Young Writers Society

RENEE (RICHIE)

I sat in the parked car in front of an abandoned warehouse. My fingers thrummed the dash as Miles sent a text to Kota. The rain began to sprinkle and I sighed looking out the slanted car windows.

"Have some patience Renee," Miles smirked closing his phone, "Kota needs to get set up first."

I sighed again, I needed to get out of this stuffy car with Miles. Our proximity was to close and I could feel his gaze on my pale face. Had it been anyone else I would have yelled something profoundly rude but Miles had known me from the beginning. That cold rainy night similar to the drizzling dawn of the present day. I was still running as I had been then. The fear had changed though, and the desires.

I was twelve then, when Miles found me. I was skinny and dirty, not much to look at as far as I was concerned. With an awkward pre-puberty hair cut that resembled a mushroom and nothing to my name, no family, no identification. Miles was sixteen then and tall, I remember how he stood a foot taller than me at the time. He might have been handsome too but I don't recall and was too young anyway to care. Regardless, we spent the next six years of our lives under the surveillance of a man named Rellik Eht.

I had never met Rellik but Miles had, Miles worked for him and supplied me with stories of the missions and the people I learned to call family. The empty houses and car trunks I learned to call home. But the stories, those were what gave me excitement, the team told me them to but only vaguely. I was always there on the sidelines, sometimes watching but usually I would wait in a car for Miles to return just imagining what went on outside the vehicle. Then when Miles came back we would drive away, sometimes on a chase, sometimes to meet Rellik, sometimes because the mission was over and we had nothing better to do. He would say that 'Mr.Eht' had teams beyond ours and resources, he was a man who wanted wealth and power.

His name to us was Rellik but to his colleges he had another, I wasn't allowed to know. In fact everyone on the team had a codename and our real ones were our own. It was to protect us I think, from people knowing our pasts or where we came from. My code name was Renee, it was given to me by Miles. I wasn't sure if Rellik knew the real one or cared enough to know.

“Renee?” Miles voice shattered my thoughts, I swallowed. “You don't have to do this.” Tonight it would be official, I was going to be on the team as a member instead of the random girl waiting outside until the mission was done. I was becoming a member because above all Rellik felt my presence to be a hassle for everyone and annoying. The only reason he had let me stay was because Miles begged him to allow it. Rellik agreed on the condition that when I reached the age of adulthood I had to choose to leave or to stay permanently. It wasn't a choice for me really, I had no where better to go, nothing left for me, the team was my family.

“Is Kota set up yet?” I shook my head, continuing to gaze out the window as drops snaked around each other, gathering more before plummeting to the base of the window.

Miles knew what that meant, when Kota was set up his camera's and recording were turned on and he could hear everything. There were never cameras in the cars but frequently he had installed them on street lights and traffic lights. Not that there were any around where we were but it was always good to ask.

“Not yet,” He turned his body to adjust the radio down so if Koda was set up he wouldn't hear us.

“When will he be?” I looked at Miles but he just shrugged.

“Will we know?” He cocked his head and adjusted the radio again.

“Probably.” He looked at me and shook his head, “Richie, don't do this.” He begged using my given name.

“Why? It's all that we've talked about since I met you. It's what I've been preparing for.”

“You can't, you have better things to do than-”

“Like what Calvin?” My tone grew sharp, “I have no where else to go. Don't you understand that? I have to.”

My gaze met his, I was not going back, no matter what lame excuse Miles gave me. It wouldn't matter, this was my home.

“Once you join you can't change your mind. You can't go against orders. Once you're officially in it's us or die.”

“Then why did you tell me all those stories? Why did you give me all those ideas?”

“To convince you out of it.”

“You just gave me more reasons to join,” I laughed.

“I'm sorry then.” He held his high but his eyes dipped to look at nothing. I grabbed his free hand.

“This is what I Calvin.” He gazed at me, I could feel his hand grab mine tighter.

“Alright,” he nodded, reaching down with his other hand to grab a case that lay on the floor.

“The Targets name is John Fastfier, he owns a small body shop on the edge of town. He also has been selling guns to Mr. Eht.” He tried to open the case with one hand but ended up flipping it over and having it fall to the ground again.

“Do you need help?” I winked sarcastically. He shook his head and a small smile played on his face. His complexion reddened as he reluctantly let go of my hand to open the case.

“Mr. Eht is fighting with another investor and he wants to know who it is. Elijah and Indigo have been questioning him but he's not talking. James has been working for John Fastfier for more than a month to get information as another tactic but he didn't find anything. The man he works for has most likely promised him something of great value. Your job is to find out who he's working for or what he's being paid. If Mr. Eht can pay more he will.”

