Mia Bell - Aged 14 

Tὅricht

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Shuffling across the ridge of the vast manor, I finger the grooves in the brickwork I’m currently scaling up, needing a firmer grip to help me stay balanced so I can continue with my mission. Taking a deep breath, my adrenaline spiking, I continue to shuffle along the front of the house until I am stopped by the glass balcony exactly where I memorised it would be.

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Seeing as my operation had to take place in the dark, with my only source of light the moon, I had to commit to memory every square inch of the manor before I was certain I could complete the mission without failure. Deafly quiet, I gracefully climbed over the balcony and crept across to the sliding door where I knew the safe would be situated. It is quite simple. All I am required to do is crack open the safe, secure the files, and leave without a trace of evidence that I was even there to begin with.

 

It should be relatively easy, I have done this a dozen times before, yet this time… I couldn’t mess it up this time. The whole reason I joined this organisation was set out in those files.

 

“Adeline, have you yet breached the house? I need confirmation, over” Khole’s deep voice transmits into my earpiece, his light German accent more prominent than usual, I guess the stress of the mission must be getting to him too.

 

“I am yet to breach the manor but am currently doing so now, over” I respond just as I pull out the picklocks from my hair. “Be careful, Tὅricht. Don’t get yourself hurt.” His words laced with worry. My heart warms at his nickname for me (that I still am yet to understand).

 

Over the past year when Khole first joined Latores Pacis, we have been getting closer and closer. “I will.” Is all I respond with as the door opens and I mentally high five myself. Putting my picklocks back into the tight bun that is neatly pinned back from my face, I open the door ajar, just enough to slip my agile body through the crack so that I can mold into the shadows of the room. Eyes adjusting, I make out the study before me. Scoffing at the lack of security in the room stealthily, I go over to the large painting hanging from the wall above the mantel piece, one of the most obvious places to hide a safe. I feel for the fissure on the side of the painting, and, after a couple of seconds, I feel the chink and open the portrait up slowly so as to not make too much noise, finding the safe on the other side.

 

My brows furrow as I mentally prepare myself for the hardest part. Seeing as I don’t conveniently have the code, I need to crack open the safe with just my hands and ears. Sighing, I place my right ear to the safe and my hand on the dial and get to cracking it open. I get lost in the movement of my deft fingers and the sound of the mechanics in the safe until the tell-tale click sounds through the air, cutting off my trance as the safe is now open.

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Peering inside, my fingers shaking, I retrieve the files on the top shelf and hurriedly yet gently deposit them into my rucksack so as to not get them crumpled. Taking a few calming breaths, I close the safe and put the painting back up and head out the same way I came through.

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Just as I close the sliding door, a man enters the office, vexed, with dread tantalizing through my body I quickly turn so my back is to the wall.  Every dire second ticks by slowly as I hear the man speak into his phone, his ramblings incomprehensible as the glass door muffled his words. Gradually, his voice fades away until nothing but my harsh breaths could be heard in the silent night. Not taking a backward glance, I exit the same way I came through, shuffling across the ledge more precisely now I remember where the little notches in the walls are.

 

Climbing down, I jump the last metre to the ground. “Mission completed, heading over to the getaway vehicle now, over” I report into my earpiece as I run to the van hidden within the treeline. Jumping in the front seat, I head straight for the road as I choke on a sob that threatens to come out, stray tears leaking from my eyes as the vow I made to my sister whilst she lay still, her body cold and pale rings through my ears.

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“I will avenge you and take down the business which killed you, my darling sister. Rest your head and sleep well Maria. I vow to make the people who made you suffer, suffer and help those like you. Trapped in the world of crime.” One last tear falls down my face before determination and exhilaration sinks in as I drive toward headquarters.

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2 hours later  

 

“Agent Meyer has said that you have retrieved the files. Is this correct?” General Adams voices from across the table, the question aimed toward me. “Yes General. The mission can now move forward as planned and agent Meyer and I can now advance to taking down the ring leader.” I state, standing up straighter, trying not to seem trepidatious about the upcoming events.

 

 “Great work agent Raiche. My only concern with moving forward is… whether you are the right agent to complete this mission. Are you too involved with the case?.” He asks with a flash of pity on his face before his features form back to his usual stony expression.

 

My heart drops, but before I reply, Khole steps in. “I in fact believe that because she is so involved with the mission that she is the only agent to do this with me. She has worked tirelessly on this case and therefore could be the only person fit to take down this criminal network, Sir.” Khole remarks with upmost sincerity that causes a wide smile to take over my face before I school my features.

 

“Very well. You are all dismissed.” General sighs in defeat and my toes curl in anticipation as I head to the weaponry room, the feel of vengeance creeps closer and closer.

 

Daylight now shining on my face, I begin to make out the large mansion where the target resides. Nerves skyrocketing, I look to my left where Khole is stood, admiring his features one last time before we enter the house. His dark blue eyes, his russet hair and the short stubble on his chin makes me fall a little harder for him, and yet my coward heart won’t allow me to say the words that are desperate to come out of my mouth. I like you.

 

I look away with a pained glance, knowing this might be the last time I ever see him again. “Good luck, Töricht.” is all he says before we head toward the mansion. Looking for any sign of guards, we head round to the back noting the unusual lack of protection. I thought this strange but continued on h heading through the back door, we silently make our way through the house creeping past the inhabitants and managing to meld into the corners of the large place.

 

Finally reaching the stairs, which we knew led to the office, we take turns running up the stairs, me first, then followed closely after by Khole. Eventually, the large wooden double doors greet us, the man behind the corrupted drug trade my sister fell prey to was right behind those doors. Inhaling deeply, I spare a glance to Khole who nods in anticipation as he and I kick open the double doors, almost immediately being tackled to the ground by a guard situated right behind the door. Struggling for a few seconds, I painfully wheeze as he gets my hands behind my back and handcuffed them tight. Then lifting me up so I am kneeling before the man I’m guessing runs this cruel business.

 

I’m shocked. This was meant to be a surprise attack, they were meant to be unprepared, yet thinking back on it, it was almost too easy entering. As if they knew we were coming. But that cannot be right. I curse under my breath, causing my sister’s murderer to bark out a laugh.

 

“Poor girl! Do you think I wouldn’t know about this little excuse of an attempted assassination? You’d have to try harder than that!” He says as he chuckles again, sipping his whiskey from his tumbler. My fists curl, as the dark reality of my fate dawned on me as I could feel the cold metal of a pistol pressed against my temple. “And I see you’ve met my son.” He smiles condescendingly.

 

“Hello Töricht.”