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

Chapter 26

We had been behind the apartment building for a few minutes, waiting for the last of the Academy vehicles to park, and the spies went inside. By the time we knew it was time for us to head in; there were two spies posted in front of the back door. We knelt down behind a dumpster and locked eyes.

"Ready?" Rory asked me, before tying his bandana around the bottom half of his face. I then tied my bandana in the same place and nodded; I crawled out from behind the dumpster, and traveled around the neighboring building to a small passageway between the two.

I stopped to catch my breath, which was a risky move since there was a chance that they would hear my breathing. Thankfully, the spies didn't hear my raspy breathing, and I snuck up behind the closest one. Before either of the spies could react, I placed the one I snuck up on in a choke hold and whispered, "If you yell, you'll be more than just hurt."

The other spy pointed his gun toward me, and started shaking. He was pretty young, about 13 years of age; this could be his first mission. "Josiah, shoot her!" ordered the one I had in a choke hold. I tightened my grip, causing the younger one, Josiah, to flinch a little. In a swift movement released the older spy and karate chopped the side of his neck, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.

Josiah dropped the gun frightened, and mumbled, "This is it." It broke my heart to hear him say it; he was either thinking I was going to kill him or the boss was. "He's not dead; just unconscious. I'm not going to kill you either." I said reassuring the boy.

Josiah glanced from me to the older spy, and then back to me again. "What do you want?" he asked, stuttering a little. "Those two kids, Martin and Mya. We're returning them home to their parents." I answered, truthfully. I saw his eyes avert to the gun he had dropped, and reacted fast; I grabbed it from the ground before he could and pointed it to him. "Give me the keys to the door." I ordered. I knew he had them, because I hadn't seen them on the other spy.

"I can't. The b...boss will hurt me. He'll kill me." Josiah answered; I could tell he was trying his best to make himself look defiant, but was shaking like he was cold. "Josiah, you can break free you know. You can get away from the Academy." I told him. "She's right. You can." I heard Rory say. Josiah looked even more frightened, as Rory stood next to me. "Zylina, we're running out of time." he whispered in my ear. "I know, but we need the keys." I answered.

"I'll give you the keys. Just make it look like you stole them from me, please." Josiah pleaded, taking the keys from the belt they were dangling from. "It's gonna hurt, though." I warned him, letting my hand relax on the gun as it draped down next to my side. "It's better than what the boss will do to me." Josiah answered, jamming the keys into my free hand. He stood there, waiting to be knocked, so I raised the butt of the gun and bit my lip as I saw him squeeze his eyes shut.

"I"m sorry, Josiah." I whispered. "I know." he answered, keeping his eyes shut. Without another thought, I brought the gun down and hit Josiah hard on the side of head, and watched as he fell. I didn't want him to slam his head onto the cement ground, so I caught and gently placed him on the cold floor.

I looked down at him for a couple moments, before I got back to my feet and said to Rory, "On with the plan." I took the keys and twisted one of them into the keyhole; it didn't unlock. 

TBC...