Eeek! Last chapter of part 1! So excited to move on with the rest of the story. Just a lil update: I'm planning on sprinkling a bit of violence, murder and mystery. Just to spice things up *que me smirking with sunglasses while holding a cocktail with a tiny umbrella in a beach chair* I've never written in the mystery genre before, and dont be too judg-y, I will definitely com back to edit things through and *hopefully* make things better than it already is. So here's chapter three, full of sarcastic moments, raging thoughts, Prank wars, and of course, Paige Miller.

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CHAPTER THREE: C is for "Couldn't care less" - Paige's POV

CHAPTER THREE: C is for "Couldn't care less" - Paige's POV

Feeling soft rays of light beam down on me, I groaned and lazily put a hand over my face. Slowly and reluctantly, I fluttered open my eyes and flinched in discomfort as the sun rays hit my eye. As my vision cleared, I took in the sight of the not-so-white cream walls and the messy room which made me wonder what kind of animal would live here, until I realized it was my room.

If I was to say I was happy that it was my birthday I would be lying. I dreaded it. I turned seventeen, a year before I was qualified to be called an adult, and as emotional as it gets, I hated every minute of it.

No, I'm not a childish kid who hates growing up, I'm a girl who doesn't want to work for a country with no government. It's as simple as it gets. In other words, I really don't want to grow up.

"Where's the coffee?" The first words grunted me whenI first opened my weary eyelids to turn off my alarm.

"In the kitchen like it should be." I growled, I'm not a morning person. If there's one thing this house knows it that I won't be woken up unless I want to, and if by any unfortunate chance I do, it would be the last unfortunate thing you'd do to me.

"Do you think I'd be asking you if it was there, like it should be?" he mocked. My foster dad, George, the most coffee-hungry person there is in this empire. If he doesn't get his daily, eight, doses of coffee, he's as good as a honey jar with no honey. Empty.

I ignored him and concentrated on my sleep. I wasn't in an off mood today, making a clear promise that I'd be better than my inconsiderate family for at least one day.

I heard the door close, and sighed, I shook my head in annoyance and got up, my sleep was disturbed, yet again.

"Watch it!" I yelled at one of my lousy kid brothers trying to sneak up on me, what was his name? Harry? Or was it Larry?

"It's Jerry." He deadpanned. Huh, I must have been talking out loud. "If you're trying to sneak up on someone, ditch the sneakers, they make a big rubbing noise on the wooden floor." I huffed at him.

You may think I'm rude, nasty, unpleasant and all the harsh synonyms for impolite, but no that's not the case. The straightforward answer is, I'm an Intrepid.

There's no more to discuss.

My family, or rather the people who eat, sleep and live together with me, don't mind what any of us say or do unless it doesn't refer to any of our possessions, or coffee if that's a possession.

We're a mean pack of wolves, we're loyal to the pack but we won't hesitate to put up a fight for the last piece of scraps under the table. Did I just refer my family to wild animals, yes. Yes I did.

"Isn't there something important today?" I gasped, there is no absolute way they'd remember, the least being my older sister Claire, who never cared for anything except her band posters.

Claire is my older foster sister, yes foster, and the family I live with is my foster family. Claire is the oldest, finishing her second year in college. She likes to live in her room and play rock music rather than looking at our faces aimlessly. Then there's Ethan, the same age as me. He likes to run off during the day with his friends, pulling off pranks to the juniors, burning Mrs. Maniaci flower beds or skating near the outskirts of town, the warzone testing area. Then of course there's me, the person who sleeps more than she breathes. I take it up as my responsibility to try and not tear my twenty-third foster family to shreds. Notice how I said twenty-third? Yes. Its my twenty-third foster family, and if you make me start with the history of all my previous foster families, that would be an extra four hundred pages for this chapter.

After me it's my twin foster brothers, they look innocent and harmless, but they're the cause of more deaths than war itself, this includes my pet rat family. They like to pull pranks on me while I'm asleep, trying to trick me into spoiling my mood, but I play it cool and try to catch them in one of their antics. Jerry and Perry are their names I think, I'm not fond of remembering, forgetting is much easier.

And last but not least dear old foster dad, his wife died a few years ago in the navy, after her boat sank, a rescue boat tried saving her and she being the loyal and brave woman she is, she said, and I quote "I rather not." and that's how she died. By being stubborn. She liked her boat more than her own husband and spent more time with it than him, so naturally George didn't feel as much remorse as he ought to.

There. That's my big, happy, foster family. I don't like them at all, but it beats having rock music foster parents who can't seem to not sing and play their electric guitar so loudly at 3 am.

I've seen enough of Life. I need something new.

"Umm... There is something." Claire continued, we were outside our bedrooms, in the hallway. She wasn't talking to me but I replied anyway.

"It's my birthday." I laid it flat.

"No not that, why would I want to remember something like that?" she barked at me, it looked like she really wanted to have the conversation with herself.

I scoffed and walked downstairs, George had found his coffee and sipped on it while watching his tiny television. I cringed at how loudly he slurped, but I rather not go up for adoption again by fighting about manners, like that even mattered?

Intrepid or not, I can't risk bumping head first into any situation that's calling on me, Like a few six people I know.

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Fine I'll Admit it, our house is tiny, a very cramped apartment. Nothing is in good shape, the sofas have holes, the cups and plates are chipped off the edge, and the beds don't even have frames, they're just mattresses with cloth. Nothing in Intrepidus is ever good. And I blame this on the government. Oh wait. We don't have one.

That's the problem,no one wants to step up and take control, as lovely as it sounds, we're just too lazy and tired to look after so many ourselves, and the damage caused.

