Chapter two: Friends or Enemies…?
Wooden Lodge 6:55 am
They fell together to the trees and landed on the ground… then she fainted, she felt as if someone is carrying her, the carrier is very careful with her even though she seems desperate…
She opened her eyes a bit and said something though she can't remember it quite well. She closed her eyes again, but this time she felt her whole body aches from the blows the impact of falling gave her. A voice inside her head telling her she's so stupid and an ignoramus.
She could've gotten away with the box yet she still saved her enemy. She tried to reason with it but she saw a glimpse of light in the corner and followed it instead then she realized that she were asleep. She saw the wooden ceiling and tried to look around her but her body is covered with bandages and her arm aches badly.
"Man I really messed up big time… what the!" she exclaimed as she saw Alex embracing her but sleeping then she looked at the window. The sun is just starting to rise up. Poor Alex, she must've watched over me the whole night… she thought as she touched Alex's soft tanned face…
"Sorry for being such a drag Alex, you must have had also carried me from the forest to this place." She whispered apologetically as she leaned closer to her face. She's really, really, cute… no, gorgeous… even though she's covered with bandages her beauty can't still be hidden. I tried to save her but instead, she saved me. I'm so stupid… now not only I'm guilty of causing her trouble, I also messed up my job. I wonder why she's in such a slim and sexy suit that got that spyish look. Could it be that she's…
Her thoughts was interrupted as she felt Alex woke up. Alex opened her eyes slowly and looked at Donna.
"Hi there Alex… good morning…" she smiled as she stared at Alex's face which is now covered with surprise and relief so much in fact that she's crying with joy…
"Donna!" was all she said as she embraced Donna gently, Donna hugged her back while Alex sobbed on Donna's breast. She smiled guiltily and pushed Alex away from her.
"Alex… thank you for carrying me here and helped me get my wounds healed… but I'm very sorry for causing you trouble." She stopped abruptly as she felt her arm ache more and she flinched as she tried to stop it. Alex laid her hand on Donna's arm and carefully took the cast off and checked it.
"It seems to be getting a bit better now considering how it looked like five days before." She started as Donna's jaw dropped.
"5 days! Is that how long I've been unconscious?" Alex nodded as Donna wondered.
"And hey …where's my motosuit? Did someone change my clothes? And if it has been five days, how come I'm so clean?"' she asked thoughtfully as she noticed that Alex' whole face is now colored in a dark hue of red.
"No way… you mean… you even cleaned my body and changed my clothes? Man this is really, embarrassing not only that you saved me; you also took care of me when I was still unconscious. Thanks for everything Alex and… about… the package I'm…" she was about to say but Alex stopped her by using her index finger on Donna's lips. She shook her head and pushed Donna to the bed sheets and caressed her hair gently and finally embraced her.
"Please Donna I don't want to hear it.. at least not now… I'm not sure I can take it. I just want to see you recover and be fine again… to spend some time with you in these woods even for a little while to escape the reality and the truth." She whispered pleadingly as Donna nodded slowly using her other arm to touch Alex's face…
"… sure I understand… and Alex…"
"hmm…?"
"I… just want you to know that I…" she stopped as a blush creeped up her face. Alex looked at her hopefully but…
"I am really glad you're alright and fine, I wouldn't be able to take it if you were on my shoes… I just care too much about you well… that I must've lost my job by now… anyway let's not talk about it ok?" Donna continued as a voice in her head is now telling her how stupid and coward she is because she missed another chance to tell what she really feels.
Alex just nodded and faked a smiled, but in reality she's cursing her self for having hopes that Donna might actually like her.
Dinner table 8:15
"Good morning girls... how are you too Donna? Is your arm feeling alright now? Your friend over there has been worried sick, walking in circles each day and watching you at night. If I won't call her to eat she might not do it." she said in a joking tone making Alex blush a bit and sat on the table beside Donna.
"Girls I'm going to the town until the afternoon, the food is in the fridge," she reminded them as they replied with a smile.
"She's a nice person... good thing she was the one you saw in these woods." she said as she tried to eat with her arm but unfortunately it just fell back to the plate. Alex watched her until she finally tried to help Donna.
