Little Secrets

Cassie: Testing Testing 1, 2, 3

I have to say, I've got it pretty good. Clothes, food, shelter. Yeah, I was one of the lucky ones. I wasn't always though. When they found me, I went completely voluntarily. Leaving home? Pfft. That wasn't even a choice for me. But that's besides the point. After I became an agent, they taught me everything I needed to know, but apparently I didn't learn enough.

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Desks and paper are so not my style. Especially when you're forced to write a test for two hours straight. I mean, there are a lot of torture styles out there, but this one, I think, is the worst.

Some tests are fun, like a test about something you like. Other tests, like this one, are not fun in the least. They are boring, soul-sucking, vortexes of despair.

Tapping the eraser of my pencil on the table, I stared down the piece of paper, willing it to reveal its answers to me. But there was no such luck. It didn't work.

Why did I have to take this test anyway? I was already an agent of the CIA, and I was smart enough for three people. I didn't see why I had to "keep up with my education like a normal child" like my tutor, Ms. Wesley told me I had to.

I mean, my entire life I had been educated on almost every subject, and they chose now of all times to get me a tutor? I say that's poor planning on their part.

Just as I was about to collapse from boredom, the intercom beeped and a voice said, "Would Cassandra Miloy please report to room 221 for a mission briefing?"

Oh, thank you! I thought. I gathered up my things and smiled at Ms. Wesley, who looked quite perturbed. "Bye!" I called.

I walked down the hallway, avoiding all of the other agents talking to each other, on their phones or just patrolling the passageways.

Soon, I came to room 221, otherwise known as the briefing room. I was almost giddy with excitement. I hadn't had a mission in so long. The last one was... I couldn't even remember it was so long ago. It had been a small mission: go save some boy from the evil people. You know. The usual.

I turned the knob and entered the room. It was dimly lit, with a table, some chairs, a large screen and a computer. Other than that, it was completely barren. No windows, other than the one on the door, and no decorations. It was all very formal. Even the paint on the walls was just white.

There was a man standing next to the screen, the remote in hand. He nodded to me and I nodded back. I didn't recognize him, but I could tell he thought of himself as important. He held himself with a confident, almost regal air and carried himself with an aura of finality. He had short salt and pepper hair and dull brown eyes. His mouth was a thin pink line, pursed with what I would call distain.

I can tell you now, I've had my fair share of disdainful glances. Each time it had happened, I had given them the what-for, and this time was no different.

"Alright, I know that look. What is it this time?" I asked, making it seen like I had asked the question a million times... Which I kind of had.

The man looked taken aback by my sudden outburst. "N-nothing. Um... Shall we begin?"

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I raised my eyebrow. "You kidnapped her?"

The man, whom I had learned was Max, put his hands up in surrender. "Not I, but yes, she was taken... forcefully."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Why is it so surprising? It's not like your own scenario was much-"

I stood up quickly. "You shut up. Okay? Just shut up."

Max looked at me smugly. "It appears I've found a weakness in you, Cassandra."

I smirked. "Weakness? My past is no 'weakness'. It's my motivation to keep going." My smile fell away. "And for the record, you can call me Cassie and nothing else."

Max grinned even wider. "You've passed your first test."

Baffled, I sat back in my chair. "Test? What do you mean?"

"You see, you were always a candidate, but we set up a test of sorts to make sure you'd be able to handle the mission you'll be going on."

I crossed my arms. "Speaking of the mission, you've told me about this other girl, but not about the actual mission you want me to go on. Would you care to elaborate?"

Max shook his head, surprising me. "No can do. I've orders to only tell  you when the whole group is present. So, for now, you'll just have to be patient."

Yeah... That's gonna happen, I thought.

A/N: This chapter was published before chapter one. If you read this one before the chapter titled Ember: I Get A Dirty Sock In The Face, please go back and read that one. Thanks!