We have a history of wars, more than three hundred of them. We have at least 3 wars every week. And they all happen on the outskirt of town, far far away from civilization. Though we hear the bombshells, tanks and violent unnatural earthquakes, we know we're safe because the warmen fear old Nana Wendy more than death itself.

Old Nana Wendy, our town's grandmother, she has a huge temper and it lasts for around a week until she forgets, for an eighty year-old, she sure can cause a lot of damage.

There I go, rambling on about my life, because, frankly, that's the only thing I can do that isn't boring. No Intrepids life is boring. We made up 98% of the myths in this empire, and there are a LOT of myths and legends.

"Morning George." I scorned. He grunted in reply, his eyes glued on the television. If I were to leave this household for 3 years he'd probably never notice. That sparks up a lot of ideas doesnt it?

"I'm leaving." I announce to no one in particular, but a few snarky replies manage to peep in.

"Don't come back!"

"Forever?"

"Can I take your room?"

I scoff and head out, so much for one big, happy, foster family.

I put on my coat and sneakers, its a bit sunny outside, spring being sprung and all. It don't find spring any amusing, its all bright sunflowers and fresh air, I prefer the rain and the thunder, can you blame me? I live with dark people anyway.

I saw a man in a suit walk by, briskly. His shades covered his eyes and he wore a rather long coat, with a collar that hid most of his face, he looked like he was spying on someone... I wonder who?

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"Happy birthday." I freeze, NO. WAY. for the second time today I am shocked, someone does remember. I don't bother turning back to find out who it is, I can make out by her waspish side comment.

"I wanted to forget, you know?"

Kyara, my almost friend, no Intrepid does friends, we're all solo workers. Kyara has the perfect complexion of pale skin, startling grey eyes and a tough outer cover. She can scare the life out of anybody for pure fun and at the same time make you regret whatever harsh judgment you have about her before thinking it, she can make your life miserable by just glaring at you.

"Thanks for not forgetting then." I say in reply. Kyara is the only person I can have a civil-ish conversation without any of us grunting, growling, snickering or having a jibe at each other.

"You're bad at covering up your morning moods, I thought, at least, you'd take it a little easy on me, today being your birthday and all."

Of course, she's just going to use this day to her advantage, I couldn't ask for a better friend.

"I'm starving, I wonder what Clementine gets to eat at that fancy academy she goes to." Clementine Williams, Kyara's second cousin, she's an Imperial, living her lavish life in a royal academy. I cringe at how being an Imperial must be, wearing dresses and heels all day, make up and hair are their main priorities. I shudder at the feeling, if there's one thing I know, I'm not fit to become a princess or anything close to that for that matter.

"Buy me something. A birthday treat to me."

"The last time I checked it was my birthday not yours."

"Either you buy me food or you'll have a playdate with my fist."

You see, thats the main difference between me and Kyara, she gets mad about food, for me its sleep. We both have completely different stories, her foster parents starve her most of the time, not having much access to food,while mine never let me rest, its always my little foster brothers to annoy me, or Claire playing her loud rock music, or George losing one of his thousand coffee cups.

I put my hands in the air in defeat, she may be my friend but that doesn't lessen the pain she can cause, "I'll buy you some fries and that's it. I don't have a lot on me."

"Fries sound good." She agreed and we made our way out of the hallway of my apartment and outside our doors.

The streets were empty, it always is , Intrepids make up only 15% of the whole empire, a very tiny population.

Especially since it's spring, no Intrepid likes spring.

I shook my head and walked on the sidewalk, not like any cars were driving on the road, but I walked on the footpath so I went unnoticed. Kyara followed behind, not uttering a word, her face glued on her cell.

The buildings were old and battered, some were beyond battered and half destroyed. That's the problem here in Intrepidus, Nothing is at its best. Nothing.

Bombshell explosion was the only prominent sound that echoed through town, another war, what is it with Intrepids and fighting? Oh yeah, I forgot. We LOVE to fight.

"How far?" Kyara whined from behind. "I didn't get breakfast today!"

"Well, neither did I!" I snapped back, could you blame me? I was hungry and sleep deprived.

She looked a bit taken back, "Sorry, but are you going to keep yelled at me for remembering your birthday? Because next year I'll make sure to forget." Her stormy grey eyes were brewing up a storm.

I groaned and walked faster to an old diner. Rusty's, the best diner in all of Intrepidus, sure it's unhygienic, but the food is edible,unlike a few hundred restaurants I know of. Kyara's stormy grey eyes seemed to calm down a little after the sight of the diner.

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I scrunch my nose and tried not to inhale all the pollution around the diner, a few cars were parked outside, but the lot felt very empty than usual, must be because of the war.

"C'mon." Kyara stormed into the diner. I took out my 20 Tribus note, hoping it would be enough to fill Kyara's huge appetite.

A bell rang as Kyara stormed in, it was funny, a wild, hungry, beast ratling a soft tingling sound of a bell, it made me want to laugh, but I thought better than to have my head 3 miles away from the rest of my body.

She walked up to the counter and slammed her fist onto the table top. "Fries! Extra Large. She's paying." she pointed towards me. I raised my eyebrows, sure go ahead and make me your personal piggy bank. It's a mutual relationship.

"Actually, small size." I yelled to the server as she went to get our order. "I don't and never will have enough money for a large." I eyed Kyara. She scoffed and turned to sit in a stool, it was nice to know that she rather have something than nothing at all. It warmed my heart.

I grabbed a stoll near the door and dragged it to the counter where Kyara was sitting.

"Thanks." I heard her murmur, but it was very soft and I thought I must have mistaken it for something else. No Intrepid says 'Thanks'

"What?"

"I said... thanks." she said the last part in gritted teeth, now I knew she was thanking me, but I wanted to make use of this one time opportunity.

