The sign for Fernfort, New York loomed ahead, and I signaled for the others behind me to get off at the ramp. Driving through the outskirts, I saw homes that looked vacant and in desperate need of some TLC, but there were kids playing outside in some cases, with the shadows looming around them as the sun sank behind the trees.

As we approached the heart of the city, the homes started becoming larger, and much more expensive looking. Shopping centers and food outlets were everywhere, and groups of friends could be seen walking arm-in-arm into restaurants that offered varied cuisines. A pang went through my chest as I came up to a red light and slowed down, staring at them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a girl with auburn hair, dressed in a zip-up jacket with a hood, dark washed jeans and white converse. She was standing off by herself, looking warily at the group approaching the doors. My curiosity sparked, I pulled off to the side, ignoring the looks given to me by Kara and Tom. Bracing the black bike with my feet, I watched as one couple, a girl and a guy, broke off from the rest of the group, waving at them to continue in. Once the glass doors clicked shut, the girl, who had brown hair and was wearing black skinny jeans, and a crop top hoodie, led the guy who also looked to be around 18, had black hair, and was wearing jeans and a red long-sleeved shirt, to the girl.

Pushing off, I turned off on a side-street that was by the restaurant so I could hear what they were saying better. I motioned with my hand for Kara and Tom to stay where they were so we wouldn't draw a lot of attention.

The brunette was speaking, her gestures very animated and meant to draw attention. "... why are you here? Did you finish your chores? Is my room cleaned?" I frowned. What?

The auburn-haired girl, nodded her head, shaking slightly. "Yes, Audrey. It's all done."

Audrey raised an eyebrow, looking slightly annoyed. "Then why are you here?" When the other girl didn't answer right away, she crossed her Calvin Klein hoodie-covered arms. "Well, Paige?"

"I was wondering if I could go to the ice skating dance competition tomorrow, please, Audr-" she was cut off by the boy.

"Why do you have have to ask Audrey?" He frowned as if sensing that something here was amiss as well.

I frowned again. What was going on here? And on second thought, why should I care about it? I had a mission that I should be focused on. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that Kara and Tom were not where they used to be. My heart started racing. If someone had gotten to them...

Looking wildly around, I muttered "Shit," under my breath. They were nowhere to be seen. Breathing fast, I ripped my phone out of my leather jacket pocket. I was still in my black, skintight suit, which was thankfully keeping the chilly wind at bay, as it was made with something like leather, but more flexible.

Going through my contacts, I tapped on the first one that I saw belonged to a person on the team, and that happened to be Tom.

Typing furiously, I held my breath. Where are you?!?

Tapping my combat shoe impatiently on the ground, I gathered my chestnut hair up into a high ponytail while I anxiously waited for his reply.

After a few minutes, it came. Getting food. What do you want us to pick up for you?

I let out an exasperated sigh and shook my head. I had almost had a heart attack, and they were getting food. I don't care, whatever is cheapest. What restaurant?

Applebee's. And okay. What are you doing?

I sat back on my bike. That was a good question. What was I doing? Watching a couple of teenagers having a conversation.

He replied instantly. Why? Do you think they're in the gang?

I snorted at that. No, I was pretty sure they weren't in the gang. It was just that something was off here, and I wanted to figure out what. No.

Uh, okay then. Be back in a few, stalker.

I rolled my eyes. 10-4.

Looking back up, my gaze immediately narrowed. The girl named Audrey had slapped the one called Paige, who was now covering her face with her hands, her grey eyes widening fearfully. The boy, whose name I did not know, just stood there, looking shocked.

Okay, then, since he wasn't going to do anything, I guess I would. I rolled my eyes. Chivalry really was dead. My jaw clenched as I got off the bike and walked unnoticed up to the group. As one who used to be bullied, I couldn't stand seeing others being victims.

Walking slowly over, Paige's eyes widened further as she noticed me. I tried to smile at her, but my face was set from the anger I tried to keep in check.

The other two, noticing that Paige was not paying attention to them anymore, turned around to see what, or rather who, she was looking at. Their eyes widened as well, and Audrey took a small step back.

I raised an eyebrow. "Did you just slap her? Answer very carefully. You have one try."

She gulped nervously and took a few seconds to answer. In that space of time, I heard two engines come up behind me, and then die. From looking in the reflective windows of the restaurant, I saw Kara and Tom flocking me. From the combat boots, leather jackets, and suits, not to mention the 22-caliber pistols barely visible in the holsters on our waists, we made a pretty formidable group.

Audrey arrogantly tossed her brown hair over her shoulder, and crossed her arms, seemingly gathering courage. "Who are you, my mother? I don't have to answer you."

I smirked and pulled out my badge, similar to the ones you saw in movies. "Oh really." On my badge, in legible print, read: Agent 5, Bentley Waters. Umbra Agency. And at the bottom, was out motto: Serve. Achieve. Protect. The metal insignia was attached to the bottom of the badge, still visible, even in the dusk lighting.

Audrey visibly paled. The guy, whose name I was to believe was Logan if the word on the necklace Audrey was wearing was any indication, stared at us, mouth agape in shock.

Snapping the badge shut while narrowing my eyes, I put it back into my suit pocket, allowing a little peek of the pistol to show from under my jacket. Audrey audibly gulped, looking through the window and inside the building, where her group of friends could be seen chatting together.

I sighed. "You and your boyfriend can go join them as soon as you give me an answer."

The boy's gaze snapped to mine, his blue-green eyes catching mine. "Audrey and I aren't- I mean, we're not-well-," his cheeks flamed red. I grinned inside. This was the most fun I had had in ages. 

