{Zoey}

  I knew I was dreaming but I didn't care. Claire and I were seventeen years old and sitting on the swings in the playground after school. The chains on Claire's swing stopped squeaking as she dug her foot in the ground. "You know I just realized something."

  I tilted my head and looked at her. "What?"

  Looking down, Claire poked her foot in sand under the swing. "We've been hanging out with each other ever since school started and I really like hanging out with you."

  A flush crept up my neck, stinging the back of my ears. "I like hanging out with you too."

  Her gaze locked on mine. "As a matter of fact, I would like for us to hang out with each other outside of school more."

  My heart hammered in my chest.

  The right side of Claire's mouth curved. "Based on your face turning red I'd say that you have someone you like, am I right?"

  I swallowed, the feeling of sandpaper going down my throat. "Yeah but I'm not sure if I should tell them how I feel."

  "Well I'm going to be bold and tell the person I like how I feel today! And hopefully they'll wait for me to get old enough to date me," Claire's mouth curved wider into a grin. "Zoey, close your eyes."

  I closed my eyes and warm lips kissed my cheek. When I opened my eyes I smiled and Claire giggled. "I guess your reaction gives me my answer. Zoey, I like you."

  I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. The faint smell of Claire's favorite shampoo hit my nostrils, making them flare. "I like you too."

  Claire pulled back a little and placed her forehead on mine. "So then we'll wait until we're eighteen to start dating then?"

  "Sure!"

  The chains on the swings stilled; the smell of steak and eggs wafted toward me. My shoulder brushed against Claire's as her foot played with mine under the table.

  As we ate dinner the corners of Claire's mother's mouth stretched back. Her fork clicked against her teeth with every bite she took. Her father's gaze slid from mine to Claire's. His gaze lingered on Claire's and slid back to mine before dropping to his plate.

  After dinner Claire's brother nudged her on the shoulder. "Didn't you say that you had something special for Zoey?"

  Claire's chair scraped back as she stood up. "Oh yeah. I got it. I'll be right back."

  Her footsteps faded into the other room, when she left and came back shortly after. In her hand was a medium sized black box gold lettering on the lid: Will you be my girlfriend?

  Claire sank down to the tiled floor on one knee. "Zoey, will you be my girlfriend?" Her voice cracked on the word 'girlfriend.'

  My chair groaned as it tipped backwards when I stood up. A squeal ripped from my throat. "Yes!"

  Her mother's eyes caught the kitchen light and shimmered with tears. Her father tipped his head forward once. Her brother rolled his eyes. "It's about damn time!"

  Claire stood up and lifted the lid. A gold locket glinted in the dim kitchen lights against black velvet. She put the locket around my neck. "Open it."

  I looked down and opened it. In it was a picture of us on the day we first met. My bright eyes stared back at me along with Claire's brown ones. We were grinning and Claire had her arm draped over my shoulders.

  The locket was still warm against my hand when I closed it. After that, I woke up.

  ***

  Rhythmic beeping sounds filled my ears. The smell of disinfectant stung the back of my throat.

  "Oh good you're awake!" I heard someone say.

  The fluorescent lights glared down at me and pale ceiling tiles blurred. A green light pulsed on a screen above my head. Cool plastic tubing under tape tugged at my skin every time I moved my left wrist.

  Uncle 42 loomed over my bedside. His pen scratched fast on a clipboard. "I was starting to think that you were going to need more sleep. You've been asleep for a full day now—you came in yesterday."

  I blinked. "But how and why did I get here?"

  "I notified a couple of Low Rankers that you should be ready for your first VP test and I was right," Uncle 42's gaze lifted to mine—then dropped to the clipboard. "Don't bother trying to figure anything out. Just work on your mission."

  I gripped the sheets on the bed and looked away.

  "You're going to be kept overnight for observation and provided you don't develop any new abilities you'll be sent home tomorrow." Uncle 42 clicked his pen once. After it retreated he tucked his clipboard under his arm.

  Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway softer and softer… Then gone…

  ***

  {Claire}

  I plopped down on the bed after changing into my pajamas and smiled.

  And you look exactly like my ex-girlfriend. My breath hitched as Zara's smirk flashed.

  Sliding my hand to my stomach, a gentle kick nudged against my hand. "Don't worry little one."

  A soft chime came from my phone. I grabbed it and the screen lit up with a message from Nick.

  Nick: I just wanted to check in on you even though we're not dating again. I won't be able to do this again for a couple of days.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  I raised an eyebrow. My thumbs flew across the screen.

  Me: What's up?

  Three dots bounced on the screen, then disappeared— another message popped up.

  Nick: I'll be away for a month. Something came up with Zara.

  Me: What happened? I just saw her today!

  Nick: She fell ill after going to the restaurant with you. Turns out she has a condition that was caught and she is recovering from it.

  My lips flattened into a thin line and my eyebrows pinched together.

  Me: I'm worried.

  Nick: Don't worry let's just say thanks to her falling ill at the restaurant the serious condition was caught and she's recovering.

  Me: Okay. I hope she gets better soon.

  Nick: Don't worry, she will. I'll talk to you in a month.

  The screen dimmed. I rolled over on my side and after putting my phone on its charger I clicked off the lamp. I closed my eyes and Zara laid on the hospital bed coughing. Blood streaked down her chin. The image blurred… Then the darkness swallowed it whole.

  ***

  {Elite 46}

  "I'm messaging the location now." Elite 37's voice crackled over the radio. The screen next to the radio lit up and showed a map with a red line on it. After Elite 37 sent that the radio went silent.

