“That seems like a coward’s way to me.”
He was right. I agreed. Which is why I planned on having a chat with Jane later tonight. I looked over at Missy. She looked at me like she was contemplating something. This is how you got ahead. You followed orders you didn’t believe in. You did things you knew were wrong. You did whatever you were told. That’s the life of a soldier.
“She isn't going to actually sit back and take those orders.”
Everyone turned and looked at Phillip. I could feel him braiding and putting pins in. Any minute now I could escape.
“What are you talking about?”
Phillip stopped braiding and I turned to see him look at Nick like he was stupid.
“Weren’t you listening to what she said?”
I turned back to facing Nick and Missy. “Continuing the braiding now.”
“Oh, right.”
He continued, and ended up having to backtrack, because it was too loose to hold itself and he had let it go.
“She said she had her orders, not that she was going to follow them,” Missy said.
I smiled and looked up at Phillip. “Told you females were smarter than men. You owe me ten bucks.” He shrugged and continued working my hair into some form of order. I gave Missy a thumb up and a wink. “Smart girl. I plan on talking to Jane as soon as I have that date with the punching bag. When I work out, my head clears, and I will more easily come up with an argument other than the one Phillip tried earlier.”
Nick looked perplexed for a few seconds. Then he had the good graces to look a bit ashamed that he had jumped to conclusions.
“Done. It should hold pretty well during your workout but I recommend another shower when you are done. You want to keep it clean, and the sweat won't do it any good.”
I nodded. “Understood. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I stood and left. Phillip would return my brush to my room. I pushed past Nick, as he was standing by the door.
To be honest, I felt a bit hurt. Missy had gotten it. Phillip knew from before I even opened my mouth. The one person here who had spent the most time with me hadn’t figured me to be a good enough person to not abandon them. I sighed as I jogged to the gym. He didn’t know it was me. He had known Celeste. Helen was still a bit of a stranger to him. Someone he wished was Celeste. But I wasn't. Not anymore.
I got to the gym and wrapped my hands. I hated boxing gloves. Too big and bulky. If it wasn't practical in a real fight, I didn’t use it. You don’t have helmets and mouth guards while strolling down the street, so I didn’t use them in practice. Not that I needed to worry about those things now, when I didn’t have an opponent.
I started punching away. Someone was watching me but I didn’t care. I knew I was fairly safe here. If I were threatened in any way, Phillip would be here watching my back. But we were in a secure place and the attack wouldn’t happen until they could take more of us at once. Only a hundred kids were in France. There were more in London, New York, Milan, and all the fashion capitals of the world. We got to sign up to where we wanted to go. I only chose Paris because I knew Phillip would, and I knew I would need help picking out a dress while shopping.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. How was I going to get Jane to agree? I couldn't use the same thing I had Phillip mention earlier. Although I couldn't see why she wouldn’t be willing to combine forces with the military and a few freelancers to get the job done. It could turn the tide of the war, for Christ’s sakes. Then again, Jane was not in charge. She had a lot of power and influence, but she was still just a handler. Maybe she wasn't making the calls. So, my first priority would be to find out if she said no or if she was told to say no.
I stopped punching and sat down. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. I hadn’t brought any water with me. I would have, but I had left in such a hurry.
“Phillip said to bring you this. You left in such a hurry and he said he didn’t think you had a bottle with you.”
I reached out and grabbed it without opening my eyes. My head was hurting a bit and the damn fluorescent lights didn’t help. Besides, I wasn't much in the mood to talk to Nick anyway. It was unfair to be mad at him, but I hadn’t had the best day so I figured God would forgive me one irrational mood swing.
“He also said if I wanted to sleep soundly tonight I’d apologize.”
I smiled and didn’t protest when he sat beside me. I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him. “He didn’t mention that it would be him kicking your ass for doubting me, did he?”
“No, he left that part out.”
I nodded. “Him or me. It’s not usually a good thing for either of us to be angry or annoyed with anyone. But don’t worry. When I’m angry, I just kill the person. You won't even know its coming. You’ll just be alive one minute and dead the next.”
