Chapter Two

I had made up my mind, I was going to leave the agency, after everything I had done for Greta. She picks J’s side, what was I expecting. I had already planned to travel somewhere in Europe, maybe Romania. I hadn't been there in about two years when I had gone to bury my foster mother. I needed the space. I had to meet the council to submit my resignation properly. 

Walking in, my eyes met with J’s. He stood at the extreme end of the office. He was the last person I wanted to see. I took in a breath and I felt someone patting my shoulder, quickly my instinct made me turn around to wrap my hands around whoever was standing behind. Unfortunately it was Carlos.

“Hey, hey”

He hastily said. Looking at the fear in his eyes, I felt disgusted with myself.

“You don't have to be uptight with everyone”

I removed my hands from around his neck, he was right though. I didn't have to cut everyone off.

“I'm sorry, it's the paranoia, I couldn't sleep last night”

“The caffeine is kicking in?”

“No, it's not coffee”

I lower my tone to a whisper to say

“It's Greta. I feel she has people watching my house and every move I make. It's driving me nuts”

Carlos whispers back

“She is”

He hugs me tightly.

“I respect you if you want to leave. It's your choice. They call you sensitive but I think you act with your intuition”

“What about Greta?”

“What if she tries to stop me?”

“She can't, the entire council makes the final decision”

“You know how Greta is powerful, I don't feel safe”

“Who are you?”

I and Carlos have these games we play especially when we're about to embark on a mission. He would ask me. Who are you and my reply would be

“I am Octavia Liliad, the best agent in the game. I fear no man or woman especially… Greta”

I needed that. Carlos hugged me and then led me into the meeting room. Where I would offer my resignation letter. And be free or so I thought.

Entering the room brought in memories, if I can remember I had only been there twice. The day I was certified an agent and the day I was given a higher rank, today I wanted to leave this all behind I needed a break. 

Each of them sat down and signaled me to come forward 

“Octavia, you have summoned the council”

“Yes, I have. I wish to resign”

Silence enveloped the entire room for about three minutes. Finally a voice spoke up and it was Greta's 

“Octavia Liliad, when you first came here you were helpless, pathetic and simply disgusting to look at”

I felt a rage burn up in my chest, I wanted to speak, I wanted to fight but I remained silent. 

“We took you in, trained you, gave you a reason to live and now… you want to leave us just. Like. That.”

She said with a wicked grin. I took a deep breath and defended myself.

“Alot has happened I would like to take a break and evaluate my actions”

“Nonsense”

Greta yelled. This made me angrier and I wanted to scream. I wanted to wrap my hands around her neck till she passed out. But I held my cool.

“I think you have forgotten, you signed a contract when you got here”

She throw a document at me, I picked it up and read it. And tears filled my eyes. It was as though the ground should open up and consume me. I forgot about this document. Going through it, I saw that I had three years left. 

“So you see, you can't just resign”

Greta folded her arms. And smirked. She was right. I was short sighted but I was angry. They was murmuring and somehow I knew it wasn't going to be good. Then a voice finally spoke up. 

“Due, to your lack of comprehension and judgment and behavioral misconduct, as an agent of this facility you're going to stripped of your privileges and punished”

I understood what they said but they still hadn't said anything yet. Greta then spoke to interpret what they had meant

“What this means is that. You're going to be punished and sent on a mission of exile for the remaining three years you have to serve the agency”

“Mission of exile” I had heard that before. Carlos told me it's when agents are sent off to long term missions which may risk their lives and in most cases it was a way of punishing agents who tried to escape or did something that angered the council. I know I was wrong but I didn't deserve this. Not at this point. I felt worse than I had ever felt. The pain resonated with the way J had made me feel when I saw him and Velma. 

“No, you can't do this to me”

I protested but Greta laughed a loud and mischievous laughter that echoed the entire room. How could she do this to me. After everything. 

“You see your behavior and ungratefulness has pushed us to the limit. If you refuse to go. Your little sister in Romania pays the price. So choose”

She threw a document to me. I picked it up and looked at her. I wanted to kill her. I wanted to hurt her so bad. I ran out of the room and left the agency. I went to the balcony of a cafe I loved to go to anytime I came back from missions. Standing there felt like fresh air, the view felt different. But today I felt like I couldn't breathe despite being alive. I couldn't cry despite the tears in my eyes. I felt like a free prisoner.

Standing there scattered in my thoughts a voice interrupted me.

“I told you, you were too emotional and sensitive. If only you worked on that. You wouldn't be here today”

It was Greta

“Why won't you leave me alone”

“One, you have to potential to be me and run this agency”

I revolted

“I will never be you, I can never be this heartless”

“Two, I think you're perfect for my J. He doesn't know what he wants but a mother always knows best”

“You're absolutely crazy, do you know that”

She laughs, then removes a cigarette from her bag and lights it.

“Crazy, heartless, wicked all names I've heard before. I was once like you. Emotional and not very intellectual but all that changed when I had J. His father who was the love of my life had left me for another woman. It was just me and J. Homeless, I was brought into the agency by an old friend. I trained and became an agent just like you. Traded my emotions for courage. I felt nothing and attacked when I was asked”

I was moved to pity by listening to Greta but what was the use.

“I don't want to hear your sob story”

“Me too, but… when I first saw you. I saw me. Hopeless and rejected. I took you and trained you. Gave you more than I was given. I thought you used your brain but you didn't”

“Greta you don't care about me, the only person you care about is your son”

“You're right, I am nothing but a mother”

“So why this”

“I want you to be strong like me or worse so I'm sending you on the toughest mission I haven't sent you on before”

We exchanged glances, she let out puffs of smoke from her mouth. Mine was hateful and filled with anger, hers was calm and witty. She knew I couldn't touch her even if I wanted to.

“I love how you keep your emotions in check, you'll need it for this mission”

She threw her burnt out cigarette to the floor and stepped on it. Holding up my chin and looking

into my eyes she whispered

“You're going to work for Alfredo De El”

And that was when I knew how dangerous my mission truly was.