"Here let me help you, don't push yourself too hard, if you can't do it, just tell me, I don't want to worsen your injury too you know." she said as she fed Donna.
"umm... I just don't want to be a burden to you again... " she mumbled as she blushed. Alex blushed too as she watched Donna eat her food quietly and obediently until they both finished. After that they decided to walk around the house.
Backyard 9:03
The two is simply sitting together on a bench when Alex fell asleep again because of her lack of sleep by watching Donna for 5 straight nights in a row. She leaned towards Donna who just simply watch her sleep knowing what happened to her.
"Alex… why were you chasing me that day? Are you really my enemy? Are you just pretending to be worried about me or were you actually just waiting to find the right time to capture me? I don't understand why these things happen to me when I would almost find a reason for me to be happy at last." She asked her sadly as she remembered the painful childhood she had, being a daughter of a large underground agency leader is very hard for her, having trained everyday and every night just because her dad wants her to be the perfect agent.
Not having true friends and handling his father's transactions at such young age is not easy for her. In fact nothing was really easy for her well… ok she's really great in sports and fighting but comparing it to the life long hardship of training and strict orders of her cold father just made her cold as ice as well.
It all changed when she met Alex, somehow. Watching the soft spoken raven-haired girl and her timid yet cute smiles, she felt something strange when she looks at her. She felt that her heart of steel is being melted as she sees this girl more often. But now that Alex might actually be her enemy, what should she do? Should she follow her father's orders or should she follow her frivolous heart who seems to just have found a key to the door that blocks her way to true happiness even if the one she loves might just be lying to her? She don't know the answer… she looked at Alex's smooth face and caressed it gently…
"Alex… I'm so sorry… I don't think I'm supposed to stay here for too long, I know that you're a nice person but… I have my pride to recapture… I need to retrieve the package… I know you want me to stay with you to forget all about it but it won't work… even if I trust you… even if I care so much about you… even if I love you… my cold heart would never be able to see all that because I'm brought up to be heartless and cold…" she said as she carefully took off Alex's body and laid her on the bench, she walked slowly to the house and rested on her bed.
She closed her eyes in anger as she thought of the stupid fate who made her know Alex… it would've been better if she just didn't met Alex in the first place. If that happened she would have done her job easier without second thoughts.
"Donna…?" Alex whispered as she felt no body around her, she sat straight up as she realized that Donna wasn't there at all. Angry voices filled her head.
(You're so stupid! How can you trust Donna? She's your enemy! How had you been able to think that she can't be the thief when the transmitter led right to her!) another thought came to her head.
(What if she decided to leave you here and get the package again? What do you think the girls and Jerry would say to you? That you're such a fool for letting a prisoner escape because you were sleeping!) she'd had enough of it and ran towards the house.
"Shut up… she's not like that… even if she's my enemy she won't betray me as a friend." She whispered to herself as she knocked on Donna's room.
"Donna… are you there?"
"Yeah…" she replied in a sleepy tone. Alex sighed with relief as the thoughts earlier suddenly faded away. She smiled and entered the room only to see Donna with a strange expression on her face. It's almost as if that she's being tortured in such an emotional way or thinking of a difficult problem.
"Donna… are you alright…?"
"SHUT UP!…" she suddenly shouted and remained not to look at Alex.
"Donna why are you angry with me? I'm only worried…" but was again interrupted by Donna's cold yet silent anger.
"Stop pretending to be worried about me, I know that you just want to watch over me until you'd finally be able to call your friends and capture me." She suddenly commented that struck Alex.
"What are you talking about Don…" she was about to ask but Donna looked at her in such a frightening way that her lips were immediately sealed.
"And don't call me by that name anymore, I don't want an enemy being too friendly with me. I don't trust people who pretends to be my friends." She said as she continued her cold stares on Alex's confused face.
"Look… just leave me alone okay, just call me if the agents are here to arrest me. And don't worry about me escaping, I won't get anywhere with a body like this anyway-…." She stopped as she saw a tear slid down Alex's face… she just nodded and tried to hide her face from Donna then ran out the door sobbing quietly. Donna's eyes widened and her mouth left open a bit with shock.
