Agent Zero

Chapter 3 - Clear, Fat Evidence

Rebecca (April 7, 2021, 10:34 AM)

I found the evidence. Holding a small plastic bag of powdered opium poppy in my glove-covered hand, I felt a chill run down my spine. How did this even get here? The factory was supposed to be clean. My thoughts were interrupted by a gruff voice behind me.

"Lookie here... We've got a stowaway." My heart skipped a beat. I turned to see two men, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent.

"How much is she gonna cost?" one of them asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Probably just about 50," the other chuckled, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Cheap."

"50 million is expensive," I shot back, clutching the tiny bag tighter. My mind raced, trying to figure a way out of this.

"A bit sassy, too. Add an extra thousand," he sneered, clearly enjoying this. My stomach churned. His fist shot towards me, but I dodged it just in time. "Fighter, I like it," he mocked.

But dodging wasn't enough to protect me from what came next—a gun. Panic surged through me. If I could escape, maybe the others would have a chance too. They had an array of weapons: a gun, a pocket knife, a bat, a lamp, a mace—what now?

"You can't keep running, little puppy..." The nickname hit me like a physical blow. Only one person had ever called me that—my grandma. The realization sent a shiver through me. These men knew more than they were letting on.

Desperate, I grabbed a thick pole of wood and swung it with all my strength. The splinters bit into my palms, but I couldn't stop now. Adrenaline coursed through me as I almost reached the door. But then, a strong hand yanked my hair, pulling me to the ground. Pain shot through me as they pinned me down, their boots stomping on my arms.

Blood dripped from my hands, mixing with the dirt on the floor. Every joint ached, my body screaming in protest. They kept at it, their punches and kicks relentless. Just when I thought it was over, a familiar voice broke through the chaos—Kieran. He must have intervened, but I was too dazed to see clearly.

Someone lifted me, carrying me out of the factory. My eyes fluttered closed, my body too weak to resist. The next thing I knew, I was in a car, the vibrations lulling me into a fitful sleep.

When I awoke, I was in a hospital bed. The sterile smell of disinfectant filled my nose, and I blinked against the harsh overhead lights. My teammates were scattered around the room—Thalia and Mitski on the sofa, Bonnie on an armchair with her phone in hand. Kieran stood near the doorway, his eyes on Lionel, who sat beside my bed.

"She's awake!" Thalia's gasp drew everyone's attention. Kieran hurried out, returning moments later with a doctor. The man was a few inches taller than Kieran, his expression serious as he examined me.

"She's conscious, alright, but I need all of you to be careful. She's still recovering from her injuries and everything." He left, and Thalia stepped forward.

"We caught the goons. It appears no one else in the management or the employees knew there were drugs present. It's clear, fat evidence." Her voice was steady, but her eyes shifted to the floor, as if hiding something.

"What else?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. Before she could answer, Elaine and Noah entered the room.

"Oh, good, you're awake. You did well, Rebecca," Elaine said, her tone carrying an unusual note of warmth. But there was something in her eyes—a flicker of concern that made my heart skip a beat.

Kieran (April 7, 2021, 2:34 PM)

The chilly breeze had gone silent, leaving a heavy stillness in its wake. Rebecca reached out her hand, thanking me for saving her. But the truth was, she hadn't seen much of the action due to her injuries. When I arrived, Lionel was standing over the beaten bodies of the attackers. Whether I'd taken too long to get there or he was just incredibly fast, I couldn't say. Lionel deserved the credit, and I felt compelled to make sure he got it.

Standing near the doorway outside the room, I watched him. His thin strands of blond hair framed his face, highlighting his gray eyes. He looked different without blood on his hands—almost peaceful.

"You didn't tell her?" Lionel asked, breaking the silence. He looked up at me, confusion in his eyes.

"You were the one who saved her, not me," I replied, leaning against the wall.

"So?"

"Are we gonna play a guessing game, Lionel?" I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

"Leo," he corrected. I realized I might be the first one in the entire agency to start calling this enigmatic guy by his nickname. "Just call me Leo. Lionel's so long."

"I was going to... So, Leo, what's up with you?"

"Rebecca's... she's Rebecca, the nice, cheerful girl on the team."

"And the tall, blond male lead, Leo, saves the day?" I teased.

"No. Warrior guy Kieran saves the day."

"Why? It doesn't make sense."

"Ever heard of love at first sight?" He asked, his tone unexpectedly serious.

"Seriously? Is that what's happening right now?" I asked, taken aback.

"No. The opposite. I don't like her."

"I don't like any of you, but here I am," I retorted, smirking.

"She was the one who got all bent out of shape because she wasn't careful. And yet she gets the credit, and I—"

"I'll just tell her you saved her, end of story," I cut in, trying to avoid a pointless argument.

"Kieran, can't you just—"

"Kai," I interrupted. We were on nickname terms now, apparently. Progress.

"You're sharing nicknames now?" Mitski's voice interrupted, his tone mocking. "The knight in shining armor and the school hotshot all the girls like. What's not to love?"

"Well, what's your nickname?" Leo asked, clearly enjoying the banter.

"Mitski is my nickname," he said, smirking.

"What?!" Leo and I exclaimed simultaneously. "And so your real name is?"

"Maximillian Friar Schwartz," Mitski replied, his grin widening. "The third."

"And there's three of you?!" Leo gasped, genuinely surprised.

"If he has a chance of getting a son, there's about to be a fourth soon," I joked, shaking my head at the absurdity of our conversation. Was I actually bonding with these guys? It felt strange, but not entirely unpleasant.

"Wait, so if we all have nicknames, should we have a secret name code?" Mitski suggested, his enthusiasm palpable.

"A secret what now?" Leo's face twisted in mock disgust.

"A secret name code with all our names. Like, MitLeKai... or LeKaiMit..." Mitski continued, seemingly serious.

"We are not doing that," I declared, turning to leave. But their footsteps followed me, Mitski's voice still rambling off potential name combinations. It was annoying, but strangely comforting.

"MiKaiLeo...KaiMitLe... LeMitKai..." Mitski's voice trailed after us.

"Shut up!" I finally snapped, unable to take any more of his silly suggestions. But deep down, I felt a sense of camaraderie growing among us—a bond forged in the heat of battle and the absurdity of our lives.