Chapter 26
"This is impossible."
Those words were the only spoken in the cold room, not just because of the chilly air breezing but of the shock pierced through the room. There were the men in black (agents wearing their uniform) holding onto two scared teenagers whose utter confusion was obvious by the looks on their faces. The said teenagers were trembling in complete fear at the still woman facing the other side of the room.
"This is impossible," Agent X repeated, turning back to the people behind her, though without even glancing at them. "Impossible."
"Agent X," attempted a burly man close to the doorway. "Are you-,"
"Impossible," she whispered yet again. "Impossible."
"Okay..." said the same man. "Guys, I think we should-,"
"LEAVE!" screamed Agent X suddenly. "All of you! Now!"
The agents didn't hesitate to agree and quickly hurried from the room, leaving the two trembling teenagers alone with the woman.
Silence. Sonny and Chad backed away from her slowly but never leaving her out of their sight. They stared at each other in question.
"Ehm..." Chad began. "Agent X?"
Agent X shot her eyes to them quick. Her eyes bored into Chad intensely. "Yes?"
"Uhh.." Chad clearly had no idea what to say. "Are you, uhh.."
"Okay?" Sonny suggested.
"I'm..." her voice trailed off. "Just..."
Chad looked at Sonny and motioned a sign that Agent X would probably have drop kicked him for. Sonny glared at him and mouthed, Don't get her angry!
"What is going on?" Agent X suddenly asked Sonny. "I know you can't lie to me, Allison."
"Nothing," Sonny replied curtly.
Agent X looked ready to strangle her. Her eyes bored into hers with such anger and fury it was hard to believe Sonny didn't burst into flames. Chad's eyes raised as he suddenly experienced deja vu. He had seen a glare like that before. Not as evil and sadistic but the same type. Many times, he could remember seeing it...
On Sonny.
"Your sister would've been disappointed," Agent X commented, a small smirk playing on her lips. "She never hid anything from me."
"That's a lie." Sonny's voice was cold.
"Is it?" Agent X asked, her voice dangerously close to Sonny's. "Is it really?"
"You didn't know her!" Sonny screamed. "You didn't know anything about her!"
"I knew everything about her, you little twit!" Agent X retorted back. "I not only taught her everything I knew but raised her!"
"That doesn't mean anything!" Sonny shouted. "You may have raised her but not with love. You may have taught her but not with care. She was always just a toy to you. You hardened her and took away all the love she deserved!"
"SHUT UP!" yelled Agent X. Her glare was fiery and burning. "Leave. NOW."
Without batting an eyelash, Chad grabbed Sonny and quickly led her out the door. As she tried to struggle, he swooped her up bridal style and hid them in a small room.
He placed her down to the ground carefully and sighed. "You have got to calm down, Sonny."
"Calm down?" Sonny's eyes were still blazing with fire. "How am I supposed to calm down when she talks about my-,"
"Don't let her get to you," Chad coaxed. "It's wrong of her to provoke you but you don't want to give her the satisfaction, right?"
"No," Sonny huffed.
"Good," Chad smiled.
The corners of her lips twitched. "Good."
"Fine."
"Fine!"
They both burst into laughter, holding their sides as they tumbled to the floor. Maybe it was all the stress packing up in the past days or just the remembrance of good old days but they stayed laughing for a long while, enjoying the company of each other.
"This is taking forever," Chad groaned, slamming his head to the back of the bench. "I swear, public service is just so annoying these days."
Sonny smiled. "Isn't it always?"
Chad's lips formed in a grin. "Probably. Listen, I'm gonna go ask around if anyone knows when the bus is coming. Stay here, alright?"
She nodded and he rose from the bench and headed to the nearest gas station. The sudden emptiness of the bench unnerved her. Sonny didn't like it. The small fold of paper in her pocket suddenly felt very noticeable. Eyes closed, a sigh escaped her lips as she reached down to pick it up. Slowly unfolding it, she read.
Al,
Oh, mon dieu! Pardon my French but being in Paris surrounded with only people who speak said language kinda gets you into it. Parlez vous francais?
The city's amazing. All the lights and beauty... If only you were here. We could be in the City of Lights and Love together. I'd take you right up to the Eiffel Towel and hold your hand and...
Throw water balloons at the tourists! Hahahahaha, you gotta have seen that coming, Al. That's probably what we would have done, actually. After I got you the chocolate and flowers, of course.
I miss you sooooooo much. Why couldn't you have come? Oh yeah, some family thing? Can't believe you blew me off, dude. ME! See, I can be conceited too.
I can't wait to see you again. I'm counting the days. But don't tell anyone or the tourists aren't gonna be the only ones getting hit with water balloons.
Always remember that I love you. I'm not lying either, so believe in me. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be with you. Just imagine me running down the streets screaming, "I LOVE YOU!"
All my love,
Justin
Sonny's eyes burned with tears. Painful memories washed over her. The small slip of paper was the last living token of him. He wasn't coming back... Ever...
"Sonny!" Chad called from across the street flailing his arms. "The bus is here!"
