Chapter 3

A week after the rock-climbing outing, Kim's life was becoming exhausting.

On one hand, she enjoyed spending time with the guys and definitely was not going to stop her usual activities.

On the other hand, with her mom's new obsessions, this required a lot more creativity.

First, if she wanted to hang out with her friends, she had to feed her mom a tidbit about someone else she hadn't mentioned before. Whether it be a girl she was partnered with in history and joked around while making their presentation or a boy she played basketball with in gym; if Kim could show she was broadening her horizons her mom was much more lenient about her real friends.

Because of her new diet, Kim was always craving some kind of greasy pizza or sugary donut. As much as she wanted to do other things, most of her time spent with Jack and the others was spent eating. She really wished they could do more together, but she was a teenage girl-she needed her guilty pleasures.

Now, as Kim walked out of the dojo after spending a successful afternoon doing homework with Milton, training with Jack, and eating at Phil's with all the guys, she juggled three very large bags.

The first was her karate bag. She didn't take it home every single day, but if she left it for more than two or three days it began to smell incredibly nasty.

The second was her school bag. They were well into the school year now which meant Kim's books and folders were numerous and her backpack was at peak capacity.

The third bag was what Kim liked to call her coping-with-her-mother's-freak-out bag. In it were snacks from the guys and the places they ate that her mom had banned as well as a change of clothes. The clothes inside the bag were the clothes she had actually worn to school all day. Currently, she was wearing what she left the house in and what her mother thought she was wearing all day: A delicate white t-shirt with a small necklace and mid-thigh light blue shorts with little flowers on them.

The shirt was too tight and the shorts were too hot and the necklace was too heavy on her usually bare neck.

After enduring so many days in her mom's outfits, Kim came up with the idea of changing in the school bathroom in the morning and at the dojo in the afternoon.

When she got home she could hide out in her room until it was late enough in the evening that she could change into running shorts and a t-shirt. Usually around 6:30 Kim figured she could argue her way out of changing back into something nice. If she was just going to be home, who cared what she was wearing? Plus, if her dad was home he could usually side with Kim.

It was a genius idea, except now Kim had almost fifty pounds to juggle after a long and exhausting day.

"Need some help?" Jack chuckled from behind her, jogging to catch up.

"I got it," Kim insisted, trying to hoist her second bag onto her shoulder while also trying to loop her third bag over her head.

Kim could barely get the third bag lifted high enough and before she could put it over her head, her arm gave out and she dropped the bag right onto her shoulder.

"Woah!" Jack gasped, quickly grabbing a bag and lifting the weight from Kim's shoulders before she could tumble unceremoniously to the ground.

"I only have my backpack, let me take one of your bags," he insisted.

"Fine," Kim huffed, gladly shucking off fifteen pounds of her load.

"So how long are you going to keep this up?" Jack asked curiously as they continued walking.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you can't even walk through the mall. How long do you think you're going to last changing when your mom isn't around and sneaking treats before practice and pretending like you're friends with half the school?"

Kim scowled. "As long as I have to, Jack."

"Okay, sorry!" Jack apologized, raising his hands in defense. "I didn't mean-"

"Shh!"

"Kim, I'm trying to apo-"

"Shh!"

"Kimb-"

"Be quiet!" Kim insisted quietly, stopping.

Jack shut his mouth and stopped as well. "What?"

"I think I heard something," she whispered, looking around carefully. Kim squinted in the dark looking for the source of the shuffling she had just barely heard over Jack's ridiculous comment.

Jack looked around as well but he hadn't even heard anything in the first place so he was skeptical that Kim had heard anything.

"I don't-"

"Shut up!" Kim hissed.

Kim gave their surroundings one last glance before turning back to Jack.

"I heard something," she told him quietly. "I know I did. Just keep your eyes open for anything suspicious."

Jack agreed sincerely, although it was mostly because he just wanted to keep walking and not because he actually believed Kim.

They walked in silence after that. Kim not talking because she was on high alert and Jack didn't bother to strike up a one-sided conversation.

When they made it to the parking lot and nothing had happened, Jack felt vindicated.

