Chapter 13

Millicent's POV

I'm so excited. It's been quiet here at SKUL for the last week or so but not anymore. The Grand Master's 'Grand Plan' to kidnap and eliminate MI9 agents is going well, very well indeed. So far we've got rid of three adult agents, not counting those who've… met unfortunate ends before we could get hold of them but the information we've… gathered, no, extracted. Extracted is a much better word. What was I saying? Oh yes, the information we've extracted from the three adult agents has allowed us to capture another MI9 agent. This time, it's one of the children – the Dixon-Halliday boy even. It's definitely him, the file in my hand says so and I remember him. I've not been here very long but how would I forget the boy who not only helped Honey Harper rescue the Swan baby, but was there with Honey Harper when operation "poison sweets" was… stopped.

This will be fun, sweet revenge for everything he and his little blond girly have done. I smirked, remembering that The General has been sent off to Africa as punishment – the Grand Master really isn't happy with her. At least she won't be here to interfere when we kill her little brat. He had the choice of joining the greatest criminal organisation in the whole world but no, he chooses to follow his pathetic MI9 agent of a father. He could have become one of us! But then again, who needs another teen running around here with their sarky comments about everything, shoulder shrugging, not really caring about anything except going goggle-eyed over girls, especially those wearing short skirts. I've seen the way Oscar stares at Honey Harper. God how I detest that girl. She gives me the creeps with her 'look at me, I'm Honey Harper and I'm full of sunshine and joy and I go rescuing babies and get my friends shot' simper, simper, girly giggle. But it will be worth it, just to listen to Oscar scream as we slowly and very very painfully kill him.

I smiled evilly and waited. They should be here by now. As on cue, the boy was dragged in by SKUL guards, holding him tightly but he doesn't look like he wants to go anywhere anymore. He's blindfolded and his hands tied tightly behind his back. I noted the sharpness and accuracy of the rope, suggesting that whoever did it was a professional at this sort of thing. I looked the boy up and down. He would be smartly dressed had his shirt not been torn and mud-splattered or his trousers stained and covered in dust. Dire conditions for dire settings. I smirked. I looked again and noticed toned muscular arms and strong broad shoulders. So much for child agents, this one is almost a man. It will be fun to break him.

I nodded at the guards who were holding him: they know the drill as this is the fourth MI9 agent to 'visit' me in my SKUL torture chamber er room of interrogation. The boy struggled against the guards but only weakly, not really putting up much of a fight like he didn't care as they brought him up to me. I took hold of his chin and stared at him, pulling the blind fold away from his eyes. Defiance in his eyes but sadness as well. I let go and rolled my eyes. Another love struck kid, I know the signs by now but this one, this one has had his heart broken. I snapped my fingers and the guards took him towards the back wall, shackling him onto it. He rattled the chains but I didn't care, knowing it would be fun to break his remaining spirit.

The guards stepped back and I could see his muscular body straining as his arms were bound too high above his head for him to be comfortable. He avoided eye contact or at least tried to and I grinned again. Yes, this was going to be very fun indeed.

"So, Oscar, let me introduce myself to you. My name is Millicent – the Grand Master's protégé but already my skills and abilities are turning heads."

"Don't you mean your body is turning heads?" he spat back. "I've seen the way some of the guards look at you; like you're food and they're starving men, ready to eat you up."

Angrily I strode towards him, my hand above my head ready to hit him but he barely flinched. He smirked and I had to take a deep breath to control myself.

"That… that… you're wrong." I couldn't let him see that he'd unnerved me. "No Oscar, that will be the least on your mind when I'm through with you. You see I forefront the Information Extraction Department for the new Grand Plan. This, I'm sure you've guessed, is why you're here. We plan to take every last ounce of information about MI9. You will answer my questions Oscar Dixon-Halliday or I will have to persuade you and you most certainly won't enjoy that, although I will."

The blond looked up at me with fury in his eyes. "I will NEVER tell you anything. You'll have to kill me first."

"Believe me Oscar, once you have told me everything you know about MI9 then I WILL kill you. I hate you kids so much but I will use you to get to Honey Harper and then I will crush you and your little girlfriend."