"Coming!" she said, before wiping her tears and clearing her mind of everything that could cause them to return.
"I have something to ask you."
Those words would probably cause any sane agent to beg for mercy at Agent X's feet the minute they heard them. But Agent Williams was an experienced agent who had known X for years. Though he did feel a small chill.
"Yes?" he replied, stroking his salt and pepper hair slightly, his bright blue eyes intent.
Agent X crossed her fingers and uncrossed them. She stood before his desk with anxiety written on her face. As she began to say something, she hesitated. This was obviously something she was scared to know. "A few years ago..." she started. "I had you do an...Important job for me."
"Which one?" Agent Williams wondered.
"Involving Agent Knight," Agent X said, looking at Agent Williams, eagerly awaiting his reaction.
His mouth parted slightly but quickly closed it before revealing anything. "Yes, I'm quite aware of that."
"The job... You did get it done..." Agent X stretched. "Did you not?"
Agent Williams cleared his throat. "Of course."
She searched his face for any faults but nodded. "Good." She turned and left the room.
"God," Agent Williams breathed. He cursed. So close... Or she would've figured out.
A couple of years back, Agent X had ordered him to have Agent Knight killed. He was shocked. Agent Knight was Agent X's favorite pupil. Why would she have her killed? Then, he found out of her affair with one of her clients. The client was killed, naturally. No one could know the secret of this organization. But to have Agent Knight killed...
"Just do it," Agent X had ordered. "Don't ask questions. If you can't, get someone to. But I want her gone, do you understand?"
Agent Williams had reluctantly captured Agent Knight. She was a wreck, didn't fight back even a bit. If he hadn't seen it, he would never believe that Agent Knight was crying over a client of all things.
"So she wants me dead." Agent Knight scoffed bitterly. "Of course."
"I-,"
"I won't fight you," she promised. "I don't mind dying. I feel like I already am. Promise me something, though?"
Agent Williams nodded.
"Look out for Allison," she said. "I'd die in peace knowing she won't become Agent X's pet. I don't want her to make the same mistake as me."
"I can't kill you," Agent Williams admitted. "We've worked together for too long..."
She smiled weakly. "I'm glad to know you have a heart. But here's this: don't kill me."
"But Agent X-,"
"I'll leave," she decided. "Far away. No one will ever see me again. But everyone must think I'm dead. Even... Allison."
"Where will you go?" Agent Williams asked.
Her hand slipped into her back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Her fist enclosed it tightly. "Somewhere I was planning to anyway."
"And here," she pulled out another piece of paper and handed it to him. "Give this to Allison."
Agent Williams took it and patted her back. "Good luck, Agent Knight."
She smiled slightly at him and walked away. "Au revoir!"
The memory was burned in the back of his mind. He kept it there so it would interfere with any of his duties.
Agent Williams had no idea where Agent Knight went. She had written him a letter but told him that her location was best kept a secret. All these years seeing her sister grow up pained him. Lying to her about her death was the hardest thing of all.
"Where is she?" little Allison had demanded. "Agent X said you knew-,"
"She's gone," he replied quickly to get it over with.
A look of fear crossed her face. "Gone...?"
"Dead. She's dead, Allison."
He'll never forget the expression of heartbreak, sorrow, pain, and anger that came on her face. And he would never forgive himself for it. Or the sobs that he had heard for many days.
After Agent X's questioning, he felt nervous. Why would she wonder of this now?
Alexa, he thought. Brace yourself...
"So where is this place exactly?" Chad asked Sonny as they were climbing up the dirt green hill.
"In the Hollywood sign," she answered, pointing to said sign towering before them in it's grandeur. "We don't usually use this entrance but I don't want anyone to see us when we go."
"Ah," he murmered in understanding. His eyes squinted as he looked closer at the colossal white letters. "Just curious, but how is this huge organization in the sign?"
Sonny rolled her eyes. "The whole thing isn't in it. Just the door that leads you to it."
"It's underground?"
"Yeah."
"Dude..." A smile formed on his stretched mouth. "That's awesome."
"Right," Sonny snorted but she couldn't help but grin at his childlike innocence. It reminded her of...
"Well!" Chad announced. "We're up." He stood on the edge of the cliff and looked questioningly at the letter H. "I don't see a door..."
"Here," Sonny told him as she placed herself in the edge of the bottom of the giant O. "Get in!"
Chad walked over and entered inside after her. They both dropped to the bottom of a dark room. The entrance closed up above them, sealing them in. A small light flickered and popped a gray disk out. Sonny strode over to it and spread her hand around it. She pressed a small button that appeared out of nowhere and the light turned off.
"Ummm..." Chad mused, but before he could continue a door appeared. Sonny winked at him slyly.
"Ready?" she asked.
Chad stared at the eerie black door that opened him to the dark world of mystery he had been hearing of so much, where death could possibly await him.
"Oh yeah!" he said in glee as he followed her inside.
"Um... Agent X? What exactly did you call us here for?"
