Serene

12

We land at noon time in Contra. Valerie and Gabby act as bodyguards for Odeo and I. They move us fast, taking our luggage and helping us get through the crowd.

No one else seems to really know Odeo but the one girl who called out to him calls out again.

"James?"

He walks faster, Gabby and Valerie helping us make it out of the airport and into the car waiting for us.

Carlos arranged for someone to pick us up. The man is in his forties and the smiling wrinkles around his eyes show that he's laughed a lot in his time and has probably been through more hard times than good times.

He introduces himself as Cal and helps us get our luggage in the car's trunk. We get in and he drives off to our hotel.

"How're you all related to Carlos?" He asks, looking at each of us through the rearview mirror.

"Valerie here is his girlfriend, and we're all his good friends." Gabby says, smirking at Valerie's shocked expression.

Cal nods and smiles. "Well, nice to meet you. How long are you all staying?"

"A week." I answer.

"Okay, then. Here's your hotel. I'll be here if you need me." He says, helping us unload once we reach the hotel.

We check in the hotel and head into our room.

The room's quite comfortable, with two queen beds and a couch-bed. There's a little refrigerator and a regular sized bathroom.

"We rest first, then shopping later." Gabby says, giving Valeria a pointed look.

She smiles and shrugs. "Okay."

She settles onto one bed, leaving Gabby and I to share again.

Odeo settles onto the couch, a blank look on his face.

We soon fall asleep, needing Valerie to rouse us up.

"Come oon! Shopping!" She exclaims.

I stifle a laugh as I sit up, still clothed in a dark gray shirt and black pants courtesy of Carlos.

"I think I do need an outfit change." I say.

Valerie gives me a look as if to say 'finally! thank you!' and I smile at her. Gabby on the other hand, grumbled as she gets up. And I know that she's perfectly content wearing her gray and black camouflage shirt and black pants.

We follow Valerie, wanting to see how she wakes up her next victim.

She shakes him. "James? James!"

He sits up right away, and then clutches his head. He must have a bad headache after sitting up that fast and hearing Valerie scream his name.

"Val." He mutters.

She shrugs innocently. "We have to go."

He gets up. "Fine."

I raise my hand while Gabby and Valerie strap up their weapons and spy stuff.

"What is it, Serene?" Val asks without even looking at me.

"First, if you're Fox and mystery girl is Wolf, what's Gabby's name? And second, what's with the name James?" I ask, really confused by this.

Once again, Valerie and Gabby share a look.

Odeo doesn't look at me.

"Only those who qualified for higher levels get names like that, Serene. Gabby didn't make it, and she's perfectly fine with it. Carlos on the other hand, he's Falcon." She pauses. "As for James, I think Odeo should explain."