"What was that? It almost sounded like a thanks. Now, now Kyara, are you thanking me?" I teased. "I must have not heard it right."

"Ha, ha." she brushed.

"No seriously." I put on my best serious tone. "A bit louder please."

"Thanks.

"Sorry what?" I asked a bit louder and shoved my ear near her mouth to hear her properly.

"I SAID THANKS!" she practically yelled in my ear.

"Geez, you didn't have to scream. Though its nice to know that you have some manners underneath those many layers of spite." She scoffed and yelled at the server to 'make it snappy before someone dies' I was pretty sure she was referring to me.

She was so frustrated with my childishness she got up and ran into the diner's kitchen, saying she needed to smell food to feel better.

I looked around the shop, there was a family sitting in the corner, I could make out that the young boy was their kid. He had his mothers eyes and his fathers looks. He kept screaming for a milkshake and his parents just shook their head.

Then I saw the same man from before, the long coat and shades, he had side-swept, black hair, and was sitting on a stool at the far end of the counter. So he was spying on someone! I think its teh family sitting in the diner, or the lady with the office uniform sippin on her coffee and reading the newspaper.

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Kyara returned after a few minutes and we waited half an hour, which was an unusually long time to make a small box of fries. I looked expectantly at the kitchen doors and that's when it burst open. The server came with an extra large box of fries and soda.

I cant believe Kyara changed her order. I can't believe she's making me pay. I can't believe she thinks I'm not going to run away from her and leave her to pay.

And just when I was going to execute my instant-made plan, Kyara tugged my sleeve and forcefully pulled me down on the stool.

"What are you doing?' I hissed. "I can't afford this much, I need something for myself, it's my birthday, you know?"

Kyara gave me a cold stare and continued with the large box of fries in front of us. She glanced at me again, and I Knew what she was trying to say. Eat.

I didn't need to be asked twice.

We gobbled up the entire box in less than fifty seconds. A new world record I supposed. I looked expectantly at Kyara, wondering what we were supposed to do. She ignored my confused looks and not-so-subtly burped.

What now? We hadnt talked during our fry feast, and now that's it's over, what were we supposed to do?

That's when she took off.

"See ya, Paige!" she teased as she ran from the diner.

Completely stealing my plan.

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So I had no choice but to pay. The server said I was short by a few notes, but she didn't mind. I was glad, but mad at Kyara for just ditching me. It's time for payback. Ha, pay back, paying me back my 20 tribus notes! Bad time for puns, Paige!

I ran after her, "KYARA! COME BACK HERE YOU EXPIRED, HALF-EATEN, PIECE OF MOULDY BREAD!" Yes, when I'm angry, my brain doesn't process what I say properly.

She just laughed at me and ran further, I knew I should have eaten breakfast today. Isprinted as fast as I could, but Kyara was still miles ahead of me, why was I chasing her? I had no idea.

All I knew is that when someone is angry, the other person runs, the angry person chases and then when they're finally together, they just talk.

Who talks after running for miles just with a thought to beat that person up, and instead just TALKS.

Scratch what I said before, I needed breakfast.

I thought I was catching up to her, when she took a sharp turn on the left curb. I stopped, bent down so my hands were on my knees, and started panting like the second-hand of the clock, was ten times faster than it normally is.

I shook my head and walked near the curb, I was a bush of messy black hair standing back-turned, towards me and I knew it was Kyara. I ran up to her, who suspiciously didn't hear my running, and grabbed her by the back of her shoulder to push her to my face. My green eyes dug into her hazel brown ones.

Wait a minute, Kyara doesn't have hazel eyes.

I stepped back, wide-eyed, she wasn't kyara. I mentally slapped myself, the lady in front of me was at least three years older than me, and was 2 feet taller.

"And who do you think you are? Trying to kidnap me? I'll show you-" And she kicked my shin and strutted into a nearby shop.

I crouched down to nurse my leg, her heels dug deep, it was definitely swollen. My eyes were blazing, from the heat or from anger, I don't know.

I lifted my head up to see the suspicious spy-man, he glanced at me and proceeded to enter a shop, and inside one of the store's windows, I saw Kyara sticking her tongue.

I gave out one of those angry, not-humorous-at-all chuckles and barged right into the shop.

"KYARA GREENLY WILLIAMS, YOU ARE SO DEAD!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. I saw her on the aisle opposite me and grabbed the first thing I could find, an umbrella, and attempted to jab it at her, but failed miserably.

I was a sleep-deprived and hungry monster, there is no way she's gonna go easy.

"I WANT MY MONEY BACK!"

She just threw her head back and started laughing at how I completely missed jabbing her, and at my silly threat. That ticked me off. The next thing I remember was me throwing everything from the shelves of the Aisle towards her while she stooped from all the bombs.

"Oi! What is going on here!" A man, who I presumed was the store-owner, hissed.

I froze, I didn't realize the ruckus I caused, people were staring with horrified expressions. The spy-man just looked at us,shook his head and muttered something, while going back to inspect a product he was holding. I looked back at Kyara and she froze for a moment and then started fak-crying,

"That girl is trying to hurt me!" she yelled. "She just barged in here and demanded me to give back her money that I didn't even steal!" she wailed. I gotta hand it to her, she's a good actress.

"I-I...Uhh." I stuttered, my brain definitely gave up on me. My mind already retired.

"YOU." The store owner pointed at me, "Are you paying for every single thing you touched and ruined in this store!" Kyara started fake-sobbing and ran out the store. It's so payback time.

No, not payback, its war.

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"Look, I need you to help me. I want revenge."

"And how much are you willing to pay for our services? Our skills are quite expensive."

