THE LAST TEST (Part 1/2)

Mexico City.

8:19 p.m

Madisson

I could hear the footsteps my black boots were made against the pavement, I stepped on some 𝘚𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘴 wrappers and papers; That street was somewhat dirty, what made it worse was the smell of urine and the lack of lighting, so the little light from the moon that accompanied me at that time was the only reason that made the road visible.

My legs were freezing. The cold wind made my white olan dress rise a bit, the good thing was that I had lycra shorts underneath, and the bad thing was that I wasn't wearing a sweater.

I turned around when I got to the corner of the street, I was thankful that the street lighting was a little better here. In the distance I saw a male figure, he had a robust body, he looked tall like me. When he saw me, he quickened his pace and headed toward me. For that, I changed my way to get to the sidewalk. He changed the sidewalk too.

Oh-oh.

I squeezed my bag.

He came closer, I could see him better. His mustache was more appreciated and he was even taller than me.

Well... it could be a simple man who goes home because he comes back from work, right?

—Of course not —I replied in a whisper.

Who switches to the other side when they see someone else doing it? He plans something else. I turned to walk away, but my body collided with something... More like someone. Another man.

My heart began to beat.

I couldn't even blink when he covered my head with a black bag. He took my bag from me and carried me over his shoulder making my head fall behind his back.

—Let me go! Take your hands off me! —I moved my feet up and down, struggling. Made him wobble a bit, sadly not enough to drop or get off. The bag fell off due to gravity, exposing my head.

—¡Chingada madre con esto! ¡Se cayó! —exclaimed one, I could see how he bent down to grab the bag, however, he did not put it back on me. I assumed it was the man with the mustache who had spoken.

—Uy, no hablamos inglés, güerita —the one who covered my face told me.

— ¡También puedo hablar español, pendejo!, ¡bájame! —I yelled at him even louder.

—Nos salió ruda, la niña —he spoke again.

The sound of a car door opening caught my attention, I could see the tires of a white truck. They threw me roughly onto the seats and slammed the door.

Inside, I was surprised by the presence of a woman and a girl. The little girl was wearing what appeared to be a school uniform; her hair was disheveled, traces of a perfectly disheveled ponytail fell down her shoulders and back. The poor girl's crying was consoled by the woman with almond skin.

—¡Cállate! —A man ordered the girl to keep quiet as they climbed forward. His threatening tone made her shut up and tremble with fear, she became small in the arms of the woman who had a face that expressed clear pain.

From how the car looked inside I could tell that it was a minivan with tinted windows.

The fear from them broke my heart, so I walked over to where they were sitting.

—Todo va a estar bien —I whispered.

—¿Por qué estás tan segura? –the woman with the makeup dripped by tears asked me why I was so sure.

—Porque las voy a sacar de aquí.

I'll get them out of here.

I sat there with them, somehow it was my way of protecting them.

My micro earpiece heard Ben's words on the other end for the first time. It had taken too long to appear:

—Mad, we follow you closely. When they get to where those sons of bitches take them, Alizee and Toshio will come to support you. Snap your fingers near your ear to see if you've received me.

I put my hand near my earpiece on the right and do as he asks, earning confused looks from the woman and the girl.

Alright —he said.

Well, now I just have to wait for the team to arrive.

We would do well on this mission. We are the last team that will pass the S.P.I.E.D.S. test, and thus gets a base where we would carry out other missions. Tomorrow will be the day they will choose the leader of each team. And step number one of the plan had already been completed to perfection: Make them catch me.

—Your… name? — I asked the woman, my Spanish was a bit rusty—. ¿Cuál es tu nombre? —I repeated my question remembering the words.

—Rosalinda, el nombre de la niña es Valeria.

—Todo bien, no te preocupes. No dejaré que les pase algo malo.

The tires stopped and the men whose names I didn't know forced us down and into a horrible house. There were puddles on the floor from leaks, it smelled bad and the paint on the walls was worn. We were greeted by other boys who reluctantly directed us to a bedroom. There I saw three women sitting, marks of blows across their bodies, and some scratches on their clothing.

I sat against a wall and when the men closed the door, I made sure there was no one around so I could communicate with my colleagues.

–Okay guys, we've arrived. Is everyone out there?

Suddenly, my voice became the center of attention between the four women and the girl.

–Yes –Alizee replied–, we just got out of the car, we're close to the house.

–Fine, is there someone watching the entrance?

–No –Toshio spoke this time.

–All right, stay tuned –I finished.

—¿Con quién hablas? —Rosalinda asked me curiously.

—Con personas que me ayudarán a llevarlas de vuelta con su familia —I took her shoulders—. Now, I need you to pay attention.

—¿Q-qué?