Lesson 6: Recruitment

I jolted awake at the sound of my phone ringing. For fucks sake, I never usually forgot to put it on silent before bed.

As I blinked my eyes open, last night's events came rushing back to me in a flurry and I bolted upright, immediately jumping out of bed, my annoyance long forgotten.

Wait.

I was in my room. What had happened? How had I gotten here?

Unfortunately, I didn't have any time to ponder my thoughts thanks to the incessant pestering of my ringtone. Sighing, I answered it but stiffened as I heard what the speaker said. "Hello, this is the hospital. Is Jaia Prescott present?" a soft-spoken woman asked, sounding grave.

"This is she."

"We need you to come down right away. Your parents... well, they've gotten into a car accident." Shit, of course. How had I actually forgotten?

This was the next part of this mission but this idea was all Luca's. I wasn't opposed to it at the time but I had grown fond of Julie and Mike and it pained me for this to happen to them. They'd been loyal to the mafia for over twenty years but even that wasn't enough to save them in the end.

"What?" I asked in a horrified voice. I really should've considered going into acting. "Are... are they okay?"

The woman sighed deeply, sounding solemn. "I'm afraid not. The accident was very serious."

I let a sob escape my lips before composing myself. "I... I'll be r-right there."

~*~*~

With mascara smeared cheeks, I rushed in through the wide hospital doors, a mortified look on my face as I ran up to the lady sitting behind the desk. We exchanged brief words, her looking at me in pity before telling me to take a seat. Apparently, Julie and Mike had been rushed into immediate surgery but their chances of survival didn't look good.

I played my part well, sitting with my head in my hands as I waited anxiously for any news. In reality, I felt horrible about this happening to them as they really didn't deserve such a cruel fate but there was nothing to be done. Luca had made the decision and once that happened there was no changing his mind. Besides, there were more pressing issues on my mind at the moment like how the hell I had ended up back in my bedroom.

The last things I remembered were defeating those two agents with Miles and then rescuing that little boy. After that everything went black. The next thing I knew, I was tucked all cosy in my bed, waking up to the sound of my ringtone. Something wasn't right and not knowing the whole truth didn't sit well with me.

But alas, no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't fit the pieces together. Nothing was making sense.

Unless...

Unless Miles was involved in some way. Could he have knocked me out and brought me back home? But that didn't make any sense either. Why and how would he have achieved that? What would have been the point?

Although it sounded crazy and far fetched it was the only somewhat logical explanation I could come up with unless I had somehow teleported back home which I highly doubted. There was also the possibility that I'd dreamed the whole ordeal but the forming purplish bruises on my left side and arm were a clear indicator that I hadn't.

"Miss Prescott," the same receptionist called a few hours later and I snapped my head up, looking fearful but alert. "Dr Stine would like to speak with you. If you could please make your way to ward eleven."

I nodded at her with a vacant expression as I stood up. It was clear from the solemn look on her face that the news wasn't good. They were dead; I already knew it. However, I didn't let this knowledge show, simply appearing empty as I went to find ward eleven.

By the time I finally managed to find Dr Stine, he was donning the same expression that the receptionist was. He was an older man, probably in his early sixties, but it was clear that even after all these years it was still hard for him to tell someone such grave news. He clutched his clipboard much too tightly as he relayed the information I already assumed, his knuckles turning white.

I made a show of letting tears fall down my face, sadness pooling in my eyes. "So... so what do I do now?" I asked, my voice small.

He gave me a sympathetic smile, gripping his clipboard even tighter if that was possible. "Well, you're eighteen so you're free to do as you please. Would you be starting university soon?"

I nodded, not letting out any words.

"Well, then I suggest that you still go. It'll be a welcome distraction, I'm sure."

I breathed out heavily, not meeting his eyes. "Okay... I'll see. Thank you, doctor." He gave me another gentle smile before I walked away, looking heartbroken, leaving this hospital far behind.

The parking lot was uncomfortably quiet as I walked through it, wrapping my arms tightly around my torso to shield myself from the harsh night wind.

After opening my car door and slipping inside to hide from the bitter weather, my stomach turned and the hairs on the back of my neck spiked up. Was this what grief felt like?

All jokes aside, I did actually care for Julie and Mike; they were kind and caring towards me despite their unusual circumstances and I'd always been grateful for that. They could've made my life miserable for a year just to get back at the mafia but they didn't. They were loyal to the bitter end.

Even so, I didn't think I was attached enough to feel grief. It was an emotion I hadn't experienced in a long time and even now it didn't sit right with me.

