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These years have been very difficult. It’s been a while since I’ve had any significant missions to help stop the White Spy, but above all, the country has been suffering through a terrible crisis. I hadn't realized the extent of it until now, as everything is coming to light; unlike their predecessors, the new generations have preferred siding with the White Faction, all thanks to the "liberal" lifestyle promoted by those white classists.
I felt deeply betrayed by this new movement. However, that wasn’t the only thing taking a toll; economic crises, corruption scandals, and the recent death of the Leader have left everything upside down. It was a total mess that ate away at my patriotism for the Black Nation, but there was still hope. There had to be. I can still help as I did in years past; it all has to be worth it.
"Black Spy, the General needs you this instant." Oh, right, I’d forgotten what I was doing. I had been summoned to speak with the Leader. His constant scolding and threats of firing me were becoming more frequent, but I’d endured years of them; by now, it was just a routine.
Standing before the door and bracing myself for what was to come, I entered. The office was just as I remembered: countless photos of the previous Leader and the General hanging throughout the room, elegant furniture with engravings that clearly showed where the embassy's budget had vanished. To crown the opulence, there was the desk and chair, fine crimson fabric adorned with silver and gold. I might have hated the younger generation for being swayed by the White Country’s lifestyle, but if I agreed with their rhetoric on one thing, it was the need to combat the rampant corruption of the leaders.
Regardless, I was now in front of the General. Don't get nervous, Black.
"Ah, Black Spy, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Sit, we have much to discuss." That kind tone was a well-known facade; he could be the gentlest leader in the world one moment or the biggest bastard you’ve ever met the next. I didn't make him wait and sat down.
"Why did you call for me, General?" I responded quickly, better to take the blow sooner than later.
"Straight to the point; I understand, Comrade Black. I know it’s been a long time since you were on a mission, but since the protests began, the country has been in total shambles." He stood up and approached the window.
"The world is changing, Black, and our Leader doesn't have the strength to do anything, nothing compared to the previous one. Furthermore, the younger generations have stopped affiliating themselves with the values of what the 'Black' represents." Something felt off; for some reason, he was becoming unusually profound. I stayed silent, giving the General the space he needed to continue.
"That is why we must help him. Tell me, Black Spy... what do you need to get all these people back on our side?" I didn't know how to respond. I knew the answer from my years of experience, but I wasn't sure if answering was the best move. I decided to play it safe.
"I don't know, General."
I heard a sigh of impatience. "I don't know if you're playing the fool, Black, but I'm going to tell you something." He approached me and, in an instant, grabbed me by the neck. This had never happened before—not like this.
"G-G-General, what are you doing?" I looked at his face, which was twisted in absolute rage. There was always a fear of making the General angry, but usually, he could fix his mistakes and things would return to normal. Perhaps he was acting this way because of the current situation? For a while, I’d noticed that fewer spies were joining the embassy every day, and more veteran comrades were resigning. This had been going on for years, but it never seemed to be a problem for the General, until now.
"The only way to stop those damn snuffs is to expose their leaders!" He finally let go, sending me crashing to the floor. I hadn't even realized how high he'd lifted me. It didn't matter; he was still fuming. «Don't mess up again, Black.»
"This will be your final mission, Black Spy."
«Wait... final mission?»
"The embassy needs this more than anything, for the nation, for our comrades, for our children, for everyone." As always, he spoke of the common good. I was willing to comply, though everything he said felt desperate. I would worry about that later; I still had doubts about his words.
"E-excuse me, General, but... what do you mean by my 'final mission'?" His face wrinkled further in irritation. I quickly changed the question. "Could you give me the details? It would be for the best."
That seemed to calm him. He pulled investigation documents from his desk drawers. These looked simpler than other embassy files; they spoke of a port town located in one of the faction's allies. Curiously, it claimed some inhabitants had connections to several leaders of the White Faction. Despite being different from a standard embassy document, it was well-researched, including full details on those involved.
"I hope that document serves you, Black. Now, listen to me." His voice turned raspier. "This mission will be the last we give you. If you succeed, it will be the solution to mitigate the protests, and you will receive a promotion. But if you fail... your family will pay the price."
At the mention of my family, I went numb. I expected threats of dismissal or even a death sentence, but not my family.
