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Beatrice blinked, grimacing to herself as she winced in pain. She squinted, turning her head away from the glaringly bright light. Sunlight shone into the room, the walls merely glass with curtains at the edges. She looked onto a beach down below, the beach packed. She exhaled as she tilted her head. Her ears rang as her hearing slowly came back.
Beatrice looked around the massive lounge room of the beach house, hearing chatter a few metres away at the lounge. She barely flinched as she felt the tender wound at the side of her abdomen, covered with a bandage.
The group at the lounge was Shannon, Lilith, Camilla, Dora and Mary. Beatrice sat up slightly, clicking her tongue to catch her sisters' attention. "Hey, Bea!" Shannon said with a grin, jumping over the side of the couch.
"Is the target captured?" Beatrice asked, seeing the group were all dressed in casual swimming clothes.
"Yeah, the man's in the other room, tied up." Shannon chuckled, offering a fist bump. Beatrice took it with the last of her strength, slumping down on her back against the soft bed with a groan. What a mission. "Th-Thanks, sis." Beatrice answered.
"Want an egg, babygirl?" Mary called from a distance. A smell of bacon filled the room as Beatrice shot up, her stomach rumbling. Lilith laughed to the side.
"Food?" Beatrice asked eagerly, unable to do much else. Shannon snorted at her sister, sitting down next to her. Beatrice was wide-eyed as she watched Camilla take a plate out of the microwave, with fried eggs, sausages, back bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread- a full English breakfast.
Beatrice got a tray put on her lap. "Made it while you were asleep. We just…" Camilla shrugged, "...put it in the fridge." Beatrice barely heard words beyond that as she scarfed down the bacon, rapid.
"Hungry much?" Lilith called dryly from the couch. Dora smiled, "Yeah, considering the mission she just got sent on…" Beatrice didn't bother to try to reply, too occupied with actual food. Not grub from being a fake prisoner. Not anything like that.
"We want details. How'd the prison intelligence mission go?" Shannon spoke. Beatrice rolled her eyes- Shannon was always straight to business. Mary stood up, walking over to the washing basket to the side.
"The guy we need to catch is Ricky Martin, he's the latest intelligence operative. He's in Puerto Rico, if what I gathered is still up to date…" Beatrice wiped her mouth with a napkin, "...how long have I been unconscious?"
"A day. It's far from your longest record, babygirl." Mary answered. Beatrice sighed as she caught a shirt which was thrown to her, one of hers. A button-up dress shirt. She slid it over her shoulders, fixing up the collar.
"Mm-hmm. When's my next assignment?" Beatrice asked, her hands slightly shaking as she buttoned it up. Shannon sighed as she sat down, considering as she scrolled on her phone.
"A week. That injury wasn't major, you'll heal fast." Shannon answered, frowning as she looked at her phone- "Our next assignment has been sent a week in advance, though…" Beatrice raised an eyebrow. They never did that unless it was hard. She turned her full attention to her sister.
"We got an assignment in San Francisco, some celebrity known as Michael Salvius. Two days ahead of time." Lilith called out through the room. Beatrice nodded. She wondered where their mission was…
Shannon raised an eyebrow- "Western Australia. We have to kill a big-shot politician. Dora?"
"We're in India. Gotta take a plane in five hours- ours is in a day. Good luck?" Dora chuckled with a smile. Beatrice nodded with a sigh, gazing around the room. She took out her own phone, about to open it- "Bea, if you try to make an intelligence report, I'm going to kill you."
"Oh, why can't I help you?-" Beatrice answered, sighing.
"HQ. Orders. You know why; the Furies and their stupid policies." Shannon answered sharply, "I don't wanna have to enforce this either." Beatrice crossed her arms, putting her phone back in her pocket. Fine. She stood up, stretching slightly.
"Okay, well, let's get packing."
—----
Beatrice blinked awake, the soft vibrations of the plane running through. Loud chatter came from everywhere around here, the aisles packed. She exhaled as she saw the flight attendant walk down with the cart of snacks, brightening up. The two sisters were silent.
She took out her phone, tapping her foot against the floor. Shannon was fast asleep next to her, the lights turned off in the cabin. Beatrice tapped on the screen, looking at the movie. She grimaced as it failed.
Great. Beatrice sighed as she rolled her eyes, scoffing. She couldn't sleep already. Footsteps came from the aisle as what she thought to be a flight attendant walked by. Beatrice leaned back herself, raising her head. She clicked her tongue, bored out of her mind.
She tapped at the screen. Instead, a text box showed up.
There is a cord on the corner of your tray table. Attach one end to your phone, the other to the side slot of the screen. The message read. Beatrice frowned as she looked to her handler, reaching to wake her- Wolf can know nothing. Do you understand?
Beatrice tilted her head. Shannon was her handler. Why wasn't she allowed to know? Despite this, she knew not to ask many questions. It was practically the policy of her entire job.
