The Unseen Trilogy

by Stephanie Erickson

  I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the willies I’d caught. “This place is creeping me out. Why couldn’t we come here during the day?”

  “Because they’re waiting for us. And our quarters are in here,” David responded quietly as he stopped in front of a wall.

  We stood around him awkwardly as he stared ahead, seemingly at nothing. I was about to say something when a light flashed in front of him. Apparently, he’d been waiting for the retina scan device to activate. Once that was complete, a panel popped out of the wall to scan his fingerprint. A sharp point jutted out of the scanner to prick his finger.

  He jerked back. “Gets me every time.”

  “What is that? Some kind of torture device?” The needle still protruded from the scanner, and the sight of his blood on the tip took the creepiness level up a few notches.

  “No, it’s a DNA scanner. They prick your finger on the spot, so you can’t fake the blood,” David said.

  Then the wall swung inward, revealing a pleasantly well-lit (much to my relief), stark white corridor. The door closed silently behind us, and we followed David in and continued to trail behind him as he led us through a few turns. Finally, we ended up in a conference room, not dissimilar from our own.

  “Seems like we traveled an awfully long way to end up basically right where we started,” Camden said, eying the place.

  David gestured toward the seats surrounding the white, oval table, and we all sank gratefully into them. After a few minutes, a tall, thin man with tiny, steel-rimmed glasses perched neatly on the end of his nose walked into the room.

  “Welcome to headquarters, everyone. I’m Jeffery. I will show you to your quarters.”

  Somehow, we found the will to stand from our seats, although I was sure a lot of us could’ve slept right there at the conference table. We followed Jeffery down a few more winding hallways until we reached the rooms that had been reserved for us.

  Owen and I shared a nice room that was inviting despite the sterile feeling imparted by the all-white furniture. The bed was very plush and comfortable. Of course, by the time we finally crawled into it, it could’ve been made of cement and we would’ve been happy.

  I slipped easily into a dreamless sleep, knowing I would need plenty of rest to prepare for the days to come.

  We were awakened earlier than we would have liked, but at least it wasn’t an all call. Rebecca knocked on the door. “Hey guys, you awake?” she asked in a quiet voice. “David wants a meeting in five.”

  We groaned, and she must’ve taken that as a yes, because we didn’t hear from her again. We both lay still for a few moments, not wanting to admit it was time to get up. Finally, Owen relented.

  “What time is it?”

  “Too early.” I groaned and rolled back over, covering my head with the plush white comforter.

  He met me in my cocoon and kissed my nose. “Time to get up, sleepyhead. Anyway, you don’t want to suffocate, do you?”

  “If the alternative is getting out of this bed, then yes. I do.”

  “Your alternative is getting tickled until you fall out of bed.” Pinning me beneath him, he brought his hand up near his face and wiggled his fingers. “Make your decision,” he said in a dramatic voice.

  I sighed heavily, finding it harder to take another breath with Owen on top of me. But I wasn’t about to give up so easily. I pushed my hips up into him. “You sure you’re so motivated to get out of this bed?”

  He eyed me, raising his eyebrows. “That’s low,” he growled right before lowering his mouth to mine in a savage kiss. I threw my arms around his neck and drew him closer to me, but he only let me enjoy it for a moment or two. “You are a wily minx.”

  He poked me right in the soft part of my side, right under my ribs, and I squealed. “Fine. I’m up!”

  We dressed in record time, but we got lost on the way back to the conference room. I was beginning to despair that we’d be lost in the tunnel-like corridors forever when we stumbled on someone who directed us where to go.

  The last to enter, we tried to be quiet and unobtrusive, but as soon as we came in, David drew everyone’s attention to me. “Ah, and here she is now.”

  “Sorry. We got lost.” I hung my head as I tried to find a seat. The room was more crowded than it had been the night before. Every seat around the table was full, mostly with unfamiliar faces, so we stood along the back wall with a few others who must’ve been latecomers. I spotted Jeffery, but he only frowned at me, probably disapproving of my tardiness.

  An older man with salt-and-pepper hair, broad shoulders, and a stern expression sat at the head of the table. He didn’t look like someone I wanted to cross.

  “I hear you’re willing to go undercover,” he said, his voice low with an edge of gravel to it, like he’d spent too much time yelling at people, or maybe he’d smoked a little.

  “Yes.”

  “There are others who would like to go as well. Today’s meeting will cover everything we know about Agusto, and then you six will be given a full tour of the headquarters and our facility here while we decide on the best candidate for the job.”

  I’d never imagined there would be competition for the job. Maybe there was someone better suited. The more time we spent at the headquarters, the more I realized that the Unseen was so much larger than I originally thought. I was having trouble processing it. But there was always a bigger fish in the sea, right?

  Perhaps it would be best if someone else were chosen. Owen and David would certainly be happy. But I wasn’t sure how I felt about being off the hook. My ego didn’t like the idea that someone else would get the chance to stop the Potestas; I had entertained the notion that I was the only one who could stop them for too long to let it go easily.

  Before I could bristle too much, the stern man continued talking. “My name is Davis. I’m a former colonel in the military, so I will not waste time sugarcoating this situation for you. Whoever takes this job will be diving headfirst into enemy trenches.

