"Why are we here?" Zehra asked me.

DOES SHE NEVER PAY ATTENTION?! Ugh. Soooo irresponsible.

"Professor Von Drake is going to give us a mission. REMEMBER?!" I shout at my little sister.

Her brown hair spins around, and her hazel eyes stare me dead in our seats.

"Why are you raising your voice?"

... Shoot.

"I'm not. I'm just getting sick and tired of you never listening. I have a life too, you know. Just because something is boring, doesn't mean it's not important. Start to look out for yourself! I'm busy..."

"Yeah. Busy scheming! Ugh, you sound like Matt..." Her voice dies out. "Oh... right.. um, sorry..."

Ever since Matt ran away, we've been cautious around this subject. We both loved him very much... until he... he left.

Were we not good enough? Did he not get enough love? Was he being picked on or something?

These thoughts and more ran through my mind when the chatting around us quieted down and the director of S.H.U.S.H entered the room.

"Now that we are all here. We need to discuss who will infiltrate Scrooge McDuck's manor and take back the Golden Spyglass the artifact that can find anyone, anywhere, from anyplace." Von Drake told us.

"Obviously, it should be someone older and more sophisticated than-" Jane glanced over at me and my sister. "-Children." She finished giving us a disapproval look.

Zehra looked down at the ground as Dad slowly put her in the chair next to him and Mom. I merely scowled at Jane.

Jane worked odd job around Duckberg. Usually you'd see her as a waiter at Funzo's or catering a big event like the annual IT event.

But secretly she was a S.H.U.S.H agent working along side us, and a real pain in the-

"Athena!"

I jumped and looked straight ahead.

"You know the most about Scrooge McDuck and his family." The director told the room. "Tell me, why would Scrooge keep a most valuable artifact to himself and not hand it over to S.H.U.S.H to better be kept in our archives and safe from F.O.W.L?" He asked.

I swallowed hard and looked around the room. All eyes were on me. I closed my eyes took a deep breath then opened them again before answering.

"I- I assume... Sir... That is is because he is looking for... For Della Duck." I finally answered. "He'd also would have the artifact in his Other Bin. The one he keeps underneath his mansion..."

I knew more about Scrooge then possibly anyone else.

Learning about him was one of my passions. He was just so...

Awesome.

A Legend.

I want to be like him one day.

If I was lucky, maybe he can adopt me and take me away from my own family.

But...

That was wishful thinking. And I could never leave Zehra... I don't want to hurt her more than she already is. She was hit the most when Matt left...

The director hummed at my answer, lacing his fingers and leaning back in his seat. He stared at me, and I squirmed in my seat as my chest tighten making it hard for me to breath.

I hated to be in the spotlight. I didn't like the unwanted attention, the feeling of crowds gave me anxiety, and I could barely focus on what was being said whenever I feel claustrophobic.

Like now...

"If that is the case, Sir." Mom spoke up, "Don't you think we ought to let him keep it? At least, until the girl is found?"

The Director shook his head.

"No. We need the spyglass now. If F.O.W.L gets their hands on it... They could find anyone, and I mean anyone,living or dead, to come and finish us and the world off. No. We have to take it from him, and now." The Director told her.

"W- Who's going to get the mission? Sir?" One of the operatives asked.

I looked over at him.

Theo was his name.

He was one of the newer recruits and a bit to eager to take on a first mission. I don't really like him. His eyes were to close together and the way he always looks at me and Zehra. Like he always knew something I didn't. Made me like him even less.

He cornered me in the hallway once while I was walking back to my room.

Told me I was beautiful and that I see him noticing me, and didn't take to kindly when I ignore him. He then put a hand up my skirt and I quickly kicked him in the shins, ordering him not to ever touch me or talk to me again, as he bent over and groaned loudly before running off and away from him.

But now that we are in the same room.

I can still feel his eyes traveling over to me, making me even more uncomfortable. I don't even talk to Zehra about Theo... It's too weird.

I just want this meeting to end.

So I could go back to my room and read some good romance books. Where the guys are always so sweet and not creepy like him. I don't even care if I didn't get this mission.

Oh God! I thought suddenly. What if Theo and I get paired for a mission together? What was I going to do about hislustybehaviortowards me then?

I cringed at the thought as I heard my name again.

"Yes...Yes?" I stammered, tearing my eyes away from Theo he snickered at how unfocused I was on the meeting.

"You and Zehra will take this mission." The Director told me.

I opened my mouth to protest as Zehra squealed with excitement.