Shrugging off the thought, I started the engine and the midnight black car purred to life. However, not even the comforting sound of my yearlong companion could ease my nerves.

The tension in my muscles didn't relax even the slightest amount as I drove home in complete silence, trying, unsuccessfully, to clear my thoughts. Get a grip, Jaia. You're a mafia trained assassin, not some scaredy-cat pushover. Pull yourself together.

Once I was finally home and had somewhat collected myself, I went to the kitchen to make a much wanted coffee. Perhaps I just needed to wake myself up a bit.

However, the further I ventured into my house, the more my stomach churned. I tried to ignore the thought, instead going over in my mind what I had to do next. I needed to talk to Luca and update him. I was fairly sure he had set up another stunt to happen on my first day of University but we needed to iron out all the details. Everything had to go perfectly if I wanted MI5 to notice me.

With new determination, I quickly rinsed my now-empty coffee mug and headed upstairs.

However, just as I was about to step into my room and call him, I heard the tiniest squeak from somewhere in the house. That must have been why I felt so on edge. It wasn't grief I was feeling but my instincts warning me that something was amiss.

Cautiously, I opened my bedroom door, ready to grab the gun hidden expertly under my mattress but before I could even make it to the centre of the room, something hit me hard on the back of my head. I immediately fell to my knees, the whole world turning black around me.

Shit.

~*~*~

My back was stiff as I laid on my bed, my eyes fluttering open. I reached for my bedside table to grab my phone and check the time but found nothing. It wasn't there.

Shocked, I jolted upwards sitting cross-legged on my — wait, this bed wasn't mine — or rather an unknown bed. Why the hell had I woken up two days in a row with no recollection of the night before?

I scanned my surroundings, taking in every detail of this strange location. Grey stone walls, floor and ceiling; one rock hard and uncomfortable bed with faded red bedsheets; no windows; a dingy and grimy sink and toilet with no privacy; and finally a small, dented metal bin tucked into the corner of the room.

It seemed as if I was in a prison cell — at least, that was how it felt — but in actuality, it was much more likely to just be a holding cell. The lack of black metal bars indicated that anyway and the more obvious clue of the words 'holding room' printed onto a laminated sheet of paper stuck to the bolted shut black metal door confirmed the theory.

But the more important question was: why was I here? I remembered getting home from the hospital and being clubbed over the head but who would've dragged me here and why? I didn't think I'd outed myself as part of the mafia so I couldn't think of a reason.

I didn't get much time to ponder my thoughts before the bolts on the holding room door scraped against metal, unlocking. The heavy metal door was slowly being pushed open to reveal two burly looking men. "Come with us," the bigger one said, grabbing me roughly by the arm.

Normally I would have fought and protested but even if I made it past these two I doubted I would get very far. My gut was telling me that this was a big organisation, one that I couldn't escape on my own while being unarmed and defenceless.

Reluctantly complying, I was led by the two men into a different room but I didn't get the opportunity to see where we were going because one of them covered my eyes with his large hand — seriously, it was huge; big enough to cover my entire face.

I heard another heavy door being heaved open. I was pushed inside before being thrown down harshly on a chair but, strangely, they didn't tie me up. Instead one of them barked at me to stay put before they both left me alone in the room, slamming the door shut behind them.

I blinked my eyes open slowly, the harsh white light momentarily blinding my vision before it came back into focus and I spotted a thin blonde woman in a black suit, watching me curiously from behind a desk.

I kept my eyes fixed on hers, daring her to make the first move. Minutes passed in silence before she decided to speak, her voice sharp and clear. "You seem oddly calm."

I shrugged, choosing not to speak just yet as I sat up straighter in my chair to match her confident demeanour. If she was trying to intimidate me it wouldn't work. Maria was the only person to ever frighten me and this woman was certainly no Maria.

Once she realised I wasn't going to say anything, she sighed heavily and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "I've heard a lot about you, Jaia."

I raised an intrigued eyebrow, waiting for her to continue. This was the strangest sort of interrogation I'd ever been faced with — no threats or violence, not even any uncomfortable restraints. What was going on?

"From your records, it seems you were born here, adopted and then moved to Italy. Unfortunately, I don't know too much about your time there except that you were homeschooled. Although I did hear that you weren't surrounded by the most pleasant company."

It took everything within me not to stiffen as she spoke.

I couldn't react to her words. There was no way she knew about my involvement with Luca or any of them for that matter. Despite this, my heart still raced in my chest, the thumping an aggressive assault against my rib cage.

