Hey, guys here's chapter Eight. Enjoy ^-^

There Are Spies Among Us

"And that wraps it up for the first round, folks..." Tim exclaims, "and what an exciting one it was."

The pink penguin, Sam, nods her head in agreement. "It makes you wonder what awesome performances will be made in the next rounds."

"With sixteen surfers left and only four spots to fill for the next round, I'd say we're in for a serious competition." Tim remarks, "and we're off with the second heat of the first round with RobbieZ78, SierraWombatt22, ZekeBob1283, and MarthaX."

The heat began but I'm too busy looking for Rick4983 to pay attention. Where is he? That's when I finally spot him coming up the beach. The silver penguin, Dyllan18, runs up beside him and says something that I can't hear over the noise. They shake hands before Dyllan18 hurries to another part of the beach. Rick4983 frowns before he even notices me walking towards him.

"What?" I ask, "what's wrong? You did great out there!"

I give him a smile of reassurance.

"You landed the move perfectly!"

Rick4983 doesn't respond back to me and instead, he watches as Dyllan18 begins to talk to some penguin.

"Be careful out there" Rick4983 warns me, "the competition is even fiercer from here on."

He leans his surfboard against the wall and watches the heat. Yes, he landed the flip but somehow Dyllan18 still came on top. Before I know it, I'm back in the water. I'm up against three other penguins, including Dyllan18. I can do this! Dyllan18 takes the first wave with no competition, it's a relatively small wave. I watch as he still manages to pull off a floater.

The next wave is a fairly decent sized one. Another surfer and I race for it and I manage to stand first. I pull off a few tricks before ending it with a cutback. I catch Dyllan18's eye as I paddle back over to the group. The heat felt like it would go on forever. There is only a few minutes left on the clock, I got out for another wave. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Dyalln18 out to get it as well. I manage to get up first and I begin to do my performance followed by a special maneuver.

When I finish my run, I start hearing a loud commotion. That's when I glance at the scoreboard. I'm at the top so far in my heat! I look at Dyllan18 and our eyes meet. He grins. Oh...that's scary. What is he planning? I look back at the clock. There's only one minute left. I didn't really notice that I had beaten him. I watch as Dyllan18 goes out for his final attempt. That's too small of a wave. There's no way he could beat me.

Finally, it dawns on me what he's planning to do. He's not trying to beat me. He's trying to make it a tie! I look on nervously as Dyllan18 manages to stand up and starts his run. He performs a top turn, a snap, a re-entry, and then a tail side. I look at the board and just as predicted...a tie.

"He's pretty clever, isn't he?" Rick4983 remarks as I walk back over to him.

I nod. Normally ties go to overtime but the judges decided to send us both through to the next round.

"Are you okay?" I ask, concerned.

"Yeah, don't worry there's always next year" Rick states as he watches the second heat of the second round.

It's still amazing how I've gotten this far into the competition. The next round after this is the last one. If I can win it...I get to go to the Internationals! That's when I sit down and bite my lip. I look towards the ocean, nervous.

"Are you nervous?" Rick asks, sliding down to sit beside me.

I just nod.

"Just relax and stay focused." Rick advises, "don't worry about the competition or the clock. Just give it your all out there."

I nod again, still scared. Rick4983 sighs.

"You know, after this is over I have someplace we should go." He reveals.

"What?" I ask, suddenly forgetting about the competition. "Where? Tell me?!"

Rick4983 laughs at my puppy dog eyes. "not until after the competition."

Aw...why not now? Rick4983 continues to laugh as I try to think about where we'd be going.

"And this is it the final round. Here are our surfer finalists; Rachel1492, SierraWombatt22, Dennis, Cheyenne21, and Dyllan18." Tim announce excitedly.

"The winner will represent our server and go onto the Internationals." Sam informs, "surf safe and let the final round begin!"

This is it. I say to myself. The moment we've all been waiting for. I look at my competition and I see Dyllan18. The moment I, Cheyenne21, win this year's National Surf competition.

I glance at the horizon and then take a deep breath. This is it. The final round. The clock began and the first wave surfaces. We all race to get it first. Rachel gets the wave and begins with an Ice Breaker. Then she does surf fever, a lazy wave, and then a Backflip. I'm impressed.

The next wave comes and SierraWombatt22 get it. She does the following tricks; surf fever, grind, spin, and lazy wave. I manage to get the third wave and I start off with a coastal kick. Then I do a back stand, front flip, and then a spin. The competition is pretty fierce but the time was up before I even realize it.

"And the winner of the National surf competition this year is..." Tim announces with a dramatic pause. "Dyllan18!"