"You do realize you're just ten, and you tried pranking me this morning and failed miserably." I reminded Jerry, smirking a bit.

"20 tribus notes and no less!" Perry, his twin brother piped in.

"Deal."

"Meet us in the alleyway in an hour."

"Why an hour?"

"We need time to think..." Jerry said in a professional tone

"...And play Video games." Perry finished off.

"Meet me in my room after an hour, I'm not wasting my time in an alleyway."

They seemed disinterested after the minds were averted to video games, but they grunted in acknowledgment. After the incident at the store, I used up every last penny I had saved for college funds to pay everything I destroyed. Guess who's not going to college?

I was mad, really mad, not about going to college, but about how Kyara just back-stabbed me at the store, when she was the one who made me spend all my money, TWICE!

My shin throbbed with pain, I secured an ice-pack to heal the bruise, but I still had to drag it while walking. God, I hate that lady who kicked me.

Prank wars. The only legal way for revenge. Minors werent allowed to start their own wars, unfortunately.

Kyara would never see this coming, ok, she would. But that can't stop me from hoping. Jerry and Perry were playing video games in their room, while I tried to strategize a plan for our war.

Its been forty minutes and so far, I came up with almost nothing. I forgot how my brain had given up on me, I was a lost cause.

At times like these I don't know what I'd do without Jerry and Perry.

"Oi! C'mere boys! One hours up!" Thankfully for me they don't know how long an hour is, so I should be done with this easily.

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Three minutes later Perry and Jerry were racing up the stairs into my room. Just like me, they too were fostered by George. Being fraternal twins they looked extremely similar. Both Perry and Jerry had strawberry blonde hair, and were exactly the same height. The only way any of us could distinguish between them, were their eyes. Perry had light Hazel-green ones while Jerry had bluish-green ones.

"We're here."

"I can see." I rolled my eyes at them. "So I was thinking that we could-"

"Nope."

"Too boring."

"Very lame."

"Even Nana Wendy wouldn't get scared with that."

"I didn't even tell you guys what I had planned!" I sighed in exasperation. These boys sure did know how to get on my nerves.

"You didn't have to, you were going to say that we should food poison Kyara's dinner, leave a forty day old muffin in her room and burn down her secret pantry."

My jaw fell a little. "How did you-?"

Perry sighed, like he got this question all the time. "We're professionals, we know what you'd plan we're good people readers."

"But how did you know it was Kyara?"

This time Jertuy spoke up, "She's the only person we've seen you hanging out with today, and I don't see a reason why you'd bother to waste your time pranking a stranger."

"You stalked me on my birthday? Gee, I didn't think I was that special." I said dimly, sarcasm laced thick in my voice.

"Birthday?" Jerry asked. "Its your birthday?"

I had no idea why he was suddenly so intrigued in my life, but I brushed off his question and continued with our deal. "So what the plan?"

"We already made one."

Oh. Well thats a first.

"But it will be an extra 30 Tribus Notes." Perry Piped in.

"Just take how much you need from Kyara's allowance, it should be enough." I was becoming ticked off, I wanted to know what they had planned.

"We can't tell you. You're paying for our services, not for our plans."

There I go thinking out loud again.

"Fine. But I'm not funding the supplies!" I grumbled, a bit upset that they were telling me the plan that I am paying for.

"That's alright, But first we need to know what Kyara did to you, and then make it ten times worse."

I started recounting everything that happened this morning till now.

"We didn't need your life story, just what actually happened." Perry commented once I finished. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Man, I wish we were there." Perry shook his head in dissatisfaction. "We would have made everything worse!" I shook my head, tired from all that happened in the last 2 hours.

Jerry wrote something down on a notepad, that I didn't notice him bring in, and then started reading from it. "Ok, if thats it, all we need are some snakes, dead rats, pickles, three trolleys of pink sticky notes-" Jerry started off

"Three trolleys of pink sticky notes?" I intervened.

"Yes, now where was I? Three trolleys of pink sticky notes, a jar of instant coffee, green dye and some coconut scented soap."

These were very random, but if it's going to work, I don't mind at all.

"Thanks guys." I stood up to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"Out, we're done, aren't we?"

"Nope, and anyway, why are you going out, this is your room."

I mentally groaned, I've never paid this much attention in my life and it's killing me.

"So that would sum up to 200 tribus notes." Perry calculated. "How do we get the money?"

"From the bank." Jerry answered in a duh tone. "Like always."

"You guys steal from the bank?" I asked, half impressed and half afraid of what they're capable of.

"If we need money, we borrow from the bank don't we?" Perry asked, completely oblivious to the fact that it's illegal.

"I don't think that's how it works." I muttered. He just shrugged and continued.

"It'll all be set by tomorrow. We explain your role before we execute the plan. Be there by 7 am sharp." Jerry instructed.

"I'm not a morning-"

"Does it look like it matters? It would be a waste of money and time if you just sleep in while we do the work for no reason." When did Jerry become the mature one?

"Ok. Ok." I muttered again. "I'll be there by 8."

"7." Perry corrected. I cursed that he noticed.

"I guess I'll see you then." I said walking out.

"This is your room!" Jerry called from behind. I slapped myself in the head for being so asinine and walked back in.

"Out!" I barked at them, and they scurried away. I slumped back in my pathetic excuse of a bed, a mattress for short, and decided to take a not-so-short nap.

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"Paige." I heard a whine. "Paige wake up!"

"We've been calling you for ages!" another voice whined in frustration. "We told you to meet us at 7, its 10 now"

What?! No way! I did not miss the start of the prank war! I bolted up from my bed, just to hit, face-first into a hardcover of a very large book.

