Double Agent

Chapter 8: Reina

It was late when Reina and the others got back to UA headquarters, hefting an ASO agent that Theo had knocked out. The remaining people cheered, and started a small party. Even though it was extremely dark out, due to most of the lights being off.

But not late enough.

Mr. Sancoy would probably want to know her decision tonight... and her suspicions were confirmed when her mom said, "Reina, we have to go."

She followed her mom up the old elevator--and it might have been Reina's imagination, but everything felt creepier somehow. Every creak of the elevator. Every shuffle of Reina or her mom's feet. The sounds seemed to echo, and then vanish into darkness.

Lightning flashed as Reina got out of the elevator. Mr. Sancoy was waiting there, tapping his foot on the ground. "It's about time you got here," he grunted. Then he focused on Reina. "So, what's it going to be?"

Reina met her mom's eyes. Kelly had a silent plea in her features, sending a silent message that she didn't want Reina in trouble.

But at that moment, Reina simply didn't care.

To save herself, her mother was laying waste to the rest of the UA. A selfish decision. One that Reina wasn't going to make.

"I'm not doing it," she said confidently to Mr. Sancoy. "You can't make me." He glared at her, then blew a whistle.

Some genetically engineered wolves came howling out of the darkness, chasing Reina to the elevator. She sprinted, and closed the door just as the first wolf reached the doorway. It hit its head, and whimpering, trotted away followed by the rest of the pack.

The last thing that Reina saw before the elevator started its descent was Mr. Sancoy smiling calmly.

"You'll see the error of your ways, once the UA is gone."

*****

"Why do I have to see the prisoner?" Reina asked her father. Only she, Theo, Kat, and her mother knew about how the agent had impersonated Maggie... but Reina was pretty sure that she was the only one that had felt remorse.

Reina understood the pressure of missions. She understood pretending. But for the last few days, it'd seemed like the girl had really tried to be her friend. Either that, or she's a really good actress, said a small voice in her head. Reina told it to be quiet.

Down the hallway she and her father walked, dragging their feet in the process. Her dad, most likely because of his long day at work, and Reina, because... well...

"It's getting dark out," Reina tried, looking for any way to escape seeing the girl. But her father just smiled and pulled her along. Down a long corridor, then a short one, then a flight of stairs...

Her dad dropped her off at the dungeon stairs.

Reina forced herself to walk down, down, and down some more. She braced herself, but no amount of preparation would stop the guilt, especially with the girl glaring murderously at her.

Reina began, "Look, Maggie--"

She shouted, " I'M NOT MAGGIE! I'M ALLIE!"

Reina started to cry, part angrily and part sadly. "I trusted you!" "And I trusted you," Allie said, still angry but more controlled. "So I don't think you need to interrogate me. You already know everything that there is to know."

*****

Reina wandered the halls of Tulipton Academy, not once stopping to check in any of the other rooms. They were in the gym. She knew it.

She reached the gym door, and tugged on the handle. The door swung open smoothly, without even the slight creak it usually had. But behind the door was not the gym. It was a swirling hole of darkness.

Reina steadied herself, but the tornado wasn't pulling at her. It was shooting sound outwards-- and unfortunately, Reina could hear what the voices were saying.

You already know.

I trusted you.

Error of your ways.

The UA is gone.

Suddenly, the hole swallowed the entire school with Reina in it. Dark lightning flashed as the voices repeated the words in a horrifying chorus--

Until Reina was in her own room, shivering underneath her mattress.

Since when did she have nightmares?