Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
She ran through the maze for the 10th time that day. The cemented maze was a complete replica of the real one, formed to keep the agents out. But even the FBI didn’t know about their secret operations. If the Hong Kong government discovered the P.R.A. (Private Rescue Agency) was developed under their nose, they would easily turn it down. Luckily for this group, the head of security developed this important group of people to help control the rich from getting richer as well as a rescue team trained to accomplish a mission smoothly and quickly.
They were an interesting group of people, the captain was a young twenty something year old that looked more like a model than a secret agent. There was only one team and only 6 were allowed in the secret. If one were to leave the team, it was because one; they were dead, two; they wanted to leave and never to speak of the secret team until their death day or three; they turned on the P.R.A. This special team consisted of the best thieves, rescuers as well as spies in the whole island country of Hong Kong.
Everyone had secret names that they individually chose from the zodiac signs. Somehow they all seemed to match their personalities. Lieutenant Lam watched from the glass room overlooking the maze. His brows crunched with a disapproving demeanor, she was one of the top agents and yet she couldn’t pass this maze. The rest of the agents were standing on the sidelines waiting for their cue to enter the maze.
Dennis flinched when Erin missed the exit and landed herself in the smoke room “Stop!!” he cried through the speaker microphone which dangled in front of him. Everyone turned upwards looking at their leader. He shook his head and nodded to Brad “Get Erin out of there!” he said with annoyance.
Brad let out a sigh as he rushed through the now opened maze and pulled Erin out of the gas chamber. He reached out to grab her hand but she yanked back “I can get out of here myself thank you very much!” she was more frustrated with herself than anything. But yet she could not control her anger, it was her only flaw. She was normally cool and collect just like a Scorpio should be.
“Not from the looks on the outside.” Brad added causing Erin to stop in her steps as she turned and gave him a cold stare. He only grinned crookedly “Your stares could burn through walls but they don’t faze me one bit. I know you better than that.”
Erin rolled her eyes “Don’t act like you’re my best friend or something.”
He laughed as he got through her rough exterior, he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out of the maze “Come on ‘best friend’, the Lieutenant didn’t look too happy.”
Erin sighed “I don’t blame him.”
The two met up with the rest in the metal conference room, it was soundproof just in case they ever had an intruder. Everyone turned up to the two that walked in, Dennis did not meet their eyes, he was concentrating on a blank space in front of him “Sit.” He ordered while his fingers entwined.
“I’m sorry….” Erin began.
“Sorry?” Dennis’s eyes snapped up “Try ashamed, disappointed…Erin, you are one of our top agents in the history of P.R.A., how could you not pass this simple maze while everyone else has done it twice. How do you expect us to be ready for the job if you can’t even past the test maze?” while he scolded at her, her eyes remained looking at her senior. She found it more rude if she were to turn away “Could you give me a good reason why you can’t pass it?”
Brad felt bad for his best friend as he stood up from his seat “Sir, I think she’s just overworked from the last case…this one is just too much for her…”
Erin turned up and shook her head at Brad indicating for him to stop explaining, he slowly sat down as she turned to Dennis “Sir, there is no excuse or reason why I shouldn’t pass that maze. I will work extra hard.”
The lieutenant knew the girl was strong willed, not to mention she had a head of a mule. He nodded, deciding to let it go unpunished “Fine. It’s dinner time, everyone get something to eat; Erin, run the maze again.” He ordered.
Reina tapped Erin on the shoulder before she headed out “Don’t stress yourself out, I know you can do it. Give it a little more concentration.”
Erin smiled gratefully at her friend and co-worker “I know.” Brad lingered behind to talk to her “Go get dinner, I’m okay.” She urged.
“What’s wrong?” he asked straightforwardly.
“Nothing.” She replied stubbornly “Maybe I’m losing my touch.”
“Maybe you don’t want to do this anymore.” He offered. He knew she was weakening by the work when she fell behind on the last job. Something triggered in her that made her slow down “Why do you have to be so secretive? I’m your best friend.” He said earnestly.
Her lips flickered into a grin “You say it like you mean it.” She was being sarcastic again, a trait he knew too well to be a defense mechanism.
“I do mean it.” He said firmly.
Erin sighed “Just don’t worry about me.” With that she turned and walked towards the maze. Brad shook his head before heading out to get his dinner.
The agents were never to talk to each other outside of work, to keep the suspicion down everyone had a regular job, that is until the call was given to them to come. Their jobs were given to them by a higher authority that no one has ever met. Even Dennis has never met the head of security, he simply received an order through the internet program which was made especially for the P.R.A.
It was two minutes into the maze when Erin’s mind blanked out when she hit a dead end, she forgot which way she came from. The left or the right? She made a hasty decision and rushed to the right, which led her into another trap. Erin leaned against the cold cement wall and sunk down to the ground, she let out a cry of frustration and began sobbing. She could not let it go. She had promised herself to forget about the failed mission but her heart could not let it go. She had a simple job, it was to save the kidnapped boy and return him safely. Instead he was shot to death in front of her. If it wasn’t for Brad, she too would have died.
She must have gone to 10 different sessions with 10 different shrinks and none of them helped her. She found herself worrying over every mission like the last. Her cries softened as she calmed herself down. When she heard footsteps, she quickly wiped her eyes and looked up.
