"So, what brings you over here?", I asked Clary as we raced home.

As soon as she saw Zara's car, Carly had all but begged me to let her drop my friends at Zara's. I mean, I totally got her - if a person who knows nothing of cars (me) is awed by a car, then a car-crazy girl (Carly) would definitely go bonkers at its sight.

So, I let her drive them home without a second thought. Hopefully I won't regret my decision.

Anyways, I was with Clary in her Volvo, speeding back home because she has a toilet emergency. Apparently, she drank a LOT of water.

"Now's not the time", she grunted as she floored the gas pedal in a desperate attempt to get to my house faster.

I hid a snicker as I innocently batted my eyes, "Oh, but why?"

She growled, "Shut up!!!"

I laughed out loud this time- annoying Clary never gets old- and happened to glance at my mirror. The road was empty save for our car and another.

"Well, sucks to be you", I shrugged and crossed my arms behind my head as I leaned comfortably on the seat which I must add, was ve~ry comfortable. The Agency did pay good...

"You sure there aren't any other options, Jules?", Clary fidgeted in her seat. I almost felt sorry for her, but I was honestly helpless.

"How would I know? Barely a week has passed since I came here-"

"Wow, a week and you still don't know your way aroun-"

"Besides, it ain't my fault you got the urge a while after we left the club! This is all your bladder's fault!", I huffed and adjusted the mirror. Clary was driving pretty fast and the car was still at it.

It is a black car, alright...

"Yeah, and definitely not your stupid brain's", Clary huffed.

"Obviously", I nodded, "just like the black car that's been following us since the club."

"THE WHAT!?!!", Clary spurted and glanced in her rear-view mirror.

"Holy-"

"Shit", I sighed.

Clary muttered some more under her breath before speeding up to a maniac level. Carly may be the car-maniac, but Clary had some mean tricks up her sleeves too. And it doesn't hurt that they've never considered driving at speeds that are acceptable by rules.

Again, perks of being an Agent. No questioning even if you break the rules.

So unfair, if you ask me.

Clary swerved the car abruptly, jolting me and making let out an annoyed,"Hey!"

"Sorry."

Her tight-lipped reply was enough to let me know we weren't in a good place to banter. I looked out through the window to see..

"THE HECK?!", my head snapped towards Clary so fast I almost got a whiplash, "Are we going through the woods now?"

"Yes, but-"

"What were you thinking? We could easily get lost here!"

"Jules-"

"Clary, watch out!"

Clary just managed to avoid making us one with the trunk of a pretty sturdy tree with another swift swerve. She switched off the car and we glanced at each other in silence.

"That.. That was crazy", I panted.

Clary slumped and rested her forehead on the steering wheel.

"T-Tell me about it", she whispered before closing her eyes.

After a few seconds, she sat up with a gasp, "Oh no, I should probably warn Carly.."

"Because they might be the Agency's rivals?", I questioned. She nodded while dialing her twin's number.

"Fiddlesticks, she's not picking up the phone! That damn-", she cut herself off and decided to send her a message instead.

Alright, while that's going on, let me explain: The 'Agency' is a secret organisation that does all sort of clean-up jobs in our country. Although most people has an inkling that an 'assassination society' may exist, nobody is well aware of all the dirty things they have to cover up for. Since this involves saving face of the government and also that of some ultra-powerful business tycoons, the Agency is a big power. Only super talented people are recruited by the Agency, and they pay pretty darn good. That being said, being an Agent is super risky. All sorts of awful people could chase after you or your family, or people you trusted may turn out to be back-stabbers.. you get the cliche, right?

The reason I know such an organisation even exists, is because Carly, Clary and their dad, Uncle Mark, are Agents. In fact, all three of them have quite the high rank.

Which was why she was so astounded when I had to point out that a car was chasing us.

After warning Carly to be aware of her surroundings, and receiving a thumbs up in return almost instantly, we headed home. I vaguely remember nodding to Clary when she told me she was going to wait for Carly's return before I hit the bed.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

I woke up gasping and panting for breath like I'd just run a marathon. Immediately the lights in my room came on, and I squinted till my eyes adjusted to see..

"Clary? And Carly?", I rasped. They were out of their Halloween costumes and looked like normal beings now, in their matching pajamas and braided hairstyles. They shared a 'look' before sitting on either side of me on the bed with expectant faces.

After a few moments of silence, I cleared my throat, "So...?"