What the heck did I do! I just made Alex cry! A voice in her head replied
(so…? That's what supposed to happened, you decided that you will still be her enemy to gain your father's trust. Some things have to be sacrificed to gain another thing, you should know that by now)
(but do you really want to hurt Alex just for another painful recognition in the agency… for being an outstanding killer and agent again? Sacrificing the only chance you might have for true happiness, the reason you just kept on fighting… to find a person who'd love you as you love her?) a kind voice said and argued to the other one.
Woods: 11:45 am
Alex ran outside until she finally reached the woods, still crying and sobbing as she finally tripped over an extended root from an oak tree.
"Donna… isn't all the caring I've shown you enough to show you that I'm your friend?" she asked her self as she continued to sob. When she calmed down, she remembered how Donna has been kind to her, help her be braver and hopeful… saved her from a situation she can't handle that also meant her death. Why did Donna saved her in the first place if she knew that they really are enemies? Why did she suddenly became cold to her as if she's totally another person? And then she asked herself…
What do I care about her getting mad and angry with me anyways? Sure she saved me but I already thanked her, I still have my WHOOP cellphone that automatically calls Jerry and the girls but why didn't I called them to say that I'm fine and that I'm with the thief. Don't I want to arrest the thief who might endanger the whole world ? Why do I care so much about Donna that I watched over her for 5 days? Why don't I want to see the truth about our situation and just wanted to remain here with her as long as I want…?
Then she suddenly blushed as a voice in her head asked her…
("Don't tell me you actually love Donna!")
"NO WAY! I'm a straight! I've got boy crushes in school, that can't be possible!" she consistently told herself then she noticed that she don't know that part of the woods.
"Where am I anyway? Oh no! I think I'm lost!" she exasperatedly exclaimed as she wandered more and more in circles.
Lodge 1:35 pm
"I think I should explain everything to Alex…" Donna murmured as she walked around the house.
"Alex?… Where is that girl?" she whispered to herself then… she saw the opened gates to the woods…
"Don't tell me that she cried so much that she ran absentmindedly to the woods!" she exclaimed as she ran towards the house and got a long knife, flashlights, 2 sleeping bags and a lot of food and first aids.
"Is she really a spy? She's so stupid to just walk to the forest without informing Me." She stopped as she thought of what she said earlier…
"… just leave me alone ok/ I don't trust people who pretends to be my friends…" Donna punched herself in her face and thought how stupid she was for saying such things to her… she continued her search for Alex until it's already about 7:00 in the evening. She lit up the flash light to her right as she thought she heard someone crying. She saw a huge oak tree and walked slowly around then she looked up and saw a sleeping but still crying Alex…
She looked at how near yet so far Alex is and looked at her cast.
"I won't reach her if I still have this cast." She mumbled as she took it off and tried to climb the tree. Even though each climb pains her arm and body, she kept on climbing just for Alex and…
"hey stupid" was all that Donna said as she cried a bit with joy when she saw Alex fine. She's so happy she embraced Alex who is currently dreaming that Donna left her, woke up surprised as she felt Donna hugging her.
"D-Donna….?" She stammered as she saw the smiling face of Donna who is now wiping away Alex's own tears.
"I'm just so glad that nothing happened to you… I'm so sorry to say mean things to you Alex… I-I thought I'd never see you again…I was just confused… please forgive me…" she whispered to Alex's now, red ears.
Alex can't believe that Donna actually looked for her even though she just said that she don't want to see her, and even though she's injured (taking the broken arm to account). And is now saying that she's so relieved that she saw her again and that nothing happened to her… it all showed that Donna really cares about her.
"It's alright Donna… I'm sorry for making you worry too…" Alex said as she looked at Donna's left arm… it didn't have a cast… another worried thought came to her head.
"Don't tell me that you took off your cast to climb up this tall tree!" she asked as Donna smiled a bit but painfully.
"Why did you do that! You'd just worsen your injury! How can you be so stupid! Come on I'll help you get down…" Alex exclaimed then after they got down the tree they continued to walk until they reached a river.
"Let's just sleep here for the night then let's go back to the lodge, the old woman might be worried about us." Donna said as she helped Alex lay down the sleeping bags.