"Ignoring that, you recently moved back here and showed absolutely outstanding grades at school, particularly in languages which you were going on to study at university. Your record since being back here is flawless. Perfect grades, amazing at sport, quick thinking. Let's not forget to mention your intuition and capability at that restaurant attack a few months ago. Most extraordinary..." she trailed off and I finally decided to let my confusion show with the slight crease between my brows.

"How do you know all of this?"

"My dear, you're a clever girl. I thought you would've worked that out by now."

Her patronising tone made the muscles in my jaw twitch but I held back my violent thoughts. The cogs turned in my mind as realisation started to dawn on me. "You're part of an organisation, a big one, and you want to recruit me for your own benefit."

She eyed me approvingly, nodding slightly. "That's a harsh way to put it but I suppose so. However, not so much for our benefit but for our country's."

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. "Not to be rude but don't flatter yourself; all organisations are self-serving."

She raised an eyebrow, watching me carefully. "Even MI5?"

"What?" I couldn't stop myself. This was too easy. "You're bluffing."

She shook her head, fishing something out of her pocket before flashing me a glimpse at her ID badge. It read 'Celine Delton, co-head of recruitment and agent supervisor'. I assumed the name was an alias but nevertheless the ID looked real. "Probably a fake," I accused.

She rolled her eyes. "There'll be more 'proof' in time, child. Right now, I'd much rather use this time to do my job."

My eyes narrowed of their own accord. Child? How dare she.

Celine ignored my burning look, flipping through the papers in front of her. "So, Jaia, you're right. I'd like to recruit you. Normally we don't take in people so old. We monitor potential candidates their whole lives but not only are your credentials stellar but you've also been recommended by one of our top agents which is no easy feat. And the unfortunate death of your parents means you no longer have any attachments to people who might ask too many questions. A rare case indeed."

Oh, so she was insinuating that I didn't have any friends?

"We've been doing background research on you since only a few weeks after your arrival and everything looks clean. Of course, there is still more digging to be done but we need to get you into training as soon as possible. There's not a second to lose so the checks will simply continue in the background whilst you train. Sound good?"

I gave her a bewildered stare. Yes, this was exactly what I wanted and what Luca and I had planned but this seemed far too easy. I was sure it was another test. To see if I had an alternative agenda maybe? Either way, I had to play my cards perfectly.

"Ummmm look, Celine, Ms Celine, Ms Delton? I'm not sure what to call you but in all honesty, I've no clue what you're going on about. Recruit me to do what? I'm just a kid and my parents just died. I-I need time to process all of 'this'."

She eyed me in a way that was supposed to make my skin crawl before softening her look a touch. "Jaia, dear, I'm sorry about your parents but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Time is a luxury we don't have. Your training is already going to be starting years too late so we haven't got the months to spare. And I can't tell you anymore until you accept the offer I'm afraid."

"And if I refuse?"

"You won't," she said plainly, leaving no room for argument.

"You haven't given me much to go on. I'm not dumb. What if you're going to get me to sign my rights away and sell me on the black market or force me to hurt innocent people or use me as a guinea pig for lab testing. I need more information," I insisted. The Jaia I was acting as would never just agree to something like this.

Celine sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why are the smart ones always so stubborn," she muttered to herself before pressing a small black button on her desk with a delicately manicured slim finger. "Bring him in."

Less than a minute later, a familiar face sauntered into the room, sidling up next to Celine. "Miles?"

He stood tall and proud with his chest puffed out, hands tucked behind his back, watching me with amusement. "Fancy seeing you here, Jaia," he smirked with a devilish twinkle in his eyes and my stomach sank.

He worked for them. He'd been watching me. He'd been following me. That was why he was at the restaurant. And that kidnapping fiasco must've been a test. They'd planned it all.

Everything finally clicked into place. It all made sense.

With a grim smile, I turned to Celine. It was a subtle threat on her part, one which she knew I'd pick up on. I couldn't escape them. I had no choice but to join them. I was dancing with happiness on the inside but at the same time, I felt uneasy.

All this time, I thought I was pulling the strings. I supposed I'd have to step up my game. The challenge filled me with excitement and I allowed a brief glimmer of it to show on my face before morphing the expression to one of resignation. "I-I accept."

Miles grinned, an unnatural almost forced smile, as he handed me a black fountain pen and I signed my life away on the dotted line.

A note to my past self: you're an idiot.

~*~*~

Hope you liked the chapter! Let me know your thoughts : )

Stay safe xx