VERACITY

Questions

I sit on my desk chair and try to get Adania out of my mind. Could it be that I wasn't the only child who survived the fire? No! That's impossible they didn't find anyone but me that night. The agency would have rescued her just as they rescued me if she had been a survivor of the terrible fire. Besides all buildings burned to the ground. Unless you were outside, you couldn't have possibly survived. I put my head on the small space left on my desk, and sigh heavily. This was exactly why I was afraid to leave the walls of the agency. My past was always a puzzle and I knew if I left I'd find unwanted pieces of it. 

Somewhere in between my thoughts I fall asleep and wake up with someone shaking my small frame vigorously and yelling in my ear. "Wake up Sleeping Beauty, we are going to train," Ahmed repeatedly yells in my ear. I get up lazily, my body feeling heavy with the information of this afternoon, but follow Ahmed out of the room and into the tiny Saloon car.

On the way out of the driveway, I see a familiar looking man heading into Adania’s house.  Where have I seen him? Why does he look vaguely familiar? And why does seeing him bring so many unwanted memories? I wasn’t sure if the memories were even unwanted anymore. It seemed as if distractions were forcing their way inside my head.  I push all my thoughts aside and try to engage in the conversation surrounding me. That car ride, I learn about my two brothers. It turns out they have been in the agency longer than me, maybe about two to three years more. Unsurprisingly they were overly jealous that I got the head of mission position and they didn't. In response I just smirk and reply with confidence "well, wherever we’re going, you'll understand why I got the position and you didn't."

We reach a rather empty plot that has a  large warehouse square in the middle. Regen and Samuel step out and we follow them through the large steel door. Regen opens it as it squeaks and we all step inside. The chilling cold air hits us in full force. I look down at my pale arms, only to see that they are dotted with goosebumps.  " Well, well, well, not very strong of you Sleeping Beauty." Mogul mocks lifting his eyebrows. "Shut up square head!", I retort, hitting him hard on the ribs, enjoying the loud girlish squeal that escaped his lips. "Can you immatures wait till we get to the mat?" Regen inquires, rolling her eyes. 

Mogul and Ahmed start first. They are both well built but none of them is fast because of the extra unnecessary muscle they carry on their bodies. (Yes, I’m basically calling them fat in a much more polite way). The fight seems to take hours as they both try to beat each other to the pulp. Thank god Ahmed uses his leg and trips Mogul to the ground. I thought I'd never get to hit solid flesh.  Ahmed and I go next, we scale each other up for a solid two minutes. Although he's much bigger and stronger than me, I'm fast and know the points of pressure, where even a weak punch would hurt the most.  Ahmed swings his fist first but I duck under his arm and kick him at the back of his knee making him stumble before he regains his posture. I take another swing trying to punch him in the ribs but he dodges it and moves back.  "Stop running away from her Ahmed, fight her!". I hear Samuel comment in the background. Ahmed lurches forward trying to reach for my legs to throw me off balance. I predict his move and hit him hard on the back with the tip of my elbow making him fall flat on the ground. 

I hear claps and hoots from the three spectators and the girls, who walked in half way through the fight. The next fight will be in between Molly and Miss Insomniac. Not bothering to stay for the fight,I walk out of the warehouse to get some fresh air.  

I sit on the ground with my back resting on the steel wall of the warehouse and close my eyes taking deep breaths to calm the adrenaline rush I had.  The space beside me gets occupied by an unexpected visitor. I turn my head to see Mogul sitting next to me handing me a water bottle. I take it and relish the cold feeling when the water runs down my throat. "Thank god I didn't have to fight you, Ahmed is wheezing in there. I think you broke his nose." I smile to myself at his comment and hand him back his bottle. He takes my silence as his cue to continue speaking. "Afet, do you ever feel like the agency is not as saint-like as they portray themselves to be? Like, they are throwing children into zones where we could possibly get killed. Doesn't that make you question their sanity?" I turn my head slowly to look up at the sky. " It did cross my mind a few times, but it's not true. They saved us from a horrible childhood. We all lost our families in tragic ways and they took us in, giving us everything. Do you think we would have got anything close if we stayed in foster homes? And regarding the fact that we are children being thrown into dangerous situations, son! You are the only child here.  We are all 14 and over. Nothing childlike about that" I say looking at his dark sea blue eyes.

"Afet, you are insane if you think of them that highly." he says standing up and heading back inside. 

On the way back home the boys fall asleep and so does Regen, so it's just Samuel and I, and we don't bother to talk at all the whole way.  The silent car got my head turning again, but this time it's not about Adania. It's about what Mogul said back at the warehouse. How could he think like that? But at the same time what he said has my mind itching for answers. How did the agency know where to find us at the exact time of the accidents? 

We reach the cottage a little too late in the evening so none of us bother to make dinner. We all just head to our separate rooms. I close my room door behind me and head to the small window that sits at the back. I open it and let the cool night breeze fill the space. I pop my head out and look at the empty driveway resting my head on the small window sill. A little while later I see the familiar man from this evening heading out of the driveway. He looks so familiar but I can't seem to place it. Who is he, and why does his appearance haunt my memory? 

I leave the windows open and plop myself onto the small spring bed staring at my desk. I see the wool doll that my mom had given me and softly close my eyes, remembering the best parts about her. I hear her musical laugh and her sweet voice as a memory, I would do anything in this world  just to hear it one more time. To see a picture of her and dad, happy and smiling. I wish my last memory was one of smiles and giggles rather than of screams and fire. I shake my head, I’ve had more flashbacks this past week than I’ve ever had in six years. As if proving how hopeless I feel right now, hot tears stream down my face. Although I'm alone in my room the tears make me feel weak and humiliated. I wipe the tears off my face with the palms of my hand and take deep breaths. I shouldn't be crying. Not now at least, after the mission I can cry and whine as much as I want. With that thought I put myself to sleep thinking about one man in particular.

Note from me
So????
Who do you think this familiar looking human being Is. Will she see him again or was that just a one time thing to jog her memory. 
And is Adania from the Same burned buildings or is that a whole other story?
Well well well
Let's just wait and see. Do comment though, I'd like to know what u think.