3

It's funny how people could easily say that home is a safe place to be in, a family to whom we can hug and cherish. My family was different. We of course would talk to each other but not like the others. It was different. My parents both wanted me to strive for excellence in my school work while I, on the other hand, was not really the type of person to actually take that to account. I mean, yes, I do what I am supposed to do because I love my parents but I am still a child who longs for a better affection, a better family who does not just dismiss me and only look at my education. At least also talk to me as a friend, since they hardly talk to me like that somehow, while I have those depressing thoughts. they have been just so busy with work while I try to reach out to my parents, but they either dismiss me or they just miss the fact that I had a great achievement. Fortunately, I met these amazing secret agents that they only allow a few people to join them for them to be at low key, a low profile, and eventually, I was part of that.

Luck then played a huge role in my life, that I was then hired to be a great detective with the rest of these girls and boys. I do miss the life I had before but now I am part of them, being a secret agent myself and am only 19 recently, to partake in such a challenge. Better to be proactive than to sit at home and do nothing. I am more or less of a sideline person, while the rest take part more. Unfortunately, what we are about to encounter is far more dangerous, and am contributing to this quest, to which I am needed most often this year. Thankfully, I have my friends to help me reach my potential. First off: Kai, aged 20, being the firey headed person and who never backs down and has the worst temper, Cole aged 21 being such a softy at heart at times but he is down-to-earth a bad boy, but can be stubborn at times too same as Kai but has a lower temper. Jay aged 20, a talkative person and a baby, who loves eating a lot. Next, there is Lloyd aged 22 who is the leader of the group has mixed personalities and can be hard to crack because it all depends on his level of stress, either if he has a lot on his plate he goes mad, but if he doesn't we're fine. Nya aged 19, is the bravest of the group and was about to beat Kai up yesterday for being a jerk towards the other students. She is actually quite the angel. Then there's Zane, aged 23 a guy who keeps his cool and there to always help others when they need him, 'Protect those who can not protect themselves,' he'd always say. Now, he says this statement more, 'I always prefer to believe the best in everybody, saves so much trouble.' More or less for a joke but he was always there to protect us, I must say.

After I have started my better life with them, I started to open up and started to discover my own confidence. Being more freely to put in my disagreements and agreements on the table, and Officer Wu, then congratulated me and started talking about my solo missions at some point but most of the time I must go with the gang, is our top priority. Yes, I call them that now since we all are friends and are there for each other. Though things started to take a turn for the worst. After the encounter with Harumi previously, like a few months ago, has taken a huge toll on my life. Seemed like there was also another person who we would have to encounter in the future.

I never wondered that I and my friends were to be met with chaos when we rerouted back towards my home, after a break of ice cream, because they never would trust me to go on alone for safekeeping. A place I've known and loved turned to ruins. I reached my home and was about to take out my key from inside the pocket of my black jacket, but then spotted deep scrapes on the wall, my doorknob broken as well, showing signs that it was forced, open. I hesitantly walked in and looked around the pace The place was ransacked and we never knew who did it. I also didn't see any lifeforms walking inside or the worried looks on both my parents' faces. As a matter of fact, where were my parents? Surely they would run to the door when they hear someone walked in or something. No clue was left behind that was misplaced or anything. Seemed like they were only thrown across the room. What happened here? I then waltzed into the kitchen then I saw it. Blood spread across the floor and my voice was caught at my throat. No words to express how deeply angry and deeply worried I was at the moment now. No parents to look after and no one to talk to about my school. I cried in agony when I found out that my parents were dead. It was only one day and that on this self-same day my parents died. I couldn't mask it. I couldn't believe they would do such a thing to innocent people. I couldn't believe they would do such monstrosity towards them. What did they want? I couldn't think right that I screamed hysterically, which made the others come bounding back to the house from where they were just departing from, slamming the door open.

"Jade! What's wrong!" Cole hollered, hearing crying across the lounge seeing me squatting down on the floor, face in my hands crying and mourning for my parents. Cole dashed towards me and saw what had happened.

"NO!" Cole exclaimed bringing his hands to the sides of his face, tears swelling in his eyes, now worrying for me and my parents and about what they ought to do, next. Cole hugged me and cried with me comfortingly. The others hurried to what was now a crime scene and they stood there taking everything in, figuring what could've happened in this home.

"Guys we shouldn't just stand here, do something!" Nya exclaimed being the first- aider of the group, and that she knew what she was doing. "KAI! CALL THE AMBULANCE!"

"On it sister!" Kai saluted and went to work.