"So what's the plan tomorrow? We don't have karate so do you think your mom will force you to go get your nails done or something?"

Kim's eyes widened comically in horror. That was something her mom had yet to suggest but it was only a matter of time before Kim had appointments scheduled multiple times a week to get her nails touched up, hair done, massaged, waxed, and any other beautification she could come up with.

"Sorry," Jack apologized. "Didn't realize that would hit so close to home."

"It's fine," Kim forced herself to say. "I think you're right though," Kim admitted. "I'm really suffocating here. I don't know if I can keep up with everything for much longer."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out," Jack offered. "You're stubborn, I don't see you giving up even if you have to bring four heavy bags with you everyday."

Kim knew Jack meant well, but the mental image of carrying yet another bag really upset her. She didn't want to carry so much, she just didn't know how to deal with it any other way.

"Well, thanks for helping me."

Jack nodded awkwardly and set Kim's bag on the ground while she fished out her keys.

As she loaded all her junk into the back seat, Kim made a mental list of what still needed to be done when she got home before she could finally go to bed. Jack's words about the next day also got her worried about how she was going to eat—at least how she was going to eat beyond the tofu her mom promised to get her into.

When Kim finally shut the door Jack stretched, not because he was sore, but because he didn't know what else to do with his hands. "I really am sorry about earlier," Jack apologized. "If you need an emergency care package or something, just let me know. We can arrange-"

Jack cut himself off as he caught a shadow move swiftly out of the mall.

"What?" Kim asked, turning around to follow Jack's gaze.

"I thought I saw someone…"

Kim took in a quick breath as she once again returned to high alert. "Where?"

"Just by the doors over there…" Jack shook it off and turned his attention back to Kim. She was still searching the area.

"Hey," he interrupted her, lightly hitting her arm to get her attention. "I'm sure it was just a straggler or someone getting off their shift early."

Kim wasn't so easily convinced. "No."

"It's probably no-"

"No," Kim repeated. "Jack, I keep seeing shadows and hearing footsteps… it has to be something."

Jack doubted it was something. Maybe Kim had heard footsteps and seen shadows but it was easy to make up a story to fit in with what you wanted to see and hear.

"Kim, do you think maybe you're just… making this up in your mind as some way to cope with your mom? I'm not saying you didn't hear or see those things but if you're looking, you'll always find something to be paranoid about."

Kim shook her head. "I'm not making it up, Jack. There is something or someone following me. I've been noticing it for a little while now. I can't just play it off."

"There isn't anything there, Kim," Jack sighed. He looked again and there wasn't a trace of anyone. No bushes moving or shadows dancing. It was completely still.

Kim shook Jack off and stepped back. "Jack, I've tried ignoring it. I'm not looking for it or making it up. And you saw it-I know you did. The first few times I told myself I was crazy and didn't think it was anything but it was. It is something, Jack."

Jack looked again between the vacant door and Kim's earnest expression. She was right. He had seen something, but it was so easy to ignore it. But Kim didn't enjoy drama, she didn't create situations.

"For how long?" he sighed, believing Kim.

Kim almost let out a cry of frustration before her brain registered Jack's words. He believed her.

Quickly collecting herself, she thought back to when it started.

"Umm, a few weeks now I think? Maybe two? Honestly, right about when my mom started going all psycho. It's like the universe just wants to throw every bad thing possible my way all at once."

Jack nodded along, processing what it meant that there was someone following Kim, and had been for two weeks.

"And how do you feel about it?" he asked carefully.

Kim shrugged. "I mean obviously it's not great but… I'm not sure who it is or what they want. There isn't much I can do right now except wait."

Jack nodded along, it was all rational but it still nagged at him that there wasn't anything they could do besides just wait like sitting ducks. He would have to keep an extra eye out around Kim from now on.

For three days Jack and Kim went on with their lives as if nothing was amiss. They never spoke about the strange shadows again, although it was still fresh in their minds. Deep down, they thought if they ignored it, the shadows would ignore them too.

At the dojo, Rudy was handing out papers for an upcoming tournament. Permissions slips, directions, pamphlets-the works. It was a small, inconsequential tournament mostly, but it would be fun.