  The passenger side door slammed shut after Elite 81 got in. Two violet bruises bloomed on her neck right at the fabric line of her shirt collar.

  Her gaze met mine— eyes rolled once and then looked forward. "I'm fine."

  The car's engine cut through the silence on the way to our destination. Once we got there I parked the car around out of sight two blocks away.

  The rusty gray door squeaked on its hinges and scraped against the ground as we entered the building. Our backs flattened behind an old conveyer machine. I eased forward enough to see around the corner.

  Four figures shifted restlessly around a metal pole. Three of them wore grey sweatpants that sagged from their waists; their grey hoodies up. Ropes bit into the kid's wrists as he wiggled.

  "Hey Joey!" One person said. "Why did you come to this negotiation in a suit?"

  A man dressed in a brown suit turned and his lips curved up. "Dress to impress fellas!"

  The rest of the group snickered. Joey flipped open his suit jacket, fished out his phone and it rang. "Hello?"

  "Hello there friend!" The voice on the other end was none other than Elder Lewis.

  Elite 81's eyes flashed wide, then snapped back to normal.

  Joey looked at one of his gang members and arched a brow. "Who are you?"

  A low rumble echoed from the speaker. "I can be either your worst nightmare… Or your most wonderful dream…"

  "What are you talking about?" Joey growled. "Put the parents on the phone or I will kill the kid!"

  "No, you won't kill the kid."

  Joey's lips curled back into a snarl. "Yes I will!"

  "No, you won't," Elder Lewis said, his voice flat.

  Elite 81 pulled out her gun and fired. The bullet landed on Joey's head right between his eyes. Blood ran down his forehead. His knees folded before his body dropped to the ground with a thud. His head hit the ground with a sharp crack.

  Click, click, click.

  Three guns pointed in three different directions; left, right and forward. A small gust of wind jerked the guns and they clattered to the floor. One gang member scrambled to get his gun. Pop, pop. Red bloomed from the bullet wound. Blood dripped down his forehead between his eyes. I shoved the second guy to the ground, and a small snap came from his neck. The third guy's limp body crumpled to the floor with blood pooling under his head.

  I cut the ropes around the kid's wrists. When I heard Elite 81 groan I turned.

  "Shit!" I set the kid down quickly and walked over to Elite 81. Her back flat on the concrete and her breathing shallow. I bent her limp across one shoulder and the kid over the other. My shoulders tensed under the weight.

  A couple of gunshots rang out and bounced off the concrete walls. I ran past the door and it creaked closed behind me.

  When I got to the car I opened the doors and put the kid in the backseat and Elite 81 in the front.

  As I was driving to Headquarters the kid in the back seat said, "Hey… is that lady okay? She looks like she needs a doctor!"

  I looked at the rearview mirror and said, "Don't worry she'll be fine. I'll make sure she gets to a doctor after dropping you off."

  "Oh." He didn't say anything else as his gaze flickered to Elite 81. He pressed his lips into a thin line when Elite 81 moaned.

  When we arrived at headquarters, I handed the kid off to another Agent. Two doctors in white lab coats took Elite 81 from my arms and placed her on a gurney. One doctor stood on each side of the gurney with the rails up. The wheels on the gurney squeaked as they wheeled Elite 81 quickly down the hallway, to two white doors that banged open. The double doors slammed shut behind them.

  ***

  I watched the double doors for another moment and then took a seat in the waiting room. The moment I sat down my phone buzzed against my leg. I took my phone out to see the screen lit up with a message from Cassie.

  Cassie: What's going on with Zara? I just visited her apartment and Jenny said that she was still in the hospital.

  I exhaled through my nose and rubbed two fingers on the side of my head.

  Me: She's still in the hospital but the hospital is in another country so no you can't visit. At this point I don't know when she's coming home.

  Cassie: ?? Oh well, I hope she gets better soon. I don't have her number or else I would text her myself.

  I blinked and my brows pinched together.

  Me: What! You hung out with her and still don't have her phone number?

  Cassie: I forgot to ask. I'll ask her when I see her again.

  Me: Okay I'll text you later then.

  No more dots bounced on the screen. I pocketed my phone and my chair creaked as I leaned back.

  "So my niece got her first kill huh, Elite 46?" Elder Lewis stood there, the corners of his mouth pulled high.

  My chair scraped back when I shot out of my seat and straightened my spine. "Sir!"

  "At ease." He sat down and patted the seat next to him. When I sat down he said, "You have permission to speak freely."

  "How is she doing?" I asked.

  "Zoey's doing fine," Elder Lewis said. "She just got some medicine to help her sleep. She'll probably be out of the hospital in a week provided she doesn't develop any more abilities."

  "Oh."

  A voice cracked through the air over the intercom. "Would Doctor Larry and Auntie 44 please come to room 202? We have a code purple. Again, Doctor Larry and Auntie 44 come to room 202, we have a code purple."

  I stood up. "Shit!"

  "No kidding. That's Zoey's room!"

  Our boots hit the tiled floor in urgent rhythm down the hallway. The ground started to shake. A deep guttural roar tore out of the room, shaking the walls in sync with the ground.

  Elder Lewis paused. "What the hell?"

  "She's awake." I turned and saw Agent 36 standing in the hallway, dressed in plain blue jeans and a tan t-shirt.

  Elder Lewis looked at her. "Zoey just got her first kill."

  Agent 36's mouth opened and then closed. A nurse popped her head outside of the room. "Agent 36, Elite 81 is asking for you."

  Agent 36's green eyes lit up. "That's my girl!"

  Without another word she went into the room leaving us outside.