Morphine - Sequel to Adrenaline

Chapter 1

Alyssa

Present Day

I smiled at my mom and Matthew whom were beaming with pride and joy. It was another New Year's Eve at the International Intelligence Agency, with thirty minutes until midnight, and the beginning of a special age. Lydia stood at the podium on the stage, tapping two manicured fingers on the microphone. The room quieted down, giving her their full attention. She welcomed them in celebration of the most joyous night the IIA experienced. Very rarely was every agent in attendance at an event, but tonight was the exception. Lydia put her hands together, pausing to build tension, then announced the newest Night Hounds.

The room vibrated with clapping as Lydia glanced down at her list. She began to read off the names, with each agent taking their moment on the stage. My hands were tingling with the anticipation of standing before every single agent in the entire organization. As Lydia continued, the name she wasn't calling was quickly becoming the elephant in the room. Plans and expectations had been in the works, but the terrible choice of an agent had soured everything. He was the reason for all of this, but that wasn't a thought I wanted to taint what was supposed to be a monumental moment in my life.

It was coming. Not many could detect happiness in Lydia's voice, but I certainly could. Lydia eased into a comfortable pause and deepened her voice for effect.

"This is a moment we've been waiting for since she was signed twelve years ago. Since her introduction to the Syndicate, she has been a star pupil and agent, so it is with great honor that I welcome to the stage, as the newest Night Hound, Agent 96."

My name, it was gone. She hadn't used it. The higher you went up, the less your name was used until those around you either didn't know it, or it was forgotten. 

I stood, being met with hugs from my family and walked up to the stage through all the applause. For three years my life had been dedicated to training and learning about my target. There were countless nights of studying, recovery and ice baths, and the isolation I'd tried to fight. Despite the company of my trainers and fellow agents, I was still alone in my mission. Even Elaine, my partner, was no cure for the loneliness breeding inside.

I hated to admit that I'd felt just the tiniest twinge of jealousy mixed with sadness watching Chris and Luke get their golden pins as Special Operations agents. The toughest part of tonight was knowing my parents were Black Ops, and not having seen them for three years was only training me for the longer stretches of times I'd have to endure before seeing them again. I reached the stage where Lydia pressed a black pin with the IIA insignia on my dress. She faced the line of agents behind her and wished us to serve the IIA with passion and integrity.

The room erupted into claps, and the clinking of champagne glasses. We turned on our heels together like a group of soldiers, preparing to exit left when Lydia called my name into the microphone. The small feedback over the speakers sent a shiver over my skin as I turned to face my Mistress. She placed her cold hands on my bare shoulders, which didn't help ease me.

"Our Agent 96 is about to embark on her first mission in three years, and her first as an official Night Hound."

It wasn't until she said it that I realized I really hadn't been on an actual mission in three years.

"Normally we don't single out an agent in any rank for their first mission, but the time has finally come for the termination of former Agent 94."

A tremor ran down my back at the mention of his code name. The IIA had waited three whole years for my training to finish and for him to finally die. He'd had three entire years to live, three years to hide, but the IIA was always watching and he wouldn't live to see his next birthday. The grandfather clock at the back center stage clicked before giving into its melodious chime. With every toll it became increasingly clear that it was a new year and I was coming for Agent 94.