I nodded, “What will you be doing?”

“Watching. This is your test Richie. You'll need to improvise but be able to stay in contact with us. Most important we need to find out who the investor is.”

“What are the rules?” I asked as he removed a set of dark clothes from the case and tossed them to me.

“Rules?” He scoffed, “don't mess up, don't get caught. I'll help you as much as I can.”

“Thank you,” I said softly, glancing down at the clothes. “For everything.” I could feel his warm breath tickling my cheek, making them burn. I turned my head to face him and my nose grazed his.

“Don't do this Richie.” He begged again, I opened my mouth to protest but he placed a finger on it. He moved his hand to cradle my face.

“I don't want to lose you.” His fingers lightly brushed my hand before taking it in a gentle grip. He leaned in just as a high pitched static noise filled the confined area. I pulled away from him to cover my ears. He lunged for the radio and turned it so it sounded like a fly buzzing in the background.

“Calvin, I'm...” I tried to think of something to say but my face felt flushed and nothing came out. He chuckled and shook his head.

“Put your clothes on over the ones you're wearing. They're probably too big for you anyway. Kota will have more briefing for you.” He winked. I lifted up the mound of blue fabric and examined it.

“Don't worry, we washed it.” He assured me as my eyes zeroed in on a dark stain.

“Kota, you ready yet?” Miles spoke to the radio.

“Ready when you are.” Kota repiled. Miles looked at me as if he was about to say something but knew better now that we were being recorded.

“Good luck, Renee.” He smirked and stepped out in the rain.

The car shook slightly then became still. I took a deep breath and shimmied into the blue jeans and button up shirt. Miles was right it was a little big, I began rolling up the sleaves as Kota proceeded:

“I'm not sure how much Miles told you, but your part to play is very simple and very important. And our last chance.” He paused and I could hear him clicking buttons on the computer on his side of the radio. Lovely, I interianlly groaned, if all else fails go to Renee. I knew that thought wasn't fair but acting like I was a last resort was a little insluting.

“Alright.” He sighed, “John Fastifer is our target. The important information you need is to find out why he stopped selling guns to Rellik Eht and who the other investor is.”

“Does Mr. Fastifer know Rellik by Mr. Eht?”

“Good question... I believe he will respond to the name. Yes. As far as your mission is concerened get the target in this car and question him. Your predenting to be a law enforcement officer so this should make things easier.”

“I'm.. a cop?” I looked down at the button up and hadn't noticed the badge that read OFFICER JOHANSON on it.

“You also have a fake gun under the drivers side of the car. Did you understand all that?”

“Yes.”

“Good luck.” Then the static was gone. I took in a deep breath and tried to calm the tremors I could feel eurpting all over my body. I closed my eyes. Trying to focus. It shouldn't have been this hard for me. I had imgained it a million times, but then again it was never this real for me. I knew the team would go easy on me. It would be different than watching on the sidelines. I can do this, I breathed I can- a light tap on the drivers side window made me jump, Miles smirk could be seen through the raindrops violently plummeting on the window. His mouth moved as if trying to say something but couldn't speak. The fear vanished as soon as I saw his face. He contiuned to mouth words to me I couldn't understand. I mouthed back a 'what?' and he motioned for me to come to the drivers side.

I akwardly crawled across the seats, my clothes dragged a bit and I made a memo to roll up my pant legs. I lifted the handle and the door swung open. He was soaked and looking at me as if he expected me to be doing something.

“What?” I whispered. He clamped his hand over my mouth and pointed under the seat. Oh. The gun. Right. I bent over the seat and picked it up. I was heavy but obvosily plastic. He stepped back and I helped myself out of the car and shut the door.

“What?” I said again. The rain touched my scalp and made the hair stick to my skull. It followed the uneven path gravity gave it and made a puddle at the collar of my shirt.

“I said, it helps if you pick up the gun.”

“Ha ha,” I rolled my eyes, “I know what I'm doing.” I crossed my arms, trying to keep warm.

“Oh?” He stepped back and started walking away. “I guess I won't help you after all then.”

“Wait... help with what?” I ran after his smooth pace. He stopped and cupped his hand over his ear.

“What was that?”

“I want you to help me.” He just contiuned cupping his hand over his ear, the rain was coming down even heavier now and it began to bleed through the first layer of clothes I had on. I shivered.

“Miles, its freaking cold out here! What else do you want?” He rolled his eyes.

