Goldstar

By Eesha Gupta (Aditi Fawle)

 

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to three of my amazing friends, Chisa Matsumoto, “Chez Munkee” who was my CEF, Chief Executive Formatter, Annalise Sweeney, who was vital to the growth of this story, & Kaitlyn Ha (Xx_FireFoxx_xX), author of Moonlight and one of my most talented writer friends. These people always encouraged me to never stop believing in the magic of a story. Thanks guys, this is for you.

Also, I want to thank Sofia Torelli (our awesome friend and a great writer), Teddy Nickolov (who helped me edit), Chin-yi Kong (who told me to keep writing so she could see how it ended), Rachel Ma, Skylar Tang, Evan Li (who helped invent some of the codes), Grace Yeh, Maya Wu and the rest of the GATE class of 2017 who’ve helped me with this. You guys rock. we also want to thank a teacher, Ms. Hiraga, for editing.

 

Dedication

I did this for my dog, Ruby, who is the best dog in the world.  Thank you for not complaining when I worked on this under the covers.

-Eesha Gupta

 

Goldstar Agent Files
Dear Madam Mindfury (aka *****),

Each year, every agent is questioned, new notes are taken about their appearances, and exams are mandatory for each agent. This is a portion of the Elite 5’s files. The Elite 5 are the crème de la crème of child spies. It consists of the alleged Goldstar cousins. Coincidentally, the 5 are all cousins and the grandchildren of Agent Allan Goldstar, who is one of the top spies in America (He supposedly is a descended from Allan Pinkerton). I am in a very dangerous position, but I was still able to sneak these files. I understand you want more, but you will have to then get another double agent. Spying on a spy agency that is larger than the CIA and FBI combined is not a small feat. I have met with your other agents, and I understand why you think they may be better than me. ***(*(*(, ****, *****, ****(**, *****, & ***** have an advantage – they are part of/really close to the Goldstars. Everything is easier for them, and why don’t you ask ***** for the rest of the files, ***** works at the ***** ***************, or ******* as people call it. Oh, and you just love ******. *** is like your pride and joy, a talented spy going rouge. She is only 14 and planning to murder *** grandfather with only **** fingernails and a few chemicals. I don’t think even you are evil enough to do that. You wear pink.

Also, why do we have to call you Madam Mindfury? It doesn’t suit you. A better name would be Princess Pinkkiller. You like to wear pink and watch people die painful deaths. It fits. ********, you are a total girly girl.

I hope you don’t die. Then I won’t get paid.

 

Stay Pink,

*****************,

 

Prologue

Chapter 1:

My Birthday Present is a Fight to the Death! Yay!

Agent Adair Goldstar

April 3, 2021;  4:00 p.m.

Unknown Place in Washington, D.C.

 

If you’re one of those people who want to be a spy, you are probably thinking “WOW, I’d be so cool! It would be such a fun job with all the awesome things you get to do.” Let me tell you, you’re WRONG. I should know. I’m Adair Goldstar, a spy. I am also one of the best almost 13-year-old girl spies in the world.

Today is my birthday. Think about your last birthday. I’m guessing you ate cake, got presents, and had a party. I’ll tell you about me. As a spy, this is what you get: a cupcake if I win (they are delicious, but I would rather just eat a slice of cake and not have to almost die in the process), my present is a fight to the death. My party, (don’t have one) is totally fun (NOT!). The dessert is a cupcake. A simple CUPCAKE! But, I don’t think you would be able to find the academy anyway.

I’m guessing your birthdays always feel so special. Mine never do. All the kids in the academy receive a possible death sentence on their birthday, and there are so many kids at this academy that a fighting match to start the day is normal.

Back to the fight. This is how it works: whoever gets the crown first gets a cupcake (HELLO? People, this is my birthday. I should get the cupcake. But NO! I have to fight to the death. There are people who die on their birthdays because of this. It’s like, “Happy Birthday!” as they throw the birthday person into an obstacle).

And no, it isn’t like the Hunger Games where they throw kids into a pit. It’s worse. We have to go through an obstacle-filled labyrinth, through another annoying obstacle course, and then up a 50-foot tower with even more obstacles( Yay! Lots of dangerous obstacles and ways to die!) And at the top of the tower is the stupid crown.

Technically it isn’t a fight to the death. You don’t have to kill anyone, but you’re allowed to. I’ve never killed anyone. Worst I’ve done was chop off somebody’s arm in my first fight (which was completely an accident. Ok, kinda on accident. But he was trash talking me; I couldn’t help it).

And why am I doing this? It’s required. Also, 4 reasons.

1. Who’s gonna turn down a dutch chocolate cupcake with fudge filling and dark chocolate frosting, topped with a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips and a maraschino cherry? They are literally “to die for” (do you feel my air quotes)? For you vanilla lovers, there is a vanilla option. That’s what I had heard, but I never tried it because I’m a die-hard chocolate fan.
2. If I win my birthday fight, that will be my present to myself.
3. It’ll be my 699th win and my 700th fight. Yeah, I’m that awesome.
4. My parents are legendary agents. They count on me to continue the family legacy of magnificent spies. I am at the best, most vigorous spy academy (we call it 7 because it is the 7th academy. It’s almost my 5th year at 7. I am super close to becoming a real spy)! because they got me in. One day, I’ll own and run all the academies with my brother, sister, and cousins. I can’t and won’t disappoint them. Literally, I will get thrown out of the family if that happens. I’m not lying. My dad’s brother (I’m not even allowed to call him my uncle) was such a disgrace that he (all according to my dad) was thrown off the roof when my grandpa wanted to spar and he wanted to have dinner instead! Crazy, right? My dad’s brother was thrown out at age 4. I was a black belt at age 5. My family is tough.

This is what was going on. I was at my starting place, around the red brick labyrinth, and Agent Cayo (I usually just call him Cayo, and when I’m feeling really sassy, Asher, his first name. This drives him crazy, but seeing that I am the youngest person in 7, and the best), Cayo respects me. And I was just about to turn 13.

“… 9; 8; 7; 6; 5; 4; 3; 2; 1! Move it, people! If you want the cupcake, you cupcakes need to run faster!” Cayo barked, unhelpfully. For a person whose first and last name literally means smile, Cayo is kinda (very) grumpy.

I sprinted inside just after Cayo yelled, “1!” Perfect timing. I was in this and was gonna win this. I did my usual trick-running until nobody can see you, then climbing one of the brick walls. But hey, at this academy, you’re taught to think outside the box (which I think is kinda a synonym to cheating). You might think it is still cheating, but I disagree. It’s winning.

Where was I? Oh yeah, I was cheating. So, I ran up the wall and pulled myself onto the rough surface. The walls were about 7-bricks wide. During my first birthday fight, I destroyed most of the 3-brick wide walls (oops!), so now they’re thicker and reinforced. This wall-climbing thing is genius because not only can you walk on top of the walls and easily navigate the annoying labyrinth, you avoid the deadly obstacles, too. Yeah, I know. I’m a genius. I ran across walls and jumped from one wall to another, heading toward the middle of the enormous maze.

The maze is giant, but I can sprint pretty fast, so getting past the labyrinth didn’t take too long.  I passed a lot of people. I saw one girl slice another’s head. I winced. I saw a boy yelling, “I can’t fight a girl!” and then the girl stabbed the boy with a small pocket knife. I almost laughed at that one. I saw my sister, Ariana, bantering while wrestling with her friend. I also saw a girl’s body, lifeless and limp, lying on the floor next to her bow and quiver. I almost cried; I am okay with fighting, but death in training is unethical. I saw her killer, so I leaped off the wall and picked up her bow. I cocked an arrow and aimed it at the murderer. I released, and the arrow impaled him in the arm. I did it so it wouldn’t hurt him too bad, and it would give me enough time to run and judo-flip him.

“This is what happens to murderers,” I spat in his ear as I slammed my knee into his stomach. I pulled the arrow out of his arm and shoved a bandage into his hand, not wanting to kill him. Death is not a suitable punishment for anything. I ran up the wall again and quickened my pace and continued. Near the end of the labyrinth, I jumped off the wall and ran out. Done with the first terrible part, onto the second.

During my first Fight to the Death for Cupcake (let’s just call it a Birthday Fight), I must admit, I actually did the obstacles. After I didn’t win, I pondered Birthday Fights FOREVER. I studied the arena, the origin, and even the creator.

Then I found the missing puzzle piece: Cayo is always at the top of the tower, so he determines the winner. According to my older brother, Julius, who was at the academy way before I was, Cayo was a terrible spy.

The Birthday Fights were getting out of hand. People were dropping like flies because after the winner got the crown, everybody else would mob them, trying to get the crown. And That would usually end up with a lot of injuries and even more deaths. Not a very neat, clean operation, but fighting isn’t about neatness. So, Cayo was supposed to tell everybody to start, then get to the top of the tower, and break up any fights after somebody got the crown.

Cayo is really weak. He can’t even do a push-up. Million dollar question is: how does he beat all of us (read: me) to the top of the tower?

During my second Birthday Fight, I figured it all out. Cayo the Lazypants has an high-speed, shiny elevator to the top of the tower and waits.

I already cut a small hole (with an extremely sharp knife )into the top of the tunnel. Now, all I have to do is find my terrifically hidden hole. Some people would think that finding a spot on the ground that is marked by a very faint, almost invisible line would be hard. I agree, but after lots of Birthday Fights, it’s almost second nature.

In about 15 seconds, I located the spot. I grabbed the piece of floor I cut and peered into the tunnel. It was brightly lit, with two rows of glowing lamps. I listened intently for Cayo’s footsteps. I didn’t hear any. Great, the lazy pig probably had already eaten the cupcake and is in the kitchen for a replacement. I checked the arena. Nobody was there. I reached down into the tunnel and grabbed a light bulb, holding the piece of the tunnel’s roof (by the handle I superglued it’s underside too), I lowered my legs into the tunnel. I performed a trick (I had to work on for a long time at the gym for this). I swung down into the tunnel and the piece of the tunnel roof slammed into place. I dropped from the ceiling, catlike.

Silently, my necklace thumped on my chest as I sprinted along the tunnel.

(Does anyone realize how fit I am? I’ve sprinted for ages, and haven’t even stopped to catch my breath. I could be an amazing Olympic long distance sprinter! Wait, is that even a thing?). I contemplated if long distance sprinting was an Olympic sport. When I had reached the conclusion no, I heard footsteps ahead.

“Darn it!” I whispered.

“What was that?” Cayo bellowed. “Who’s there?”.

I am dead. If Cayo, the Probably Soon Gonna Be Killer, finds out where I am, I am going to be expelled, my parents will, best case scenario, throw me out of the family. YAY! I’m gonna die on my birthday.

Cayo came stomping toward me. I reacted instantly. When Cayo passed me, he didn’t even see me (Look up, you stupid, lazy, old man. There might be a person hanging on light bulbs from the ceiling). Yup, I had grabbed the light bulbs and swung up, placing my feet on the next set of bulbs. I waited a full minute after Cayo the Deceived had passed.

I dropped from the ceiling and ran for my life. Literally. I didn’t stop to take a breath of air until I had found my other hole. I grabbed a light bulb with my left hand and grabbed the handle (that I glued!) off the roof piece. Swinging towards the right, I was able to peer out of the tunnel.

I could see my older sister Ariana AND two other girls coming toward me. “Just my luck,” I muttered, panicking. I couldn’t escape because somebody would see me. Then I would die. So that left one option: stay in the tunnel. But then Cayo would find me. Even worse, I would LOSE.  Either way, I would die.

An idea hit me like a bullet. I began to sprint faster and faster until everything became a blur. Suddenly, the tunnel ended. I stopped, drenched in sweat and breathing as if I would never breathe again. But, I had reached Cayo’s elevator. I stepped in and the doors closed. I shot up. I appeared at a small, dark room. The whole room was painted black and there were lights on the walls.

Fear engulfed me. What should I do now? Following my advice to Cayo, I looked up. There was a trap door (Look up should be my new motto. “When in doubt, look up.”). I breathed a sigh of relief.

I stood on my toes, but I still couldn’t reach the door. “I’m dead!” I whisper-yelled at the top of my lungs. I was almost 5 feet and I usually love jumping, but today there were high stakes, my life, and a cupcake. If I fell, I would make a thud and somebody would find me. I shouldn’t risk it. I risked it.

Jumping up with my arms outstretched, I grabbed the handle. And slipped. “Darn!” I whispered. Falling, I reached out, praying, and grabbed the handle. “Yes!!!” I exclaimed quietly. I was gonna win.  The trap door swung down soundlessly. I checked to see if anyone saw me and ran up the steps, closing the trap door behind me. “700th win, here I come!” I cheered, spotting the crown. I reached out and had almost grabbed the crown when I heard a voice.

“Wow, you’re good.” somebody called. I looked for her. Ariana, my older sister, was climbing the tower.

“Thanks, Sis,” I replied.

“I haven’t won a fight since you came to the academy,” Ariana shouted back.

“No, but you almost won the first fight I was ever in,” I called down to her.

“HELP, ADAIR!!!!” Ariana cried. I looked over and saw that a few boys with razor sharp axes were closing in on her. Grinning, they surrounded her. A boy from my squad, I think his name was Lucifer, put his ax at Ariana’s throat.

“Ariana!” I yelled.

“Adair! Help!” she screamed back. I leaped off the tower, front flipping over and over. I dropped like a stone but made sure I continued flipping.

“Grab my hands and push off!” I cried, outstretching my hands. Ariana understood. She grabbed my hands as I fell towards her and pushed off with so much force that, defying gravity, we quickly flipped upwards toward the top of the tower. It was like I was flying. And flying is really awesome.

Way too soon, we reached the top. “You ok?” I asked Ariana.

“I’m fine,” she replied. “That was cool. Thanks for saving me.”

“Anytime. Now let’s grab the crown, together. On three. 1; 2; 3!” We touched the crown at the same time. “You won!”

“We won!” Ariana beamed.

I smiled, though kind of sadly, because I was thinking about how I wished my parents were here to see me win, again.

“Then-” she started to say when she saw Cayo marching toward us. He looked furious. “Darn.” Ariana peeped. It’s weird. She always is afraid of getting into trouble. I think Julius and I were so rebellious that Ariana was born good like Earth was trying to compensate for our existence.

I stepped forward. I could handle this. This was no worse than when I torched the tower (and won).

“What’s wrong, Asher?” I asked. Ariana poked me. I know I was reckless, but I didn’t care.

“Shut up, Goldstar.” he snapped. He handed Ariana and me a whole cupcake each.

“A whole cupcake? Cayo, you’re going soft.” I grinned as I licked the frosting off.

“Adair, let’s go.” he said, looking grim.

“Where?” Ariana asked, scared for me. (Told you she was super good.)

“Why?” I demanded (Not scared).

“ We don’t have time for questions. Both of you, come on!’

“Both of us?” Ariana must have been scared that she would get in trouble (for the first time in her life!).

Poor kid. She should learn: they can’t hurt you when your father is their boss.

Logic. I think.

“Yeah.” Cayo acted like it was common knowledge.

Cayo looked serious, so i didnt comment. For once. I really wanted to brag about her perfect record being ruined…

“Where?” I demanded to know.

“To the HQ hospital. Your grandfather is in grave danger.”

Chapter 2:

I Can Hack Everything Except My Own Life. Oh Wait, I Just Did.

Agent Amara  Goldstar

April 3, 2021; 6:00 p.m.

An unknown place in Akihabara, Japan

 

Do you ever wish you could skip school and go off to be some spy? Do you think it would be exciting? Well, the truth is… it’s not exciting at all once you get used to it. I mean, sure, you learn how to hack through harder encryptions, but you get bored there too. Sometimes I find myself wishing I had a normal life. I envy kids whose biggest worry is if they are popular or something.

My everyday biggest worry is handling training. I am the spy equivalent of a straight A+++ 10th-grade student, which at 19 is almost a punishment. It means I have to be able to crack a symmetric-key algorithm in block cipher using only my left hand (I’m right-handed). Blindfolded. Of course I did that in less than a minute, but still. The other kids my age are still learning how to spell “block cipher”. Even the other kids in group 1 are at a lower level than me. I mean, sure it is nice to be a good agent, but it gets exhausting after a while.

The most fun part of training is doing challenging missions for real instead of simulations and practices. I hate working with the others because I end up doing most (ALL) of the work, but it is better that way. If they did it, they would fail so miserably that my grades would drop from an A to an F. No joke. I end up like a teacher, trying to lecture my squad members, but getting no respect back. It’s really frustrating. I am totally ready to be a spy, I just don’t have the right partners to work with.

That’s why when Olivia, my Squad Assistant and older sister, (also the only person who really understands how boring and easy training is for me and my best friend,) knocked on the door to my dorm, I replied slightly rudely.

“Leave me alone.  You stupid people don’t deserve to be agents for preschools!” I may have said.

“Mara,” (She is the only person who can get away with calling me Mar), “let me in.” She replied in a gentle tone.

Wordlessly, I opened the door and looked at her.

“Guess who got promoted?” She asked excitedly. Olivia looked really stoked.

“You got promoted? No way!” I exclaimed, genuinely happy for her.

“No, you did!” she grinned.

I  fainted.

Well, congrats to me, I got to leave this dump. When I woke up, I intelligently asked, “Werwegonis?” which, translated into proper English, is “Where are we going, sis?”. My sister conveniently speaks Amara-ese and replied, “The Tech Academy 21 or TA21.”We sat in silence for the rest of the long, bumpy drive. I looked out the window a couple of times and saw billboards advertising stupid products to stupid normal people (no offense to you stupid normal people out there) . Eventually, I got bored and fell asleep. I’m always sleepy after I faint. I was in such a deep sleep that I didn’t realize we had arrived until I heard my sister calling me.

“Come on, we haven’t got all day!”

“Coming.”

