Dangerous Deception

Ch. 2: Who's Cassie?

        We entered his office, his intoxicating cologne welcoming us in.

        "So you both finally decided to see me after I called you thirty minutes ago," he said.

        I sighed, grabbing a chair, "We had to take care of something," or more like someone, I thought. Mark sat on the other chair.

        "You do always have some sort of excuse, Kayla," he said.

        "It's not an excuse James," I replied, fishing for the granola bar in my pocket. Finding it, I offered some to Mark who declined. I nodded and started munching on it, "So what is it,"

        He sighed. "The supervisors wants you both to...to go undercover," he said the last part slowly cause he knew it would hit a nerve. Mark stiffened.

       I froze, dropping the bar in my hand. Flashes, images, all coming at me reminding me of what I had desperately tried to forget. Voices, gunshots and...fire

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        "Stay with me, stay with me please," I said as tears streamed down my face, "Come on, you can't leave me here alone," I cried.

        "Kayla we need to go now, we don't have much time," Mark said, fighting back tears.

        "I'm not leaving her behind! Come on Cassie please get up," I cried, adding pressure to the bullet wound on her neck.

        "I love you," she croaked, "I always will K,"

        "No, you're not leaving me again Cassie, I won't let that happen again," I sniffed.

        "Get her out of here Mark, and please take care of her," she said weakly.

        Mark pulled me away dragging me out. "Let me go!" I screamed, punching and kicking, trying to get out of his grasp, "I'm not going without her!"

        I elbowed him at the gut and ran. Then everything went quiet. Silence, then an explosion. Fire...huge fire.

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        "Makayla! Kayla! Snap out of it!" Someone yelled. "No, fire," I whispered, my vision blurry and my left hand shaking as I unconsciously rolled my ring.

        "It's just an illusion, it's okay," the person said.

        "Just an illusion," I repeated, my vision slowly clearing. I saw Mark holding me, "Yes, it's not real," he whispers.

        "Pills," I said. He opened his palm, revealing them. He must have gotten it when I spaced out. I took them and popped it in my mouth, taking the water James offered. Then I slowly relaxed.

        "I'm so sorry Kayla, I didn't know it still triggers you," James apologised. Mark glared daggers at him.

        "It's okay," I said.

        "I'm taking her home," Mark stated.

        "Okay," James said.

        We left the agency and entered Mark's car. "Are you okay?" He asked.

       "I just wanna go home," I said, looking out the window. He nodded and started the car, driving out.

        We reached my apartment, Mark park in the driveway. "Thanks Mark," I said, "For everything,"

        "Hey, what are friends for? If you need anything, I'll be a phone call away, okay?" He said.

        "Sure,"