“Could it kill you to say 'please'?”

“Please. Now will you help me, I have no idea what I'm doing.” He smiled and took my hand. Even though the rain made the hair on his arm stand up his hands were warm. I clung to them as he led me around the side of the large doors to a pile of wooden boxes.

“Follow me.” He let go of my hand and climbed up the boxes.

“In there.” He pointed, I climbed up the wood crates akwardly, these clothes really didn't fit. I looked through the glass. The warehouse was bright from artifical overhead lights and two men were tied to chairs with ducktape. One man had brown hair in a slick comb over and sweat was dripping from it he seemed so small compared to the one in the other chair. I could see James acting his usaul cool self. Laughing and grinning at every threat that the men standing shot at them. James had cut his hair short, real short so there wasn't a need to take care of it. He wasn't that type anyway. To bother with hygine. One of the men standing punched James across the face. Elijah. He was larger than Indigo but I was sure that they could both win a fist fight if they needed to.

“Can't they see us?” I whispered to Miles. I glanced at his face as he stared intently at the scene unfolding in frount of him.

“There not looking so probably not. I helped Kota set up the bugs. The only ones are on the sunglasses Elijah and Indigo are using and in the car connected with the radio.”

“Whats going on?”

“There waiting for you.”

“What am I saposed to do?” He smirked and pointed down the crates.

“Play along.” I climbed off the crates and began walking to the door of the warehouse. “You know which one is Mr. Fastifer now right?” I nodded.

“Also don't be afriad to use that gun Officer.” He winked at me.

“I've never used a gun before.” He shrugged.

“It won't matter. As long as you shoot you'll hit Elijah and Indigo, they're prepared for that.” So, it was all fake then. I come in and kill everyone then grab the target. Intresting. I touched the handle of the door.

“Oh, and one more thing. We'll be waiting for you at the bridge not far from here. At which point you can hand him over to us if you couldn't get the information.”

I nodded and turned to him, but he was gone. Then I opened the door.

JOHN FASTIFER

My head aced from the lights above my head and the big man puching me. Not that I could see his face all that clear anyway. He was just far enough away that he blurred in my vision. I swore mentally, I remembered it so clearly, the man and what looked to be his daughter, what she was doing there I wasn't sure. But I'd trusted him and what he'd said. It was only for a week. But who would have known that it would have caused this much trouble.

I looked over at James, he'd started working for me around the time it happened. He was always overly sarcastic but I was starting to think he was drunk or something by the way he egged the men on. The big one scared me but the smaller one asking questions with his penterating stare terrifed me.

“Look, I can't answer you're questions, alright?” I begged again, “I don't even know the guy.”

“Yeah, listen to 'em he say he dunno the guy so leave 'em be,” James face looked stupidly cocky and his head nodded with what he said.

“We weren't asking you.” The skinny one stated smoothy, and the large one slamed James in the face with his fist. It made a sick popping sound as the large mans skin came in contact with James wide cheek. James neck rolled to the side and his eyes flickered for a moment before he spat blood on the man in frount of him.

“Now, what can you tell us about the man that came into your shop?”

“I can't remember, he was tall.. I think his hair was dark. Might have been blonde...”

“Thats all?” The thin one questioned, I shook my head. I wasn't going to give my secrets away to these people.

“What did he offer you?”

“He don' remember so leave 'em be alrigh' ?” James sqeaked from the side. That granted him another heavy punch from the large man.

“What was the form of payment he offered you?” I thought the words I might have said in different company, its not what he would have paid its what he would have taken away. He owned a company that I owed money to. Lots of money. It would all be gone if I would help him for a week. The other end of the deal was that I couldn't say who he was. He knew that people would go looking. He knew. I cursed under my breath.

“Well?” I didn't answer. “Very well then.” The skinny one nodded to the large one and the large one stalked over to me. I couldn't see his grin until he came closer to my face. Then I saw what was in his hand, a gun. I closed my eyes and waited for the worst.

“He ain't gonna tell ya so leave 'em be.” James shouted at the man. I squezed my eyes shut and waited. I heard a loud bang and a heavy object hit the ground. James. I couldn't look, I couldn't see the blood. My felt lightheaded. But I could smell the blood seeping through the wood. My somace churned and I felt like I was going to vomit.

“You called the police!” This voice was a deeper bass than the other one. I knew it came from the large man. He picked me up by the collar and I opened my eyes. Now I could see him clearly; the heavy smell of booze from his breath the glare in his wild eyes. The thick clench in his teeth. All I could do was stare. I was stuck.