Whoa! Dyllan18 won? No one's even seen this penguin before and now he shows up?

"Who is this guy?" A familiar voice states my thoughts.

"Hi Rick," I greet as I walk up the beach.

"Hey there" he replies, "you really did a great job out there."

"Thanks," I say, halfheartedly.

Rick looks at me and then grabs my fin.

"Let's go," he exclaims.

"Go where?" I ask.

"Back to Kaitlyn's" he answers with a smile.

We arrive at Kaitlyn's igloo around six o'clock in the evening. The igloo is pitch dark inside.

"I guess she went to bed early" I suggest to Rick as I unlock the door.

We both step inside as I flip on the light switch and Rick closes the door.

"SURPRISE!"

"What?" I exclaim in surprise.

That's when I notice the party decorations.

"Oh," I state. "What's this all for?"

"Why for you guys of course," Kaitlyn answers

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Why? We didn't win."

"So what?"

Rick spies the foot table and drags me over to it. I survey the wondrous dishes, all of my favorite! I watch as Rick picks up a Jell-O pinwheel, his favorite. I decide to enjoy this party while it lasted. It won't be long before it has to end.

"So Dyllan18 is going to the Internationals," Kaitlyn finally converses.

"Yeah," I confirm.

"That's a bummer. I was so sure that it would be one of you guys."

The night lasts longer than I expected. Exhausted, I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

I wake up to frantic knocking at the front door. I grumble but I don't get up. It's Kaitlyn's house anyway, she should be the one getting it. I hear scuffling come from another room and then voices. Then I hear my bedroom door slam open. Now wide awake, I sit up and see Rick standing there.

"Uh..." I mutter at him.

"The bracelet" he announces, "where is it? I don't see it on your wrist anymore."

"Uh...huh..." I mumble.

"Kaitlyn5203 scolds Rick for intruding and drags him out of my room. I get up and quickly change into some casual clothes. When I enter the kitchen, I find Kaitlyn5203 making pancakes. Rick4983 is sitting at the counter, nervously.

"What's up?" I ask.

I watch as Rick's eyes dart to my bare wrist.

"Where's the bracelet?" He asks.

"Why do you need to know?" I answer back.

Rick fiddles with his fin.

"What's going on?" I inquire.

"That bracelet." He begins to answer, "it's important."

"How so?"

Silence.

"Tell me!"

Rick hesitates before saying anything.

"It's difficult to explain."

"So?"

"And it's technically top secret."

"Don't you trust me? I can keep a secret."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Rick4983 insists.

"Try me," I remark.

He sighs and then looks at where Kaitlyn5203 is standing, still flipping pancakes. Kaitlyn stares back at him in worry.

"Don't tell her," she warns.

"I have to," he answers back. "The bracelet is important."

Kaitlyn5203 sighs and goes back to flipping her pancakes.

"Whatever happens next is going to be your responsibility," she remarks. "Are you willing to take the fall?"

Rick looks back at his fins.

"Guys? What's going on here?" I ask as if announcing that I'm still here.

Rick makes eye contact with me. It feels like he's trying to look into my very soul. Shivers are sent down my spine at that thought.

"Remember when I showed you those case files on Macey490's disappearance," He asks me.

"Yeah," I reply.

"You made a connection to..."

"The EPF," I finish. "Yeah but it's just a phone company. Why bring it up? Why would they cover up the fact that Macey490 may still be alive? In fact, how would a phone company even have the power to manipulate the police like that?"

"Well to be fair, the EPF didn't manipulate the police," Rick defends. "We took over the case."

"Why would the Everyday Phone Facility be interested in a missing person's case?" I remark, "wait...what do you mean by 'we'? You work there too but what about your job at the police department?"
He nods silently. "Yeah, I work for the EPF. I also work at the police department as well. It's like my cover."

"Your cover?... Okay, so you work for the phone company," I state."What's the reason for not telling me that? It's no big deal."

"Actually it is," Rick admits.

I sit down as he reveals a secret that he's kept from me for years.

"You're not allowed to tell anyone or repeat what I'm about to say next."

"Uh...promise" I confirm.

"The Everyday Phone Facility is actually a front to hide the real organization. The one I work." Rick4983 states, "the Elite Penguin Force. Kaitlyn and I are two of possibly hundreds of agents."

He observes my reaction before continuing.

"Macey490 was also an Elite Penguin Force agent."

Macey is an EPF agent. Interesting...what are the circumstances surrounding her disappearance? Rick and Kaitlyn are agents too?! What is going on? Find out what happens next, June 23rd!