Solitude

Chapter 14 (Planning)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

        "We found something!"

        The simple statement made everyone froze. A few minutes of silence then it's a chaos. Shouts could be heard from the four corners of that small room in some underground lab of The Eye.

        Alex jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder; it was Nick. "We have a lead." is all he said.

        Her answer came out as a whisper. She felt as if the world turned upside down and she's still trying to find her equilibrium or else she would fall. Her ears still buzzing and her mind's still processing what he heard.

        "Alex, come here!" that sharp bark from a senior agent broke her trance and slowly approaches the slowly forming circle of agents in front of the center table.

        They were, talking but she could barely hear it. She should shook herself up but she could barely talk; much less move.

        "You alright?" Nick asked. "Too much for you to take in, huh?"

        She wanted to say something but she felt as if her mouth was sewn shut, her jaw locked, and she couldn't talk.

        "Maybe you should sit down for a bit." Nick guided her to the nearest chair but before he could turn away, she caught his arm in a tight grip.

          "I want to know." her voice sounded hoarse, she knew but she didn't care. They found a clue or something about her mother's whereabouts and she wanted to know everything.

        He gently removed her grip on his arm and squeezed her hand. "I will." he said and turn back to the other agents to join the discussion.

        It was like a lifetime before she had the strength to move. She held on to a table to steady herself and went to get a drink. That was the time when she noticed that she's shaking. She closed her eyes and started counting in her head, trying to calm herself down.

        "I'm going." she announced. "I want to be there and I'm going to be there. No one has the right to say otherwise."

        The director looked as if he's going to say no, but he saw the fierce determination in her eyes so he just sighed and gave an affirmative.

        "Are you sure you can handle it?" Nick askes her. She gave a nod and went straight to the planning room. It's not that she's irritated with Nick, no it wasn't that. She appreciated the worrying and the inquiries about how she's coping up but she's handling everything alright so there's nothing to worry about.

        The room was filled with people when she walked in, she squeezed herself in and looked for a comfortable space. Nick followed her and stood next to her as if guarding her.

        "This is what our agents found," the director started. "Agent X - that's what we've decided to call her - is being kept in a one of the safe houses in this area." He circled a portion of the map tucked up in the board. "Tonight, that report was confirmed by our source.

        " There will be four units - first to infiltrate the building, second to secure every possible exits, third to sorround the building, and the fourth will be the technical team. There will be five agents in the first unit - Fraiser, George, Nick, Shawn, and Alex; second unit is Kent, Dominique, Frank, Mike, Jade. The third unit is Rick, Mel, Arjay, Jay, John and Kevin. Technical team goes with me and that's you Elizabeth, Lyon, Tara, and Eric. The rest are back-ups."

          Agent Morrison from the tactical team emerged from the crowd and stood beside the director. "The first unit to go on the scene is Unit No. 4. You will scout the area, find the exits, estimate the count, set everything up, and call the shots. No. 1, 2, 3 will follow. 1, you will go inside, be as invisible as you can, take out everyone, rescue the agent. 2, you will seal the exits, kill everyone who'll try to leave, and hold your position until ordered so. 3, close in as soon as possible, make sure no one escapes, and secure the area."

        Alex knew how dangerous it was, she knew what she have to and she's prepared to do it. She tried to keep up with Nick as they're walking out of the building. They've been briefed, tomorrow, it's up to them.

        She was about to take a step towards the car when her stomach rumbled. A sound of laughter could be heard behind her so she turned around to give her best glare.    

        "It looks like the monster in your stomach wants to be fed," he said. "Care for a dinner somewhere?"

        She opened the car door and jumped inside as fast as she could. "As long as you're paying, I don't mind." she said with a small smile playing on her lips.

        "You're on."

        They were about to park when she let out a huge yawn. She sighed and rubbed her hands on her face.

        "Know what, I got a better idea," Nick said. "Let's go drive-thru."

        Alex tried to stop the laughter bubbling from her chest. She tried to hold it in but not a minute later, a snort came out followed by a loud laugh that echoed insinside the car. She was desperate for air when she forced herself to calm down.

        "Thank you," she said quietly to the amazing guy beside her. Her spirit calmed and her face relaxed.

          "For what?" he asked confused on why she's grateful.

        "You always know how to male me feel alright. How to calm me down and how to make me laugh."

        "That's only because I'm amazing, darling."

      "Oh, please don't turn into your evil, narcissist alter ego. I'm only starting to like you!"

        "You don't like me, you love me."

        "Whatever floats your boat, Nicholas. Whatever floats your boat."

        She closed her knowing that she's safe with him and if there's one person in the world that she trusts with all her life, it's him.