Turned Cold

•Chapter 6•

We just sat there in silence. Him reminiscing old memories, and me letting the information sink in.

"I'm still a little confused." I know it was a bad time to say it, but I was curious. "Like why did you come here even though your best friend died from here?" I felt so insensitive, but he still had a hard expression on his face.

"Once I came back to this city, and found out that Harry was dead, I was completely changed. I changed my last name and everything. Thankfully, I didn't look the same from years ago. The reason I went to this agency is because in some sick twisted way, it's what reminds me of him. It's what connects me to him. I know it doesn't make sense, but-"

"Don't worry, I get it. You wanna feel closer to him."

"I feel like it's my fault that he died," he sighed, still looking up at the ceiling.

"It can't possibly be your fault. You didn't mean to stumble upon him."

"Yes, but if I hadn't known, he'd still be alive. I feel like this job is what keeps us close, and training here has taught me to forget about deaths. I can never completely forget his, but I can deal with it." Silence followed once again, and I had a question nagging in my mind.

"What was your old name?" I can't imagine how it was like being called a name that isn't even yours.

"It was still originally Luke, but I changed my last name," I gave him a confused look. "And that information is for me to know and for you to never find out." He gave me one of his rare grins. He stood up from my bed, and had said that he still had some things to take care of, and left me alone with my thoughts.

What happened to Luke was awful. It almost happened to me actually. Bella knew I had killed people back then, but she has no idea that I came back-or more like forced to- and I'd like to keep it that way. Unlike Harry, I didn't tell the boss because it was obvious on what he'd say.

I was worried though. About Cole I mean. Chase had seen me practically beat someone to death, and saw someone else beat me. If Cole runs off and tells Chase that I hurt someone again, and saw me practically kill someone...I don't even want to think about it.

I lay on my bed for two hours, then Luke came back with an envelope in hand. I sat up, shutting my eyes from the sudden dizziness I felt.

"Hey, Luke," I greeted, bringing my legs up to sit crisscross.

"Layla, I have the information on your next mission, and your first major target." He walked to my bed, and sat in front of me. He scanned the papers, then handed a few to me. A picture of a woman was displayed in colored ink.

"Her name's Bethany Kinkle," I held my laughter in.

"Is she a runaway?"

"No. Her husband used to be a part of a gang, but when he died, she took over. She's killed two men, and one child," Luke answered as if he memorized it. He handed me the folder, and I immediately started shaking involuntarily.

"Will I be doing both by myself?" I asked, looking up at him. His face was hard, and his mouth was pressed in a line. He ran his hands through his light brown hair, and lay back on my bed.

"You'll be doing Kinkle by yourself, and as for the other..." He looked up at the ceiling, and closed his eyes, hiding the beautiful blue it held. "You'll be partnered with your mom." I sat up, looking at him as if he was insane.

"Oh Hell no! Please, not her. Why can't you be my partner? Why do I even need one?" I threw my hands up, and fell back on the bed beside him. I grabbed a pillow, and covered my face with it. I knew I really did need one. So far all of my previous missions have failed. I only left them injured, not dead.