Kim was looking forward to the tournament. The competing dojos were ones she was familiar with. A little bit of a challenge, but not enough to worry her. It was going to be fun. Plus, Rudy promised that he would let her incorporate a new move into her routine. It wasn't that she couldn't do it before, but he didn't want her using it in competitions until she had gotten better. Now she had and it was her chance to show off her new skill.

Kim stayed late to help clean the dojo with Jack, excitedly talking about memories from past tournaments.

When everything was cleaned up and the pair were walking out of the dojo, Kim was still chatting away.

Jack walked with Kim to her car first. He wasn't carrying any extra bags for her today but it was a habit. Plus he didn't want to interrupt Kim's story.

When they finally reached Kim's car she began loading her bags when Jack caught something in the back seat.

Jack yanked her away from the car immediately and tugged her back towards the mall all in one movement.

"Jack!" Kim gasped, ripping her arm free. "What's gotten into you!

Jack reached out again and held Kim's wrist firmly in his hand. "There's someone in your car, Kim," he explained as he hurriedly led them away.

"What are you talking about?"

Jack stopped, pulled Kim away from the cover of the parked cars, and turned towards her.

"There is a man in the backseat of your car, Kim. We need to-"

"Jack!" Kim gasped, seeing a large man dressed in dark clothing quickly approaching the pair.

Jack turned and tried to run back the other way away from the man but when the pair turned there was a second man. Soon Jack and Kim were back to back, turning on high alert as they eyed 4 men closing in on them.

"Jack," Kim said nervously, smacking Jack's arm as if he needed her to call his attention to their predicament.

"I see, Kim."

"What do we do?" she hissed, her eyes lingering on a man with a long scar on his cheek.

"We're going to take a deep breath-"

Kim nodded and took a breath, ready to listen to the next part of the plan. Jack was always so good with plans. He could come up with them on the spot, just like now. He was such a good planner.

"Then what?" Kim whispered.

"And now we run!"

With that, Jack grabbed Kim and pulled her forwards until she too was running. He kept a hand on her back to guide her as they ran between two of the men.

Weaving in and out of cars, Kim didn't realize she had lost Jack.

Her heart beat wildly as she looked around, feeling that same adrenaline you feel in a too-realistic game of laser tag. It was always fun anxiously turning corners as if your life were on the line. Only now, turning corners just as anxiously as in laser tag, Kim's life really could be on the line.

"Jack?" Kim called quietly, slowly shuffling between cars.

What a stupid idea it was to run through a parking lot.

"Jack- oh no." Kim slowly backed up as two of the men caught sight of her and began closing in.

The man, the one who was balding despite looking to be fairly young, spoke. "Why don't you just come on over here and make this easier for all of us, huh, girlie?"

"As if," Kim scoffed, quickly backing up.

Backing up right into the third man, the one with the big scar.

Mr. Scarface grabbed Kim's arms, taking her by surprise.

Luckily the adrenaline had Kim moving precious milliseconds before she realized she needed to. Kim managed to twist out of his hold and land a solid kick to his groin in the process.

The man dropped to his knees, giving Kim the opportunity to run past him towards the mall. She could only hope Jack was doing the same.

"Kim!"

Kim turned and saw Jack rushing towards her from the left, relieved to see his face again.

"Not so fast!"

Kim was suddenly tugged back by the waistband of her pants and thrown into the side of a car. Kim felt pain explode in her shoulder and let out a low groan.

The man who threw her had a greasy bun and if Kim had to guess, he probably hadn't washed it in weeks. "You're a little more feisty than they told us, but not to worry, Kimmy, we-"

"Let her go!" Jack shouted, coming up to the man quickly.

The greasy man looked away long enough for Kim to drop to her knees and crawl away.

Before he could grab Kim again, Jack swung a fist towards the greasy man. With a roundhouse kick to the temple, Jack stunned the man long enough to run past him towards Kim.

He quickly picked her up off the ground, running with her for safety.

As they ran past the second row of cars, the three other men emerged, ready for another fight and seeming eager to be less gentle.

"Jack," Kim half-hissed, half-whimpered.

"We're okay," Jack said back, he could be strong if it meant making Kim feel better, even if he didn't believe the words himself.