I stepped out of the car and was amazed at what I saw. A huge building with large glass windows all over it stood in front of me.

“Is this it?”I asked.

“No, according to what this booklet from mom and dad says, this is just the teleporting station.”

“Teleporting? Is it hard?”

“No. All we have to do is tell the lady at the front desk that we’re here to see Dr. Telep in room TA21. Then, she’ll give us a package with a card in it. Next, we take the elevator to the secret teleportation floor and show the card to the security guard there. Once we do that, we’re in and ready to teleport.”

“But what about our stuff?”

“It’ll be brought to your new Academy.”

I hoped they would be gentle. I love plants and a lot of the ones I keep are delicate. I have so many, I made a whole greenhouse in the middle of my room to keep them in. Even so, my whole room looks like a garden.

We entered the building through the sliding glass doors.

“Good morning, how may I help you?” said the lady at the front desk, whose name, according to her nametag, was Veronica.

“We’re here to see Dr. Telep in room TA21” my sister replied smoothly. Olivia was so confident and it sounded so natural that I almost believed that we were gonna see Dr. Tulip or whatever his/her name was.

“Well then, you’ll be needing this,” Veronica replied, handing us a small brown package. We stepped over to the elevator and I hit the UP button. It was a smooth and fast ride up. As soon as we got out, we saw the security guard dressed in a navy blue, white, and gold uniform that looked uncomfortable. Everything went according to plan; We showed him the card, he examined it, and he let us through. Inside the teleportation room, there were several workers at computer stations, calculating risks. Then we stood on a ring of light and waited for the teleporter.

“5…4…3…2…1. Here we go,” announced a deep, booming voice over the loudspeaker. I clutched Olivia’s hand tightly for fear that we would end up separated.

Blinded by a bright flash of blue light, I shut my eyes tightly and prayed.  I haven’t prayed in a while. I guess I’ve just been really busy. I still am religious, though.

Finally, the glaring glow subsided.

I dropped Olivia’s hand, embarrassed that I held it like a little kid. She gave me a sly smile. I poked her.

I observed my surroundings for the first time. It seemed liked we hadn’t moved at all.

“Olivia?” I inquired. “Did it work?”

“You’ll see.” She answered mysteriously.

Without a moment’s notice, a boy burst through the doors.

I stared at the intruder. The newcomer had auburn hair, dark brown eyes, lots of freckles, and a sarcastic expression. He was wearing a black tracksuit with golden stripes with his long, messy hair looking like it had been blown with a leaf blower.

“It worked people. You teleported. Whooo!” the boy applauded sarcastically.  He started  to make sarcastic cheering sounds.

“Welcome to 21. Technology Academy 21.”

Millions of thoughts, mostly stupid ones, ran through my head. It was a miracle that I didn’t faint. My most intelligent thought was, “This boy would be a terrible cheerleader.”

“Hey, I’m Olivia Goldstar.” my sister level-headedly replied.  We climbed off the platform and we walked out of the room. How she kept her cool, I honestly don’t know. I wanted to kick the rude teen in the stomach.

“Ohh, now I remember, you’re a Goldstar,” the boy pushed up his square framed glasses in mock admiration. “Your family is famous, super famous actually.” More like, I give that family (and every other family in the world) anger issues. The teen continued, “Who’s that kid with you, Olivia? Didn’t you get the memo that it isn’t bring-your-little-sister-to-school-day?”

Oh my god. Nobody ever guesses that Olivia and I are sisters. I mean, she could be a model and I almost had never have anytime time to comb my hair. So, when he made it sound so obvious, I almost fainted again.

“Hi, I’m her little sister. My name is Amara  Goldstar. And you are?” I jumped in coolly (I recovered quickly from the almost-faint).

“Hunter. Bo Hunter.”

“Right,” I said, “Well if you could tell us where our stuff is, we’ll leave you alone…” I tried to slip away, but suddenly he grabbed my arm.

“I’m supposed to give you a tour of the Academy, and your luggage is gonna be here soon,  you’ll get it after the tour. Now, would you like to come, or will you want to stay here and wait until security comes and kicks you out.”

“Of course, they sent you,” I muttered. “You’re so friendly and welcoming.” I don’t know if Bo didn’t hear me, or if he chose to ignore that comment.

“Amara , I got to go. ” Olivia said.

“What?” I exclaimed. “I thought you were going to come too!”

“No, I’m still working at 19. You know that I’m a mentor for Squad 1 back at 19. I would have loved to come here, but there were no openings for pre-agent mentors.”

“Then why did you come here with me?” I asked, miserably.

“You’re supposed to teleport with a certified agent. Also, I used to go here, I love this school. You’ll love it too, trust me.”

School without Olivia? I only survived at 19 because of her. Olivia was my only friend who really understood me. For all the years I spent at 19, I thought I hated it because I wasn’t challenged, but, I think if I had more friends, it would have been more bearable. “This time,” I promised myself. “I’ll make some friends.” Hopefully, Bo wasn’t a good example of the rest of the students. If he was, I’d definitely go back to 19.

“Bye!” Olivia called to me, shattering my thought. “Bo, take care of my sister!”

In a flash of blue light, my sister, and my only friend, disappeared for what seemed to be the rest of my life.

“So anyway,” Bo said to nobody. “This is the Great Hall.” I was annoyed that he was ignoring me.

Then, we entered the Great Hall and I forgot what I was thinking about. The hall’s ceiling soared up and up and until they met in arches at the top. There were stained glass windows, depicting images of famous spies, and the sun that shined through bathed the room in color. There also was tables holding ancient spy computers, and I ran over for a better look. They were all in perfect shape and they all worked. There was even a pencil used by the founder of espionage, Nathan Hale.

“Amazing!” I marveled.

Bo actually smiled, “Yeah, you can also touch them.”

“Really?” I replied.

“Yeah, I had a better reaction when I first came in, though,” Bo grinned. “I fainted!”

We both laughed and I realized that this kid wasn’t so bad. We actually had the same sense of humor and we’ve both fainted before. I was starting to feel connected to this kid.

“I came here with my parents,” Bo pushed up his glasses. “Before…” I wondered what “before” was supposed to mean, but he didn’t continue.

At my inquiring glance, he shrugged, and didn’t speak for the rest of the tour.

When the tour came to an end,  Bo pointed toward the door, which lead to my room and gave me the key.   He nodded at me, smiled a bit, then he turned away and left. I wondered what had happened to Bo as I unlocked the door. Then, forgetting Bo,  I started to think how much I wished that my parents were here, watching, instead of being off on some spy mission like they always were.

I entered the room and looked it over, there was a king-sized bed, and a roomy closet. Though it was plain, I liked it. I spotted my bags near the bed,  and started to unpack. I pulled out my mini nursery of plants. I had cactuses, flowers, carnivorous plants, and even a tree I just planted. I then arranged them on a table, just to add some extra decoration. I hoped 21 would have greenhouses. I had an awesome nightshade-venus flytrap cross thingy. I loved mixing plant types. I have made the weirdest flowers. Coding and hacking are so stressful sometimes, I feel like plants calm me down and help me unwind.

“Amara !” somebody called. I turned and saw Bo again, and another boy.  The boy had the same wavy, a little bit redder than auburn hair, like Bo, but he had a friendly grin and for some reason, one of his eyes were black and the other one was amber.

“Hey,” I said uncertainly, as I walked toward them. “Um… I’m Amara …, uh… who are you?”

“I’m Cobi Hunter,” he said, putting out a hand to shake. I took his hand and shook it.

“Um, are you and Bo siblings or something?” I asked.

“Yeah, we’re twins. Fraternal, of course.”

“Oh,” I said. “You guys look very similar.”

“Should I be insulted?” He joked. To my surprise, Bo laughed. I laughed too.

“Well, should we escort the lady to the dining hall?” He said, grinning. He held out an arm to me and Bo did them same. They elbowed each other out of the way, trying to push the other away, until a bell rang. They looked at each other and ran ahead.

“Come on,” They called after them. “Dinner’s served!” Finally, I just elbowed them back and ran ahead. As soon as the slowpokes caught up, we started to run down the hall following an amazing scent of freshly cooked food. We turned at a corner, racing towards the dining hall.

When we arrived at the dining hall, we headed towards one of the huge wooden benches and stopped. We, apparently, were late. Everyone was sitting and facing us. I would have laughed at the expression on their faces as they faced us,but then I realized that they were mostly staring at me.

We all took a seat, and Cobi whispered to me. “Don’t worry, it’s just that we don’t get many newcomers. Also, we are not supposed to be late.”

Then the headmistress walked in. “What is this I hear about that some students were late? What would Nathan Hale say?” she boomed.

Cobi and Bo answered her. “We are sorry, Headmistress. It won’t happen again.” I quickly repeated the apology.

“Let’s see that it doesn’t happen again.” the Headmistress replied. “ Yes, Headmistress,” we muttered (I had caught the gist of it).

As soon as she turned her back,

“What the heck did the Headmistress mean about Nathan Hale?” I asked, confused. “Cause what would the founder of espionage have to do with being on time?”

I guess that was a stupid statement around here because Bo and Cobi just laughed their heads off. Then, I got a chance to take a better look at the dining hall.

It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. It stretched on and on, and it had been designed so it was just short enough so you would be able to see when at the back of the hall you could see the headmistresses at the back of the hall, though not clearly. It’s ceiling soared almost as high as the Great Hall.

There were many (about 15) long, wooden tables covered in food.

Bo bumped me with his shoulder and grinned. “Intimidating, isn’t it?” I smiled back.

Then I smelled the food and realized how hungry I was. I plowed through a giant bowl of leafy green salad, 4 rolls of avocado sushi, a steak, a medium-sized bowl of delicious tomato soup, a big bowl of mashed potatoes, a grilled cheese sandwich, a tiny slice of a fruit tart, a cupcake, a sliver of apple pie, and a small mug of hot chocolate. It was probably the best meal I have had in my whole entire life, well, at least 100 times better than the food at 19.

“ Ugh” I moaned when I was done. I had eaten so much, that if someone had squeezed my stomach, I would have thrown up.

“You ate more than anyone I have ever seen in my life.” Bo raised his eyebrows.

“Save some room!” Cobi flashed me a smile. “The best is coming soon!”

A chef came out of the kitchen with a ginormous cake, drenched in strawberry frosting. He placed it in front of me and litt the candles. The lights went out and the entire student body began to sing, “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Amara ! Happy birthday to you!”. When I blew out the candles in one go, the students whooped and cheered.

The chef handed me a knife, mock-bowed, and left. I sliced the cake as a horde of chef swarmed out of the kitchen, carrying cake slices for everyone. I sliced my cake and passed the slices out to my table, and Bo stole my slice. I stole it back and threw a candle in his face (it was unlit, of course). I dug in. The cake was a rich strawberry cake with chocolate ganache. It was topped with strawberries dipped in chocolate.

“Ow id dey o I ik’d awbaris?” I asked, my mouth stuffed with cake.

“Wa?” Cobi and Bo asked, mouths equally full.

I swallowed and replied, “How did they know I liked strawberries?”

“Oh!” Cobi chuckled. “You’re at a spy school. Nothing is a secret here.” he grinned.

I barely could eat my cake fast enough. As I finished my last bite, my happy dinner, and seemingly perfect life, was broken by one sentence spoken by the Headmistress (who had sneaked up behind me. God, I hate her so much.)

“Amara  Goldstar, please go to the teleporting station with 2 other certified teleporters. Your grandfather is dying.”

Chapter 3:

My Friends Almost Burn My House Down While Throwing Me A Surprise Party

Agent Adrian Goldstar

April 2, 2021;  10:00 p.m.

Unknown Place In Lake Tahoe, CA

 

I trudged through the forest of trees, anxious to get home.

Well, not exactly home. My real house burned down when I was nine, killing my mother and destroying my life. I’m not supposed to be here, but when I found out how tiny my dorm (where I am supposed to live) was, I just had to use my millions of “friends” (aka people who owe me favors because I got their sorry butts out of jail) to build a house in the middle of the woods. It’s the natural thing to do. I built an awesome mansion, that just looks like a giant log cabin. I’m not a big fan of those modern mansions, so this is my little (actually quite big)  cabin in the woods. And its super wild out there, so it’s really not hard to keep people away. A few bear growls and they run.

I was lugging my skis and hobbling in my ski boots. I needed to get home before nightfall. My dog, Fudge, was probably waiting for me. Besides, I was exhausted. I had had a track race this morning (which I had won!) and then a soccer game (which I had also won!) and practice for my ski team. I was physically and mentally drained, but I was happy. I stayed out wayyy too late with my friends. We went for dinner and they surprised my with this towering sundae. It was a chocolate lover’s heaven.

I was a good person today. I know. You must be thinking “What type of person who knows criminals tries to be a good person? Unless they are a police officer or a jailor or judge or something, of course.” Well people, I’m not one of those people, and I’m not perfect. It’s just my mother always wanted me to be good. She was the person whose greatest wish is world peace and kindness. I’ll tell you a bit about her so you can get the picture.

Parvati was the name of my real mom, was always kind and sweet and gentle. She gave me my chocolate brown hair and eyes. She gave me her steely determination and sense of fairness. She was always telling me to be a good person, and to have empathy and care about others. She made me the person I am today. She was always teaching me to be a good person, to have empathy and care about others. She made me the person I am today. When I was little, she would run a point system. For every good deed I did, she would give me a point. When I got 25 points, she would take me skiing.

Then, Cassie the Catastrophe came. My mom was killed in the fire that burned my house down. My dad, Ayden, remarried. Quick thing on him: he is handsome, well built with broad shoulders and salt and pepper hair. He has kind black eyes and is very athletic. He is probably the nicest person in my family. He understands that I hate Cassie. But, he doesn’t really know me and doesn’t do anything about it. He doesn’t really understand me. He just listens to Cassie and blindly agrees with her most of the time. But, he is nice to me when she isn’t around and acts like he cares about me.

Okay, back to Cassie the Catastrophe. My dad married her, and it’s kinda Cinderella-style. Mean stepmother? Cassie, check! Mean stepsiblings? Check! Cassie’s first husband died (I think she killed him), but she had already had kids, two horrors, named Aspen and Reed.

A little on them: Reed is my older step-brother. He is 17 years old. He basically looks like a younger version of Dad, weirdly, except the fact that he has blue eyes, but he has the same black hair though. But, he is a MiniMum inside. Perfectly groomed, he has excellent manners and excels at the beauty academy. I hate him.

Aspen is my older sister. She and Reed are twins. But, they are fraternal, not identical. She is a total country girl, with her green eyes and pink dresses. There is a thin line between caramel and red, and Aspen’s hair is on it. Worst of all, she copies MY go-to hairstyle of two braids. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT! She thinks I am an embarrassment to the family, which I am proud of. She follows my step-mom’s every order and is the goody-two-shoes of the family. She loathes me. I despise her.

Oh, and Cassie and my dad had a kid named Sierra. Sierra is my 7-year-old half-sister. Every family has an angel, and Sierra is ours. With her blond hair and blue eyes (which she got from my grandma, not Cassie’s mom), she even looks the part. She is sweet and kind to everyone, even me. She even agreed to tour the schools instead of going to prison, sorry, ahem, I mean beauty school. Considering Cassie’s strong will, she will probably go to beauty school, but I hope I can convince her to enroll at a Tech Academy. Overall, she is the nicest family member and is probably my favorite. I kinda like her.

Yeah, so you see why I have a terrible family (well, except Sierra). But, Cassie is the worst. By far. Let me tell you about her. She has strawberry blond hair and shiny green eyes. Cassie wears a pound of makeup, so she looks like a clown, but everybody still thinks she is so pretty. People say that she is beautiful, but I know that on the inside, she is about as good-looking as a toad. She only cares about her looks and her 3 good kids, my siblings Reed, Aspen, and Sierra. Cassie went to a beauty academy and later became the chairwoman of the school board for the beauty academies, so she made Reed, Aspen, and I go there. Sadly, she is gunning for Sierra, the youngest, to go there to. Everyone except me is/would be a perfect fit. I personally hate Cassie. She is the type of person who “likes nature”, but stays in a RV when we go camping (it’s basically a mini mansion). She also doesn’t have the stamina to walk a single block. She has to be driven everywhere by her chauffeur, Roger. This is why it drives me crazy that she named Reed and Aspen after her “passion” (nature). Luckily, Dad named Sierra and I.

So, where was I? Oh yeah, I was hobbling inside.

My house/mansion/whatever-you-want-to-call-it has a sick security system. Once, I almost died trying to get home. It has eye, ear, voice, and hand recognition. It even has sensors that you would not want to know about. They can tell if people are miles away. And if they are unauthorized, and carrying weapons, oops for them (KA-BOOM!!!). I almost incinerated a student who was walking to the dorms (where I am supposed to sleep). Sorry, Frederick, but think on the bright side! I mean, you lived! Well, you kinda did. I mean, who needs both arms? I mean, you can function with only one arm and no legs!

Yeah, so, I automatically unlocked my phone (I have a password, fingerprint sensor, eye scanner, voice recognition, and even a DNA thingamabob. If you aren’t me or you don’t have permission from me to go to my house, then well, ummm, KA-BOOM!!!!!!!!!). I opened my careful designed “Don’t Die Going Home” app. I entered a passcode, which changes every day (so don’t get any ideas). I quickly entered my longitude and latitude, so it would know where I was. I put on my skis and put away my phone so I could ski down to my house.

“Swoosh!” my skis expertly cut through the snow. I held my breath, hoping I wouldn’t be blown up. I checked my phone, and breathed a sigh of relief. I was okay. My app said the house’s sensors found me and I am not being targeted with any explosives. Yet.

I dodged the lasers and the nukes, went around the landmines, and generally tried not to die. Trust me, one wrong move and I’d be blasted off this planet. Once I slipped and if I hadn’t dodged, I wouldn’t have two hands. Or any feet.