"What was it about?", Carly cut off whatever Clary was about to say.

I immediately looked down and mumbled, "Nothing.."

"You know as well as us that it ain't 'NoTHiNG'", Carly scoffed, cutting off Clary again.

Clary closed her still-open mouth and motioned to Carly, "What she said."

I sighed and closed my eyes. There was no way I could hide anything from the all too observant cousins of mine. After all...

After all, they were the ones who rescued me from the depression I was slipping into after all the deaths I had to encounter as a nine-year old.

"Fiinee...", I rubbed my nose and rested my face in my palms. "You know.. you know how I get nightmares every time I remember... right?"

They nodded.

I took a deep breath, "Yeah, so.. I saw someone today."

They exchanged a confused glance, "Someone?"

"Yeah", I nodded and exhaled before opening my eyes and looking right in their eyes as I said, "Someone.. who looked like Mom."

After the infamous 'Side-Kick-ing' speech, I was running around in the club trying to find out where exactly my two very reliable friends had run off to when someone pushed me rather roughly. I almost dropped my precious water bottle and I was about to give the rude guy a piece of my mind. But the sight that greeted me left me... senseless.

There, standing on a balcony and staring at me like she had all the time in the world, was my mother.

Normally, that would be the cue for a tear-jerking reunion.

But not after you saw your mother's dead body being lowered six feet under the ground with your own eyes, and that too, a good ol' eight years back.That should probably explain why I ran in the opposite direction as if my life depended on it. Well, if that was anything other than a petty doppelganger, then I stand corrected in my course of action.

My cousins looked troubled at my recounting. When the silence dragged on, I cleared my throat.

"Guys.."

"Wait, hold up- do you mean to say, that you saw someone like Aunt Millie, who died like ten years ago?!", Carly cut me off. She seems to do that a lot today.

"Eight years", Clary coughed.

"Yeah", I nodded.

"And when you saw her you ran away?!", Carly's voice rose a notch.

"Yeah?", I frowned. Wasn't I right to do that? Then why were my cousins looking slightly... disappointed?

Noticing the silence coming in again, I turned to Carly, "When did you wash up ashore? I'd given up hope of seeing you alive ever again."

"Hardy-har, Jules", she rolled her eyes but her cheeks tinged a slight shade of pink, "I dropped your friends off at Gringoire's, and got a ride back home from their son."

"Who just so happened to have been at home", Clary drawled, making Carly blush even more.

Wait a minute...

"Carly? Are you blushing?", my surprise was all too obvious. Carly was a play-girl. For her to even go on such a round-about with a guy..

At that, she became red and snapped, "Of course not!"

"Oh gee, you should really like this guy", I tapped my chin thoughtfully, "but I wonder why I never heard of Zara having a brother before this.."

"Probably because he's an Agent", Clary winked at me.

"He is-?!", my eyes widened.

"Yup, and the last mission he had was with me and Carly. Safe to say his cold persona drew our hot-chic in", Clary snickered, and I soon joined in.

"I'm right here, you know", Carly grumbled. When we didn't pay any heed to her, she huffed and got up from bed.

"Fine, you stay up laughing like hyenas. I need my beauty sleep."

"Yeah, because Henry likes only pretty girls", Clary called after Carly who'd hurried out from my room. We chortled at that a bit more before Clary sobered up, "You'll be okay by yourself? I don't need to stay?"

I shook my head, "No, go put the lovesick puppy to sleep."

I shift my glance to the beanbag in the corner of my room, ".. Shadow's here for me."

Clary gave me a sad smile before leaving as well. As soon as the door closed behind her, I slam my head on the pillow and start counting.

"One Mississippi, Two Mississippi..."

____________________________________________

Let's be honest: there are some nights when you just have to force yourself to sleep.

I think the last time I did that was when I stayed with my cousins... and when I told her that I was NoT fine with the room she gave me, she told me to, and I quote, 'SuCk iT uP.'

Really, cousins + rude = the worst.

(Just Kiding, all cousins rock!! ;p)

My fear for sleeping in new places and cuzzy's stern voice lulled me to a coma-like sleep. Normally I'd have weird-ass dreams, some of which is what led to this story you're reading right now.

So you can say she saved the world by giving it one less of a disastrous chaotic story written by an author who can't get a grip of herself.

Lol. See ya when you gimme more votes and comments. 

Ooh, and a ship name for Carly and Henry. Canry? ;P

Luv,

ceredeneTT