The TALONS Files: the chronicles of telepathic agent Ryan Dart

Esmeralda

29

Ryan wanted to tell Esmeralda that he could get kicked out of TALONS, just for meeting her. He had just started school and she was putting him in a horrible spot. Immediately, he hated her for ruining the best night of his life.

Instead, he blurted, "Chloe hates you."

In the meager light, Ryan could see the pale faced girl shrug, "That's because I graduated before miss upscale Mexico, and became an agent right out of school. You will too. She's especially jealous of me because you and I have the same skills." Esmeralda paused, as her black lips formed a charming smile, "I was actually discovered after you. I'm a bit older however, so I was put through training first."

"Chloe doesn't hate me and, like you said, I have the same abilities."

Esmeralda conceded with a roll of her eyes, as the shadows playing tricks with her make-up, "Okay, I once told her she had to think things through. That's why she's not a field agent." She paused, studying the Main Street Bridge's multi colored lights, and then said, "She is smart, pretty, and a very nice person. She just has some growing up to do."

Ryan nodded, "I see why she hates you."

"Do you hate me?" She asked softly and politely.

Ryan paused, wanting to express his fears, and why he didn't want to have this conversation, "I don't know you, especially why you left TALONS."

Among the constant  chatter on the patio, someone yelled out the name of the Packers' first round draft pick. Across the vast open space, someone responded, "We need a receiver not another cornerback, schmuck!!"

"What's a receiver and cornerback?" Esmeralda asked bewildered, as she checked over her shoulder.

Ryan eyed her as if she couldn't be serious. "They're positions in football."

The pale girl let out a groaning half chuckle, as she shook her head. "Of course, I must be the only person from Green Bay that doesn't understand football."

"That's very weird."

Esmeralda mused, "Ryan, you're so normal, but you think you're not."

"That's because no one treats me like I'm normal, I suppose."

She nodded, "I suppose."

Ryan hadn't really thought about Esmeralda much. With the whirlwind that had taken place in the past week, he hadn't had much time to ponder anything. Although, from what he gathered, at least from Chloe and Declan, the goth girl's demeanor was different from what Ryan had expected. Instead of some disgruntled deserter, she seemed like she would have made the perfect TALONS agent. "So why did you leave TALONS?"

She took a deep breathe, and then sighed, "My brother. That's actually why I need to talk to you."

Chloe's words rang in Ryan's head '...her psycho brother!'. Then again, everybody seemed to think Ryan was a psycho at one time. He realized, while there were dangerous people in the world, and truly evil deeds done, people were quick to throw that word around.