Security was quiet. Only a few people stood at the front of each line. I looked everywhere for Ivan and Noah but they had vanished. I didn't want to linger so I ran through the empty labyrinth of barriers alone, each turn tightening the dread in my chest. Back and forth, I tried not to feel like an exposed idiot. My breath quickened as I reached the end.
The handsome security officer was there.
He stood like a sentinel, watching me. I met his dark, mysterious eyes and tried to look confident. Where were Ivan and Noah? I hoped they arrived soon, like they promised. I glanced back, but the space behind me was empty.
"If you have a penile implant, you must declare it before entering the scanner!" the officer shouted to everyone. A few men raised their hands and said they had one.
I stepped around the travelers in front of me, busy removing their shoes and shuffling through their bags. I had to get this over with.
The officer motioned with his hand for me to come through the full-body scanner.
"I...I can't," I stammered. "The towel...it'll slip. Can't I go through the regular one?" I pointed at the old metal detector to the right. The new tuck was secure, but I didn't want to push my luck with the power-pose required for the machine.
The officer's jaw tightened with irritation.
"Step into the scanner," his voice clipped and a cold shiver went through me.
Obeying, I stepped into the clear chamber. I carefully raised my hands and spread my legs like the illustration in front of me. The fabric strained against my legs, the slit opening higher. I held my breath as the machine hummed and beeped.
I could hear a crowd of travelers begin to form a line to the side. My chest clamped tight, I could barely breathe. I was lowering my hands when the officer's voice cut through. "Keep your hands up. Legs wider. It didn't scan." His tone was flat.
BEWMP-BEWMP-BEWMP
The machine sputtered, then whirred and shook with a loud crash. It sounded like the internal mechanics completely fell apart.
"Nevermind, come with me."
My heart was pumping madly as I followed this annoyed officer to a small room behind the security area. Inside, a high table stood next to a cushioned stool. He left the door open. That was a small relief. Maybe this wasn't serious. Maybe I'd make my flight. He settled on his stool, one boot resting on the footrest and asked for my passport. He held it up to my face, flipped through every page one-by-one and shook it a few times as if expecting something to fall out besides my boarding pass.
"Do you think I'm hiding drugs in there or something?"
His mask faltered for a moment, an eyebrow raised "Are there drugs in here?"
"No." I laugh but he isn't remotely amused.
"Then please do us both a favour and don't say anything like that. Anything more about drugs, even as a joke--I'll have to legally detain you."