by Mary Ting
The ground blurred as I homed in on my target. When the guards noticed me, they shot over their shoulders, bullets ripping through the air. They missed. Their bodies twisted awkwardly in the gusts and spoiled their aim.
Palmer landed, and then his guards.
One of Palmer’s bodyguards continued to shoot at me. I’d had enough. Releasing my special armlet—another of Kendrick’s gadgets—I chucked it at the firing guard. It opened in the air to three feet of rope and coiled around his body like a snake. He dropped, unmoving, just when my feet touched the ground.
“Something is coming.” Tamara thumped beside me.
With no time to respond, I moved cautiously forward. Palmer gawked and staggered back when he realized I landed, untouched by bullets. My feet slid across the gravel until the wings on my back sprang back inside, and then I shot at Palmer’s men with my Taser, my team beside me.
That fool. Where does he think he’s going?
Palmer sprinted to the other end of the roof and traversed to the next building, his men following suit.
One by one, his men fell, zapped by our weapons.
“Hurry.” Brooke waved a hand. “We need to get him before he gets to that door.”
But I couldn’t. A savage wind slapped me fiercely, as if someone had switched on a giant fan. Where had it come from?
“It’s here,” Tamara shouted over the roar.
Something is coming.
I wish Tamara could be more specific when she had her prophetic moment.
Sure enough, a fancy glider materialized right above Palmer. He smirked. No citizen owned such a transporter, but Palmer wasn’t an ordinary man. Of course, he would have backup, especially once he went airborne. I cursed out loud, but I didn’t give up.
Palmer’s smug grin—that same grin Mr. Novak had given me when he’d called me a hero for bringing down the rebels—ignited something in my core. A monster snarled inside me, a thing wanting retribution.
Grabbing a mini remote from my pocket, I pushed forward through the violent air and triggered the Taser-like device, which sent an EMP—electromagnetic pulse—toward the aircraft. Thanks to Kendrick’s genius mind, I carried with me something to disrupt technology. It produced what he called an anti-tech wave.
The glider swayed and dipped, but didn’t fall. It seemed our enemy had some kind of device to counter it.
My team moved around me to get to Palmer. Our assignment was to bring him in alive, or I would have already terminated him. ISAN wanted to find out his motive for selling the list of names and to whom. Again, I wondered how much of what ISAN told me was true.
Maybe Palmer wanted to bring down ISAN. If it were true, that was a good thing, but I was helping the wrong group.
The glider door opened, and three young figures appeared with weapons—two girls and one boy. They looked to be about twelve or thirteen. The first girl reminded me of myself at that age—scroungy and brave looking, with Asian features.
I blinked in disbelief as the savage wind tried to distort my view, but I knew what I saw. From their attire, they weren’t an ISAN team. I would have known ahead of time anyway if other troops had come to our aid. Perhaps they were rebels from other territories.
Rhett hadn’t disclosed such vital information to me. He had every right not to. But they looked so young. And I caught a glimpse of the word “Renegades” on the boy’s cap.
Were they rebels?
The boy pointed a long metal thing I had never seen before, but he didn’t shoot. Not a weapon perhaps. The first girl pointed a Taser toward me. Then a second girl aimed a black device resembling a gun at Palmer.
Palmer blanched and bolted.
Okay, so they weren’t here to rescue him. Did they know Palmer held vital information? They must, unless there was another reason to kidnap him.
Something black flung out from the second girl’s weapon and wrapped around him like a net. Palmer shook and slackened. He had been electrocuted.
Mr. Palmer soared through the air before I could stop him. If I shot the device from the little girl’s hand, he would plummet to his death or be seriously injured. I couldn’t take that risk.
If they were with a rebel team, I wouldn’t want to interfere, but I couldn’t have my team see me just standing there.
My intentions didn’t matter. Nothing shot from my weapon. My team kept shooting, and their jaws fell.
