashing on what it seemed a metal surface. Before opening her eyes she gave a couple of seconds to her body so it would do a little scan about her conditions. There was nothing to be alarmed of or so it seemed.
She opened her eyes and blinked a couple of times, giving them time to adjust at the poor illumination. Once that was settled she gave a quick scan from where she was. The room wasn't that big, just barely 20 feet each wall and 8 feet tall. She used her arms to push herself up and almost immediately her fingers and arms complained. Evidently a clear reminder of the failed escape she tried to pull. She felt her abdomen ache when she bent over, instantly she hugged it. She didn't need to check to know there were bruises there, courtesy of the brute that dragged her here.
She turned left and noticed a folding bed with a worn white futon. She frowned, at least they could had dumped her on top of it. There was also a blanket folded on top of the bed along with a pillow that seemed to be purchased in one of those dollar stores. She grimaced at the cheapness of her kidnappers, but it could be worse. She could be tied up with nothing to cover herself.
She heard the sound of water splashing and turned to her right. There it was a sink with one faucet, a plastic cup next to it with a toothbrush and a toothpaste, again provided by those dollar stores. She thought that at least they cared about her oral hygiene. She noticed next to the sink a white porcelain toilet. She raised her left brow. So much for privacy.
She looked at the front waiting to see the typical cartoonish iron bars, she fond none. Instead there was an iron door, heavily shut. She sighed and looked at the ceiling, there was a light bulb hanging. She frowned and looked at all the walls, searching for a switch. Finding none she sighed, great now she couldn't even control the lighting in her own cell. She gave another quick scan to the room. There were no windows, the walls were dully gray and made of solid concrete.
Moving her body to the wall on her back, she rested her head on it.
Her mind instantly started to revive the moments before she was dumped there. She closed her eyes and sighed. How she ended from being a typical architectural student to a prisoner? She remembered walking out the library of her school. She had been spending the past two weeks on there. Religiously going after her classes were over until the building was closed. Since it was finals season the library stretched the normal schedule to 2am. Most of the students studied there until midnight, only a few remained for the whole time. That included her.
She had left the library just like any of the other nights, it was Friday night so most of the students decided to take a break and leave earlier. But not Ariadne, she stupidly decided to stay a little longer to finish at last that term paper for her medieval architecture class. If she had accepted the invitation for drinks from her colleges she wouldn't be stuck in this mess. The librarian was a little spiteful at her, for making her stay longer. She smiled apologetically as she passed the front desk and walked out the building.
She was so concentrated in finishing her document that she didn't even realized it was pouring outside. She cursed under her breath, remembering she didn't brought an umbrella with her. Her bones started to chill, she hugged herself. She started to seize her options when the librarian came out, locked the door behind her and pulled out a big red umbrella, capable of sheltering two people easily below it. The librarian gave her a mocking smile and walked away. Ariadne waited until she was out of earshot before yelling bitch.
An idea hit her, she smiled at her brilliance as she pulled her cellphone from her jacket. She looked on her agenda for one of the few friends she had that owned a car. She placed the phone on her ear, muttering 'pick up' 'pick up' her face lit when a voice responded her.
"Hello?"
"Hi Jane! Listen-"
"Ha! Sorry, not available at the moment. Leave your message after the beep"
Beep. Ariadne narrowed her eyes and hung up. "Stupid Jane and your sick sense of humor" she muttered saving the device on her jacket.
Now the only way was by taxi, she started to look for her wallet on her bag when she remembered she was supposed to head the ATM before going to the library. She considered the option of asking for a cab and paying it once she arrived but then remembered there was no money there either. And thanks to the generous payment of Saito she decided to buy her own flat and live on her own, so now she couldn't count on the assistance of a roommate. Cursing in the two languages she was fluent, she resigned to get soaked.
Looking at the sky and seeing the rain wasn't lessening, she sighed and started to run towards her apartment. Her clothes wrapped her body tightly, her jeans absorbing every drop and making it weight more. Nevertheless she kept on running. Her sight clouded and she tried pathetically to cover her eyes with her hands.
