The Agency: ICE (Book 1)

Chapter 10: The Scout Scurry

"Scouts," Siri said on the intercom. "Please make sure your hololens are equipped before entering your respective transporting units. The Scout Scurry will begin shortly."

My hands shook as I put my hololens on my face and turned on the Scout Scurry add-on. I grabbed a satchel full of water from the conveyor belt, but I'm sure the amount of sweat covering my hands was more than the amount of water in there. My heart was beating furiously out of my chest. I held onto my necklace, rubbing the plaque with my thumb in reassurance.

I've seen so many Scout Scurries. They're intense showdowns, and sometimes survival of the fittest, so of course any bored Agent would want to watch their peers in such an epic fight. But this is different. I am no longer a spectator enjoying the show; I am a participant feeling the pain.

"Hey, Rookie," Mila called.

I flinched. I didn't realize she had walked over to me with her hand on my shoulder. I glanced over to see her leaning forwards. Her eyes looked less tired than when she was in the train car, so that meant her new medication was working. Either that, or her clear hololens somehow hid her tired expression.

"No worries," she said, placing her chin on my shoulder. "At the end of the day, it's just like any other mission you've done as a rookie. Except now, you're not going onto enemy territory with a chance of being tortured and or murdered and also the fact that you will be taken out of the Ring if you do get seriously hurt, and you get to be treated by a Nurse that was actually a babe—"

"Mila." I put my hand over her mouth. "I get it. However, what I'm feeling is just regular nerves."

"Sure." She then put me into a headlock and swiftly rubbed her fist back and forth against the top of my head.

"Mila!"

"But I'm making sure that my good old grandpa isn't getting PTSD."

I grabbed her arm and used my entire body to press against her torso and flip her over my shoulder. However, she was quick enough to put her feet underneath her and lift herself up.

"Damn, calm down," she said, frowning and tightening her hair tie. "I was just trying to make you feel better."

"By putting me in a headlock and smoothing out my scalp? You know I have a higher chance of hair loss at a young age."

She shrugged. "I'm not about helping people by having deep conversations." She walked over to her transporting unit. "I thought you'd like a little advice by the 'Best Scout in the Facility' of the years 2315 through 2318, but your loss."

I rolled my eyes. It's true that Mila gained the "Best Scout in the Facility" title for three years straight, but this year was going to be different. One day, she might actually be the death of me, but our Spy partnership only drives our competitive natures.

I brushed off the occurrence and walked towards my transporting unit. Like the others, it was a glass tube with my name on the screen above it. I settled into the transporting unit, crossing my arms over my chest to keep the door from crushing them as the opening sealed and straps wrapped around me. I got a glance at the time on my Agent Tracker: 12:00.

The entire area was silent aside from my breathing and heartbeat. I held onto my necklace once again, praying underneath my breath for everything to go well.

I whispered to myself as the sirens rang for release.

"Y'Allah..."

I closed my eyes as my breathing quickened.

"Give me the strength to fight whatever wishes to do me harm."

I heard the trap door underneath my transporting unit drop.