Keeper of His Heart
Chapter 6
After her encounter with the O.R.A.I.C agent (and subsequently Clover), Sam had made several careful detours to ensure that she had not been followed. Darting into a dark alleyway, she had done a hasty but thorough check of her clothing, backpack, and person.
Just to make sure that the O.R.A.I.C agent hadn't slipped any tracking devices on her.
Sam did not find anything, but that did nothing to ease the internal debate she was having with herself.
Sam you must be crazy… Why oh why did you give him the rat poison? Terence's going to be pissed! She slapped herself a couple of times on the cheek in a bid to shock herself out of her stupor.
But she did know why she had done so.
Because he had shown her kindness and some element of trust (although in a rather twisted manner). Because she felt a pull towards him, a mysterious pull that she couldn't explain, which was causing her insides twisted into knots.
It was nearly five in the morning when Sam finally returned to her underground headquarters, filled with much apprehension. She wasn't sure how Terence was going to react upon finding out that she hadn't brought back the rat poison as requested.
Terence had the habit of staying up to wait for his associates whenever they were out on a mission. Hence, it was no surprise to Sam when she noted that the lights were on in the Control Room.
As she approached, she internally rehearsed again and again what she would tell her leader. For all intent and purposes, she was going to leave out the fact that she had willingly gave up the rat poison. Instead, she was about to weave a tale regarding Tim stealing the rat poison from her after she had nicked it.
Sam knocked on the open door of the room to announce her arrival. Her leader was there, seated behind a desk and appeared deep in thought.
What surprised Sam was to see another person in the room. Wayne Franklin was lying comfortably on the red chaise lounge, reading a book. Both men straightened up in their seats when she entered.
What's he doing here…She groaned. It's bad enough that I'm going to get a tongue lashing from Terence…No need for an audience to see that…
Unlike her easy-going relationship with Shane, tension had always been existing between her and Wayne. More than once, the man had openly expressed his dislike for her, and his opinion that she was not worthy enough to join the ranks. Her, a young woman with no memory, and a burden self-defence wise, having to be trained from the basics. Wayne's eyes too, were always shifty, as if he were going to pounce the moment she makes a mistake. It always put Sam on a nervous edge.
Tonight was no exception.
At that moment, those judgmental eyes peered out over the book he was reading, glancing at her warily. She sent him a terse nod before turning her attention to her leader.
"You're later than usual." Terence remarked as she walked over to him.
"Trouble in paradise I'm assuming." Wayne commented dryly from the other end of the room. Sam shot him a glare.
"Ignore him Samantha. You know how he is." Terence said lazily. The man was used to defusing the arguments between his two younger associates. "What have you got for me?"
Still riled up at Wayne, Sam said nothing. She dropped her black backpack on the table roughly.
"Well?" Her leader was getting impatient at her lack of response.
Slowly, Sam unzipped the bag. Her palms were sweating as she took out each item carefully. The welding supplies, glue guns and the small bundles of electrical wires. Once she was done, Sam stopped in her movement.
Terence surveyed the loot. "And the rat poison?" He demanded, arching an eyebrow.
Sam gulped, looking away from her leader's intense stare. "There was some…trouble Terence. I nicked it, but an O.R.A.I.C agent stopped me and took the rat poison…I'm sorry."
There was a momentary lull in the room before a full-on explosion happened.
"You let the rat poison get STOLEN by O.R.A.I.C? You don't have it?! Samantha, did I not instil the importance of the rat poison to you before you left? It is a vital ingredient to the next stop of our plans! And you FAILED to bring it back?!"
Sam winced as the words of accusation were flung in her direction. Terence was on the rampage and there was nothing she could do to stop it. "I didn't mean to I swear!"
"Your MISTAKE Samantha is going to set us BACK by WEEKS! And since O.R.A.I.C now has the rat poison, they'll have an idea of what we are up to! It will be nearly IMPOSSIBLE to PROCURE any rat poison now!" Terence shouted, his face turning redder by the minute.
"I tried to snatch it back, I really did! But he duped me! And then he called for backup, so I had no choice but to run!" Mixed with partial truths, the lies flowed easily through her lips. Sam had known that the rat poison was important, but the full extent of her actions never occurred to her until then. Despite her suspicions about her leader and her past, she still felt her stomach drop in dread and shame.
"He? WHO?" Her leader thundered suddenly. "WHO was the O.R.A.I.C agent? Not those two pesky superspies I'm assuming?" He demanded heatedly. "You should have the ability to best those two spies do you not?"
Shakily, Sam described the O.R.A.I.C agent she had encountered as best as could, realizing only then that she didn't know his name. She told Terence an abridge version of the events that had occurred as well (leaving out some crucial details like how the O.R.A.I.C agent had accused Terence of fraud, or the fact that she had willingly handed over the rat poison).
