Forgotten Paradise by Average Canadian

Chapter 12: Coffee High Adventures

Percy almost jumped three feet when he saw Rachel behind him. Five a.m, and a girl is able to sneak up on a secret agent. Then again, Percy had been up since two.

Ever since that phone call came in.

"He's Dead" Chiron's voice rang clear in the wee hours.

"What?" Percy had asked groggily while trying to keep his eyes open.

"James Reedly, the man who attacked. He just died in his cell. The thing that looked like a bullet proof suit was full of arsenic. He was injected by it and was dead in minutes. Whoever is after Rachel is serious about keeping his or her identity a secret."

So, here Percy was three hours later, being kept up by his thoughts. Until Rachel came around the corner and broke through his contemplation.

"Did I wake you?" he asked unsure.

Rachel shook her head almost shyly "I got up to give you this."

She put out her hand and showed him a sleek silver iPod with blue earbuds coiled on top like a spool of wire. Scratches lined the back and screen so it obviously wasn't new, still a very generous gift though.

"I thought you'd like to listen to music while you did your morning routine, so I stocked it up with songs."

Music. Another thing that was banned from headquarters. Music was related to parties and fun. Headquarters was a strict work environment, and that's the way they wanted to keep it.

Percy gingerly took it from her hands and examined the piece of technology feeling over the sleek edges.

"What's it for?" he asked

"Uuhh... listening to music?"

"No besides that. Will it track you?"

Rachel shook a 'no' "It's meant for fun, I don't think anyone uses an ipod for business."

If it wasn't for business Percy wouldn't be able to keep it. Headquarters would see it as a distraction.

He would've given it back but that just seemed rude. This was a gift. Maybe he could use it as part of his cover. If every other teenager had one then maybe it was alright.

"Thank you ma'am" Percy offered a smile but Rachel scowled heavily.

"What's with all these 'Miss's and Maam's'. My name is Rachel." Rachel crossed her arms over her PJ top.

"Okay Rachel."

"Now git, I'm going back to bed and I don't wanna hear you working out" Rachel waved her hand and started up the stairs again towards her bedroom.

"Wait, what about school?" Percy yelled after she had disappeared down the hallway.

An explosive laugh followed "It's Sunday ya twit!"

Percy did a mental facepalm. How did he forget that?

He eyed the iPod. Embarrassing fact: he didn't know how to use it. Dropping it on the side table he gave a quick nod to a passing agent while fetching his blue rimmed sneakers. A few other agents were still milling around the living area with fancy looking equipment searching for any form of clue.

Well at least it gave Percy a chance to get out and clear his head.

The air was cool in the dawning sun heat. Little traffic and pedestrians clogged the streets leaving them empty in comparison to the middle of the day.

Percy jogged down the left street again. It was his now chosen usual way to go. Little shops were opening up, lights were clinking on in apartments, the slow buzz of the city started to come to life.