Audrey carefully placed her manicured hand on his shoulder. "What Logan means to say, is that we are not together. "

"Ah." I looked between Paige and Logan, the former's eyes suspiciously lined with tears. What exactly was going on here?

I shook my head and looked back to Audrey, who was still talking for some reason. "...it's not like I was beating her, or something, she's my stepsister for Pete's sake. So why don't you run along and stop interfering with other people's business."

An idea bloomed in my mind. "Fine. We'll leave. But believe me, I will find out if you slap her again, and if you do..." I left the threat hanging in the air, and turned to go, almost snorting out loud as I saw Tom dragging a finger across his throat, and Kara glaring daggers at her. Audrey grabbed Logan and turned to walk inside, the latter looking concernedly at Paige, who was still standing there. Getting on my bike, Tom and Kara likewise, I turned to her.

"Do you need a ride?" She startled, as if not used to being addressed.

She looked warily at the three of us. "No thanks."

I raised an eyebrow and gestured to my bike. "I insist. It's too cold to be walking home."

Her eyes widened and she took a step back. "How did you know I was..." She shook her head. "Never mind." After glancing longingly inside the restaurant, she turned to me. "Okay, thanks." After getting on the bike and settling in behind me, I unclipped my helmet and handed it to Paige. "Thanks," she mumbled. I shrugged as if it weren't a problem and took my hair down, shaking the wavy strands out and feeling the release around my hairline. 

"You're going to have to give me directions," I said in reply. Nodding her head, I took off from the curb with a roar, Tom and Kara close behind me, turning where she told me to. After about fifteen minutes, we reached a modern-style mansion, with a beautiful garden in the front, and a barely noticeable swimming pool in the back. I raised my eyebrows at the opulence.

"You live here?" Paige nodded, embarrassed. 

I whistled slowly in appreciation, kicking the bike stand set. "This is amazing!" I heard Tom whisper-shout to Kara who just elbowed him in the side in return.  

Paige smiled back shyly, getting off the back of the bike and unclipped the helmet, handing it back to me. Mumbling thanks, she turned to go, her light auburn hair swirling in the night wind, but I grabbed her arm. She winced at my touch, and stiffened, pulling away. I frowned and narrowed my cold blue eyes.

"Are you okay? I mean honestly, don't just tell me 'yes' or 'I'm fine'. I mean truly."

Her grey eyes welled up with tears, and she swiped at her nose. "I-," and suddenly tears began to pour out of her eyes, and Kara, who was beside me, glanced at me in alarm. Hopping off the bikes, we rushed over and hugged Paige tightly, rubbing her back soothing. Tom stood there, looking uncomfortable, but as if he wanted to help; he just didn't know how.

Words began to rush hurriedly out of her mouth. "It's just, my dad's always away, and he's the only one who really understands my passion for ice skating, but my step-mom and step-sister really don't, and there's a competition tomorrow, and whoever wins gets the chance to be Logan's partner in pairs, and I really, really, want to win, because I like him a lot, but my step-mom wants Audrey to win, and forbade me from going, and-" she choked on her words, throat clogged with tears. "Even if I could go, I don't even have proper skates or a costume- they cost so much- and my step-mom won't pay, and my best friend Leah said she'd help pay, but we just don't have enough money." She stopped her rant, panting heavily, and ran a hand through her hair.

Kara looked at her. "Is there any possible way you might be able to sneak out?" There was a clever gleam in her eyes.

Paige looked at her. "Leah said she has a way that might work, but we don't really know."

"Just in case you can," Kara reached into an inner fold of her jacket, "Here you go." She handed Paige a clump of twenty dollar bills.

Paige's eyes widened. "I can't take this, you're practically a stranger, and-"

Kara folded Paige's hand around the money. "Take it. Buy yourself a good pair of skates, and a beautiful costume. I used to ice skate, too, before I joined the Agency. It was my life. Believe me, I know how much you love it. Just take the money."

Paige's eyes welled up again but with tears of joy this time. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She threw her arms around Kara. "I'll never forget this!"

She turned and hugged me as well, raining down her thanks. She even turned and shyly hugged Tom, who looked so uncomfortable during the interaction that Kara and I burst out laughing.

Waving, she turned, pulling out her phone and started to walk down the pathway to the front door. Getting on our bikes and clipping on our helmets, I could still hear her as the person on the other end of the phone picked up.

"Leah, you'll never guess what just happened!"

Smiling, I pulled out from her driveway and made my way back to the center of the city, Kara, and Tom in tow, heading in the direction we came from. 

After a little while, I signaled for the others to stop at a small gas station, where a picnic table could barely be seen off to the side. The bright lights from the gas station flooded the area, illuminating the space where we sat down at the picnic table, and finally ate our dinner of gas station corn dogs, at 11:30 at night.

After throwing the trash away, we sat back down to finally take a breather. Well, we didn't get everything done that we wanted to that day, but at least we were finally at our destination. I let out a sigh of relief, and stared up at the night sky, the stars twinkling brightly. A smile ghosted my face as I remembered a time, long ago, when I was staring up at the night sky with someone else. 

My eyes swiveled back to my other two companions as Kara cursed out loud.

I straightened my back, glancing around the area and scanning for threats. "What's wrong?" My forehead wrinkled in concern.

She sighed. "I just remembered that I actually never called my directors to tell them that Jeremy's been abducted." She brought her phone out and started typing in a number.

"Oh." I relaxed and looked at Tom, whose face had become crestfallen at the mention of his friend. Smiling sympathetically, I gave my attention back to Kara as she put the phone on speaker and set it on the center of the table.

For a few moments, the phone ringing and crickets chirping were the only sound, until a male voice answered the phone.

"Jake Sandell, speaking."

My breath caught, and my heart stopping beating. No, it couldn't be. He died.