"I know who you're talking about." Terence hissed in a low tone. Most of his initial outburst anger had subsided, leaving behind a hidden fury. Sam observed with a bated breath as her leader's fist clenched, and he gritted his teeth. "Tim Scam. That double crosser."
His name is Tim…Tim Scam. It was nice to put a name to the face. Just the thought of his name sent shivers down her spine.
"I'll get you Tim Scam. You'll pay the day you double-crossed me. You'll pay!" Terence said to himself, shaking his clenched fist for emphasis.
Without warning, Terence spun around and glared at Sam once more. His two hands landed on the table with a loud bang as he leaned across it, scrutinizing her carefully. "What did that double-crosser tell you?"
"Nothing! He told me nothing!" Sam shook her head, internally debating on what she should say.
"Don't lie to me girl!" Terence seethed. Sam recoiled at the expression but stood firm on her ground.
"He said that he knows you, that he once worked for you! And he told me to send you his regards! He looks forward to the day where you two will meet again!" She finally blurted. Her fingers were crossed behind her, hoping that her leader wouldn't see through her lie.
Apparently, that was enough to satisfy Terence, for he scoffed and moved away from her. "I had my suspicions that that man would work for O.R.A.I.C….Pff, that double-crosser. He won't be so lucky this time. I look forward to meeting him too."
Abruptly, Terence fixed his gaze on her again. "You are dismissed Samantha." He said finally. "But I must say I'm very disappointed in you. I expected better next time." The tone of displeasure was clear.
Sam could practically picture the expression of delight that must be on Wayne's face now. Her cheeks burned at the biting meaning behind her leader's cold words. She lowered her head in shame.
"Yes Terence. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." She muttered.
"Make sure it be so. Now go. I need some time to think on how best to…proceed with our plans." Just like that, Sam was dismissed.
Sam gathered her things quickly and scuttered away, completely ignoring the triumph smirk that was plastered on Wayne's face.
A shower and a two-hour nap later, Sam's mood had improved drastically. The time lag had allowed her mind to fully absorb the weight of the possible scenario that Tim Scam had revealed to her. With her emotions no longer running all over the place, she could finally think things through with a clear head.
Terence had always drilled into her the consequences of allowing one's emotions to rule over one's actions, so Sam had wisely waited until she had calmed down somewhat to look at things rationally.
Alone in her room, Sam sat down on her desk. She was a visual person by nature, so the redhead picked up her pen and proceeded to sort her thoughts out on paper.
Firstly, she established several things she knew were undisputable, cold hard facts.
Things that I know:
1) I have no memory of anything that has happened the past twenty plus years of my life, with exception of the past seven months.
2) My name is Samantha. Surname unknown.
3) I've been getting snippets of things that I believe are flashbacks from my memories.
4) These memories started when I first encounter Clover and Alex (O.R.A.I.C agents), and they also happened when I met Tim (O.R.A.I.C agent).
5) Terence, Shane, and Wayne are hiding something from me.
The last item she added as an afterthought. She always had an inkling that her leader, as well as her fellow associates, knew more than they let on. It had been obvious, particularly right at the start not long after she regained consciousness. Hints had come in the form of pointed looks, hushed whispers, and awkward skirting of subjects whenever she had been "too inquisitive" (in Shane's words).
The first list was the simple part; the tough part came with trying to break down the other things Sam was unsure about. And that included the possibility that everything she had ever known in the past seven months being a lie. With a growing headache, Sam began writing a second list:
Things I need to know:
1)Who is telling the truth: Terence or Tim Scam? What happened a year ago exactly?
2) If Terence is lying, why lie? What is my role in his plans?
3) If Tim is lying, why? What does he achieve by lying about what happened? What is motive in getting close to me?
4) How did I lose my memories? There is a time lapse of five months between the incident a year ago and when I first regained consciousness. What happened during the missing five months?
5) How can I go about regaining my missing memories? Would spending more time with the people that triggered the memories (Tim, Alex, and Clover) help? Will I ever remember?
6) Am I a formal W.O.O.H.P agent?
Reviewing her second list again, Sam chewed on her lower lip before writing "RESEARCH" in block letters next to bullet points #1 and #5. Bullet points #1 to #3 were the most pertinent ones now. And seeing as how points two and three could only be answered when the truth about point #1 has been uncovered, it proved the urgency of research.
Not only that, there's also Tim's proposed deadline of Friday night to consider…
Looking back, Sam noted with some disgust that she should have done research regarding Point #5 months ago. Amnesia was a tricky yet common phenomena that was well-studied on.
But back then, she had been so vulnerable…and so eager to please her new leader. She had taken things at face value and trusted in Terence's words that her memory would return with time. It had taken a prep talk by Tim Scam (someone who is supposedly thy enemy) for her to truly comes to terms with the extent of control Terence Lewis had over her life.
