Landon

The house my parents and I lived in was about 2 minutes away from the forest. It was a quiet neighbourhood but that's what I like about it. It calming, and I need calm in my life.

I scoop up a rock in my hand. It was smooth and kind of shiny. If my dreams are right then this will lead me to Eliza. That's what I want. I know she's hesitant. I know she doesn't feel ready but I feel drawn to her. Like a magnet. A magnetic force field. I'm still confused on why she would go to a spy agency? It felt right but somehow wrong.

She was risking her life, not that she hasn't before. I haven't known her that long but I've had long conversations with her. I've learned and grown from her advice and her voice. Is it worth it to do this? Yes, was the only answer that ran through my head when asking this question.

The trail wasn't long, the wild life almost eating me whole as I entered its heart. My shoes sprang with every strut. And rocks flew backwards towards my house. I wasn't ready to go back until I do this mission. My mission.

When I reach the centre of the forest I throw up the rock. Blocking the small sun for less then a quarter of a second. Then falling down back to the ground. It didn't work, I thought. Of course it didn't, it's only a myth. I wondered why I would do something this stupid but..... I threw it up again. With more force this time, and so it flew higher. Until I jumped up to throw it.

On the 12th time, I heard a ruffling in the forest. The leaves blew and I was ready to face whatever it was. "You're an eager one." Before I could see the face as I turned around, my arm fell limb. And slowly the rest of my body did too.

"Welcome, agent." A man looked at me as I sat in a chair. "What the-" "before you say anything unnecessary, I just want to say. I know what you've come for. She's here and she's training. I can't let you wonder through O.W.L's training grounds unless you sign the contract to join." He cut me off, writing a few things on the paper sitting neatly next to a computer.

"Who are you?" I ask, he looked at me with disappointment. "My name, right down on the corner of my desk is Mathew Williams. Now, I've just printed your contract, sign at the bottom." He said, but it felt more like an order. How did he know about my plans? "It looks like gibberish you just wrote down on the paper." I tell him, he snorted, "Humour is a bonus." I smirk, taking the pen and pressing down the tip to the contract but not before I read all the things he wrote down on it.

It said something about freedom to quite the agency but..... after that it wrote: if you pass training, you will start to embark on dangerously brutal missions to put the world at peace. That part stressed me out but slowly I sign my name at the bottom where it says signature and push the sheet back to Mathew.

"Welcome, Agent Hart." He glared at me for a moment. "Darkness is rising." He coughed, "What time is it?" "It's 4:19 am. That means it's time for you to train." He rushed, yawning as I started to speak, "Aren't you gonna show me around?" I said, looking behind me and back.

"I'm tired, can't you see? I'll show you around the next morning. For now, I'm gonna keep it straight and simple. I wanna see how well you listen." Yawning again, he went and opened the door on the left and turned the knob. I heard a few grunts but after that, the room was silent. "That son of a bitch." I mutter, walking out and into the large space.

It felt free and open. Just like the college I wanted to go to. But I was a bit late for it. Turning left, I see a few people roaming the agency. I didn't know what it was, if it was an office or organization. And then I saw her, "Eliza?" I questioned, my mind was probably just fooling me. "Landon....." she mumbled.

I ran up to her, feeling the warmth from her body, I shivered. Her hair touching my hand lightly. I felt relief, finally. "Don't ever leave me again." I felt my eyes get teary, "Landon, what are you doing here?" Eliza looked up at me with confusion, "I came to find you." I emphasized the last word in that sentence. Realizing that there was a guy standing behind us.

"You know this guy, Eliza? I expected more decency from you." The guy barked, "I didn't tell you my full story for a reason, Lee." She said, Lee..... that name felt oddly familiar. "We have to get out of here." I tell her, she sighed looking back at me with her blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Landon. I can't, I'm staying here. It's for the best. I promise." Those words stung even before they came out of her mouth.

I didn't feel happy or relieved anymore. Those emotions was replaced with sadness and hardness.

"Eliza, we have a whole world outside of here. Do you really want to let it fade away? Our lives in the water, on the earth. Somewhere. Anywhere. Some place with a mission. To help the world." Those words came from my heart, if she's taking this risky route without me then I know the truth, but I want to ask her first.

"Do you love me?" There was a long moment of silence. I only wished that she didn't wait so long, "I don't know." She replied, scratching at her hand. "No, it's a yes or no question. Tell me the truth." My voice softened and so did my expression, I was holding in all my thoughts and sadness but... all I want is the truth.

I appeared like the smirky, teasing jerk but I've felt it never before. At school, when I was young, I felt love for the first time. When my parents were crying, until I showed up. I still remember how they wrapped their arms around me as we held that pose for a minute or two. This was the same thing but different. So similar but so different at the same time. "I...... do." Eliza smiled, pressing her lips to mine as the lock together like a puzzle piece, waiting to fit together with another. I felt her cheek on my hand, stroking it slowly as I savour every moment. Just like before. I felt warm and so tired. This adventure was....... quite something.

Lee ran away somewhere, because when I looked back, he was gone. "Let's get some hours of sleep before me go. It's already late." Eliza advised, "I feel energized after that, don't you agree?" I teased, smirking at her. "Sure," She enthusiastically groaned, intertwining her fingers between mine.

"Where are we even heading off to?" I ask, "To the living quarters, or sleeping quarters, I guess." We walked silently with joy, down the tiredly long hallway. I was surprised it just kept going, like it wasn't gonna end. But I didn't expect much at the same time. When I saw the words living quarters etched into the wall, I cheered out loud. Finally, my eyes dropped over my eyes slightly.

"Looks like you already have a bed." She pointed out, I sat on it. The mattress squeaking as I move.

"Landon?" She called my name, yawning again as she stared at all the other sleeping faces. "Yeah?" "What's that?" Her ginger pointed to the envelope on my pillow. I jerked my eyes open to get a good look at it. It seemed to be a note from Mathew.

"I'll see what it's about in the morning. For now, I'm just gonna shove it under my pillow like I would with my tooth. I hope the tooth fairy doesn't take it." A weak smile showed as I fell down onto the softness and in a few seconds drifted off to sleep. Finally, a good nights rest was all I wanted. I know my parents wouldn't approve of my actions though. Can't help but feel red handed and caught guilty.