As Rosaline burst into my office without knocking, her voice was frantic.
"Sir! Sir!" she called, running toward my desk.
I was flipping through some files, but her urgency immediately caught my attention. I lifted my gaze, narrowing my eyes at her. She was clutching a crumpled piece of paper, her breathing uneven.
"Yes, Ms. Rosaline?" I asked, my tone edged with suspicion.
"You need to see this" she insisted, thrusting the paper toward me.
I took it, my fingers tightening around the edges as I read.
"What the hell!" I shouted, my pulse spiking.
"Is this... again?" Rosaline asked hesitantly.
I didn't answer. I was too stunned. How in the world was this possible? How?
"But why are they doing this, sir?" she pressed, her voice a mix of concern and fear.
I exhaled sharply, closing my eyes.
November 19, 2021
Time: 6:33 PM
The bus stop was more crowded than usual. People shuffled impatiently, glancing at their watches every few seconds. Some boarded the arriving bus, while others lingered, lost in their own worlds. But I wasn't here for a bus—I was here for someone.
Or rather, something.
My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a nervous face. A person carrying a bag—not a briefcase, but a backpack.
The sharp ring of my phone jolted me. I answered.
"Agent Romeo, the one you're looking for is standing just behind you" Agent Mercutio's voice crackled through the receiver.
I kept my expression neutral, nodding slightly—just enough for Mercutio to know I had found him.
Taking a few steps back, I crouched down, pretending to tie my shoelaces. As I glanced upward, my gaze locked onto him.
He wasn't a grown man—just a boy. Seventeen, maybe eighteen. His face was pale, his hands trembling. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, despite the cold air. He clutched the backpack tightly, his knuckles white. He knew exactly what he was carrying.
I stood and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
Before I could say a word, his body tensed—and then, he collapsed.
Damn it.
I didn't waste time checking on him. My focus was the bag. Grabbing it, I sprinted.
Through the streets. Past startled pedestrians. Until I reached an abandoned construction site.
Without hesitation, I hurled the bag into the half-built structure and threw myself to the ground, hands covering my ears.
A sharp beep rang out.
Then—BOOM.
The explosion swallowed the building in an instant, flames licking the night sky.
The shockwave knocked me off balance. I tried to get up—too late. A massive chunk of debris crashed onto my shoulder, and everything went black.
When I woke up, the sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nose. White walls. A dull beeping from the heart monitor beside me. I was in a hospital bed.
"You're awake" a familiar voice boomed.
Boss.
"I thought you were gone for a second there" he said with a smirk, leaning against the wall.
I groaned, attempting to sit up. Pain shot through my shoulder.
"Is everything alright?" I asked, gritting my teeth.
"Yeah—thanks to you, Agent Romeo" he said, arms crossed. "First mission, and you nailed it. Thankfully, you didn't pass out permanently."
He chuckled, but I just stared at him.
"Come on, my jokes aren't that bad" he added. "Look, the important thing is, people are safe. And you? You're impressive. What do you want as a reward?"
I exhaled. "Can we change our code names?"
He blinked. "What?"
I frowned. "Who the hell names their agents after Romeo and Juliet?"
"Like I had a choice!" he huffed. "Do you think I enjoy being called Capulet? We're on Mission Juliet, remember?"
I shook my head. "Mission Juliet " I muttered. "This whole thing is ridiculous. We don't even know if this so-called 'Juliet' is real. What if it's just a sick joke? No one has seen her. No leads. And somehow, she's been roaming the streets for three years without getting caught?"
"That's exactly why the government called us in" he said firmly. "We have to find her."
I raised an eyebrow. "You talk like you're in a damn action movie."
He grinned. "What can I say? I like a little drama. Now, get up. I'm ordering dinner for you."
And just like that, it all began.
Present Day
I slammed the paper onto Capulet's desk.
"You need to see this!" I snapped.
He glanced up from his paperwork, unimpressed. "Why are you so angry, my child?"
"Read it" I demanded.
Capulet took the paper, eyes scanning the words. Then—he froze. His fingers tightened around the edges.
"How did…" His voice was barely a whisper.
"I thought the case was closed" I said, my throat dry. My chest burned with frustration. "Then how the hell is it reopening?!"
Capulet didn't respond. Instead, he stood, grabbed his phone, and dialed a number.
I barely heard him. My eyes were locked onto the paper on his desk.
The message was simple. Mocking.
"Did you really think our story was over, my love?
You left me waiting at the altar of death, but you never drank the poison.
How disappointing.
Shall we dance once more?
- Your Juliet."