Inner Demons

14

I stand for a few minutes at the edge of the bed, making sure the man laying on it is really asleep. Satisfied with what I see, I rinse his glass of the dissolved sleeping pill remnants and slowly creep to the front door. The streetlights dispel shadows on the sidewalk as I make my way down the block. Alexei waits for me just around the corner, leaning against the car.
"You got it?" He asks. I nod, handing him the portable recorder. He hits play as he enters the car, and the confession I had gotten just an hour before fills the interior.
"Good. You have another assignment. We will head there now."
"Where?"
"In the United States."
This will be my first assignment in the past two months to take me outside of Russia.
"Where in the United States?"
"Virginia."
"Ever been?" I ask, pushing back the feelings I've worked so hard to bury.
"No."
"Well, the state of virgins, you'll fit right in."
He says nothing, not taking the bait like Ivan would have.
"So what's the assignment?"
"They did not tell me. You have to arrive first."
"And we're going now?"
"Yes. Complete this, and you can see your sister. And use your American accent."
"Yes, sir."

The sky is barely dark as our plane touches down in Virginia. Alexei hands me an address on a small piece of paper and a keycard.
"Be at this address by 13:00 tomorrow to get your assignment. They say it won't take longer than a week, and you'll be in a hotel for the duration."
We climb off the plane and head to a car. Alexei hands me the keys, and walks to the other car. I pull out ahead of him, and start on the preprogrammed route to the hotel. As I approach the city, I begin to recognize things. They've brought me back to Quantico. As I pull up to the valet of the hotel, I notice a bar across the street. I tip the valet worker, and walk over. I ask for a gin and tonic at the counter, the same drink I had when I first came to Virginia. I'm tempted to go to Emily's apartment and see if she's home, but the threat of Alexei seeing me instantly negates it. As I finish my drink, a brunette woman walks up to the counter. She vaguely resembles Emily, enough to set my nerves on edge.
"Hi," she says, clearly catching me checking her out.
"Sorry, you just look like someone I used to..."
"I get that a lot, actually. I'm Kenna." She sits down next to me.
"I'm Katie."
"Nice to meet you," she says.
"You too. Can I buy you a drink?"
"I would like that."

A couple drinks later, I find myself leaning closer to her.
"My hotel is right across the street, if you're interested." I whisper.
"Lead the way," she says. I close my tab and take her hand as we cross the street. Once we get to my room I sprawl on the bed, pulling her on top of me. Her legs straddle my hips as we kiss, her dark hair brushing my face. I pull her shirt over her head, running my hands over the lace cups of her bra before removing it. Wrapping one leg around her, I flip her over so that I'm on top. Suddenly the air in the room feels stale and thick and I get off of her.
"I'm sorry," I say, walking to the other side of the room. "I'm not feeling well, you should go."
"Come on," she says, getting up and walking towards me. "You were doing so well."
"I just can't tonight."
"If you're worried about a girlfriend or something, I won't tell."
"That's not it, I just don't want this."
She was right, to a certain extent. I was thinking about Emily. I haven't had sex with anyone since her, and to try and distract myself from her with someone else just isn't working.
She gets dressed and leaves, allowing me to be truly alone for the first time in months. I need this assignment to be over as soon as possible, so I can get out of this goddamn city.

I press the keycard to the scanner, hearing the lock click out of place. I open the door and walk in, my heels clicking on the lobby floor. A stern man in combat gear greets me and leads me into a room with a desk.
"You must be Katya." The man sitting behind it says. "My name is Michael Hastings."
I recognize the name, he's the one who initially hired us to get JJ's code. My stomach turns, but I remain expressionless. Someone opens the door behind me, causing Hastings to stand up. He gestures for me to wait and leaves the room. I pull out my phone and type in Penelope's number.
"Hey Penelope, how's everything going?" I type. Her near immediate response confirms my fear.
"Can't talk right now. JJ is in trouble."