As if by some miracle, a large SUV pulled between Jack and Kim and their attackers. As bodies started to file out and chase off the attackers, Jack and Kim quickly realized they had an opening and took out for all it was worth.

"Jack, what are we going to do? What if they- mhmm!"

Suddenly a hand was on Kim's mouth and she was pulled away. She instinctively flapped her hand around, grabbing onto Jack and pulling him with her.

The hand in her mouth, she learned, belonged to a man who seemed rather harmless except from his grip on her and the dark clothes he wore.

"Kimberly, are you hurt?" he asked as he released her.

Kim shook her head. "Who are you?" she yelled.

"Shh!" The man hissed, raising a hand to silence Kim again.

Before he could touch her Jack had the man's wrist in his hand and Kim had stepped a foot away.

The man raised his hands in defense and made no more moves to reach touch her. "I am Agent Tom Alston from the CIA and I really need to get you out of here."

Kim wanted to laugh in his face. What kind of an idiot did he think they were? As if the CIA had anybody in Seaford at all!

It was the perfect lie to get someone to come willingly when you kidnap them. Create a scary situation and then pretend to be there to rescue them.

"Yeah right," Kim spat.

Jack, equally unconvinced, subtly reached a hand closer to Kim to make for a quick getaway.

Agent Alston reached for something in his jacket and Jack's hand darted out the last few inches to hold Kim's.

"Calm down," Agent Alston sighed. "It's my badge. I know it's not much but you have my word as well."

"You know that's not much either coming from a liar or criminal. Why should we believe you?" Jack narrowed his eyes at the badge anyways, trying to find a sign that shows it was a fake.

"That's all I have to offer. My instructions are to take Kimberly to a secure location immediately, by whatever means necessary. I would prefer not to use force but I will if I must."

"How do you know my name?"

"The CIA has access to all kinds of records."

"So do criminals," Jack pointed out.

"Yes," Alston agreed, somewhat annoyed. "But who would you rather go with: the four men who attacked you or the man who has yet to harm you and has presented a legitimate badge of the CIA?"

He was right. Even if he was a criminal, they would still have a better chance against the guy who looked like he spent his days sitting 8 hours at a desk over four beefy crooks.

"You better give us some good answers, then," Kim decided.

"I'm afraid my work is classified, Kimberly-"

"How do you know my name?"

"As I said, the CIA has access to many records. I have been thoroughly briefed on you, Kimberly. Jackson as well."

"It's Kim," Kim corrected.

"Apologies, Kim-"

"And Jack," she continued.

"Very well, Jack-"

"And I still don't-"

"For heaven's sake, Kim, I will sedate you if I must. We don't have time for this! Now follow me!"

Agent Alston roughly grabbed Kim, trying to pull her away.

Kim ripped her arm out just as Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her away from the strange man's grabby hands.

Still, they followed him.

Not more than five steps later, Kim yelped as she was ripped away from Jack by her hair.

Jack turned around in time to see the biggest of their attackers holding Kim by her hair and putting a knife to her throat.

"Let her go!" Jack shouted, already stepping towards her on instinct.

"Take another step," the man warned, "and I'll show you just how sharp this knife is."

To prove his point, he brought the knife right to the very skin on Kim's pale throat. It wasn't enough to pierce the skin, but Kim could feel the cool metal and was frightened beyond belief. She feared if she even breathed too big a breath the knife would puncture her skin, so instead, she held her breath, unable to move away.

Next to Jack, Agent Alston had retrieved a gun and was now aiming it squarely at the man. "You don't want to get involved with this," he told him.

The man laughed. "I think I do."

"You don't know what you're dealing with."

"It's all the same so long as I get my cut," the man shrugged.

Kim watched, helpless to do anything about it, as another figure, Mr. Bald guy, struck Agent Alston over the head, knowing him out.

"What a nuisance," Mr. Bald Guy muttered.

When the knife on Kim's throat relaxed, she felt a surge of courage. Or perhaps it was fear. Whatever it was, it was coursing through her veins.

"Let go!" she cried, bringing her hands to her hair.

"That's not going to happen, Kimberly," he sneered.

