Double Agent

Chapter 1: Allie

"Remember, Allie," her mother, Melanie, said. "This is a very dangerous mission and we have no idea what's going to happen."

Allie Silverstone was part of the ASO, or the Air Spy Organization. Her mother had told her of a world that once lived in peace and harmony on the mainland. But all that had changed when an evil woman named Camila Brand had created evil robot animals to anger her mom's genetically engineered ones, causing a war between the animals and destroying the mainland in the process. Allie's mission was to find a way into the Underground Agency's database by attending Tulipton Academy of the Gifted underground.

There was a rumour that the UA's data was kept at that school because it wasn't expected by any Air agents. It was true--the ASO hadn't expected it until the rumour reached them from another agent who'd had a mission underground, Maeve. Maeve was, in Allie's opinion, the best spy to join the ASO. She always did everything right... unlike Allie, who had failed numerous missions. What made her think that she'd accomplish this one?

"You are going to pretend to be Maggie White, a registered Underground citizen in the UA's database. She looks quite like you," said Melanie, snapping Allie out of her daze and handing her a backpack. She knew about this already. The real Maggie White had moved far off, but the ASO had been able to change the UA's records to make it seem like Maggie White hadn't left the town of Ivy Caverns. "Now, if you get any information at all, tap on your Pick-Up bracelet. An agent that you know will come and get you." Then her mother tucked away an envelope Allie had never seen before, taking care not to let her see it.

Finally, the air currents picked her up and lowered her down past the mainland and into a hole. The air currents faltered, and she dropped down into Ivy Caverns. She shouldered her backpack and ran quickly in the direction of Tulipton Academy. When she got there, she headed to her locker and took the things she needed for science class.

While she was walking, she noticed that the Underground students around her dragged their feet as they were walking instead of smoothly gliding across the ground like Air people would. As she tried to copy their steps, she tripped over someone's bag on the floor and fell, dropping her books. Allie expected some group of cool kids to come over and laugh at her, but everyone just kept to themselves. They're all new, she realized, composing herself. So they don't know each other, which lowers their suspicion of me.

As she got up, she noticed a girl with dark hair staring down at her, reaching out a hand to help her up. "Oh my goodness! I thought you moved away!" the girl gasped. "Maggie White!"

*****

Allie hadn't expected anybody to actually know Maggie White, so the girl's reaction caught her off guard. "U-um, n-no! I did not at all move away!" she said loudly, then mentally kicked herself. If she was going to complete this mission, she needed to improve her acting skills. A lot.

"Reina Sheldon, remember?" the girl, apparently Reina, said. Then she sighed. "We haven't seen each other in so long, Maggie, but I'd been hoping that you'd remember me." Allie instantly felt bad, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Can you come over to my house today?" asked Reina just as the bell rang. The girls ran in opposite directions, Allie towards science class and Reina towards the music room. As Allie slid into her seat, breathing heavily, the science teacher glared daggers at her.

He began writing his name on the chalkboard. "I am Mr. Wells," he said, and finished writing his name with a squeak from the chalk. After that, he didn't bother with any more introductions and began lecturing about atoms and neurons, the circulatory system and the respiratory system. Allie was pretty sure that a few of her classmates cringed.