Another World

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The scratchy blankets barely kept the chilly air off of me. I woke up freezing, hugging myself for warmth. I sat there for a minute, with that hazy feeling you have right when you wake, before I realized what woke me up. The phone was ringing. I swung my legs off the side of the mattress and walked to the stairs, ignoring the phone. Probably another gambler calling for Aunt Ingrid because she didn't pay up again anyway. I shuffled into the kitchen, sticking my hand into the Cornflakes box. Hey, no one there to stop me anyway! Not Aunt Ingrid, not my parents... *flashback{I clutched my teddy bear, Rufus, tight until my knuckles were sore. My mom kissed me on the forehead and placed me in the closet. "It's alright sweetie." She closed the door and I heard my father whisper, "There is definitely someone downstairs." I heard creaking of the steps and then the sound of a gun being fired. Twice. I closed my eyes and prayed with all of my five year old heart that my parents were okay. I guess it didn't work.}* I shook my head to clear the memory from my brain. I did the usual routine: steeled my emotions, clenched my fists and dug my fingernails into the flesh of my palm until the dull ache of my heart was completely gone. This is how I don't let feelings get to me. The phone rang again. I sighed and walked to the phone. Putting it to my ear, I waited for the caller to speak, not even saying hello. "Amber." I recognized my boss's voice. Even though he couldn't see me, instinctually I stood up taller and straightened my sleep shirt. "Gray." I can't even count how many times he's told me to call him Mr. Freed, but whatever. I could picture him rolling his eyes, but I know that he knows he needs me. "Good, it's you. Listen, I need you to come in today at 2:00." I waited for him to explain, but he didn't. "I might be busy today, Gray." I said, though I definitely won't be busy, I barely ever am. I like to tease him, even though he isn't the, uh - teasing type. "Amber, come on." He grumbled and I pretended to sigh and think. "Well, I guess I can come in..." I joked and hung up. I heard the ringing of my actual phone, my cell, and checked it. I had a text message from my best friend, Charlie. 'Who were you talking to?' I looked out of the window and into the house next to this one, where Charlie lives. He was standing in the window, watching me and grinning. I smiled at him calmly, but inside my brain was whirring. What do I tell him? I can't exactly say that it was my boss who is calling me in to probably give me the name of someone to kill! I opened the window and shouted, "Someone for Ingrid." He nodded. "See you today?" I shook my head and he fake pouted and closed the window. I did the same. I checked the clock that was hanging on the other side of the kitchen. 11:30. That gave me half an hour until Ingrid probably got back from whatever house she spent the night at and two and a half hours until I had to see Gray. I climbed back up the stairs and into my room. Pulling open the drawers, I threw on a gray tshirt and leggings. I clawed my fingers through my shaggy brown hair and then sat down on my bed, waiting for Ingrid to arrive. I heard a loud belch from downstairs. Yep, she arrived. I galloped down and checked the clock again. 12:00. I looked at the hot mess that was my aunt, her billowing blonde hair and bright blue eyes hiding the hurt underneath. "Hey, chick." She said and slapped my bum. "Sorry I didn't get back until now." She always said this even though she gets here at 12:00 everyday after spending the night at some guys house. "It's fine Ingrid." I said and then tuned out when she started to go off about this guy that she 'loved.' Ingrid is my mother's sister. When I was little, she was one of my favorite people ever. She was so much fun all the time. After my parents were killed, she's not been the same. She's still awesome, just... sad. Sometimes I just want to hug her and tell her it's going to be okay. So I do. And she does the same to me. "...and I'm seeing him again tomorrow!" I congratulated her even though I knew that this man was only using her to dump her soon, just like all the other ones. My eyes flicked to the clock again. 1:00. "Want some lunch?" Ingrid asked. I nodded eagerly and she ran out the door, shouting some story about this delicious sandwich she got across the street yesterday. I just waited, playing Temple Run on my phone. 15 minutes later she burst in with a small paper bag. "Here." She said and gave it to me. I quickly wolfed  it down, my breakfast of a handful of Cornflakes didn't fill me up. I checked the clock. 1:30.  "I gotta go, Ingrid." I said and looked around for my coat. "Where?" She asked. "Uh, Charlie's house." This was always my cover, and if Ingrid ever called Charlie's house, I knew he would cover for me even if he had no idea where I was. "Bye!" I yelled and ran outside. Hopping in a taxi, I checked my phone. 1:45. Perfect. The taxi drove for another ten minutes as I twiddled my thumbs. He stopped in front of a tall silver building. I gave him a wad of bills and hopped out. I sprinted into the lobby and saw Roger, the receptionist behind the desk. I fished my ID out of my purse and flashed it to him. He nodded and said, "Down to the basement, Amber." I thanked him and pressed the elevator button. It wouldn't come, so I found the stairs and raced down two-at-a-time. I checked the labels on the doors until I found 'INTRODUCTION ROOM.' I walked in, spotting Gray sitting at a table with two chairs. "Agent Ross." He said. "Sit."