"Gotcha!" Jerry and Perry threw their heads back in laughter. Apparently they he;d up a book to my face before I could rise, which resulted in a large brush across my forehead.

I quickly looked at the time, it was almost five in the evening. I was mad, boiling from rage, would be the descriptive term.

"Run." I growled in a low voice. Both instantly turned pale.

"W-what." Perry stuttered.

I jumped from my bed and chased them, the second time today, all over the house, as they kept screaming like girls on a roller coaster. I was tired.

And hungry.

Right on que, my stomach rumbled, loudly. I shook my head and ran downstairs to check if there was anything in the fridge.

George was still glued in front of the TV, Claire must have been hungry too, because she reached the fridge before I did.

She grabbed a bottle of coke and strutted upstairs, back to her room, I suppose. I walked myself to the fridge and peeked in, it was almost empty except for a pack of bread and a half-eaten, probably expired, tomato.

I sighed and grabbed the bread and reached for a jar of jam on one of the high shelves, on my tippy-toes. Guess I have to eat bread and jam.

Who said we couldn't have breakfast for lunch?

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We didn't have a dining table, never had, never will. We ate on the couch or the floor or in our rooms, never together. The Living room was empty, except for one half-living being. The twins were probably hiding somewhere in the apartment, and Ethan would, probably, be out until midnight. Which left George for company.

"Hi dad-"

"I'm not your dad." he deadpanned. I thought that when foster kids call their foster parents, mom and dad, it usually gets an emotional response from them?

"I don't have emotions." He grunted. I really should stop thinking out loud.

"Mhm." I bit on my jam sandwich. While George suddenly got up to refill his coffee. Our TV only has one channel, the sports one. George didn't want to pay for anything else, and that's why the TV is just used by him.

I shook my head and got up from the couch, it wasn't like George and I would ever have more than a two-line conversation.

Just then the front door burst open and in came... two trolleys of pink sticky notes?

"We got the stuff." Perry announced. That was fast.

"We did the shopping before you woke up." Jerry explained. "We just needed time to bring the bags and trolleys up here." He lifted up a few shopping bags he was holding, and pointed towards the trolleys, as if to make his point.

My jaw dropped a little, they were really invested in this plan, I wonder why...

"I thought you said there were three trolleys?"

"Yea, but this cool guy said he could help us so we hired him!" Jerry made him sound impressive.

"He's got the whole agent-look, black suit, shades and huge coat!" Perry added as he set the bags, which he took from Jerry, on the floor. "Oh, here he is now!"

The door opened and in came the man who I kept on seeing, mysteriously, throughout the whole morning. It's like he's following someone, spying. Boy I wish I could spy with him!

I raised my eyebrows at him with an unfazed expression, but I guess who could see through my facade and realize I know who he is and why he's here.

"Charles, this is my foster-sister, Paige Miller." Jerry introduced, after a long silence between me and Charles. He nodded and pushed the trolley into the living room.

George disappeared, probably off to buy more coffee powder, why do I care about the whereabouts of my foster family? Honestly, I'm still figuring that one out.

I was about to lift up my jam sandwich from my plate whenI realized it was gone, I must have been really hungry.

I took a quick glance at Charles who was eyeing the apartment inquisitively, I raised my eyebrows at his suspicious behavior, but then I shrugged it off. Almost everyone here is suspicious. I have two underaged criminals who steal from the bank, for goodness sake!

I looked outside and realized it was getting dark, glancing at the clock I realized it was almost seven, didn't realize it takes me 2 hours to eat, maybe my professors were right, I am slow at everything. I usually go to bed before 8, that way I can escape Claire's awful rock concert she watches every night on her speakers.

I just had to be in the room next to her.

And I can also escape George's shouts from the evening matches. By shouts I mean the curses he yells when his team doesn't win. He can be really loud when he wants to.

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I reluctantly climbed up the stairs and into my bedroom. "Boys I'm going to bed, try not to burn down the house."

"Ok, we'll be explaining the plan to Charles, we think he'll be a good asset." I scowled at what Jerry said, they'd explain the plan to a random stranger they meet on the street, but not me, their own foster sister, who HIRED them to make the plan. I get why people hate Intrepids so much.

I sighed and continued the rest of the stairs up when the most annoying thing happened to me, I tripped! I missed a step and I went tumbling down the flight of stairs I had earlier climbed. "Argh!" I growled, my already wounded leg was even more wounded, along with my pride, what kind of person can trip a 6-step staircase.

My vision was a bit blurry but that didn't stop me from getting up and ready for battle, the stairs might think they're superior, but I'm going to show them how hard I can really step on them.

I stomped up each foot hitting the hard step, secretly wishing that it got hurt with my actions. My legs were a bit wobbly after, and my bruised leg was stinging, but I guess it can't get worse than it already is. My vision was still blurry, but I managed to climb up the stairs. Victory! Me-1 Stairs-0

I better write this down on my college portfolio, I bet they'd accept me by just reading about my biggest achievement of climbing a 6-step staircase with a blurry vision and bruised leg.

I twisted my door knob but it seemed stuck, I pushed for a while but it still wouldn't budge. Out of frustration I kicked the door and the lock clicked open, my fists were clenched and I felt my palms sweat. The only times my palm got sweaty was when I slapped Kyara's sweaty face, even then my palms werent sweaty, they just got sweaty by Kyara, and the other time my palms were sweaty was when I peed my pants in fear because I was left alone in a haunted house at a carnival. In my defense, I was just four!

I blinked a few times to adjust to the new lighting of my room from the dark hall, my blinds were open and my window was unlatched.

"If you sneak into my room at least close my window." I hissed. I knew someone sneaked in to steal something, a robber or thief maybe, but things like these are daily happening, if you lose your belongings it's your loss and no one is going to bother to help you.