I understand. Beatrice typed back, gulping. She couldn't believe this. Despite her disbelief, she knew the risk of disobedience. It wasn't worth it.
Follow your handler when you're dropped off. Make sure she doesn't notice you. If she's doing anything suspicious, kidnap her. If she's doing something not allowed, kill her. Beatrice's heart dropped. No, no. Her sister wouldn't betray, would she? The ideals they'd been taught-
Beatrice exhaled as she took a breath in. The files had completed downloading. She gulped. Shit. What if she was? Then what? Would she be willing to kill her? Beatrice looked to the side, maybe she could just tell Shannon-
Show me you're reliable and I'll elevate you. Tell her and you remain where you are. Beatrice looked in panic at the screen. She wasn't sure she could do this. Who even was this? The rule was she wasn't allowed to ask who, but she needed to know-
I know. She's a respectful handler, she's your sister- but she's potentially a traitor. You can do it. The person typed out- Deep breath in, deep breath out. Beatrice followed the instructions, trying to calm herself down.
Say no and I'll pass this onto someone else. I know it's hard. That didn't make sense. She wasn't allowed to deny assignments. Then again, she wasn't in charge of assignments. Beatrice exhaled as she pressed a few keys.
I'll do it. This was a test, wasn't it? Beatrice typed back. A chuckle came from behind her as she jumped, looking at Shannon- fast asleep still. A hand was on her shoulder, her head turning to see a brown-haired man with a manbun. Her eyes widened as she recognised the man.
Adriel Ceretith. "Smart girl. I knew I could count on you." She squirmed slightly, her eyes wide- "Good luck." Beatrice lowered her head as she heard him sit down again, Shannon awakening and the chat window closing.
"Bea, hey." Shannon said, drowsy- "
—-----
Beatrice stood in the small storage room, the shelves packed with boxes. The light was turned on, but it was dark outside. A chair was in the middle, with Shannon tied down and blindfolded. Silence echoed through the room as Beatrice stared at her sister. Shannon has really betrayed the agency.
Shannon was trying to get them out. They were fine, weren't they? Shannon had been happy! Beatrice was sure of it. She whimpered as she shifted on her two feet, looking away. She couldn't bear to look. She gulped.
She exhaled shakily, hearing footsteps. Beatrice felt her hands shake as she pocketed them, laughter coming from Adriel as he talked into the phone, "Yeah! I know." Adriel laughed- "Alright, see you. Gonna have some fun!" A chill went down her spine.
Fun? Beatrice turned around slowly, seeing Adriel closing the door with a soft click. It was just her and Adriel. "Beatrice. I need you to take off her blindfold." Adriel spoke in an order. Beatrice couldn't move for a moment.
She didn't want Shannon to see her. Beatrice moved quickly, seeing his gaze slowly sharpen into something malicious. She wasn't going to push her luck. She slid it if her sisters face, Shannon's eyes widening in recognition.
"Now, here." Adriel gave Beatrice a knife. Beatrice took it, her hand shaking around it- "Oh, sweetheart. I know." Adriel said, an attempt of being reassuring. It wasn't. It made her want to cry, his sweet tone- "You need to kill her. She betrayed the organisation, okay?" He was so sickeningly sweet.
Beatrice turned to her sister. Shannon was muffled.
"W-What do you need me to do?" Beatrice asked. Adriel walked to Shannon, pulling down the gag. Shannon said- "Beatrice, do what he says. I don't care what it is. Okay?" Beatrice nodded, stepping forward.
"Stab her in the left eye, I'll hold it open for you." Adriel said, holding her eye open. Beatrice gulped, taking in his request. She had to stab her sisters eye. Without a gag. She crouched down, putting a hand on her sisters face, holding it up.
"Shannon." Beatrice said, staying as neutral as she could- "I hope you're ready to face death." She held back her tears, exhaling as she controlled her breaths. She brought the knife up to the soft flesh of Shannon's eye.
Beatrice pressed the knife up to her eye, a gasp of pain coming from Shannon. Beatrice exhaled, she couldn't bring herself to bring the knife in harshly- so instead she was spitting Shannon's eyes, red blood spilling out.
"Bea." Shannon said, tears dropping, "I love you. So much." Beatrice rammed the knife in further, Adriel grinning as he watched the scene happen. Soon her cries of agony turned louder with every scrape of the knife against her face. Beatrice held back tears, still.
Adriel had taken out his gun. "I need you to do it harder, Beatrice. Okay?"
Beatrice took the knife out, ramming it in further shakily. It was like her body moved, just automatically. She stabbed the knife hard into the cut eye, a scream echoing through the storage room.
"The other one!" Adriel said, smiling, "This time, you get to hold it open." Beatrice looked up at Adriel in horror, gripping the side of the chair- Adriel kept smiling. Shakily, she nodded, licking her dry lips as she looked to the corner.
