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Chapter 19: Viper

When Alice entered the mess hall she saw Luther, Angel, and Claire situated around a table; they were consorting joyfully over cleared plates. The redhead didn't even look up as she walked past them to collect her own food.

The brunette tried to keep her blood under a boil as she listened in on their conversation, while Crystal tried to chat with Alice as she served her.

Claire's voice wafted above Crystal's high notes.

"You know, I have the strangest feeling that I know you," the redhead said looking curiously at Luther.

"Yeah, I get that a lot," he said with pride.

Way to boost his ego, Claire. And how would you even know who he is? Your memory is shot.

"So you're a fan of basketball, eh?" The black man leaned slightly towards her.

"Um wait…Luther West…" The redhead's eyes lit up, "Star point guard for the L.A. Lakers!"

Fuck me; she can remember some hotshot athlete but not me? Alice thought.

Luther grinned and placed a large hand on Claire's shoulder, "Always a pleasure to meet a fan," he said.

Alice was two seconds away from removing that hand permanently; the button holding her knife in place was released by her fingers with a snap, but then the man in the black suit cut in front of her, taking the plate offered to her without a word and the new annoyance distracted the brunette.

"Excuse me," she said sarcastically for him, but he walked away and sat next to the Asian. Claire and Luther were laughing again, but Crystal spoke over them.

"Once an asshole – always an asshole."

"What's his problem?" Alice replied.

"Back in the world, we used to date. He was a producer and I was trying to be an actress; you can guess how well that went for me," Crystal sighed as she handed Alice her food.

"What about him?" The brunette asked as she motioned to the Asian.

"That's Kim Yong, Bennett's intern."

"Thanks for the food," Alice mumbled and walked over to join Claire and the others. She sat down and their friendly banter froze; the moment she picked up her spoon the redhead rose from the table and left the mess hall. Alice took as a deep a breath as she could manage without being obvious, and began to eat as Crystal took Claire's vacated spot. Luther and Angel went up to the pot to retrieve seconds and the actress questioned Alice.

"So that plane of yours, do you think it can still fly?"

"Yes, but it only sits two," Alice responded.

"So you could take us one at a time?" Crystal perked up, but was immediately shut down by Luther as he returned.

"She was lucky to land here once; seven or eight more times would be suicide."

The actress turned back to her food and finished eating. Alice wasn't hungry at all; if anything the meal was making her sick or maybe that was just Luther going on about his glory days as the leading point guard in his once-upon-a-time conference. Right as he was describing his three-point shot at the buzzer that would've made his team win Finals, Alice watched Crystal get up and make another plate, then exit the cafeteria unnoticed by Luther and the others.

The brunette interrupted his retelling and commented, "you said seven or eight trips, is there someone I haven't met yet?"

The black man looked up at her surprised, "oh, well there's Wendell."

"That's seven, who's number eight?"

Luther bristled at Alice's line of questioning and she assumed that he was used to being the one demanding answers, not giving them.

"He wouldn't be worth your time," Luther warned.

"I'll decide that for myself. Where is he?"

The leader took an aggravated breath before replying. He motioned to the door Crystal had left through and said, "go right, take the stairs to the bottom, he's at the end of the hall." Luther's unnaturally white teeth showed in the small grin of a liar. Alice rose from the table and walked to the door. When she passed it, she turned to her left just like Crystal had done, and smiled back at Luther unintimidated as his grin turned into a scowl.

The stairs were dimly lit by torches and Alice descended with caution. At the end of the hallway, behind a door, she could hear whispering. She identified Crystal's voice and the smooth undertones of a man.

"Tell me more about this newcomer – the pilot," said the male.

"She's armed to the teeth, but her airplane sits two – it's perf-"

"Keep it down babe; besides we don't need her plane to leave, but we may need her help."

The conversation had Alice troubled; it reeked of plotting and manipulation.

"But what if your way doesn't work?" Crystal questioned.

"It will. Now be a good girl and keep Luther company."

Apparently this man was another leader, barking orders, confident that things would go his way.

Before the actress had a chance to reveal Alice's snooping, the brunette opened the door and walked into the room; inside was a reinforced holding cell in the middle of the floor. She was shocked to see the man contained inside.

"Oh hello," Crystal recovered.

Alice needed to seem unsuspicious, so she spoke casually, "hi."

The prisoner turned to face Alice, and she noticed first his rugged good-looks. He saw her, then met Crystal's gaze in a silent command. The woman left without another word as the man put down his plate, and held out his hand in greeting through a slot in the cell.

"Name's Chris."

What is with all these men being so damn polite? Alice questioned, but didn't offer her name or her hand.

Unfazed, Chris transformed his unanswered handshake into a pointing finger. "You were the one flying that plane."

Once again having to cover up for her spying, she asked, "How do you know that?"

"Crystal told me."

Honesty – there's a new one, Alice thought as Chris withdrew his hand and continued.

"Listen, I have a feeling that we can be of use to each other, a kind of…you scratch my back – I'll scratch yours." Chris's green eyes gave her a once over, his low brow pronounced his stare and for a second she felt a faint recognition in the look. The unwavering attention of a handsome man may have worked on the actress, but it would not work on her.

"And just what do you have, that I could possibly need."

"A way out."

"No offense," Alice said with sarcasm, "but I already have a way out."

Chris wasn't fooled. "You barely landed here in the first place, and that means the chances of you taking off successfully are slim. Besides, why would you risk your life, and that of your friend's," at the mention of Claire, Alice's nostrils flared, "to just leave? You want to help the others, I know you do."

Alice didn't like how this man could read her; perhaps she was more the open book than she thought.

"You help me, and I can help them," he continued.

"It seems to me that maybe you're in that cage for a reason."

"Why I'm in here doesn't really matter, but I can tell you – I'm no prisoner."

Chris certainly sounded convincing, but Alice still wasn't on board, "And why should I trust you?"

"Would you rather leave your fate in the hands of Luther? The guy is an idiot, all brawn and no brains. Not like us; you and I see the bigger picture."

As much as she hated to admit it, Chris had a point and she was beginning to like the way he thought.

He kept talking, "I don't care how you do it. Convince Luther to unlock this cage, steal the keys from his pocket, or beat him senseless and take what you want." Yes, Alice was liking Chris more and more. "Just get the keys, and I'll do the rest."

Suddenly Chris walked back to the end of his cell, picked up his food and started to eat as Luther entered the room.

"I wouldn't trust a word he says," the black man practically spat. "It's all lies. He'd say anything to get free."

Alice began to mull the possibilities over in her head and Luther spoke again.

"I'll show you to your room."

The brunette followed the man out, but glanced back at Chris as his lip upturned into a deviant smile.

We're trapped in a pit of snakes; Luther has fangs, but Chris has venom, Alice thought.

Luther grabbed one of the torches and started back up the stairs. "If I were you I wouldn't come back here; that man is dangerous," he cautioned her with false nobility.

That man isn't the only one…

"I can see it in his eyes."

I dare you to look into mine. Smiling with cunning seemed to be a trend in this place, because at that thought, Alice smirked like the devil himself.

'Do it - do it - do it!' Hey now, don't encourage her...*thinks about how annoying Luther is* On second thought, go for it. :)