Agent BlueBird

Chapter 12-Let's get physical

It has been about a month since Rebecca had the painting of her veins made. Francois finally called her mother to let her know that the painting is completely finished and that he found the other paintings. He found them in a large family chest that he inherited from his father which he had stored in a storage unit in the city. He also asked Rebecca's mother if they could help him piece the map together. Her mother agreed to help and told him that she would try to convince Rebecca to join them. It takes a while and a whole lot of convincing, but her mother eventually tells Rebecca that it is her duty to help piece the map together and that managed to convince Rebecca to tag along.

They arrive at his front door and Rebecca realizes that she feels a lot less nervous than she did last time they were there. Her mother knocks on the door and the door flies open almost immediately, as if Francois was waiting next to the door for them.

"Hi guys!" He greets enthusiastically, his blue and brown eyes glowing.

"Hey." Rebecca and her mother say at the same time as they step inside the apartment. He leads them to his kitchen and rummages around for something for them to drink.

"So, after I found the paintings, I played around and tried to figure out the map you need. I put a couple of pieces together, but it seems to me that there are two separate maps. One is more detailed and the other less so. Maybe one is to find the continent and the other is to find the place itself." He tastefully pours them each a glass of juice and after they take it, he leads them toward his bedroom.

The room's floor is covered in various paintings, scattered all around. A small part of the room is neat with paintings lined up against one another.

"Wow! These are a lot of paintings. I'm guessing that is what you have of the map so far?" Rebecca asks as she points to the paintings that are lined up.

"Yeah, not much I know. But as I struggled with the painting, I developed my theory that they are two different maps. See..." He says as he walks over to a corner of the room.

"These map-pieces fit perfectly, but they don't line up with the other map. "

"I see. Your suspicions may be correct," Rebecca's mother says as she walks over to inspect the map. She tilts her head to the side and frowns at the pieces of cloth, her drink still in hand.

They spend almost the entire day at Francois' apartment trying to piece the map together. Rebecca gets so bored at one stage that she stares at the map upside down while lying on a wingback couch Francois has in his bedroom. But thanks to her silliness she had a breakthrough regarding the map.

They do not manage to finish the map and so they will have to return, at least two more times before the map is completed. Luckily Francois tries to make their time there more interesting, and less work-oriented with his bubbly personality and DJ skills. Rebecca's mother decides to make plans to postpone their mental training sessions and instead focus on finishing the map. However, the self-defense classes will still continue, since they can't really think up a good enough excuse to give her father that will allow her some time off without telling him the truth.

***

Rebecca is busy getting ready for self-defense class when Kyan walks into their locker room.

"Hey Little Birdy," he says as he drops his bag next to the bench Rebecca is sitting on.

"What is with this 'Little birdy' thing?" she asks, already irritated by Kyan's presence.

"What, you don't like your nickname? How about Feathers? You know because of your little tato..." She stops him before he can complete his sentence, with one hand pressed tightly over Kyan's mouth and the other index finger on her own.