"General, you can't-"
"SILENCE!!" I shut my mouth. I had never seen such rage since I was in the army, but there was also a deep desperation in his voice.
"I don't care what the law says right now! If you don't fulfill this, you won't just suffer a life sentence, your family will pay the consequences. Understood?"
This was completely unfair. How was it possible they were threatening my parents this way? Those laws hadn't been applied for decades. Of course, the difference was that the General was a relic of the old world, and my own near-immortality had made me practically immune to the fear of death. They, however, were the opposite, and the General was capable of anything to get what he wanted, even if it meant hurting innocent bystanders.
"I accept the mission." What else was there for me to do?
Despite being sent under a death threat, I didn't just sit idly by. While preparing for the mission, I sent someone I trusted to watch over my parents in case anything went wrong. Nevertheless, the gnawing doubt that I might not be able to protect them consumed me from within. Soon after, I was deployed to the town where the special information was located. The train ride was quiet compared to what awaited me; the only silver lining was that I wouldn't have to face my arch-nemesis...
At least, I hoped not.
The town was quite pleasant, full of children, bustling shops, and clean streets. The main plaza was vibrant and full of life; it wouldn't have been a bad place for a vacation. While scouting for a hotel near the beach, I reviewed the list of suspects potentially involved with the White leaders.
Hiding the list inside a crossword book, I sat in the most secluded spot in the plaza. There were about twenty people on the list, including the mayor. It would be easy to give him a scare and force him to spill everything he knew. However, upon arriving at the location, I found a printing house; from what I observed, this town relied heavily on it.
It’s a shame that journalism laws have become more flexible. One small mistake and I’d end up alerting the entire town. I needed another way. Going directly after the low-level targets would only tip off the town leaders; similarly, if I went straight for the mayor, the journalists would report it, creating even more problems for the Embassy. I needed a different approach. What if I simply interviewed them and stole the information? Yes, that could work.
I went straight to a reasonably decent hotel to check in. Despite the tranquility, I had a lingering sensation that something was following me. Scanning my surroundings, I found nothing to give away a tail. The White Spy hadn't appeared yet, and it might be foolish to think he would show up, but if there's one thing I know for sure, it's to never be overconfident.
Once in my room, I settled in and was able to appreciate the place better. It wasn't the most luxurious hotel, but that didn't matter. It was pleasant; while the furniture wasn't the most ornate, it was high quality and sturdy. The bathroom was spotless, and sunlight poured in from the balcony overlooking the sea. I would love to live here, perhaps find a house for sale and buy it for my parents. My mother had always dreamed of a place like this, and my father deserved somewhere he could truly rest.
Thinking of them felt like a thorn in my heart. The image of them turning up dead worried me deeply; dammit, I couldn't stop thinking about the danger they were in. Even though I’d left them in the care of an old comrade, they had nowhere to run.
I had to do this job right, for them. They were the only family I had left, so failure was not an option. Suddenly, I heard footsteps moving away from my door. I grabbed my weapon and cautiously approached the peephole. No one was there. With extreme care, I opened the door. Absolute silence. I peeked out, looking both ways and above the door frame just in case. I stepped carefully on the floor, wondering if it was hollow.
There was nothing. Of course there wasn't, but I had to be cautious.
Two weeks passed. Adapting was easy; the locals knew me as a tourist enjoying these beautiful lands. While they believed that, I spent my days identifying my targets and memorizing their routines. Occasionally, I’d approach workers for clues; before long, I had a good idea of what was happening. They were likely smuggling illegal items, the question was exactly what.
So far, the number of people involved hadn't grown, and I already knew the smuggling ringleaders. I just needed to get into their homes and that would be it. There was just one problem: someone had been following me. At night, when I went to watch my targets, I felt someone watching me. I scanned the area but never saw that familiar white trench coat I knew by heart. Whenever I returned to my hotel room, I noticed my things had been moved and rearranged.
I constantly asked the receptionist if anyone new had checked in, and she always said no. The White Spy was trailing me. How could he have known? Perhaps someone from the Embassy had infiltrated us, or maybe he’d known about this operation for a long time. I should have worn a mask; that was essential. Worst of all, the General was already growing desperate.
I had to act fast despite the risk of the White Spy stealing the documents. I couldn't let my family pay the price. But first, I had to secure the room.