"OWW!" Donna yelled as she felt her arm ache painfully, Alex quickly ran to Donna and looked at her wound.
"It needs to be washed. Your arm must have been infected when you took off the cast." Alex said as she observed the other's arm.
"Oh is that it? I'll just wash it then." She attempted to stand up but she suddenly felt very dizzy and fell back on the ground.
"Donna!" Donna tried to smirk but her head aches more terribly than her arm. Alex quickly took some water from the river and cleansed the arm then put a damp towel on Donna's forehead after she dragged her to the sleeping bag.
"Donna… I know this isn't the right time but what were you really doing that day with the package?" Alex muttered as she fixed up the bonfire to keep Donna warm.
"I… can't tell you…" Alex turned to Donna and saw the determination on her face.
"even if… I want to tell you." She finished as her eyes glances off to the woods. Alex sat near her and watched her. While Donna just remained quiet and thinking of what to say.
Alex spoke up.
"I understand if you don't want to tell me. I won't force you. It's okay for me whatever it is. I will never try to fool and lie to you Donna… I promise you that." She smiled and took out the WHOOP cellphone that she's been either holding or hiding in her pockets then asking herself why not use it?
"Here… this is my automatic cellphone that immeadietly contacts the girls and Jerry." Donna stared at her with widened eyes questioning her silently.
"Why are you showing this to me?" Alex took Donna's weak hand and left the cell on it.
"Why?" Alex smiled weakly as she notioned to the western part of the woods.
"In repaying for my life you may destroy that. It's the only gadget that I know that can truly harm you so I'll give it to you so that you can destroy it."
"Donna… thank you for saving my life. If it weren't for you I'm not sure I'd be here right now."
Donna clenched her fists and threw the cell towards a surprised Alex whom caught it in time.
"There you goes again! Stop being such a hero okay! It's very important to your situation now, if you don't have it neither the two of us might be found in time! I know these wounds will heal but what about the people waiting for us out there! They'll record our names as people in the MIA list!"
"MIA?" she replied blankly as Donna sighed with annoyance and turned her head away from Alex.
"Missing In Action. People who are considered dead. They usually perform these listing when a member in a highly official group is missing from a mission within a week or so. After that, their files and names will be erased from the government files. And the people who knew them will consider them dead as well."
"I don't want your life to be like that Alex. I don't want your life to be ruined because of a stupid person like me. You HAVE TO call your friends." She smiled and reached for Alex's hand quickly
She took out the cellphone and opened it.
"Goodbye to you then Alex. It's been really nice meeting you." She pressed the auto button and it showed an image of an old and partly bald man.
"Alex good thing you- who the heck are you!"
"Jerry had Alex called already!" Clover's image appeared this time.
"What are you? …Donna? Why do you have Alex's cellphone?"
"Hey you! I'm taking Alex as a hostage near the cliff where the two of us fell. If you want to get her back you'll allow me to own the red package. Tomorrow, 10 am. You can arrest me if you like but I won't go without a struggle." She switched the phone off and turned to a thunderstruck Alex.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? I WAS DOING EVERYTHING I COULD TO STOP THEM FROM CATCHING YOU THEN YOU''LL JUST PHONE THEM TO CAPTURE YOU!" she yelled furiously as Donna smiled and threw her back the phone.
"I'm still an agent Alex. And a professional at that one. I won't let this mission bring my fame and respect down after I've worked so hard to get it. I'm not always kind and nice Alex remember that. Inside I'm still cold and invulnerable. In this way you'll be saved and I'll get away with the Project." She grinned and threw the blankets which covered her from head downwards.
"Get some sleep. Tomorrow you'll see your folks again."
"Why… do things like these just for me Donna?"
"Because… we're in this together… and haven't I told you to get some sleep!" she exclaimed quietly as Alex sighed defeated and crawled into her own sleeping bag.
"I won't let you do things your way Donna…" was all she muttered then fell asleep.
6:48 am Woods/ Camp
"Alex wake up… we'll go to the cliff where we were thrown off." Donna threw her blanket over Alex's sleeping face then fixed her things… including the red package.