Terence dictated what she could wear (disguises in public places), how she could act (keep to yourself and not speak unless spoken to), and even her self-worth (do her part well, and without question). It made Sam shudder at how much she had never questioned Terence's judgements (at least not out loud).
Until now.
The logical part in Sam's mind knew that the simplest way to solve her whole internal debate was to do some research. With the seed of doubt planted in her mind, she would always be second guessing Terence's motives and actions unless she knew the truth.
However, Sam had to admit that she feared what she would find. Both prospects were equally daunting and would result in her having to make some important decisions.
Sam scanned the clock on her wall. It was barely nine in the morning on a Wednesday. She couldn't afford to do her research here. Apart from the fact that someone could walk in on her at any minute, she didn't trust that Terence wouldn't keep tabs on her internet access on the prepaid mobile phone. Walls had ears after all.
Looks like a trip to the Internet Café is in order. Sam decided. And maybe even the public library… I bet they'll have interesting stuff related to amnesia…
"Going somewhere?" Just as Sam was about to leave their underground headquarters, she ran into Wayne. The well-built man was directly blocking her path to the exit. He surveyed her outfit.
Sam donned her trademark brown wig but had elected to leave out her contacts. The hair of her wig was tied back into a loose ponytail. She was dressed simply in dark blue jeans and a light yellow, off-the-shoulder top. A light jacket with a hoodie completed her casual look. She carried a small sling bag.
Her emerald eyes flared up as she glared at the man before her. She hadn't forgotten the fact that Wayne had been present when Terence had lost his temper with her.
"None of your business." She hissed, side-stepping to get past the man.
Holding a hand up to stop her, Wayne blocked her action easily.
"Let me go!"
"Where are you headed?" He challenged; eyes boring into hers.
"I don't see how it is any of your business."
"It is if you are going to jeopardise our plans again." The man stated, crossing his arms across his broad chest.
Sam drew in a breath with a long hiss in a bid to curb her temper. Wayne is doing this deliberately to rile me up… I will not fall victim to his plans…
"For your information," she finally stated in a low tone, "I was going to fix what I have…jeopardised."
"And how are you going to do that?" Wayne answered immediately. "The police are of high-alert for you."
"I'm going out to do some research on other places which I can get rat poison." She retaliated. "Unlike someone I know who is just wasting valuable time." She directed her last comment at Wayne with a pointed glare.
Sam could see Wayne's eyes were glowing with fury and his chest was heaving in anger, but her associate did not comment. Neither did he react when Sam roughly brushed past him and stalked to the exit.
Two hours later…
My god…Tim was telling the truth…
Tucked inconspicuously at a corner booth in the Internet Café, Sam could only stare shell-shocked at the screen.
She had simply keyed in "W.O.O.H.P explosion" in the search engine and dozens of articles had popped up. Each word she read on the search engine had sent shockwaves of denial through her soul. Numb, she clicked on the first article the search engine had generated. It was written by a renowned news reporting company. The title had said it all.
Thousands killed in W.O.O.H.P explosion, group responsible still at large.
Not believing her eyes, Sam continued to skim the article. It had been written a year ago, detailing the events of the tragic accident that had hit a few days before Christmas. Sam's heart lurched in her throat as she looked through the photographs that were attached to the article.
One eerie photograph depicted what was left of a building with tongues of flames leaping out of it. Policemen and firefighters on the ground were scrambling to find and rescue survivors. As she stared at the licking flames, Sam was horrified to feel a familiar sense of déjà vu creep up upon her.
In her mind's eye, she saw herself looking down upon the same burning building. She could feel the hot tears stinging her eyes and her frantic screaming (muffled by a gag). The pain that pierced through her heart was too realistic to be false.
I was there! Sam realized, barely able to breathe as the truth hit home. I saw W.O.O.H.P go down! I was on a jet plane, bound and gagged, but I was there!
Silent tears trickled down her cheeks as Sam struggled not to break down then and there. It was all too much to bear.
A few minutes later, she managed to compose herself enough to look through the rest of the accompanied photographs to the article. One showed officers' loading gurney bags into the back of a van. There were so many black bags that it was hard for Sam to even comprehend.
When she got to the mug shots of Shane, Wayne, and Terence, as well as the accompanying captions that denounced them as the culprits, Sam felt her world was collapsing before her very eyes.
Everything that I thought I knew…is a lie.
TERENCE was the one that caused the explosion. Not Jerry.
They…kidnapped me!
Then…this means that…TERENCE was responsible for killing my family and friends…
My god…I've been working for the criminal?!
Completely robbed of speech, Sam sat motionlessly and let the angry tears flow.
Cat's out of the bag now, at least for Sam.
Hope you guys liked this! It was a really wild emotional roller-coaster ride trying to write Sam's internal debate and her finding out.
Thanks Cresenta's Lark and Sammi for the reviews~ For everyone else, I hope you guys are enjoying this story too!
Until next time,
TrixieNancy