Two nights later, I took care of the first leader of these operations: a primary school teacher. It wasn't the first time I'd seen civilians creating black markets; given the crisis, I couldn't blame them for such desperate actions. It was easy to find where she hid the incriminating info. I just had to enter her husband's study, crack a safe, and that was it. I tidied everything up so she wouldn't suspect a thing.
After securing that info, I moved on to the village priest, who was highly admired by everyone I’d met. His documents were inside the church; however, these were harder to find. Due to the church's age, it had secret compartments. This time, it took me almost all night to find those files. It felt ridiculous, but I no longer doubted the hiding spots these old buildings could offer.
Exhausted, I headed back to the hotel. It had been a fruitful night's work. As I walked through the lonely streets, I began to hear the sound of high-quality shoes behind me. I looked back, expecting to see my greatest enemy. There was nothing. I was ready to run, but to my misfortune, I heard the click of a safety being disengaged as a gun was pressed against my head.
"You've been more careless than usual lately." Oh, that son of a... "Hands up."
Finally, someone made an appearance in this game we both knew. My greatest enemy, the White Spy, was here. Doubts flooded my mind, how did they know about these operations? But before I could ruin the town's peace, I tucked the documents into my coat and raised my hands. I could hear his footsteps approaching.
"I like seeing you like this. You know, it's a surprise seeing you on missions again. But it was obvious the Embassy wouldn't sit idly by, especially with peace so close at hand." The mention of peace between the factions made me sick to my stomach, even though no one in high command had told the agents that peace was being negotiated.
"What do you mean by 'peace'? Do you really think peace can exist? Knowing your lot, I'm not willing to humiliate myself." I felt a blow behind my knee, forcing me down. He grabbed my hand and twisted it behind my back, pinning my face to the ground. I felt my arm was about to dislocate. I wanted to curse him for it.
"Look, don't play with me. I also thought I wouldn't be doing any more missions until I got an emergency call. Whatever your leader is doing, he knows something extremely high-risk." There was a threat in his voice, an attempt to impose fear while I felt the cold barrel of the gun against my neck. On the other hand, I was only worried about him taking the documents. I had died a hundred times at the hands of the White Spy; I didn't fear death. I only thought of my family. A tense moment passed as I waited for the shot, but it never came. Why was he taking so long?
"You know, I could shoot you and take those files. It would be extremely easy. But I think I'll wait for you to finish your work." He stepped back a bit, though he didn't loosen his grip on my arm. Honestly, I was confused by his behavior. Now I knew he was plotting something.
"What the hell are you talking about?! What are you proposing?! I'm just doing what's right for the Embassy." I felt him apply more pressure to my arm again.
"Good God, Black, don't you realize you're doing something that could jeopardize the factions' peace? Don't you want peace to come? They've even been jailing anyone who interferes. You know your boss could end up in prison." I fell into total silence, finally understanding the General's panic. Now I understood why he threatened my family so fiercely. I was going to have to make some calls.
"That would include you too, but even if you're willing to end up in prison for treason, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad lesson." My enemy stood up and let me go. I did the same, being careful not to provoke him into shooting. We stared each other down intensely.
"Now, Black, I'm going to give you a chance to walk away from all this. Give me the documents and you can go back to the Embassy empty-handed, living happily with your family in peace, as it should be." As if it were that easy. I wanted to rant and insult him, thinking he had it easy, but to my surprise, his face looked... tired? I had no idea what he was up to, but there was a morbid curiosity to know what he was thinking, perhaps even to play along.
"What happens if I don't give them to you?" I saw him smile with a playful glint in his eyes. Was this what he wanted? He tucked the gun into his coat.
"In that case, I'll let you collect everything you've got. But next time, I won't be so kind. I hope you can keep up, as always." And with that, he walked away calmly toward the church. I just stood there, watching him disappear. Dawn was breaking, the light reflecting off his white clothes, shifting their color into the reds and pinks that come with the sunrise.
You took a bit longer than expected to resume the collection of documents. It seemed that what White had said regarding the peace negotiations was true, a fact you only confirmed through colleagues who had already defected from the Embassy. Furthermore, over the last few days, leaders and politicians were being arrested in secret. Those clandestine calls and confirmations were enough to reveal everything you needed to know.
You also inquired about your parents. Thank heavens, they are safe, though under Embassy surveillance. However, they are already aware of the situation, and your friends have taken all necessary precautions to protect them.