"Huh? What?" she murmured as she rose up and watched Donna stood up with a bag behind her back.
"I'm going to return you to your friends. So stop pretending you're asleep and get a move on. You're my hostage remember?" she coldly said and raised a gun at Alex.
"Where did you got that?"
"At the old woman's house… probably her husband's, anyway move quickly will you?"
"No… I don't want you to get arrested."
"I've done it already so sorry. I can't change the situation now and I have to stick with what I said to your friends. I have to return you." Alex quickly arranged her things and followed Donna who left earlier briefly.
"Donna… you know that you could just have killed me when I were sleeping. Why didn't you? You don't owe me anything." But Donna didn't answered and just kept walking straight. Unmoved by Alex's words.
"From the start everything was wrong. Why did you saved me in the first place? Second, why did you look for me even when you told me that I were your enemy. And third… why do you care if I'm put in the MIA list? So much that you almost don't even care about your mission. Because if you really care about your mission you shouldn't have done all of those things for me." She argued and with this Donna finally stopped and faced her with cold stares.
"And what about you? Why did you dragged me to that old woman's house? Why do you ask me all of those worthless questions then… why!" she comebacked as Alex was immediately silenced.
"I… Answer my questions first!"
"It's because… I… don't want to answer it okay! I have my reasons so just shut up or I'll blow your head off!" Donna frustatedly pointed the gun to Alex's forehead but the other seem not to matter.
"Then do it. Why don't you? It'll be a lot easier won't it? You'll be able to get away with the project and you'll be able to shut me up." Donna hid the gun away angrily and glared at Alex.
"Will you stop playing these frustrating mind games with me Alex! Look… just return to them without any questions will you… please." She tiredly said as she began to walk again.
Silence begun to grow between them as they continued to walk for two hours or so then they took a break.
Donna is having a slight fever because of fatigue and tiredness… her body is tired and if she continue it, she might lose her strength. She breathe deeply as her whole body felt a rushing heat wave inside it.
"Donna… are you alright?"
"Yeah… I am, now leave me alone and think of the people whom you'll see again later. Don't worry, you'll see them soon. I know you miss them." Donna lied but in reality her whole body aches…
"But…"
"Just don't mind me."
"Fine… then I'll get the project myself. I'm an agent too you know." And with that she stood up and was about to get Donna's bag when Donna forced her body to interfere and blocked Alex out of the way.
"Alex… please… don't make me fight you."
"Why then? Answer me."
"I-… can't. I just can't"
"Why can't you fight me then!"
"Let's go… it's almost time." She grabbed her bag and headed to the same track again. After some minutes, they arrived at the cliff but no one is there yet.
"Donna! Stop avoiding me!" she took her hand. Donna turned around and watched Alex's determined face. Eager for the answers she withheld within her.
"Why can't you just let me be Alex? Why do you want to get these answers so much? Do you have to or… do you want to?"
"I… want to."
"Why can't you just let me protect you?"
"Because I have to have a reason why you're doing it for me."
"Do you really want to know why I did those things?"
"I do."
"Here's the answer." Donna let the bag fall to the ground wrapped her arm around Alex's waist swiftly and lifted the latter's chin gently with her right hand.
"Donna… what are you…?"
"I love you." And she sealed it with a passionate kiss. Both closed their eyes slowly, both enjoying the moment of bliss pleasure that the kiss gave them.
Donna pushed Alex away. Then turned her back on her.
"There… you have it. I loved you Alex. The reason why my mission all fumbled up for the first time. You."
"Donna… I…" Donna faced her expecting her to say (I hate you…) but at the exact moment however a helicopter suddenly appeared out of nowhere and landed near them.
"Alex!" A blond girl exclaimed and quickly aimed at Donna…
"You're going to pay for whatever you did to Alex"
"NO!... Clover don't… I'll arrest her. Please don't hurt her… she's been injured enough trying to save me."
"Save you?"
"I'll tell you all later but please don't be harsh on her." But it was too late… another WHOOP agent attacked Donna.
Donna on the other hand jumped and kicked him at the neck. Then she took out the gun and aimed it at her own head.
