Fragile

Chapter 24

"I'm the hacker that works for Noah," Charles explained, keeping his head lowered. 

"What the actual fuck is wrong with this school," Kiera said. "Do we have any normal college kids around here? Or does the soccer team work for the FBI?" 

"I'm really a college student," Charles said. "I'm nineteen and I major in engineering. I didn't lie about that. I just help Noah on the side." 

"He was referred to me awhile back," Noah explained. "He rarely works in the field, just keeps tabs and works the system when I need it." 

"For the love of fuck, was I really the last person to know about this shit?" Kiera scoffed, trying to keep her voice down. She was mad. No, she was pissed. Her expression was stone cold and she managed to keep her voice level, but based on her whitening knuckles at her sides, that was due to a hell of a lot of restraint. She glared at Charles. "So am I supposed to assume you approached me with an agenda?" 

"No, no," he insisted. "I really didn't have any other intentions, I promise. I just couldn't tell you because of how serious this operation is. I never expected you would get involved." 

"Can we have this argument later? We are on a clock," Noah cut in impatiently. 

Charles hung his head. "Right." 

It was then Noah finally locked eyes with me. I stood immediately, feeling awkward around everyone in the tiny dorm. My fingers gripped at the chair, waiting for his reaction. What did I want him to say? Did I want him to react at all? What was he thinking now that he was staring at me?

Noah suddenly nods. "Both of you get wired. Let's go over the script." 

I didn't know what I was expecting, but I suddenly felt much heavier standing in my heels. Kiera ended up giving Charles the cold shoulder the entire time, even when he was implanting a mini camera in her necklace. I didn't know why, but I suddenly wanted to burst into tears and crawl under my bed. Everyone was in their own world. Was I even significant? Did I need to be here? 

Charles handed me a silver ring. "It has a tracker in it," he explained. 

I inspected it. "Where? I can't see." 

He chuckled. "It's encased in the silver. I had it specially made. If you look on the inside part, you can just see it sticking out." 

I inspected the inner part of the ring and sure enough, there was a small section where the ring was discolored. I was grateful for the distraction. It reminded me to focus on the mission. Right now wasn't the time to sulk because a guy didn't call me pretty. I wasn't that selfish, nor that vain. 

He gave me a necklace similar to Kiera's. "I changed the style so they don't look too suspicious, but both have cameras in them. When someone is talking, make sure to face them completely. It's not safe to give you ear pieces, so instead you will both have bracelets." he gestured to a charm on each bracelet. "On the back of these charms there is a small button. If you are in danger or need us to come in for any reason, push this button." 

"How will we contact you then?" I asked. 

"Charles hacked into the security system and set up his own cameras at the social already," Noah said. "the problem is the real crime happens after the social, and we don't have access to that. The goal here is to install as many cameras and bugs as possible without getting caught. We aren't there to bust anyone, not tonight." 

"You want us to bug these bastards? Openly?" Kiera demanded. "And just sit there while these girls are being raped and assaulted?" 

"I never said it was easy," Noah said. "If we go in guns blazing we will only be able to save maybe a dozen girls. We need to figure out who their leader is, and where their major trade stations are. That way we can save as many as possible." 

I hung my head. I had forgotten just how cruel these criminals could be. Hearing Kiera and Noah argue, I wondered if I was really cut out to be a spy. Could I really sit and watch girls be sold right in front of me? Even if I knew it was to save the majority, even if I knew they would be rescued eventually, at what cost? How much trauma would they have to live through before we could finally get them out? Would life still be worth living?

I was starting to feel guilty. How could I be so selfish to be concerned about my insecurities when there was such a large issue at hand? It was as if I slapped each of those girls in the face. I straightened my shoulders. I was not going to be distracted by trivial things, not now. Those girls needed a spy, and a successful one, not a fragile fairy. 

"Let's do it," I said, filling the tense room. 

Everyone looked at me with wide eyes. I wanted to cave, but I forced my shoulders to stay up. They wouldn't believe me if I didn't even believe in myself. 

Kiera suddenly gave me a determined nod. "Let's do it," she echoed.