So, that bastard White was right about all of it. That wretched man, if he knew the full extent of what was happening, you doubted he would help; in fact, he would likely toy with you in an even more cruel fashion. During the past few days, you attempted to rig your hotel room with traps, doing the same at various points in the train station. You even sought someone to rent you a car as a means of escape.
For five nights, you dedicated yourself to preparing all manner of snares and ruses for your flight, though you doubted their adequacy. It had already been confirmed that if you intervened, you might end up in prison, giving you even more to ponder. Simultaneously, the mission grew more difficult; while you prepared your traps, the town began to crawl with police and nocturnal patrols. Even the few tourists in town were subjected to interrogations. It was obvious that the theft of those initial documents had put the smugglers on high alert.
This was further confirmed when the priest and the teacher vanished three days later. As for White, he was staying at one of the most luxurious hotels in the area, looking serene and unbothered. You could only curse him for all the inconveniences he was forcing you to endure.
Finally, you felt ready to seize the remaining documents from the other smugglers. Truthfully, you did not know what they were involved in; when the General assigned you this task, he ordered you not to look at the files. Even when you attempted to find more clues, you were strictly forbidden from viewing the contents.
On the sixth night after the first theft, you resumed the mission. One of the targets was the captain of a fishing vessel. The small port was swarming with guards patrolling for anyone suspicious, but they were inept at their jobs. Passing through unseen was one of the easiest feats you had ever accomplished. You boarded the vessel without incident and soon found yourself in the captain’s suite. What you sought was located in a hidden drawer within the desk; it surprised you how obvious they could be.
You departed without taking much care to hide your presence. The final person remaining was the Mayor, who, after an exhaustive and rapid investigation, was found to have taken all the information to his home. His residence was located further away from the town; it would take a long time to reach unless you hurried. Reaching the estate wasn't difficult, though this extraction would be more complicated due to the increased security. How could you distract them all? As you focused your attention on the parking area, an idea struck you.
Cries of terror and concern rang out as the flames consuming the car grew larger, causing the guards to scramble in search of a fireman. This provided the opportunity to enter the mansion, concealing yourself among the trees and shrubbery. Based on your previous observations, the documents should be in the Mayor’s bedroom; you only hoped not to encounter anyone inside.
The mansion was not large, though it was highly maximalist, filled with antique furniture that felt out of place in the current era. It gave weight to the rumors that the contributions made to the town were genuine, and that he only used illicit funds within the village itself. Perhaps it was true; it was a pity you couldn't fully trust his quality as a leader. At the end of the day, he was still a criminal.
You reached the doors of the Mayor’s room and waited a few seconds to see if anyone emerged. No one appeared, but you listened intently for any sound from within. Sensing no reaction from the other side, you entered cautiously, only to be tackled. Fortunately, your training kept you on guard, and you didn't fall.
BANG!!!
You barely managed to dodge the shot. Looking up, you saw an overweight man in striped pajamas: it was the Mayor, determined to kill you. You drew your pistol, aiming for his leg. He seemed ready to do the same to you, but you were faster.
BANG!!!
A horrific cry of pain erupted from the man. You followed up with a heavy blow to the head to incapacitate him; it wasn't difficult. Immediately, you searched the room for the documents. You considered where they might be hidden, measuring your steps for any unevenness in the floor or checking beneath the bed, before finally noticing a slight movement in the bookshelves.
It took some time to shift the massive bookcase, but the effort was rewarded. You found all the files tucked inside, a substantial pile. Fortunately, you had brought your briefcase and quickly stowed them away. Just as you were about to leave, you heard the Mayor’s voice.
"Please... don't take them..." Looking at him, the poor man looked wretched from the blood loss, though his face showed genuine remorse. "My family will be in danger... my grandchildren will be in danger... please, do not take the documents." His pleas were persistent, but he wasn't the only one with a family at risk. A part of you didn't want to leave him, fearing that something even more horrible might happen to him. The next thing you heard were the sirens of fire engines and police nearby. It was a shame, but you had to leave at once. You stepped out of the room, leaving his pleas and sobs behind.
