Hidden ( being rewritten)

Chapter Seven

[Layla]

As I walked inside the jewelry store to preview the place where I would soon work, I immediately caught the scent of fresh mint and flowers.

"Hi, welcome to Zia's Jewelry and Accessories!" Zia walked in, more focused on the beaded necklace she was fixing than on me. "How may I help yo-" Her eyes grew wide when she saw me.

"Layla?!?" She set the necklace down on a wooden table. "What are you doing here?"

"Long story short, Vera said that we're supposed to contribute to Fray Sector in some way, since we're living here now. So, I chose to work with you." I plastered a wide smile onto my face, trying to make a go impression.

Zia clapped her hands repeatedly in excitement. "So what about your friend?" She asked.

"What about her?"

"Where's she going to work?" Zia asked innocently.

"I don't want to talk about it." I gritted my teeth, thinking with anger and worry of Autumn, who would soon be risking her life Outside.

"Bad choice?" She frowned, picking up the necklace again to continue stringing on the fallen beads.

"Yeah," I sighed. She nodded.

"Anyways, since you're going to start working here, I might as well go ahead and tell you about the rules before you start." Zia finished the necklace and gently lifted it up, clasping it around the back of her neck.

It had alternating pink and dark blue jewels, with a silver charm in the middle. The deep hues were a perfect contrast to her pale skin,this girl knew what she was doing.

"Basically, no changing prices without asking me or my dad, and be nice to customers."

"That's it?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yup," Zia beamed. "The Specials over complicate things so much, it's nice to be in a place with such few rules."

"Sounds fantastic." I smiled.

Zia smiled back. "Trust me, it is."

~*~

I was tired of waiting here, sitting on a rock out in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing to do. Even surrounded with state of the art force fields and plenty of weapons, I jumped whenever I heard the howls and screeches of the Outside's dreadful creatures. I was one of the Specials who had engineered their injections...I knew exactly how deadly they were.

She was taking too long. It had been 72 hours since we had last contacted. Maybe she was still in her office at Counciltown. Such a workaholic.

The wind blew my hair out of my face as I stood by the secret exit that led to the Outside. The Frays weren't the only ones with access to the dangerous lands beyond the Aggregate. I smiled at the irony: sometimes we had to break our own number one rule. 

I heard soft footsteps and the crunch of leaves on the ground and knew that it was her. No others would be Outside at this time of night. 

She appeared, her lightweight outfit made of tiny, flexible plates of bulletproof material blending in with the darkness. Her long, platinum blonde hair was in a ponytail, swinging methodically as she walked.

"It's nice to see you again," she smirked. 

"Nice to see you too, Syrena." I answered.

"You said that your team discovered some information about them?" She cocked her head to the side. I nodded, though I doubted she could see me. It was nearly midnight, and away from the bright lights of the Aggregate, it was pitch black. 

"Yes ma'am, we have located the two Blenders that you've been searching for." I replied.

"Where are they?" She asked frantically. I found it odd that the Supreme Leader was so worked about a few Blenders, she had every department in Counciltown searching for them! But, as usual, I kept my thoughts to myself. An agent's job is to fulfil orders, not to question them. 

"With the Frays, ma'am." I replied as quick as I could. "It appears that these outcasts have formed a Community of sorts in the forest we banished them to. They're taking in wanted Blenders and criminals." 

"A Community? Without our knowledge?" Syrena gave me an incredulous look." 

"It isn't very well developed. Nothing that could be a threat to us." 

Syrena huffed. "That's good to know. I will get Vyvienne on this case, but until then, do not let them leave under any circumstances. Surround the place with agents, gas them if you need to."

"That will be a problem." I told her slowly.

"And why is that?" She asked crossly. 

"The Frays assigned them jobs yesterday, according to the feeds from our cameras. One chose to work in a jewelry store, and the other chose to be a Warrior, a Fray operative. She will be making frequent trips to the Outside." I shoved my hands in my jacket.

"Hmm...I will see what I can do, until then, make sure that the other doesn't leave." Syrena replied. 

"The jewelry store worker?" I asked.

"Of course, but now I must go." She turned and started walking. "I have a city to run."

"Wait!" I called out, and she whipped around. I couldn't resist anymore, my curiosity was killing me. 

"Why are these Blenders so important?" 

"Because they may have seen the contents of the leather box. They were in possession of it for two whole days! We can't have them telling anyone. If the people find out what's in it, they will lose their trust in me and the Council. They may even revolt!"

"What is in the leather box?" 

"That's classified information."