My Classified Life

Chapter One: It's Only The Beginning

My family is very different from most. In most families, you know your dad’s name. In mine we simply refer to him as Dad, our correspondent, and on occasion, Bob. (though I don’t believe that’s his actual name) In most families your mother teaches you things like how to be a proper woman. And not the best way to pick a lock in Europe. No, my family is very, very different from most.

My mother reached for the button along the cave wall that raised the door to reveal two of my three sisters, Sammy and Brit. But mom NEVER called us that. To her we are Brittany, Samantha, and Emily. Brit is the oldest of us at 22 with Sammy at 19 and myself at 16. And even though they’re older, I’m the fastest runner.

“Looks like Emily wins again.” Brit said sourly as her and Sammy came under the rising door. Sammy just huffed at me and crossed her arms then cocked her hip. Usually Brit is the one with the attitude, but Sammy really hates losing.

“Now, now girls jealously doesn’t look good on anyone and it certainly isn’t doing you two any favors.” I smiled smugly.

“Don’t even get me started on you, Em!” Sammy retorted angrily.

“Oh, calm down girls. You will get another chance in a couple of days in Monte Carlo. Then we will see who can swim the fastest.”

I was already tingling with excitement.

You see, my mother is the daughter of a class A thief. And being a thief is almost like being a spy, or so she tells us. Our mother is training us for any job in either category. Brit’s been trying to get into British Intelligence and Sammy is hoping for something that involves shiny things and money. Our dad works for the President’s Secret Terrorist Protective Force, but the rest of his story is classified. Much like what my mom did in ‘99 and ‘04. But, a lot of stuff in my life is classified.

“Well, Emily,” my mother stated “you did win. So this is your prize.” I was handed an empty burlap sack from the floor below us. It held nothing and was covered in dirt.

“What is it?”

“It’s symbolic.”

“Of what?” I asked frustrated.

“Not having to run back through the forest. You and I will take the ATV while Samantha and Brittany get a three mile run. Congratulations.” She said coolly and with a sense of authority.

With my aching legs and feet this prize sounded amazing. I followed mother out through the back archway of the complex while Brit and Sammy took off running through the main entrance.

“How did you find this place?”

“You would be surprised how much land my uncle still owns in South America.” she stated simply.

As we neared the back side of the cave which was stuck into the side of very dusty and rocky hill, I could hear automatic doors closing behind us. We came upon another metal door with a keypad on it. Mother typed in the 8 digit code while I stood by and asked “Only a combination?”

“Not every place you will go to around the world has advanced security systems, Emily. Believe it or not some people have nothing to hide.”

I highly doubted her.

She stepped through the doors as they opened and walked me to the ATV. My mother easily stepped onto it with her fashionable high heeled boots and looked to me to follow. The image of this elegant women on a muddy and camouflage colored ATV made me laugh at her. I quickly climbed on beside her after she gave me a condescending look. She raised the doors behind us with the easy click of a button on the steering handles. Mother started the rumbling engine and took off backwards out of the cave and into the forest before quickly spinning around and driving through and old path that was now strayed with brush and small budding trees. I relaxed on the seat and closed my eyes to let the humid air whip through my long brown hair.

　

　

Approximately 27 hours later in the comfort of my bedroom in our house outside D.C., I sat on my bed researching different places to rent scuba gear in Monte Carlo with my laptop. I sat cross legged on top of my teal zebra comforter when I started to get the weird feeling someone was watching me. When I gazed out the window I saw nothing but our gravel driveway leading to the interstate and our apple trees in full bloom with their bright pink blossoms. But I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched. I closed my laptop and rose off the bed and slowly and crept to the door which was open a crack. I pulled it open quickly to be given a mini-heart attack.

“Boo!” my best friend yelled as she leaped from her hiding spot behind my door.

“Ahh!!” I yelped then quickly put my hand on my heart and breathed in sharp bursts.

“Gotcha!”

“Do you like giving me heart attacks?” I screeched.

“Not my fault you’re easily scared.” she said as she shrugged her shoulders and walked into my room, sat on my bed and opened her Gatorade she had in her hands and quickly drank some.

Christina was my best friend in the entire world. I never had to hide my true personality from her because her parents are in the espionage business, too. We had been together forever and have the inside jokes (and scars) to prove it. We just get each other. She came to my house often and this kind of behavior was normal which is why I sat next to her and asked “What kind is it?”

And she handed me the bottle and said “Strawberry lemonade.”

“Mmm, good.” I replied after taking a drink.

Christina had opened my laptop and was looking at my web pages. Her face curled from confusion.

“Monte Carlo?”

“Yeah, training session.” I answered.

Her face lit up and she began to hop up and down on the bed.

“Can I come?” Christina begged.

“Maybe, I’ll have to ask my mom.”

“She’ll totally say yes! Your mom loves me.”

Christina was right. A very brief phone all to mother sorted that out nicely.

“Yes! While we’re there we should go shopping. There’s this one place tha-”

“Hello? Earth to Tina! I’m on a mission, not vacation.” She pouted her lips.

“Besides, if you’re going to come you need to be helping me with he mission..”

“Because you’re going to be needing help.” Brit said as she appeared in my doorway leaning against the door frame looking like the typical bad ass spy.

“Whatever,” I huffed.

“Please, she should just help BOTH of you.” Sammy butted in while in the hallway. “You’ll need it.”

I stood up off my bed and walked to the door, slamming it shut as I said “We’ll just see about that.”

Christina had already pulled up maps of Monte Carlo and was printing them as I sat on the bed again.

I spent the next few days memorizing maps and tide directions along with brushing up on my French. I really thought I was ready when all five of us boarded a plane to Monte Carlo. But, I would soon discover, it was only just the beginning.

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Yay! this book has a theme song! Woo! It's called Undercover by Allstar Weekend and the youtube video for the song is off to the side here ---->

thats all!

<3 thatcrazybookworm