You managed to slip away from the crime scene without trouble. It was a pity it had to end this way, but the priority was to get out of the town once and for all. You soon returned to the center, which was in a total state of uproar. The townspeople couldn't stop talking about the Mayor's house being on fire and the man himself being trapped. Thanks to the chaos, no one questioned your appearance.
Now came the difficult part: preventing the White spy from stealing these documents. You reached the hotel room; it was empty. You checked to see if any of the traps had been sprung, and it seemed they hadn't. That was good, for now. You lingered in the room a bit longer; it was a shame to abandon such a pleasant place, but you had a mission to fulfill. Nonetheless, you wondered if you would ever return. How could you avoid arrest? Would the General defend you? What would become of you if you were discovered on the way?
Please, you are Agent Black. It was impossible to doubt yourself so much. You would find a way on the road.
You waited for dawn so you could pay the hotel bill. This left you nearly penniless, mostly due to the extended stay, yet your sense of ethics compelled you to pay for a service well rendered. From there, you went to a man who could rent you a car; your objective was to drive to the nearest town to catch a train, thereby avoiding any detention by local police.
When you reached the man, he seemed worried about his mayor, who was currently in intensive care and set to be moved to a larger town for treatment. Normally, this wouldn't matter, yet you felt a certain sting of remorse. Regardless, you secured the car and finally set off for the next town. The uncertainty regarding White’s fate still unsettled you; you only hoped not to cross paths with him on the road.
Music and the open road accompanied you. The drive was peaceful; for now, there was no sign of the White Spy anywhere. Furthermore, the car was running well, so there was no concern about a trap or it exploding. The briefcase sat beside you; occasionally you glanced at it as if expecting it to detonate or move. You shouldn't think about that, after all, this was your final mission. With this, perhaps you could finally resign for good.
Never in your life did you think this moment would come, finally leaving behind the blood and violence of the spy trade. You could return to your old name and perhaps start a family. Your parents had always wanted grandchildren; though they understood why it wasn't possible, they never pressured you, but the longing remained for them and for you alike.
Time flew by until you reached the town. You had to move on, but not before finding someone to return the rental car; in the end, you asked some tow truck drivers for help. This town was larger than the previous one, though somehow darker and more lugubrious. Regardless, you reached the train station, which stood somewhat desolate.
You requested your tickets for the capital and sat down to wait. Every so often, you scanned the area for any threat that might take the briefcase, but there was no one, so you relaxed a little.
Time passed, and to your misfortune, the train to the capital hadn't arrived. Your impatience grew; you were willing to take a bus if necessary, but none went to the capital, and those trips were usually too expensive for the little money you had left. «What do I do?» you repeated over and over.
You decided to speak with the staff and soon encountered an employee. She was very beautiful, your type. It was a shame you didn't have time to spend with her. You tapped her shoulder to ask a question, and she gave you her attention.
"Excuse me, miss, do you know why the train is delayed?" She looked at the schedules and seemed to show some pity, though it felt feigned. "Oh, I'm sorry, but the train to the capital has been canceled. It might be due to the protests."
«Damn it... why do these things happen to me?» You didn't know what to do. Then, whether out of pity or something else, the employee gave you a recommendation.
"Oh, don't worry. Actually, there is a way to avoid that; the next train will arrive any moment." For no apparent reason, she gave you several different train tickets. You were dismayed and wanted to refuse the gift, but she insisted.
"Don't worry, I'm in no rush to get where I'm going. But you look desperate to get home, so I'm doing you a favor." It would be a longer route, but it was better than nothing. You thanked her for her kindness, promising to pay her back someday. Finally, you could return home and get your parents out of the nation.
Sometimes desperation leads to cruel things...
And you never realized that girl was just a front...
The White Spy had deceived you...
The train ride was pleasant, and to your surprise, the tickets placed you in the most luxurious suites. You couldn't stop feeling bad for the girl. You were shown to your assigned room, a space reserved only for the high class. You couldn't be happier; now you could rest. Without a second thought, you lay on the bed and let the stress of these past days leave your body. You needed sleep and a good bath. Sleep began to embrace you, and this time, you didn't hesitate to finally rest.
You woke to knocking at the door. You headed to the door, which wouldn't stop sounding. Upon opening it, you found a somewhat familiar waiter with a food cart.
"Excuse me for disturbing you, sir, but I've brought the food you ordered." He must have noticed your confusion because he spoke again. "Someone at the station wanted to do you a favor by having your food brought to your room. It was a young lady."