With a moment of distraction, Jack kicked his leg out, knocking Mr. Bald Guy off balance while Kim twisted and jerked her knee right into Mr. Scarface's precious jewels.

The grip in her hair loosened and she quickly stumbled away with Jack right on her tail. Not daring to look back, they hurried away from the chaos and straight for the mall.

They took quick turns, dodging between stores and tables and benches, doing their best to make their track hard to follow.

When Kim raised a hand to brush the hair out of her face, her fingers grazed something warm. In the dark it was hard to make out what was on her fingers, especially as she tried to keep up with Jack.

When the light shone just right, Kim abruptly stopped at the sight of blood.

"Jack," she called shakily, forgetting all about their current predicament, not realizing they were running for a reason.

Jack stopped and worriedly looked around, afraid someone would turn the corner every other second.

"Kim, come on!" he urged, waving her over.

Kim looked with wide eyes from her hand to Jack, too shocked to speak.

When Jack caught a good look at Kim, he staggered back. "You're bleeding!"

Kim brought her hand to her face again, as if the wound wasn't really there.

While Kim was in her own world, Jack cursed and grabbed her, pushing them both to the side of a building so at least they were partially hidden in case someone was still following them.

"How bad is it?" Kim winced, watching Jack's eyes trail over her face.

I'm the dim light, it was hard to make a good assessment, but it didn't look horrible.

"I don't think you'll need stitches, but we'd have to clean it to be sure. Does it hurt?"

Kim shook her head and almost laughed, although nothing was funny. "Adrenaline is one heck of a drug."

Jack wanted to reprimand her ill-timed humor, she was in some serious trouble if anything that happened in the last ten minutes is a sign.

"Kimberly, Jackson, come on!"

The pair turned around, taking a defensive step back as their eyes focused on another man reaching out for them.

"Not again," Kim muttered, gripping Jack's hand with a death grip. She didn't know when they ended up holding hands, but they were and she was grateful.

Another man appeared behind the first and as he stepped into the light, Kim could make out the newly familiar face of Agent Alston, now with a nice red cut on his head.

"Just grab her," Agent Alston grunted, nudging the first man towards Kim.

"No way," Kim scoffed, backing up. "If you really are here to help us then I will walk myself."

Agent Alston rolled his eyes, the girl was wasting precious time over something so frivolous. The last conversation they had ended with him being hit over the head and Kimberly being held with a knife to the throat.

"Very well," the first man relented. "But we must go now."

Kim nodded and followed, pulling Jack along. The two agents in front of them ushered them efficiently towards the back parking lot.

There, another large black car was parked and running. The agents opened the door and pushed Jack and Kim in before climbing in after them.

Agent Alston sat in the back with Jack and Kim while the other agent got in the driver's seat.

Kim hadn't even buckled before they were moving and on the road. Another black car pulled out directly behind them.

Kim watched through the back window until a minute later, the second car veered off.

Finally, she turned back to the front and looked at Jack. It felt wrong, somehow, to talk so instead they just looked at each other. Still, they were thinking the same thing: what was going on?

Kim was once again surprised (although she shouldn't have been) when the car pulled up to her house.

She and Jack shared a look as Kim was escorted into her own home.

When the front door opened (Kim would have just walked in), Kim's dad stepped aside and let the strange men in. He didn't even ask questions and didn't look surprised. It was like he expected it.

Kim felt uncomfortable, not sure what to do with herself. Should she go up to her room and get ready for bed like nothing ever happened? Was she allowed to?

It was a fleeting thought, because the second Kim walked into the living room, she saw their kitchen table taken over with laptops and strange devices.

Two more men were sitting in the chairs, talking with Kim's mom.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Crawford's head snapped up at the sound of her daughter's voice. When she saw Jack and Kim standing safely in the kitchen she hurried over and wrapped them both in her arms.

"I'm so glad you're both alright. You both are so brave and," Mrs. Crawford pulled back and saw Kim's face clearly, "oh! You're hurt! She's hurt!" she gasped.

Everyone glanced towards Kim, frozen in anticipation of her injury.

