The drive took about 15 minutes. The silence that filled the car on the drive over was deafening. Harry was focusing intently on the road, seeming to scrutinize every inch of the surrounding area. Garret, who had stepped into the car wordlessly, was fixing his gaze on the black leather seat in front of him as if trying to relay a message telepathically to Harry.

Valerie sat, rather tightly, in between both Garret and Kate. Kate focused her attention outside the car, taking in the scenic views that one could only see as they traveled further north.

Mountains stretched across the horizon, their peaked tops glistening with fresh snow. The snow, Kate realized, somewhat represented her. Just as fresh snow fell atop the old layers, Kate felt as if the new events in her life would slowly replace the anxiety and fear with the excitement of embarking on a journey.

"Here we are," Harry announced, breaking the silence that had gone on for far too long. He made a turn into a winding driveway that led straight up to...

"A castle?!" Valerie said breathlessly. Indeed it was. Kate eyed the hulking castle that loomed above them, taking in its uniqueness and overall magnificence.

The stone structure was a stark contrast to all the lush greenery surrounding it. A fascinating garden circled the castle, filled with a large quantity of flowers, each perfectly planted beside the other.

"I hope you girls like it. Garret, please take them to their rooms. I will go find Susan," Harry said, hurrying to a small building next to the castle, which Kate did not notice was there until now.

"Okay. Girls, welcome to the headquarters of Black Rose. Please follow me," Garret instructed, walking toward the castle's large wooden doors.

Kate and Valerie trailed behind Garret, who led them through the lush garden and past a fountain bubbling softly.

"Who is Susan?" Valerie asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"Susan and I were the first spies to be recruited here at Black Rose," Garret explained, beaming with pride.

"How did you guys get recruited?"

"We received a letter. After all, there were no phones back then," he answered nonchalantly.

Valerie placed her hand over her heart, pretending to be shocked by the lack of smartphones. "What is a letter?" she joked.

Kate and Garret chuckled at the joke. By now, they were standing in a spacious living room, complete with two large black couches, a white coffee table, a black area rug, and a television set surrounded by mahogany wood bookshelves. Several teenagers milled about, giving the newcomers small waves and big smiles.

Garret led them up a grand staircase, away from the other teenage spies. They approached a long hallway with white doors on either side. The hallway, Kate thought, resembled one of a hotel.

They finally stopped in front of two doors located closer to the entrance of the hallway. There was a plaque outside of one door that read "Kate Black, Room 118" and another that read "Valerie Rose, Room 119."

"Here are your rooms," Garret said with a lavish sweep of his arm. He stepped aside to let the girls through.

Valerie opened the door of her room with Kate close at her heels. They both gasped in astonishment when they laid eyes on the room.

The room was grand and spacious, reminding Valerie of the suite she had rented on a cruise ship last year. There was a white dresser on the right side of the room, a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the corner, a modern looking desk with its own desk chair, and a full size bed with plain, sky blue sheets.

Adjacent to the bookshelf stood a door. Valerie tentatively walked over and realized that she was looking into a bathroom. The bathroom was modern, with sleek white tile positioned inside of the large shower. The toilet and glass sink completed the bathroom.

She stepped out and opened the dresser, taking a look inside. It was filled with clothes that looked eerily familiar. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that it was her clothes.

"What is my clothes doing in this dresser?" she asked accusingly.

"We bought all the same clothes you have at home," Garret shrugged nonchalantly. He seemed able to brush off the creepiness of the whole situation quite effortlessly.

Valerie quickly glanced at Kate, taking in her shocked and slightly scared facial expression. She felt the exact same way.

"It's best not to ask questions. Girls, let's go have a chat downstairs. There is a lot we need to go over," a voice explained authoritatively. Unfortunately, it had not been Garret who had spoken.

Valerie and Kate whirled around to see a woman standing in the doorway. She was rather tall with straight black hair, a round face, and pale skin. Her piercing eyes the color of a raven were fixed on both of the girls.

"This is Susan Price. She is one of the executive managers here at Black-" Garret began to explain, but was cut short by Susan.

"We can introduce ourselves later. For now, follow me."

Susan started walking away and the girls had no choice but to follow her.

∆

"Let me begin by laying out the rules. First, do not involve yourself in someone else's mission unless you are working together. Second, be courteous and respectful to the other spies. That goes without saying. Third, follow the bell schedule. Breakfast begins at 9:00, lunch at 1:00, and dinner at 6:00. There will be bells signaling this," Susan explained.

"Maps are provided in your room so you can get from place to place in the headquarters. Harry is going to give you details about your mission later tonight. You girls are now free to roam the headquarters," Susan concluded, ending her speech.

The girls still had a multitude of questions to ask so they stayed put. "Are we allowed to see our family again? Also, how long are we staying here for?" Valerie asked.

"You will see your family and go home once you complete your mission. After your mission is complete, you are done with your training," Susan explained.

"What happens after training?" Kate asked.

"After training, there is a spy enrollment ceremony that you have to attend if you want to become a true member of Black Rose. Consider yourself trainees for now. Once you complete your mission and are enrolled at the ceremony, you may deem yourself a spy," Susan explained.

The questioning was interrupted by a loud bell that sounded throughout the whole headquarters.

"That is the 6:00 dinner bell. I will escort you girls down to the cafeteria," Susan said, walking towards the door.

Kate and Valerie followed. They walked past the living room and into a brightly lit cafeteria in which they were immediately hit by a strong, sweet aroma.

On the left directly near the entrance was a menu displaying the day's choices: barbecue chicken for the entree, white rice for the side dish, and a cheese pastry for dessert.

The girls looked around the cafeteria, which was crowded with teenagers. There were about fifteen circular tables scattered throughout. Along the right wall stood the buffet-style food line.

"Go on and eat. I will be in my office if you need me," Susan said, leaving the girls in the entryway.

"Let's head over to get some food. I didn't realize how hungry I was until now," Valerie said, walking confidently towards the food line.

As they approached, they stepped into line behind a petite, blond haired and blue eyed girl. Sensing someone come up behind her, she turned around and flashed a big smile at both Kate and Valerie.

"Hey, I heard you two were new. Welcome to Black Rose. My name is Caitlin. What are your names?" Caitlin introduced herself, talking a mile a minute.

Kate instantly sighed, letting out a breath she had not known she had been holding. Friendliness was such a nice characteristic, which this girl seemed to radiate of.

"My name is Kate and this is Valerie," Kate answered, gesturing towards her best friend.

The line progressed slowly, but the rate at which Caitlin spoke did not. She seemed to be talking faster, her excitement continuing to heighten at the prospect of new friends.

"It is so nice to meet you two. Hey, you guys should come sit with me and my friends. I am sure they would love to hang out!" Caitlin chattered.

Valerie smiled warily. "Sure."

Kate could tell that Valerie was quite annoyed with Caitlin but did not say anything out of politeness. Kate, on the other hand, really appreciated the opportunity to make a new friend.

The girls continued through the food line, generously piling chicken and rice onto their plates. Once they reached the end of the line, they followed Caitlin to her table.

It was a bit difficult to navigate through the sea of teenage spies, but the girls finally reached the table. "Here we are," Caitlin announced.

Now, Kate realized, is when the socializing begins.