Then I knew the guy’s device worked like my EMP device. Clever. Another Kendrick was out there working for the rebels. I secretly smiled. But I kept swearing and pointed my Taser at the airborne glider. After all, I had to give Mr. Novak a believable show.
The glider veered and rocketed away.
Ava
“What happened?” Russ asked in his calm voice, his green eyes filled with rage.
Mitch and Lydia sat on either side of Russ, poised with astute attention.
A team of twelve-year-olds took us by surprise.
I debated whether to report their age. No, not now. My gut told me to hold on to the information. For some reason, I felt the need to protect them. More so because they weren’t ISAN.
“Everything was going according to the plan until that glider showed up. You saw what happened.” I stole a glance at my team, who sat to the left and right of me. Had they noted how young the other group was?
They nodded in agreement.
“Ava’s telling you the truth.” Payton sounded stern as if he had the power to override Russ.
“Stupid anti-tech thing.” Justine scowled and tossed back the curtain of blond hair that had cascaded across her face. “We couldn’t shoot back.”
“User error,” Brooke muttered under her breath so only I could hear.
A chuckle rose up my throat. My lips trembled. When Russ shook his head, I yawned and straightened my spine to distract myself. Releasing a sigh, I half listened to his lecture about being more intuitive, wishing I was somewhere else.
“It surprised us.” Tamara curled her shoulders inward, almost cowering.
Russ glanced at the screen behind his desk. The screen freeze-framed the glider with three bodies poking out, but luckily the camera’s angle made it hard to detect how young they were.
Russ didn’t zoom in on the boy’s cap. I wondered if he would have commented if he’d seen the word. I also wondered if he had seen it but didn’t think enough of it to bring it to our attention. After all, it was just a cap.
Then, at a wave of his hand, the video continued at low volume.
“Did they say anything to you?” Russ asked.
If they had, I wouldn’t tell him. I didn’t want to put him in an unfair situation. It was better if he didn’t know what I knew. But he definitely knew more than he wanted to tell. He’d told me to “look within myself” when I asked him if ISAN had the capability to suppress or delete memories.
If I pushed him for more information, it might put his life in jeopardy. I considered Russ my friend. Until he proved me otherwise, he would not be on my hit list.
“No, they didn’t.” I picked at my neatly trimmed nails just to do something with my hands.
My murderous hands, so clean. No blood staining them. How many had I killed in the name of ISAN? How many more would I kill until I found my family and escaped?
“Well ...” Lydia swiped her fingers across her handheld TAB, her dimples prominent when she twisted her lips.
Her glittering, polished nails caught my eye. She wore a black pencil skirt and a pink sweater that softened her face. She also had her hair down in long curls. The whole package made her look stunning, and I wished I could dress like her.
I scratched an itch above my nose and cleared my throat. “It’s obvious they’re not with ISAN. We would have been informed. Regardless of their identity, Mr. Palmer is not in our possession. What’s our next plan?”
Mitch rose from his seat, his shiny black shoes rapping against the floor as he paced in front of us. I shot my eyes to the ceiling in annoyance and inhaled
the scent of lavender that always permeated Russ’s office. Hoping it would help my restlessness, I breathed in more, especially when Mitch stopped right in front of me.
Hello, monster. I know your true face. Better watch out, Mitch. You are on my hit list.
“Yes?” I drawled lazily, giving him my perfect fake smile.
“Did you recognize them?”
My gaze bored into his eyes, and I waggled my eyebrows. “No, but they told me to say hello to you.”
Silence.
Even the air drifting out of the vent seemed to freeze.
Tamara stiffened beside me, and I could have sworn I heard someone swallow. Mitch’s annoyed huff sounded like a roar in the quiet. His eyes shot daggers at Brooke when a tiny noise squeaked out of her.
With a ghost of a patronizing grin, he said, “Well then, make sure you tell them I said hello the next time they make a fool out of you and your team.” He leaned his face close to mine, his breath brushing over my mouth. Way too close for comfort. Slowly, ever so slowly, his lips curled, and his eyes darkened with a challenge. “You failed your assignment, Ava. Or ... you let them escape. Which one will you admit to?”
