I turned away, and focused my mind on some disturbing images from horror movies. It was working, except for the part where it also brought other images to mind, some equally disgusting. But they were things that I had actually lived through.

Chapter 7

I knew of only one way to escape fear of these things. You had to focus on them, face them, and then your mind would take on the indifferent feeling it had when these things were actually happening. But I was an agent, a spy. I was trained to kill and to tough it out. I heard a ripping, so I turned my attention to Brent.

"Oh, just give it to me," I said loudly.

"I can do it," he protested angrily.

"Well, obviously you can't, because nothing is happening and if you would just-"

"I am man enough to rip a sleeve off of a shirt, thank you. And if you could just be a good girl and-"

"Oh my god, this is about your ego? Careful with that thing, it might explode!"

"Sorry, what?"

"Oh, my mistake, I wasn't clear enough. I wasn't talking about the shirt exploding. I was referring to your ego. You know how when balloons are blown up way to much? And then they just pop? Yeah, your ego is in danger of-"

"No, I was not wondering what you were talking about. I was just giving you the opportunity to apologize, so you wouldn't feel too stupid afterward."

"Oh," I said sarcastically. "my mistake. Sorry."

"That's alright. Just try not to embarrass yourself again," he shot back with contempt.

"Oh, no," I insisted. "That's not what I meant. I was mistaken because I didn't realize you had enough intelligence to actually come up with all of that. I imagine that one with a brain such as yours, you have given it quite a workout. But enough for today. If you push too far, it might not work at all tomorrow."

With that, I grabbed the shirt from him, and tore the sleeve perfectly in one fluid motion. Afterwards, I handed the single-sleeved garment back to him with a sincere, patient smile. I could tell he was really angry, because his eyes seemed to suddenly turn darker. Okay, I know this is going to sound really weird, but I never knew that could happen. I read this romance novel once, and it said that the pirate guy's eyes "turned dark with rage". I thought that it was just some pretty figure of speech or something, and that it didn't happen in real life. Apparently, I was wrong. I could actually see them changing color. I turned away, and started walking again.

"So," I said. "here's the plan. We go back to my fake parents' house, and we stay there until we can get you on a plane to…" I waved my hand, emphasizing my point."…wherever. Got it?"

Brent nodded angrily, and the flash of anger sliced through his eyes again.

"But," he started. "That is the last time you will boss me around. Do you 'got it'?"

At this point, I began to realize that I was gaping at him. How could he? Didn't he know that I was supposed to boss him around? I was sent here to make sure that nothing happened to him. Isn't that translation for bossing him around? All of a sudden, I felt a giggle about to burst from my mouth. I held it in so that I could say something, or at least nod. But now, the giggle was building up into a laugh, and it just burst out of me. Brent looked at me like I was insane. And then his glance changed.

"So," I said lightly. "you forgot about the ego warning, huh? Seriously, get that thing under control. Whoa, are you going to murder me now, or wait until I whisk you off to safety first?"

A slight touch of humor softened his features. I realized right then and there that he was really hot when he got all fired up and angry, with those darkening eyes and stuff. So, I decided that I would have to get him back to being angry.

"You know," I started. "this is kind of ironic, don't you think? I mean, it's almost like I'm your knight in shining armor or something. Except, you're the one locked up in the tower, and I have to keep coming back to save you!"

To my satisfaction, his eyes darkened again.

"Are you trying to call me a wimp?" he asked hotly. "Because the way I see it, you're the one with the problem here. Where is your feminine side? You're practically a guy!"

I gasped. This was too much.

"There isn't a bigger insult to a woman," I began in a cool voice, even though I was actually shaking with anger inside. "than to be compared to a man, and saying that she is one might actually be worse than that. So, as a woman, I can promise you one thing; you are so dead. And I can mean that literally, too. But one way or another, you are going to pay." I pointed at his chest, then narrowed my eyes and smiled my dangerous smile, which I rarely used on people since those people ended up black and blue, with a couple broken ribs and a severe concussion. "Big time!"

Then I turned on my heel, and continued walking. We just walked on in an angry silence, throwing occasional glares at each other along the way.

When we finally got to the house, I took a key out of my pocket and roughly shoved it into the keyhole. Finally, the door opened, and I rushed inside. Turning around, I asked Brent if he was coming in, or if I should just leave him there since he looked pretty much frozen to the spot.

"Um, no," he said quietly. "I'm coming. I was just wondering why you wanted to become an…agent. I mean, it obviously didn't bring a happy ending to your parents. I know this is all a cover, but don't you sometimes wish you had a real family? And that your life was a bit more about you than all the other people you've saved and killed?"