Oscar turned away. "She's not my girlfriend," he muttered bitterly.

I smiled cruelly. "We'll see, we'll see. But first there's someone here who wants to meet you properly and get his revenge. You tried to hold him to ransom a little while back and he hasn't ever forgotten it. He's waiting, saving his anger to use it on you when you'd finally been caught. I'm sorry that I won't be here to watch you writhe in pain but General Flopsy prefers to work alone."

Oscar chuckled. "I'm sorry, General Flopsy, the rabbit? We are talking about the same bunny here aren't we? No scratch that, it's a rabbit. What can it do to me? Sorry, it's a boy isn't he? What can he do to me?"

I smiled and him and left the room, not bothering to answer the question. He'll find out soon enough when he comes face to face with General Flopsy. I shuddered and paused halfway up the corridor, waiting to hear his screams. Still nothing and then I hear it, quiet at first like he's trying to hold back but then louder. It's strange that the screams took so long – General Flopsy doesn't normally take that long to get a response. The Grand Master has probably been over feeding him again.


3rd POV

Kittie ran through the foyer, tying the white cloth apron around her waist. She reached the desk and bent over it, panting. "Okay Luke, I'm here. Sorry I'm late, little mishap in our kitchen again over dinner. I wasn't quite sure how Cal managed to get tomato ketchup on the ceiling but he did and of course I had to be the one to clear it up."

Luke looked up from the computer and grinned. "Oh dear. He's a little monster isn't he?" He looked down at the computer then back at her. "Looks like we don't need you tonight after all. Steph offered to do another shift and we thought you deserved a break."

She sighed and smiled. "Okay, thanks. Well I better help Michael with bedtime. You know how much of a pain they are. Thanks Luke."

"S's no problem. Enjoy a night off for once Kit."

She nodded and wandered back through the foyer towards the large wood and glass doors she had come through. She felt her phone vibrate through the apron pocket and she pulled it out. She looked at the number on the screen and frowned. She shook her head and lifted the phone to her ear.

"Hey Amy, what can I do for you?"

"Kittie, is that you? Sorry, of course it is. I was just wondering if you'd seen Oscar."

"No, sorry. I thought you were going out for dinner."

"We were but he went for a walk beforehand and he didn't show up."

"Oh right. Well it's probably nothing, he just lost track of time or something. You know how annoyed he's been recently."

"Yeah, you're probably right. You know, Em said something about you and photos earlier so I thought he'd be with you but oh well."

Kittie stared at the phone shocked. "Well yes I did bring photos over but that was because they're his. We had to wait for them to be developed as we wanted professional ones without having to do all of it ourselves. I thought I'd better give them to him because I didn't really want them but when I got there I decided against it so I put them in the bin so he could get them out if he wanted but I didn't think he would."

Amy laughed. "Yeah, that probably did set him off. I am sorry. I had hoped it wouldn't turn out like this but then he's always had a temper."

Kittie smiled. "Seems like it. But that's one thing I love about him- he's never afraid to hide himself. He's so possessive; it's just nice to feel wanted. Don't get me wrong, he's not the rebound guy, it's just I've always grown up with guys who I'm close to and to know I'm needed by someone other than my family…"

Amy nodded. "I understand. Well I'll see you tomorrow and hopefully he turns up."

"He should do. Scratch that, I'm sure he will. Alright, well see you bright and early in art tomorrow. Byee." Kittie bent to put her phone down on the desk, waiting for Amy to hang up after she'd hung off.

"Bye. And Kittie?"

Kittie stopped and reached for her phone again, stumbled, dropped it and fell backwards over the sofa. She caught it and breathed with relief. "Yeah?"

"Thank you. You've been such a great friend to him recently and I'm sorry things turned out the way they did."

Kittie shrugged and sat up. She tried to pull herself up by the table and fell backwards again. She landed with a thump which echoed down the phone. "Well if it's meant to be, it will happen again. If not, well I'm sure one day he'll stop hating me and blaming me for everything. He'll start talking to me at some point again."

"That's not true. He doesn't blame you."

"It is and you know it."

