Phantom

Chapter Two

     "Mom, I'm home!" I dropped my bag on the ground and hung up my helmet. It was nearly midnight, as Mr. Trent had kept me after to brief me and give me new gear.

     Feet pounded down the stairs, pouring Mom and Liam into the corridor. Mom rushed over and enveloped me in a hug. "Liam told me that you got reassigned and that it had something to do with the Eventide and we didn't know when you would be home and I thought you were going to kill somebody... Oh, Kanoa, you're home."

     I bit my lip. This was my mother, and I couldn't tell her what I was getting into. Trent had told me to tell my mom anything I wanted, as long I never gave away my position. But the idea I had in mind would hurt her, Liam, and me. Maybe Liam more than any of us. Mom stepped back to look at me.

     "So? What's your reassignment? What was your job?" Liam asked.

     I took a deep breath. "Mom was right." Mom gasped and stepped back farther. "I was sent to kill the recruitment officer. Send the Eventide a message. But when I got there... He said he could give me anything I wanted," I held out the package, even though I didn't have a clue what it held. "so I signed up for the Eventide. I go into training next week."

     Liam stared at me. His eyes reflected my betrayal and reminded me of a puppy that had been hit; confused and in pain. A faint smile pricked at the corners of his mouth. "This... This is some sorta joke, right? You're an assassin now, mission completed. Come on, where's the punch?" Liam held his face and started to slowly shake his head. "This isn't funny!"

     "I'm not lying, Liam." I kept my head level and held back tears.

     "I can't believe this. I--How could you do this, Kanoa? How could you betray us?" Liam balled his hands into fists and squeezed his eyes shut. I reached out to touch Liam. He jerked away, turning as he did so. "Don't," he whispered and stepped around me to the door.

     I turned back to my mom. She stood stone still, eyes dry. "I am your mother. I can tell when you're lying," Mom turned back towards the stairs. "I just hope you know what you are doing."

     The package laid, unopened, on my dresser. It had been five days since I signed up for the Eventide and today would be my first day at training. For the past five days, there had been no resistance, no Liam. It was odd waking up on my own accord and not having anything to do.

     There were soft footsteps and Mom opened the door. "Are you ready?" she whispered.

     "Yeah," I replied. "I just need to do something first." Mom nodded and left just as quietly as she came.

     I turned to the package and pulled my pocket knife from my pocket. The plastic came off easily, along with the duct-tape. The heavy package opened awkwardly. As I opened it all the way, my eyes glanced the contents. The package spilled over onto my bed, showering it in bundles of money. At least ten one-hundred dollar bundles were strewn across my bed. I gasped and looked through them . There was almost $120,000. I fell against the wall and smiled. What a prize.

     I hugged my mom and took a deep breath. "I'll miss you," she muttered into my hair.

     "I left something in my room for you. Don't get to it until I'm gone. And if you want to stay safe, don't go to the resistance. They'll kill anyone who's family of a traitor. Promise me, Mom, that you won't go to them, unless you are in definite, life-threatening danger. And if you are, say that you're looking for Diane. Promise me."

     "I promise." Mom held me out to look at me. Tears welled in her blue eyes, threatening to spill over onto her cheeks. She brought a hand to her mouth and took a step back. "I can't believe it..." she whispered. "You're my little girl. You can't leave!" Father lingered in the kitchen as he got ready for work, watching us with a disgusted gaze.

     "I have to go, Mom," I whispered and put my hand on the doorknob behind me.

     "No," I pulled the door open and began stepping out backwards.  "No, you can't leave! Kanoa! Don't leave," she began collapsing into sobs, reaching out. Her fingers dug into my sleeve, desperately trying to hold me back.

     Father rushed forwards and held Mom back. His tired eyes cut into mine, clearly taunting me to do anything more. I bit the inside of my cheek and turned away towards the car that was parked outside for me. As I hurried to its door, I looked around. People had been drawn out by the commotion that Mom had made and the rare sight of a vehicle. They watched in disgust, confusion, and anger. Across the street, in the yard that I used to play in, Liam motionlessly stood, a mix of all three on his face. He took an unsure back step towards his house. I bit my lip and quickly got into the car.

     "Good morning, Miss Edwards."

     "Edmunds," I immediately corrected and looked out the window.

     "Yes," a man sat on the other side of me, intently watching a tablet. "And how are you, my dear?"

     I chose to ignore the question and watched through the window as Mom broke free from Father's arms and chased after the car as it lurched into movement. Her screams penetrated the thick glass of the car. I took in the scenes of my street until Father and Liam managed to contain Mom. I didn't cry. I couldn't. The rebellion had pounded a very important lesson into me, when I had first joined.

     There is no time for tears in war.