Tainted

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

My eyes stung and my head throbbed as I strode down the corridor towards simulation. My bright blue shorts and sports bra clung to my body, my hair up in a messy ponytail. I opened the door to simulation, to have a group of strangers turn towards me.

The elderly man paced towards me, his name now visible on his name tag; Mr. Brians.

"Maisie, what are you doing here?" he half whispered, half shouted at me.

"Umm simulation?" I said obviously.

"Didn't Dan tell you, your spending the day off campus today or something, the professor has dismissed you officially from training, you had to report to his office," he looked at his watch. "Actually, in about ten minutes. You might be able to make it if you hurry up." He told me.

"No he didn't tell me actually." I snapped, furious at Dans immature behaviour. I noticed Mr Brians flinch and immediately felt guilty before softening my tone and expression. "But thank you, ill see you soon, I better get going." I finished with a smile before leaving the stuffy room and sprinting up the many flights of stairs, too impatient to wait for the lift.

I finally made it to the professors apartment/office, panting and sweating. I sat on the chair opposite his door and caught my breath before knocking.

"Come in." I heard his voice call from inside the apartment. I opened the door timidly, welcomed by the bright daylight coming in through the window, as I adjusted my sports bag nervously on my shoulder.

The professor poked his head around the wall, before stepping around and grinning at me.

"Ahh Maisie." He sighed, clapping his hands together. "You made it." He finished.

"Yeah.. um.. I'm sorry I'm late, I didn't even know about this until like fifteen minutes ago." I laughed nervously.

"Oh." He looked slightly taken aback, a frown on his ageing face. "Didn't Dan te-" I cut him off before he had time to finish. "No he didn't, he obviously thought it wasn't important while he was-" I stopped myself abruptly, suddenly aware of what I was saying, as well as the tone I was using. I couldn't even control the anger that had built up while thinking of him, yet jealousy still burnt deep inside of me when I thought of him and Chelsea together. I looked up at the slightly startled man before smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that." A blush warmed my face and I tightened my high ponytail.

He shook his head as a 'don't worry' and then gestured for me to follow him. I sat down opposite him, him behind his desk and me in front. It was like being back at the head teachers office.

"Ok, so Maisie we've had some news. I hear you've met Romeo." He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow suggestively. My breath hitched, but I covered it with a cough and avoided his intense stare.

I was about to deny it when he shook his head and held his hand up, stopping me from even beginning to blurt my excuses.

"There's no point in denying it. We know everything; Starbucks, the phone call, the date." He tried to hide his smile yet didn't do a very good job.

"Wow. How do you know?" I asked him, surprised at his knowledge. I suddenly felt conscious about my privacy, they must know everything.

"I know some people." He leant back smugly. I laughed at his secretiveness, of course he wasn't going to tell me. "Of course you do." I replied.

"So," he returned to his professional self. "We have decided to send you on the mission early. You are exceeding our expectations in training massively so that's not a problem, and you are already interacting with Romero, so it's all good to go." He told me and he leant back in his chair, crossing his arms.

My heart dropped to my stomach. Alone? On the mission? I'd known this day would come but I never knew it would happen so soon.

Was I ready? On paper, definitely. But, out on duty? Not so sure.

"Wow ok. I did not see that coming." I laughed nervously, still stunned from the news.

"We have organised for you to go and live in one of our secret resident apartments. It is about half an hour from here so it won't, well shouldn't, raise any suspicion." I struggled to keep my breathing even, my head swimming in the new information.

So I wasn't even going to be living here anymore. My heart ached at the thought of being away from Dan, no matter how much I tried to push it aside.

"You will have to report to us every night, either by visiting and making a statement to an agent, recording it on a webcam connected to our systems, or send us a statement. You are going to need these." He pushed a small pile of papers towards me from across the desk. I picked it up and flicked through briefly before looking back up to the professor.

"Your new car will be waiting outside. I hope everything goes well. You know what you have to do yes?" A car? Even though all of the rest scared me, at least I got a new car out of it.

"Befriend Romero, find out as much as I can about Lanianos, and retrieve evidence to put him and his men away for a very long time." I said to him, like i was reciting a script.

"Great. Good luck." He then stood, as did I.

I shook his hand and bid my goodbyes before leaving his apartment. I went back down to my room in a stunned silence, before sitting down on my bed, trying to register all the information I had just been given.

I began to pack up all of my things, my mouth dry and my hands cold.

Should I say goodbye to Dan? He definitely didn't deserve it, but I didn't know when I would next see him.

I decided I would. It wouldn't hurt to just knock on his door and tell him what was happening, if he didn't already know. I didn't want to leave things on a bad note.

Once I had packed up everything into my suitcase, I did a check of the small apartment and walked out.

It was weird leaving. It had almost become my home for the last few weeks and the thought of leaving my new comfort zone, made me even more anxious.

I closed my door quietly behind me and made my way outside. When I stepped out, I couldn't believe my eyes. In front of me was a matte grey BMW 4th series. It was clean cut and brand new and a note sat on the windscreen.

*To Maisie,

I hope you like it.

Good luck, Professor Jones.*

I smiled at the note and then grinned at my new car. I jumped around squealing for a moment before I ran around to the drivers side. When I opened the door, I spotted the keys sat on the seat and I picked them up before clambering inside.

The interior was beautiful. Everything was sleek and high tech, a small touch screen in the divider and buttons all around me. Definitely an upgrade from my mini.

Again, I found myself squealing at my new ride. God I was gonna look good in this.

I had just passed my driving test about 3 months before I came here. My blue mini had actually been my Nan's. Her Spanish boyfriend had bought it as a present, yet she had passed it down to me. Oh well, I had a posh sports car to drive now.

I was about to put the keys into the ignition when sudden realisation dawned on me. I got out the car, my good mood suddenly deflated by what I knew i would have to do next.

I walked back up to my floor, well my old floor, and walked along to Dans room. I took a deep breath and finally mustered all of my courage to knock on his door. Although, as soon as my fist hit the wood, I wanted to run away and just drive to my new apartment, leaving things how they were with Dan, yet I knew I couldn't.