Aside from Kim's mom rustling in the kitchen with a wet cloth, everything was completely silent. It was as if nobody had permission to breathe if Kim was hurt.

"I-I'm really fine," she stammered uncomfortably, announcing to a room full of people she didn't know.

It hardly helped, as if they didn't believe Kim.

"Really," she insisted, looking at Jack with eyes that pleaded for help. "It's just a scratch…"

"No worse than a paper cut," Jack butted in, even though yes, it was worse than a paper cut.

Hesitantly, the room returned to a semi-normal level of activity. Even as Kim's mom wiped her face and sat her on a chair, however, Kim could feel the eyes on her.

"What's going on?" Kim finally asked her mom.

Her mom just sighed as she worked on Kim's face, ignoring the question even though she heard.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Crawford winced as she set the paper towel down.

"Let's just focus on getting you two cleaned up, alright?"

"But Mom-"

Mrs. Crawford sent Kim a harsh glare that shut her up. Kim slouched in her seat, partially in defeat and partially knowing it was something her mom disapproved of. This time, Mrs. Crawford didn't even seem to notice Kim's posture.

When Kim's face was wiped off, it was clear she really would be fine. A bandaid was too small for the long but thin stripe and instead, a little bit of cotton was all that Mrs. Crawford put on.

When it was all done, Mrs. Crawford made sure Jack was okay as well and left the two teens alone.

They were quiet for only a moment.

"Kim, what on earth-"

Kim shook her head. "I have no idea."

"But these people, they're in your house-"

"I don't know," Kim shrugged helplessly.

"Your parents though, why aren't they more…"

"Concerned?"

Jack nodded.

"I have no idea."

"Kim," Mrs. Crawford called.

Kim and Jack turned around on the kitchen stools.

"Agent Alston would like to have a word with you." Kim didn't miss the way her mom fidgeted ever so slightly or the way she sent a quick glance towards her husband.

"Okay…" Kim drawled, sliding off her chair and taking small steps to follow the man who walked through her house like he owned the place.

When Kim realized nobody was following them except another agent she stopped. "Alone?"

Kim's mom nodded. "If you're comfortable."

"Oh. Um… I guess."

Kim awkwardly followed the men the rest of the way to their home office and sat down while they closed the door and sat opposite her.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Kim asked before she could stop herself.

"You are in danger," Agent Alston told her simply.

Kim rolled her eyes. "Really? I would never have guessed. Did you know this is the sixth time I've been attacked by complete strangers in a parking lot? I thought it was normal."

The other man seemed confused and even worried, but Agent Alston quickly got used to Kim's sarcasm. At least, her stress-response sarcasm.

"We want to assure you, that the threat is being taken care of," Alston continued.

"And what exactly is the threat?"

"Just a couple of low-lives who were deceived and in way over their heads."

"Deceived by who? What were they trying to get out of attacking us?"

Everyone had danced around the happenings of the evening, and Kim could take it because there was so much going on. She was content with being confused at the moment. But the moment was over and everything was calming down and Kim needed answers.

"That is classified," Alston answered simply.

"Okay," Kim said, unsure why it mattered. Surely it wasn't classified for her. Obviously, this applied to her, so yes maybe Jack couldn't know maybe her parents couldn't even know. But Kim should know.

"But why did they attack me? What did they think?" Kim repeated.

"That is classified," Alston repeated.

Kim blinked. "Yeah, I get that but… what about me? Aren't I exempt or something?"

Alston shook his head. "We are all sworn to secrecy. We cannot disclose that information, even to you."

"Let me get this straight, you can't tell me why I was targeted? Why I was attacked?"

"Correct."

Unbelievable.

Absolutely unbelievable!

"Well, what can you tell me?" Kim asked, exasperated.

Alston smiled, he actually had the audacity to smile at her. Kim knew it wasn't a genuine one either unless you count the smiles you instinctively offer a small child you are brushing off as genuine.

"Well," Alston began. "We want to assure you that you are safe. Those men are taken care of. We have an experienced team tasked with further managing and ensuring your safety."

Kim waited for Alston to continue.

Five seconds. Ten. Nothing.

"That's it?" Kim realized. "That's all?"

