Hidden ( being rewritten)

Chapter One

[Autumn]

"So, what's the plan for tonight?" Layla asked, clapping her hands together as she looked at me expectantly. I was sometimes the one who came up with all our plans.

"I know Mya's not going to like this," I grinned, and the third member of our group gasped.

"Then it can't be good," Mya shook her head, as she folded her arms against her chest.

"Come on, what is it?" Layla inquired. "Tell us, and then we'll decide whether it's good or not."

"Counciltown!" I announced proudly, pointing to the far away, almost blissful buildings in the distance.

"Are you crazy?" Mya shrieked. "Syrena Hutchinson lives there! That would be the worst place in the Aggregate to get caught! Besides, it would be nearly impossible to steal anything in Counciltown. Most of it's under high security, and it's super modern. There are no holes in fences and broken windows to slide through like in Community Orange!"

"I told you she wasn't going to like it," I shrugged. "But think about it, it's a great idea! The richest Specials in the Aggregate live in Counciltown! There's got to be more loot in there than all the Communities we've ever stolen from combined! And," I leaned in for effect. "Stealing from Council goons serves two purposes. It gets us money and revenge on Hutchinson."

"I'm sorry, but I'm out," Layla put up her hands.

"Hey, I thought you were the adventurous one!" I pouted.

"Have you ever heard what the Supreme Leader does to Blender thieves like us? I may be adventurous, Autumn, but I would really like to keep all of my limbs attached to my body!"

"Fine then, but can we at least-" I was cut off by the revving of an engine as a large white van turned the corner and came into view.

"Duck!" Mya whisper-yelled, and the three of us instinctively crouched behind a building.

"I wonder who's driving this late at night?" I narrowed my eyes disbelievingly. "There's something off about this..."

My suspicions were confirmed when Layla started pointing frantically at the vehicle.

"Hey, Autumn, look! It's an Aggregate van!" She gestured to the cheesy, colorful Aggregate logo of people holding hands on the side of it. They were supposed to represent the different color Communities working together as a combined whole, but most Blenders and even some Specials just thought they looked ridiculous.

"Why would the Aggregate have to snoop around at night like this?" I asked, even more confused than before. "They're the government! They could go around whenever they wanted to!"

"I don't know what it is with the new Supreme Leader, but Mya was right about her. Ever since she came to power, the Aggregate's been up to no good, right Mya?" Layla looked around, but our friend wasn't there.

"Mya?" I called, tiptoeing through the alley, yet she was nowhere to be found.

"Quick! Hide! There's people getting out of the van!" I found Layla and we crouched in the shadows, still searching for Mya with our eyes.

Seven men and women dressed in all black exited the van, holding hand-scanners and tiny black bags. I gulped when I saw the insignias on their shoulders.

"I feel honored, the Aggregate sent special agents after us," Layla said sarcastically.

"I don't think they're after us," I pointed to the agents, who were slowly walking along the pavement, holding out their beeping scanners.

"Put on your gloves before you pick it up!" One of them, probably their leader, ordered. "My niece wants it delivered to the Leadership District untouched!"

"Yes, Commander Hutchinson!" They replied in synchrony as they continued to inspect the block.

"Her niece..." I trailed off. "That must be Vyvienne Hutchinson, the Supreme Leader's aunt! I wonder what she's doing here..."

Before I could think about it, I heard the quick shuffling of feet in the street.

"Commander Hutchinson! I'm here!" A female voice called from the shadows, and an eighth agent came into view.

"Late again, Agent Livingston? You are a very talented young Special, and I would hate to lose you, but if you continue to be tardy to so many important missions, I'm afraid you could be suspended from this unit."

"I preferred not to share this information in front of the rest of the unit, but you leave me no choice, Commander Hutchinson," the new agent- Agent Livingston- breathed in sharply. "My unit is not my only responsibility at this point. I have direct orders to complete a top secret, high-priority mission for the Supreme Leader herself. And, I'm sure you understand that she has precedence over you..."

"But she would never go behind my back," Vyvienne Hutchinson shook her head. "I practically raised her!"

"She isn't going behind your back," Agent Livingston shook her head. "She actually wanted me to find the exact same thing you're here to find. And it looks like she beat you to it," she grinned, pulling out a tiny black box.

"Hey!" I tapped Layla on the shoulder. "We stole that box yesterday!"

"Yeah," she nodded, "I wonder how they got it."

"Oh, Syrena, she'll never change, will she?" Vyvienne laughed, taking the box from Agent Livingston. "Always has to do everything herself. Can't even trust her aunt to complete a simple mission. But what can I say? It's what keeps her at the top."

"I am sure that our great Leader has her reasons for this, as for all of the...queer changes that have been made recently," Agent Livingston gulped.

"You are dismissed," Vyvienne smiled, and the agent almost eagerly walked away. Just as she was leaving, she passed under the dim beam of a street lamp, and my heart caught in my throat when I saw her face. From her surprised gasp, I could tell Layla had come to the same realization as I had. This top Aggregate agent was our friend Mya! Hatred boiled inside me when I read her badge. Ariana Livingston. She had been lying to us for years!

"Oh, and, Commander Hutchinson," Mya- no, Ariana- laughed. "There's a group of thieves hiding somewhere around here. Blender scum, should be a piece of cake for you."

Stupid traitor!

I spat in Ariana's direction, before motioning to Layla, who crept towards me. We inched around the building, wincing at every small sound our feet made. Finally, we were out of the street, separated from the searching Aggregate agents by a tall, dark building.

"Okay, I think we're good," I gave Layla a thumbs up.

"Oh, really, are we?" I whipped around to see the smirking face of Vyvienne Hutchinson. The agents were in a semicircle around us, all pointing guns at our chests.

We backed up against the building's wall.

Well, this is going to be fun.