11 Chapter 11: Official (1/2)
”Hey Zero! Wait up.”
Ricky jogs over to me and throws his arm over my shoulder.
”Why'd you leave so suddenly?”
I push his arm off me.
”I was feeling a bit embarrassed.”
”Oh? About what?”
”What Carlos said, it made me feel weird.”
”Don't mind him, he's an idiot.”
We walk in silence for a bit until his phone rings
”You got Ricky..Oh really...Ok, she right here.”
He passes the phone over to me.
”Hello?”
”Zero, how have you been sweet girl?”
”Mother? You never call to check on me, do I have a new mission?”
”Hm, a simple, 'I'm fine mother, how about you?' woulda been fine, but since you asked, yes. There's been a breech in the security council. Secret information is being bought and sold and agents have gone missing. I've been able to find a location, all I need is a name.”
”You want me to find whoever it is and put a stop to this?”
”Yes, but you may not kill him. Bring him back to your current location and try to get info from him.”
”Understood. Is there anything else you needed mother?”
”Oh, I have good news, we've found a replacement for Three-”
”What does that mean?”
She sighs into the phone,
”It means that your being promoted.”
”Promoted? But i'm Zero, that's the lowest you can go, right?”
”Oh no my sweet child, your new name is Negative.”
”What, Negative? That's a horrible name.”
”You have no choice you rude girl! All the others would happily kill you to take your place, I don't want to hear another complaint out of you. You are Negative.”
She hangs up and all I hear is dial tone.
”So, what did she say?”
I past the phone back to him.
”I've been promoted.”
”Wow, good for you!”
He holds his hand up for me to high five him but I don't.
”No Ricky, that means i'm even more of a threat than before. She even changed my name.”
”Your name? To what?”
My legs start to wobble as the whole reality starts to hit me. I fall to my knees and Ricky rushes to help me up.
”M-my name is Negative.”
When those words leave my mouth, everything starts spinning. The world around me starts to fade away, and all I hear is Ricky's muffled voice yelling for help.
***
”Is she gonna be all right?”
I look to see where the voice is coming from. I see Ricky talking to doctor with a stressed look on his face.
”She'll be fine, she's just a little bit overwhelmed. Make sure she gets plenty of sleep and relaxation from now on.”
”Ricky?”
He rushes to me.
”Damnit Zero, you scared the shit outta me.”
”It's Negative now, and I apologize for worrying you.”
He sighs and hands me a cup of water.
”Drink it,”
I do as he says and chug the cold water.
”Whenever you feel like it, i'll take you home.”
I pull the iv from my arm and sit up,
”I wanna leave. Right now.”
”Woah, alright. The cars in the parking garage, you feel like walking?”
”I don't care, just get me out of here.”
***
Ricky helps me out of the car and walks me all the way up to my room.
”Listen, whatever mission your mom told you to do, you gotta postpone it. You can't take on another mission on top of this one.”
”I'm officially Negative. That means whatever i've done has been a fulfill my job and nothing more.”
He looks puts his hand on the back of his neck,
”Everything that you- no, that we ever did was just to get your job done?”
”The only reason i'm here is so that I can finish my mission and the last thing I need right now is any more obstacles.”
”Obstacles huh?”
He backs away from me,
”Nice to know what you're finally thinking, Negative.”
He slams the door shut and i'm left alone in the dark room.
'It's my own fault. I got distracted, but no more. I'll do my mission, and i'll go back home. Sorry Ricky, but I had to do this, I can't be with you. It's not in my nature to be happy.'
***
”Mother, can you hear me?”
”Loud and clear, Negative. On your left you should see a vent, below that is his office.”
”Got it.”
I turn off my ear piece and crawl over to the vent. His office seems empty so take the vent out and hop down.
I pick the lock on his desk and search through several files before I find what i'm looking for. I click my ear piece back on.
”Mother, i've found it.”