He almost gulped and I couldn't help but smile. It amused me how he acted around me. When he wasn't annoying me, that is.
“That’s not very comforting.”
I shrugged. “Just being honest. Don’t worry. I doubt you could anger me that much. I’d worry more about Phillip. He has a shorter fuse. Just a tip for you.”
He nodded.
“Thanks.”
“Welcome.”
We sat in silence for a while. I drank my water to hydrate. Phillip would question me later on about how much water I had got. Sometimes he was worse than a nurse at the hospital.
I closed my eyes again and sighed. This was going to be a slaughter and I couldn't stop it. I had my orders to keep quiet. I would, only because if I was wrong I would create wide spread panic for nothing. I didn’t think I was wrong, I wasn't usually, but it could happen.
“So, what's going on that your superiors don’t want us to know about?”
I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes, breathing evenly. “Can't say. If I’m wrong it would create unnecessary panic.”
“Do you think it’s possible you’re wrong?”
I didn’t, but I couldn't say that and not give him a better reason why I wouldn’t tell. “It’s hard to say.”
“Doesn't that cut on your head prove anything?”
I huffed. “You’d think so, but there are a lot of pieces of Phillip and my theory that are questionable. We have a few unexplainable details.”
“Like what?”
Did I want to say? Did I want to tell him that the aliens were impregnating girls and keeping the babies for an unknown purpose? “Like why the aliens are impregnating the teenage girls and keeping the babies.” I tried to keep all emotion out of my voice, but I couldn't forget when I had been through the rape. I had fought so bad, they had beat me almost to death. I had probably been too weak to carry a child. I still remembered my rape, every second. Even when I was bleeding to death I still could see what they were doing to me. A single tear ran down my check and I wiped it away, hoping Nick hadn’t seen it.
“It’s not a sin to cry for people that suffered.”
I nodded. “Did you cry for what Celeste might have gone through? This could have been her fate.”
“I still cry.”
I kept my eyes closed, not wanting emotion to be visible. I shouldn’t be here doing this. “I’m not crying for what they had to go through.” I stood and sauntered toward the exit. I heard Nick rise and follow me. I tried to move faster, I didn’t want to be around anyone right now.
“What did you go through at their hands?”
I stopped dead. “The same thing these girls did. Except I fought back and was beaten much worse than any bruises on them showed. While they received release in death, I’m still here to relive everything over and over.” I strode quickly out of the room and into the lobby, hoping he couldn’t catch up to me. I sat down in a chair and hoped everyone would just leave me alone. Unfortunately, my luck wasn't that good.
“What’s the matter, did Nick learn your secret?”
I looked up at Bill. I sighed. “I didn’t tell him what I think is about to ha
ppen. I have my orders, I’ll not disobey… for anyone.”
He sneered down at me.
“That’s not the one I meant.”
“She doesn't have any secret other than that. Not that I can think of, and I’ve known her since the beginning of her career.”
I briefly thanked God that Phillip was on my side. Bill would leave here in two pieces, if he were lucky.
“Either you’re a fool or a liar.”
I was sick of this shit. I pulled the small gun I had hidden on me and aimed at Bill. “How exactly did you find out this secret of mine? Really, I’d like to know. Because right now I’m already on my way to a court martial for disobeying a direct order. If I kill you and get court martial, I can tell everyone what I think they need to know to survive. Then I’ll disappear and live the rest of my life retired on a nice island. Telling me is about the only way you are going to have a chance at life. So, what's it gonna be?”
“You won't kill me.”
He looked so sure. Phillip snorted. Bill didn’t even turn to look. He had balls, I’d give him that. But he obviously hadn’t read too much of my file or he’d know I’d do it without hesitating. “Why is that?”
“Because they will give you the death sentence.”
I laughed. “They’d have to catch me first, and I have more connections and money than the Galaxy General himself. I think I’d survive. But you, well, you’d be dead.”
He paled and had the courtesy to look afraid. It made me feel so much better. “Now we are getting somewhere.”
