Inner Demons

13

"Who are you?" She repeats.
"What?" I ask her, projecting confusion on my face as my stomach leaps to my throat.
"Fine. I'll explain, since I won't get an honest fucking answer out of you otherwise. Remember how I said I would find out when your birthday was?"
"Yes."
"Great. Well, I asked Penelope to look you up so I could find out. Turns out, Katie Cherny does not exist. So we tried it all-Katherine, Kate, Katrina, you name it. But you don't exist. My first thought was that you were in witness protection, and I was going to drop it. But a lawyer is too profile a job for someone in witness protection. So. Who are you? Don't bother with some bullshit answer. Start with your real name,"
I dig the edge of my heeled boot into my shin, trying to keep myself in check. Never once in the past 14 years have I been caught.
"My real name is Katya Chernovsky."
She scoffs lightly.
"Alright. So why the lying?"
"I have to, Emily."
"No, Katya" she says, sarcastic emphasis on my name. "You owe me the truth."
"I promise I'll explain someday, but I just can't right now."
"Right, trust you. Because you've been so open and honest me. Get out."
"Emily-"
"Don't bother. I've had enough."
I get up, and slowly walk to the door. I look back at her, but she remains sitting, her back turned to me. As I shut her door behind me, I slide down the wall next to it. I can hardly pull out of the assignment without retribution, and I've lost Emily and her friends at the BAU. But I do have one shot.

"Penelope."
"Hey," she says cautiously.
"Listen, I need you to see what you can find on someone for me. The name is Vanya Chernovsky."

For the next two hours I wander around the city. It's a greater risk to Emily if I reveal my identity, or if I tell Ivan she knows I'm lying, than take what I get from his higher-ups and move on as a failure My feet stop outside her apartment building, and I look up at the window I know is hers. A couple buildings down, I catch a glimpse of Ivan. I scratch behind my ear and watch from the corner of my I as he nods. I head into an alleyway and wait.
"What is it?" He asks.
"Listen, I can't get this code. I have to call the operation.
"You are aware of what will happen?"
"I am."
"Why are you doing this, Katya?"
"I can't spend another month doing nothing. I need assignments that I can complete to keep my mind and skills fresh. I can handle it."
"Alright. Let's go. They'll be wanting you at the Center."

"Katya Chernovsky, you have failed your assignment." The stern man at the head of the table declares.
"Yes, sir."
"You will receive a moderate punishment for this, as it is your second transgression."
I nod, my face stony.
"Following that, you will be assigned a new handler and resume work."
"Ivan Maximoff, you have failed to aid Katya Chernovsky in her assignment as described. You will be reassigned and dealt a simple punishment."
"That's not in the contract," I object.
"For you, correct, but it is for him."
"I'll take his punishment as well."
The man frowns.
"For what reason do you wish to do this?"
"He shouldn't be punished for my mistake."
"How noble," the man says, as the other council members chuckle.
"Ivan, escort the bleeding heart to the basement, then report to the 1st floor for your assignment."
We turn and walk out the door, escorted by silent, bulky men.
"Are you stupid?" Ivan hisses as we walk, backs straight, down the hall. "Only a brainless dumbass would do something like that."
"You knew about the punishment you would recieve."
"Yes."
"And you said nothing to me."
"It didn't occur to me until it was too late."
"Right."
We approach an elevator. The doors glide open, and we step in next to two others. The elevator car is dead silent as they exit on the first floor, leaving me alone as the elevator descends to the basement. I've been going about the Center since I was 15, but I've never been to the basement. I know it to be where punishments are administered, and a previous trainer had affectionately called it "the closest to hell in the realm of the living you'll ever get."
My face remains calm, back straight, as one of the men guarding the elevator doors slides a needle into the back of my neck.