“I called 'em. So leave 'em be.” James chirped from the side. I sighed, James was fine.

“Put your hands in the air where I can see them!” A saproano voice shouted. The big man turned his head very slowly to the woman behind him. He threw me to the ground and my head bounced on the hard floor. I looked over at James. His chair was still upright but his eyes dashed from my face to a spot behind me. I rolled my body over and attempted to crawl. To the place his eyes had directed me. To a knife.

“I said in the air! Now!” The woman repeated. The man just laughed at her and I heard another shot, a gargling sound. I squirmed to the sharp object. Two shots. Things behind me scraping the floor, hitting it, banging it, a moan. Almost there. Then three shots. Then silanced. The knife was within a few inches. Then hands close to mine, ripping the tape off me.

“My name is Officer Johanson, your friend called me. We have to go.” My body fell forward on the ground, my arms were sore. I pushed my chair off me and stood up. Before me was a bloody mess. The skinny man was face forward on the ground in blood. In the corner of my eye I saw James, his body over turned, his chair sideways. The big man was face down on the ground to.

“We have to go. Now.”

“But James,” I started reaching for him but the woman grabbed my arm and pulled me to the door.

“He's dead.”

RENEE (RICHIE)

I couldn't help but look back at the past few seconds in awe and wonder. I did all of that! I was able to shoot Indigo and Elijah, well not before Elijah shot James but it was exliarating. I couldn't wait to tell Miles what I accpompsihed. The man in the car with me held his seat belt in his hands. His eyes were open wide and reminded me of something between a deer in headlights and a rabbit. I sighed. I was almost done. I turned the car on and the windshield wipers.

“You alright?” I asked. My eyes on the road. I didn't need to look at him, I was sure he was in the same position.

“Sir, are you alright?” I tried again. Nothing.

“Look Sir, I'm here to help you. Tell me what happened.” This seemed to take him out of his trance because I felt his concerened gaze on my face.

“I can't tell you. I can't let you end up like James. He was innocent. And he, he...” The man returned to his deer-rabbit state.

“I know who those people were working for. My team is already on it Sir.”

“You don't know who you're dealing with.” He mumbled.

“Mr. Ehts, if I'm correct.” I stopped the car at the stop sign and looked both ways before contiuning onward, “I know you were shipping guns to him before you suddenly stopped. My question for you Sir is why did you stop?”

“I.. I was in debt and he promised that me shipping him a speific item would erase all my debt.”

“What was the item?”

“Officer you seem like you have a lot of life ahead of you and I promise that if you stay out of this you'll have a happy one to. Don't do this please. Turn back while you still have a chance.”

“What was the item? I need to know. Maybe there are others in your same circumstance. Please you need to tell me.”

The road turned off and I could see the bridge. I would be there in a matter of moments. But where was Miles? I peered over the steering wheel but all I could see were the raindrops flooding the road.

“It was a key.” My eyes flashed to him for a moment and he rubbed him hands together nerviously.

“To what?” He shook his head.

“What did it look like?” He looked me in the eye.

“I won't tell you who it was but I will say this. It was a complacted key. A ring in the shape of a flower. A carnation made of garnet.”

“And you can't say who it was that-”

“Look out!” The man shouted and grabbed the steering wheel. The car swirved and the thick puddles made us spin. I stomped on the breaks. The car shook and the drivers side hit a tree. My head crashed into the window.

“What are you doing? You could have killed us!” I shouted turning to him.

“No, they would have.” He pointed behind us. I looked in the review mirror. Driving the car was Elijah.

“Drive! Drive!” He screamed. I hit the accelerator and turned a corner onto the bridge. I could see Miles standing outside in the rain in front of a black car blocking my way. I slowed my car.

“What are you doing? Those guys are still behind us.” He yelled.

“We're fine,” I reassured, “Thats part of my team there, see?” I nodded to Miles. He shook his head and looked at the steering wheel. My eyes were set on Miles. I couldn't wait to hand Mr. Fastifer over and show Miles that I had done it. Suddenly Mr. Fasifer hit my hands away and grabbed the steering wheel. I looked up and saw we were about to hit the side of the bridge and go off.

“Sorry Officer, but I can't let them take you.” I unblucked my seat belt and threw open the door just as the concret below me became air and water. I leaped out of the vehical and hit the ground with a thud. My head aced and there was something crimson and sticky touching me. I blinked but the man running for me became more distant, I could see he was running. But everything was moving backwards, I blinked again. His lips were moving, saying something to me and to the others. I closed my eyes. And everything turned quiet.