The girl who helped you came to mind; she truly seemed like an angel sent from heaven. Moreover, you had eaten almost nothing all day in your rush to leave, so you didn't refuse the food. The amount of food surprised you, pastas of all kinds. You showed no mercy and began to devour it all, thinking of this streak of good luck.
You had the suitcase; you were on your way to the capital where the embassy was located; and you felt certain your parents would be okay. Everything seemed too convenient. Also, you hadn't encountered White throughout the journey. Then, as if something hit you in the stomach, it clicked: you hadn't seen him anywhere. Where was he?
You began to connect the dots and realized that all these inconveniences, all of this,was an elaborate plan for a trap with a horrible end. Immediately, you put your trench coat and hat back on, took the briefcase, and bolted from the room.
You were looking for a way to escape when you felt a sharp pain in your stomach. «Shit, no...» The food was poisoned. There was no choice; you had to go through the windows. Despite the pain, you wouldn't die without a fight. Looking down, you noticed a small ledge. You secured the briefcase and jumped out the window, no easy feat on a moving train.
You had to reach the engine to take control before the poison killed you. Through the windows, you saw a white trench coat heading toward your room. You hid and watched him pass. As you moved along the side of the train, you heard shouting behind you, but it didn't matter.
Before reaching the coupling between cars, a shot grazed your back. "YOU WON'T ESCAPE!" It was White. You found a ladder to the roof and climbed up. Voices and orders followed; Blanco wasn't alone. The poison was taking its toll; you were coughing up blood. «Don't stop... you have to get home.»
You ran across the roof, jumping from car to car. A shot rang out, and thanks to the pain in your gut, you ducked just enough for the bullet to graze your cheek. You looked back to see the White Spy aiming, a look of amusement on his face.
"You have nowhere to go, Black!" Ignoring him, you kept running. The chase continued across the roof, your reflexes allowing you to dodge his bullets. But the poison was worsening. Up ahead, you saw low-hanging signs, we were approaching a station.
You had to go still long enough for White to intercept you. He knocked you down, pinning your chest with his foot and aiming his weapon. "Truthfully, Black, this would be something to remember if you hadn't fallen so easily."
You coughed. "I don't think you understand... I'm doing what I can to finish my last mission."
"Yes..." He showed a flicker of sadness before smiling again. "Well, last words?"
"You should look at what's in front of you."
He laughed. "Since when did you become a philosopher?"
"I'm just giving advice."
Realizing what you meant, he looked ahead to see a sign rushing toward him. It was enough of a distraction for you to strike his knee, dislodging him. You ignored his pain, stood up, and dropped from the roof just inches before the sign hit. You heard a loud, high-speed impact. «There you go, you white idiot.»
You were finally rid of him. You took a moment to vomit; the poison was unbearable, your vision blurring. You needed an antidote now. You still had the briefcase. Perhaps the driver could help.
You passed through two cars with effort, surprised to find no staff. Reaching the locomotive, you saw the driver, but then someone else stepped out. You stood stunned. It was another Black Spy, looking at you defiantly. He had the legitimate uniform and the characteristic hat.
"I am a Black Spy," you gasped. "I didn't know the embassy sent more agents on this train."
"Yes, we have an important mission regarding peace between the factions," he replied coldly. "And you are under arrest."
«Wait, what?» They hadn't come to help. The last thing you heard was the sound of a gun firing behind you.
Everything went black...
I was tied up. The headache wouldn’t stop, and the light only grew more irritating. When I finally regained all my senses, everything I saw in front of me was white. “Great.” To your surprise, he wasn’t alone, beside you stood two Black spies at his sides. A wave of nausea hit you as you remembered the betrayal. You tried to free yourself to strike those two traitors, but the knots were well made. In the end, all that was left was to shout.
“WHAT is this!? Are you insane!? WHY ARE YOU WITH HIM, TRAITORS!?” They all seemed calm. Then White spoke.
“No one betrayed anyone. In fact, they’re different. You know they were sent to me as support.” What kind of strange dream was this? Had they all gone mad? As you struggled to understand what was happening, White spoke again.
“They were sent directly by the government.” Oh no. That meant they came from the highest sphere. The embassy was supposed to be the one in charge of espionage.
