Kayla's pov
I threw the remote on the couch I sat on. There was nothing interesting on the television that I could watch. I took the small note Cole left, informing me how they all left to find Ruby. I still pissed that they didn't wake me up but I knew I still won't be able to go even if they did. Mark won't let me, telling me how I'm in no shape to fight and he can't risk me going because, 'I'm safe here', he would say. I sighed.
I hope they're okay.
Then I heard a knock on the door. I took my gun from the table and walked with my cane towards it. I peeped through the window and saw Cole, Ava, and Ruby, along with a man. I opened the door.
"You're awake," Cole stated.
"Who is he? And where's Mark?" I asked as I locked the door when they all came in.
"He's back in the agency to avoid suspicion, though they nearly caught us," Ava replied as she sat down.
"What? Where were you guys?" I asked.
"After her," Cole said, referring to Ruby who rolled her eyes. He took off the zip ties on their wrists. "Turns out he was what she was after,"
I looked at him, "Who are you?"
"No one you need to worry about," Ruby said. I looked at her a little surprised. Is she trying to protect him?
"First of all, I need to know who you guys are," he said. Cole scoffed and sat down on the other chair.
"You're not in any position to ask anything, you know that sir," I told him.
"I need to know you're not working for Cira..." he said.
"J!" Ruby cut him off.
"Who's Cira?" Ava asked. He looked at us, a little shocked.
"Wait, if you're not working for Cira then who are you?" He asked.
"Hey Mister, we're asking the questions," Cole told. I sighed.
"We're federal agents–were federal agents, came across your friend here during a mission," I explained, "now back to our question, who are you?"
"Jerry Carter, and she's my daughter," he said. We all fell silent.
"I see, it runs in the family," Ava stated. Ruby glared. I still stared at him, a little surprised. Now I saw the resemblance. He also has the same blonde hair and blue eyes. But that name sounds familiar though.
Jerry Carter.
Then it clicked.
"You're an ex-agent," I stated, "it was you,"
They all looked at me confusedly, until Cole realised what I meant and grabbed him by the shirt, throwing him across the room. Ruby dragged Cole back before I could stop him, and punched him hard on the face. I held him back while Ava held Ruby from throwing more punches. Mr Carter groaned, standing up.
"Asshole!" Cole yelled, "you let my parents killer walk freely. You're the reason my sister's dead!"
He looked at Cole and paled, "Don't tell me..."
"Is it true?" Ruby suddenly asked him quietly, freeing herself from Ava's grasp, "is what he said true?"
He looked at her, conflicted. "Yes, but I can explain..."
She shook her head, "you told me they took you unawares, but that was a lie wasn't it? You worked for them,"
"Honey, I did it for you..." He whispered.
"No," she said in tears and looked at him emotionlessly, "you did it for yourself,"
Then she walked away, towards the basement. Okay what just happened?
"Look I...," he tried to explain.
"Stay the fuck away from me before I end up doing something stupid," Cole said and went outside, slamming the door on his way out.
He plopped down heavily on the chair. "I'm sorry," he said few minutes later.
"You fucked up agent," I told him, sitting down beside Ava.
He sighed, "I know," he said then stared at the direction Ruby went, "I did it to protect her,"
"Tom and Marcella were very good people, took me in when I had no home. They didn't deserve any of this," I said.
"Yeah, they didn't. I was their best friend and I failed them," he broke up.
I stared at him in surprise. This is all too much. I stood up, "I'm gonna go check on Cole," I said, "You should check Ruby too,"
"I'll go," Ava said, standing up, "besides I don't think she wants to see you yet," she told him. I looked at her in surprise–and a little fear.
"You sure?" I asked.
"Relax I'm not gonna hurt her...maybe,"
"Please tell her that I'm sorry I lied, and that I hope she forgives me," he pleaded before I could protest. Ava nodded, then smirked and left.
"Av–," I stopped and sighed since she's already gone. I limped off towards the door. I held the handle.
"Just give them a few minutes to calm down, they'll come around," I said referring to Cole and Ruby, then opened the door and left.
I looked around and there was no sign of Cole. I walked a bit further, still no sign of him. I glanced into the woods that was a few metres by the side of the cottage. I wonder if he went in. I walked towards it and entered, removing the twigs and leaves out of the way, which proved hard since I was holding a cane. After a some struggle, I finally made it out. And it was a very beautiful scene I came across. There was a lake, that streams down to a huge waterfall. Cole sat on an old wooden chair a little distance beside the water.
"Beautiful isn't it?" He said without even turning. I went beside him.
"Yeah," I sat down, "how did you know something like this was here?" I asked.
"I didn't. Just wanted to clear my head, and the woods seemed like a place where I would unlikely be disturbed. But then I found this," he said.
"I would love to take a swim but," I looked at my leg, "nature has other plans,"
He chuckled and I smiled. I exhaled and watched the waterfall, enjoying it's soothing sounds.
"We used to go to the bridge in Manhattan," he spoke after a while, "Cassie and I,"
I stared at him as he continued, "When we were little we would hide there, whenever mom and dad takes us out. They would look for us, like a cop looking for fugitves. They taught us all the layouts of the bridge at that age, every corners, and every best place to hide. It was sort of a game," he told, "or at least we thought it was. We kept going there even after we grew up, because it reminded us of the memories we made. The game stopped of course,"
I chuckled a little, "Sorry, it's just hard trying to picture a mini you and Cassie, running around New York bridge,"
He smiled, "Yeah, those were times I had a great sense of humour,"
"Glad you're beginning to realise you're a dork," I patted his shoulder.
"Hey!" He jokingly yelled. I chuckled, raising my hands.
"Just saying," I shrugged, smiling. He bumped his shoulder on mine, as we laughed.
Then he sighed and continued after a few moments, "Later, before he died, I asked dad why he always plays that game with us, every time we're at the bridge. He said just incase, we may need it one day. I never understood what he meant until now,"
"Which is?" I asked. He looked at me.
"He taught us all that, cause he knew that one day we would hide from something. And that time comes, we should never be caught," he said.
"That's why no one found you when you faked your death in the military," I said.
"I erased my identity from every server and database."
"You became a ghost," I finished.
"Basically, yeah," he said. "I stopped an assassination attempt on the general, unfortunately it was misinterpreted. After a few years of lying low, I was on my way to see Cassie when I heard the news. She didn't know I was alive. I spent the rest of the months in regrets and alcohol, until Ian showed up, and gave me a new purpose. That's how I came out of the shadows, and I knew I had to find you, cause you alone would understand."
"I don't get why Cassie didn't tell me about your death...fake death," I said, "either way, she didn't tell me. I never knew," I lowered my head.
"She probably didn't want you to see her as fragile. We all knew how my parents death affected you too. She probably didn't want the same thing to happen," he said.
"Your parents practically raised me Cole, even before I met Cassie. That was different...no offence," I said.
He smiled, "None taken," then stood up, "we better head back, it's getting late,"
"Are you sure you're ready to see him?" I asked, referring to Mr Carter.
"Well I can't stay out here forever besides, I thought you came here to talk me into going back in?" He asked. I stood up.
"I changed my mind," I said and walked towards him, "you're a good storyteller," I patted his back and limped off.
A few seconds later he yelled, "Hey, that's not funny Kayla!"
I smiled.