“Where do I get all of these explosives?” you ask. “Surely you cannot have get all of them from your criminal contacts.” I didn’t. I made them myself. Yeah. I am at a tech-building school, so I can build gadgets, bombs, and even armor. I can also crack a wide range of codes, from morse code to pigpen.

I arrived at my front door. After a full body scan and more security, I was inside. My 5-month-old puppy, Fudge, bounded up to greet me. His wagging tail shook his entire body, making him fall over. He would be a little bigger when he gets a little bit older, but now he was only about knee height. He was a cute little chocolate brown dog right now, though.

“Hi boy!” I kneeled down to pet him. “Who’s a good doggy? Who’s a good doggy?”

He rolled onto his back, so I could pet his belly. He had soft, thick fur and smelled like pine trees. He wagged his tail and ran to get his favorite toy, which is one of Aspen’s old stuffed animals, a cassowary. The little bird kinda reminds me of Aspen herself. It may look pretty, but it is deadly and malicious. It gives me great joy when Fudge tries to rip it up.

I got up and stumbled over to my living room. It has a total log cabin feel, with rustic colors and a giant fireplace. It has this giant mantle full of games and stuffed with books. I plopped into an armchair, exhausted. My friends call the armchairs “old, dying stuffed things”, but I prefer “have lots of character and charm”. I turned on the fire, and relaxed. I have a fake fire, because I’ve had pyrophobia ever since my mom died. I scooched my chair closer to the fake flames and let out a sigh.

I had finally warmed my frostbitten feet when Fudge ran in with the stuffed animal firmly clasped in his mouth. He held it out to me so we could play tug of war. It was a fierce battle: I tugged, and Fudge tugged, and I flopped forward dramatically, letting him win. He jumped up into my chair and sat down contentedly on my lap, chewing up the toy.

I leaned back into the chair, rubbed my eyes, trying to stay awake. I shook my head frantically, as if I could get rid of the sleepiness inside me. I sat up and looked down at Fudge. He sighed, and glanced up at me with his mournful eyes. I love how his eyes almost look human in his emotions. He put his head down on my lap, the toy forgotten. I reclined back again and echoed Fudge’s sigh. Sleep knocked on my door once more, and this time, I handed myself willingly over into its clutches.

Sadly, my dreams (if you consider them not nightmares), were no comforts. I usually never dream, but lately, I have been taunted by Mom’s death, which I relived every night in my dreams. I could enter the house, but try as I might to save Mom, I would never be able to. Any action towards her, and my physical form would disappear and I would see her death from a bird’s eye view, in slow motion.

In my dream, I suddenly appeared at my old house. I closed my eyes, cried, “Don’t do this to me again!” and tried to run, crying, but I couldn’t. I tried to tear my eyes away, but I couldn’t. I dug my feet into the ground, praying to God I would stay here. I couldn’t. I raced into the house, and almost passed out from the musty smell of smoke. The back of my neck tingled-I knew something bad would happen. I could feel it.

I held my breath, the smoke felt more real. In my dream, it smelled like death and despair. I sniffed again. Something was off. I could sense that something was going on in the real world. Maybe Fudge got up, or the fire went out. I cursed at myself. How could I mention fire at this time? Wait, it smelled a match. With pyrophobia, you fine-tune yourself with fire, so I could smell a match. My real world fake fire went out.

I awoke with a gasp. I saw my friends Kate and Nicole happily flicking matches into the fireplace.

“God, why do you people try to burn down my house so often?” I rubbed my eyes blerrily. “Fudge, for once, forget your sweetness and attack them.” Then I noticed Kate and Nic had brought company. My friends Connor, Liam, his sister, Samantha, and Riley had crashed my place, too.
“Why?” I groaned as I sat up and ripped the box of matches from Nic’s hand.

“Well, good morning!” She nervously smiled, twirling her tawny hair around her finger.

Kate didn’t even apologize. She lit her last match and twirled it around, to freak me out. I stayed calm and blew it out. Before Mom died, I used to love fire. Dad could cocus a flame from any log, Mom could lit a match blindfolded and I could lit a match with anything (Oh,  I love that new purse you have! *lights a match on it*). But then she died and I became pyrophobic, but I still have my ‘skillz’. So I confidently lit my own and wagged it at Kate’s short black hair. The mischief in her obsidian-dark eyes barely died down as I shook my head at her.

“What time is it?’ I exhaled, trying to keep my temper under control.

“Ummmm, nobody has a watch, so I don’t know.” Kate shrugged.

I saw Nic glare at everyone, because watches are basically mandatory at school, and everyone was wearing one. As Liam, Sam, Connor, and Riley tried to cover up their watches, I looked at my antique grandfather clock.

“5 o’clock!” I exploded as I jumping to my feet. “The birds aren’t even up!”

“Chirrrp! Twweeet! Chirrup!” the birds cheerfully proved me wrong.

“I beg your pardon,” Kate flipped her hair definitely. Nic wisely stayed silent and lit a real fire in the fireplace.
“Well, I’m not up,” I sat back down. “Wait!” I jumped back up. “Where’s Fudge?”.

“Aurrel took him on a walk.” Kate smiled, showing off a row of shiny silver braces.

“We have everything under control.” Nic nodded proudly.

“Of course!” Kate added sarcastically.

“Two questions.” I sat down at the hearth, next to Liam, my crush. But, he is Sam’s bro, so it makes it kinda weird.

“Wow, two? I didn’t think your brain could think of more than one. Are you okay?” Kate asked, all fake concerned.

“Shut up.” I punched her lightly in the shoulder. “First of all, how did you get in?”

“They did it all. Kate snuck into my dorm at 3:30 and was like ‘let’s go!’ and I was all like what?’ and she almost threw me out the window. So I just followed her and I saw Nicole with everyone else and we just followed Kate here. When we saw your house, Kate and Nicole were like ‘Ready, Set, Go!’ and they like disarmed the whole thing. It’s complicated. It took them so long. I was like ‘how did Adrian do this?’ and Nicole told me you had done it in half an hour. You’re good. ” Liam nodded appreciatively, his green eyes sparkling. He smoothed back his caramel blonde hair.

“Well, umm, thanks, but they helped.” I stammered, blushing.

“I’m not so sure about that,” He smiled, whispering into my ear. I blushed hot pink.

“Break it up, lovebirds,” Kate smirked. I punched her again. Sam, Liam’s sis, held up her sketch book (she is a great artist), where she had drawn me and Liam getting married. I punched her. Ri made fake kissing noises. Kicked her.

“I’m gonna judo flip the next person who says anything.” I threatened.

“So are you gonna judo flip me?” Rachel, my friend broke through the door.

“Hey, Rach! Shut the door.” I hugged her, but she is way taller then me so it ended up like an awkward high-five-hug thingy.

“Hey, happy birthday!” Rach smiled.

“Really?” Kate rolled her eyes.

“What?” Rach raised an eyebrow.

“Wait, is that the reason you guys broke in here?” the realization hit me like a bullet.

“Wha d’ya think?” Kate and Rachel said sarcastically. They’re sisters, and they have them same sarcasm. Except for the fact that Kate is ruder and Rach is taller.

“Oh. Right. Thanks, guys. That’s really nice.” I smiled.

Aurrel burst through the door, Fudge yanking pulling her inside. “God, Fudge!” she unclipped his leash and he bounded in. “Why are you so energetic?”

“He’s still a puppy.” I sighed, rubbing his belly. “Besides Aur, he’s so cute.”

“So,” Riley joined me, rubbing Fudge’s stomach. “Here boy! Go and get a toy!”

Fudge obeyed, happy to be of service.

“So, yeah, happy birthday!” Nic did jazz-hands as an attempt to lighten the mood.

It didn’t work. The room was so tense, I jumped when the first wave of yawns went around.

“Yaawn.”

“Yaawn.”

“Yawn.”

“Yaawn.”

“Yaawn.”

“Yaaawn.”

“Yawwwn.”

The yawning was kind of a chain reaction. I think they’re contagious.

“I knew you guys would regret getting up this early. Come on, I have enough spare bedrooms for all of you.”

I brushed back my kobicha colored hair, then, though I didn’t need to (they already knew the way), led Kate and Rach to one room with a bunk bed and Aur (that’s what we call Aurell) and Ri (and that’s what we call Riley) to another. I put Conner with Liam in my guest room (it has one of those slide out beds) and Nic in my other guest room. I ran out of beds, so Sam slept on the couch. Then, I stumbled back to my room and changed into sweats and a a ember-orange thermal shirt before collapsing into bed.

I fought to stay awake, but sleep chiseled down on my strength and, eventually, I gave in, praying for a better dream.

I saw myself tearing through fire, which is really weird and I don’t think it’ll ever happen. Like I said earlier, I’m pyrophobic, so why would I run through what I’m scared of?

Well, I was tearing through it like I was running for my life. I kept running faster and faster and faster. I couldn’t stop, so the fire engulfed me.

I woke up screaming. Luckily, I was on my stomach, so my screams were muffled. Even so, Sam ran into my room.

“Are you okay?” she stood in the doorway.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “ I just had a really vivid nightmare about fire.”

“Oh.” Sam walked into my room and climbed the ladder up to my bunk. I have a loft bed, and the bottom is a mini couch, a bookshelf of my all time favs, and a little dog bed for Fudge. Sam sat at the foot of my bed. “What’s going on?”

Of all the people I know, Sam understands my fear of fire the most. Kate, Rach, Nick and everyone else makes fun of it, but Sam actually feels sorry for me. She slipped off her green sweatshirt and threw it on the ground (she knew I didn’t care). She was wearing a sky blue shirt with green frogs (did I mention that Sam is obsessed with frogs?).

“You said your dreams have gotten worse. Right?” Sam frowned.

“Yeah. They’re more vivid.” I grimaced. Before she could respond, we heard a

“BOOM! CRASH!”

“WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?” Kate screamed.

Sam nimbly climbed down the latter. The rest of us usually just jump off, but she is too short. If Sam jumped, she would probably end up with a broken leg. I jumped off the top bunk. Bad decision. I landed on my ankle, and waves of pain shot up my leg. My vision swam and, I swear, I actually saw stars. I stumbled into the foyer, where Kate, Rach, Aur, Ri, and Sam were. Fudge’s barks cut through my pain. He never barks, well except he barks at…

“Disappointing.” Professor Shane Donnelly strutted into my house. “Honestly, I was expecting better.”. For somebody who had just broken into my house, he looked pretty chill. He was wearing his customary black leather jacket, aviator sunglasses, black combat boots, and skinny black pants. Shane (yeah, everybody calls him Shane, but not to his face, of course) teaches engineering at school.

“YIIIIPPP!” Fudge bounded outside. He never yipped unless he saw…

“Hullo, dear children.” Professor Dan Fremon stolled in. “Adrian, dear, can you please control your dog?” He almost looked weirder, wearing his usual fancy-looking tux, and pulling Fudge in by the collar.

“Hello, professors!” we all chorused politely. Kate even waved cheekily.

“Hello, dear students!” Dan smiled.

“Hey.” Shane nodded.

“Well, nice seeing you!” I smiled, and began to close the door.

“Not so fast.” Shane put his foot out, stopping it. “I believe their is a no private home policy.”

“Oh god.” we mumbled. I may have also mumbled some unflattering things about teachers under my breath.

“Honestly, I thought you would have had a security system at least.” Shane shock his head sadly.

“Wait wait wait.” I looked Kate straight in the eyes. “You did not forget to re-enable my system, did you?” she avoided my glare. “And how’d you find my place, anyway?”

“Well, we’re not stupid.” Dan forced a smile. It took all my effort to feign surprise. I like also really had to try not to reply with, “oh, well that’s a surprise.”. I resisted and Dan continued.

“Shane actually figured it out.”

“Yeah. So I just had to put two and two together. Fredrick, no survivors of the scouts we sent into this area, Adrian’s adeptness with bombs, it all adds up. And to him and Dan. “… know the sum.”

“Well, I hate to break up this little party, but I believe you have to talk with the principal about this.” Dan pursed his lips. He flashed me an annoying I-just-won-and-you-didn’t-you- suck smirk for a split second.

But a split second is all you need sometimes.

I kicked Shane in the stomach, Aur punched him in the head, and Kate and Rach wrestled Dan to the ground. Shane landed a punch on my nose, and I could feel the blood trickle down my face. “Go get the clear vial marked ‘forget’!” I rasped at Sam and Ri as Dan escaped my friends’ grasps and put me in a headlock. They hurried away as Shane sprang up.

Shane taunted, smirking. He landed another punch, this time on my eye. He judo flipped Kate, and kicked Rach in the ribs. He came at Aur, who leaped over him. She is amazing. Shane turned his attention to me. He swept my leg (the bad one!) out from under me. Aur came to help me, but Shane threw her towards Rach and Kate. All three of my friends landed in a heap, with a collection of thuds and sickening cracks. Shane cracked his knuckles. “Your turn,” he leered.

Dan and him ran at me from either side, and I leaped up just in time to see the ram into each other. Liam and Connor burst into the area, each taking out a professor. Nic followed, carrying a small vial, Sam and Ri dashed in, at her heels. Sam helped Liam hold Shane down while Ri helped Conner with Dan. Nic forced the vial into my hands and ran off to help Kate, Aur, and Rach, who were beginning to stir. After she carried the away, I heard them groaning blearily in another room.

I slowly advanced towards my teacher. “Your turn,” I mimicked, kneeling down next to Shane. I forced open his mouth and tipped half of the vial down his throat. “I don’t want to exclude anyone.” I frowned, turning to Dan, whose black eyes were wide with fear. “So I think I’ll do you.” I dumped the rest of the serum into Dan’s mouth.

“Open the door! Quick!” I shouted. Sam sprinted to open it and Liam and I picked up Shane and threw him into the snow. Ri and Conner did the same with Dan. I slammed the door, and took a few deep breathes. Liam took out a slip of paper.

“I found it in Shane’s pockets.” He unfurled the tiny scroll. He read it and gasped.

“What is it? Ca’I see?” I pleaded, pushing back my way too long hair. Wordlessly, Liam handed me another nightmare. The note read:

 

Agent Donnelly,

Please inform Agent in training, Adrian Goldstar, that her grandfather is ill and she must be taken to the hospital immediately. Act swiftly, and be a spy representing your country.

 

Chapter 4:

It’s My Birthday! And You Forgot.

Agent Ameya Goldstar

April 3, 2021; 3 :30 a.m.

Unknown Place In Maui, Hawaii

 

In the light of the moonlight streaming through the curtains, I couldn’t sleep. So, I did what any “normal” Hawaiian girl would do: go canoeing. I got out of bed and slipped on my favorite jean jacket over my t-shirt.  Since I live in Hawaii, the weather is so warm that I can wear shorts and t-shirts to bed every day.  As I zipped it up, my toggle, a cross between a turtle, a dog, and a seagull, (imagine a dog with a turtle shell and seagull wings), named Gracie, woke up.

I had found her one night when I was out canoeing. She was flying tiredly, high in the starlit sky, and started to fall towards the water. I canoed faster, racing towards the strange creature. I had to jump overboard but grabbed her just in time. I decided to report my findings to my trainer, Megan, since as usual, my parents were on a mission. She said I could keep it. At an assembly later that day, she introduced my new pet Gracie (named by me!), to everyone.

Where was I again? Oh right, anyway….

I sighed. Gracie loves to follow me everywhere. “Let’s go then, if you insist on following me,” I said.

Gracie, happy as ever to be included, got up. I ran to the window and leaped out. Gracie followed, and flew out after me with her seagull wings. After I fell about 10 stories, I landed lightly, then sprinted over to a hidden cave. I pulled out my canoe. It’s really old, and the midnight blue paint was peeling off, but I didn’t care. After all these years, it seemed like family. I shoved it into the waves and Gracie happily bounced in. The canoe promptly flipped over. Gracie yelped in shock then began doggie-paddling towards where I stood on the shore.

“God, Gracie,  you’ve done that so many times!” I laughed. I pushed Gracie out of the canoe and she took off flying in the beautiful night sky. I laid down in the canoe and looked up at the sky, feeling so small in the little canoe, just a tiny speck in the cosmos. It was a full moon tonight, and I watched Gracie soar around, in front of the moon, doing loop-de-loops.

I stopped rowing to gaze mindlessly at the moon. Then, I did something really weird, and I didn’t really think about it.

Since I was really tired, I didn’t want to row back So, I wished that the waves somehow would push me back to shore. Amazingly, the tide turned and I was propelled back to the shore.

“Oh my God.” I breathed. “No way.”

“Gracie! C’mon, stop scaring the birds.” I called. We had to go because I didn’t want to miss my free ride back.

Gracie reluctantly stopped chasing the birds and came over.

“I think it’s time to go back,” I told Gracie.

Gracie made a pathetic whimpering sound, like “Can’t you see that I’m just warming up?” She gazed longingly at the uaʻu, as we call them in Hawaii.

“Stop it,” I told her. “You’ve been out longer than usual, so you can’t  complain.”

Gracie landed in the water beside me. Like me, she is a champion swimmer. Caught by the waves, we drifted back to the shore. She made a little huffing noise, then flew up to my window and disappeared inside. I climbed up the wall to my bedroom, ripped off my hoodie, dried off Gracie, and then crawled under the covers and went to sleep.

The next morning, I woke up happy and confident.  2 reasons:

1. It’s my 13th birthday! Did you get me a present?
2. It’s Sunday,  which means we wake up before the sunrise, which is at around 6:50. So, breakfast is at 6:30, and right now it is 6:00. I never can get up before 6:15, so I get extra time to get ready. The good thing about Sundays is that we get to do water activities. Like, jetskiing, waterskiing, stand-up paddle boarding (my personal favorite), parasailing, aquabiking, and more.