Lucky for me, my only prized possession is my pride, and no one can steal that from me.

Oh how I wish I hadn't spoken too soon.

The carpet was covered in black hairballs, not that I minded, the place wasn't cleaned out since the eighteenth century. But when I looked beyond my blurred vision, I realized they were moving!

And I did the most rational thing anyone would do when they find moving hairballs in their carpet, scream like I'm getting murdered. It was high-pitched, which made me sound like a six-year old.

You hear that? That's my pride flying out of the window that I forgot to close.

Now I, officially, have nothing to be robbed of.

Ever since I was a kid spiders creeped me out, who on earth decided it was fair to keep menacing, hairy, long-legged, and vile creatures like spiders to roam around the earth!

Its long legs traveled up my calf, which gave off a ticklish sensation. I shuddered and used my palm to swat it away. I didn't see it fall, but it wasn't on my calf anymore, so it didn't matter.

I was going to push back a strand of my bouncy red hair that had magically jumped from behind my ear and to my face, when I noticed that my hand was black, and the spider I swatted earlier was hanging on my fingers.

I screamed again. A bit dramatically for effect, I might add. And not much to my surprise, no one came to my rescue.

I ran across the deadly 2-inched-creatures and reached for the door knob, just as I thought I had a firm grip on it, my palm slipped and I fell face first into a pile ofblack, furry spiders.

I couldn't open my eyes to sight of how many spiders I have killed with my face, and the amount of spider blood on me. I used my hands to push myself up but failed miserably and fell face-first to the floor of spiders. Again.

I looked at my palms and found them smeared with grease, no wonder I couldn't swat the spider off, or hold the doorknob.

This day seems to be getting better and better. Not.

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After three long hours of ridding the spiders and cleaning myself up, but mostly cleaning myself up, I ran downstairs with a rage that could kill.

"Who did this!" I bellowed to the twins. Who looked at me confused. "Who thought it would be funny to keep s-spiders-" I couldn't even utter the words, that's how much those tiny creatures scare me. "-scattered in my room while applying grease to my door knob!"

The twins looked at each other and then shrugged. "It isn't us." Jerry said, glad that my vision was clearer so I could make out his bluish-green eyes. "We were downstairs with Charles. Going over the plan, remember. An hour after that he left. We heard screaming, but we assumed it was probably Claire vocalizing."

I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from blowing up, "Well then who did." I deadpanned, eerily calm. I could still smell the spider blood on my face, and the fact that we don't have a heater made the water extremely cold for my liking. It's safe to say that there were a few more screaming matches after the spider incident.

"Kyara came over." Perry said as though it was okay for her to be here, we were planning revenge on her for goodness sake!

"What?" my green pupils expanded in shock. "And you let her in!"

"We didn't let her in, she just barged through and went upstairs saying she left her cell here." How gullible could they be?

"How gullible can you guys be?" I voiced my thoughts. "We're plotting against her, how could you ever just let her in like that!"

"We're plotting against her." Jerry asked. "In our defense, we were never introduced."

"Then how did you know her name when she came in?" I challenged, my arms crossed while towering over them.

"She announced it." Perry rolled his eyes.

"Such an attention-seeker." I muttered. She was behind all of this, couldn't she play fair and let me have my revenge first then she could get me back?

"Nope, where's the fun in that?" Curse me and my thinking skills. We have to get her back, but this time, we are going way bigger than before.

"Right! Lets do it!" Jerry yelled. I smiled in satisfaction.

Kyara Williams, prepare to go down.

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"It was the next day, Paige Miller had woken up extra early to prepare, by early I mean 3 hours late. Jerry and Perry, being the kind souls they are, offered to let the poor girl sleep in while they went off and saved the world from an intergalactic explosion." Jerry narrated.

"You done? I kinda wanted to get this over with by christmas." I said dryly. To be honest, I woke up a few minutes after seven, but that is as close as it gets to 'on time'. "Let's go and show Kyara who she's dealing with!"

I was kinda upset that I didnt do anything much on my birthday yesterday, but hey, I'm seventeen, I have plenty more birthdays to come, that is if I dont die before that, of course.

"Whats the plan?" I asked, we were currently hiding near Kyara's apartment. Near the entrance of the basement. "And why are we bringing the tree trolleys of pink sticky notes?"

"Does she ever shut up?" Jerry muttered to Perry. "I cant stand her." I rolled my eyes. "I'm right here.

"Here's the plan." Perry whispered, we were currently standing in the basement of Kyaras apartment. It was pretty dark and the lighting wasnt great, but we could make out each other's figures.

"We know that Kyara got a car for her sweet sixteen." I nodded, her car was her prized possession, next to her food and hair. "We also know that pink is her least favorite color, along with yellow..." he waited for me to put the pieces together, but somehow, all I had was a wild guess full of monkeys and ice-cream.

"Why monkeys and ice cream?" Jerry asked out of no-where?" I narrowed my eyes at him, I was trying ok?

"...So we are going to bombard Kyara's black car with pink sticky notes." Perry continued. "But she would get a bit violent after this stunt."

"Couldn't care less." A sly grin crept on all of our faces. I rubbed my hands together. "Let's do some sticky noting."

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It was almost 8 now, and we completely covered Kyara's car in pink sticky notes. I made sure to sign my initials so she'll know that it was payback for yesterday. I sniggered. The car was completely pink, not a spot of black paint from the car could be seen. We had plenty of sticky notes as extras so we decided to 'beautify' the inside as well. Under the seats, in the compartments and on the steering wheels and inside windows.

I high-fived Jerry and Perry after our Marvelous Job and turned to head back home, my beauty sleep wasn't going to nap itself after all.

