ACT I
"MUNDUS VULT DECIPI"
"Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides." - André Malraux

     "Have a seat, Konsdóttir."

     My heartbeat climbs up my throat as I sit in the creaky, tired chair opposite Lucas' desk. I take a long breath, unusually nervous to hear him speak. He sits in his chair, a band of sweat across his forehead and a disappointed frown plastered on his face.

     "I don't like that look, Lucas," I stammer, shifting in my seat. My foot taps lightly on the ground, almost trembling.

     He lets out a long sigh, gritting his teeth. "Me neither, Adara."

     I gulp, feeling sore. "Let me guess, I'm suspended? I've got shitty detail for a few months?"

     Lucas's head dips as he sets his arms on the desk, interlocking his fingers. I've never seen him like this before. The stillness of the room urges my mind to wander, but I stay locked in the moment. "Lucas?"

     He closes his eyes for a moment before looking at me with a dejected, almost angry glance. "You're not being suspended, Adara."

     That statement, usually a welcome sound, sends chills down my spine. "Tell me," I mutter, feeling my nails dig into my palms.

     "You've been removed from Special Forces entirely, Adara."

     My stomach sinks as I seemingly forget how to breathe. My eyes dart around the room, looking at everything but registering nothing. Dread floods my body. I can't even cry as I finally look back at Lucas.

     "Are you serious right now?" I ask, my eyes wide and brow furrowed as my teeth grit in anger.

     "Adara, believe me, I fought for you," he pleads, seemingly swallowing words begging to escape. His fingers tap on the table as he struggles to look at me. "You tried to do the right thing, and that's what we need more of here. I said some things in that room I probably shouldn't have-"

     I stand up, the hinges of the chair interrupting his thoughts. "Barr?" I manage to squeak, my legs feeling like jello beneath the crippling weight I just inherited.

     Lucas looks at me, unable to maintain eye contact. "Yeah," he confirms, sighing. "I'm sorry, Adara. If it was up to me, you'd be back in training tomorrow."

     I take the cap off my head, holding it at my side. My grip is so firm that I feel the brim begin to give way. "Bye, Lucas," I stammer as I turn around and pass through the door. I think he says something as I leave, but I can't hear it. I march down the hallway, heading straight for Captain Barr's office. I hold back my tears as a quiet, burning rage takes me over.

     I round the corner of the hallway, seeing Barr's office door open. My feet carry me inside, and there he is. He sits in his chair, sipping a coffee and looking at me with a surprised stare.

     "You're ruining my life," I stammer, trying desperately not to let my anger get the best of me. "And you couldn't even tell me yourself?"

     He sets his coffee down, his face burning red. "I risked everything accepting you to Delta Force," his raspy voice claims, deep and nearly monotone, as he stares me in the eyes. "Icelandic women aren't well represented in Delta Force, Adara. That goes against every policy in the recruitment book. I had to move heaven and earth to get you here."

     He stands up, slamming the table and nearly spilling the coffee. "And you reward me by disobeying a direct order in a highly sensitive mission. If we're lucky, you didn't compromise the identity of your squadmates. Over a fucking bystander kid."

     My mind jolts to the moment the blast shattered the building and the girl's body flew.

     "You don't care because you looked away."

     I gulp as I realize I said those words aloud. His eyes scan mine, his anger palpable. He sits back down, his chair nearly buckling under the tension of the room.

     "Be glad you're not under court-martial as a traitor, Adara. I have everything I need."

     "I did-"

     "YOU ARE FUCKING DISMISSED!" He screams, picking up his coffee and chucking it at the wall. It explodes into a million pieces as the brown liquid runs down the white drywall.

- ~ - ~ -

     The door closes behind me, the click of the latch echoing through the pitch-black room. My blonde ponytail slings across my head as I lie against the door and let out a long breath, one I feel I've saved since the Captain's office. I step further into my apartment, light rain pattering against the massive glass wall on the far side of the room. Through the night, light from the skyline of Fayetteville, North Carolina, bounces off the raindrops, faintly illuminating the space.

     I had stopped crying just before I walked in, but I'm sure it wasn't over. I don't even want to think about it. I hang my jacket, desperately trying to distract myself from the thought at hand. I flip on a lamp, turning on my speaker in the process and playing some background music.

