Memories by: Chance Miller
I carefully lift the wooden lid off the chartreuse green box covered in vintage car stickers a few peeling off close to the edges. It's my memory box. Girly, tell me something I don't know. Every magical moment I spent alongside that captivating girl, every memorable memory I created alongside that rebellious brunette is all scribbled down in untidy scrawls on the lined sheets of paper littered inside the box.
Candy wrappers, bows, photographs, movie tickets even a block from the train track we built together lay in the box, nostalgia washes over me like waves of salty seawater washing over golden sand.
Her mere existence is what allows me to live, her pain and joy allow me to feel emotion, her smile allows me to breathe. She brought me back to life, a being so fragile yet so powerful. She's like my beating heart living without it, is impossible.
"Did the TACAM send you the date and time for your next mission briefing?" My stepdad questions sitting at the foot of my bed.
"Not really", I mutter avoiding his intense stare. I continue to twirl the matching pumpkin pen Ev and I had decided to buy at the summer carnival six years ago. Both my parents are former TACAM agents and often help with mission briefings. After my dad left, my mother resigned from the TACAM but not before coincidentally meeting Hugo, my stepdad.
Mom says it was fate that brought them together and I believe that. Most TACAM agents meet on missions and instantly hit off, so did mom and Hugo. My family left behind a great legacy at the TACAM. My mom and biological dad were both TACAM agents and so were their siblings and parents. In other words I'm a pureblood.
"Chance William Miller", Hugo snaps his fingers in my face snapping me out of my thoughts "a little birdie told me why you're here!"
I grit my teeth in frustration. If the truth behind my return has been divulged I can kiss the chance of getting my former position and legacy goodbye. I bet it was Hailee, the bloody woman is always winding me up. First setting me up with Evangeline's dad, then telling me love is no good and now telling Hugo about the real reason behind my return. I wish I could wrap her in lettuce and feed her to some garden snails, she deserves an excruciatingly painful but slow death.
"You're not here on a mission, are you", he begins dramatically. Of course dad, I got kicked out and I'm on probation but you think that I'm here on vacation. "The real reason as to why you're here is..." he continues dramatically and I roll my eyes. Sometimes Hugo acts like an immature child. "You're here to spend time with your family", he concludes in a jovial tone. I absentmindedly breathe out a sigh of relief.
I was a millimeter's length close to believing that Hailee had already informed dad about my failed mission and the fact that I was pushed 137 posts down. Its harsh, I can bear that but not the fact that it's embarrassing. I bet I'll be the talk of the TACAM.
My thoughts were interrupted when my mother swings the door open, clapping in glee. "There's a call for you, from Hailee Grey", she squeals and my heart drops to my stomach. She hadn't told them as yet, thankfully but Hailee is capable of anything even starting a nuclear war and summoning demonic entities.
I think...
"Never thought my baby would get a mission right after he came home."
I wouldn't have risked my life working for the TACAM if I didn't realize how much of an impact their actions have on the world. I mean using children and teenagers to do their dirty work -I meant that in a good way- is ingenious. No one ever suspects children. Honestly would you suspect that your best friend is actually a spy working for a private organization?
Nope?
Exactly.
Although the TACAM does have its fair share of adult agents who aid us on our solo, duo or group missions. Besides having a double life, working with special gadgets, solving murders, catching drug-dealers, unraveling a human trafficking case and my most favorite, the paranormal cases.
A little history about the TACAM: it was first established during the Holocaust before World War II. I think their mission was to infiltrate the concentration camps, I'm unsure because I failed history. Soon after the war TACAM headquarters opened up all over the world, but it all began during the Holocaust in Germany. Although up till today no one knows the legitimate leader of the TACAM, the great, great, great, great grandchild. He is so crafty that he created numerous decoys to deceive us.
I put the phone to my ear "hello."
"Mr. Miller how are you?" Hailee chimes with fake enthusiasm and I fight the urge to gag.
"Cut the formalities, Hailee", I respond idly twirling the phone cord in languid circles between my thumb and index finger.
"Cut the rude behavior Chance, cause the last time I checked your parents are just a phone call away and the truth is always a bitter pill to swallow." I roll my eyes. Hailee if you haven't realized by now is the devil incarnate. She is unsympathetic, cruel, selfish and has the ability of making the most self-confident people feel inconsequential.
"Like I said before, cut to the chase", I repeat.
"Apologize Chance!" She demands "you know exactly what I'm capable off." I roll my eyes once more.
"Really Hailee, for what? Why should I apologize? For blackmailing people? Threatening kids? Or for failing a duo mission but getting all the blame because your son was my partner? Everyone makes mistakes and so I will not apologize for something which isn't my fault", I snap. Hailee decided to unscrew the bottle with all my emotions, she should deal with the consequences like a mature person.
"You should be grateful that I put in a word for you with the CEO", she huffs and I roll my eyes again. That's obviously a lie since only a selected few know his real identity. And I certainly know that Hailee is definitely not one of those people.
"I'm guessing I have a mission or you wouldn't have called."
"Its a trial mission, if you solve the pseudocide and find the victim you'll be Agent 2 in no time."
"Any insight I can get before the mission briefing with Andrews?" I ask hopefully.
"Your mission briefing will be tomorrow, its a pseudocide case. All we know is that her last resort was staging her own death. We need to know where she is and we need concrete evidence as to why she staged her death. Helia will discuss your mission in depth and her daughter Evangeline Summer's will be coming to Middletin."