Twenty-four days sixteen minutes and 33 seconds, that's how long I've been here with no contact whatsoever with the outside world. Slowly, the reality of my life had begun to sink in. I tried my best to avoid people especially Skyler I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship all because I might have paid too much attention to what happened and ended up getting the wrong idea. Ever since the beginning of the semester, we were encouraged to make contact with a few people we know, friends or family who don't know the truth about us so people don't suspect a thing and make them believe it's just a school for rich overprivileged snobs.
"Let's settle down people", yelled Mrs. Hashbrown our World ethics and Religions teacher as she moved to the front of the class, "today we will be moving on to study ethics and morals in China but before we start our lesson who wants to remind us why these classes are important?"
once more the ever-enthusiastic Molly shot her hand up high into the air and waved it around. Mrs. Hashbrown nodded at her and she rose from her seat and faced the class. "As a spy, we must blend in but to do that and gain the protection of the locals in a particular country one needs to understand their way of life and respect their cultures"
"Yes, excellent! Thank you Molly", said Mrs. Hashbrown " over the past few years the people of China have.." The rain slowly getting stronger and drowning her voice. I looked out the window watching the rain slide off the bulletproof glass. I noticed what looked like a small cottage in the far corner of the schoolyard hidden among tall thick trees. "No one goes there", a tall dark-haired brown-eyed girl whispered from behind me. "It's the second most guarded place here with guards patrolling the area every hour, there are also high-grade security cameras as well as motion and heat sensors outside and within the place". "What's so valuable that it needs that much protection? It's just an old cottage" I whispered back.
"I wonder but nothing is as it seems over here remember that, hy I'm April by the way", she smiled extending her hand. "I'm Sam.." I began as I shook her hand. " Samantha Ashworth" she interjected, "sorry, everyone knows who you are, I mean you kinda famous since you're one of the best agent's daughter."
"Yeah right" I giggled stiffly. Mrs. Hashbrown cleared her throat loudly, " care to share the story April?"
"no mam, sorry mam" she replied. "hmm" Mrs. Hashbrown mumbled narrowing her eyes angrily before she continued scribbling notes on the board.
"psst, rumour has it that that's where the school's red beryl stone is stored it is called that because it is still stained with the blood of our enemy Lewis Stone hart", continued April.
"interesting rumours", I whisper back and continue taking down notes.
She gently pulled my arm back "I'm planning a stakeout tonight 8;30 you can join me if you really wanna know the truth, I can fetch you from your room I'll explain more about the school's history then." "Sure, eight-thirty it is" I confirmed. Who knows? Maybe I might find an escape route or something.
"alright girls that's it for today remember to hand in your assignments this Friday, class dismissed" announced Mrs. Hashbrown, "Sam remain behind I need to speak to you."
Molly squeezed my shoulder as she made her way out of the class. I dragged my feet as I moved toward her desk. "Samantha darling", she began as she slowly removed her spectacles. "I know this is still very new to you but sulking about and trying to seclude yourself from people is only going to make you feel worse and it won't change a thing." I sighed heavily and gazed at my feet.
"This world is not as bad as you think it is if you put a little more effort into things you might learn to love it and find happiness right here " she continued a look of genuine sympathy in her eyes. "I will try my best," I answered not wanting to disappoint her any further. "May all tenth graders report to the main entrance I repeat all tenth graders to the main entrance thank you." A masculine electronic-like voice announced through the school's intercom.
****************************************
"alright class today you will be tested on all the knowledge you have gained so far", said a tall red-haired man at the bottom of the staircase outside the schools' entrance as ladies handed us wigs dresses and other weird costumes. "for those of you who joined us late you will be paired with a more experienced classmate so try to learn as much as you can from them today" he continued as one of the ladies placed a pair of hearing aids and a ginger long wig in my hands.
" Now that everyone has received their disguise for the day, please step into the bus and receive your mission for the day". Hold up a mission? Wasn't too early to be sent on missions? I side-eyed Molly hoping she would get the message and fill me in on what just happened, but nooo, she was too excited to catch on. She was bouncing to the school bus waving around the long flowy sundress that had been handed to her.
"Welcome to field class Sam, that was Mr. Randsfield you will be with me so stay close ok?" April said. I carefully put on the wig making sure it was clipped on properly so it wouldn't fall off no matter what. The instructions on the back of the packet read that the 'hearing aids' were just look-alike coms units and would cause no damage to my ears. I put them on and switched on the right aid. Someone was breathing heavily into their coms unit and one sounded like she was swallowing litters of saliva.
Ignoring the sounds I glanced at the paper handed to me it read;
TRACK AND RETRIEVE CLIENT INFORMATION FILES AS WELL AS A FAMOUS ART EFFECT AND RETURN TO BASE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FIVE DEMERITS AND A HUNDRED AND TWELVE HOURS OF MONITORED CLEANING IN THE PASSAGE WAYS AND BASEMENT.
