Chapter Three
Finally, I was able to tear my gaze away from Zev’s, and focus my attention on Mr. Mahoney, or, at least, look like I was. Still, throughout the lesson, I felt Zev glancing at me, attempting to be discreet. Not that he was the only guilty part o the matter, mind you; I was stealing my own fair share as well.
Stop it. You need to focus. You need to-
My earring buzzed. Yes, my earring. One of the ups of working for the Paranormal Assassination Force is that we get all of the new, top of the line, toys; my earring pager being one of them.
I should know, I’ve been here the longest, with the exception of Will being as he had been trained to be an operative since he was an infant, where as I joined the program when I was five. Actually, I’m not sure that joined would be the correct word for what happened; I think forced fits it better. My parents gave me up, they didn’t want me, they handed me over to PAF like was a tool and not their daughter; they didn’t even give me a choice. They just left me, without a thing for me to remember them by; I don’t remember their voices, their names, or even a sliver of a face. Almost as if they never existed. There is only one thing that I have to remind me of my past, a dagger shaped birthmark in the small of my back; that’s it. But that’s okay. PAF gives me a purpose.
And, right now, that purpose was to go on a mission, that’s what my pager was telling me, which means I have to get back to the compound.
My hand shot up as I formulated a plan to get me out of class without getting in trouble.
“What is it, Kira,” Mr. Mahoney asked.
“I don’t feel well sir. May I please go to the nurse,” I said, feigning illness.
“Yes, of course. I’ll get someone accompany you, we don’t want a new student to get lost, do we,” Mr. Mahoney answered, attempting to be helpful.
Oh, crap.
I stood up, collected my things, and began walking to the door.
“Now who will volunteer to escort Kira to the nurse?”
With my back turned there was no way for me to know who raised their hand.
“I will.” A somewhat familiar voice replied.
“Ah, thank you Zev. Remember to grab a pass on your way out,” our teacher reminded.
“My pleasure, Mr. Mahoney.”
I heard the rustling of papers Zev gathered his things.
Double crap.
***
I made sure I kept up my sick ploy as we made our way down the hall towards the main office. We had only traveled about three hall lengths before Zev stopped dead in his tracks and spun to face me.
“What,” I questioned.
Zev didn’t answer, and just stared at me like I was a puzzle that he was determined to figure out.
“What!” I hissed.
“You’re not sick,” Zev stated, looking me in the eyes, “So why are you in such a hurry to get out of class?”
I was momentarily speechless; how had he figured that out? Not to brag, but I have some major acting skills.
I opened my mouth to spin some lie, but Zev quickly hushed me.
He tilted his head slightly to the side as if he was listening to something, a couple minutes trickled by and I heard the faint sound of footsteps coming down the hall.
With lightning speed, Zev dragged me down the hallway and ducked us into a janitor’s closet. He locked the door and flipped on the light before he turned to me, and locked his graze with mine, in his own. I looked into his green eyes and saw nothing but raw determination.
“Now, answer my question.”
