Shared Interest

2.12: Muddy Shoes

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***

Parker had basically carried me to the car before buckling me in. I stared out the window now as we drove. It was cracked slightly, the fresh air doing little to help.

"Harper what the fuck just happened?" She yelled as she continued speeding through the night

I turned to look at her and the fury burning in her eyes was extinguished in a second.

"Please talk to me." She pleaded, her eyes settling back on the road

I looked out the window and saw out street approaching, "No!"

She stepped on the brake and pulled off to the side as she turned to me, her eyes wide.

"Harper please tell me what's going on." She stated, her hand so tightly gripped on the wheel that it could snap at any moment

I let out a shaky breath, a single tear streaming down my cheek, "I saw Aria at the bar."

Her eyes darkened in such a way that I could've sworn under oath that a demon had possessed her "What the fuck did she do? I'll fucking kill her."

"No Parker, she didn't do anything." I paused shaking my head as I looked down at my hands I could not still, "She called me Harper."

I looked up at her and she seemed as frozen as I had as she sped towards me.

"Parker we've been compromised." I pushed on, reaching over and taking her hand in mine "We aren't safe here anymore."

She didn't say a word but I could see a change in her like the flip of a switch. She stiffened, her eyes distant as she pulled her hand from mine and shifted into gear. She sped off down the street and straight past our house that I could see whiz by us. She kept going for what felt like hours but in all reality according to the clock was only minutes.

"Where are we going?" I questioned as I looked over at her

"Plan C." She stated firmly

"C? What about B?" I countered causing her to glance at me for a mere moment before looking back to the road

"Let's talk when we get there." She stated, her tone even and calm

I bit my lip and settled into my seat staring straight ahead as I tried to silence the thoughts that were invading my mind like a plague.

What did this mean for us? What did this mean for our plan? What would we do? Where would we go? Were they following us now?

Parker reached over and took my hand tightly in hers. Our fingers were interwoven and I felt my heart slow, my breathing evening out inhale by exhale as we continued on. It was only another twenty minutes before we pulled into a dirt driveway. It was long and windy, the perpetual rain from the last few days making it a muddy mess. We powered through, the dark woods on either side a potential threat and protection from the outside world all in one. I looked ahead and spotted a small cabin, the porch light like beacon calling out to us. She put the car in park and we both exited without a word. I was careful as I climbed out and scrunched my nose at the feeling of sinking slightly into the earth. I shook my head at the unimportance of something as trivial as caring about my shoes in this moment and followed after Parker. We climbed the stairs onto the porch and Parker stopped at the doorway.

The cabin was made entirely of wood. It was very classical log cabin style and the door looked flimsy enough to be broken by even the smallest gust of wind. She knocked three times and then put her hands behind her back as though she were standing at attention. I glanced over at her and she seemed so utterly stoic in this time and space. The door's lock clicked and it creaked open, my heart fluttering at the sound but nothing could prepare for who now stood before us.

Kayla stared back at us, now dressed in jeans and a grey hoodie, "Come in."

I looked to Parker who gave me a reassuring smile accompanied with a nod. I stepped in first and found the inside of the cabin to look like a scene out of a murder mystery movie on steroids. Every single inch was covered with a far more extensive version of our board in the basement. There were computers stationed in the living room, a stockpile of food littering the kitchen.

"What the hell?" I mumbled to myself as I heard the door shut behind us causing me to turn to face them, "Someone better start talking, now."

I could feel a boiling anger so hot it was sure to cause steam to pour out of my ears any second.

"Kayla is with WITSEC." Parker stated plainly, her face pale

My mouth fell open but I couldn't find the words.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Hayden, I just couldn't." Kayla said, her eyes a shade lighter than usual even in the dim lighting

I shook my head and scoffed, "You" I pointed at Parker "you promised me we were together on this. You promised no more secrets."

"No more secrets starting now?" She cautiously joked, her lip now bit tightly

I bit my tongue and rolled my eyes before letting out a snorted laugh "Fuck both of you."

I headed for the door but Parker beat me to it, putting her full weight against the frail thing.

"Harper I know you're pissed but this is no time to be reckless." She stated, bringing me back to the reality of the larger situation at hand

I glared her down but seceded as I turned and went into the living room to sit. They followed, Kayla sitting opposite me and Parker being so bold as to sit directly to my right.

"Someone better start talking." I stated, crossing my arms as I glared between the two of them

Parker ran her fingers backwards through her hair as she looked to Kayla, then back to me.

"Given what happened last time I didn't trust that we could ever truly be sure who was on our side. I mean half my men were compromised and because that Sam, she, I can't even say it." Parker trailed off shaking her head before continuing on "I needed to know you were going to be safe even when I wasn't around so I worked it out with Aaron to have an agent go undercover."

My mind was swimming with so many questions but I settled on, "So how do you know we can trust her? I mean she sure is good at lying. She's been lying to me for as long as I've known her."

The hurt was evident in her face as she looked back at me.

"Kayla has been working with me since the beginning. I trust her implicitly, as much as I trust you and admittedly maybe more." Parker stated causing my eyes to go wide as I stared back at her

Kayla now interjected "Hayden I'm sorry I lied to you, truly I am. I consider you my friend though and I was only lying to keep you and the mission safe."

"It's Harper and what mission?" I countered coldly

Parker chimed back in, "The same mission we've been working on Harper, Shared Interest as you call it."