  “Agusto is suspected to be a high-ranking member of the Potestas. His financial status, the guards that travel with him at all times, and the fact that there’s very little personal information on him available all point to that fact. We’re just not sure how high.”

  It felt like I’d been punched in the gut. I thought about how Amanda’s history had been erased after she joined the Potestas, and suddenly our lack of information on Agusto made sense.

  “Because of his suspected status, I want you all to understand how dangerous this mission will be. The man you’re going to follow could be third or even second in command. You will be deep into enemy territory, and you will be alone. The risk is high; the probability of success is low. It’s important for you understand that before you proceed.

  “Although we have nothing specific on Agusto, men of his caliber are known to swiftly eliminate those who get in their way. In fact, he’s been seen associating with several known contract killers. So, tread lightly.

  “It will be your job to gain his trust, find out what we need to know, and not get killed. Get in, learn as much as you can, and get out. Nothing more, nothing less.

  “Now, knowing the risks involved, I want those who are still willing to volunteer to raise your hands. You will not be judged if you decide to stay behind. You will be put to work here. There is much to do to both prepare for this mission and see it through to success. Each of you must play your role to the absolute best of your abilities, or we are sure to fail. The agent who goes undercover is just a small part of this.” He paused, taking a moment to look at each of the faces in the room. I wondered what assessment he was making about me as he stared me down with cold, blue-gray eyes. I shifted in my seat nervously before he moved on to the next person.

  “Do I have any volunteers?” Six hands went up in the end. Two from our ranks—Owen, me, and four others I didn’t recognize. Disapproval clouded my gaze as I looked at Owen’s outstretched arm. He shrugged, and I shook my head no at him.
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br />   “If you think I’m going to let you head right into the snake pit again without a fight, you can think again,” he whispered.

  “If you think I’m going to let you throw yourself into that same pit before you’re ready, you’re dumber than you look.” He nudged me with his elbow, but I didn’t smile. This was serious business.

  “Okay. Thank you for your willingness to be on the front line of this fight,” Davis said. “The chosen candidate will be announced tonight. Meet back here at five o’clock for our decision.” He looked straight at me, and I gave him a terse nod before flying out of my seat, suddenly eager to escape the room. I couldn’t put my finger on why he made me so nervous; I just knew he wasn’t someone I wanted to disappoint.

  David met us out in the hall. We would take a tour of the headquarters while the leaders deliberated on which one of the volunteers to send undercover. “I’m staying here to help. Besides, I’ve seen this place before. You guys go, have fun.” He put a hand on my shoulder, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about his involvement in the vote. I was sure he’d vote against me, and the realization made me angry.

  “David, don’t you think you’re a bit too biased to be on the selection committee for this particular mission?” I didn’t want him to choose Owen over me, and I really didn’t want the slap in the face of him choosing a stranger over his own daughter.

  He looked at the rest of our tour group, which included Jeffery, who would apparently be our guide. “Why don’t you guys go ahead? She’ll catch up in a second.”

  Owen hesitated, but I nodded for him to continue onward. I didn’t want him to try to argue his case with David. I could tell he didn’t want to listen, so I was grateful when he fell into step with Mitchell and Rebecca.

  It was all the prompting Jeffrey needed to start the tour. The cadence to his voice reminded me a lot of C3PO. That, combined with his gawky stature, really made him resemble the likably annoying robot. I made a note to share my observation with Owen later—it was sure to give him a laugh given his obsession with Star Wars. Of course, Owen wasn’t my favorite person at the moment, so maybe I’d save that little tidbit for later.

  “Listen, it’s no secret that I don’t want you to go on this mission. But I also know you’re the most well-equipped member of the Unseen for the job. You’re right; it will be a difficult choice, and I won’t make it lightly.”

  I had only been with the Unseen for a few months. Doubt started to creep into my thoughts again. How could I possibly be the best person for the job? “What do you know about the other volunteers?” I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer.

  “Well, I know Owen sure isn’t ready for this yet.” His comment made me laugh, but it was more of a stress release than anything else.

  “And I know the others are very skilled,” he finally said. “Two are some of the highest-ranking trainers among the Unseen. More skilled even than Tracy.”

  What could we learn from them? I wondered.

  “It will be a tough choice,” he repeated.

  “Just promise me something.” I paused, not surprised when he waited for me to continue before making any hasty guarantees. “Don’t make your choice based solely on your desire to keep your daughter safe.”

  A few more moments passed before he responded. “A choice like that is one I would never regret, Mackenzie,” he said. “Even if you’d hate me for it.” I had no idea how to respond to that. Once again, he’d blurred the lines between boss and employee, father and daughter. So, I simply nodded and rushed down the hall in the direction the tour group had gone, suddenly eager to escape the intensity of our conversation.

  The group hadn’t made much progress while David and I were chatting, so I caught up with them easily. Once I rejoined them, I looked back, but David was already gone. Owen was standing with Mitchell, and I deliberately stood next to Rebecca instead of him. Childish? Yes. But I had too much on my mind to worry about my maturity—or lack thereof.