"Remember all that anger you have towards her. Bury the emotions." Adriel murmured to her, squeezing her shoulder. Beatrice held the eye open, despite her rapidly shaking hand. She grunted as she drove the knife repeatedly into her eye.
The knife stabbed into Shannon's face, rapidly so. Her screams filled the room, yet all Beatrice could register was Adriel's voice- "Thatta girl. You're angry at her, aren't you? For the heads of oppression…"
Beatrice buried her sadness, instead replacing it with anger. A better alternative to the past. She grunted as she buried the knife in Shannon's neck, dragging it across. Sobbing filled the room from Shannon, Beatrice gasping as she ran the knife over Shannon's neck.
Blood spilled from Shannon's neck. Beatrice shook as she held the knife tightly, suddenly everything coming back to her. No, no, no. Beatrice gasped as she looked at her bloodstained clothing and hands, Shannon bleeding to death.
"Beatrice. Beatrice. Please, say I love you. Say it back." Shannon whimpered, "I-I need you to say it." She couldn't. Adriel was right there, shaking his head. Beatrice shook.
Beatrice let go of the knife, feeling hands on her shoulders. "Good job, pup. You did the right thing, and you did so good. Okay?" Adriel murmured praise to her. Beatrice shook, everything felt wrong. Yet she nodded, a smile on her face as she wiped the tears away.
"Y-You're sure?" Beatrice asked, looking in horror to Adriel. Adriel nodded, lifting Beatrice up to standing. Beatrice faced her sister, lifelessly sitting there, choking on her own blood. Beatrice gulped, feeling a rag against her face.
Adriel touched her face. Every touch felt wrong, creepy, off. Beatrice exhaled, silent as this happened. She took in what she had done. Her sister was gone. Shannon was a traitor. She had to be in the right.
"Let's get you cleaned up, okay?" Adriel chuckled. Beatrice nodded blindly, turning to Adriel- "This was you. I am so proud." Beatrice nodded. Yeah. She was in the right.
"Wh-What do I tell Mary?" Beatrice asked. Adriel grinned, guiding her out of the room.
"Ah, this is the fun part- you don't." Adriel cackled, his hand around her shoulders as she was brought out into the hallway. Guards surrounded the doorway, eyeing them, "Now, I'm going to be your handler. Okay? I'll make you enjoy your job."
Beatrice allowed herself to be guided.
—----
Beatrice sat in a bedroom, with a bed and a TV on the wall ahead of her. Around the red-walled bedroom, there was a screen door with sunlight shining in. She leaned back, crossing her arms as she heard the fan softly running. She played with the TV remote in her hand, raising her head.
She exhaled, turning on the TV. Shannon was gone and she had a new handler. Would it be the same? Adriel seemed… different. She had a bad feeling about everything, still. She couldn't forget that everything seemed off now.
She clicked on a Korean show, staring at the TV. Beatrice smiled as she saw the show, her favourite one. Shannon had watched it with her. She tried to purge her out of her mind, but Shannon wouldn't be forgotten. Beatrice turned the TV off, grimacing as she stood up.
A knock came from the door. Beatrice called out- "Come in." The door opened, revealing Adriel with a tray of food. A traditional English breakfast.
"Beatrice. Did I ever tell you about the time I murdered my mother?" Adriel asked, smiling pleasantly. Beatrice blinked, shaking her head as she moved along- Adriel sat down, putting the tray down in front of her. "Do tell." Beatrice said, her voice shaky, butt curious.
"Well, I did it in a similar fashion." Adriel spoke, taking a sip of coffee, "Family bonds have to be cut before you can be initiated, Beatrice. So…" Adriel smiled as he held out his hand, "...we're going to burn that friendship bracelet. The one Camilla gave."
Beatrice took it off, giving it.
"How do you get past the loss?" Beatrice asked. Adriel raised an eyebrow.
"You find joy in your job." Adriel answered with a shrug, looking at her with the side of his eye- "It's okay to want to be happy. You just have to make it fun, spice it up, y'know…" Beatrice nodded.
"...suppress your emotion. Everyone is a stranger from now on." Adriel added on, smiling, "Forget your past. Erase it. This is your present now, pup." Beatrice blinked as she saw Adriel take out something.
A cell phone. "New contacts. New model. More encrypted." Adriel said, wiggling it in front of her. She took it with a chuckle, smiling. Okay, a new phone. This was just the start, then.
"Thank you. Uh…" Beatrice opened it, "...Areala? She can call me now?"
"You're going to be a part of the upper circle. Of course." Adriel answered, grinning. Beatrice sat there, being patted on the shoulder- “You did the right thing. I promise, dear.” Still, dread twisted her stomach, Mary on her mind as the man continued speaking.