Maze of Truths

Chapter 4 - The Thing About Trust

"So, who's my partner for the mission going to be?" I ask impatiently. After Ms. Raynen pretended to shoot me, I became kind of grouchy and now she's just waiting here. She looks up, startled.

"Well, don't you want to know your mission first?" I nod, and she goes on. "Well, here it is. Mrs. Dupuis, the CEO, has disappeared. We don't know where she is, and you probably haven't noticed, but this place is falling apart. I usually work in the disguise department, and so I'm not used to having people look to me when they want guidance. I don't know what to offer. Everyone thinks Mrs. Dupuis is ill, but in truth, she is gone. Has been for two weeks, and we need to find her fast. You and one other will go to San Francisco, California; Paris, France; and Barcelona, Spain. We have detected her in three different places, which is odd, considering that our technology is pretty much the best gadgets in the world. But nonetheless, you will go to each place, and using your gadgets and resources, track her down. It should be relatively easy. Also, I will call down the kids you'll be working with." She goes over to a computer, but before she clicks the intercom button, I stop her.

"Wait, but when I came here, wasn't someone supposed to interview me?" I can't believe I remember.

"Yes, well, we're in need of your help, Delaney. We would be wasting time interviewing you. We haven't had a new recruit in... let's see here... 5 years? Maybe more? Who can keep track these days? I sure can't. Also, are you ready to meet your partner for the mission? He'll come in now." Oh no. I'm pretty sure I just heard 'he'. And there's only one 'he' who she might put me with...

"Hey, Delaney! Sup?" says Devin as he struts through the door. I knew it. I don't know how this mission is supposed to get finished, but putting me with Devin is not a very smart idea on Ms. Raynen's move.

"Hi," I mutter, looking down. Devin looks hurt, but whatever. It doesn't matter; my first priority is to get Mrs. Dupuis. I turn to Ms. Raynen. "I guess I'll take my things and then we can leave. Is that alright?" She nods. Devin goes through the door first, and I make a move to follow, but Ms. Raynen grabs my arm.

"Remember, Delaney, trust no one. Devin is your partner, and you're going to have to work with him and stuff, but many spies are spies for a different organization. It's hard to explain, but it happens much too often. Spies get killed, and you are one of the first people to jump right into spy life like you've never known otherwise. It's remarkable, to say the least. It rarely happens, too. I don't want to have to put another spy ad in the paper since you never know who might see it. Countless people probably already have.

"But I need you to know that you are the only one that has not gone through training before a mission, so you need to rely on Devin to help you, but you can't trust him and cling to him like he's always going to be there. 'Cause he's not. Spies are quite solitary workers, and you need to learn that. So be close, but not too close. It doesn't make much sense now, but you'll understand sooner or later. I won't see you before you leave, but take your things, go to San Francisco, and try your best to find Mrs. Dupuis. The spy organization is counting on you. Good luck, and try to keep hidden the best you can. Enemies will be lurking everywhere, but the hard part is you don't know who your enemies are." She smiles, thrusts everything into my hands, and gently pushes me through the door. Devin is waiting for me outside.

I walk quickly to the bedroom that I share with Brooklynn and Quincy, taking care not to drop anything. I know that Devin is right behind me, following me, but either he's going to catch up with me or he'll lag behind. It's his choice.

"Okay, so I think your personality for this mission should be sweet and kind, but you should also act cool and popular. You need to have everyone like you. It'll be weird to have kids in school and adults at work, but you'll just have to deal with it. At least you're going to San Francisco! It'd be torture to have to wear short shorts in DC!" Brooklynn says. She's helping me dress and "get into my character" for the mission, but this girl really likes to talk. She's nonstop!

"I also think that you should wear some mascara, and maybe a little blush. You have to look like a typical teenage girl," Quincy says, dabbing powdery stuff at my face.

"What if I don't want to look like a typical teenage girl? What if it's annoying?" I brush my hand across my face, and Quincy swats it away. Teagan, who's also in the room, is looking through my gadgets and trying to find which ones I should have. Another girl who I don't know is running around the room attempting to stuff a million things I might need into a drawstring bag that's going to weigh a million pounds on my shoulders. "Hey, when do I leave?"

"Right now," says Devin, once again dropping down from one of the ceiling tiles. He's wearing some weird T-shirt that says "i 8 sum π ... and it was delicious!" What's that supposed to mean? But I have to focus at the task at hand here. I look over at everyone else that's in the room, and Teagan hands me a light pink backpack.

"Here! Everything you need is in this bag! I also wrapped you guys a lunch, which is in the drawstring bag in the backpack. Is it that heavy?" Teagan asks. The surprising thing is, I can hardly feel it. It's like I'm wearing a sweater, or if I have a blanket on my back. Not at all heavy, but I can still feel it.

"Uh, no. I can hardly feel it," I say. The girls look at each other and smile. I feel like they're hiding something from me, but I don't really know what.

"Okay, okay, let's go already! My gosh, you people!" Devin practically yells. I look at Quincy, roll my eyes, and wave. They wave back. Then we're off on my very first adventure. I have a feeling that it's not going to be easy. And boy, am I right about that.