8.
"Hi Mom..." I whispered; a huge grin on my face. I could hear her laughing and crying on the other end of the phone.
"Oh, my..." she trailed off. "Is- is- is- that you really you? My baby girl?"
I nodded, before remembering that she couldn't see me. "It's me, Momma. It's really me," I smiled. Thousands of memories washed over me so fast that I got a headache.
"How are you, Mikky?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"I'm fine, Mom," I replied, my whole face bright.
"How's your father?" she asked. I froze. She didn't know that Dad and I were spies/assassins, and she didn't know that he'd died. After a minute, she sounded worried. "Mikayla? Is everything alright?"
I took a deep breath. "I ran away, Mom," I changed the subject. She sensed it.
"What's up with Charl?" she asked; a worried tone in her voice.
"He..." I trailed off. "He died, Mom. Two years ago he died."
She gasped. "How?"
"I- I don't know," I lied. I hated lying to my own mother, but if it protected her then I'll do whatever it takes.
"So, you ran away?" she asked, understanding that talking about Dad was a soft subject.
"Yes, before Dad died, he sent me to Gallagher Academy –you know, the posh school in Roseville – and I guess I just got a little worked up and I ran away," I spoke softly, the smile gone from my face.
"Roseville?" she asked. "Oh, baby girl. I wish I could come get you, but I'm in Italy on tour. Where are you going to go?"
I guess I should explain. My mom is a singer. She left when I was three to 'fulfil her singing career' and I suppose I was never really mad at her. I was three after all. I haven't heard from her for 10 years, when she came to visit on my 5th birthday while she was touring in Ohio, where I lived with my aunt. That was the last time Dad and Mom were in the same room together. They got a divorce.
"I'm going to travel the country," I joked. I overheard her talking about wanting to travel the world on my 5th birthday.
She laughed; a laugh I hadn't heard in years. "Don't drink too much," she chuckled. "Seriously, where are you going to go? I may not have custody of you, but I still care."
The conversation threatened to take a turn for the worse. "I'll go to Dad's sister. You remember Holly, right? She lives in Ohio still."
"Okay, baby girl, but I want to keep in touch with you. Ring me, email me, text me, whatever, got it?"
"Yes, Mom," I replied, rolling my eyes.
"Come on, LeeLee!" I heard someone shout.
"I'll be there in a second," my mom shouted to them. "Look, Mikky," she said into the phone. "I have to go, I have a gig. I love you, see you."
She hung up before I had time to say goodbye. For the rest of the day, I sat there, wondering what I was to do next. My clock chimed at midnight, and my head snapped up. I rang an old friend.
"It's Cary, this is my fake number, goodbye," the recording said. Other people would've hung up straight away, I knew otherwise. After three seconds, his voice came again.
"Cary Smith, what do you want?" he said rather rudely.
I laughed. "Jeez, Uncle Cary. You've grown up!" I said like a mother. Cary was my mom's best friend; he looked after me at Christmas and summer vacation.
"Hey, Mikky. See, I have to go. I'm meeting your mom in Rome tomorrow and I have to set off. Sorry, man," he said.
I sighed. "Okay, dude, see you."
"Hey, come home soon though, yeah?"
Home. The word was foreign to me. I didn't know what home was anymore. I'd moved around so much, I never registered what home actually was.
"Yeah, of course," I said before hanging up.
The next day, at 6am, I paid for the room, and moved out. I went to the hairdressers, making sure to keep my head down, and got my hair dyed maroon then I had extensions glued in to make my hair longer.
Shopping next. I went to the mall, and bought loads of expensive stuff. I was going to spend all my time in Roseville, just relaxing. I never wanted to move further from the academy in case any thing happens.
For the next week, I moved from hotel to hotel, never staying longer than a day. It may have been pointless, but I had a heck load of spies tracking me down. Not that they could. I'm one of the best. I was a Robinson.
On my last day before going back to the academy, I went out to the local diner, just to grab a burger. Big mistake.
Cammie was there.
She knew I'd go there. She was good. I ordered and sat at a booth, noticing her coming over and sitting opposite me. For a minute or two, we were quiet, both of us wondering what to say.
I broke the silence. "I know some things about your dad." As soon as I said it, I regretted it.
The pain evident in her eyes, made me want to shrivel up and die.
I continued. "When we went under lockdown, he was outside with the CoC leader..." I trailed off.
"No! He wouldn't be with them!" she growled defensively.
I dropped the subject, knowing it hurt her. "How has it been without me?" I asked. "Any attacks? Anything I should know about?"