I swallowed a nervous lump, but indignation coursed through my body like a raging storm. As I dug my fingernails into the armchair, my balled fists begged to be released on any part of Mitch’s body.
Steady, Ava. That’s what he wants you to do.
If I could kill him with my stare, I would. But I knew how to play his game.
I crossed my legs and folded my arms like a perfect lady. “It’s not my fault ISAN was incompetent and didn’t foresee that someone else might have an anti-tech device and use it against us. Technically I didn’t fail the mission. We had him. Now, had your glider been there just a tad earlier, you might—no—you would have brought the other glider down. So, you failed the mission, not I, nor my team.”
Russ coughed like he was going to keel over and took a sip of water. My team gawked at me. Brooke nudged me with her elbow. Lydia’s eyes widened, and she uncrossed her legs to sit taller.
Yeah, well, I might have crossed the line, but Mitch couldn’t do anything to me anyway. And his mission recapping sucked. He needed to attend Diana’s etiquette class—which was where we were headed next, according to our agenda.
Mitch retreated a few steps. His baleful stare could have burned a hole through my shirt. My chest expanded to take a full breath. His eyes lingered. Either he wanted to kill me, or my boldness turned him on.
I really didn’t give a damn, and he could go to hell for all I cared. But I should care. He had ways to carry out sweet revenge against my big fat mouth.
After a few seconds too long, Mitch smacked his lips and nodded.
What have I done?
“After Diana’s class, your team will report to me. We need to work on physical combat.”
There it was. The only weapon he could use against me. He planned to work us until I was broken, bleeding, or begged him to stop.
Justine leaned forward and craned her neck, ensuring I saw the disgust on her face. “Thanks. Next time, keep your insolent mouth shut.”
I ignored her like usual and shrugged, though I would’ve liked to say the same to her. The time I’d punched Justine during a mental mission, Russ and Lydia had reprimanded me privately. That had been a week ago. A small slap on the hand. No big deal. If Justine got out of hand, I would do it again.
Scolding be damned.
“They have mental missions with me at that time.” Russ curled his fingers on his desk.
“They did. I just changed it.” Mitch took a quick glance at me, and then my team. “Adjourned.” He swaggered toward the door with his chin held high.
Russ shot out from his seat, but his tone remained neutral. “The meeting ends when all three of us decide, not you.” Russ glanced toward Lydia. She stood with her arms crossed and her eyebrows pinched at the center. “Besides, we need to investigate the third party.”
Russ standing up for himself and proving he had a backbone had my lips tugging into a gratified smile.
Mitch flicked his eyes to the ceiling and sighed as if he couldn’t be bothered. “The third party are the deserters from the South. I believe the word Renegades on the boy’s cap should have rung a bell. I don’t know how, but they stole an ISAN glider.”
I snickered to myself, then recalled how young they were. Mitch had confirmed they were rebels.
Then it hit me. Really hit me.
ISAN had been recruiting kids younger than sixteen. I didn’t want to believe, oh, God. I stopped thinking. Nausea rose to the surface, and I gripped the chair. I concentrated hard on the plain gray wall to stop myself from puking.
Russ gaped at Mitch but didn’t say a word.
“There. Now we can end the meeting.” Mitch sauntered away.
Russ’s nostrils flared as he watched Mitch exit his office.
Lydia shut her eyes for a second and turned to Russ. “Effective meeting as always.” She let out a quick sigh, then shifted her attention to us. “Ladies and Payton. Diana awaits.”
Diana had instructed us to meet in the training room. Mats had been removed, and the exercise equipment and weapons had been relocated along the walls. The massive, square room with a cavernous ceiling looked larger than life as I stood in the middle.
“What’s going on?” Tamara asked warily, glancing from wall to wall as if expecting something to come out of them.
Brooke inched closer to me. “You might as well be her mother since she goes to you for everything.”