  Jeffery had stopped in front of what appeared to be a workroom, but it was significantly more sophisticated than anything in our new facility, let alone our old one. I felt like I would need years of training just to operate the technology in the room. I couldn’t even begin to guess what all of it was for. Luckily for me, Jeffery gave us a brief summary before moving on.

  “Our workrooms are equipped with the latest scanners, servers, surveillance, and informational devices. If the information is out there, we are equipped to find it.”

  I thought about Agusto as we walked to the next stop on the tour. All that technology hadn’t revealed too much about him. There was still something to be said for manpower, which was a surprisingly comforting thought. In the face of such impressive technology, I was still needed.

  After a few more stops on the tour, we ended at the cafeteria. It was huge, which gave us an idea of just how many people worked at headquarters.

  Even though it was lunchtime when we arrived, there weren’t more than twenty people in the cafeteria. “Where is everyone?” I asked Jeffery.

  “We all take our lunch at different times. That way we don’t overwhelm the cook. Anyway, about fifteen percent of our employees aren’t even on duty yet. Someone is always working, even at night.”

  “Seemed pretty dead in here last night,” I said, half under my breath.

  “Yes, well, as you’ve seen, our facility is large,” Jeffrey said. “It’s easy to be, well, unseen here.”

  Nodding, I snickered at his pun.

  “Enough talk. What’s for lunch?” Camden asked. Jeffery gestured toward the line, and we all followed him and grabbed what we wanted from the display. They had a good variety of food ranging from sandwiches to pasta salad, all different kinds of fruits, and a variety of chips and snack items.

  Once the six of us were seated with our lunches, Jeffery excused himself.

  “Wait, what do we do after this?” I asked around a mouthful of pasta. I hadn’t expected him to just leave us.

  “Whatever you like, I suppose. I was given no instructions beyond ‘give them the tour.’” He shrugged and walked away.

  “Does he remind anyone else of C3PO? Even the way he acts is a bit robotic,” I said in an undertone after he was out of hearing range.

  Mitchell responded right away. “Thank you. I’ve been trying to place him all morning.”

  Owen smiled, and it was all I needed to accept peace with him. He was just trying to protect me after all, and I him.

  “What should we do until tonight’s meeting?” I asked as I stuffed more food into my mouth. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I started eating.

  Owen looked at me slyly. “I can think of a few things.”

  I nudged him, and Camden cleared his throat. Rebecca yawned. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I could go for a nap.”

  Mitchell perked up, and the look the two of them shared was unmistakable. “Not sure how much sleeping you’re going to do,” I said, unable to stop myself.

  After he turned three shades of red, Rebecca came to the rescue. “I meant I wanted to actually sleep, thank you very much. After the early wake-up call and late night, I’m exhausted.”

  “I don’t know if I can sleep. I need to move. Do something productive,” I said, and Camden nodded. He seemed relieved to have someone on his side, since he was the only single guy with us at that moment.

  “You can totally go do something productive if you want, Mac. I’m going to get some Zs. I feel like a zombie.” Rebecca stood with her plate.

  “Okay, well, you can find me in one of the workrooms later if you want. Otherwise, I’ll see you at tonight’s meeting.”

  “Sounds great,” she said and walked away. Mitchell stood without comment, and after giving us a smile and a shrug, he followed her.

  “Can you blame him?” Owen asked.

  “Nope. I’m glad they’re happy,” I said as I watched them walk away. Rebecca reached back for Mitchell’s hand without turning to find him. He connecte
d with her naturally, and they fell into step. “They fit together.” Opposites really did attract, and when they did, it was magical.

  Owen nodded as he finished up his lunch. “I think I’ll go lay down for a bit too. The idea is too enticing. Sorry, Mac.”

  “No, you need to rest. Come find me when you’re ready. What about you, Camden?”

  Camden nodded. “I’m in. Let’s find something to do.”

  “Great.” Owen kissed me lightly before he left, and Camden and I made our way to a workroom. There were computers and monitors everywhere, with people working busily at each station. We both selected a computer and sat down.

  I stared at the screen for a few moments, not sure what to look for, knowing all the workers around me were certainly researching Agusto, his company, and what I’d be getting myself into if I was chosen as the plant. Then his disgusting fund popped into my head. I wondered how much money he’d already raised for his cause, and if there was any way of telling how much—if any of it—was actually going to stop Zero.

  I typed in THE ELIMINATE ZERO FUND, and the website popped right up. After clicking over to it, I learned in big, red letters that they’d already raised a million dollars in the twenty-four hours since funding had started. David was right. If Agusto did succeed, people would blindly give him whatever he wanted. It was a dangerous thought, for someone who was such a question mark.

  I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to find the name of the bank where the money was being sent, but I had no luck. “If it’s out there, we have the resources to find it, huh?” I asked the computer, just as Owen put his hand on my shoulder.

  Relaxing at his touch, I rested my hand on top of his. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Like a log. Glad I set an alarm. It’s time to go to the meeting and find out who they’ve chosen.”

  “Already? It seems like I just sat down.” Suddenly, a gamut of emotions washed over me. Stress, excitement, and anxiety all warred for space in my head.