Bound for Trouble, pt. 2

Triana Orpheus & Sirena Ong are kidnapped as part of a plan against their fathers, and bond during their captivity.

Sometime later, the sound of footsteps and muffled voices echoed from the hallway. Triana and Sirena tensed as the door creaked open, revealing the masked figure again. Without a word, the figure walked over and pulled their gags back up, firmly securing them in place.

Triana groaned behind her gag, shooting a frustrated look at Sirena. Sirena, for her part, rolled her eyes and let out a muffled sigh.

Once the figure left and the door locked again, the two girls exchanged a look.

Sirena raised her eyebrows, her expression clear: We need to do something.

Triana nodded, her eyes darting toward the ropes around her wrists. She shifted on the bed, leaning slightly toward Sirena, and made a muffled sound to get her attention. Sirena tilted her head, watching as Triana motioned with her hands, twisting her wrists to indicate they should try to undo each other's bindings.

Sirena hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She scooted closer, awkwardly maneuvering until their backs pressed together.

The girls wriggled, struggling to align their hands properly. Triana's fingers brushed the ropes binding Sirena's wrists, fumbling blindly for the knots. Sirena did the same, her fingers straining to reach the bindings on Triana's wrists.

They worked in silence, save for the occasional grunt of frustration. Without the ability to speak or see what they were doing, their progress was slow and clumsy.

Triana let out a muffled groan as her fingers slipped off the knot for what felt like the hundredth time. Sirena shook her head slightly, making a frustrated noise of her own.

Minutes passed, and their movements grew more frantic. Eventually, Sirena let out a low, resigned sound, slumping slightly against Triana. Triana followed suit, her shoulders sagging.

They sat there for a moment, breathing heavily through their noses. Then Sirena straightened up slightly, tilting her head back to rest against Triana's. She made a muffled sound that almost resembled a laugh.

Triana blinked, then let out a small, muffled chuckle of her own. They hadn't succeeded, but they had tried.

The two girls leaned against each other, sharing a moment of quiet understanding.

Their escape attempt had failed, but one thing was clear: they could trust each other.

When the next opportunity came, they'd be ready.

�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"�"

The door opened again, revealing a Peril Partnership goon, his mask doing little to hide the smugness in his posture. He carried a file in one hand and tapped it against his other palm as he walked in.

"Ladies," he began, his voice dripping with false politeness, "thought you might like to know�"letters have been sent to your dear old dads. Each one blaming the other for your... predicament."

Triana and Sirena froze, their eyes widening as they processed the news. The goon smirked, clearly enjoying their reactions.

"Yep," he continued, "we're banking on the old hero-versus-villain grudge match. By the time they figure out the truth, we'll have made our point loud and clear."

Sirena glared at him, letting out a muffled growl behind her gag. Triana narrowed her eyes and twisted her wrists against the ropes before catching the goon's gaze. She made a series of muffled noises, jerking her head forward to get his attention.

The goon sighed. "What is it now?" He walked over and yanked her gag down around her neck.

Triana took a deep breath before speaking, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Okay, look. It's bad enough that you kidnapped us, tied us up, and gave us that... whatever that soup was supposed to be. But if you're planning on keeping us here for a while, the least you can do is let us use the bathroom."

The goon blinked, momentarily thrown off by her bluntness. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Bathroom, huh? Fine. But your wrists stay tied."

Triana gave him a deadpan look. "Gee, how generous of you."

He turned to Sirena. "You too."

Sirena glared at him but nodded reluctantly. The goon pulled her gag down, then gestured for both girls to stand. After untying the rest of their ropes, he kept a firm grip on their arms as he led them out of the room, muttering warnings about not trying anything.

After they were done, the goon waited impatiently near the bathroom door. Triana stepped out first, glancing at Sirena as she emerged a moment later. The two girls exchanged a look, subtle but loaded with meaning.

As the goon turned to lock the bathroom door behind them, Sirena seized the moment. She swung her leg up in a high arc, catching him square in the head with a sharp kick. He crumpled to the floor with a groan.

"Nice," Triana whispered, eyes wide with admiration.

"Thanks," Sirena said, smirking. "Now, let's get these ropes off."

They shuffled back-to-back, working quickly to untie each other. This time, without the gags and with the adrenaline pumping, they made better progress. Within minutes, the ropes fell away, and the girls rubbed their sore wrists, then removed the gags hanging around their necks.

"Okay," Triana said, glancing around. "Let's find a way out of here before anyone notices."

They crept through the dimly lit hallways, keeping their steps light and their breathing quiet. The building was a maze, but luck seemed to be on their side as they finally spotted an exit sign glowing faintly in the distance.

"Almost there," Sirena whispered.

But as they reached the door, a group of goons stepped out from the shadows, weapons drawn.

"Not so fast," one of them sneered, leveling his gun.

Triana and Sirena froze, their hands slowly raising in surrender. They exchanged a brief, frustrated glance before letting themselves be recaptured.