I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth. With a light hand, I applied some makeup. Okay, a lot of makeup. Since I go to a beauty school, makeup is required. (Also, I love it and I can’t live without it.).

I, unlike some people, just cannot bear to wear a swimsuit to breakfast. So, I slipped on my favorite dress, a sky blue one, with lace on the sleeves, neckline, and the bottom. I pulled on my jean jacket over it and completed the look with dark wash skinny jeans. I brushed my hair until it shined, and slipped a matching sky blue headband on.

Since it was only 6:20, I had time to give Gracie a bath. This is really a challenge. She despises baths. But, she is so sweet and well trained (mostly it is the fact that I have spent about 2 hours a day training her), that she will stay still enough for me to bathe her. She tortures me by making this really sad face like “WHY, oh why, are you punishing me? I didn’t do anything wrong. I think.” Or, she might just look insulted. Luckily, If I turn up the heat and let her just soak in the tub, she relaxes and kinda enjoys it. She is weird that way. This time, I let her soak for 3 minutes, so I was able to get done around 6:26.

I brushed her fur and made it really fluffy. I continued to brush her fur to the point where she was too adorable. She loved it. I carefully dried her wings and polished her turtle shell. It’s a beauty, because it looks exactly like a green sea turtle shell. So, I guess Gracie must be part uliuli kai honu. I poured out some dog food for my toggle.

“It’s my birthday, Gracie! Did you know that?” I asked her, half-hoping she would respond. My answer was a perplexed expression. “Did you get me a present?” This time I’d say Gracie response was thoughtful, but not better. She brought me a chewed-up sock.

“Gee, thanks, ” I flashed her a smile. In return, Gracie rolled over onto her back so I could rub her belly.

Then, I saw the time. Doors to breakfast closed at 6:30. My custom watch said it was 6:29 and 30 seconds.

“Bye, Gracie!” I shouted as I slipped on dark blue flip-flops and flew out of my dorm. I quickly raced downstairs, then skidded down the hallway, almost crashing into my brother as I raced to the breakfast room.

Yeah, in beauty school we have a room for each meal.  The breakfast room is really pretty, and it is painted to look like the beach. The tables are made to look like surfboards, and they are all in neon colors. They benches are painted to look like those inflatable life raft (you know, the orange ones that are on boats for emergencies.). Near the doorway, the ground is painted to look like sand, and the floor next to the actually eating area looks so much like waves that I can actually imagine that I am at the beach. Best of all, the ceiling is painted like the sky at sunrise. It even has little paintings of White-tailed Tropicbirds. The breakfast room is supposed to be very, very bright to shock (or scare) any remaining sleepiness out of you.

It is the Academy’s way of screaming, “WAKE UP, YOU LAZY PEOPLE!” at the top of its lungs. It works. As soon as I entered the breakfast room, I jumped a little. I paused, letting my eyes adjust to the light and feeling the remaining tendrils of sleep leaving my mind. Then I took a seat at a neon pink table.

The tables were laden with food. Donuts, pancakes, waffles, omelets, hard boiled eggs, every cereal imaginable ( and some I couldn’t even imagine), and more. For my birthday, they had also included my favorite breakfast, pain au chocolat. I LOVE them. Pain au chocolat is French for chocolate bread. Doesn’t that sound delicious? Well, it tastes delicious! For sure. I gobbled down a pain au chocolat and a Chocolat Chaud (hot chocolate). As I entered a rare moment of chocolatey bliss, I remembered my parents promised to meet me before sunrise. Each year they are on a mission on my birthday, but they promised that they wouldn’t miss this one.

I then I hurried down a flight of stairs, then down another, to where my parents should have been waiting. As I entered the room, my smile faded. There was a note on the usually crowded, but now cleared, oak table in front of me:

 

Dear Ameya,

Happy birthday! We are so happy for you. We hope that you know that we love you with all of our hearts and we really didn’t want to miss your birthday, but we were short two agents for a life-or-death mission, and so we had to go. Next year we’ll be there, honey.

Love,

You’re Very Sorry Parents,

Mom & Dad

P.S. We got you a present. We got you a boat for your birthday. We hope you like it! We’ll give it to you when we get back.

 

As I read the note, I felt tears slide down my face. Again! They skipped my special day for a mission! I stifled a sob and threw the note into the garbage bin. I didn’t even care that they got me a boat. It was Adam, my brother who wanted a boat, not me! Their gift wasn’t even thoughtful! They probably asked Adam what I wanted because they barely even knew anything about me. They don’t seem like parents. I see them once or twice a year. Because of that, they just feel like strangers to me. They even had promised, PROMISED, they would be there for my thirteenth birthday. I recalled all those years ever since my second birthday party that I had cried because my parents had missed yet another birthday. I always was consoled with the fact that the one birthday, I could count on them being there, was when I turned  thirteen. I always had stopped crying to imagine how happy I would be that day would be. But this time, my sadness turned to boiling anger. How dare they break their promise! I’ve practically never seen my parents for more than a half an hour! I was just so upset and  let down. I stormed up the stairs, then stomped down the hall into my room.

Gracie looked at me when I came in, then walked over and layed her soft,  warm head on my lap. For some reason, it slightly calmed me down. I stared at the walls of my bedroom, pale blue with green accents. I collapsed onto my bed, breathing heavily and trying to control my flood of sobs.

After I was finally able to control my torrential rain of tears, I checked the time. 6:41. I decided that going to the beach would calm me down even more, so I changed into my favorite swim suit. It was a tankini, pale blue and marbled with dark blue streaks. I threw on my favorite beach dress, a soft cotton one, that was so pale blue it almost looked white with navy blue stripes. I had gotten it from my grandmother on Christmas. Then, I threw my phone, a beach towel, and a bag of treats for Gracie in a waterproof backpack I got from Adam for Christmas.

I snapped on Gracie’s royal blue collar, then clipped on a matching leash and walked her out of the dorm, down nine flights of stairs.

When I got to the beach, as usual, I took off her leash, and stuffed it into my bag.  She barked joyfully and leaped gracefully into the water, splashing happily. I threw a treat high into the air.

“Fetch!” I smiled. Gracie flew into the air, catching the treat on the fly. She landed in front of me and began to much on it.

“Good girl!” I praised.

Without a moment’s notice, she flew back into the air, annoying all the birds. She could play around with the seagulls because, after all, they were her family.

Smiling,  I put my dress away and jumped into the water. Basking in the waves, I shivered under the Winnie-the-Pooh-style-blustery-sky. I swam out of the ocean and lay on the beach in my ice-cold, dripping wet swimsuit. I grabbed a stand-up-paddle board and paddled out to meet the sunrise. As minutes slipped away like sand in an hourglass, I paddled far away from the beach. Scooping the water with my hands, I seemed to paddle into oblivion.

I checked my watch. 6:50. I have a really cool watch, and not only is it waterproof, but it also has a compass feature. I was in luck.  The beach was east. I turned and stood up on my board. Riding the waves, I headed back towards the shore.  The sun began to rise. I checked the time, 6:52.  The sunrise was breathtaking. The sky was a mix of blue, pink and a bit of purple and orange. I jumped as I  heard a gasp and a splash. I looked frantically around me. I saw my-friend-who-is-a-boy-and-we-like-each-other-but-is-not-my-boyfriend (yet). I just hoped if he became my boyfriend, it wouldn’t end up like last time. Forget about what I just wrote. It doesn’t matter. I shouldn’t think about last time.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine. The sunrise was so pretty, I lost concentration and fell off my board.” Aryan replied.

“Do you have your board?” I called. I sat down so I could paddle to him.

“No, the foot strap snapped.”

“Wait there, I’ll come and get you.”I paddled over to him.

“Get on, I’ll find your board.”  I dove into the water and quickly regretted not wearing goggles. The salt water stung my eyes, and so I resorted to backstroke. After swimming pretty far away, I found Aryan’s surfboard and climbed onto. It was a paddleboard to, so I paddled back over to him. Meanwhile, Aryan had sat down on my board.

“Thanks,” he said shyly.

“You’re welcome,” I replied with a smile.

“Oh by the way, happy birthday. I got you something.”

God, he is the best guy ever! Also, he is the first person to actually wish me a happy birthday! It is not gonna be like last time. Do not think about that, Ameya!

“I brought it to breakfast, because I wanted to give it to you then. But, I didn’t see you so I tried to find you in the waves so I could give it to you. I hope you like it.” he pulled a minuscule, so-dark-blue-that-it- looked-black-velvet jewelry box, the kind that usually holds earrings or a pendant.

“Thank you so much!” I  beamed as I opened the box, finding a beautiful set of sapphire earrings that were miniature versions of my necklace inside. On the back of the stones, words were engraved. One said, “For the Queen of the Waves, Ameya Goldstar” and the other said, “From Aryan Patel”.

“Oh! They’re beautiful!” I almost hugged him. “Thanks again, I mean … ” Aryan seemed to care about me more than my parents did.

“Ameya,” he said. “I really like you and I just thought… ” He looked away, embarrassed, then looked back at me. “Do you like me?”

Forget the earrings. This is the best birthday present I could wish for. “Yeah!” I slipping on the earrings. “Of course!”

Interrupting the happiest moment of my life so far, a sound that would change my life forever rang in my ears.

It was a boat motor.  I turned and saw a fancy, mansion sized boat. It was a beauty, white with turquoise stars. “The Aqua Ameya” it read. “NO WAY!” I thought. This was my new boat! My very own boat. The truth dawned on me. My parents had come! It had to be. Aryan tensed.

“Chill, it’s my parents,” I told Aryan.

“Oh.”

I paddled to the side of the boat.

“Mom! Dad! It’s me, Ameya! Your daughter!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“Ameya?” I heard my dad call.

“Is that you darling?” my mom yelled.

“Yeah!” I replied. “Stop the boat so we can get on!”

“We?” I heard my mom say to my dad.

“Yeah! I’m with Aryan!” I shouted.

They stopped the boat.

“Bring your board on deck,” I told Aryan. As we climbed up onto the boat, my parents exchanged smiles.

“Ameya, we are going to the academy. There, we will pick up Adam and drop off Aryan.” my mom explained.

“Oh, no.” I protested.

“Ameya, Grandpa is sick. We need to go,” my parents castigated in unison.

“Sorry,” was my answer, laced with malice and spite (I am always nice around everyone, except my parents, because they don’t seem to care about me.). “But where are we even going? Aryan is staying, because my grandfather is probably dying and, according to your note, my family has completely forgotten my birthday. Since I have no idea what is happening, I need somebody who can explain to us at least something on this boat!” I exploded. “I’ll go get Adam. Don’t you worry your heads off, Mom and Dad. Aryan, you wait here. Dad, does this have a boat or a raft? If it has a boat, I’ll take it and get Adam. Wait, first I’ll get Gracie.” I let out a piercing whistle and my faithful pet came flying. “Okay, Aryan, can you watch Gracie? I’ll get Adam. Dad, lifeboat or raft? Time’s-a-wasting, grandpa’s-a-dying, let’s go!” I stopped. Mom and Dad looked a little taken aback.

“DAD! BOAT OR RAFT?!”

“Boat.”

“Good, can you get it?”

“Uh, sure.”

I put my bag down on the deck and gave Aryan the dog treats.

“If she is being a handful, just give her one of these. It’ll calm her down. But not too many, then she goes hyper.” I instructed Aryan.

“I learned from experience,” I added when he shot me a how-do-you-know-this-exactly look.

“Okay.”

“I have it on the starboard side, Ameya!” my dad called.

“Ok! Thanks!” I took a flying leap and landed in the lifeboat. “Dad, I got this.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I steered the lifeboat around and he climbed back aboard The Aqua Ameya.

“Be right back! See ya!” I called.

I stared into the fiery sunrise, embracing the future with open arms. My 13th year wouldn’t be perfect, with Grandfather  sick, but Aryan there, it would be pretty darn good. I drove into the sunrise, smiling as I was swallowed up by the surreal colors of the sun.

Chapter 5:

Phase 1

Expert from the Journal of Crime

 

You could call me a lot of things.

A liar.

A traitor.

An assassin.

Heartless.

A Killer.

Jealous.

Forgotten.

Vengeful.

A Murderer.

Sadly for you, they are all true. I am each and every one of those. Many people, when reading this, ask all the wrong questions. They ask, “Who are you?” and, “What have you done?” The real question is, “Why?”. Honestly, I don’t know. I ask myself that all the time. Why have I become who I am now? Why have I abandoned a comfortable life to lead a secret one as a criminal?

My family, they have forgotten me. My parents ignore me and constantly compliment my little sister. When I look at them, I fill up to the brim.

Hate.

Jealousy.

Vengefulness.

Heartlessness.

These emotions power me. I have let them take over me. Whenever I think about being good again, I think about my sister, the “wonder child.” Already I realize I’m getting too personal. I won’t let you know my name, For safety reasons. Of course, I mean my safety, not yours. I couldn’t care less about your safety. You would be better off if you knew my real name, but I wouldn’t be. In fact, I would be in jail. So for now, call me X. X will be a girl’s name. It’ll work for me. I really don’t know why I’m doing this, but you know, I’m trying out the evil villain thing. I’ll write what happens from a third-person view. Don’t think this is a diary, I promise you, it isn’t. It’s a record of all the bad things I’ve done and all the bad things I intend to do. Even if the police is reading this now, it won’t matter. They’ll know what bad things I’ve done, but they won’t catch me. Ever. I hope…

It’s not like me to second guess myself. I try to always project a worried, nervous, teacher’s pet, goody-two-shoes image at my undercover position. I can’t tell you where, of course. But I always had to act nervous, and I hated it. But I HAD to, to stay alive. When i’m actually being myself, I always am so confident and i just KNOW i’ll be okay. I guess I’m becoming my cover. Which is a result of not being me enough. I should talk to somebody on my side (the highier paying side)about it.

Mental note: meet with boss and ask about becoming cover. She’ll have good advice.

Okay, back to the present.

 

3/4/17

8:00 a.m.

Eleven cousins, all different ages, rushing from all over the world to one hospital. Some were in exotic places while executing spy missions, while others lived in spy academies. They all had to stop doing important things to follow their parents to a hospital. The hospital. The place where their dear Grandfather practically lived in. At his overripe age of 105, a slight cold could kill him. Grandfather had only a fever for now, but not for long. One by one, the cousins hugged him. X stayed behind, embracing him last.

While hugging him fiercely, she, unnoticeably, opened her hollow poison-holding locket and withdrew a minuscule vial of knock-out poison and let it drizzle onto his back. It was a special poison she had made herself. It caused the victim to not remember who poisoned them and it left them dazed and off guard. “Now’s my chance,” thought X. She let go of him and then hugged him again, this time using her finger needles to inject poison into his forearm. She loved her finger-needles. They would show only when she bent her finger joints at a certain angle. She stepped away from him, letting the poison do its job. It would only take seconds.

Grandfather fell to the floor. Nurses and doctors rushed to his aid. They ushered him into the hallway and left the cousins in the waiting room, confused. Only one person was happy. And that was X.

She had covered her footsteps perfectly. This poison was almost invisible, and it wouldn’t show up on any tests. All that would was a slow activating virus, cancer, and any amount of chemotherapy wouldn’t help. The “cancer” was like a disguise over the virus. It took about 45 minutes to an hour to work, but there was no cure. The closest thing to an antidote was a strange remedy that called for a person to drink lemon juice mixed with ginger, cloves, jalapeno pepper, and ghost chile pepper. It was nasty. And it only held of the poison for an hour.

10 minutes later, a nurse came in and requested that Adair Goldstar, Amara  Goldstar, Ameya Goldstar, and Adrian Goldstar go see Grandfather privately. X wondered why those four were so special. At the age of 7, they each received a necklace. Every time the entire family got together for any reason, those four got a private talk and agent training with Grandfather. X knew it wasn’t agent training. It was for a different reason. It was for the necklaces and their power. X wanted a necklace badly. So she let her emotions take over her. She planned on stealing the necklaces. Good thing she had planted a tracking and listening device on Adair -on the hair tie that she always kept on her wrist. When she heard Grandfather speak, she stopped listening to her surroundings and listened instead to the earpiece.

“Girls, you are my legacy. I have trained you and I believe you can be the first Goldstar.” Grandfather said in a scratchy whisper.

“Ummm, Grandpa, isn’t all of our last names Goldstar? So aren’t we all Goldstars? So, uhh, we can’t really be the first Goldstars.” Ameya asked, always the practical one.

