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Ashlynn sat in a coffee shop as she waited for the reinforcements to arrive. She became acutely aware of a man staring at her from him seat at one of the other tables. She checked him in her peripheral as she pulled out her phone and texted herself. Then she slid the phone back into her pocket and waited. A few seconds later, the phone buzzed. She pulled it out and laughed, texting herself again. She slid the phone back into her pocket with a smile and looked around nonchalantly, noticing that the man didn’t shift his gaze. She wasn’t sure if this was meant to be a threat, which would mean he was working for some organization, or if he was just a regular man with a criminal mind, looking for the tasty snack of a youthful teenager. If so, he would find her more youthful than he had expected, but not in the way he had hoped. The phone buzzed and Rebecca checked it. She looked out the window, then grabbed her bag and headed out, noticing that the man didn’t follow her. She took a deep breath in the open air and began to walk down the street in the direction she had looked.
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“What in the Lord’s name do you think you’re doing?” came a voice. Wesley sighed exasperatedly, hanging his head as he crouched near the base of the tree. Then he collected himself up and rose from the ground, shifting his weight casually to one side.
“Nothing really, just a few precautions,” he answered, running one hand through his reddish-brown hair and sliding the fuse line and lighter into his pocket.
The boy he recognized as Imraan raised an eyebrow. “Precautions that necessitate explosions?” Imraan glanced at the canister sitting at the base of the tree. It was well camouflaged, and he had to know it was there to be able to see it.
“Nothing really. It’s just a little potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur,” Wesley defended. He took a few steps towards a nearby tree and grabbed the large wooden stick that was resting against it.
“Don’t think you can fool me. I know an explosive when I see one,” Imraan answered tensely, moving towards the tree and picking up the explosive.
“Whoa, dude,” Wesley said, sliding his hand down the stick and holding it in a firm, offensive position. “What are you doing?”
Imraan walked towards Wesley, pushed the stick away and slammed the canister into Wesley’s chest. “Take care of this. I don’t want to see it again.” He motioned around the forest. “And take care of all the other ones you’ve set up around this place.” Imraan started back in the direction of the tents.
Wesley took the canister and slammed it down on a rock next to his backpack. “Funny you don’t realize what a good thing you’ve got!” Wesley hollered after Imraan. He watched Imraan turn around before he dropped the stick, bent down to his backpack and began shifting through it. Just as be took out a wad of bags, Imraan pulled his shoulder back to face him.
“What did you say to me?” Imraan asked angrily.
“I said you don’t realize what a good thing you’ve got,” Wesley responded bravely, yanking his shoulder away from Imraan’s clutches and stepping back.
“What are you saying?” Imraan interrogated.
Wesley set the bags down next to the canister and picked up his stick. “It’s alright. She deserves better than you anyway.” He sniffed and turned back towards Imraan.
“What are you talking about?” Imraan questioned, attempting to keep his composure.
“Well, since you don’t know, I guess it’s free reign for me,” Wesley said, leaning his arms on the stick.
Imraan took a step towards him, but in a flash Wesley had the stick up and ready. Imraan decided he better ask Laura about this; she would probably know. He glared at Wesley and said, “You better watch out, kid. I’m your commanding officer,” before walking away.
“I’m your commanding officer,” Wesley mimicked in a tiny voice. “What a blockhead,” he scoffed, setting his stick against the rock. He freed a bag from the wad and opened it, but just as he was about to pour the contents of the canister out into the bag, he changed his mind and instead put a stopper on the hole. He shoved the canister and the bags into the backpack and zipped it up, then grabbed his stick and hauled the backpack over his shoulder. He looked around the forest, then gave a smug grin before returning back to the tents.
****************
“For how long?” the girl at the front desk asked.
“I don’t know, two nights maybe?” Zamyr answered. He swept the lobby with his eyes, then flashed a grin at her. “I’m not sure if I’ll be out by then.”
She smiled back and said, “I like your accent. It’s French, right?”
Zamyr looked down, his grin shifting to an awkward smile. “Sure. Close enough.”
