Shadow

Chapter 16

Two chapters in one day? Who dis?

It's me, yours truly, in hopes to make up for not posting for an extensive amount of time. 

Enjoy x

...

I gently placed the red roses in front of the grave, the flowers rustling against the dark stone. I pulled myself back up and smoothed down my black dress. My eyes danced over the letters engraved into the stone.

RILEY JAMES

2001-2019

RILEY WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS AND LOVING MEMORIES

I let out a shaky breath and ran my fingers across the cool, rigid surface. It had been a whole week and a half since Riley was shot. Ms James wasn't able to book a funeral soon enough, so she sent Riley's body to the hospital for preservation. The funeral was three days ago, but I'd been coming to the grave every day since.

I closed my eyes, my chest feeling heavier by the minute. Before I could break down again, I looked at the headstone once again and turned to leave. I walked through the cemetery, graves surrounding each and every corner. Many had flowers growing from within. I quickened my pace and found my car, which was parked next to the entry gate.

Without another glance towards the gate, I started my car and left.

This would always happen.

Every day that I had come to the grave after the funeral, I was not able to hold myself together for more than ten minutes. Today wasn't even five.

The cemetery was a short drive from our house, so I was back within minutes. I parked the car in the large garage, next to Vivian's Landcruiser, and walked inside the house. Vivian was on a stool next to the kitchen counter, sipping her coffee.

"Hey," She greeted, putting her cup down, "How was it?"

"Couldn't last five minutes," I sighed.

"It's okay," Vivian said, "We're leaving in a few days anyway, so we can leave all of this behind."

"Yeah," I said quietly, "I'm going upstairs."

Vivian nodded and I walked towards the staircase.

Fraser had informed us two days ago that we were going to be permitted to leave in a few days. The mission was considered failed, resulting in me losing my chance to grade to Rank 10. It didn't matter though, I didn't deserve it, not yet anyway.

I sulked my way upstairs and walked into the room, closing the door behind me. I walked into my closet and walked out with a pair of short and an oversized-tee in exchange for the dress I had on earlier. I slumped myself onto my mattress and grasped for my phone which was sitting on the dresser.

I opened my portal for the Headquarters and entered my password. I had recently redownloaded the app after Fraser told me to delete it to minimise suspicion. I argued that I had to have a way to know what was going on between the Shadows and Riverwells after the whole incident at the meeting. Tired of arguing with me, I assumed, he let me download the app again, telling me to be careful.

I scrolled to my account and opened my inbox.

1 ALERT

A brow automatically lifted in response as I pressed the red button using my thumb.

Riverwells Strike Once Again: An Ongoing War

Merely three hours ago, the Shadows were attacked by the evil, up-to-no-good Riverwells. It was a cowardly attack, during the early hours of sunrise. The attack occurred near Garden Alley, where a few of Shadows troops were travelling through to go to the warehouse. There were five attackers from the Riverwells and five from the Shadows. Fortunately, the attack occurred far enough from the warehouse to ensure that the Riverwells were not able to tell where the Agents were heading.