“Brooke.” I poked her cheek, even though Tamara hadn’t heard.
She jerked to the side, chuckling. “That tickles.”
“What’s so funny?”
Justine’s question came out snooty. She had been staring at Payton, not quite ogling, before Brooke distracted her.
“Your face, that’s what’s funny.” Brooke burst out laughing, folding her arms into her middle.
Though Brooke’s jab was uncalled for, I approved. Justine balled up her fingers, her cheeks flushing in rage. I challenged back by angling my body toward her, fists at my sides. I hiked up my eyebrows. Justine got the point and backed away, snarling.
Justine slid next to Payton, who stared blankly at the tiles on the ground. He seemed to be a world away in thought until she nudged him with her shoulder.
“Hey.” Justine dragged out the word.
“Hey.” Payton sounded indifferent.
Justine ran a hand down his toned arm and offered a friendly sideways glance. “You okay?”
Leave it to Brooke to make me snicker. She stuck a finger in her mouth and gagged. Justine flinched. Tamara giggled, her cascading hair covering her face.
Brooke nailed it. As attractive as Justine was, she needed to work on her flirting. Something seemed off about the way she moved and spoke, like it had been rehearsed. Actually, come to think of it, Diana had shown us that move.
Justine threw a glare at Brooke and turned back to Payton. “What’s your story? Why are you here?”
Payton dragged his fingers through his hair. “One of the ISAN agents knocked on my foster parents’ door. After she drew a blood sample, she offered a place for me in ISAN.”
“Why did you leave?” Tamara’s eyes danced with curiosity. “Did you not like your foster parents?”
“My foster parents were great.”
I noticed Payton never raised his voice. Like Russ—always steady, a boulder set in a river.
“I also got along with my foster sibling, but I turned eighteen and needed to make a life for myself.”
Brooke scrunched up her nose. “But why ISAN? Why become an assassin when you can be something else?”
He shrugged and looked at each of us before speaking. “Like you all, I was lost. I thought I would find a sense of belonging in ISAN.”
“And have you?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll give you my answer later.”
The door bange
d open.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” Diana strode toward us, her onyx curls bouncing with her steps. She wore a long, patterned skirt and a formfitting tank. “I was teaching the other groups and oh boy, it took a lot longer than expected. Hopefully, your team is—shall I say—more coordinated.”
“What’re we doing?” Tamara’s words came out in a panic.
Diana waved a hand as if Tamara should have known. “Why, dancing of course. Your team is going to San’s charity masquerade ball, right?”
“Right,” Payton answered for us.
Clap—clap—clap. Diana waved us onto the training floor.
“Come on. We don’t have all day. Let’s pair up.” She began to shuffle us around. “You go with her. And you go with me.” Then, to me she said, “You go with him.”
I sighed at my partner. Brooke and Justine just glared at each other. Tamara released a tiny yelp when Diana grabbed her waist.
“Now. Start with the lead’s left hand taking the follower’s right hand, the follower placing the left hand on the other’s shoulder, and the lead placing the right hand at the follower’s waist.” She paused to wait, then scowled. “Brooke, you’ll have to get a lot closer. Justine isn’t going to bite.”
Lady, you have no idea.
“Yes, she will.” Brooke contoured her face awkwardly, making a funny expression.
“Can we change partners? I’ll be Brooke’s.” I raised my hand to get Diana’s attention.
“No, Ava. During the masquerade ball, you’ll have to dance with the partner that stands before you. That’s the rule. You won’t know what your partner looks like because everyone will have a mask on, but regardless, you have no choice. So, suck it up, Brooke.”
“Yeah. Suck it up, Brooke.” Justine placed her hands on her hips and raised her chin as if she’d won a fight.
Brooke made the most hideous face as she cursed under her breath and inched closer to Justine.
After Diana explained the music choices we could expect at the ball, she demonstrated the dance movements. She would concentrate on the first dance until we got it right, she said.
An hour later, Diana beamed proudly and started the music from the beginning.