"Bomb!"
All four of us run away from the ticking and we dive behind the diner's counter. A small explosion goes off and debris is thrown everywhere. Max curses right when the back door slams open and five men clothed in black enter with guns and knives.
I jump up and I press the third button on my dagger. The blade catches fire and I hold it with a thunderous look on my face. The men in front of me stare at the dagger in fake fear, and I start to fully understand what is happening.
Siayla put this all together... It's all a test... Probably to make sure we're ready for the APF.
I charge forward and I swing my dagger at the first man. He brings his gun up and his finger goes to pull the trigger. I smack his hand to the side and he shoots the wall... with a paintball? Interesting.
The guys start to understand what is happening and we all fight the men that are just a test, as Siayla said.
My dagger hits the man I am fighting but, nothing happens to him. Siayla most likely made him a defective suit like ours.
I expertly take the man's gun after distracting him with a swing of my dagger. He grunts and tries to take his gun back but I shoot him in the chest with the paint gun. He looks down at the paint on his vest and he glares at it before glaring at me.
Not wasting my time with anything else, I shoot two other men while the guys finish off the men they're fighting.
Everyone huffs once it has finally ended and I look around. A lot of damage has been done to the place. It makes me wonder if this is a real diner or not.
Siayla unlocks the door and she walks in. She assesses the place before her eyes lock on the waitress. She walks up to the waitress and sighs.
"How'd they do?" Siayla asks and the waitress smiles a small smile.
"They did good with fighting off the bad guys but they left me unprotected. Didn't even give me a second glance," the waitress says and I curse at our stupid mistake. Siayla nods and she looks at us.
"The next test will be within the next few days. Let's go home and rest." We all nod at her and we start heading to the door. "Oh, and Twelve and Seventeen are coming to visit us so be ready for that."
We groan at the news and we walk out. I hear Siayla thanking the men in the diner before she follows us. The guys and I freeze when we see that our car is not here where we left it. I turn to Siayla to see her smiling mischievously.
"Welcome to test number two. You all have to find a way home. And you can't go together." A man walks out of the diner and he hands Siayla a bag. She opens it and pulls out five walkies-talkies. "Each of us will have one of these. We will communicate with one another through these and these only. And I am doing this one with you guys. But, remember that I know these streets like the back of my hand."
Siayla passes out the walkies and she clips hers to her waistband. "Max, Bill here is going to drive you to the west end then he will drop you off in an alleyway. Alec, Jim will drop you off at the south end. James, Blake will drop you off at the north end. Liel, Carl is dropping you off at the east end."
Just as she finishes saying that three more men walk out of the diner and our assigned men walk to our sides. I look at the man beside me, Carl, and I realize it is the man that I fought.
"What about you, princess?" I ask and Siayla smiles.
"You all have to beat me there. I will give you all ten minutes before the test starts. Whoever beats me home, wins. We are meeting outside of the garage. And give your phones to your driver. We can't have you cheating and searching for a map."
When we're ready, we are lead away from each other and to the car that will be taking us to our destinations. Carl gets in the driver's side while I get in the passenger side.
We pull away and I look in the rearview mirror to see Siayla run straight. She disappears behind a building and I sigh.
We make it to the east end and Carl tells me to get out. I do, and I immediately want to get back in. Not from fear or anything. But from pure disgust. The alley Carl is dumping me in is absolutely filthy. It smells like crap. There are unknown things laying everywhere. I am pretty sure there is a dead cat laying by the dumpster. Oh, and did I mention there is a puddle of moldy blood in the corner?
I slam the door shut and Carl drives away. I hear rats squeak and scamper over the filth and I groan.
"Okay, boys. The test starts now. Good Luck," Siayla's voice says from the walkies and I run out from the alley and I assess where I am.
Eastside... Crime... I've had missions here... I've had to chase a lowlife through the streets... I can get to HQ from here... and from HQ, I can get home...
I turn right and I start running as fast as I can. I see a taxi coming towards me and I wave it down. It stops beside me and I immediately get in.
"I am chasing down a murderer and I need you to drive as fast you can. Go to the North-East Library." The taxi driver immediately zooms off and I smile in victory.
"How do I know ye ain't fibbin'?" The driver asks and I grab my agent ID card and I show him. His eyes widen and he presses the gas harder.
In three minutes, we make it to the library. I go to give the driver some money but he declines and drives off. I wait for him to be completely out of sight before I start running in the direction of home. I pass by HQ and I notice Twelve and Seventeen sitting on beach chairs with cups of water. They are watching me with an amused smile.
"You better hurry. Kid Wassim just passed through here not too long ago!" Twelve yells and I curse. My eyes scan where I am and I take a short cut through another alley which will bring me to a cornfield that will lead me through a forest that will spit me out right beside the house.
I am so thankful that I studied the house's surroundings yesterday out of boredom.
I make it to the cornfield and I smile. Corn stocks hit me as I run without pause, keeping the same pace all the way through. Almost there. Just a little longer.
I make it halfway through the forest before I realize that my legs are burning and my lungs are dying for more air. A wave of fatigue washes over me but I shake it off, quickening my pace. Up ahead, there should be a big twisted tree. After I pass the tree, there should only be a few more feet before I reach the house.
Just as predicted, the twisted tree comes into view and I smile. I can just feel the victory now.
The house comes into view and my smile widens. I pass a couple more trees before I and running beside the house in the direction of the garage.
Bounding around the corner, I come face to face with emptiness. Shock washes over me as I come to a stop. I scan the area, wondering if this is actually true. The only sound I hear are the birds chirping and squirrels running and chasing each other. A feeling of victory washes over me and I chuckle.
I won?!
What I didn't know, was that there was someone behind me this whole time.
YOU ARE READING
In the Blink of an Eye
Action*Book 1 in the Secret Agent Series* Siayla Wassim is fierce and smart. She knows mostly everything. She can do most anything. With all that aside, she faces the hardships of being homeless. Liel Kings is smart and bold. He is a protector. He is a se...
