Suspended (Lisamcmann)

Suspended

 I twisted my hair into a ponytail, tucking it under my cap and lowering the brim. Then I took a final look around the room full of strangers, wondering which of them would help me escape, and which would try to kill me.

I walked casually through the crowd, making my way to the crowded, noisy street.

My name is Thalia Nicks. I'm 15 years old and I was an ex-C.I.A. agent.  Notice I said ex.  I was suspended for two months for blowing a mission and exploding a factory.  Let's just say there was a little misunderstanding.  I thought we were supposed to destroy the plant, not gather intel!  But, hey, I'm only 15 and we all make mistakes. Nolan Inc was an industry that was trying to destroy the C.I.A.  I destroyed a very large factory with thousands of dollars worth of information they needed.  So, let's just say, they don't like me very much.  While my suspension is taking place, I'm staying with my older brother, Trent, who's 21 and works for the F.B.I.

I was born in Brighton, England.  I have dark brown, almost black, hair and very light blue eyes.  I was born and bred for this work.  I was training to work for Scottland Yard until I was shipped off to America for accidently causing a riot.  After I was deported to America I was immediately recruited for the C.I.A.

I know what you’re thinking, "Oh wow!  Being an agent must be so cool!"  Let me tell you; it’s not exactly a walk in the park. 15 years old, and never been kissed, never had a date, never had real friends, never been to a foot ball game, never been to a public school for that matter, but I have; exploded a building, driven a getaway car, kicked people in the jaw, and, most importantly, I'm a bloody spy!   But I don't boo hoo about not having a normal life; I like my life the way it is.  I don't care if it's normal, it's high speed.  That's how I like it.

I stood idly in the crowd until a tall, slender, yet slightly built boy with blonde hair and bright green eyes came to stand next to me.  He gave me a slight nod and then scanned the crowd around us.

"Agent Waters."  I said after a few seconds silence.

"I told you to call me Cole."  He said, giving me a side glance.

"And I told you to stop wasting your time.  I am not helping you with your mad venture to expose Nolan Inc."  I replied coolly.

"But I need your help.  Only for a few days or as soon as I get the information I need."  He almost begged.

"No."  I replied flatly.  He opened his mouth, about to reply, and then decided against it.  He closed his mouth and scanned the crowd, brow furrowed.  I smirked, knowing I had irritated him.  I've known Cole for years.  Besides my team and Trent, he’s the one of the closest things I have to a family.  He's a lot taller than me but still, I win in most of our arguments.  Suddenly, I caught sight of another boy about my age staring at me.  I had seen this boy several other times, more and more recently after I'd been suspended.  I needed to get out of there.  Fast.

"So, Cole.  Tell me more about this car you want to buy."  I said, trying to act casual as I pulled Cole by the arm, walking the opposite direction from the strange boy.

"Wha-?"  He said, extremely confused.

"Suspicious character at 6 o'clock."  I muttered as I walked quickly down the street, my hand still clutched tightly around Cole's arm.  I glanced back and saw the boy following us.

"Let's split up."  Cole muttered.  I nodded and took off down a different street, went into an old warehouse, and, to my great surprise, the boy was already there.

"Who are you?"  I said, trying to act a fierce as possible.  Not waiting for answer, I kicked him hard in the chest.  He staggered backwards towards the wall.  I walked forward, ready to strike again, while he dug through his pockets and pulled out, whadda know?  A gun.  Hey, I may be an agent but I'm not bloody invincible!  I backed up against a wall, my hands at surrender.

"For an agent, you're not that smart."  He sneered, his gray eyes glinting with success.

"I'm smarter that you anyways."  I said, snidely.  He looked me for a long time with those beautiful grey eyes.

"I can't do it."  He said, dropping his gun and turning away from me.  "I'm no killer."

"Who are you?"  I said quietly, actually wanting an answer this time.

"My name is Jay Lindsey. I'm 16 and I work for Nolan Inc.  They hired me to kill you.  But, I’m not a killer.  They took my family.  They threatened me.  I could never kill anyone, especially you.”  He said sadly.  He has grey eyes and shaggy chocolate brown hair.  I almost felt sorry for him, the way he was talking.

"Why?"  I asked quietly.

"Because-" Before he could answer and explosion rang from somewhere inside the building.

"This was a trap!!"   I screamed.

"No!  I swear I had nothing to do with this!"  He said obviously panicked.

“Cannot believe I felt sorry for you!”  I thundered at him before giving him a punch in the nose and sprinting into the smoke filled hallway.  I was running blindly through the building, trying to find my way out before the entire building collapsed.  Smoke was filling my lungs more quickly now and fogging my vision.  After about five minutes my legs gave out and I fell into a dead faint onto the floor.

A few minutes later, I float back into consciousness.  I'm aware of someone carrying me away from the warehouse, which is now rubble.  Jay? I think hazily and then suddenly realize it's not Jay, its Cole.

He set's me down gently against a building.

"You gave me a right good scare there."  He said, brushing my dark hair out of my smoke stained face.

"Me too."  Says an icy and familiar voice just behind Cole.  "I wanted the pleasure of killing you myself."