Garfield.
I fluttered my eyes open, wincing at the pain in my head. It felt like I was being hit by a harmer over and over again. You'd think that after all these years, I'd get used to the frequent migraines.
Last night, was the worst ever, because of it, I screwed up the team's mission and now someone is probably waiting to see my face so they can yell at me or worse, kill me for compromising the mission.
Fuck! I'm so dead.
Ironically, I wasn't extremely worried about getting killed by my team mates. I think I deserve whatever comes because it was my fault. I didn't take my pills before we left. My fault, I take the blame. I was more worried about a certain blue eyed boy with the name like the weather.
He's probably traumatized after seeing his friend getting pistol whipped in the head plus there were dead bodies in the room, my team mate happened to threaten his life and he was robbed at gun point.
Definitely traumatized ....
Thinking too much about dialing his number made my head hurt even more. Truth is, I wanted to check up on him, see if he's okay. Not because I cared, maybe I was just guilty.
Me ,guilty? That's hilarious!
Anyway, I picked my phone from under my pillow and unlocked it, immediately scrolling through my contacts scrolling down to the only R on my contact list. "Rain,"
My thumb lingered over the call button debating whether or not to actually go through with calling him, what would I say anyway? I'm not good with people or even phone calls, leave alone texting anyone.
Just call him..
Just call him..
Just call him...
My thumb was inches away from pressing call but halted when I heard a gentle tap on my door and Grayson opened, poking his head in to see if I was awake. When he saw me awake, he smiled to himself and invited himself in, closing the door behind him.
"Morning?" He greeted softly.
I switched my phone off, returning it back under my pillow and greeted my brother back.
"Uh...how are you feeling?"
"Just a mild migraine," I answered, watching him shift awkwardly on his heels. His awkwardness confirmed my suspicion from earlier, I was in trouble for screwing up. "Am I in trouble?" I asked anyway.
Grayson scratched the back of his neck, something he does when nervous or cooking up a lie or both. "Nope," He lied flatly, "It's just...We are having a debrief,"
The debrief was supposed to be last night, guess it didn't happen since not all members (me) were present. Debrief without a member only happens if one or two of the members either gets compromised. (Gets killed or gets arrested)
"And?" I inquired, Grayson had a tendency of leaving out information.
"Just that,"
Just that..
So I was either going to get killed by or kicked out of the team. I don't know which one's worse. Either way I end up dead. Getting kicked out meant exile, exile meant you get killed by any member of the gang, so you don't spill gang intel to enemies or cops.
"You know I'm the leader. Whatever says goes" Grayson said, trying to give me some sort of hope. In reality he was trying to encourage himself, he was tearing apart from the inside out.
Grayson might be our leader but still, our way of leadership is democratic. Majority always wins.
Ignoring him, I got out of bed grabbing a jumper from the table by the corner and wore it. "Whatever happens, don't play the hero," I warned my brother and walked out of the room Grayson hot on my heels ranting how he won't let anything happen to me.
"Listen to me," He gripped my hand, making me turn to him with an angry scowl. His grey eyes bored desperately into my one good eye. I could see the storm raging in his eyes, he was hurting, "I wont let anything happen to you," He promised, "I promise,"
"Stop making promises you can't keep," I hissed, pulling his hand off me and entered the debrief room. I knew I jabbed my brother in the heart but because I had a stone cold heart, I didn't care if I hurt him.
The debrief room was a small room with a large table at the center surrounded by ten plastic chairs. There was a large white board at the front that still had last nights bank heist plan and a projector that was currently off.
The moment I got in, I got dirty, murderous looks from some people, especially, Sisco, the guy who pistol whipped Rain's friend. He was seated at his usual seat, two seats away from Wade, silently cleaning his gun, black eyes giving me the death stare.
Sisco hated my guts, he used to be our leader until he was voted out and lost the survival for the fittest challenge. Two years ago.
He's still a sore looser after he was reduced to vice leader. The only people who looked like they didn't want to chew me out were , Vanessa , Christoff and Logan The only guy I liked other than my brother.
He had feathery brown hair and his face always remained covered behind a skull mask. No one in the group had seen his face except Grayson. The guy doesn't talk much and unlike me, who sometimes goes mute, he can't speak don't know if he was born like that or it's a choice. While everyone here is skilled at either shooting or hand to hand combat
Logan is the best hacker I know. You'll know more about him later.
Turns out Logan had saved up a seat for me next to him and after I sat down, he immediately signed, "You okay?" I nodded my head, just as my brother walked into the room, shoulders slouched, head hung low and eyebrows knotted. He sent me an apologetic glance and took his seat next to Sisco , taking his position at the header.
"Don't ask," I said to Logan and he immediately dropped his hand, slouching further into his seat.
"Glad we are all here," Grayson begun, eyes shifting between my Sisco and I. "Sisco, take us through last nights mission. The good, the bad and the ugly."
Sisco ,finally put his gun down, though, the barrel was pointing at me. A silent message of what would come next. Grayson eyed the gun and I saw his fingers twitch, the voice in his head probably telling him to grab it and use it on Sisco.
"The mission was a near success.." Sisco stated, getting up and begun walking around. He does that to declare his status as second in command, "Infiltration was smooth thanks to our hacker," He pointed at Logan, "We were able to hold off the cops with the cell jammers and by deactivating security alarms. Another success was, we got the money. Clap,"
As he ordered, everyone except, Grayson clapped .
"The only problem was.."
I Was suddenly pulled back from my chair, my hair clutched in a tight grip as my head was tilted in an awkward angle. If he tilted it any further ,it would snap. Worse was a sharp knife held by Sisco, pressing at my exposed throat.
Things happened in lightning speed. Grayson, was on his feet, face red with anger, Sisco's forgotten gun in his hand now pointing at the guy holding a knife at my throat. More guns were drawn, some pointed at Sisco others pointing at my brother. Logan remained frozen on his seat.
"You hurt him your, dead," Grayson seethed. "Drop the knife," Finger staying put on the trigger.
"Your brother screwed us up," Said Sisco, "Because of him, the entire mission was compromised. He deserves what's coming and if you were smart, you'd put the gun down. Or you both die." The knife was pressed harder against my skin.
"Cease fire," Vanessa's commanding voice thundered and as if on instinct, everyone except my stubborn brother and Sisco fell back.
"Grayson...Sisco.." Vanessa warned, though her gun was pointed at Sisco . "I said fall back."
My brother looked conflicted as his eyes looked between Vanessa, Sisco and me. His fingers flexed and unflexed around the gun debating to shoot or not then he pulled back just as Sisco let go of me, shoving me forward till I almost banged my head on the table.
"Fuck this!" Sisco hissed, going back to his seat, right next to my brother who looked like he wanted to snap his neck.
"Great, now that nobody's trying to kill each other, we can finally talk like civilized people." Grayson spoke after a while. Once again gripping the reigns of authority from his girlfriend. "Garfield what happened."
"I didn't take my pills," I confessed, Sisco snorted waiting for further explanation. "They make me disoriented and I wanted to stay focused on the mission,"
"How did that end up?" He asked.
"Not good," I bowed my head in shame. "I promise it won't happen again.
"I'm putting you on probation."
"What!" Grayson protested.
"You're responsible for your actions. Please don't argue with me on this, you'll stick to being on the lookout."
That's it! " Demanded a furious Sisco. "You're benching him, after he screwed us up?"
The guy wanted me dead.
"There's no debate on this," Grayson answered, falling back on his seat. Eyes fixated on Sisco.
"What happened to democracy?"
"You lost that when you put a knife to my brother's throat.
"Dismissed."