She shook her head. "Mom had everyone out looking for you-" I cut her off. Putting the pieces together.
"You're bate..." I said. "They sent you out here as bate to get me. You've got to go back, Cameron! Now!" I hissed. "The CoC are everywhere, they want both of us, and it doesn't help that we're next to each other. Pass me your comms."
She hung her head in shame; she'd just failed her mission most likely. She handed it over. "Solomon?" I spoke.
"Yes?" he said.
"How dare you use one of my sisters as bate!" I whisper-hissed. "I'll be back when I'm back. Now, take all the girls back to the academy then meet me at the gazebo."
I paid for my uneaten food and stood up at the same time Cammie stood up. I hugged her, telling her to stay safe.
"Hey," she yelled. "Loving your new hairstyle." She winked at me.
I just laughed, before walking back to my hotel room.
Later on, I walked to the gazebo, noticing the broad outline of Solomon. I stood behind him. "How dare you compromise Cameron's safety," I growled. He turned around at the sound of my voice. "Who do you think you are putting Cameron in that kind of danger? You know that the Circle have people everywhere, yet you still use her as bate."
He opened his mouth, as if to argue, but I held a hand up to him, cutting him off. "I'm not arguing, Solomon. I didn't ask you here so we could argue. I came here to warn you."
He shut his mouth, while his eyebrows furrowed together. "Warn me?"
"Yes," I nodded. "Cassandra knows you have Morgan's journal. She's coming to get you."
"No," he retorted. "I don't have it. Rachel..." has it. I thought. His eyes widened in understanding. He knew that if Cassandra got near him, then he would put the whole school in danger. "I'm staying to protect her, and Cammie."
"You have to run, Solomon! Hide! Do whatever you can to stay off the grid!" I growled in his ear.
He shook his head. "I said no. If they come to get me, then I'll be ready. I need the resources to protect myself and others. I need you," he stated. "Yes, you have the connections, the resources, the safe houses. I need you."
It was my turn to shake my head. "I'm not fighting her. She'll bring back-up, and not just Morgan. She'll bring everyone she has. She'll be more prepared than we could be. She knows when she'll attack – if she attacks. She could attack tomorrow and we won't be ready. I'm not fighting her."
He nodded, understanding.
"So," I said, changing the subject. "When's this dance?"
He smiled, knowing where I was headed with this. "6pm tomorrow. Don't be late."
"Cover?" I asked.
He thought for a second. "Be your mother; let's see what they think of that."
I nodded, "Until next time, Solomon." I disappeared before he could reply.
The morning after, I went to the mall and bought a new dress for the ball. It was a beautiful dark purple and black corset type strapless silk dress. It was fitted until my waist, where it floated out down to the floor. The torso was a black lace corset on top of the purple silk.
I also bought black earrings with purple diamonds and a black necklace. My shoes were black peep toe heels.
When I'd finished shopping, I went back to the hotel, and got ready. I had a minimal amount of make-up, and my hair was dyed back to my normal brown locks and floating down my shoulder.
I knew I had to arrive in style, so since I was two miles from the academy, I rang a couple of people, trying to pull a few favours. After two hours, I finally got a limousine coming to pick me up. I paid for my room, and waited outside the hotel.
I wasn't waiting long, because as soon as I set foot outside the hotel, it pulled up. I stepped in, and rode to the academy. We pulled up at the gate, and a guard came up to the window.
"Name?" he asked.
I smiled. "Leah Robinson, I'm expected," I said, smirking at him. He let me through, and we drove to the front of the school.
Thanking the chauffeur, I stepped out and walked up the steps. Just as I was about to open the door, I inhaled deeply, closing my eyes.
Come on, Mikayla. You're not Mikayla Robinson tonight. You're Leah Robinson, superstar and millionaire. You're your mother.
I finally grew the courage to push the ivory doors open and go inside. No one was in the foyer – as expected – and I could hear the faint melody of Beethoven floating from the Grand Hall, so that's where I headed.
The doors were shut, telling me that the party was in session. Time to spice things up.
I threw the doors wide open, everyone's attention turning to me. No one spoke, no one moved.
"I was told we were having a dance. I'm not missing that!" I spoke, laughing and mingling in with the crowd as they carried on. It was an exam, either way, so they couldn't blow there cover.
Home. I now know what home is.
This was more of a filler I guess. I didn't like the idea that she ran away in the last chapter so this was sort of the chapter to get back on track.
Sneak Peak?
They were here. They had back-up. They had the upper hand. That was the only thing on my mind as I fell into darkness. Screams were all I heard as the pain took over.