If he wasn't going to give her details, he could have at least made this "meeting" worth her time!

"What do you mean there's a team tasked with my future safety? What exactly does that entail? I thought you said the men tonight were taken care of. What kind of measures are you taking?" Kim demanded, suddenly seeing visions of bars on her windows and tanks on her street. Maybe it was overkill, but she wasn't even sure what the threat was so maybe tanks would be necessary. If there were more people after her, what kind of security did she need? And why?

"It will require nothing much on your part, lest you were scared."

Of course. Lest Kim was scared after being attacked.

"We already have a team that has looked into those you frequently interact with but now we must expand our investigations to anyone you interact with. This means little to you," Alston explained as if it even mattered. Kim doubted any objections she had would be given much consideration at all.

"If someone is deemed a threat, we will take care of the matter. In that case, you may, however, require temporary relocation. Now, if you wish to visit somewhere new, we will require advanced notice. You will be permitted to go to and from school and practice with little interference. A small team will be stationed nearby to keep an eye on you, but you should hardly notice their eyes, supervising from afar."

Suddenly the past week made sense to Kim. It wasn't a happy revelation, but it was a revelation nonetheless.

"You've already been following me, haven't you?"

All those sounds she would hear, all those shadows, they weren't irrational and now she didn't have to wonder.

"We have," Alston conceded. "Agent Thomas here has been on the case. He noticed something was up this afternoon and called it in. A good thing, too. But as you saw, it's nothing we weren't aware of and able to handle."

As. If.

"You mean when you got knocked out and I was held and cut by a knife?"

Agent Thomas seemed uncomfortable but Kim could tell Alston was defensive.

"As I said," he gritted out, "you do not need to worry about it."

Kim rolled her eyes and gave him a mercy nod.

"Is that all?"

"Nearly," Alston said. "You cannot tell anyone or let on that you're in any kind of danger. It is much safer to go on as if you knew nothing, understand?"

"Shouldn't be hard considering I do know nothing…"

Alston gave her a stern look and Kim sighed.

"Not even Jack? What am I supposed to tell him? 'Oh hey remember how we were attacked and neither of us knew what was happening? Well, I still don't know a single thing but we don't need to be concerned anymore, I have a feeling we'll be fine!' Is that what I'm supposed to say?"

"You don't have to hide it from the boy, but you are not to discuss it either."

Kim wasn't sure how that was much different, but she was itching to get away from the men who were making her feel uncomfortably like a prisoner.

"Okay."

Alston gave a satisfied nod, assuming he had finally gotten through to Kim.

"Is that all?" Kim let out with a breath.

"Yes. That will be all for now. You are free to go."

Kim scowled at his wording, like she needed his permission to leave the room. It was her home. It was her dad's office. She should be the one telling them to go.

As Kim shuffled out of the room, she had the sinking feeling she was beginning to lose her freedom in ways she would never have expected, for a reason she wasn't allowed to know.

When Kim emerged into the kitchen again, Jack's eyes followed her.

She ignored the more subtle eyes of her parents and the short glances from the rest of the men as she sat next to Jack.

"So?" Jack asked, trying to push his expectancy down.

Kim let her body fall to the counter. Her head rested on her arms as she turned to see Jack.

"I'm not supposed to say," she mumbled. "But the thing is, they didn't actually tell me anything anyway."

Jack frowned. "Well, didn't they at least tell you who attacked us?"

Kim shook her head. "Just some 'low-lives.'"

"Why are they at your house?"

Kim shrugged. "Security."

"Well, how long are they staying here?"

Kim, ignoring the tiredness taking over every last inch of her limbs, pushed herself up to send Jack a glare of annoyance.

"They didn't tell me anything, Jack."

"Right, but… Nothing?"

"Nothing."

Author's Note

This is a long chapter, wow. I wrote this so long ago though. I kind of like going through and editing my books because it takes forever to write so I get to experience it again as if I'm a reader lol.

I'm too tired to write much but thanks for reading, I really hope you like it. This chapter was kind of hard trying to make it realistic and include details that make sense later on in the book with the plot but I think it was written pretty well for the purpose it is serving.

Anyways I'm going to go eat a milkshake bye.