“Patience, granddaughter. I will explain. Long ago, there were gods, by this I don’t mean Zeus, Odin, Ra, or some other religion. Those gods are real, but these gods were the gods of the elements. They went by the names of the elements they controlled. There were 5: Air-Ruler, Earth-Emperor, Water-King, Fire-Master, and Light-Lord. The 5 gods were brothers, whose parents were simply space and magic. They each had an elemental knife that would channel their magic. They ruled happily and peacefully, each controlling a different part of the world. Air-Ruler ruled over the sky, Earth-Emperor controlled the land, Water-King, the ocean, and Fire-Master, the flames. Light-Lord didn’t have a wish to control any part of the world, so he didn’t. He was the most powerful of the gods. The other gods were scared of him so they allowed him to control anything he wanted. However, he had no interest in being a ruler of any sort. So he devoted his time to learning magic to understand the world. After a long time, the brothers grew old. As a confident magician, Light-lord was determined to preserve their powers forever. So, he created a necklace for each brother. Each necklace was different, with each being made of the god’s stone of choice. Air-ruler had diamond, Earth-emperor had emerald, Water-king had a sapphire, Fire-master had a ruby, and Light-lord chose an opal for himself. The gods’ necklaces were all diamond shaped, flawlessly crafted by the most powerful magic in the world. With the last ounce of magic Light-lord possessed, he carved each god’s symbol into their respective necklaces, as taking the power from the god into the necklace. Light-lord knew that together, their powers made the world. So, drawing magic from his life force, he enchanted the necklaces to fit together and form a star. When the necklaces found true owners, they would fit together and turn the the elemental knives and swords. But, as you know, as every problem comes with a solution, every solution comes with a problem. The powers were preserved forever, but the gods argued. Air-ruler, Earth-emperor, Water-king,  and Fire-master believed that Light-lord was too powerful. They thought that the necklaces were diluting their powers so Light-lord could take over the world. So, they exiled Light-lord. Though Light-lord was usually calm, he got angry, and he made the necklaces a time bomb. He knew when the gods died, the necklaces would be found. So, he cursed the necklaces so they shrunk and the star was filled in with more necklaces, bracelets, and rings. In the very center, there was a star made of gold. It was layered, and each generation the outer layer would fade away. WHen the gold star was the only thing left, the necklace would blow up and destroy all humanity. Light-lord disguised the time bomb. When the necklaces were put together, showing the star shape, the other jewelry pieces would show. And, Light-lord knew that since he was exiled, they wouldn’t be put together until all the gods died. That happened very soon. Air-ruler, Earth-emperor, Water-king,  and Fire-master’s powers were weakened by the absence of their brother. Soon, they died. Deranged from remorse of his brothers’ deaths, Light-lord committed suicide. After the death of the gods, the land was taken over by humans. The necklaces were found by the early generations of the Goldstars, and they were passed down along with stories of the gods and their powers. As legend states, when 5 siblings are born at the same time and by that i mean the same day, within the same hour, they will bring back the power of the gods. But, the Goldstars are only humans, and the power can be only controlled by gods. So the necklaces are . But, as I said before, every strength has its weakness. When the time bomb blows up, it will kill only Goldstars. The entire family would be wiped out.” Grandfather took a deep breath and paused.

“Keep going!” Adair pleaded.

“Where do we come in?” asked Adrian, skeptically.

“I see that this generation of Goldstars has not learned to be patient.” Grandfather scolded.

“Sorry,” Adair and Adrian mumbled in unison.

“So, as I was saying, before I was so rudely interrupted,” Grandfather shot a furtive glance at the perpetrators, which was answered with sheepish apology shrugs. “The necklaces have been passed on to you children.’

Everyone gasped. Well, except Grandfather, of course.

“No!” Adair gasped, her eyes huge..

“What?!” Amara  was shocked. It sounded like she almost fainted. She took a deep breath probably fighting to stay conscious.

“It can’t be!” Ameya didn’t believe it. She couldn’t. It would rock her world.

“Is this just some sick joke? Tell me that you’re joking. You have to be.” Adrian pleaded.

“GIRLS!” said Grandfather sternly. “I will talk and you will listen. No comments, understood?”

All the girls nodded. It seemed like they were itching to find out more.

“So, you are the last generation of necklaces. Next, we will have a generation of bracelets, and then we will have a generation of rings. Finally, we will reach the gold star and our family will be wiped out. This is because generations have all had 5 siblings born on the same day. It is like another curse. So every generation, people try and it doesn’t work. If we keep that up, your grandchildren will be the cause of your death.”

“Not if I can kill them first,” X thought, smirking.

“Your fathers fared worse than the rest. They attempted channeling the god’s powers after your dad’s brother was exiled and, just like it happened for the gods, it didn’t end well. Honestly, it’s a miracle they survived.”

The girls were probably just dying to ask about what happened, but they knew that Grandfather would get mad at them if they did. So, they held their tongues and tried to resist them temptation to ask questions.

Adair couldn’t. “What happened, Grandfather?” she blurted out.

“Adair Goldstar! What did I say about asking questions? Your father’s will tell you when they wish to.” Grandfather replied sternly. “Now, may I continue?”. Without waiting for an answer, grandfather started to speak again. “So, you children must channel the powers of the gods. You already have the necklaces, if you all are wearing them.”

“Of course we are,” Ameya answered. “Right guys?”. Everybody nodded.

“Good. Now, everybody unclasp your chains.”. Everyone seemed to obey. X heard chains clinking, so she thought they took the necklaces off.  X heard creaking as Grandfather sat up in his bed. X had an inkling that the next part of Grandfather’s conversation wouldn’t be verbal. It was time to use X’s next gadget.

When she hugged Grandfather, the second time, she had slipped a miniscule camera onto Grandfather’s head. It was specially built, with sticky pads so it wouldn’t be shaken off. It also had a self-destruct, to remove any evidence. Best of all, it would tape everything so X could replay it.

X quickly found a bathroom and locked herself in a stall. She turned on the camera and began to watch.  Grandfather was touching each necklace, one by one. X couldn’t see what he was really doing.

She zoomed in with her camera and saw that when he touched each necklace, a symbol appeared. Amara’s had a plant, Ameya’s a raindrop, Adrian’s a flame and Adair’s had a cloud. Her eyes must have played tricks on her, because Adrian’s seemed to glow like an ember being blown on. X shook her head, as if it would help clear her thoughts.

“WOAH…” all the girls gasped, re-clasping their respective jewlery.

Adrian still couldn’t believe it. “Tell me this is some sick joke. Tell me the fate of my whole entire family doesn’t rest on my shoulders. Tell me that it’s all some prank. Tell me that if I had been born one stupid minute earlier or after we wouldn’t be here worrying about saving the world. Tell me I’ll be okay.” she pleaded.

“Adrian.” Grandfather answered softly. “Take a deep breath. It will all be okay. I will help you. How do you think I could turn on the necklaces? The oldest living relative that has worn a necklace has the power to recharge them. I just switched them on. I can help, I know how scary this is. I’ve gone through this before too.”

“Oh no. Oh no! We’re dead! Oh no, no, no, no .” Ameya said frantically.

“Take it easy.” Grandfather soothed.

“It’s not that. I just remembered that we don’t have a fifth cousin.” Ameya replied.

“OH GOD, WE’RE SCREWED!!!!!” the others said at the same time. Grandfather interrupted the cousins with laughter. “It took you that long to realize that there are only four of you? Oh, Light-lord, I need to send you children back to kindergarten.” he wiped his eyes with his sleeves. “There is actually a fifth cousin. Her name is Alina.”

“Unless one of us has a twin, I don’t see how that could happen.” Ameya said skeptically.

“Remember your father’s’ brother? The one that was thrown out of the family?”

The girls nodded, anxious not to end up like their uncle.

“He survived. He got married and had a child.”

The girls gasped. This was crazy. How could a 4-year-old have survived on the streets?

“If you ask me how, I will tell you nothing, because I honestly don’t know.” Grandfather added. He began to wheeze.

X dashed out of the stall, and blew past nurses in the hall. She arrived, barely panting, in front of Grandfather’s door. She had to wait for Grandfather to die, and then she would kill the cousins. X felt no remorse. Some of the others were on her side. But, the weak-stomached brats didn’t want to kill anyone. They just wanted X to do the dirty work.

“I am near my death.” Everyone in the room gasped, they knew it would happen, but the news still was surprising. Grandfather didn’t seem to care, he continued. “I need to tell you something. Find your cousin.” he gasped. “Give her this.” He held out a necklace made of opal, on a chain of platinum. It had a symbol of a sun gleaming on its surface. “And these.” Grandfather wheezed, holding out five knives. “Take them. Run. I can’t hold your enemies for long. ”

Adair grabbed the knives and Ameya took the necklace. The girls bolted to the door. X extended her finger needles, grinning. The prodigies were about to die. She smirked. Her sister was going down. She knew the plan: kill her, act sad in front of other,

“Not there,” grandfather’s hoarse voice crackled. “Wait for a second.” he rubbed his temples. The hospital began to crumble. “Run. don’t trust anyone, remember there are others that will want to stop you on your quest. A family member has betrayed you.”. He took a slow, rattling breath. “I will hold them. Now run. Run for your life. RUN!” the building collapsed in a blinding blast of light. Grandfather groaned and whisper-groaned, “Take me, Light-lord.”

He disappeared into a shower of golden sparks and shining light.

The girls were long gone. X was buried deep under a pile of rubble, carefully calculating her loss and plotting her next move.

I’m going back to first person.

I climbed out of the rubble and ran oveer to a cafe. I needed a coffee.

Yeah, so that didn’t go well. I have attached a letter I sent to my boss (she is funding the mission and kinda is the brains and money behind the whole scheme), just for future reference. A few things are blacked out, just because if it gets intercepted when I send it, the interceptor won’t get any good information that could jeopardise the operation. Or if you, the reader, might not be on my side. Well, the highier paying side. It’s just in case. I need to be careful doing something as big as this.

Also, my employer’s name is top seceret. It’s kinda weird. I have to call her, opps I said her. Well, we have to call her (I’ve given up trying to concel her gender) Madam Mindfury. Her real name (I can’t disclose this, no matter what) is kinda girly. So yeah.

Here it is (It’s on my phone so it’s typed and looks neat. I’ll admit, my handwriting is terrible.):

Dear Madam Mindfury,

I hope you are doing well. I had some trouble executing Mission KillG1. The target had more information then planned. I injected the poison as planned, but before I could actually kill G1, the poison took hold after he overexerted himself doing magic. I managed to get footage of some magic and a tape recording of G1 explaining about magic to targets GA1, 2, 3, & 4. As standered presedure, I have attached them. Your gadgets were very effective, and I especially loved using the finger needles. I hope I can use them for future missions.

G1 named a new target, a fifth cousin named Alina. She is now target GA5, and I will work tracking her down. With your permission, GA5 will be nutriziled, and brought to our base in Paris. I will conferm her permission after a little bit of research and DNA testing.

Please respond immediently. I will began tracking her down but will wait for your permission before I collect her and dispatch her in said base.

Thank You,

Ariana Goldstar

 

I know I probabaly sound weird but I love working with my boss so I try to sound offical and like i know what i’m talking about.

I sent the letter via a cyrpted email thing that she developed. When I say that I mean that somebody made it and my boss stole it and murdered them.

It’s on my phone so it’s just an app.

I leaned back in my chair and took a deep breath. And sighed. I streched and went to order a cappichino. I stood by the pick up counter and waited. For a reply email and the coffee, of course.

“Ice tea for Hannah?” a barista called. A short teenager with coppery red hair and a small nose which was drowning in freckles appeared to take her drink.

“Cappichino for April?” The same barista held out my drink. I pulled out the ponytail from my hair, slouched my shoulders, and pulled on my hood. I suffled over to the counter  and reached out to grab my coffee. The barista smiled at me.

“Hey, sweetie, watch out. Your cup might be a little hot.” the lady’s voice made me want to spit. AT her. I hate being seen as this little, careless 14 year-old girl.

I couldn’t blow my cover, so I just shrugged and walked away. My phone vibrated. I snapped to atension, as if it was part of a Goldstar Spy Academey traing drill. I yanked my phone out of my pocket and raced to finsih typeing the lock screen password, doing the fingerprint censor, and completing a retina scan. I opened the app and scimed through the addtional saftey features. I was in. I decoded my boss’ message, and I got this.

 

Dear Ariana,

It’s okay that you didn’t get the final kill. As long as G1 is dead, it’s fine. Don’t stress it.

It is too dangerous to dicuss GA5 over email, so I checked in with your brother who talked to GA3’s sister. She will come to fill you in. I sent her your location and you need to stay put. She should be there now-ish.

Got To Go,

Madam Mindfury

I was kind of sad the note was so short. But and “ish” is rare from the boss. You might be confuse why

Chapter 6:

I Have A Total Don’t-Try-This-At-Home Moment

Alina Goldstar

April 4, 2021; 4:03 am

An Unknown Place In America

 

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling, semi-conscious. After a while (of me being lazy), I finally got out of my sleeping bag. I quickly threw on a black and purple sweater and stepped out of my cramped tent, running a hand through my tangled hair. My looks are average, with shoulder length black hair, except that I have violet eyes. I checked the time, 4:11 a.m. This wasn’t abnormal for me. When you are an Enchanter, you don’t sleep normally, because a lot of times you pass out after casting spells. I am especially an early riser.

But, I was in the woods, which I usually thought of as my woods.

I took a walk through the woods until I reached my favorite clearing. I heard a piercing eagle cry. I looked up and squinted against the sun, seeing the eagle swoop down, just in time to jump out of the way and land in a pile of leaves. The eagle looked at me, seeming strangely human in its actions. What a great chance to practice my symanimagi, or magic used to bind a human to an animal. I symboled for the eagle to turn around and it did. I caught its gaze and, since I am a beginner at symanimagi, started to chant,

“Eagle, with your eagle eyes,

Can spy upon even spying spies,

Can fly high in the highest skies,

I grant you the gift of Enchanter’s sight,

Whenever you may take your flight,

I will watch with all my might,

To your life you give me the keys,

Serve me well until you I release,

Then forever live your life in magical peace.”

After all this magic, I collapsed into the pile of leaves. I knew I would black out. Symanimagi is a very challenging and dangerous form of magic. To truly become one with a creature, you use tons of energy. Also, if you succeed, a tiny part of the creature soul will go into yours. So, if you do a lot of symanimagi magic, you will turn into an animal. That is why I developed rules for symanimagi magic for the Enchanter’s Society. You are only allowed to use symanimagi three times: one with a land animal, one with a sea animal, and one with a creature of the air.

Knowing I should wake up soon, I willed myself to get up. This is really challenging. I have been practicing for 6 months and now it works 30% of the time. The magic I am about to perform is called inergi. You concentrate on a thought, and this thought will give you a burst of energy. But, when you think the same thought again, the amount of energy given will be taken. And, after that, if you think the same thought again, you will go back to the condition you were at after you received the energy.  I concentrated on a very peculiar memory. A flash of red, a flash of blue, a clear flash, and then a green flash, and lastly a flash of some jewel, I think an opal. This actually worked very well. With each flash, I regained more energy. As I saw the opal flash before my eyes, I woke up.

The eagle had vanished, and in its place was a boy, about my age.

“I am at your service, Mistress.” he said, bowing down.

“First of all, call me Enchanter, for that is all that I am. Second, I am your friend and equal, so I will treat you with respect. You will not be my servant, but my assistant. Understand?”

“Yes, Mis-” he started “Yes, Enchanter.”

“That’s much better. Now, what’s your name?”

“I am called Eagran.”

“Okay, let’s see if this worked,” I said aloud. I rolled up my sleeves and focused. I knew I would black out again if I did too much magic today, so I thought of a not-too-magic-

consuming thing to test. I told Eagran,

“Could you fly to, say, New York City, and tell me what you see there?”

The eagle took off and, not a minute later, I felt a tingling going up my spine.

Suddenly, my vision blurred and I felt dizzy. As soon as my vision cleared, I sighed in relief. However, that relief didn’t last long. I realized that there was no forest in front of me anymore. It seemed like I was flying, but I couldn’t control my flight. The synanimagi had worked and I was seeing through Eagran’s eyes!

I saw a small field of kids playing. I used telepathy to tell Eagran,

“Land, so we can hear them clearer.” I expected him to obey. What I didn’t expect was a response.

“We can only observe, Alina, we can’t interfere. If we do, we won’t be able to see this region again.” he teleported back.

“Hold on, you can use telepathy??” I asked, in disbelief.

“Duh. You enchanted me, you should know,” he answered coolly.

“Ok…So, can you time travel?”

“Sure can,” he boasted.

“Can you tell, or should I say show, me what my best possible future outcome is? That is, if you’re skilled enough?” I challenged. Eagran grumbled something about how Enchanters were getting more and more rude. But, without a blink of an eye, Eagran rocketed up into the sky as if he had been shot by a cannon. He soon was so far away from Earth that it seemed like he was in space! Wait, was he??

“I needed to exit Earth’s atmosphere in order to time-travel.” It was as if he could read my mind. I made a note-to-self to ask him about it later.

“How are you surviving without oxygen?” I telepathize.

“I’m magical, remember?”

Oh yeah. It was confusing to lead a sometimes out of control, magical life. It takes the heck out of your brain. I feel foolish and naive a lot now. I think I know why. Once, when, I was 4, I tried to do magic on my pet seagull, my pet turtle, and my pet dog. It didn’t work out well. I was struck by a blinding light and, when I came to, my newly-created toggle sat on my chest, licking my face. As soon as my dad saw it, he kicked it out of the house and swore never to get me any pets again. But then, I became an Enchanter and got my prized Enchanter’s cat, I still wonder to this day where my toggle ended up. I told you I can be stupid.

Where was I? Oh yeah, I was testing my synanimagi. If it worked, Enchanter Goyle, or my dad would let me start learning portaling to otherworldly places like Goldstar Sanctuary, where all the Goldstar spirits of the past lived on, or Magician’s Circle, where only the best enchanters and magicians could do magics in peace. If this worked, and I showed Enchanter Goyle the charm’s power, I would be considered one of those enchanters/magicians. But first, I needed to explore my future.

Eagran interrupted my thoughts with a telepathic message,

“We have arrived.” I saw me laughing with four others, who look vaguely like me. We were sipping on drinks at a cafe. I was drinking a grapefruit fanta, my favorite soda. Everyone looked calm and happy. Suddenly, the girl with dirty blond hair said something. Everybody’s serene expressions disappeared in the blink of an eye. They began to look serious and stressed, as if the fate of the world was on their shoulders. I strained my ears, but I couldn’t hear anything.

“Level 7 synanimagi.” I sighed. I was doing level 4. To hear, I needed to do level 7. “Who are they?” I asked, intrigued.

“They are Adair Goldstar, Amara  Goldstar, Ameya Goldstar, and Adrian Goldstar,” he answered.

“When do we meet?” I asked, a million questions bubbling in my head.

“Soon enough, but for now, you need to go to your Enchanter training,” he answered mysteriously. Again, he read my mind! I wanted to ask him about it, but I didn’t push it because he was right. I guessed that it was already 8:10.