“Ah,” the girl said, understanding. “You try to hide it.” She paused. “It’s not French, though. What is it?”
Zamyr looked up. “Albanian. How can you tell?”
She flashed a smile and turned away. “Two nights?” She pulled a card from one of the cubbies and held it out for him. Attached to it was a key. “Here, this should have your room number on it.”
Zamyr took the key and thanked her, but continued to stand at the desk.
“What?” she finally asked.
“Um, nothing,” came the reply. Zamyr held up the key. “Thanks,” he said again, and walked around the desk towards the door leading to the elevator.
“Hey.”
Zamyr turned around and looked at the girl. “Yah?”
“I’m…” She bit her lip and tucked a loose strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear. “I’m Lexi.”
Zamyr smiled genuinely. “I’m Zamyr.” He gave a short wave and headed up to his room. On the way up the elevator, he looked down at the card in his hand again and read the number, 247. When it stopped, he stepped off and found his room near the end of the hall. Sliding the key into the door, he glanced around and noticed the elevator was making its way down to the bottom floor. He turned the handle to his room and stepped inside. He noticed an odd mixture of aromas, combining week-old paint with peppermint. He flicked on the light and glanced around at the blindingly clean and crisp hotel room. He stepped inside and shut the door quietly behind him. He made sure to lock the door before dumping his bags on the floor and crashing on the couch.
****************
“Armaan to base. I have Tyler, Sarah, and Katy with me. I’m heading in. Out,” Armaan radioed in. He switched the plane into automatic drive and leaned back in his chair. “Well, that was fun.”
“I still don’t like the idea of leaving him to set up the shields,” Katie complained, folding her arms and shooting a meaningful glance at Tyler.
“What, you mean Conner? It’s his fault,” Tyler defended. “He wouldn’t leave.”
“You didn’t even try,” Katie accused him.
“Not true!” Tyler argued. “He just wanted to play off like some hero or something so I figured, ‘Just let him’!”
Katie glared at him. “I can’t believe you.” She turned angrily away and curled up in the seat, looking out the window.
“What?” Tyler questioned honestly. He turned to Sarah for help. “What did I say?” Sarah shook her head at him, and he slumped down into his chair.
“He said something about finding his own way back,” Armaan said, running his hands through his hair and stretching. “Which probably means he has a way of getting back.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Katie inquired, obviously struggling to suppress her agitation. “We just stranded him on some island somewhere with hostilities all around him and no means of escape.”
“Katie, they were just doing their job,” Sarah said calmly.
Katie slammed her feet down on the ground and whipped around to face Sarah. “Their job doesn’t include getting someone killed! And I don’t care whether or not you guys like him or think he shouldn’t be a part of the agency, it’s not your right to make that call!”
Tyler held his hands up defensively, but straightened in his chair. “I never said—“
“Katie, none of us like this but we didn’t have a choice,” Sarah interrupted, moving to the edge of her seat. Armaan sat up as well.
“There is always a choice!” Katie screamed, standing. “No one seems to understand, but—” her voice broke and she sank back down into her chair, sobbing. Sarah moved across the aisle and sat down next to her.
“Katy, what’s wrong? What’s going on?” Sarah asked in a soothing voice.
“Benjamin. He was…” Katie swallowed hard. “He was with them at the ASW when…” She hiccupped and her response was taken over by sobs.
“Benjamin your brother?” Sarah glanced at Tyler, unsure of what Katie was talking about. Tyler motioned for her to come over to him.
“The ASW is gone,” Tyler told Sarah.
“What?” Sarah questioned, disbelieving. “No…the ASW is one of the strongest agencies we have.”
“Destroyed by the SSAWPS no doubt,” Tyler stated, shaking his head.
“Ben was over there registering for a slot in the ASW land force,” Katie said through sobs. “My little brother, joining the agency…” She shook her head.
Sarah stood. “Armaan, turn the plane around.” Armaan switched the plane into manual and made a left turn-around.
“But I thought we agreed…” Tyler began.
“No one else dies,” Sarah decided.
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