Wow-what a punishment I thought to myself. The doors of the bus flung open and Mr. Randsfield hoped out buttoning his suit as he turned to face us "welcome to the museum ladies" he said with a bit more enthusiasm than I expected. "all of you know what is expected of you so let's make this as clean and as quick as possible, your cover for the day, you are all normal school kids on a tour those of you in dresses or casual outfits are my assistants for the day, alright let's get this done !" He exclaimed clapping his hands.
"oh and also your time starts immediately after the thirty-minute tour, each team will have two hours to complete their task I expect to meet you all on the bus as soon as your time runs out". He said as he made his way up the stairs.
The huge brown building was beautiful and huge. the banner outside read; Normans Museum of Fine Arts. Inside thousands of people moved about taking pictures of various artworks guarded by spotless glass cases and velvet red queue ropes. Bright lights shone on every painting and sculpture at just the right angle, almost bringing them to life.
Art critics melted for at least one work of art and never wanted to leave. Never in my life had I seen so many paintings. "where on earth is my Coffee Jennifer?" M.r Randsfield asked angrily waving his hands in the air causing the tour guide to stop and stare. "come on I asked you a thousand times not to forget my coffee Jennifer!" he continued in a deep french accent. "I'm so sorry sir I will order it now", Jennifer assured him.
"uhm this way everyone" said the tour guide trying to ease the tension. "no, no forget the coffee its time for my brunch, Mr thank you fur your time tour is over ladies you are free to explore the museum I will be oback before you know it" Mr. Randsfield blew kisses at us on his way out.
********************************************************
April grabbed my hand pulled me to the nearest bathroom. "hey, what's wrong?" I asked her as I tried to pull free of her grip. "quit complaining we running out of time" she growled as she quickly checked all the stalls before swiftly locking the door and whipping out her computer. " what are you doing?"
"trying to locate the director's office he would have all the sensitive information, have you decided what kind of art we gonna steal?" Art? gee i hadn't thought of that. "uhhm well something small so we can sneak it out in my backpack" She paused and stared at me briefly. "okay rule number one always do your homework, sweetie, rule number two never get into a situation without a gameplan and talking about a game plan here's the plan", she turned the computer screen toward me and reached for my right ear. "Hey! what are you doing!?"
"Connecting your coms unit only to mine now standstill will you"
There was a short screechy sound as she pressed on my ear before shoving me out of the bathroom. "be quick and act natural okay?"
Act natural how do I act natural when I'm about to commit a crime?
"ok Sam go straight down the hallway and take a left his office should be the fourth one to your right"
The hallway was crowded with tourists two guards stood at the end blocking the entrance to the offices . "There is no way I'm getting past those guys"
"Sam we're running out of time here you have to think of something fast"
I removed one of my hearing aids as i bumped into one of the dark-haired boys gathered around the painting of a half-naked horse woman thing.
Sorry I signed pulling a strand of hair behind my ear and begun to crawl pretending to look for my hearing aid. "hey, you just gonna stand there or you gonna help?" said one of the boys as he crawled to help me. One by one they began to search sticking their hands' in-between people's feet particularly the women just trying to peep under their skirts, causing the crowd to panic. I Drifted toward the end of the hallway. The guards were reluctant at first but eventually moved from their post and I slipped in. "ok I have access where is the file?"
"uh the second drawer of his table on the left"
"Okay, what are we looking for?"
"try and find the list of clients big guys who sponsor the place"
"I can't find it!"
"Look in the other drawers there has to be something"
"I don't have time for that"
I grabbed every file from the drawers and stuffed them in my backpack. "I'm coming back to you where are the guards?"
"still in the hallway hurry they seem to be moving toward you" I ran out the office my heartbeat the only sound I could hear. I dropped to all fours and began crawling back.
Half way down the hallway someone grabbed me by the collar into the manager's office. Sending me rolling into the room. "Jade !? Wha... What are you doing here?" I stuttered. She smiled taking a step toward me. " I came to see you I spotted you when you came in so I figured you were going to be doing the same assignment I had done". She slowly circled me before coming round Clapping me. I clasped my cheek in shock.
"hey Sam what's going on!? Are you ok there!?" Yelled April. "what was that for?" I straightened up. "what was that for?" she mocked, "that was only the beginning, did you really think you could up and leave without telling me just run off to try and be like me. Did you think I would let you run away and destroy everything I have built so far huh!?"
"what are you talking about?" I asked taking a few steps back. "what am I talking about there you go again doing what you always do you can't run Samantha not this time i am going to make sure you stay away from Johnathan"