"Where are you going?"

"Home, I need to sleep." I said in a duh tone.

"We're not done." We're not? I mean Kyara really values her car, and it'll probably take hours for her to remove the sticky notes, plus she'll be hungry, moody and tired which is pretty hilarious if you're not the cause of it.

"I don't think..." I started. But Jerry cut me off. "We replaced her shampoo with yellow hair dye, and we know she's allergic to coconut and pickles, so we replaced her soap with a coconut scented one and after she's done cleaning out her car we'll give her a pickle sandwich as a sorry gift, she'll probably eat it, considering her love for food is more than her life."

"All you have to do is replace her soap and shampoo, we took the money she hid under the sink for our payment." I raised my eyebrows at them. Money from under the sink?

"We were sneaking around and found it there, a while ago actually. Before you hired us to prank her." Jerry Added as though he was reading my mind, that or the fact that I think out loud.

"You mean you sneak around in peoples houses for fun?"

"No, for future opportunities, it came in handy today right?"

"No it really didn't, but do you mind telling me, how in the world did you get into Kyara's bathroom?" They must have to do some serious break in to sneak into her bathroom. Jerry and Perry looked at each other for a few seconds, as if having a telepathic conversation and then decided on saying, "Its confidential."

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"But what about the other stuff you bought?"

"Well... the instant coffee powder was for George, so he wouldn't bother us while we're in the middle of the war. "

"Now what do we do?"

"Record it, duh, haven't you ever heard the term take a picture, it's good for black mail"

"I'm pretty sure it's, take a picture, it'll last longer, but whatever."

"Well Kyara recorded you when she pranked you yesterday, so it's only fair."

"She what?" I asked in disbelief, yesterday was one of the lowest points in my life. I screamed like a little girl, I had grease smeared on my hands and spider blood all over me, there is no way in the whole of Tribus Trine that she got that recorded!

"She did, and it's online. Good news is, it's trending! Bad news is, we need to be the center of attention, not your pathetic screams." I rolled my eyes at Jerry. Perry took out a camera from his backpack, which I hadn't noticed he had. "Record EVERYTHING." he instructed. I scoffed, I can't believe I'm taking orders from a ten year old. "But only after you replace the soap and shampoo."

I was about to turn around and march into the apartment when I was stopped, face to chest, but a black suited figure. I looked up to meet his eyes, I wasn't short, he was just tall. "Charles?" my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What was he doing here?

"He agreed to help." Jerry said and Perry fidgeted with his backpack zipper. "With the bathroom prank." he added, still seeing my confusing expression.

"I'll have you know, I can sneak in perfectly, thank you very much." I stated proudly. If a bunch of ten year olds can sneak into houses, then so can I!

But then again, they steal from the bank and live their lives doing god knows what else. Or maybe God doesn't want to know either, because I sure do not!

"I meant he was going to set the camera so it would get recorded." Oh.

I guess it was a good thing since I know nothing about cameras. "Whatever." I said and dumped the camera into Charles' hands, who still wore his shades and black hat from yesterday, except the suit was a bit ironed and neater than before.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm incharge." I stared at him and walked out of the basement. Charles didn't say anything, I don't think he ever does, and quietly followed me outside the apartment.

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The streets were empty as always, and now I get why Perry and Jerry are able to sneak around, it really isn't very hard. I looked up at the twelve-story apartment. I knew for a fact that Kyara lived on the fourth floor and her bedroom balcony faces the streets.

The building looked expensive, if her foster parents can afford to live here, how can't they afford food? She's always complaining that she doesn't get any and feeds off of me.

I looked at Charles, who was staring blankly at me.

Her balcony wasn't far up, I could see it from down here. All I needed to reach the first balcony was a small push and then I could climb my way all the way to the fourth. I looked at Charles expectantly, who in turn gave me his infamous blank looks.

"I need a pus." I gestured towards the first balcony. "Do you think you could lift me up?" He stared at me for a few seconds. At first I thought he spoke a different language, but then he knelt down and placed his hand on his knees, beckoning me to step on it while he gave me the push.

I hesitantly lifted a foot and placed it on his palm. Wouldn't his hands get dirty with my shoe marks? I haven't washed my shoes in years.

As soon as I placed my first foot, without any warning, he pushed me up. My leg, magically, gripped a protruding brick of the building wall, which I used to push myself further to the balcony.

My breathing was hitched, the second thing that I hate the most after spiders, is heights.

Though the first balcony wasnt high from the ground my vision grew dizzy, and I felt weak, like at any moment I would fall. but I shook the feeling away and propelled myself forward again by climbing my way through the three balconies, which, thankfully, were not far from each other.

I climbed over Kyara's balcony rails and gave a quick thumbs up to Charles, who wasn't to be seen. Huh. He bailed one me, not surprisingly, my brothers did too, but Charles seemed different.

I raised an arm and my fingers curled around the Kyara's balcony's rails when a violent shake shook my hand and made me lose my balance. Ha. Violent shake shook my hand. My english teacher would be proud of my use of alliteration and tenses.

I was going to slip and fall when my other arm recovered from the shock and immediately reached out for Kyara's balcony's rails once again.

After I was safely suspended in the air with one arm hanging from Kyara's rails,I looked around to see where the earthquake had come from. It was most definitely not mentioned during Georges Football match or the event would have been canceled, that's when something big and fiery exploded a few miles south.

A war has started.

This was bad news, very bad. Wars are expected to get out of hand, and at these times we were supposed to be inside our houses, preferably in the basement to avoid harm or destruction.

