Cross Me Twice

The Gun

I looked myself in the eyes, and I knew what I had to do.  It was the only way.  I had to live up to my parenst.  I had to make sure they didn't die for nothing. I turned away from the mirror and inhaled.  

"I accept your offer, Mr. Surhrid.  I....I'll do it."

"Good," He said. "We will be pleased to welcome you to the CIA."

"Thanks, I guess.  When do I start?"

"You will go to to your apartment.  One of our agents will pick you up in exactly twelve tomorrow."

"I guess I will see you there, then."

He nodded.  "It is our job to take down the bad guys.  Are your ready for this?"

"I need to do this," I said.  "I have to do this."

He was silent for a few moments. After a while, he said something I didn't expect. "I knew your parents.  You look a lot like them."

I looked away. "Thank you." I said curtly.

"I am sorry," He said.  "They were good agents.  Good people."

I nodded.  It was true.  My parents were amazing.

"I asume that is the reason you are accepting our offer."

"Pardon?"

"To make your parenst proud," He said.  "To make sure they didn't die for nothing.  To complete what they started.  To continue their legacy."

I nodded.  It was true.

"Goodbye, Ms. Morgan."

"Call me Alex."

He grinned.  "Alright. Goodbye, Alex."

Flashback

I couldn't fight the tears.  It was too much to take in.  They couldn't be gone.  Just like that.  They wouldn't have just left me.  I...no.  They would never...they wouldn't have left me.  They love me...

I felt cold all over.  I was living with my two older brothers and my sister.  Ian, Luke, and Zoey.  I was seventeen, Ian and Luke were twenty, and Zoey was sixteen, but closer than any family anywhere.  We all looked after each other.

"I don't wanna go to school." I said, tears in my eyes, hugging a picture of the family.  I looked at Luke.

"Please, Alex?  It will help you get your mind off things.  I am sending Zoey to school also.  Ian and I are going to talk to some people...to settle some things like money.  Stuff that will just annoy you.  Please.  For me."

For once, I thought about how it was for Luke and Ian.  They had dreams of being pop stars and actors, and they even got a part in a movie together.  Zoey and I were only just told.  They didn't even get to tell our parents yet.  And they had to cancel their parts.  They were left to raise two underage girls, deal with financial problems, and they too were hurting.  It would make life easier if they didn't have to worry about Zoey and I.  So I hugged him, and got ready.  I wiped off all of my tears, leaving me with a stoney poker face.

"Hey, Alex," My best friend, Trent said, putting his arm around my shoulder.  I stiffened at the touch and looked at him, shaking his arm off.  

"Hi, Trent.  Bye, I'm going to be late."

I for a week, it continued like that.  Me barely saying two sentences. Leaving me friendless.  But that didn't hurt as much.  I was still hurt beyond compare.  My parent's death still weighed heavily on me.