Crashing Down

Chapter Two: Unexpected Calls

Jessica

"No! No! They can't b-be dead! No! P-Please tell m-me you are just j-joking!" I stuttered. My vision started to blur, and I could barely stand.

I gave into my weak body and collapsed on the couch, letting the tears flow freely.

Aunt Leanne shrinks in Uncle John's arms sobbing. She ran out of the room and bawled her eyes out. A single tear escaped Uncle John's eyes as he ran after his wife. They did after all lose their best friends.

I noticed Seth coming towards me to wrap me in his embrace. My chest ached and the pain was starting to become unbearable.

"T-This can't be happening!" I cried in frustration. "No, Mom and Dad aren't gone. T-They c-can't be gone."

All my emotions were jumbled. I was mixed with sadness, confusion, and anger. Seth cradled me like a young child and let me cry out. I sobbed in his shirt and shook uncontrollably.

So many worried thoughts flowed in my mind. What would happen to me now? Who would take care of me? Seth? No, he can't because he has a country to run. All of these thoughts unceasingly ran through my mind. It made me feel even more exhausted than I already was.

"It's going to be alright Jess; I'll be here for you. You won't go through this alone. I promise," whispered Seth in a soothing tone. I simply nodded. I didn't have the energy to even speak.

"So much for an awesome birthday," I muttered sarcastically. The bitterness was eating me away. It was like the whole world was against me.

Shortly after, Uncle John entered and handed me his phone.

"Someone would like to speak to you Jessica," he addressed.

I took the phone from his hands and numbly spoke, "Hello?"

A professional voice belonging to a woman answered, "Hello, Miss Warner? Daughter of Philip and Joanna Warner?"

Just hearing their names formed a huge lump in my throat. I managed to choke out my answer.

"Y-Yes, this is she. Who is asking? Did you know my parents? Why are they d-dead?" I frantically babbled to the phone.

"Calm down Miss Warner. I will explain everything and answer all your questions. First, I need you to promise me that you will not panic or go ballistic with what I will inform you. Do you understand?" compromised the woman in a surprisingly calm tone.

I sighed heavily and spoke, "Yes ma'am I understand."

"Good. My name is Shirley, and I am the head of the SIA. Now tell me Miss Warner, are you familiar with the SIA?" asked Shirley.

"No, it does not ring a bell," I responded, slightly confused.

       "The SIA is a secret agency that deals with federal crimes commited here in Ileria. Our main purpose of existence is the protect the crown and the country. SIA stand for Secret Investigators and Agents, but also known as Stellar Agency. Your parents were our top agents here. They worked for us as secret agents for almost twenty years. They had you a couple years later ever since they first started working with us," Shirley explained.

I stood there stunned, but i couldn't help but scoff at their agency name. Secret Ivestigators and Agents? Would it kill them to be a little bit original? At least they had that alternate name.

After my little rant i realized the whole reason why Mom and Dad were constantly going to their never ending "business trips", was because they were secret agents. All this time I thought they were lawyers but no! They are secret agents. Once a month they would be gone for two and a half weeks.

I was barely able to see them, and now I never will again. I felt the angry tears forming, but I blinked them away. I quickly composed myself.

"How is it they never told me? I'm their freaking daughter!" I asked Shirley. Once those words came out of my mouth, the anger and hurt inside of me multiplied by a thousand.

"Sweetheart," she began, "The more you knew, then the more danger you'd be in. Our enemies or criminals we are capturing have harmed many families of our agents here. They did it because they loved you. The danger of the SIA being exposed to the public is very great."

I chewed on my lower lip and answered, "I understand." All this newfound information about my parents was a lot to take in. I guess people weren't lying when they say, "The truth hurts".

Shirley cleared her throat, gaining back my attention. She continued, "Miss Warner, your parents were murdered. They were on a difficult mission. This was supposed to be their last mission and then they would retire. Although, the man they were after, killed them before they could find him. This man is very dangerous and his name is Doris Winthrop. He has the de-coder. It is a code that can access any bank safe here in Ileria. He managed to retrieve that code by breaking in to our computer system with some help." I gulped. I thought these types of stuff were only in movies. Like spy kids. I guess I'm wrong about many things. Shirley continued her "talk" with me, "Miss Warner-"

"Call me Jessica please," I interrupted. I suddenly felt guilty for being rude by interrupting her, but "Miss Warner" sounded too formal for me.

"Jessica, your parents funeral will be arranged in a few days. Since you are now eighteen, you are a legal adult and can inherit your parents' house and all their possessions since they left you a will. Most importantly, we need you to train as a rookie agent in the place of your parents. You will train for a total of six months. It is intensive training, but we desperately need your help," she explained.

I laughed and grunted at the idea of me being a secret agent like Kim Possible. I could barely run a full mile without walking half of it, let along six months of intensive training! After I managed to contain my laughter, I scoffed at her idea, "Me? Of all people, why me?"

"Doris has done a background check on every one of our agents. We will have a great advantage if you try to retrieve the decoder because he does not know your existence. Jessica we need your help. If the decoder is not retrieved then Ileria will become bankrupt in a matter of seconds. There will be no Ileria."

"Who will train me? and what about school?" 

It may have sounded a bit dorky of me to as about school while being offered to be a secret agent, but I value my education.

"It has come to our attention that you are close with the prince if not very close. Prince Seth has been training with us for almost 3 years by request of his parents. You will go to our headquarters daily with him for the past 3 months with also added homeschooling so you will not fall beghind your studies since it is the middle of your senior year. Prince Seth will be assigned to train you," announced Shirley.

My eyes became wide like saucers. I shook my head in disbelief. I craned my head towards Seth where he is relaxing on the couch, watching Spongebob. I made my way towards where he was and smacked his forearm. Hard. He cried out in pain. I smiled in victory of hurting him.

"That, is for not telling me you were training with my parent's agency you idiot!" I snapped. He lifted his hands up gesturing his surrender.

"I'm sorry Jess, but I wasn't allowed to tell you. I didn't even know your parenst worked there. Mom and dad requested them to train me so when anything goes wrong i'll be prepared. I'm sorry," apologized Seth. His captivating sea-green eyes bore into my plain brown ones, and his voice was covered with sincerity. I gave him a deathly glare, and If looks could kill, he'd be 100,000 feet underground. Seth gave me his signature puppy dogface, which I always give into.

"Come here you poop," I sighed and gave him a hug. He smiled brightly and hugged me back. Little butterflies fluttered in my stomach as we hugged. I pushed away the new feeling and continued my conversation with Shirley.

I took a deep breath and uttered the words that I knew I would soon regret, "When do I start?"