Amy laughed. "Okay, you may be right. If you need any help with your siblings…"

"Just give you a shout? That's what everyone's been saying but between me and Michael, we can handle them. Other stuff… But I digress." She looked around and saw Michael stood in the doorway beckoning to her, holding a grizzling Charlie. She looked and him, nodded and carefully and slowly stood up. "I'm really sorry but I have to go. Charlie needs me. See you tomorrow."

"Bye Kittie, and thanks."

"No problem." She looked over at Michael and flapped at him, mouthing "Wait a sec." "See you tomorrow Amy." She hung up and sighed with relief, the phone held close to her chest. She looked over at Michael again, put her phone in her pocket, walked quickly over to him and took Charlie off him. "Hey baby, why so blue? What's up with you mister?" She jiggled him up and down causing him to stop crying and look at him with large blue eyes. He giggled and she smiled.

Michael walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. "See, you're great with them and you can always stop them crying really quickly. You're going to be a great mum someday."

Kittie punched Michael lightly and looked at Charlie again. "Isn't your big brother silly?" Charlie giggled again and smiled broadly. Kittie began cooing at him and left the foyer.

Michael shook his head. "She's never going to listen to anyone, doesn't see what's right in front of her all the time. This is why I thought she and Oscar would be perfect for each other." He looked up and walked over to Luke. "Hey Luke, you don't think there's anything I can do to get them back together, do you?"

Luke laughed. "Mate, I'd not get involved in that. They just need to sit down and talk but they're young, they'll sort it out and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be."

"So that's where Kittie's got that idea. Why'd you have to go and tell her this?"

"It's true. If she's meant to be with him, she will. God never makes mistakes and he lets everything happen for a reason."

"So you're saying there's a reason why my parents died then?"

Luke shrugged awkwardly. "Well yes, in the long run. Look, none of you guys have been truly happy here and you've rarely seen any of your family. Everything will work out in the end, it always does."

"I hope so mate, 'cause from where I'm standing, it's rather bleak and your God doesn't seem to care about us, just takes and takes and takes."

"It will be fine, you just have to believe and have faith."

"Faith trust and pixie dust you mean?"

Luke shook his head. "Man you watch too much Disney. Oh never mind, you're never going to listen to me anyway."

"You're right. Fancy a game on the PS3?"

"Sure, why not. Oh look, my shifts just ended. Anyways, I thought you were putting the little ones to bed."

"Yeah, they're all in except Charlie which Kittie's taking care of so night off for me too."

"Cool." He clapped his hands. "So…"

"Let's go. Cheers Dan." He nodded to the guy who had just taken Luke's place at the desk.

"No worries man."

They left and headed upstairs.


A couple of hours later, Kittie was lying awake in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She sighed and rolled over, trying to get back to sleep. She sat up and shook her head, trying to figure out why she'd have a dream like that at all. She shook her head again. "Stop it, just stop it," she thought. "There's no need to think such bad thoughts. He just didn't turn up for dinner. It's probably nothing, nothing to worry about at all." She lay down again and closed her eyes. In the next room, Charlie began to cry and she sat up, rolled out of bed and headed towards him. She lifted him up and began rocking him gently. "It's okay baby, Kittie's here. Everything'll be alright I promise, for you and me. Don't ever forget that. Eventually everything'll work out, even if it takes time and you can't see it.

Four in the morning and I just can't sleep

I've got a craving now for something sweet

So I head off to my local all-night supermarket,

When I get there it's deserted;

And now I'm standing at the chocolate shelf,

Under the sign that says "Help Yourself"

If you really got to have it, then we really gotta sell it to ya

This is for the people who say…

I want it and I want it now!

I want it and I just can't wait!

I want it and I want it now!

I want it and I will not wait…

I want it… now

I sit at home and when I watch TV,

I gotta have remote control with me,

Oh and when I'm watching football,

I can go to total recall,

I got freeze frame, I got slo–mo

This is the way that it was meant to be,

You gotta get ready for the century

I'm a total modern man and I got total modern plans

And it's so easy when you say…

I want it and I want it now!

I want it and I just can't wait!