     Thunder claps outside as I crash onto the couch. Out of special forces? Demoted to standard duty? I won't do that; they can't make me. My hands find their way to my head as the waterworks start again.

     All over trying to do the right thing. What if you were wrong, Barr? What if we don't have to leave bystanders to die? And yet, I'm the failure now. I can't take back what I did; no, what I didn't do.

     My thought muddles when I hear a knock at my door. I look over, imagining the court-martial officers to blow it down. The door stands, though. This is some shitty timing for a delivery guy. My head turns to look at the small microwave clock. It's 1:15 in the morning.

     "This is not a good time," I croak, clearing my throat and wiping away a tear.

     "Lucas sent me," a male voice responds, nearly overshadowed by the rainfall picking up. My sadness morphs into confusion as the words reverberate through the room. "Could you please not leave me in the rain?" He asks, sounding annoyed.

     I stand up, my legs weak and shaky as I approach the door. My hand rotates the doorknob, numb to the apprehensions I should feel about the stranger outside. "Who is this?" I mutter, trying to forget the rest of the day.

     "Raleigh Anafoli," the voice says, causing my brow to furrow. I don't know what I expected, but that name may be the last one I anticipated.

     I grasp the doorknob, cautiously turning it and peeking around the corner. Sure enough, that's him: the CEO of Maelstrom, one of the largest companies in the world. That name has a habit of finding itself everywhere I look.

     "Thank you," he says in a soft Italian accent as I open the door. Normally, I'd have a bit more trepidation about letting a stranger into my house, but he knows Lucas. How though? My mind races as he pulls off his soaked fleece, gesturing to put it on the coat rack. I nod. The darkened fabric drips water rhythmically, making a small circle on my old doormat.

     "Why are you here?" I ask, the confusion of the situation outweighs my concerns. He adjusts the collar on his button-down shirt before extending a hand my way. The lack of a suit surprises me for a man of that wealth.

     "You probably know my name," he follows as I shake his hand. "I want you to know me. There's something I want to speak with you about."

     I look down, the events of earlier swarming my mind as I try to piece together the scene in front of me. "You didn't pick a good time," I mutter, turning and walking to the kitchen.

     "You did the right thing, Adara," he says, remaining in the entryway as I slam my fist on the bar.

     "How do you even know?" I interrogate, staring angrily at the celebrity in my house. "How do you know Lucas? Why are you here so soon? What do you even want?"

     "Lucas has done some VIP security for me in the past," Raleigh immediately responds, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning against the wall. "He's how I know how the last 48 hours have been for you."

     My eyes widen. I bow my head, popping a knuckle as I try to process the millions of thoughts racing through my head. Raleigh walks forward, slowly pulling out a barstool and sitting opposite the counter from me.

     He clasps his hands as he turns to meet my gaze. "I've got more money and power than I know what to do with, Adara. I want to use it for good. I want to save lives."

     My brow furrows as he goes on. "I want to start a private task force. I want to gather an elite team from across the globe to make the world a better place."

     I remain frozen in place as he continues. "I've already learned that's impossible with national allegiance, and I'm sure you know this now too."

     "I want you to lead this team."

     I look at him, studying his body language. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

     He recoils slightly, his hand anchored to my counter. "I just lost everything, and now you want to sell me on your cause?" I huff, my hand pressing hard on the counter. "You're not some noble philanthropist. You're just a bored billionaire. Leave me alone."

     His face tightens as he stands up with a deep breath. He remains like that for a moment, seemingly studying me as he squints. "No. I'm someone who doesn't blink."

     His line scrambles my thoughts as he leans forward. "Neither do you. That's what's needed to make change."

     Despite the situation, the line resonates with me. "You know what, I already told you, you didn't pick a good time. If you expect me to become a mercenary at 1 in the morning, you're out of your mind."

     "I would be shocked if you did, Adara," he says, fishing a card from his shirt pocket and setting it on the bar. I glance over, noticing a phone number is written down. "All I ask is you think about it. That's all."

     I inhale quietly as he turns away, his shoes echoing through the room as he makes his way to the door. His card sits on the counter, feeling radioactive as he dons his coat and walks out into the rain. A flash of anger towards Lucas runs through my head for leading Raleigh here.

     Deep down, a part of me knows I should throw out this card and forget this happened.

     But I can't let Barr decide what's right.