Eagran released me and, once again, my vision blurred. I opened my eyes and blinked. I knew what to do.

I couldn’t portal to otherworldly places yet, but I still could teleport myself and objects on Earth. It was risky, because if someone “normal” saw me, I was dead. I decided to portal myself to the women’s bathroom stall in the library, the one no one used because the lock was broken. I closed my eyes and focused. When I opened my eyes, I saw a deserted bathroom. I then portaled my magician’s robes and magical items to my stall. I swiftly walked out with my things in a tote bag. I went into the elevator and scanned my passcard. The elevator whizzed down underground, to a secret floor where the Enchanter training took place.

Training was long and tiring. But, it was worth it.  Enchanter Goyle was amazed by Eagran and promised to teach me teleportation to “special areas”, as the trainers called it. I exited the library and started to walk home. I had enough time left in the day to walk.

I merrily whistled a tune as I strolled home. I lived in an apartment with my dad. I thought about my parents. I knew the story of how the met.

At 4 years old my father was homeless. Half-dead with a broken leg and arm, he stumbled around the streets, looking for help. My mom, age 4 as well,  sensed that somebody’s life was in danger. She immediately told an expert Enchanter named Finn, and he reacted quickly. According to protocol, Finn would teleport to the person in danger, and then he would teleport the person to the Enchanter hospital. Finn would stay and take care of the threat. My mom begged and begged Finn to take her with him. Finn relented and he teleported them (she was too young to know how to) to my dad. Finn immediately teleported my mom and dad to the hospital while he stay to look for the danger. Finn’s teleport was a little of target so my parents teleported inside a wall. My mom had instantly reacted, magically mending my dad’s broken bones. She began yelling for help. She saved my dad’s life. Help arrived and they were rescued. Dad fully healed at the hospital and the two became inseparable.

Sadly, since my dad wasn’t an Enchanter, his memory had to be wiped. Once again, my mom saved him by using her powers to turn him into a Inipit (an Enchanter without the purple eyes and limited magic). Doing this made her very sick, so Dad was saved but Mom was weak. After about 12 years, the two fell in love and soon they got married. Sadly, turning my dad into an Inipit drained so much magic from my mom that she died after I was born. I thought about how selfless my mom was to sacrifice her life for my dad.

Suddenly, I saw a black blur behind me. I whirled around, ready to teleport away. My attacker jumped on me from behind, injecting me with a serum.

I felt my consciousness leave me as she snarled, “Good night.”

Little did my attacker know, I had already called my Enchanter cat, Stella.

 

Chapter 7:

Agent Adair Goldstar

April 4, 2021; 8:00 a.m.

Unknown Place In Rochester, Minnesota

 

Yeah. My grandfather was dead and I was stuck with my insane cousins. Back to the action.

We were running (for our lives) down the main street downtown and Adrian (she is so weak) starts screaming like she is being murdered. Ameya, the smart and kind (too kind, if you ask me) beauty queen is like, “Oh no, Adrian! Are you okay?”

“Owwww!” Adrian was limping now. “I hurt my ankle.” For a supposed track star. She cannot run.

“Suck it up, buttercup.” I smirked as I used one of Cayo’s favorite lines. “Run it off.”

I think that might not have been the best thing to say, because Ameya shot me a look of disgust and Amara  did not look happy.

“I can’t run much longer.” Adrian panted. She was full out hobbling.

“It’s okay. I think we’re safe.” Ameya soothed.

“There they are! They collapsed the hospital!” A mob of doctors charged toward us.

“They probably also killed Allan Goldstar!!” The other agents screamed, joining the doctors in their hunt.

“I don’t think so! RUN!” I began sprinting away. Amara  followed, but Ameya stayed with Adrian.

“She can’t move! Her ankle is really bad!” Ameya screamed.

“Run, Ameya! They’re right behind you!” I was getting worried.

“I can’t leave her! Adair!”

“Fine! I’ll carry her! Run, Ameya, run!”

“I’ll help you carry her! Come on! Adair! They’ve gaining on us!”

“Leave me! It’ll be my fault if you all are killed!” Adrian panted.

“Exactly. Listen to her, Ameya!”

“Adair!!!” Ameya snarled.

“Fine!” I sprinted back to Adrian and Ameya. I hoisted up Adrian and dashed away, leaving Ameya in the dust.

Ameya scrambled to keep up, panting. We followed Amara  (the only other one in this group that I can tolerate) down the street. It was filled with shops. Then, Amara  ran into an ice cream shop. I put Adrian down on a bench outside, gently of course.

“Wait here. I’ll go get them.” I left her there.

“Thanks?” She called after me as I walked into the shop.

“We don’t have time for ice cream!” I shouted at Amara , frustrated. Geez, some people’s appetites are crazy. I mean we’re about to die here and Amara  wants ice cream? I take back what I said about her being tolerable. Well, Amara  ignored me and went inside.

“What is she doing?” I was incredulous.

“I don’t know, but maybe she need a break. It might of been a lot of running for her.” Ameya said, being way too nice, as usual. I raised my eyebrows at that. She shot me a glare, like she was a lioness defending its cubs. If looks could kill, I would be dead ten times over. I just ran inside. Hopefully, I could get Amara  out of there before she ordered a sundae. I saw her talking to two boys.

One had terrible, really messy auburn hair and dark brown eyes. His face was dotted with freckles and he was wearing a white track suit with black stripes.

The other looked like he was the firsts brother, with slightly neater (but the same color) hair, a sly grin (the first kid had the type of smile that usually belongs to a criminal), and for some reason, one black eye and one amber eye. He was wearing a black tracksuit with white stripes, the inverse of the first kid.

“What are you guys doing here? I thought after you teleported with me you guys were supposed to go back to 21!” Amara  must have known them, she seemed pleased to see them.

“He’s not good at following directions.” Weird eyes pointed at the other kid.

“You suggested it, Cobi! Don’t blame me!” Mr. Bad Hair ran his hand through his hair, which just messed it up more.

“I can’t believe you came!” Amara  hugged them disbelievingly.

“Couldn’t leave you alone, you’ll probably ruin everything up without us.” both boys said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed.

“Oh hey!” Amara  had spotted me.

“Whats up?” I nodded, almost smiling as the one of the boys (I think his name was Cobi) did bunny ears on her.

“Let me introduce you to these crooks.”

“I beg your pardon?” Kid-who-I-think-is-Cobi-but-I’m still-not-sure was all fake indignant. “Who’re you calling crooks? We’re wonderful children.”

“Sure,” Amara  turned around. “What the heck, Cobi?” she swatted his hands away playfully.

We all laughed. Even me, which is a surprise. These boys’ energy was infectious. They were pretty nice.

“Yeah, so the annoying kid over here is Bo,” Amara  pointed to Mr. Bad Hair. “And this other annoying kid is Cobi.” She nodded towards Weird Eyes.

“Got it, thanks. Just to check: that is Annoying Kid Number 1,” I pointed at Bo. “and this is Number 2.” I was probably gonna forget their names soon anyway. I’m not good with names. But, I’m awesome, so I think I’ll be fine.

“Why are we both annoying?” Bo raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah, I’m funny, he’s annoying and sarcastic. That’s how it works.” Cobi joked.

“Sure,” Bo replied sarcastically.

A scream shattered through our banter. Ameya had strutted in like the beauty queen she is and screamed. Give us a break, girl. She ran over to this kid with long, floppy black hair. The boy hugged Ameya tightly.

“Ayran! You shouldn’t have come! You’re gonna get in so much trouble!” Ameya smiled joyfully. Then Ameya immediately began to stress to him how he shouldn’t have come (but even I could tell that she was happy).

“Okay, okay, reunion over.” Bo walked over to them.

“Yeah, break it up.” Cobi added.

Then Adrian hobbled in. She was immediately mobbed by a crowd (I think 8) of people.

“Hey, peoples.” She limped over to a chair and sat down. “Cousins, please introduce your friends. Amara ? Want to  go first?”

“Sure.”

Amara  went on to introduce Bo and Cobi ( they were apparently brothers, whose last names were Hunter), then Ameya introduced her boyfriend Aryan Patel.

“Dair?” Amara  raised her eyebrows. “Did you bring anyone?”

I shook my head. At school, I was pretty popular and I had a few friends, but I didn’t need any. Friends are people that you have to hang out with. I don’t have time for that, I’m constantly training and working out. Also, I hate when people call me Dair because I despise nicknames. Only people who don’t like their name would like nicknames, and I like my name.

“Okay then. I’ll introduce my friends.” Adrian took a deep breath. “The tall one is Rachel Hackett, we call her Rach. The one with the braces, black hair and eyes and is sarcastic, is her sister Katherine, also known as Kate. The one with the dark hair, dark eyes, and dog obsession is Riley Fath, AKA Ri, and the one with hazel eyes and tawny hair is Nicole Ellsworth, but feel free to call her Nic.” She stopped to pull her hair back into a ponytail. “The two boys are Liam and Connor. The kid with the Britsh accent and dirty blond hair is Connor Smith. Liam’s last name is Solano. He’s the one with caramel blond hair and blue eyes, and that is his sister Samantha, who is known as Sam.” She pointed at a girl with similar features to Liam. “and the last girl, the one with white blond hair and pale grey eyes is Aurrel Faye. She has the weird accent and is really kind.” Adrian nodded, like, “Show’s over people!”. If you ask me, she tries too hard to be cool.

“Wait, where even is Aurrel?”Adrian looked around.

“Here!” Aurrel burst through the door, panting.

“Well yeah, this is Aurrel,” Adrian nodded again.

“So what’s even going on?” Girl-who-I-think-is-Rach shrugged.

“Yeah, you like run off to your grandfather and we followed. Cuz why not?” Her sister (I think) Kate added.

“And then you guys run back.” Rach added.

“So, what happened?” Nic finished.

“Yeah.” Sam (wait, the blond girl is Sam, right?) stared at all of us. “What the heck is happening?”

“Okay, okay. We’ll tell you guys. But, just warning you, it’s a long story.” Ameya soothed.

She went on to describe how we were at our on schools, minding our own business, and Amara  took over and talked about how we find out Grandfather’s dying.

Adrian chimed in, and explained how Grandfather had called us to his bedside. She began telling them what he said, but Amara  interrupted her, “So, yeah, that’s what happened.”

They all looked at her strangely, probably wondering why she stopped Adrian from telling them about the necklaces.

“Could I talk to my cousins for a second? In private?”  She gave us all a questioning look.

“You better have a good reason for cutting me off like that,” Adrian snarled as we huddled together in the corner of the shop, near the counter.

“Get rid of your friends.” Amara ’s voice was flat.

“What!” Adrian cried indignantly. “I would never.”

“You have to. We can’t afford to have someone helping the people that are trying to take our necklaces! Remember what Grandpa said, trust nobody! Were you guys even listening?!”

“We can trust my friends.” Adrian looked so fierce that even I would have backed off. But Amara  didn’t.

“Adrian, your friends may be trustworthy, but they don’t have elemental necklaces with powers. We do. We don’t need them. And we need to save the world. They don’t.” she hissed.

“Well, we’re only 4 13 year-old girls. We’re gonna need help. And my friends can help. They’re coming.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

“Guys, guys, calm down.” Ameya soothed.

“I’ll ditch my friends, Amara …” Adrian paused for dramatic affect (well, at least I think it was for dramatic effect). “…as long as you ditch yours.”

“What? No.”

“Then it’s settled. I will leave none, and you will leave none.” Adrian smirked. “Good talk.”

We walked back to our tables, Adrian strutting and Amara  extremely grumpy. We sat down and Adrian took a deep breath.

“Well, guys I don’t know the best way to say this. Magic is real.” Adrian only had to say 3 words, and all 11 of our (well, their) friends went stock still. Cobi’s ice cream fell out of his cone and he didn’t even notice. Bo did, though.

“Dude, if you drop yours, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna share,” I saw him whisper in Cobi’s ear. Cobi was confused for a sec, but then he looked down and saw his ice cream (I say ice cream but it looked more like soup at this point). He raised his eyebrows at Bo and took a big bite of his sundae.

“You’ll never stop me.” he replied, smirking.

“Guys! Shush!” the dyed green tip of Amara ’s braid flew into the air as she whirled around to reprimand the twins.

“Sorry,” they muttered (Amara  could be pretty scary).

“Yeah, okay.” Kate stood up. “Even if we believe what you just said, how does that help us with anything?”

“I’ll explain.” Adrian took a deep breath.

“No.” I stepped forward, surprising everyone. “I will.”

I sighed, trying to think of a way to explain it all.

“Imagine that your grandfather is dying.” Ameya began. She squeezed my hand, as if to say “I got this.” I still cut her off.

“Imagine, that he tells you that the world isn’t what you think it is.”

I watched everyone’s expressions turn melancholy.

“Imagine, that you know in your heart to believe your grandfather, even though what he is saying will change your life forever,” Adrian smoothed down her frizzy hair, her expression turning deadly serious as she spoke.

Amara  looked at us like, “Really? Do I have to do this thing?” but she sighed and spoke, “Imagine, that your beloved grandfather tells you, on his deathbed, that gods are real.”

A gasp ripped through the crowd.

Amara  continued, just not exactly what we expected. “Imagine that it is so serious that we shouldn’t be discussing this at an ice cream shop.”

She waltzed out, and we trailed behind her (Adrian had to be “supported”.  Translation: half carried, by her friends).

“Oh no.” Amara  stopped dead in her tracks.

“What’s wrong?” Ameya walked over to her. “We can handle it.”

“I don’t think so.” My chocolate brown eyes widened as I peered  past the pavilion, and into the streets beyond.

Mob of agents were bolting towards us. They had all been hanging around the shopping center waiting for us to come out, like…like a mob of agents trying to kill you. And the target had just, for instance, decided to stick its head out a ice cream shop door.

“We need to get out of here! And fast!” Amara ’s eyes were wide.

Adrian had hobbled to the front, “I’ll call a friend. She’ll provide us with a safe house for a bit.”

“Uhh, but I think we need to leave soon.” Ameya’s dark blue eyes were huge.

“Not soon, now!” Amara  glanced around furantly.

Adrian’s friend (I think her name is Aurrel) joined our little panic club, “I think we have two minutes. At best.”

Cobi offered Bo his arm. “Shall we be going, Madam?”

Bo punched him.

“Umm, my friend probably could help, she could pick us up.” Adrian wiped out her cell phone and began typing madly.

“Hurry!” we all shouted at her.

She began to type even more frantically. Finally, her phone rang.

“Anika, I need you now. I’m near the hospital.” Adrian hissed into the phone. The girl, Anika must of answered because Adrian continued. “Yes, the spy one. I’ll fill you in when you get here. I need a jet. Armored. HURRY!!! I’M IN DANGER HERE!! gotta go, I’m trying not to die here. Bye!” She hung up.

“She’ll be here.” Adrian nodded.

“Good, because we have ‘bout 45 seconds!” Aurrel replied, looking at her watch

“Oh gods.” Adrian muttered under her breath. “Oh! She just texted: I’ll be there in a minute. Will we be…”

“Dead?” Amara  finished.

“Yeah.” Nicole looked surprisingly calm. “We will. I knew I should have written a will before I started hanging out with you guys.”

“Any chance we’ll be out of here by the time they get here?” Amara  crossed her pale fingers.

“Any chance they don’t want to hurt us?” Ameya asked, optimistically.

“No.” Nicole sighed. “We’re dead. Like dead dead.”

“I’ll text Anika again.” Adrian took out her phone and began madly typing again. “There has to be a way to survive this. We’re the Chosen Ones. We have to live.”

“Had you until the ‘Chosen Ones’ part.” Kate raised her eyebrows.

“Never mind.” Adrian didn’t even look up. Her brown eyes were fixed on her only hope of survival, her phone.

“Did she reply?” I prayed she did.

“Yeah.” Adrian sounded like she was gonna cry. I breathed a sigh of relief. “No, it isn’t good news. She said there are agents in the sky so it’ll be at least a minute. From NOW.”

“Oh god.” Ameya put her face in her hands. “That is not good”

“I know what we need to do. All of you, form a circle around Ameya, Amara , and Adair. Protect them at all costs. I’ll fight them off until Anika gets here.” Adrian took the lead like a natural. Everyone snapped into action. But her plan had a flaw. If she fought, she would easily die, because of her ankle.

“No.” everyone stared at me. I cleared my throat. “No.” I repeated. “Adrian, you can’t. They’ll kill you in a heartbeat. I’ll fight. Protect her.”

Everyone looked uneasy. Adrian and I had a silent argument. I won.

“Quickly people! Form a ring around Amara , Ameya and I!” Adrian relented.

“I’ll fight.” I took a deep breath. “Oh, I’ll fight.”

“I don’t think even you could beat horde of heavily armed agents with nothing, except your fists,” Ameya nervously braided and unbraided her honey blonde hair.

“Oh really?” I unzipped my black hoodie and opened it, revealing every weapon imaginable. “Let’s do this.” I passed out guns to everyone, hoping they wouldn’t shoot themselves before the agents killed us.

“I’d say 15 seconds until they get here!” Aurrel hissed in my ear as I circled our ring.

“Anika says she’ll be here in 30!” Adrian called from inside our defences.

I rubbed my hands together and began handing out guns. I gave everyone pistols and rifles, except Mar, who asked specifically for a non-lethal gun. SO, I gave her a net gun.

“10 seconds!” Ri called.

I stretched, preparing for a fight that could would destroy my life.

“5 seconds!”

I finished my stretches and selected a pistol.

“4… 3… 2…”

An agent leaped out of the shadows. I cocked my gun and aimed.

“Shane?” Adrian and her friends said in unison, before I could fire. I lowered my gun.

“I mean, Professor Donnelly!” Nicole corrected herself.

Two more agents jumped out of a bush.