I want it and I want it now!

I gotta get a feel to try,

I gotta get a meal inside,

Gotta get a deal tonight, I gotta say…

I want it now, I want it now, I want it now,

And I just can't wait…

I want it and I want it now!

I want it and I just can't wait!

I want it and I want it now!

I want it and I will not wait…

I want it, I want it, I want it now,

And I just can't wait,

I want it, I want it, I want it now,

And I just can't wait

Here it is the new sensation

Listen to the new generation

We want something, we want it now!

You don't need no invitation,

Listen to the new conversation

We want something, we want it now

We want it now

We want it now

We want it now

I want it and I want it now!"

She held him tight and danced around the room with him, singing to him softly. He gurgled happily and waved his arms around. Michael stood in the doorway smiling watching his sister and baby brother. As she finished singing, he clapped and she stopped, looking up at him.

She casually brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and grinned sheepishly. "Oh, hey Michael. Charlie couldn't sleep and neither could I, so I thought –"

"You thought you'd sing to him. Any reason why that song?"

She shook her head. "No not really. Just… I like it and well he's going to grow up in the society where everyone wants things then and there."

"Not if we raise him right."

"You know that we can't always protect him and he'll still be shaped by society. Anyway, how come you're up? I didn't wake you did I?"

"Well yes you did, but don't worry about it. It's only 'cause I'm a spy that I heard you."

"Oh, alright." She looked down at Charlie and saw that he'd fallen asleep again. "Well, he's settled down again." She yawned and wandered over to his cot before gently placing him in it. She covered him with the blanket, kissed his forehead and straightened, yawning. "Well, I better be off to bed."

Michael nodded, walked over to her and hugged her. "It'll get better love, I promise."

Kittie closed her eyes. "I know it will but I still can't stop thinking about the bad now."

"Well the only thing you change is the present, not the past, not the future. Just make the most of now."

She nodded and let go. She walked towards the door and stopped. "Michael, I was meaning to ask you, what would you think about moving back to the house for a bit?"

"Sounds like a good idea. It'll give us a break and that's what we're supposed to be having. It will mean we haven't got so many people to help with the little ones if we need a break."

She grinned. "That's where you're wrong. Johnny's offered to help and so have Rose, Carrie and Amy plus at least half the people here. It'd just be nice to go back home again."

"You're right. Bed princess, you've had a long day and you need sleep."

"Alright, alright. Goodnight Michael."

"Good night Kittie."


Pete (the guard)'s POV

Department for Information Extraction: SKUL. Time: 0200 hours

I'm accompanying Millie, no Millicent, back to the cell where the blond MI9 brat is recovering from his encounter with that insanely pampered rabbit General Flopsy. She's fantastic, Millicent is. Not only did she let me head the kidnapping mission but now she is letting me get personal revenge on that blond brat who messed up everything. I can't believe I didn't recognise him until it was too late and I only just managed to escape. Curse him and that little blond girlfriend of his. How he managed to hurt her I'll never know but at least I can get my revenge on him. Stupid boy, always getting in the way. No, revenge is good, especially on him – skin-to-skin contact. A little bit of brute force to get him to talk – the old fashioned way. She must really like me to let me take revenge on the boy.

I smiled as I walked down the dimly lit corridor behind her. As we approached the dungeon cells, her pace quickened and I could see the strength in her legs as she strutted along on those killer heels. She's just so… wow. Evil oozes out of her, accenting her strength, her ruthlessness, her cunning and her thirst for blood. She couldn't be any greater, well evil I guess. She's absolutely perfect in mind, soul and body. I can see why she was hired. Maybe I could ask her out. No, no. Mustn't think about that now.

Now I get to beat up the blond boy! Yes, the boy. What can I do to make him suffer more? Maybe mention his girlfriend. Yes, that will surely hurt him. Millicent stopped, looked back at me and nodded sharply. I grinned wickedly and cracked my knuckled. This was going to be my best work – I have to impress my Mills.

I leered at him through the dark, watching him to see how he is. He's still suspended from the chains where we left him. I grinned a little. All that is changed is that his shirt has gone completely and his jaw is set against the pain. There's not even a mark on him though – General Flopsy never leaves a mark. I however… His own mother won't recognise him when I'm finished with him.

