Double Crossed

Exam Day

Three Months Later

I walk into the building that I have become very accustomed to over the past three months. I nod at a passing agent that I am vaguely familiar with, he kind of just stares, a little awe struck. All nine of us have become well known around CSIS. We picked up training really quickly and have become kind of famous. It sounds weird, but everyone is being told that we are the ‘Emergency Plan’ whatever that means. It’s probably just some code name they use to describe the motion to get us wrapped up in all this. Suffice to say, we are well known, much to my disliking.

In the three months that we have been in training Agent Red has never really warmed up to us. Agent Cadwell keeps saying he will eventually and that he just doesn’t like the fact that teenagers are being brought in to do something that he believes a whole company can do. I don’t see that he ever will. However, Agent Volant has become like the tenth member of our team. He has taken the liberty of showing us around, getting us used to the intense training schedule that they have us on. He says that CSIS is driving us harder than normal because of who we are, we’re supposed to be ‘special’ and ‘talented’ at this but I still have doubts. Although they are slowly gaining my trust, I just hope it’s not misplaced.

 I’m starting to get worried though, Agent Volant has become close with our team and I’m starting to question his motives. We see him every day at CSIS, especially in the summer since they bumped up our schedule to get in even more training. And although I trust Agent Volant a lot more than CSIS, I still trust my team, my friends, more. I think that Agent Volant is genuinely on our side, however, he isn’t acting like an Agent, like our superior. He’s acting like our friend, which isn’t an issue as he’s a nice guy, but he’s almost acting too nice. One can never be too suspicious when dealing with two espionage organizations.

 “Hey, Erin!” Just from the sound of his voice I can tell that it’s Zack coming towards me. I have just entered the building and am heading towards the change rooms for training. That’s another change these past months, there has been so many it’s hard to keep track. Zack and I have become closer, and I like that, I trust him. Sometimes I wonder if I trust him more than the others, but I push these thoughts to the back of my mind. Such thoughts, in this line of work, can get your team killed.

 “Hey man,” I greet back, looking at him I notice small bags under his eyes, “you look beat. Sore from yesterday?”

 “No, well yes, but that’s not why I’m tired. Agent Red isn’t taking it easy on any of us while teaching us our individual talents, but he gives me homework. He says that my skill is one of the hardest to master because technology is constantly evolving,” he pauses for a second before speaking again, “which completely makes sense. I just hate how it has to be me.”

 I glance over at Zack and I am very, very surprised. This is entirely out of character for him. He’s usually confident but not boastful, he knows what he is capable of and never second guesses himself like this. At least not to me.

“Zack,” I warn, “don’t do that to yourself.”

 “Huh, what?” He asks me, confusion lining his face and then out of nowhere he stats laughing. It may not be the deep, sexy laugh that all girls swoon at, but then again, Zack isn’t that type. He’s softer, sweeter, at least with me. He is my friend, my close friend. I glace at Zack out of the corner of my eye, watching as he laughs and taking notice of the way his hair falls into his eyes. He pushes it back absentmindedly, as if he doesn’t realize that my eyes are tracing his every move.

He’s your best friend, I remind myself as my heart drops into my stomach.

“It’s nothing like that. I just meant that I don’t see how they chose all of our talents. I mean sure, Mr. Mann had stories about all of us, but that consisted of his proof, know what I mean?”