From Orphan to Secret Agent

Beginnings

Have you ever had a crazy dream that involved some kind of creature invading your world or is just there? Well, if they find a way they will escape into our world, they will. That's when the DWRA comes in. We're the Dream-world Research Agency. I joined because of a possible kidnapping that would've happened if it weren't for my two friends. I may be a successful woman now, but I came from some pretty rough beginnings.

My parents were drunks and ran off to Vegas without a goodbye, just a note, saying where they were and a "good riddance" along with it. I plan to never get involved in alcohol or drugs like they did. I've seen what it does to people and most of the time, it's not very flattering. It changes you, when your parents are suffering from an addiction. It toughens you up and builds up a world of envy for the people who have kind parents, who have the occasional glass of wine and are engaged in conversations and are there for you when you need it.

When I had trouble with something, I never went to my parents; I went to my aunt who was there as a nanny just to make sure I was well behaved and entertained enough, while my dad, who at this point had no drinking problem and was trying to keep my mom from buying more wine.

Just before my parents ran off, about 4 years ago, My aunt was going to visit her daughter in Paris, the plane lifted off in New York, but never touched down in Paris, my dad, suffering from grief of his sister, ran right into the hands of a bottle of scotch. My parents chose alcohol over their 12-year old daughter, and ran off.

About 2 years later, after getting kicked out of 3 abandoned apartments and 4 abandoned houses just outside New York. I decided I needed a fresh start and snuck onto a train going straight to Chicago. I was 14 at the time and ready to try to find work or a family.

A month later I resorted to soup kitchens and abandoned apartments again. At a soup kitchen, one day, I was eating my crappy meal when this creep comes over and asks if I came there often. He offered me a cigarette and I snapped a refusal at him. He said that a "pretty girl like me shouldn't be alone in this neck of town" and grabbed my arm and dragged me outside the building, and tried to get me into the alley. Well, he made the mistake of underestimating freckled brunette and got a foot to the groin, a black eye, a bite mark on his wrist and no wallet.

I was making a run for it when I ran into these two guys. One dirty blond, and the other a brunette. I tried to push past them, but the dirty blond held my arms and tried to calm me down as the brunette aimed a strange looking gun at the creep.

"She belongs to me." The creep said backing up. The brunette pulled out a stack of money and held it out. "You want her or the dough?" he asked.

The creep eyed me curiously and then glanced back at the cash, then back at me. He studied my figure slowly then asked, "Depends, how much money do ya got there?"

"I'd say maybe two-grand, give or take." The blond replied.

The creep thought about it a little. "I'll take the money and my wallet, thank you." He said as he came to a conclusion. The blond took one hand off my elbow and held it out with a raised eyebrow. I rolled my eyes and slapped the wallet into his hand.

The blond tossed it to the creep and the brunette tossed the stack of cash. The creep ran off and disappeared around the corner. The brunette put away the gun and scolded the blond. "Why didn't you get the man's picture? We could've given it to the cops."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think of that." The blond said.

I just smirked and handed the brunette the creep's driver's license that I had swiped out of his wallet.

"Oh, this girl's good." The blond said.

"Hey, you look familiar." The brunette said to me. I didn't know why, maybe he knew my Aunt or something. "Do you have a name or do I just call you ponytail." He said as he reached behind my head and flipped my straight, chocolate-brown hair that was pulled back into a medium high ponytail.

"Kennedie, Kennedie Riley." I said.

"Oh, I used to know your dad." The blond said. "David Riley, Right? How is he?"

I scowled at the ground and said, "You tell me. He's with my mom in Vegas with no plans of returning, and no plans of quitting alcohol."

"I'm so sorry, I didn't reali --"

"It's fine. They wanted to gamble and drink more than they wanted a daughter. Because they left, I'm stronger now. I've had to learn how to fight to survive in this area." I say as I look up at them.

"Well," The brunette started, "my name's Mike, and this is my brother Roger."

"Sweet, well, um, thanks for saving my skin, but I better get on my way." I said as I started to walk away.

"Wait," Roger called. I turn around. "How old are you?" he called.

"I'll be 15 in May." I answered.

"I'm 15, and Mike's going to be 15 in March." Roger shrugged.

"I think what he's trying to say is how about you stick with us." Mike said, "We all need some form of family."

I was so excited I ran to them and threw myself into Mike's arms, squealing thank-yous and actually crying with joy. This moment was the first time in a long time I felt like someone cared about me.