I'm back ..i'm back in that dream, helpless and trembling for help. I could still smell the damp, musky scent of rain- mixed concrete with the faintest smell of floral perfume. I could still hear her screaming , hollering for help, eyes that plead for mercy, voice hoarse filled with fear and her tiny body which was dragged around like a ragged doll. I could feel her eyes on me, as if to say this is happening because of me, this is all my fault..

"Hey..heyy are you alright?" A voice cut through my foggy mind.

I shot upright, my breath catching in my throat but I kept a calm expression somehow. The dream clung to me reminding me of what I had done and what I have to do. James appeared before me looking confused and concerned," Are you okay, Agent Black?"

"I'm fine" I spoke gruffly, struggling to keep my hands from shaking. 

James looked at my hands briefly before standing in front of me. He knows that I'm hiding something but doesn't speak of it again. There was unspoken things between us, we both know it's better not to pry. At defence corps, you can trust no one but yourself. James and I was admitted to the defence corps in the same year. We have been working on projects together ever since. He is one of the successful agents in the defence corps. James isn't much taller than me with brown hair and playful smile that seemed to be permanently etched into his face which annoys the hell out of me.

"Admiring my beauty, agent black?" He smirked at me

"As if" I scoffed and looked away.

"You can be honest, you know there's no wrong in appreciating a beauty like me" I looked back at him with disgust.

"Did you just refer to yourself as a beauty?"

"Yeah, so?" He looked as if asking me whats wrong with that.

"You should go see a doctor, James" I sighed

Suddenly the door to the operations room clicked open and Captain Gerald came in, with sharp gaze and aura that cut through the room like a blade. Captain Gerald holds a powerful position with his contributions and influence making him the top 3 at the defence corps. His blonde hair framing his face giving him a regal look, his hands covered with scars tells us a whole another story.

"Agent black, Agent storm briefing in 5"He announced his voice firm with authority.

I didn't wait another second and entered the briefing table. The digital screens flickered to show us our latest mission. James followed me his usual smile masked with professional demeanour adopted when he's on duty.

The Defence Corps was more than just a department in the state. It's a hidden academy with layers of secret, assigned to deal with high priority threats to the state. The academy only accepts the best out of the bests. Those who passed the brutal trials and missions would later on become high elites operating the state or be buried in the system, hidden , never to be heard again. The training is grueling, the missions are even more so. Once you are in the academy you have only two options left: survival or death.

Captain Gerald stepped in front of the screen revealing a holographic image of a person. "You might know of him, his name is a whisper among the shadows in the underworld"

"THE DARK" James answered.

"Yes! The Dark is the name people fear to speak in public. He is the mastermind behind all the criminal and political operations in the state. He is the player and we all are just chess pieces to him. He is untouchable, untraceable and has a network that is so vast that it's practically impenetrable. And your mission is to track him"

He paused for a moment letting the weight of those words sink in.

"It has been recieved from our intelligence that he is moving closer to our territory as we speak. He is making a play for something or someone. We need you to track him, find what his intentions are. If you can, find his weakness at all costs. Remember we are not dealing with just a criminal on loose here but an entire empire which could make us disappear with a twist of his fingers. He's dangerous, elusive and has eyes everywhere be careful, do not speak of the mission to anyone, be discreet."

"Yes Sir" We both answered in uniformity.

Captain Gerald's eyes met mine. He knew the stakes, this isn't gonna be easy but then again when have the missions ever been.James already started working on his computer mapping out locations and clues to where the sightings of the dark has been last seen. James has always been quick on his fingers he has sharp instincts, instincts of someone who has been in the game for long.

"Agent Black, you have another mission " Captain Gerald added

" You would be the new instructor for the recruits of this year. You will be overseeing their training. Think of it as a distraction, something to ground yourself "

I stiffened at the mention of new recruits." Can I decline the mission?" I asked hesitantly.

"You and I both know once assigned a mission you should carry it out no matter what!" Captain Gerald said firmly

"Sorry Sir. I misspoke" I bowed to him apologising for my carelessness. For a second the firm line on his face softened and he gave a soft smile then it completely disappeared.

"You will do fine Agent Black, you always do" I looked back at Gerald but he turned away quickly.

James looked between us back n forth then asked," Don't tell me agent black cannot handle few kids, are you going soft?" He cracked.

I didn't answer him and brushed past him to the door. I could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken things that linger unsaid.

There was a reason why Captain Gerald adopted me. Gerald isn't just a superior to me but more like a father figure. He was the one who pulled me from the wreckage years ago when i was on the verge of death. He trained me, provided me with food and shaped me into who I am today. Maybe that's why I hated seeing recruits, how they try so hard because every time I look at them I see myself, raw, unprepared struggling to survive.

I gave Captain Gerald a sharp nod and turned to leave because if I stay any longer I fear the echoes of my past will catch up to me. But there was no time for weakness, no room for doubts and I have a job to do and the recruits they will learn just like i had, if they wanna survive here they must give it their all.

"Agent black...

Don't forget how far you've come and if you ever need.." I interrupted suddenly

"Thank you Captain Gerald. I will keep that in mind." I said in a hurry and left the room. In defence corps everyone is looking for the other's weakness and the last thing I want to be is Captain Gerald's weakness.

James followed me behind, after a moment of silence he asked in a way to reassure me,"Ready for this agent black?"

"Always"I smirked.