"Donna don't!" Alex cried as Donna smiled at her.
"I won't let myself be captured Alex… ever." She was about to trigger it but Sam quickly froze her with a new gadget.
"Freezing perfume. Hi there Alex." Sam said then Alex hugged her friends happily and tearfully but this didn't lasted long because Jerry was ordering the others to get Donna's body to the copter.
"Jerry look. I have to explain something."
"Whatever it is Alex I won't change my mind on capturing her. She still stole the gadgets. And congratulations on the good job. You've managed to stop her from giving it to the enemy though we still have no idea whom it is ."
"But Jerry she saved my life…"
"No buts. Personal things such as that are not relevant in your missions. The decisions will still lie on her recent actions with what she stole." He said sadly and entered the copter.
"Alex… what's wrong with you? Why are you trying to lift Donna's punishment? Isn't she your enemy? Our… enemy?" Sam asked as a tear fell from Alex's eye.
"Yeah and she kidnapped you." Clover said cluelessly as Alex just glared at her.
"What?" Clover asked turning to Sam but Sam glared as well then she just shrugged and entered the other copter.
6:34 pm Sam's house.
Alex explained everything to them.
"What! She loved you!" Clover exclaimed and stood up so quickly the pillow on her lap fell on the rug.
"So… that's the reason why she saved you. She have done so many things for you. Wow… almost like a prince charming except… well… she isn't a prince." Sam paused and watched Alex sigh again and stared blankly at the window.
"So what are you going to do now?" Sam asked silently as Alex turned her head to her friends.
"I don't know…"
"What do you feel about Donna then?" Clover cut in as Alex blushed.
"Do you like her as well?" Sam asked interestedly.
"I… don't know Sam. But I know she's not the bad guy here. Something is not right." Sam raised an eyebrow while continuing to watch their friend.
"What do you mean not right?"
"Well first of all… all of you searched the area right?"
"Yup…"
"Then had you found any lodge in the area or near it?"
"Lodge? You mean like a wooden house or something like that?"
Alex nodded. And the two are still trying to answer her guessing game.
"So what?"
"We stayed there remember? But when I was still there… it was kind of weird… I hadn't seen any living animals in the woods. Not even heard birds chirping."
Alex nodded again when she saw Sam's mouth gaped open in shock.
"You mean the old lady in the lodge isn't really a civilian there."
"Yes, and second I think we're inside a dome, an invisible and protected dome… they might have thought they fooled us very well. I was too worried about Donna then that I hadn't realized the place."
"So… this means the old lady who took care of the two of you is the enemy in disguise?" Clover jumped up as she smiled at the others.
"Let's go to Jerry." The two understood and followed her.
7:29 pm Jerry's Office
After sliding and looping in a new entrance again the girls finally found Jerry. Then gave their guesses to him.
"Very good, good work Alex. Wise deduction and observation."
"SO what did you do to Donna?" Clover asked as Jerry smiled.
"Don't worry, she's alright. We sent her first to the medics then put her to a prison cell. We haven't decided yet, so we just confined her until we finally know why she took it and her reasons. And talking about reasons… Alex I think you could reason with her and ask her what's hers." Then they grinned at her annoyingly. Alex grumbled and sighed.
"Okay Jerry… fine. And stop giving me that look guys… I mean it." She faced her back and headed to the WHOOP jail cells.
"349… 349… here it is. Hey why is this cell so guarded?" she asked her self as a number of doors opened up before she was able to reach Donna's cell.
When she entered the dimly lit room she saw Donna staring up the ceiling while lying on the bed.
"Alex… I wonder what she's doing now… Probably having a fun time with her friends… well at least she doesn't have enough troubles now…"
"I just wish the best for her. But now I'm a disgrace to our family. Not only am I a failure in being an agent but if they also found out that I'm a lesbian then heh… what the heck… I'm sure they're cursing me right now anyway." She gave the ceiling a sad smile and closed her eyes.
"Alex… if only you knew how much I fell in loved with you. But no… I know it wouldn't change anything."
"How would you know then?" Alex blurted out as Donna shut her eyes open and swiftly turned her face to Alex's direction.
"Alex…?"