The Lost Angel

Chapter 15

I picked up my crew waiting outside one of the training rooms with Adam and his men. To say that training was difficult would be an understatement. We were trying to ignore the fact that there was a rat in our organization and we were babysitting two newbies’. My mind wasn’t dwelling on anything but the incident in my room with Jeremy. He could hold the keys to my past but did I want it unlocked.

If I found out who I was I could gain back my memories, unknown powers, and possibly a family. All of that sounded wonderful to me but what would I lose. My time with the Agency has been trying but I had my crew. I worked hard with them and they we’re starting to work as a true team. Without me to guide them would they fall apart? Could I handle leaving them or would it break me? And what about Jeremy, if my memories stayed hidden could we be together? Why did I care so much?

“Angel!”

“Yeah Jake?”

“You zoned out on us. Adam and his crew want to join us. We need you to help us pair up.”

“Sorry about that. I have a lot to think about. Let’s do ones. Sara pick someone from Adam’s crew.” Ones were a one-on-one fight were two people spar and the rest look on. After someone gave up, we could offer advice but can’t interfere.

“I’ll take Ben.” Sara sounded bored but I could see the excitement in her eyes.

“Fine. Hand to hand, no weapons. First to submit loses. Begin.”

Sara and Ben moved to the center of the room and began to circle one another. Adam sauntered over and stood on my left since Jeremy was glued to my right. “What is this supposed to do?”

“It tells us what each person needs to work on. Right now, Sara is being polite by allowing Ben time to assess her. I can tell by the way she’s holding herself that she’s done evaluating him. Once they’re done, I’ll explain further.” Try as I might I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice. I realize that Adam was still learning but this was beginner’s knowledge.

Before he could ask anything else Ben decided to engage. I smiled as he rushed Sara. I had taught my crew how to handle this not even a month ago. Sara stood her ground until he was almost a foot away then she dropped to her left leaving her right foot in his path. Ben stumbled but couldn’t stop and went down face first into the mat barely catching himself before he hit his head. It was too late and Sara didn’t waste any time. She was on his back in the next second. Ben tried to shake her but she locked in a chokehold.

Ben took a second to realize what was happening then just gave up and submitted. Sara released her hold and walked to Jake’s side. Disappointment hung heavy in the air and it wasn’t just Sara who was disappointed. I think Sara wanted more of a fight than what she had from Ben.

“Well done, Sara. Would anyone like to begin?”

I looked around the room and everyone looked like they wanted to say the same thing, ‘is that all’. My gaze found Ben, realization bloomed. He wasn’t interested in anything that was going on. I vaguely heard Jake saying something but my mind was elsewhere. Then everything clicked.

“Jason!”

“Angel what’s wrong?” Jake looked annoyed that I interrupted.

“Jake, I’m sorry about interrupting you but I need some information and quick.”

“What do you need Angel?” He looked just as confused as everyone else.

“Jason, I need to know if all of the agents have checked in.”

“Um…Alright. Can I ask why?”

“Not yet. It may be nothing but I have a bad feeling that I’m right.”

Jason went over to the touch screen computer and started tapping away. There was at least one of these in every training room. Everyone was looking at me while we waited. My crew waited patiently but Adam’s crew were fidgeting and confused. Adam was about to say something but I raised my hand to cut him off. Jason came back after a few minutes looking puzzled.

“What is it Jason?”

“Well, it’s strange. I looked up the information you asked for Angel and there are two agents that haven’t made it back.”

Brooks spoke up, “that’s not too strange.”

“Well, no it’s not but they were the closest to headquarters.”

“Jake? Do you remember our training?”

“Of course I do Angel.”

“There were some with us that lacked the ability to be agents and they were devastated. Then there were others that had everything. The skills, intelligence, and raw talent but lacked the will to take a life.”

“Yes I remember.”

“Ben? Why did you give up on the fight? You have everything an agent needs to succeed. “

Ben looked startled but met my eyes, “I don’t want to hurt people. May I ask how you saw it? I’ve managed to fool every teacher, mentor, and trainer in to thinking that I was a lost cause.”

“It’s the way you move. There is a natural grace to your movements that some of us posses and other would die to have. Don’t worry Ben, I notice things that the others don’t. Your secret’s safe with me.” I smiled and turned my attention to the rest of the room. “I remember two individuals just like Ben, however, they became agents. I’m sure all of you know who I’m talking about even though you probably don’t realize you do. The Black Widow and The Black Plague are pretty unforgettable. If my suspicions are correct those are the two that haven’t returned.”

“How the hell did you know that Angel? I didn’t give you any hints, did I?”

“No, you didn’t Jason. I know because I know them well. During training Brittney was my roommate and Michael, I guess you could say, was my boyfriend. They both hated to hurt others. Unfortunately, everyone could see how good of an agent they would both become. They both became assassins like me.”

“I remember them, amazing with a sword.” Jake sounded worried now.

“They also excelled at strategy and escape. Without knowing either one of them personally, you would think they were happy with where they ended up. Brittney went on her first mission and never came back to the agency again. She still goes on missions but won’t set foot in headquarters. After Michael’s first mission he broke it off with me but we have talked a few times after that.” At the beginning my voice was informational, however, towards the end it changed to sadness. I was staring at the floor remembering the day Michael came home from his first mission. He had changed somehow, like he was dead inside.

“What are we going to do?” Sara brought me back from the brink, thankfully.

“Angel, they were both here in the states not more than fifty miles from HQ.”

“That’s not what’s bothering you, Jason. What else did you find?”

“When the orders came in to return to base for the lockdown both of them fell off the grid. At the same airport that we flew into at the same time that we landed.”

“John.”

It all became clear to me at once. He had recruited them. I know that Brittney blamed him for her status but Michael didn’t. Michael knew that it was his own merit that guaranteed him an assassin’s grade. He was grateful that John got him off the streets and out of the gang that he was in. He knew that if he would have stayed then the morgue would have been his new home within months. On nights when we couldn’t sleep, he would tell me about his life before he came to The Agency. I know he wouldn’t hurt John unless he had to. Brittney on the other hand was just bitter, she might.

“Please tell me you aren’t thinking what I know you’re thinking.”

“Jake, you know Brittney better than I do. She hates John for recruiting her and in her mind forcing her to kill. She started to hate me towards the end because I was starting to beat her when we sparred.”

“What are we going to do?” Jake looked a little green and I wondered if he would be sick.

“What are you two talking about? Can you fill the rest of us in please?” Sara sounded downright terrified.

A quick scan of the faces in the room told me that the only ones that weren’t scared were our newbies. Travis was looking between Jake and me with confusion plain on his face. Jeremy only had eyes for me and those eyes were staring at me protectively.

“Jason, are there cameras in here that are actively recording?”

“There shouldn’t be, let me check.”

Jake started to say something and then stopped. Jason was at the computer and taking longer than he should just to check for a recording. We both looked at each other and then Jason’s back. Something was wrong. Jason was tapping on the screen more than necessary just to check. Jake looked right into my eyes and tried to communicate without words or signals. Sometimes I wished that I was telepathic. You know what they say though, be careful what you wish for. I shook my head at him, trying to let him know that I didn’t understand. He smiled and rolled his eyes.

“Finally!” Jason threw his hands up in triumph and turned around. We all looked at him and waited. “The camera’s in here were recording but it took me sometime to trace them. Once I got the location, I shut them down but I don’t know for how long.”

“Good work Jason. Don’t say anything else until we get to a safe location. Adam, lead us to your quarters. No questions or comments until we get there. Let’s go people.”