The Story of Blood and Roses Chapter 138

Why I was driving as fast as I was, I didn't know . . . but I knew that I needed it . What I was going to do was going to make me an outcast . There was no other way to come out of this than to handle the situation as neutrally as possible . I could imagine the screams and the anger that would be directed towards me, but I couldn't jeopardize my sanity for any longer .
As I halted in front of an unassuming building that I had grown accustomed to, I felt a sliver of fear crawling up my spine . There was no mortal danger here, but I knew that I would not come out unscathed . I sat in the parking lot for the better part of fifteen minutes before opening the door and walking towards the entrance . People turned and stared . I could imagine that I looked unconventional in one of Michael's shirts and my sweatpants, none of the behind-the-desk workers in the organization had seen me out of my war gear . At least I would not have much problem discarding my clothes for a full body scan .
As the stares gave away to hushed controversies being passed from one person to the next, I walked towards the elevator whose password I had memorized . As the sliding door closed on me, I saw the last one them, having abandoned their unaffected posture into one of curiosity . They peaked from behind desks, craned their necks to get a look at me . This was going to be the only time they would see me like this, the prodigy who is human . I sincerely didn't think that they considered me human; I must have been a killing machine by how my reputation had spread—killing everything that came in my way . I suppose, we all have to end out winning streaks .
"Name," the robotic female voice asked .

"Agent Vincent," I replied just as blandly .
"Prepare for a full body scan, Agent Vincent . " I unceremoniously pulled my clothes off . They slid along my skin, reminding me of the reason why I was here . I needed it . The temperature of the room dropped a few degrees before the voice asked me to clothe myself again . I wondered how removing my clothes had become a chore—an obligation . After all the time I spent going through the same process, I wondered if other agents thought if it was tedious .
As the door to the Chief's room slid open I saw that there were other people in the room . I raised a brow at Jacob, who was leaning against the wall behind his father . The chief was seated at the head of the room, while other board members surrounded him in a semi circle and spoke to him .
"Agent Vincent," Chief greeted . His lips pressed into a tight line as he took in my appearance .

"Chief, I'm sorry that I didn't inform you about a meeting prior to this, but I hope that it is okay . "
"You've been undercover, agent . I understand that you were unable to contact us to protect your identity," he reasoned, but I could hear the judgment clear in his voice . He could be a family friend, but he would be harder on me for the decision I was making .

"I plead the board to pardon my attire; I didn't have the time or the mind to change my clothes before attending the meeting . " They nodded as they asked me to take a seat .
"I am here today to ask you for a favor . " The Chief's eyes widened a bit as he leaned forward . I could see his hands balling up into fists over the paperwork on his desk . Jacob stood there, frozen to the spot as he stared . His eyes were not on my face, but on the T-shirt that I was wearing .
"Agent Vincent, please proceed," one of the board members said . I nodded before beginning .
"I was assigned the task to infiltrate the Murray chapter of the mob in the state a few months ago . I will admit that I took the mission up for some selfish reasons that I do not want to reiterate in front of the respected members of the board . Because of the unprofessional nature of my decision, I have come to face with some diverse situations that affect my personal life immensely . " I took in a cleansing breath before starting again . "I will take the opportunity to inform the people present in this room that I am no longer capable of continuing the mission . I have pushed my biased idea along with the mission since the mission, and it is not ethical on my part to go ahead in this manner . I plead the members to dismiss me from this case . "
"But agent, you will put yourself in jeopardy if you leave so abruptly . " I listened patiently as they put their two dimes in . I didn't give a damn .
---------

[Donate @ paypal . me/SunScar9 and ko-fi . com/sunscar9 to ensure I don't starve . ]

Chapter end