Serene

7

"I was chosen." She starts. "When you're chosen by the Government, not Gratis', you have no choice but to go through the school they choose for you. My mom went through the same thing. But hers was worse. Anyway, they trained us to excel in certain skills, though not with the same goal they had years ago, since the War is over. Now it's just to plant young spies or working agents around the world. The school seems to detect that there will be a sudden burst in the world of peace and they want to be ready for it. Or start it."

"So, you're a spy." I say.

She shrugs. "I trained and was in the field for them for two years as a requirement. But I couldn't handle it anymore. So I left. I joined up with the Gratis government and put my skills to use. Doing it all for good and for God, ya know? That's all I'll say for now."

"Oh. Well, that's good." I say. "So you know how to fight and get secret information right?"

She laughs. "Yes I do."

"Nice. Can you teach me?"

"I think you've already got when it takes. But sure, when we get to our destination." She replies, smiling at me through her mirror.

"What about you Odeo? What do you know?" I ask.

He looks at Gabby and she laughs.

"I sing."

"That's it?" I ask, a little louder.

He chuckles. "Maybe I can fight. Maybe I can ride horses really well."

"Boring." I say.

He laughs. "What did you expect? I couldn't find her after a month. I didn't even know what to do. So I'm definitely not like Gabby."

Gabby puts an arm on his shoulder.

"Odeo. You did your best." She says quietly.

"Gabby, may I ask why you didn't help him?"

She looks at me sadly. "I was with the agency then. Telling him a lead or helping him would get us both killed."

"Oh."

We drive for days, doing the same things. Listening to music, talking about the world, reading the map, getting off at stops, and sleeping in the car at rest stops.

We finally arrive at Carlos'. It's past midnight once again, and I follow the two into the house.

"Welcome." Carlos says. "The treehouse is ready."

"Wait. Treehouse?" I ask.

The three give me excited smiles.

"We stay in his treehouse. And it's a literal treehouse. Two stories, bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen with nature friendly appliances and natural cooking." Odeo says proudly.

Carlos laughs. "Come on."

We follow him out into the forest behind his house and after a minute of walking, reach a beautiful tree house.

I look up into the strong pines. Their trunks are 2 meters wide and their leaves are so rich and green.

"Beautiful." I whisper.

We climb up a rope ladder and when I enter, my jaw drops.

The living room is full of wooden furniture well carved. The kitchen has a sink that's actually a wooden basin with a pump. The refrigerator is small and the three windows are surrounded with fairy lights.

"Wait till you see upstairs." Gabby says.

We follow Carlos upstairs where two bedrooms with the same kind of carved furniture downstairs are. One bedroom has a bunk bed. A mini living room separates the two rooms.