Agent 11

Chapter Three: Escape

                                              Ash
      It was finally happening. My best friend would be killed for no reason. Everyone thought he was a spy, just because that Allegiance boy didn't attack him. I knew it was because Ryan was younger than the Allegiance mid rank. When I read his file, I found out that his name was Robby Brown, and he had a brother Ryan's age. I told the higher ups, but they were already convinced that my only friend was a traitor. But he wasn't. And they were so close minded that they didn't see that. It was absolutely ludicrous. I hated them. I hated them for condemning my closest friend to death. I hated them, and that did something to my loyalty to Counterattack. Still, I wasn't a supporter of Allegiance. No, I wasn't on anyone's side anymore. Just me and Ryan. We could leave, and be safe. But I had to save him first. And as I was in the middle of a crowd, watching him being forced onto a podium, ropes tying his arms out in a T shape, I knew that would be beyond difficult. Archers were in front of him, polishing bows, as if they were going to leisurely hit some targets. How could they look so calm, knowing that one of them would shoot the arrow to commit murder? I had no way to help him. No weapons, but even if I had something, he'd die before I could get over to him. A bell rang, saying warm ups were done. I felt my heart beating faster, praying for help. Someone discreetly tapped my shoulder, making me jump slightly. A girl, with black hair, and dark brown eyes. "What?" I asked, a bit more defensive than needed. The girl raised an eyebrow. "You know that boy. Ryan Greene, right?" I considered her for a moment. No signs of a high rank, no chance she'd even have contact with higher-ups. "Yeah, I guess. We were friends for a while." I knew it was better to make it seem like we had drifted apart, to make her think I didn't care about him. A coy smile lit her face. "Oh, really?" Her face looked calm, but I could see her eyes were too focused. She was watching my face very closely, to see my reaction. I began to unconsciously tense up, not trusting her tone. "Yeah. We stopped being friends a little while ago, and then he was accused of being a traitor." An excited light filled her eyes, though I had no clue what she could have learned about me from two sentences. "That's a very interesting word choice. 'Accused of being a traitor.' I hope I'm right when I say I understand you, Ashely Parks." I tilted my head at her curiously as she continued. "I think you never stopped being friends. I think you want to help him at this very moment, to stop his unfair death." I flinched, surprised at the guess she'd made with so little evidence, but even more surprised that she was right. "What makes you say that?" I sounded downright suspicious, but it was all I could manage. She smiled at me in a warm way, opposite of the smirk of triumph. "Speculation, observing you and Ryan, and some light hacking." I gasped. "Hacking? That's not allowed, unless it's against Allegiance!" "Well, you're obviously not going to tell anyone, so I should be safe. Besides, I don't really follow these rules." There was a noise to an arrow firing. Despite my concern, I didn't look over. They never hit the person with the first shot. No, the twisted audience preferred to see the accused squirm about like a cornered rat, praying to live just one more second.  Another one, two, three more. Four arrows were scattered around Ryan, two near the ropes binding his hands. One at his feet, and one was an inch from his head. I stared at the feathers, close enough for him to grab, if he could move his hands. Cold metal brushed against my hands, and I glanced over. The girl looked at me intently, eyes boring into me. "I'm Jennifer Wright, better known as Jen, and I'm an unofficial Allegiance spy. Use these when the next arrow hits, and people will just think it's a wayward shot." I looked down to see two identical knives, ends feathered exactly like the arrows. That would give Ryan the time he needed to realize the bonds had been cut. The only problem in this equation was me. "But I can't throw knives! Wouldn't it be better if-" The girl had vanished into the crowd, leaving me confused, and with only the weakest shell of a plan. I heard the clunk of a sharp tip sinking into wood. I had to act soon. Mutters were exchanged, wondering when they'd get on with it. I stared straight up at Ryan, and as his eyes met mine, I nodded. Confused, but he looked alert, and ready. The archer aimed his bow, as I steadied my hand. Then we let go, a moment's difference. A second before the arrow, silver cut the ropes, which pulled apart with a snap. It was better than I had dared hope. There was only one rope, and once it was divided, it all collapsed. Ryan tumbled out of the path of the arrow, which thunked right where his chest had been.
    My heart felt like it was about to explode!
    Ryan grabbed my hand, and we started running. Shoving aside people who tried to stop us. Two weak, barely armed kids. Even so, I refused to let them take us again. It wasn't fair for Ryan to be blamed. For me to be ignored. I couldn't watch this anymore. I pushed one more person aside, and suddenly we were out of the crowd. Behind me, a female voice called through the noises. "Get to the forest, Ash! Go to-" The rest of Jennifer's sentence was swallowed by the chaos. We were nearing the forest, almost at the treeline. "Keep running!" Ryan had been starting to slow, and I shouted at him, trying to spur him to make it to the treeline. "We have to make it!" He started speeding up again. And in that instant, we were in the forest. Jumping over roots, ducking under branches, and subtly, slowly changing direction. Going west, to a place we both knew. I couldn't see Ryan anymore, but it didn't matter. He knew the way as well as I did. We had a better chance of getting there if we split up, anyway. I could hear the noises of pursuit fading behind me. 'We lost them!' I mentally cheered, before heading in the direction that would take me to the cave. A few minutes later, I arrived, spotting Ryan at the entrance. He saw me, and a wide grin broke over his face. I felt a warm tingling in my chest, mixed with adrenaline and exhilaration. "We made it out!" Ryan threw his arms around me. 'The two of us had made it.' I thought in relief. That's when I realized. The two of us. "That girl... Jennifer." I trailed off. "Yes?" Alarm crossed his face. "She gave me those daggers, and told me to run. Someone might have heard her." Ryan sighed. "I knew her. Jennifer Wright, yes?" I nodded. He sat down on the floor of the cave. "I used to train with her, Allen, and Holly years ago. Jen was always so incredibly dedicated." Ryan wasn't always in my group. However, when Holly and Allen died in a battle, and Jen was moved up to a higher rank, he was put in my group to train. I knew Jen was strong, but I couldn't help the crushing guilt. "Ryan, I think I'm going to take the first watch. Get some sleep. God knows the last time you got a few hours of rest." When I mentioned sleep, Ryan's eyes fluttered, as if realizing how exhausted he was. "Okay." He mumbled, laying down. I got up, and left the cave to keep watch by the lake. It was there that the suffocating guilt really hit me. Ryan looked battered after confinement, and they hadn't even had any real evidence. In Jen's case, any number of people could have heard her. She could die! My shaky breaths drew me back to the world. I was starting to cry, so I leaned over the lake, hoping not to leave tear streaks, in case Ryan woke up early. I stayed there, sobbing over a person I barely knew, until a hesitant voice cut through the silence. "Are you okay?" I whirled around, ready to confront Ryan, when I caught sight of the speaker. My heart started beating faster, and I was frozen in place. Behind me was a girl I had never seen before.