I wasn't ready for another mission so soon. Not after what happened with our brother.

What if I screwed up again?

"Sir..." I choked out as whispered erupted around the long table.

Dad was beaming over at me, but Mom... her eyes narrowed when I spoke. I knew what she was thinking, I knew I was risking asking this, but, the feeling of being in a closed space, and the memories of my last mission flashing across my mind ignored it.

"I - I can't do this mission." I said, loudly over the whispers.

The whispering stopped...

Mom's upper bill curled into an irritated snarl while the Director looked at me with concern.

"May I ask why?" He asked.

I looked down at the table as I felt a lump form in my throat and swallowed hard as I whispered.

"Matt..."

Mom shot up from the table just then.

"I'm sorry, sir." Mom said, "she'll take the mission. We'll have her and her sister ready to leave as soon as possible."

I feel Mom grab me by the back of my shirt and hauled me out of the room, slamming the door behind us. She let go of me and pushed me forward making me stumble and fall and as I try to get up she put a foot on my back and held me in place.

She bends down so close to my face that I could feel her hot breath caressing my neck, making me cringe.

I could feel my bones cracking underneath her feet.

My physical body wasn't as beefy looking as the rest of the agents of S.H.U.S.H. I wasn't skilled at combat. All I seemed to be good at was a crossbow and knowing how things would turn out.

Like now.

The moment I mentioned Matt.

I knew I was in trouble.

With Mom especially.

I don't know why she hates me so much. I know she does. She tells me every time we are alone together. Like now...

"God! I hate you." She hissed in my ear. "Haven't I told you never to mention that disappointments name in my presence?" She snapped at me.

"Mom..." I whispered. "Please... Your hurting me." I whimpered.

I hear her snicker and she just kept digging her foot on my back.

I know better then to yelp, then to scream. It would come back worse for me if I did.

"You mess up on this mission, Athena, I won't hesitate to hurt you even worse." She threatened.

I feel her lift her foot off my back. I could already feel the bruise forming and as I struggled to get up I feel a couple of my rib cages contract and I couldn't hold back a small cry this time.

Mom scoffed at me, then, turned to head back into the meeting room her hand on the doorknob.

"Go. Get ready for the mission. Athena. I will have Zehra brief you on what you missed. You won't embarrass me any more today."

"Why...?" I whispered, taking a chance at asking.

Mom glanced over at me and raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you hate me so much?" I asked.

I looked up at her with tears swelling in my eyes.

"Why?" Mom repeated. "Because, Athena, you are weak. You are pathetic, and an embarrassment to this family. Just like your mother was." She snapped.

I blinked.

Yeah.

You heard right.

The woman standing in front of me wasn't my real mother.

My real mother was dead.

Dad remarried a few years after that and now I was stuck with a horrible new step-mother who also had two kids of her own.

Matt and Zehra.

How was it that even with such a big family I feel so alone? I thought as I watch the only person I ever known as my Mom, open the door back to the meeting room, and slam it shut behind her. I looked around the empty hallway and slowly lifted my knees up to my chest and hugged them tightly.

So...

Utterly...

Alone...

The door to the meeting room creaked open and Zehra poked her head out. She saw me on the floor and gave me a small smile as she came forward, keeping her hands behind her back as she closed the door quietly behind her.

"Hey." She whispered.

She knelt in front of me and frowned when she saw the tears streaming down my face.

"Hey." I replied back in a small voice.

"I'm sorry." Zehra told me and removed her hands behind her back to reveal my crossbow.

She held it out to me and I stared at it for a long time before taking it gently from her with shaky hands.

I suddenly felt a bit better as I gripped the handmade wood. The only thing I had left of my real mother.

My step-mom had taken it awhile back and I hadn't seen it since. How Zerha knew how and where to get it was beyond me. But I was greatful none the less.

I clinched it close to my chest before whispering a thank you.

Zehra smiled at me again and helped me to my feet. I winced at the pain from my back and Zehra opened her mouth to ask but I quickly shook my head silencing her.

I have kept quiet about our mother's abuse she had done and is still doing to me.

After the way Zehra's brother turned out, Zehra didn't need anymore disappointment in her life.

"Come on." I tell her as I forced a smile. "Let's get ready for our mission."

Zehra pierced her bill together and I was almost certain she wasn't going let what happen go, but she just sighed and nodded as she lead me away from the meeting room and to our living quarters.

I love Zehra. She's a good sister. She cares for me, and wouldn't hurt me. I just hope that our bond is stronger than the one she has with her mom...