“I know you don’t understand, Black Spy, but we’re from another division, an emergency one, in response to what’s happening,” one of the other Black spies explained.
“Ahhh… Now I get it! You believe in that stupid peace!”
“We could never accept that. We’re supposed to fight for the nation!” one of the spies snapped, clearly irritated by your comments. The one who had answered you showed no expression, if anything, she seemed disheartened by your response. “That’s exactly why. We’re tired of this senseless war.”
A sepulchral silence surrounded you all. Could it really be that easy for them to quit like that? As for White, he showed no emotion at all.
“That’s why we’ll fight for it. I know you’ve been a hero to the nation, but you are under arrest.” Something inside you broke. But at least they would let you see your family… right? They would tell the embassy. They would arrest the General too.
“What about the embassy? They have to know about this.” The two Black spies exchanged a sorrowful look.
“I told you, you did something outside the law, Black. A mission like yours was never authorized by the state. You alone will take the blame.” My heart sank when I heard that. It couldn’t be true. Your parents would be in danger. I have to call them. I couldn’t hide the desperation in my voice.
“N-no, that’s not how it’s supposed to be. The General was the one who sent me on this mission! I’m not the only one responsible!”
They showed no sign of emotion. But deep down, you knew White would understand. After all, he was your rival, he knew you better than anyone.
“White, please… You know what’s happening… My family-”
“The next train will arrive soon. It’s a shame it had to end this way, Black.”
You felt your eyes fill with tears, but you forced them back. The two spies accompanying White looked uncomfortable. Finally, the three of them stood to leave the room. White let them exit first, staying behind for a moment so the two of you could be alone.
“You know, at least this mission was good.” He looked at you with a mocking smile. “At least I won’t miss you.”
And just like that, something finally ended. An eternal rivalry had come to a halt. Now you let the tears fall, the ones you had held back through this strange interrogation. You could only hope your parents were safe. The General would show mercy to no one.
I wasn’t fully in my senses. It felt as if you were outside your own body, watching as you were taken from the room and placed onto the train. You noticed White staying behind at the station, apparently he had only come as support for this mission. That said, he kept the briefcase containing the information.
The rest of the journey was calmer. Still, everything felt like a movie. The most striking moment was when you arrived at the capital’s station, where paparazzi and reporters wouldn’t stop crowding in, trying to take pictures. The two spies did their best to drive them away.
Being processed into prison was uncomfortable, but maybe it would give you time to process everything that had happened. In the end, they placed me in solitary confinement, away from the other inmates. It was perfect, you were finally able to cry more freely than you ever had before.
Time passed. Even though you began to process what was happening more clearly, you kept yourself entertained or did small activities with other prisoners. For some reason, you still couldn’t fully return to your own body. Mostly, you just waited for your trial. Sometimes you kept to yourself; other times, you had to defend yourself from a convict trying to get clever, trying to “humiliate the Black Spy.”
Days turned into weeks, then months. You still wondered what had happened to your parents and to the rest of your comrades assigned to protect them. That was all you thought about every day.
Curiously, one day someone came to visit you.
I arrived at the visitation area, disappointed when I learned who it was. One of my fans. It was strange that someone like him would come here, usually only friends or family were allowed in.
“Here’s your visitor. You have ten minutes,” the guard told you.
You sat down to speak with the girl. There was an awkwardness in her movements that could easily be mistaken for nerves.
“God, it’s such a pleasure to see you again!” At her words, you couldn’t help feeling embarrassed about the state you were in now.
“It’s strange that there are still fans after what I’ve done.”
“And even so, we believe what happened was unjust!” she said, a hint of irritation in her voice. You gave a faint smile at that.
“Anyway, I’m getting off track. I came here to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“They caught the General. He’ll be put on trial soon.” Hearing that made you feel relieved. At least that bastard would get what he deserved. But that wasn’t what mattered most to you.
“That’s good. He deserved punishment,” you sighed. The fan looked worried at your reaction, then gathered her courage.
“To be honest, I also came to tell you another piece of news.” I looked at her expectantly, waiting. “They sent me to tell you that your parents are still alive.”
At the mention of your parents, you felt something inside you draw closer, like a missing part returning. The thought that Mom and Dad had escaped filled you with life instantly.
“Can you tell me how they are?”
Maybe your days as a spy are over. But at least you still have your family.