“Helen, put the gun away.”
I didn’t turn to look at Phillip. Breaking eye contact shows you are uncertain, and I wasn't.
“Helen.”
He was persisting. I didn’t know why. He had no use for Bill. It’d make both our lives easier.
“Helen, what are you doing?”
Shit. It was Nick. I had forgotten he was in the gym still. Oh well. Here goes nothing. I pulled out my other gun; I always kept multiple hidden weapons on me, and pointed it at him. He gasped in shock but I kept my eyes on Bill. My problem was with him, not Nick. “If you leave now, we won't have any problems. Get in my way and I can't promise I won't shoot you too.”
“Whoa, Helen, I know I said I’d like to kill him but this is insane. I didn’t really mean it. I just meant it would make things easier. But you don’t take the easy way out. It’s not you, Helen.”
I rolled my eyes and peeking a glance at Phillip. He looked nervous. “Oh, for Christ’s sake Phillip, I’m not going to kill anyone.” Everyone breathed a sigh of relief until I looked at Bill again and smiled. “Unless they don’t do what I say. You see, I’m getting sick and tired of my life going haywire because some jerk off thinks they can blow my cover. It’d be easier to kill them both. If Nick leaves and Bill tells me what I want to hear, then no one will die tonight. So, what's it to be, boys?”
“I understand you’ve been through a lot Helen, but…”
“Oh my god! Don’t even try to say I’m unhinged. I’m fine. In fact, I’m finally thinking straight. Jane said when I started school that it would just be better to kill you. I said no, you hadn’t done anything wrong. I should have just listened to her, Nick, because all you’ve done is cause me trouble. And now this jerk…” I waved my gun at Bill “…thinks he can blackmail me into getting a fucking promotion or some money. Well, it’s not going to happen. So, you two have no option. Do what I say or die.”
“I’m out if you don’t need me.”
I shrugged and Phillip put his hands in his pockets and started to walk away. “Oh, your water bottle is still in the gym. Sorry, I forgot to bring it. I was a bit preoccupied when I stormed out.” He smiled, winked, and walked towards the gym. Nick looked unsure of what to do. I’d shoot him if I had to. I didn’t want to, but I had a cover to keep. It was vital to the plan.
“What is he trying to blackmail you with?”
Bill smiled and opened his mouth. I cocked the gun, pointing it at him, and he closed it just as fast. “One sound even and I’ll blow a hole in your head.”
“Why isn't he allowed to say? I won't tell. If you kept something a secret it was probably for good reason. Besides, I know you have a lot of jobs where you are a killer. Its top-secret stuff. Killing is necessary in today's world. You can't join the military or a private sector without becoming a killer, you said so yourself. And you are part of both.”
“It has nothing to do with her job.”
I pulled the gun from Nick and moved it to, surprise-surprise, Jane. I smiled. “I should have known. So, what was it? Money? Or maybe the fact that I exceeded your wildest expectations and you couldn't control me anymore? I figured out all the bugs and poison you planted in me to keep me under control. I even figured out how to remove them without doing any injury to my body. So, the boss and you were having tea one day and decided to blackmail me into listening. The best you could do was this loser? I knew from the beginning he wasn't good enough to hack my file.”
She smiled and pulled out a gun of her own. I knew she knew how to use it. I had seen her in target practice. We were both crack shots. I smiled back. “Jane, honey. You’re an executive, you are a good shot, but you aren't as fast as me.”
“Or me.”
I smiled as Phillip cocked the gun he had up to Jane’s head. “You forgot I always go with backup.”
She smiled.
“No, I didn’t. Phillip, Gabe has ordered you not to get involved. He’ll drop you if you don’t listen, and you’ll never get your revenge.”
I smiled and Phillip laughed. He had told me something this past year when we had been on a job. I was honored he had trusted me with such information and now Jane would be privy to it too. But she wouldn’t get the chance to tell anyone. I turned to the boys.
“It’s going to get messy. You might want to clear out. Phillip would you like to tell her, or should I?”
