A Spy's Home---Book 2: Wounds, Both Old and New

Chapter 13

That night....

"Zylina, get to the door! I'll be right behind you!" Gunshots banging, screaming, and then silence before I heard a cold whisper. "You failed me." I felt my legs kick, and my hands grip something soft. I clenched my jaw, and hissed, "Shut up, shut up." When I couldn't take anymore, I jerked myself back awake.

I looked around; I was in my bed at the motel room, with my phone, wallet, and keys scattered around the side desk. My breathing was quick, and I tried slowing it down before I hyperventilated.

I swung my legs over the bed, and wiped the sweat off my forehead. "It's not my fault." I kept telling myself, but every time I told myself that a voice in the back of my mind would deny that, and say it was my fault.

I picked up my phone, and looked at the name tag: Rory. I stared at the name for what felt like several long minutes. "Why can't I just press on it and call Rory?" I asked myself, as my fingers hovered and shook above his contact number. He was just one click away, but for some reason I couldn't click it.

"He's probably mad at you; he probably hates you for leaving." a voice in the dark corners of my mind whispered. "No, he would never hate me." I tried reassuring myself, through shut eyes, and clenched teeth, but I heard the voice chuckle menacingly.

"Then why did he leave you to be tortured by the Academy; why didn't he take you with him? You've never questioned him, about his motives, you've never given him a second thought. He just feels pity for you, not love!" The voice shouted. By now, my eyes were filled with overtime built up tears, and they were streaming down my cheeks. I made no sound, though: I made no sounds as the tears drained from me. All I did was drop the phone, and stuff my tear-stained face into the palm of my hands.

I stayed like that for what felt like a couple hours, and when I finally calmed down, sort of, I went back to bed with eyes that stung like they had been soaked in salt water.

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The next day....

I woke up with a headache and still stinging eyes; I knew I had to get myself together, finish up this mission, and then leave before I went insane. I changed into some black sweatpants, and a plain, blue T-shirt; I then put on my tennis shoes, and looked around the motel room. "No food, means I gotta go to a diner for breakfast. Hopefully, Carlos wasn't working at the cafe downtown

I don't remember the whole walk to the cafe, but I remember keeping my eyes focused on the path ahead while my mind swirled with thoughts. After what felt like only five minutes, I found myself walking inside the same cafe I had met Carlos at. I sat down at a booth and stared out the window, quietly watching cars pass by in a hurry to who-knows-where.

I ran my fingers through my hair, which had become a frequent habit for me when I'm stressed, and twirled one strand that had gotten free from the back of my ear. I heard someone stop in front of my table, and I tensed up as I heard the familiar voice. "Zylina, is that you?" it asked.

I slowly turned around, and saw the confused face of Carlos looking down at me. My face heated as I tried to find something to say. Well, so much for hoping that he wasn't working here right now.

TBC....