Chapter One
You Don't Belong Here
Illinois
You don't belong here. I look at the young, beautiful girl resting on the bed next to me. How did you end up here, kid? I sigh and lean back in my chair. I look down at her jet black hair that has soft curls running all the way down to her waist, her small, heart shaped chin, her lush, berry colored lips, her button nose, the beauty mark beneath her left eye, and her long eyelashes. She's absolutely gorgeous, she couldn't be older than 16, Project Freelancer is not the place for her. I hope they send her home whenever she recovers.
A soft groan escapes her lips and she eyes flutter open. "Morning," I take a swig of my beer and she sits up to look at me. Her dark emerald eyes sting me, I've seen them before.
"Where am I?" she asks with her soft, delicate voice.
"Welcome to Project Freelancer, hope you don't stay long," my jaw clenches as the door opens, slowly letting light flood the room. "Sir," I stand up and salute the Director while he walks into the room with the Counselor on his heels.
"At ease Illinois," he walks up to the foot of her bed without his attention ever wavering from her.
"Hello, how are you feeling?" the Counselor speaks up.
"Where am I?" she repeats her question, her voice a lot firmer than it was previously. The Counselor looks up at the Director and in a way, it seems like he's asking for permission to answer her question.
"Answer whatever questions she may have Counselor," the Director's eyes narrow, he wants to test her.
"Yes sir," the Counselor returns his attention to the girl. "We are in a secure facility that is located on Earth," he answers shortly.
"Who are you people?" his answer makes her more on edge.
"We are part of a military project -" the Counselor once again looks up at the Director; but this time, the Director just nods, "- Project Freelancer. I am the Counselor, this man is the Director and the armored man by your bedside is Agent Illinois," he explains. "Do you have any other questions?" the Counselor breaks the brief silence in the room.
She takes a deep breath and worry washes over her face, "Are they okay?" her voice softens again.
"Define they," the Director folds his hands in front of his body.
"The other kids," she answers quickly, like she was trying to just skip over it.
"We did not find any other people," the Counselor answers.
"Counselor, I have other matters to attend to, I trust that you can handle this on your own," the Director walks out and leaves us.
"Do you remember what happened to you?" he asks the girl and her eyebrow furrows.
"I woke up and it was really hot, I couldn't breathe, I was suffocating," she shakes her head with a shrug.
"Your house was on fire, you were lucky that our agents were nearby and intervened before you lost your life," he lies through his damn teeth, I scoff and they both look at me. "May I ask what your name is?" he asks.
"It's Escopeta," she answers.
"Well, Escopeta, how would you like a job?" the Counselor smirks and her eyebrows furrow again.