"Cole, take her back to HQ and care for her there. We'll take care of the rest." Nya instructed.

"No! I can handle this. It just took me by surprise." I tried putting myself together, wiping my tears.

"I'm sorry Jade, there are people after you now and I know it isn't the Black Rose there is something fishie going on, and even if it was the Black Rose, I would still send you home for safety. You cannot show your face here at this time, or get shot again. I think when Cole and You went in there, they only captured your face while Cole came out running with Kai to stop him. I guess them, calling in for more back up, there was another person who ransacked your place." Nya replied, putting her foot down to this situation, as I pouted my face.

"Wait, but wouldn't that be our whole team being their target? Since we were all in that battle together." Jay questioned thinking it would be fine to be targeted as long as they were together, but it seems it was harder right now.

"Easier said than done Jay," Kai commented, kicking a pile of rubble on the ground, thinking of their next plan.

"Not necessarily Jay, but since they captured only her face and not Cole's, then that means Harumi thinks Jade has something she wants, and that it must be special," Zane replied anxiously not liking this conversation one bit.

"OH, NO!" Jay screamed, earning glares and comments of 'Would you keep quiet Jay?' they all hissed, "What are we supposed to do!"

"All we can do now is to keep Jade safe," Nya confirmed. So, Cole nodded and brought me with him. Both of us then stood up and left to go back to HQ to take care of me from there. Just as we left, Lloyd pipped up.

"Um, I know I am normally instructing others on what to do, but what am I going to do?" Lloyd asked Nya, hands-on-hips, waiting for instructions, wanting to help as well, because he did not hear his name being called out.

"Oh, yeah! We," Nya pointed to the remaining agents to search out the crime scene, "Can look for some evidence here...." Nya paused looking around the room on what to start on, "Um, like this knife over here..." Nya held up the knife, "We could start with this!"

"According to my geo-sensors this knife doesn't seem to be manufactured from this place," Zane spoke as he held up his scanners from his tablet.

"Oh? So, where did it come from?" Jay asked, mesmerized at Zane's device also wanting to hold it. So Jay held out his grabbing hands at Zane. "Well-" but because of Zane's quick reflexes, Zane flicked his arm back so that Jay would not touch it. "It's mine." He said at Jay's actions. Jay crossed his arms and pouted.

"Ahem, as I was saying, the knife is not from here so, according to my device it says it is from the borders of the Emerald City-"

"Are you serious?" Jay replied in awe, "This knife is expensive..." Jay stated as he held the delicate shiny, sleek knife, "how did it reach all the way here?" He questioned.

"And that's the thing we are going to find out and answer that question." Zane smirked, "Couldn't have said better myself."

"You are clearly rubbing off me bro." Kai snorted then laughed as he leaned on his sister. Nya then pushed Kai off of her.

"Oh, definitely," Lloyd replied with an eye roll.

"Haha, alright, stop acting cocky Zane, I don't want to have two Kais. One is enough thank you, very much." Nya added.

"Ok, sure Nya, I shall stop," Zane replied in obedience, with a slight bow of his body.

"Anyway, hush now boys, we need to start looking for some evidence!" Nya responded with authority in her tone.

"Man, this is going to be a long day." Lloyd sighed, as he started looking, so did everyone else.

"I know right?" Kai responded to Lloyd's sigh while swabbing for some samples from the knife, sinks, bench and etc.

"I meant, when am I going to be back to instructing you guys, you dipwit." Lloyd mumbled with an eye roll looking underneath books and floors for any evidence.

"Oh! Haha, well have patience, Lloyd. Wouldn't that be what Officer Wu would say?"

"Well, yeah! But mostly it'd be me." Lloyd replied while he looked under every shelf for any clues.

"Welp, don't go acting like me though, patience Lloyd, this is a hard time now, even for Jade."

"Yeah, ok. Thanks, Kai." Lloyd smiled at his best friend.

"Hey, what did I tell ya. I'll always be there for you little bro!" Kai ruffled Lloyd's blonde hair, while Lloyd started to get back at Kai's brown spiked hair.

"Hey! Stop it, hahaha!"

"Kai! Found anything?" Zane asked hearing laughter from Lloyd and Kai. Kai and Lloyd shook their heads. Zane face palmed himself and shook his head, "Thought so. So start looking now, or I am not treating you guys, only the others." So, upon hearing that Kai and Lloyd both divided into their jobs starting to find answers from everywhere in the house, papers, wallets, or anything of use. One thing was that they didn't know was someone was lurking in the shadows, outside of their house. That being said, that imposter started plotting.