It was at the crack of dawn when an agent had arrived and awoken Sonny and Chad from their deep (not so peaceful) sleep. He told them that Agent X had asked for an audience with them. Frazzled and tired, they reluctantly agreed. After their many questions, the agent confessed he had no idea why she wanted to speak to them.
Agent X swiftly turned around in her large velvet chair. Her fingers brushed the exterior, slow but steady. Eyes as deep as the grey waves of the ocean pierced them.
"I have a...theory."
Sonny and Chad looked at each other in question then turned to back to her. "On what?"
"Oh who your little...lookalike is."
A chill ran down Sonny's spine as fear crept in the back of her mind.
"I still sincerely doubt it..." Agent X pursed. "I have trusted and known Agent Williams for years... He would never keep something like that from me..."
Puzzled looks crossed Chad and Sonny's faces. "Right..."
"But...it seems like the only way it's possible..." Agent X continued. "She's the only one who could look so much like you. You both are the spitting image of your father..."
Sonny's blood ran cold.
"And if my theory is somehow correct, then well..." Agent X glared. "I will take care of that."
"I..." Sonny couldn't form words.
"And you will tell me, Allison," Agent X smirked deviously. "I'm positive."
"Oh yeah?" Chad scoffed.
"Oh yes, Mr. Cooper," Agent X said. "You know my daughter. Always so honest. Couldn't lie to anyone, much less her mother."
Sonny and Chad's jaws fell simultaneously in shock. "WHAT?"
Agent X smirked and laid back in her chair. "Surprised?"
"You're my...?" Sonny's voice trailed off. "That's impossible! My mother is Connie-,"
"That is not your mother, child," Agent X said slowly. "That is your sister's."
Chad's eyes were wide. How could someone as cruel and bitter as Agent X give birth to someone as kind and happy as Sonny? But as he gazed at the two of them, he knew it was so true. Agent X was the bad, furious side of Sonny. They had the same glare, same scowl. The resemblance was scary.
Sonny's mouth dropped. "What do you-,"
Agent X quieted her as she started to explain. "Your father and I were married for many years. He was so strong and brave... I admired him deeply. We were both so happy. We had two beautiful daughters and the organization was a success.
"Connie was your and Alexa's babysitter. She was a good friend of mine. That is why you recall her as a child more, not me. She raised you and played with you, while I trained your sister."
Agent X heaved a deep sigh as if the next part was something that pained her. "Your sister was my pride and joy. She was just like me and the best agent I ever trained. She never failed, and always listened to my advice. After she met that boy..." A frown formed on her face, "I was disappointed in her. Deeply disappointed. I scolded her when she came back from her mission. It was your father, Connie, me, and your sister. We all came to here of that boy. After I yelled at your sister, your father hushed me and hastily warned me not to speak to his daughter in that way. I retorted back that she was my daughter also.
"Then he said... No, she isn't."
Sonny and Chad both stared at the woman they formerly hated with sorrow and pity. Agent X looked grievous and utterly ashamed.
"I learned the whole story," she said. "How he and Connie had had an affair before we were married. When we were married, he didn't want me to know of this. He convinced Connie to tell me Alexa was my daughter. She agreed for your sister's safety. He lied to me... I was lied to for my whole life.
"I couldn't stand to see your sister again. Whenever I saw her, I would be reminded of all the pain she had caused. So I ordered to kill her."
A tear ran down Sonny's cheek. "You ordered to kill the child you raised?"
"She was a disgrace!" Agent X shouted. "Her very face disgusted me. She had been deceiving me. How could I have her alive? I would never let her stay with you. I swore I would never let you end up the way she did. You are my daughter!"
"I may be your daughter, but you loved her more than you'll ever love me!" Sonny cried. "You loved her. She was everything to you!"
Agent X bore her eyes into her. "I am your mother, Allison. And you have no right to speak to me like that. You are not only my daughter, but my agent-,"
Chad scowled at the woman. "You think you're so-,"
"It's okay, Chad," came a voice from the darkness. A tall figure appeared. "We're here."
Sonny rose out of her seat. "Sterling!"
The figure revealed a tall man with blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. He smiled at them. "You didn't tell me the entrance was from the Hollywood sign!"
Agent X raised her eyes. "Sterling Knight?"
"These days I'm known as Chad," he winked.
"You... You were playing him?" Agent X gasped.
"We look exactly alike," Chad shrugged.
"Just like Sonny and her sister," Sterling said. "They look alike, but are completely different."
"Sister?" Agent X demanded.
"Yes, X," said another voice from the darkness. "Her sister."
A girl strode over to reveal herself, slowly and surely. Her hair had been dyed brown but the shade was wearing off, revealing her former dark hair. Her eyes, once covered with light brown colored contacts, showed the black eyes, gleaming like onyx. She had the exact face of Sonny's, but the light in Sonny's was not present in hers. A weary and suspicious look was permanently etched onto it. It was a face Agent X knew by heart, one she would never forget. As she stared at it more, realization dawned on her as she stood up abruptly.
"Alexa."
Can't say much cause I'm in a hurry but I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll try to update soon! Sorry I didn't reply to your reviews, I swear I will next time!