Agent X

xx| 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝙾𝚗𝚎 |xx

We followed the white Honda along highways and narrow streets; through bustling cities and empty countryside; past flat fields and towering skyscrapers; up rolling hills and down man-made tunnels; until we reached a dense forest—where we were traveling at the moment.

Trees soared overhead, casting shadows on the cracking road. There wasn't another car in sight, forcing Finn to leave a great deal of space between us and Agent Fox's car. Far away, the white sedan sped down the road, just barely in the line of sight.

Though Finn was careful, I couldn't help but worry if she had noticed us and was leading us to certain doom. We had been following her in the same car for hours.

Come on, Xara. Don't be pessimistic. Finn was smart enough to leave at least one car of space between us during the entire journey. This is the longest time we have gone without any cars between us. Besides, there's nowhere we can turn off the road. She probably just thinks you're another car traveling in a similar direction. Nothing suspicious, nothing to be concerned about.

"Jeez, there are a lot of trees," Ty said. "When is this forest ever going to end?"

"There are lots of forests in this part of the continent," I stated.

"I know, but we've been traveling through this same forest for the past two hours. Like, come on!"

I looked at the time. "Um, no, we have only been traveling through this forest for forty-eight minutes."

"Same thing," Ty complained. "I never thought I could get sick of seeing so much green."

"Please, if you're nauseous, vomit in a bag and not on me."

Ty grinned. "I can't promise anything."

"You'd better not. Or else..." I paused, trying to think of a good threat. "Or else I will tell the Director to force you to drive through a forest everyday for a week when we get back."

"Hey, depending on who's driving, that might not be so bad."

"Well it's not going to be me...or Xara...or anyone else in the car."

Ty nodded. "Okay."

My mind went blank on names of boring people at the IIA. "Don't worry, I'll make sure that they're really boring."

Ty sighed. "Fine."

I glanced out the window. The sun was turning from gold to orange with hints of pink. It's already sunset, and we have no idea where we are or how much longer Agent Fox will be driving.

"Finn, how are things looking?" I asked.

"I'm good where I am," he said. "I'm keeping my eye on the prize."

"Dari, any analytics for me?" I asked.

"We've been driving since eight-fifteen in the morning. It is currently four fifty-three in the afternoon, so we have been driving for exactly eight hours and thirty-eight minutes."

"And our location?"

"We're in Canada—"

"Oh really?" Ty interrupted. "I thought we were still in Kansas."

Dari ignored him. "We're about two hours from Greater Sudbury. It might take us longer to get there, though, since we're on a backroad."

"Any sign of a city or hotel where Agent Fox might be staying?" I asked.

"No."

I sighed. Who knew how much longer we'd be driving for. Perhaps she was even going to pull an all-nighter and drive all the way to the edge of Canada. I glanced at Finn. He was staying strong—he was used to this kind of work—but he'd been awfully quiet for most of the trip. I didn't want to exhaust him, especially when we had such an important mission ahead of us.