A Spy's Home--Book 1: Beyond the Borders.

Chapter 13

Nightmares plagued my mind as I slept; children screaming for help, agents snatching them away from their parents' arms, and I couldn't do anything about it because my feet were stuck to the ground. When I finally got myself to wake up I was drenched in sweat, and I noticed that the sun was beginning to set.

I tossed the covers off and went to the nearest bathroom; there I fixed my hair that it was a high ponytail, and I pulled my maroon shirt over the top I had worn to bed. The bags under my eyes were gone, and the headache and dizziness had ceased. I decided to see what Rory was up to and went downstairs.

"There you are sleepy head. Get enough rest?" Rory asked jokingly. He and his mom were preparing dinner, and I couldn't help myself but smile at the sight of Rory cooking. "Yes, I did. Wow, that smells delicious. Rory, you didn't tell me you could cook." I said, walking into the kitchen and smelling the air. "I had a lot of experience since I had to work at a restaurant for eight years." Rory replied, setting plates on the table. We heard the front door open and heavy footsteps enter the house, so we peeked around the corner.

A man that looked like the same age as Rory's mom was taking his shows off and setting down several packages. "Hey Dad." Rory greeted, walking over to him. "Hey Rory." the man greeted, walking over to him and giving him a hug. They gave each other a good hard slap on the back, and Rory's mom and I glanced at each other and started to laugh.

"You must be Zylina. I am Benjamin Wood, and you've met my wife Sarah Wood." the man said, coming over to me. I didn't know why, but for some odd reason grown men terrified me. I think it's because the boss at the Spy academy had always used intimidation on me because of my stubbornness. I shook his hand and said, "Yeah I'm Zylina." Rory's father nodded in approval, and turned back to his son. "Is dinner ready?" he asked. Rory nodded and watched his father joyfully storm off to the dining. "Well he certainly has a personality." I mumbled at Rory.

Rory chuckled, and said, "Yep, that's my dad. He's a manager for a real estate company." "C'mon, are you kids coming to eat?" Rory's mom, Sarah Wood, called. "We'll always be kids to them won't we?" I asked. Rory responded with, "Yep." The smell coming from the food in the kitchen was making me hungry, so we made our way to the dining.

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"So, Zylina, do you remember anything about your parents?" Rory's father, Benjamin Wood, asked me, while we were sitting at the dining table. I hesitated for a moment and looked over at Rory for support; he nodded, so I took a deep breath, and answered with, "No sir, not a thing. I don't even remember how old I was or if my parents are still alive." "Hmm, I see. I'm sure your parents are out there somewhere." Benjamin reassured me. "I hope so." I mumbled, looking down at my grilled chicken and steamed veggies.

Rory saw my discomfort, and I was glad when he changed the subject. "So, like I said on the phone we'll only be staying a couple days, then little z and I will hit the road." I looked at Rory in shock; what did he mean? I thought this was going to be where our new lives were supposed to be. "Are you sure you don't want to at least stay here for a week?" Sarah Wood asked. "I don't like it either mom, but there are kids who will be taken if we don't go and find them first." Rory answered. "Rory, what are you talking about?" I asked; I took it back, I wasn't happy that he changed the subject.

"Zylina, while you were getting your surgery done I saw the article on the missing children. The Spy Academy is the one behind it, I know it, and that chip you gave them the day I "picked you up" is going to let them get access to a whole bunch of kids." Rory explained. He mumbled the last sentence so his parents couldn't hear. I mentally gasped at the explanation; at that moment I realized that the disappearances of the kids hadn't been the spy academy's fault, it had been mine for giving the lists of "recruits" to the boss in the first place. The rest of dinner was spent in silence; I wish Rory never saw that article.