Andrew smiled as he bent down on his knees to Erin “It’s not your fault.” He said soothingly.
Erin stiffened her face as she stood up abruptly “I’m fine.” She began walking towards the beginning of the maze.
He followed her “I’ll give you a clue…”
She stopped in her place and spun around “No, I don’t need your help.” She said it almost too harshly as she caught herself “Sorry Andrew, I didn’t mean…” he smiled and shook his head.
“It’s okay. I understand it can get frustrating. Why don’t you use your logic? I swear Erin, you’re the calmest person I have ever met, you’ve got a good head on your shoulder, why don’t you just use it?” he was sincere as can be.
Erin snickered “Calm? A calm person doesn’t break down…or fail a mission.”
“No one is perfect.” Dennis’s voice boomed against the sound proof room. Andrew and Erin turned to him as he smiled “Andrew, could you excuse us for a minute?”
“Yeah.” Andrew gave Erin a final supportive smile before leaving.
Dennis walked over the controller of the test maze as he slammed his fist against the stop button “Do you know how each agent is chosen?” she shook her head, her eyes distant “Neither do I.”
She turned up with wrinkled brows “I don’t understand.”
“You see, everyone has a destined future. Fate brought you here, it’s a sign. Why do you think our code names are made from the zodiac?” Dennis pointed out “I can’t tell you who is in charge of recruiting or who orders us, but when you stepped foot into this Agency, you signed an agreement to be loyal until you die. I will not lie to you and say this is an easy life, it really isn’t. You have to live a double life and it will only get tougher when you grow stronger. When you grow older, this will all stop…”
Erin looked at him with a tilted head “What are you saying? You’re leaving us?”
Dennis laughed “You don’t expect me to be an agent forever do you?”
“I guess not.” She said reasonably “Who will take over?”
“Whoever the head of security thinks is ready to lead. As for me, they will let me go after the next job. I’m depending on you to stay strong.” He patted her on the shoulder.
Erin sighed “I’m afraid you will only be disappointed.”
“Don’t push yourself down Erin. Trust me, you’ve got definite potential, just like a Scorpio.” Erin smiled as she turned away blushing “Every zodiac code name are given to an agent that best match their personalities. Could you name them?”
She looked up with a smile, Erin had long ago analyzed this question “Leo is strong and has leadership skills that’s why Brad is the captain when you are not there.” Dennis smiled proudly and raised his eyebrows for her to continue “Gemini has two faces, she can change with a blink of an eye helping her to distract the enemies. Pisces is artistic and creative with the eye, she can scope out the surroundings and know when to make a move. Finally Aries is restless and always needs a new project to keep him company, that’s why Andrew is great at this job, there is always something new to do.”
Dennis clapped his hands “And that’s why you are Scorpio, with a deep analytical mind that is always aware of the surroundings. But there is a disadvantage to that…” Erin frowned and Dennis smiled “Scorpios are mysterious and holds everything inside, that’s not good.”
“Sometimes, it’s hard to open up.” Erin frowned as she turned to the maze “I’m going to try again.”
Dennis nodded with a grim expression “Okay.” He turned and left to give her peace and quiet with her own thoughts.
Erin took in a deep breath as she rushed into the maze, this time she marked the walls with a pen she carried in her pocket. Which ever one she has passed, she ‘x’ to remind herself. It was considered cheating to Erin, but she knew it was her only way to pass the maze.
****************
He was dressed in an expensive charcoal gray suit with a silver tie that brought out his eyes. His hair was slicked to the side with a wave that made him look debonaire. Darren stood by the window of his corner office and stared out into the harbor. His building was the tallest of all of Hong Kong and he was definitely the richest of them all.
Suddenly the intercom on his phone beeped “Mr. Chiu, you have a visitor.”
“I do not want to see anyone today, Janice.” Darren spoke loudly and clearly, never walking away from his view.
“Yes sir.” His secretary answered stuttering.
He let out a sigh, it was unlike him to turn down business but he did not feel like it that day. Darren slowly returned to his desk and clicked on his favorite website, horoscope.com. He was never crazy about the zodiac signs but recently he grew more intrigued and drawn to the daily horoscopes that he ran his business by it.
Darren smiled as he read his horoscope ‘Taurus: People might become a bit argumentative when it comes to romantic issues today, dear Taurus. Your instincts might be calling for you to restrain yourself and hold back while the prevailing winds of the day are urging you to strike out onto new ground. Realize that your heart may need a bit of freedom and detachment. Your sensitive nature may be causing you to read too much into the issues at hand.’
It was true in more places than one, he had recently gotten out of a rough relationship and it remains to linger in his heart. He was about to open a new business file with a well known merchant of gold, something he never touched because of the cost. He was a strong businessman, vicious at times and way too intelligent for his age. He wanted to remain in his luxurious nature but cut down the costs of running a business. He was rich enough to buy half of Hong Kong but that would mean cutting off his comfortable living style.
Darren’s mind wandered to a certain beauty he recently met when the intercom once again interrupted him “Sorry Sir, I know you didn’t want to see anyone. But a Mister Wu is insisted in seeing you.”
His eyes narrowed “It’s okay Janet, let him in.”