I staggered a bit as I climbed my way to Kyara's balcony, hoping and praying she wasn't in her room, or bathroom. The explosions fired non-stop, the building was practically vibrating, I climbed into her room and froze when I saw it.

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It was the size of my living room, draped in velvet carpets and curtains and a huge king sized bed. This was definitely not the room I was expecting to belong to Kyara's. I mentally slapped myself for not coming over to her house sooner. Everything was rich and screamed lavish.

This was not the life I expected Kyara to live, and to think I wasted all my pity on her. Everyday she'd meet me below my apartment and complain about her foster parents not treating her right and as the good friend I am, I let her walk with me to breakfast, mostly because I was always out of money, and Kyara could drive a good bargain.

I sighed, I was robbed of my pride, made to work for war and then be lied to my whole life. I was never socializing with Kyara until she apologized for ruining my birthday AND keeping this big of a secret from me.

At this point the Prank war didn't seem to be my number one priority. I barged into her bathroom, threw out her shampoo and soap while replacing them with what I was given by the twins.

My shoulders slumped as I walked out of the bathroom. That's when I caught sight of her bed, it was so big and comfy and I bet there was a real bed frame underneath the mattress.

Her room door was closed, so I locked it, just to be safe, and jumped on top of the bed and snuggled into one of her thousand pillows. I am so using this to my advantage now. After half an hour I decided I wanted to go back home and wait to confront kyara. That's when I realized the Camera was in my pocket. I placed it carefully between the books in her bookshelf, because it was directly in front of her bathroom door.

I did a little test video to check if everything fit into the frame, and sure enough, it did. I patted myself in the back and slowly climbed my way back down. The explosions had died down but there were loud war cries and bomb-shells.

I shook my head and wondered why Intrepids had to be so hostile towards each other, why couldn't anyone just step up and take the lead, maybe then that person could manage the chaos and make Intrepidus a better civilization. I knew one thing for sure, I wanted to be that person.

I looked out of the balcony and saw Charles waiting there impatiently, his foot was tapping in an unorthodox rhythm and he kept looking side to side. He looked up and caught my eye, I gave him a sheepish smile. In truth, I wasn't expecting him to wait for me to finish my half-hour nap.

I slowly climbed down, and froz entirely when the building vibrated. It was easier climbing down than up, must be because its easier to fall than jump. The mention of falling did not ease my fear of heights and it took me an extra ten minutes just to jump off the first balcony to the ground. Once I did, I patted myself on the back and turned to Charles.

He still had that blank expression plastered over his face, I was about to thank him when a hot stinging sensation stung at the back of my head. All I heard were muffled noises and my vision turned blank, like Charles' expression.

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"Ms. Miller." someone acknowledged. There was something peculiar about his voice, it was like I heard it before but at the same time didn't.

"Huh?" I asked groggily, the place was dark and it took some time for my eyes to adjust to the very little lighting. I saw six Charles standing in front of me. Six? I rubbed my eyes in case my vision was still blurred from the knock-out. Yup, I was still seeing six Charles, heavily dressed in suits and shades, and a hat to top it off.

"There are six of you." I pointed out. I lifted my head a little from my sleeping position and winced from the pain.

"Ms. Williams." Charles number one, the same one who called out my name, acknowledged Kyara's.

"Huh? Who- WHAT?" she yelled groggily like me. "There are SIX of you? Why are there SIX of you's?" her english wasn't that great when she woke up, she turned to me "you? YOU!"

I turned towards Kyara, slightly to prevent my head from hurting more, and I had to bite back a laugh from what I saw.

Kyara was lying down, her skin was red and itchy from the coconut soap and her hair was yellow, not even blond, it was plain, neonish, yellow. Her stormy grey eyes turned almost blck from rage, or the bad lighting. It looked like she was going to tackle me, but the sight of her was to funny to take her seriously and I threw my head back and laughed like a maniac.

"Yo-you look-" I hiccupped in laughter. "You look like one of those yellow chickens that hatch out of those easter eggs!" I howled in laughter, the sight was hilarious.

She was about to pounce on me when two Charles immediately grabbed both her arms and pulled her back.

"Ms. Williams, in the name of the empress, I ask you to stand down." The Charles to the right of her demanded, while taking out his hand gun. I stopped laughing when I saw it.

"Ms. Miller and Ms. Williams, the empress has requested your presence in the semi-centennial selection in search of a future empress." Charles number one said. "We were given direct orders from her highness, herself, to escort you into the palace for further information."

"No, I think you've got the address wrong." I began. "The Imperium is two kingdoms away from here." You won't find any worthy future empresses in Intrepidus that's for sure.

"No, Ms. Williams, we were given the proper address and we are asking you politely to make your way to the carriages that are waiting outside the alleyway." huh, i hadnt even noticed we were in one.

"But wait." Kyara wanted her say in this. "Whats in it for me?" no not us, me.

"A luxurious stay in the Castle for a year, completed with meals prepped by our ten-star chefs, and of course, personal maids and guards at your requirements." Kyara's eyes lit up at the mention of food, and my head perked a little at the mention of maids. I always wanted my very own slaves.

"Its a deal for me!" she nodded her head vigorously.

"I still want to know the catch. We obviously can't get these for free." I was suspicious.

"Oh of course not, all you have to do is prepare yourselves for the selection in a years time." Charles number one, who did almost all the talking, said again. I shrugged, this deal might be rigged or not that legit but the sound of a comfy bed sounded good at this time.

"Its a deal then."

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Dont forget to vote and comment!

Finished Part one! So excited to move on to the 12 main chapters, trust me, the drama is about to start. Theres going to be a LOT of mystery and competition, major feels and of course the infamous triplets. Hope you enjoyed the read. P.S. changed the cover and description:)🤍

- Leigh     ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*