“Professor Dan?” Adrian and her friends sounded confused. Who even were the agents?

I recognized the last agent, though. “Cayo.”

“Hello, dear students.” The professor whose name I think is Dan smirked.

“Uh–oh. He remembers.” Adrian peeped.

“Of course I remember!” Dan didn’t sound happy.

“Calm yourself, And.” the agent who Adrian and her friends called Shane wore a blank expression. “You know what we agreed to do. You too, Asher.”

“Gah.” Cayo and Dan spat in unison. “Fine.”

“Girls,” Shane began, then saw Aryan, Liam, Connor, Bo, and Cobi glaring at him. “And boys, we are on your side.”

“How do we know that?” the circle opened and Amara  joined me, shoulder to shoulder.

“Why should we trust you?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Well, if you trust us, you could survive. Yes, we could be lying and you could still die. If you don’t trust us, we’ll leave and you’ll die.” Dan narrowed his eyes.

“And you want me to put my life in the hand of somebody I don’t even know?” I tossed back my head defiantly.

“Watch your manners, young lady.” Dan’s eyes shot daggers at me. “Your life already rests in our hands. I would be polite. And careful.”

I shot him a look that would make anybody at my old academy tremble. Adrian spoke. “Dan, I mean Profesor, what are you talking about? If you can’t tell us, I’m afraid we can’t trust you.”

Ameya cut in. Politely, she asked, “Adair means, Mr. Professor, that can you please tell us what is going on? We are really scared and we’re in a lot of danger. Please help us and tells us what is happening.”

“Well, Adair, she doesn’t seem like your cousin. For one, look at her manners!” Cayo let out a hearty guffaw.

“Shut up.” I muttered.

“What was that?” Dan leered.

“Nothing,” Ameya shot me a glance that clearly meant, “try to be polite if you wanna live.”

“Okay then, what’s the plan?” Adrian sighed.

“Dan and I will stay behind at the academies and try to undo the damage you guys did to your reps.” Cayo whipped out his phone, waiting for us to give the go.

“And I’ll stay here and help you guys escape,” Shane cracked his knuckles.

“Okay,” I was surprised when Adrian agreed.

“Bye, we need to go.” Cayo glanced at Dan. “You ready?”

“Farewell, students, and other children. See you later, if you don’t die.” Dan shook Adrian’s hand. “You were a good student, dear.”

Dan pressed a button, and a standard agent car appeared. When Kate raised her eyebrows, Dan grinned, “Self-driving. But that’s old tech, so it flies too.” Kate’s jaw dropped.

He and Cayo got in the car and drove away. “Why couldn’t we go with them?” Nicole asked.

“Cars are searched.” Shane opened a bag I didn’t even notice, and swore under his breath. “I don’t have any ammo left.”

“I do,” I smiled. “What type of ammo do you want?” I opened my jacket, displaying so much weaponry that Shane’s eyes grew huge. “More simply, what gun are you gonna use?”

“Personally, I love the classic AK-47,” Shane held up an assault rifle. “Do you have ammo for that?”

I pulled out enough ammunition for 500 rounds in response.

“Okay then.”

Shane pulled out a little tub of black paint. “Put this on your faces so they can’t tell who you are.”

We passed around the tub, blackening our faces and hiding our identities.

“Guys, Anika says she’ll be here in 5 seconds. Do you see her?”

“Uhh, no.” we all looked around.

“Oh, oops. She’s in a stealth jet. You can’t see her.” Adrian winced.

“Oh, no.” Adrian glanced at her phone. “Anika’s encountered agents. A lot of them. She says she’ll be here in  minute, with luck.”

At the worst possible time, agents ran toward us from all angles. We were surrounded.

“Fire at will!” An agent screamed.

“Fire at will!” Adrian repeated to us.

Shots broke out, but we kept our formation. Soon, we had brought down 15 of our enemies. My cousins were surprisingly good.

Mara was so good with her net gun, that when she fired, the net would fly out of her gun like a plant sprouting and land on an enemy as if it was a seed being blown away by the wind.

Adrian must’ve spiked her bullets with some sorts explosive, because the smoke spread like wildfire. Whenever she shot and it hit a person, you would hear a “boom!” and the person would literally go “ka-boom!”

Ameya was a very strategic fighter. She would go for the agents with big guns or the ones that she thought were the most lethal. She was very good at thinking on her feet. I’m the total opposite, I plan before, while Ameya is quick on her feet. Her bullets were shot in waves, like a tsunami of death, or at least injury.

And as if it was magic, none of us got hurt. I fought like a demon with my pistol and Shane was even better with his rifle. Shane tossed his gun to me as I shot an agent in the leg. “Shoot two!” He cried. I now was the shooter. I whirled around, pegging agents with bullets before they could reach my friends. Shane was now doing karate, and he must have been a black belt, because he was amazing.

Then disaster struck. I ran out of ammo, and had to stop to grab more. Meanwhile, 4 agents had each grabbed one of Shane’s limbs and were shoving him into a car. Adrian yelped in pain. She had been shot in her bad ankle. She crumpled, and hit the floor hard.

Then Amara  pushed through the protective wall that everybody had made. She charged towards the people attacking Shane, and they never knew what hit them. She was a screaming, kicking, punching, pain-inducing machine. The agents quickly backed away, and Shane scrambled to his feet. Adrian tried to get up, but all she could manage was kneeling. She grabbed her gun (courtesy of me) and shot the agents that had attacked Shane. One bullet went through and agent, and into another. With two bullets, Adrian felled four agents. Pretty good.

Suddenly, a ladder dropped down from the sky, hitting Adrian on the head. Adrian recovered then pulled herself up and began to climb. “Come on!”

Amara  climbed up, followed by Ameya and Aryan. Bo, Cobi, Sam, Conner, Liam, Ri, and Aurrel joined them, with Nicole close behind. Kate and Rachel tried to stay and fight, but I pushed them towards the ladder,

“GO!”

They ran.

So it was just me and Shane left. There were still lots of agents left, and Shane was fighting four of them. I shot one and hit another on the head with my gun. Shane judo flipped one, slammed one to the ground, and kicked a third in the stomach. The last two retreated.

“Run!” Shane hissed at me. I obeyed. I made it halfway up the latter when the two agents closed in around Shane. He looked tired. I didn’t think he’d live. I was too high to shoot anyone, so I couldn’t help. If I tried, I might hit Shane. My jacket flapped open in the wind, and a knife caught my eye. It was made of a tough crucible steel, the same material as ancient viking swords. The hilt was silver, with diamonds in a cloud pattern. Words were carved in it, but I didn’t have time to read them. I grabbed it and aimed carefully. Then a flying bullet grazed my hand, and I dropped it and it was blown away by the wind. Magically, it flew right into an agent’s head, impaling him (at least I think it was a him). He fell to the ground.

“Punch the guy and run!” I screamed as loud as I could, but voice seemed to be blown away by the wind. I gripped the ladder tightly, as the winds howled around me.

Luckily, Shane did just that. He punched the guy so hard that he fell down. Shane ran to the ladder, but the agent pulled my knife out of the other guy’s head and threw it. It sailed up, up, up…

… and fell, heading straight towards Shane. It hit him in the stomach. He staggered, and almost let go of the ladder. I pulled out another knife and threw it at the guy’s head. It landed struck the target.

I scrambled down and grabbed Shane. I carefully removed the knife from his chest, and the gash looked deep. His shirt was soaked with blood. I grabbed a bandage from my pocket and tried my best to stop the flow of blood. I applied pressure, and that seemed to work. I used the knife to cut of a strip of fabric from his shirt, and I tied the makeshift bandage around wound. Once I was satisfied my work, I scanned the ground for agents. I spotted none. Well, that’s the only thing that went well today.

I had to get into the plane, so I had to climb the ladder. I could barely pull him up, but somehow I found the strength to carry him up the ladder, well half way. Then, Amara  got out of the plane and began climbing down.

“Are you coming to help me?” I shouted, but my voice was blown away by the wind.

Amara  just kept scrambling down the ladder like a monkey and she soon reached me.

“We were watching from the plane. Rach and Kate rigged the camera so it has a live-feed thingy. You were AWESOME!” Mar’s green eyes were wide with excitement.

“Yeah, yeah, thanks. Now can you help me carry Shane? He doesn’t look good.”

“Sure.”

But without any warning, the plane took off.

“Ahhh!!!” Mara and I screamed. We held on as tight as we could, but we still almost let Shane fall.

“Oh.” Mara peeped in a small voice. “Take this. It’s a mask so you can breath in high elevations. Kate gave on to me for you and Shane.” She gave mae a small grey mask. I slipped it on and Amara  did the same with hers. Then we put Shane’s on for him.

“Climb, now!” I could barely follow my own instructions, it was so windy. It’s hard to climb a rope ladder when it is swinging in the wind, but it’s even harder when the latter is connected to a plane that is flying.

So we were swinging on a rope ladder, while trying to climb it and carry a person. Not really my idea of fun.

So after a while, we were at the top of the ladder and the plane was flying over some small town in Wisconsin. I looked in my pockets, and after some digging, I found a piece of rope just long enough to tie Shane to the ladder (so we could open the door). I’m not good with knots, so I just did a simple double knot.

“Help me open this door!” I yelled over the wind to Mar. The wind had blown my hair into my face so much that I could barely speak. Or see.

It was really heavy. I knew this jet would have doors that you can pull open, as long as they were unlocked (I took “Intro To Planes and Other Aircrafts” a year ago. I hated it but I still know the basics.)

So, we pulled and pulled and pulled some more. Finally, Mara screamed, “On three, pull it with all your weight! 1! 2! 3!”

We pulled and pulled and pulled, but it didn’t work. Luckily, Shane stirred. He was unfazed by his mask and began to rasp, “Are you people seriously trying to open the door out? Wow, idiots. Untie me and i’ll show you people how to open a door.”

We untied him and he stood up then collapsed woozily. Sitting on a rung of the ladder, he barely touched the door, and it swung open revealing the airlock. Then, he fell unconscious again.

“Okay, help me put him inside.” I told Mar, and she nodded in reply. Gently, we lifted him up and placed him on his back in the airlock. Mara and I then pulled up the ladder and threw it in a heap on the floor. We had no time for neatness.

I banged on the wall, and then the airlock hummed. soon the doors to the plane slid open. The sight that met my eyes was weird. My friends (well, my cousins and their friends) were crashed on plush couches. But they weren’t the weird thing. The weird part was that these couches were thoroughly blood stained, and I knew they weren’t fresh (how I knew, don’t ask. I have the strangest classes at the academy.) This was the most abnormal jet ever. Who even was this Anika?

 

Chapter 8:

Agent Amara  (Mar) Goldstar

April 4, 2021; 10:00 a.m.

Unknown Place Over the Atlantic Ocean

 

I felt fine climbing the a swinging ladder that felt like it was a bazillion feet off the ground. I felt fine in the stupid airlock where you could barely breath. And then I get on the stinking plane. And throw up. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Why do I have to get altitude sickness? It is terrible. It means that whenever you go on a plane, you end up using about a million barf bags. Okay, I might exaggerate a little. Maybe a lot.

Well, back to the present. We had dragged Shane inside when I spotted some people crashed on the fancy looking plush sofas.

“People! Shane is injured! Somebody take care of him!” I yelled while Sam and Nic dragged Shane to the side (where they had set up a little hospital) to clean out his cut and stuff. Shane joined Kate, Aurrel, Ri, Connor, & Aryan in the “hospital”, and Nic quickly went to work cleaning his cut. She was a good medic. Meanwhile, Sam was bandaging on of Aur’s cuts.

I zeroed in on the couches while I contemplated going over to the “hospital” to get a few cuts cleaned, and check in on the people there. In the end, my exhaustion and dire need for comfort won. I made a beeline for ‘em (the sofas, not the hospital) and just when I was gonna sit down and enjoy heaven (couch edition), Bo put his legs up, covering my gonna-be seat.

“Really, Bo?” I grumbled. He smirked.

“Don’t mind this jerk.” Cobi opened one eye. “All of you people, Adrian, Ameya, Adair, you, are supposed to be in the cockpit. You’re having a ‘very important meeting’ according to Ameya. Putting his feet up is Bo’s way of saying you’re supposed to be somewhere else. He would talk, but he can’t speak english well.” Cobi was punched for his last sentence. In my opinion, Cobi deserved it. But, Bo looked really grumpy so I left quickly.

I saw Adair leaning against the door of the airlock. “Hey, there’s a meeting in the cockpit. It’s me, you, Adrian, and Ameya. Come on!”

She followed wordlessly and after taking some (okay, a lot) of wrong turns (the place was huge! What can I say? I was just wondering how this beast could stay in the air) we found the cockpit.

Inside, the first person I saw was Adrian. She looked pretty good, considering she had just been shot. Her foot was swollen, so the bullet must have been laced with some poison. But besides that, she looked fine. Ameya was on her phone while Adrian talked with a tan girl with dark brown hair. The girl’s thick, purple, oval-shaped framed glasses were precariously balanced her large nose. She was wearing skinny jeans and a fancy-looking purple sweater over a black t-shirt. She seemed WAY older than us, older than Olivia, maybe.

“Hello, I’m Anika. You kids must be Adair and Amara .” She seemed pleasant, but I didn’t trust her. It was weird that she was just “hanging around” when she picked us up. I was suspicious. I also had noticed old looking blood stains on her sofas. Something was up.

Adair, Ameya, and Adrian trusted her. I could tell. Ameya looked at ease and Anika was Adrian’s friend, so they must have been okay with her. Adair didn’t say anything, and she always says what’s on her mind, so I think she thought Anika was fine. That didn’t mean I had to.

“Hey.” Adair shrugged.

“Hello, I’m Amara . It’s nice to meet you,” I’ve learned when you are talking to someone you don’t trust, you should be polite so they won’t expect anything. That’s why I was so formal.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” Anika smiled sincerely (Though I still thought it was fake). “You must be wondering about me.” Oh, you would know the start of it. She continued. “Adrian’s told me about you, but you don’t know me. So, I won’t leave you in the dark. I knew Adrian, well technically, Adrianna…” Adrian (well, apparently Adrianna) cut her off.

“DON’T CALL ME THAT! ALL OF YOU!” She seemed pretty mad. “I will murder you all if you do that!”

“Yeah, so my mom met Adrianna’s, sorry, Adrian’s mom in college and they became really good friends. For a while, well until Adrian went off to her fancy spy school, we were so close it was like she was my sister. But, I am older then Adri, yeah, I call her Adri, by 5 years. So, I’m 18,” Anika smirked at Adrian, who apparently hated being the younger one.

“You don’t have to hold that over me all the time,” Adrian grumbled.

“Well, it’s fun,”

“Not for me!”

“Do I care? No,”

“Besides, I know enough secrets about you to bring your whole empire down,”

“And I know stuff about you that would scare the living daylights out of your cousins,”

“Guys! Stop!” Ameya cut in. “Just because you guys are as close as sisters doesn’t mean you have to fight like sisters.”

“By the way, what did you say about an empire?” I wanted to know more. It’s my special  discrete-background-check-to-make-sure-the-girl-who-just-saved-you-isn’t-gonna-kill-you.

“Oh, well, you might be thinking about how an 18 year-old could own a jet like this. I started a business at age 10 and it grew and grew and grew and I became a successful entrepreneur, and really rich. But I always help out Adri when she is in trouble. Which is a lot.” Anika grinned, again. “It’s like my duty as a honorary older sister.”

“Oh, remember the Bridges of Death?” Adrian reminisced old memories.

“Oh my god, yeah! I can’t believe we walked across those logs. If we fell, which we almost did, we would have died,” Anika’s eyes lit up.

“Twice!”

“I still remember when you sneaked out of school…”

“I was going to the explosives training you signed me up for!”

“I know, but you came back with your eyebrows singed, and bleeding and, like, terrible..”

“I stain all your sofas, because I didn’t blow up the dummies. The bombs always went off too early…”

They both laughed, but then Anika checked her watch.

“Sorry, kid,” Anika frowned. “I got a meeting in Switzerland.”

“Really?” Adrian pouted. “Do you have to go?”

“Sorry, Adri. it’s important.” Anika frowned. “You can keep the jet, though. I’ll take my back up. You can take this. Just try not to kill it. You can stay at any of my houses. Text me and I’ll meet you after my meeting.” she looked at the time. “Oh my gosh, I really have to go! Bye kids! Bye Adrian!”

She ran off, and left us wondering how to fly a plane. Then we heard a rumble.

“She’s gone,” Adrian kinda whimpered.

“Does anyone know how…” Ameya started.

“Nope!” we cut in.

“We’re gonna die.”

“Yup,”

“Lemme write my will,”

“Be quick, we’re not gonna last very long,”

“I’ll ask somebody if they know!” I jumped up and ran into the lounge area. “Anyone know how to fly a plane?” Liam looked up. “Come on Liam!!!”

We ran back to the cockpit where Liam scanned the controls  began steering like an expert.

“Wow,” Adrian marveled. “You’re good!”

Liam smiled. Just then, Aryan burst into the cockpit.

“I got this! Planes are my specialty!” he boasted (FYI, I hate this kid. I don’t get why Ameya likes him.)

“Aryan, it’s okay. I’m fine.” Liam’s eyes stayed on the controls, and he was concentrating hard.

“I’m good at this!” Aryan repeated like the nitwit he is.

“Aryan, I said I’m okay,” Liam was now visibly annoyed. “I’m a certified pilot. My dad taught me.” He forced himself to stay civil.

“Ameya, can you tell him let me fly it? Trust me, I can fly correctly, and not like this idiot. I’ll save you,” Aryan whispered in her ear. Then he flipped back his weird long hair and smiled at Ameya. I knew she wouldn’t believe this moron and let him fly the jet.

I was wrong.

“Liam, I think you should let Aryan try,” Ameya flashed him an irresistible smile.

