It was late evening when a piece of paper was slid under my door. I dropped the magazine I was reading and picked the paper up, realising it was a letter.
Daisy, everyone knows not to discuss the mission with you. They know you have been bugged by an agent from the other agency, but they do not know which agent. We are still keeping their identities hidden until our agents can get closer to them.
Jack is working on something that will block the signal the device is emitting so we can talk freely when we want too.
But, for the moment you have your wish, to have absolutely nothing to do with the mission.
Sleep well.
Blake.
I sighed and ripped the letter into pieces and sat back down on my bed. I rubbed my jaw and scowled at the air. Eli had checked earlier, just to be certain and I definitely had another damn bug in my tooth.
I crawled back under my covers and picked up my magazine, falling asleep not long after.
That night I was awoken by the sound of my own screams.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
I heard Eli's voice and then I was pulled into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and I sobbed into his chest.
"This is an improvement," Eli muttered. "This is the first nightmare you've had since we've been here."
"I-it came out of nowhere," I gasped and took long deep breaths. "I can't... I can't get his face out of my mind." I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to forget the face I saw in my nightmare.
I couldn't.
I couldn't forget his face, that night, the feeling-
"Eli, I can't do this anymore," I whispered.
"No, stop talking, you sound broken. The Daisy I know would fight, no matter what," Eli said.
"I am broken!" I whimpered. "And I'm sick of bloody fighting. All I do is fight and it doesn't get me anywhere! I'm still here, I'm still stuck!"
"You will get out," Eli said. "One day."
"Yeah, in a body bag," I muttered.
"Daisy, stay strong," Eli murmured. "Don't give up."
"But I want too!" I whined. "You don't know what it's like, to be somewhere that you hate, to-"
"Princess, there's a lot of things you don't know about me," Eli said lowly and I sat up straight and rubbed my damp eyes. "I know exactly what it's like."
I frowned. "But... but you're Mr Perfect, everyone loves you!"
"Not everyone," Eli said and used the end of his shirt to wipe away my tears. "You don't."
"Because you're an ass," I shrugged and he smirked. "Earlier, you said you wanted out-"
"Another time," Eli said softly. "Princess, promise me you'll stay strong?"
I avoided eye contact and looked at my hands.
"Hey," Eli snapped. "You don't get to just give up. You've survived this far, you can make it further."
"But I don't want too!" I argued. "Not like this!"
"It won't always be like this, Daisy," Eli said.
"I don't remember the last time I felt free," I whispered.
Eli gently cupped my face and pursed his lips. "You'll feel free again," he said surely, "I'll make sure of it."
"How?"
"Just trust me, princess," Eli said.
I looked into Eli's eyes and frowned. "There's a lot I don't know about you," I said quietly.
"There's a lot a lot of people don't know about me," Eli nodded.
"You know all of my dark secrets, whether I want you to or not, it's only fair I get to know some of yours," I said.
Eli tensed slightly and gritted his teeth. "I'll make you a deal, princess. As long as you don't give up I'll tell you all of my secrets."
I raised an eyebrow. "You must be pretty confident that your secrets are good."
"They're not good," Eli said darkly. "And some would argue that makes them that much more interesting."
I woke the next morning with a new sense of worth.
I'd been controlled for so long and instead of fighting it I was ready to give up.
But I'd always been a fighter and I wasn't going to give up now.
The tracker was gone from my wrist, the one thing that was keeping me was gone.
I just needed a plan. I needed a way to get out from under the other agencies watch.
I needed them to trust me.
I smirked at myself in the mirror and flipped my silver hair over my shoulder.
And I knew exactly how to do that.
I had to accept Richard's offer.
I grabbed my bag and made my way downstairs. It was only 7:30am, but I had been awake for hours. I had woken early and gone to the local gym, training as well as I could with my injuries.
"Hey girl," Beth greeted and I smiled at her as I made my way downstairs. "How are you? I heard you... er... screaming last night-"
"Fine," I said smoothly.