Millicent spoke quietly to him and stood right in front of him, studying him to see how much pain he was showing. I stared at him again and shook my head. It's ridiculous that MI9 would stoop so low as to send a boy to do a man's work. More than anything, it's insulting to think they think we're beatable by kids. Granted they do win most of the time but that is only because we let them. It makes it more fun to let them think they are stronger and better than we are but they're wrong, always wrong.

Millicent stepped back as the boy looked up slowly and quietly. Millicent glared at him and tapped her foot. "I'm sorry, no-one heard you. Looks like you're too weak to tell us to stop. No worries, we'll put you out of your misery soon enough, once you tell us everything. Are you ready to talk yet?"

The boy shook his head. "Never," he muttered.

I rolled my eyes at his patheticness. He looked up and glared at me. Then he stared at my Mills, his eyes burning defiantly. "Never. It doesn't change anything. I still won't talk, ever."

I grinned, cracking my knuckles to emphasise my presence and to show how pleased I am that he gave the wrong answer. Maybe he's not as weak as I thought, but that can change very very quickly. Millicent glanced at me and I knew what she wanted. There's no need for words between us – we're just so in sync.

As I stepped forward, the familiar tingle started up in my stomach. I grinned again, knowing it is joy – the joy I know I will get from destroying him. He may be strong now but soon, very soon he will be broken. I cannot wait to break him. Without warning I punch him – hard. Once to the stomach, once to the gut. I'm so close that I can hear him grunt quietly as I hit him. I stepped back so I could see his face, to see his reaction to the pain.

There's nothing, just a grim expression on his face. His eyes scare me the most. I don't understand how he can remain so, so… optimistic. No, optimistic isn't the right word. There is sadness in his eyes but there's more defiance than anything else, like he won't give up. It shocked me to see this but I won't let it stop me. This time I don't hold back. Blows from my fists reigned down all over his pale body, bringing up large bruises and swellings. With each blow, I could feel my fists sink into his tender flesh. They haven't toughened him up properly. Maybe that is why the girl took the pain last week and not him.

He turned his head away from me but I could see the tears springing into his eyes and down his face. He made no sound, just hung there, silently weeping. Weeping from the pain and maybe something else. Maybe for the hurt in his eyes. But he's not yet broken. 'Keep going, keep going' I tell myself. 'Just keep hitting him. Break him, break him.' Millicent looked at me but I ignored her. Just break him. Millicent called me and I ignored her. I couldn't let her down or show her I was weak when I'm not. Millicent grabbed my arm and pulled me back, away from the boy. I sighed heavily; partly from exhaustion by putting so much effort into breaking him and partly as I knew I hadn't. I looked at him, studying him to see how much damage I have done.

He hung there in his chains limply, bruised and battered from the beating I gave him after his refusal to co-operate. He's bruised all over, his chest covered in splashes of colour that already begin to change colour. And then amongst the bruises trickle small streaks of crimson where the skin has been split by my fists. He looked in pain but the defiance is still in his eyes. Blast! Stupid MI9 brat. Maybe he does have more of his mother in him than we thought.

I looked over at Millicent and she looked grim. I doubt she'll ever let me try again but she may. A couple more beatings may leave him weak and on the verge of collapse but I doubt I'll get another chance. I left the room, scared of how my failure will be seen. But the boy won't see that and neither will Millicent. I'm a SKUL agent and we aren't ever scared. For good measure I kicked out at the boy as I passed him, causing him to wince some more. I smiled cruelly at him and left. I'll make it up. Millicent will like me; after all, not every man can break through skin as quickly as I can. She will be my Mills.


AN: Song is I want it (and I want it now) by Chris De Burgh. It will get better and longer, and thanks to Fi3Fi3 for helping me with most of this chapter. I just changed the words here and there for most of it and of course I can't claim credit to that song. If you don't want me to include songs in the chapters, please say and I won't, just heads up either in the next chapter or the chapter after there will be a song which may make you cry. It's very sad and sweet. Kallie xx