“Okay, fine,” Liam was grinning like an idiot. Adrian was frowning like she wanted to kill Ameya. Liam stepped aside and Aryan took the controls.

And failed.

Aryan randomly pushed buttons and the we heard one of those overly serene female voices say, “self-destructing in 10…”

“Oh, fudge,”

“9…”

“Lemme do it if you wanna live!” Liam wrestled Aryan for the controls.

“8…”

“No! I can do it!” Aryan shouted.

We heard a rumbling. And some footsteps. Probably one of the million friends Adrian has were coming to ask what was going on.

“7…”

“We’re gonna die!”

“6…”

“Aryan, move it!” Liam shoved Aryan out of the way, but Aryan tripped him.

“5…”

“I can do it!”

“4…”

“Then do it!”

“3…”

“Fine!”

“2…”

“Brace yourselves!” Ameya screamed. We curled up into little balls, as if that would protect us from our inevitable deaths.

“1…”

There was a short pause before the last number.

“Self-destruction canceled,” the female robot chirped as we looked up.

And saw Anika standing near the controls.

 

“Well, now I know that I can’t ever leave you kids alone.”

We all shrugged sheepishly.

She sighed. “Well, then we’re all going to Switzerland then. Buckle up.”

Anika strapped herself into the pilot’s chair, and began the flight to Switzerland.

“Adrian, do you wanna co-pilot today? I know you don’t know anything about flying, but I’ll teach you,” Anika grinned.

“Sure!” Adrian beamed.

“Oh, excuse me, I didn’t get to meet you! I’m Anika, and I knew Adrian since she was really little, like in diapers little,” Anika smiled at Aryan and Liam. Adrian looked quite embarrassed. Note to self: ask Anika for embarrassing stories about Adrian.

“I’m Aryan,” Aryan flipped his weird hair back. I saw Anika’s smile fade. I decided to trust Anika. Anyone who doesn’t like the half-wit Aryan I like automatically.

“I’m Liam. It’s nice to meet you,” Liam held out his hand for Anika to shake.

“Nice to meet you both,” Anika glanced at Aryan, and then shook Liam’s hand.

“Not to intrude, but may I fly the jet a little? I love it. So much control.” Liam patted the leather pilot seat.

“Sure!” Anika pushed up her purple glasses. I grinned when I saw Aryan frown. “In fact, do you mind doing it right now? I would like to meet the other people who Adrian…” Anika looked fondly at Adrian. “Dragged along.”

“Of course!”

“Thank you,” Anika walked out of the cockpit, with Ameya, Adair, Adrian, and I trailing behind.

She lead us back to the lounge room.

“Wow. Big crew, kids,” she commented.

“Yeah.” Adrian shrugged, as if having 8 friends come along with her on a probably death trip was something she did everyday.

“I’m sorry, is it too much?” Ameya is so charming to anyone she meets.

“No, it’s fine,” Anika smiled.

We introduced everyone, and Anika introduced herself. Then, Anika took charge.

“Okay, we’re going to Switzerland. I have a meeting, so to get there on time, I will need to supersonic. This old thing,” Anika patted a seat affectionately, “can go faster than the speed of light.”

“Wow,” everybody but Adrian was amazed. Adrian looked bored, a if this was old news (it probably was, for her.)

“So, I know that you might be reminded of those old cartoons where the character’s skin is literally pulled off their face, you know because of the G-force” Anika mimed being blown back in her chair. All of us nodded, understanding. “So, I installed special seats to combat the effect. I have a room of them, just in case Adri, or I, of course, has guests. Follow me,”

We walked along a corridor. After about 11 wrong turns, we finally got to the room.

“You get lost in your own plane?” I raised my eyebrows.

“It’s big! What can I say, kid?” Anika shrugged, as if to say, “Could you do any better? No? I didn’t think so.”

I take back my liking of her.

So we entered the room, and I saw these plush, comfy seats with technology I had never seen before. The whole room looked like it was from 2050 (which, by the way, is 29 years from now.)

“Pick a seat, any seat,” Anika gestured toward the chairs. “Injured people get priority seating.”

Shane, Kate, Aurrel, Ri, Connor, & Aryan collapsed on their respective designer seats.

I counted the chairs under my breath, “1, 2, 3…” I took a sharp breath. We were one short. Anika must’ve noticed, because she said some words under her breath I would not like to repeat. I don’t think my mom would approve of me even thinking them.

“Uhhh, kids, we’re one seat short.” Anika winced.

“If we’re gonna to toss somebody outta this plane, I volunteer Bo,” Cobi smiled.

“I will kill you before you can touch me, ” Bo glared at him.

“Come at me, bruh!”

They grappled for a bit, but then Conner and Aryan pulled them apart.

“Knock it off, guys.” I scold him.

They don’t listen to me anymore. Sad.

They wrestled themselves free and started boxing.

“Hi-YA!!!” Cobi tried to karate chop Bo, but then Bo just used Cobi’s energy to flip him over. Cobi just bounced back up to his feet, as if he had just had 100 bottles of gatorade.

“Is that all you got?” Cobi stuck his tongue out at Bo.

“Ya think?” Bo punched Cobi so hard that he flew back and hit the wall.

“Ouuuch!” Cobi pulled out a small dart gun and shot Bo.

“Ouuuch!” Bo sounded just like Cobi.

Shane suddenly sat up in his chair. “Tie. Both of you are injured, so we’ll say tie. Bo, good punch, but work on your comebacks. Cobi, you got too cocky. Nice aim though,”

Both boys grumbled as they grudgingly got to their feet.

“Ha!!” Bo punched Cobi again. “I win!”

“What the…” Cobi rubbed his different-colored eyes incredulously. “Are you sure you wanna do that bruh?” He threatened.

“I will throw both off this plane if you don’t knock it off!” I growled. God, I hate those two. So annoying!

“Fine…”

“FINE…”

I leaned back on the wall, satisfied.

“Are you kids done?” Anika looked as exasperated as me.

I shot them a look that clearly meant, “I will follow up on my threat. Don’t test me.”

“Yeah, we’re done,” Both boys mumbled in unison.

“Good.” Anika and I reprimanded.

Okay, I take back my taking back liking her.

I sighed. This was gonna a loooong day.

“I’ll stand,” Ameya volunteered.

“No, it’s fine. We’ll figure something out.”

I don’t get why Ameya would sacrifice her seat (aka well being) for a bunch of jerks who act like 3 year olds (yeah. I’m talking about you, Cobi and Bo!). I guess, if it came down to sacrificing my life for them, I think I would do it. I mean, they’re my only friends at 21. Oh crud, 21…

I JUST REALIZED I’M DEAD! MY LIFE IS RUINED!!!  I AM CONSIDERED A CRIMINAL!!! AND MY PARENTS THINK I’M A CRIMINAL TOO!!!!

Ameya saw my face. “Calm down. It’ll be okay.”

I was almost panting. There was no going back. This is really serious. Everybody (except Anika, of course) was now a “dangerous criminal”. The worst thing was that our own parents want us captured. Maybe even killed.

“Guys.” I took a deep breath. Nobody even noticed (well, Ameya did). “Guys.”  It was more forcefully this time. Everybody turned. I freaked out. Public speaking is definetly not my thing. I started to undo my braid urgently. The familiar green tip kinda comforted me. I twisted the green rubber band, not knowing what to say.

“What?” Adrian asked.

“Uh,” I kinda freaked out. Everybody’s eyes seemed to be on me.

Ameya nudged me. “You got this.”

“Um… Guys, has it occurred to anyone else that we all are probably wanted criminals?” I was dead serious.

Everyone gasped, (a little too dramatically, in my opinion). I think they were making fun of me.

Turns out, they weren’t. Even Adrian and Adair looked scared, and they’re the bravest people I know.

“Oh…”

“God…”

“Wait, why us?” Bo looked at me questioningly.

“Yeah, we didn’t escape from a crime scene. Only you,” Cobi pointed at me. “Ameya, Adrian and Adair did.”

“Well, since you fought with us, you are considered our accomplices.” Ameya is smarter than I give her credit for.

“Ohh…”

“That’s not good…”

“Oh gosh…”

“Calm down,” Ameya soothed. She is like the only calm one.

“Let’s talk later,” Anika suggested. “When we get to my place, we’ll talk.”

“Before that,” I fixed a steely glare at everyone. “This is your last chance to back out. Tell us now, or you’re in. Forever. This isn’t small. You are either part of this, or not.”

“I’m in,” Aryan smiled his creepy, ugly smile.

“We’re in,” Bo and Cobi grinned.

I glowered at Adrian’s friends.

“I’m in,”

“I’m in,”

“Me too,”

“Same here,”

One by one, they agreed.

“So we’re all in?” Anika glanced around. Everybody nodded.

“Okay, then.” I stood straighter. “We’re all in.”

“Let’s go, Anika,” Adrian raised her eyebrows at her friend.

“Let’s go then, kids!” Anika shrugged.

“What about about the seating problem?” Ameya asked, twirling her golden hair around her finger.

“Oh, Adrian?” Anika frowned.

“Yeah?”

“Do you mind sitting in the Capsule?”

“Oh, sure. Just don’t kill me,”

“Then we’re okay.” Anika smiled.

“What’s the Capsule?” Ameya asked, twirling her golden hair around her finger again. She does it way too much. It’s getting annoying.

“It’s what it sounds like, an anti-G force capsule. It’s basically the same as your guys’ seats, except it is in a plexi-glass capsule that can be dropped out of the plane.”

Ameya nodded. I feel bad for Adrian.

We strapped ourselves in, and Anika and Adrian walked out of the lounge/room/thingy.

I just realized they (okay, we) forgot all about Liam.

Chapter 9:

I Talk With My “Mentor” About My Lovelife. Uncomfortable Much?

Agent Adrian Goldstar

April 4, 2021;  3:00 a.m.

Unknown Place in Switzerland

 

Wow. Let me take a minute to just say wow. This is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me. Honestly, I thought it was a joke until our big “fight scene”. Then I started to realize this all might be real. Then when I got shot, it was real.

You might be thinking, “does it hurt? I feel bad for you, but it can’t be that bad. ”

First of all, your question shouldn’t be “does it hurt?” The actual question is “how much does it hurt?” The answer is a lot. Like I’m-gonna-say-some-words-that-would-get-me-in-a lot-of-trouble. A lot.

Imagine that somebody washed your paper cut in a mixture of straight lemon juice and salt. And the whacked with an ember. Twice. Then rubbed it with sandpaper until it was raw and did the whole darn thing over again, and over again and over again… That is about a 10th of my pain. Think ‘bout that.

Secondly, it can be that bad. If you still don’t believe me, go get shot yourself. Then you’ll believe me. It was all I could do to keep from crying. My vision glazed over and blurred. Nic had removed the bullet and dressed the wound, but even that couldn’t help. I wanted Advil, but I had already taken some.

A stab of pain hit my ankle, and it gave out. “Anika!”

She caught me just before I collapsed.

But then the whole world spun and I blacked out.

I woke up in the cockpit. I was in the Capsule while Anika and Liam lounged in plush anti-g-force seats. I fought the urge to fall back asleep as I listened to Liam and Anika speak in hushed tones. Wait a second. I heard someone say, “Adrian”. Luckily, the plexi-glass was rolled down so i could hear normally.

I was gonna stroll up to those two and interrupt whatever the heck they were talking bout by saying, “what did you say about me?” Sadly, I tried and I couldn’t even manage to sit up. My ankle was killing me, by shooting intermittent spasms of pain up my leg and a trobbing ache down to my foot. Also, the g-force (we were going supersonic) was shoving me back down.

I gave up and just listened quietly, like a slithering snake sneaking up on a slimy salamander. Too many S’s? Well, I don’t care.

”True or false: you like Adrian,” oh-my-gosh. Why did Anika have to embarrass me like that?

“Uhh…” poor Liam. Why did Anika have to ask him a question like that?

“It’s fine if you do. From what you’ve told me about yourself, I think you’re almost good enough for Adrian. And trust me, I would never say that to many people. For example, if Adri liked that nitwit, I think his name’s Aryan, I would throw Aryan off this plane and hope that poor Adri was still sane. But, with you, I think I might allow it.” Anika acted like she was one of my parents. Way too overprotective.

Liam grinned. “Thanks. I’m worried she doesn’t like me back, though.”

“Oh, she does. I can tell,”

Cue me blushing.

Cue Liam blushing.

Cue me wanting to kill Anika again.

Cue me stop saying cue.

Cue me giving up on that.

I needed to end this conversation soon. I faked groaning and did a few moans, just to add to the affect. It worked. Liam and Anika whirled around to look at me, as if they were in the army and had just been called to attention.

“Adri! Kid! Are you okay?” Anika looked genuinely worried, her eyebrows furrowing tentatively.

“Adrian? How are you feeling?” I knew Liam was trying to hide it, but he was blushing.

“I’m fine. What were you two doing here?”

“Kid, you are a real idiot sometimes. We’re driving a plane,”

“Are you sure you didn’t talk with Liam at all?” nope, no heavy hinting from me. Not at all.

“Kid, were you spying on us?”

“Were you talking about me?”

“Guys, cut it out!” Liam snapped.

I stopped.

Anika stuck her tongue out at me.

I returned the look.

Liam glared at Anika.

I smirked at her.

Then we all burst out laughing. I had missed Anika. She was really like a big sister to me.

“Hey, kid,” Anika had glanced at the screen. “Oh, and other kid, we’re landing in 10 minutes. Go tell the others to wake up.”

“Kay. Liam?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll stop the supersonic for a bit. It might be 15 minutes then.” Anika fiddled with the controls.

“Kay, Ani.”

The plane slowed considerably. We got up (well Liam got up and I tried to).

“Ugghhh,” I groaned.

Okay, yes, I was faking. But it was worth it.

“Adrian!” Liam was so empathetic. “You stay. I’ll tell them. Anika, can you help her onto my seat? I’ll sit in the Capsule.” He was so nice, it made me feel kinda bad.

“No, it’s fine,”

“Adrian, it’s okay. You stay here and rest.”

As if it was settled, he got up and left the room.

Then he poked his head back in. “How do you get to the lounge thingy again?”

“Just go to where you hear snoring. That’ll be it.” Anika’s directions are awesome.

“Oookay then,”

He left.

“What did you say to him?” I propped myself up on my elbows.

“Get in the chair. Then we’ll talk,”

“Fine,”

“He’s fine.”

“Since when do you have to approve who I like?”

“OH!”

“What now?”

“You admitted you like him! Ha ha ha!”

“And you wonder why I don’t like you,”

“Sorry, Adri,”

I just grumbled (something about people’s manners these days).

“Back on topic,”

“That wasn’t the topic? Oh god, what are we supposed to be talking about? It can’t be worse than this. Oh, wait, you’re Anika. Yes it can, it can be so much worse.”

“Really? You’re so rude sometimes,”

“You’ve taught me all I know, ”

Anika snorted.

“Well, fine. What is it?”

Anika regained her composure. “You are way too young for a boyfriend,”

“Since when is it your decision?”

“Since now. I’m your mentor.”
It was my turn to snort. “You? My mentor?”. I burst out laughing. “Oh, Anika, you’re so funny.”

“I’m serious.”

I would have been rolling on the ground, laughing, if I could move my ankle. I couldn’t so I just laughed in my chair.

“Knock it off.” Anika pouted as she poked in the shoulder.

I couldn’t so I just shut my mouth. I had to bite my lip to keep from chuckling. And I was still shaking.

“If you keep laughing, I’ll poke you in the ankle. Your bad ankle.”

“Aren’t mentors supposed to be nice?”

“Shut your face.”

“That doesn’t sound very mentor-like to me.”

Luckily (or unluckily, I honestly don’t know), Liam stuck his head into the cockpit. See this is good because he stopped Anika and I tearing each other apart, but also probably heard a lot of embarrassing things (aka my convo with Anika).

“Uhh, am I interrupting anything?” He probably heard the whole thing.

“Um, nah,” Smooth, right. I am so smooth. NOT.

“We were just talking, what do you need? Are the others awake?” Oh, Anika. I love how you always go straight to the point.

“About that, Anika,” Liam shrugged sheepishly. “I may have had trouble finding them, even though I can hear Aryan’s snores from here.”

“I’ll go with you,” Anything to get me outta here.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Liam is so sweet.

“I’m fine.” I stood up, throwing in small fake groans, just because.

“Okay then. Let’s go,” Liam nodded toward the door.

I nodded and we walked out of the cockpit. We wandered around, searching for the lounge, in an uncomfortable silence.

“There,” he pointed towards the door.

“Oh.”

We walked in, and I was scarred for life.

Just kidding. but it was really weird. Ameya had fallen asleep while holding hands with Aryan, which would have been sweet if Aryan wasn’t so annoying. Adair looked just plain funny. She was sleeping sitting up, and she was wearing these weird eye blockers with eye stickers on them, so it looked like she was awake. I guess when all your life, your friends try to kill you at your school, you can never be too careful. Cobi and Bo looked so sweet, because  they were both curled up and Bo had his head on Cobi’s shoulder. Amara was so stretched out, so I was amazed she hadn’t fallen off her chair. Everybody else looked normal, I guess. Aryan’s snoring was loud, though.

It was weird, I didn’t want to wake them up. They looked kinda peaceful, like they had escaped reality for a moment. The incredible pressure of being a criminal seemed to float away in their sleep, like a balloon. Except for balloons, it’s air pressure. I don’t know if it works the same way for people. Does it?

Back on topic.

I kinda didn’t want to wake them up, because I felt like this whole magic thing was all my fault. It really was. If I  had been born one day earlier, or one day later, we wouldn’t be in this mess. As Grandfather said, “When five siblings are born at the same time, and by that I mean the same day, within the same hour, they will bring back the power of the gods.” The freaking gods.

TBC (SOON!!!)