She was running for five minutes when she sensed someone following her. She looked over her shoulder to check, nothing. She dismissed the thought as she kept running. A couple of steps and the hairs of her neck rose in alarm. She stopped and checked again, again nothing. Feeling silly at her paranoia, she kept on running. She was approaching the building when she heard clearly a couple of steps sprinting on her back. She frowned and looked over her shoulder. Even if there was no one there, she could bet her life she heard something.
Frowning she turned completely and check the street. She double-checked at the alleys she passed by. She was about to continue her way to her place when she noticed from the corner of her eye a tall male, covered in a black trench coat with a matching hat, emerged from one of the alleys near her. Her first thought was he was another civilian, running from the rain just like her, but when the man started to walk towards her slowly, she knew he was coming for her. She gave a couple of steps back, not entirely believing what was happening. But when the man was close enough for her to see his face, she noticed a cruel smirk printed on his lips. In that instant Ariadne knew there was one thing to do. Run.
When she turned to sprint on the opposite direction of the man, another figure appeared in front her, blocking her way. Her legs freezing on the spot. Seizing her options and feeling like a cornered animal she walked a couple of steps back. Seeing the only way was through the middle of the street, she ran to it. A car was approaching and to her favor it stopped one of her pursuers as it hit the brakes.
The other man was catching up she could feel it. She was just turning right on the corner when she felt being pulled by something. Panicked she looked over her shoulder and noticed a gloved hand holding her by her schoolbag. In an act of desperation she pulled the bag to her, releasing it from his grasp. Noticing the potential her bag held, she took it by the strap and swung it. It connected with his head with the full weight of two hard cover texts books of 1,000 pages each. Disorienting the man. Taking this as an opportunity Ariadne dropped her bag and ran as fast as her legs could.
Among the way she started to scream for help, both men catching up with her. She then saw a third figure appeared right in front of her. She cursed and turned right to an unknown street. And that how it went until she reached that blasted dead end. And after being pulled unceremoniously to the car, she felt a humid rag being placed on her mouth. At first she thought it was to silence her. But when she smelled the chloroform she knew all hope was gone.
She opened her eyes and gaze at the door, she blinked a couple of times. She smashed her head on the wall in desperation. Everything just seemed like it was pulled out of a tv show. She felt so tired and disoriented she desperately needed some reassurance. She checked on her left wrist, her digital watch was gone. Biting her lower lip she closed her eyes and begged the other thing that kept her down to earth was still there. She introduced her right hand on her jean's pocket she found nothing but lint.
She frowned. Why did they take away her totem? The watch she understood but the totem? For the normal people it was just a bronze bishop. Nothing outstanding. Maybe they took it as a precaution, like if that was even possible. The only use Ariadne could think was merely as decoration. Or maybe… they knew the purpose of it. She shook her head, no they couldn't possibly know. And yet it was making perfect sense. Why else someone would take interest in kidnapping her? Is not like her family had a lot of money to pay a generous rescue, hell she only saw that much money gathered in one place when she checked her bank account in L.A after the inception job, and that was two months ago and most of the money was already gone. She thought of the possibility of being sold in the black market, but she knew her appeal wasn't exactly that profitable. Not like she had low self-esteem, she was just realistic.
The only option left was the dreamscape business. Maybe due to her participation in the Fisher's job they were looking for someone to work for them. Maybe the kidnappers needed her to design a dream level. Maybe Fisher found out about what they did to him and is collecting his revenge. Or maybe… they needed her as bait for the rest of the team. Her eyes widen at the realization.
"No" she whispered.
How could she have been so self centered? They weren't up for her they needed Cobb and the rest of the team. And the only way they would cooperate was if someone connected with them was in danger. It had to be, it was the only possible explanation. She was the easiest target of course, the weakest link. Now thanks for her stupidity they would all risk their necks to retrieve her. Her eyes started to crystalize at the thought of Cobb risking his new life with his family for her, after he went through so much trouble. Her mind finally grasped the gravity of her mistake. She hugged her legs and pulled them to her chest. Resting her face between her knees, she closed her eyes and started to sob quietly.
A/N: I know I said twice a week but I couldn't help myself :) ideas keep flowing naturally. Now time for shamelessly promotion! Interested in updates, random stuff, follow me on twitter.