"Did Eli help?" She asked with a smirk.
"I haven't a clue what you're talkint about," I shrugged and walked outside and sat on the porch, waiting for everyone to come outside and leave for school.
Eli had helped. We spoke for hours. I couldn't really remember what about, but he had distracted me and sent me back to sleep nightmare free.
I let out a deep breath and reached into my bag, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and lighting one up.
"Nice sleep?"
I tensed when I heard his voice. "Spectacular," I told Kent.
"Really?" He said and I sent a glare when he smirked at me. "It sounded rough."
"Think really carefully about what next comes out of your mouth, Kent," I warned and flicked some ash away from me.
"Why? Scared it will hurt your feelings?" Kent sneered.
"I'm not concerned about my wellbeing," I said. "But no one gives a shit about you."
Kent narrowed his eyes and I smirked.
"You know it's true."
"The only reason you're given a fuck about is because they're just hoping for a fuck," Kent shrugged.
"You and I both know that's not true," I said.
"Oh, I forgot, you're scared now, aren't you?" He sneered and I rolled my eyes, trying not to get frustrated with him.
"You always say the same damn things, have you got anything new to insult me with?" I asked. "Or did you just never get over the fact that I dumped you and you're just a little sour?"
"You dumped me?" Kent scoffed. "I used you for a fuck and then I went."
I smirked to myself. "Of course," I said sarcastically.
"Why would I want to go out with a screwed up, mental, psychotic bitch?" Kent snapped.
"I did wonder when we first started dating," I shrugged. "Now, Kent, please shut the fuck up and leave me alone. I'm controlling my temper rather well right now, I wish for it to stay that way."
"Your temper is a little out of control now you're not seeing James."
I paused and narrowed my eyes. "How the hell do you know that?"
"What? How do I know you got sent to a shrink?" Kent smirked. "One, as previously stated you're a little insane-"
I balled my hands into fists.
"Two, James spoke to me about you-"
"He what!" I gasped and jumped up, turning round and glaring at Kent. "He had no right to talk to you of all people!"
"He was just trying to get an accurate representation of you," Kent shrugged. "I just told him what he was already going to find out."
"Fuck off, Kent," I growled and turned on my heel and walked a few meters away from the house.
"Getting agitated?" Kent called and I gritted my teeth.
"Kent," I warned and suddenly his hands were gripping my waist firmly. "Get the fuck off me!" I hissed and tried to step away from him but he pulled me closer. "Get off!" I panicked.
"You like Eli's touch," Kent said into my ear and dug his nails into my skin. "You used to like mine-"
I threw my elbows backwards and hit Kent in his ribs. His grip loosened enough to allow me to twist around and punch Kent with my already injured hand. "Shit!" I hissed and shook my hand as Kent stumbled backwards.
"And you've snapped," Kent chuckled.
"That's not good for you," I growled and before Kent could blink I had already ran forward and my boot was connecting with his face.
Kent was a lump. He was big and strong, but I was quick. He had never been able to take me in a fight, I don't see why he thought he could now.
Even when I was injured.
I gave him no time to recover. A punch to the stomach had him doubling over and I grabbed the back of his head and smashed his face into my knee.
I wanted to hurt him so much more. Torture him like he did me.
But he didn't deserve my time.
I wrapped my arms round Kent's throat and held him still, cutting off his airway.
"It's not nice is it, not being able to breathe, running out of air?" I hissed and tightened my hold. Kent spluttered and clawed at my hands, but I was not letting go.
He quickly started to get weaker. He started to go limp and his hands stopped prying at mine.
"Omg, you're killing him!" A voice gasped and my grip loosened as I turned round to look at Emma.
"Oh fuck off," I snapped and I swore when Kent managed to gasp for air.
"You bitch!" He croaked. "Get off."
"Not in a million years," I hissed and adjusted my hold.
"Daisy! What the hell are you doing?" Blake's voice called.
"Give me two minutes and I'll explain," I said.
"Get the fuck off him!"