“I will. Jane, Gabe wouldn’t drop me no matter what I did. You see, when my sister died, so did his. Well, half-sister really, but as she was the only one in our family to acknowledge him, I’m positive he would never give up on me or our mission for revenge. So, any other orders you want to issue?”
Jane had the courtesy to look shocked. I smiled. “Oh, Jane. Sometimes your contacts amaze me. I mean, really. Birth records are a matter of public files. You could have found out if you wanted. You see, that’s the problem with trying to turn on your best spy. You need to have all the information before you try anything stupid.”
“Maybe we should release your birth records to the public.”
I knew I was giving her exactly what she wanted when I frowned and turned slightly red from anger. “That’s no one’s business but my own.”
“Is that what you’re hiding?”
I didn’t turn to look at Nick. The stupid boys were still standing there. Well, I was still holding a gun on Bill. He was right not to make any sudden movements. “Do you two want out of here or are you going to be next on the list?”
That shut them up but Jane smiled like she had me in a trap. “Okay, you saved my life and took me in. Gave me training and a great job with great money. So, I won't kill you.” I lowered my gun. “However, you did fuck with me until I almost broke and ruined any chances I had of ever starting over as a civilian. So, Phillip, shoot her for me.”
The smirk left her face a second before Phillip pulled the trigger. Blood shot from her head and covered my face and chest. His gun was bigger than mine and caused more damage. “Hope it’s not an open casket funeral.”
“Looks like I’ll be expelled. And you. You have no handler now, what will you do?”
I shrugged and turned my guns on the boys. They were witnesses. I wasn't surprised the lobby was empty. Jane would have covered that so others wouldn’t witness the scene she had hoped would play out. Also, Phillip and I both had silent weapons. Not the crappy silencers that most guns could have, which still have noise, but entirely silent.
&nb
sp; “I’m still a general. Guess I’ll fly with that until I figure out if I want to retire or not. If we are right then nowhere will be a good place to retire. So, that’s not likely. Which reminds me.” I looked between the two boys. “We have witnesses. So, what to do with them?”
“Kill them. Be easier that way.”
I shrugged. “When have I ever taken the easy way out?”
He laughed and shrugged.
“Good point. Well, I’m off to pack and call Gabe. Don’t worry, even if they do tell, nothing will come of it. We have some info on Jane. Everyone but her organization will thank us. Since you no longer work for them, Gabe and I can sleep safe at night. Anyway, I’ll still be expelled. But don’t worry; we’ll be on the guest list of the gala so I’ll still expect a dance. Gabe wants you to save him one. I told him you’re wearing a dress. He doesn't believe me.”
Phillip smiled at me and blew me a kiss. “Thanks. Tell him I will save him a dance, your dance.” He looked wounded but winked and walked away after sliding his gun in his pocket. I turned to my prisoners. I had about five minutes if I knew anything about Jane.
“Okay, Phillip is not going to get in trouble for Jane’s death. She was a bitch, no one will miss her. Gabe’s records are nonexistent, so I don’t see any reason to hold you.” I waved one gun at Nick, signifying he could leave. “You, however, I still have business with.” The one pointed at Bill was still cocked and pointing.
Bill’s shoulders slumped and I sighed. I hated this murder shit. For most people I killed there was good reason. When I took a job killing those that weren’t, I made it quick, clean and felt horrible about it. I carried the scars on my soul forever. Bill didn’t really deserve it. He had gotten involved with Jane and her shit, and then couldn't get out again. I knew that feeling.
“Okay, let’s make a deal. You keep your mouth shut; I keep my gun to myself.”
He looked at Nick. He shrugged. He was free of Jane now; maybe I had done some good having her killed. Good for other people and myself.
“He knows already, anyway.”
Bill turned, walked away, and I sighed. I couldn't help but think ‘shit’. I turned and walked towards the gym. I didn’t have anything to say to him. If he knew I guess he knew, nothing I could do now. If he didn’t know, it would leave him confused. He ran after me and I knew that I wasn't so lucky that he hadn’t figured it out. I used my towel to clean off all the blood on my face.
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