Maze of Truths

Chapter 1 - The DC Filing Station

"Go to your room!" Pop screams, pointing down the hall. It's only 10:00, but there's no negotiating with Pop when he's like this. I turn quickly on my heel and don't trust myself to open my mouth. I know nothing but rotten things will come out.

I slam the door behind me, then kick off my shoes. No one understands me. It's not my fault that I always mess everything up. I lay on my bed. Really, living with Pop is going to make me insane. If only I could live alone.

The newspaper. I pack my things in the most lightweight luggage I can find. Some clothes, shampoo, and a picture in it's frame. That's basically all of my stuff.

I step out into the hall and hear the TV running. Quickly and stealthily, I make my way over to living room, but Pop is asleep on the couch. Score. I run down the hall and step through the door.

* * * * * *

The cold slams into me like I'm hitting a brick wall. I wonder if I'd be able to hail a taxi at 10:30. Instead of waiting, I walk along the streets. It's only a few streets down, anyway. But as soon as I get there, I stop. What if I shouldn't do this? What if I'm not cut out for it? What if the station isn't open at 10:30 at night?I take a deep breath. Okay. After a few more deep breaths, I walk through the doors of the DC Filing Station

The secretary is chewing strong peppermint gum, and her nails make a soft click-click-clack sound on the keyboard.

"Can I help you?" she says, not even bothering to look up. There's a soft ticking in the background from a clock, and the air smells like linoleum and oranges. I have a distinct feeling that I'm being watched, but I don't turn around.

"Um, yes, hi. My name is Delaney, and I was wondering if maybe I could sign up for spy interviews?" She finally looks up, surprised.

"Spy interviews? You were able to decode the message? From the newspaper?" She speaks in a hushed tone, so I do the same.

"Yes. It was easy. My... dad brings home the newspaper each day, and it's written in simple invisible ink. Just saying, it was kind of obvious." She nods, writes something on her computer, and punches in some numbers on the phone. One second, she mouths to me.

"Ms. Dupuis? Oh, hello, Mrs. Raynen. Is Ms. Dupuis not available at the moment? Oh, I see." A look of concern crosses her face. "Mrs. Raynen, I'm calling about a position possibility for a... new recruit. Yes. I'm sure. Girl. Not really, it doesn't appear so." She pauses for a second and looks me up and down. "She looks to be in good condition. I can't tell. We have to do some tests. Should she come up? Oh, to the girl's boarding floor? Are you sure that-" She waits for a moment, and then nods. Once the phone is back in its place, she turns to me. "I'm Fiona, the secretary. If you have any questions, you should come ask me. You might see that Mrs. Raynen is not the most agreeable person in the world." I nod, leave, and find a staircase. Almost as soon as I take a stair, a voice calls from behind me.

"You do know there's an elevator here, right?" I look down, and a boy is staring up at me with bright blue eyes.

"Sure I did. Isn't it good to get exercise?" He laughs, and makes a beckoning motion with his hand.

"Hey, I think you want to go in the elevator." He starts walking towards the elevator and calls back, "It's not like I'm gonna bite!" I sigh, back down the stairs, and join him in the elevator. He presses the third button. At first, I say nothing because it's kind of awkward to have this boy keep staring at me, but then I think of an interesting conversation starter.

"Wait a minute, how do you know which floor I need to go to?" It comes out angrier than I expected.

"Hey, I'm a spy. It's my job to know. So, anywho, my name is Devin, what's yours, new recruit?" he says, winking. I'm already starting to not like this guy. I sigh.

"Didn't you catch my name as well, Devin?" I say, drawing out his name. He blushes.

"Well, I may have missed that part. Anyway, name? We're nearing your floor, by the way. Girls on one floor, boys on the other. Be at breakfast right when your alarm goes off. You will be served a nutritious but not too plentiful breakfast. Dinner is served as well, but it's every man for himself during lunch. Everybody has their own uniform, which will probably be decided for you tomorrow. Missions are given out weekly, and it often takes about a week to complete them. Get the job done as soon as you can, you have one week and one week only until they send backup. Don't question anything, and keep your eyes peeled. You never know when something useful in finishing your mission is going to come up, and you never, ever know when the enemy will strike. Wouldn't want anything to happen to the new recruit," he says, winking. I don't think he's kidding though; I see the solemn glint in his eyes.

I smile just as soon as the elevator doors open to reveal a normal floor, full of filing cabinets. There must be hundreds of them! But the thing is, I don't see anything that a spy would use. No gadgets, no rooms, no special training equipment. Also, it's really dark, as if no one's been up here for a really long time. I turn back to the elevator, but where there was Devin before, now there's another girl. Taller, fitter, older, and a lot more fashionable, she smiles a kind smile in my direction.

"Hey. I'm Teagan. What's your name?"