MIA's POV:
"OH! My LIFE IS A MESS"! Mia muttered, my voice barely a whisper as I stared at the cold, dimly lit mirror inside the safehouse. The reflection staring back at me felt all too familiar:tired eyes,unkempt hair,and the weight of things I couldn't bring myself to say. I rubbed my temple,trying to push away the exhaustion that seemed to seep into her bones. A week of back-to-back missions, no rest in sight—and her body was begging for a break.
But breaks didn't come. Not now. Not in this life.
With a sharp sigh, Mia grabbed her gear from the table and pulled on her tactical jacket, adjusting the straps of her shoulder holster with practiced precision. She glanced at the clock—less than an hour to meet the team. No time to second-guess herself, no room for doubts about whether this was the life she still wanted. It was too late for that.
The underground facility she was heading to was tucked beneath a nondescript building in the middle of nowhere. Off the grid. The kind of place that made you feel like eyes were always watching, even if there was no one there. Mia had grown used to the feeling. It was just part of the job.
As she moved down the dim hallway, she could see the elevator at the end. The only way in or out. She pressed the button, her fingers tapping anxiously against her thigh as she waited. The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside, the smooth, silent ride almost unnerving. Everything here was designed to feel controlled, calculated. Like nothing ever went wrong, even when it did.
The doors opened again, and Mia stepped into the operation room. A few agents sat at their stations, immersed in their work, but her attention was immediately caught by JAKE. The rookie.
He was standing near the briefing table, looking awkward, like he didn't quite belong in a room full of experienced agents. His posture screamed "rookie"—too stiff, too eager to prove himself. Mia didn't need to see his face to know the type. She'd seen it a thousand times before.
When she approached, Jack turned to face her, sizing her up like she was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve.
JACK 's POV:
My eyes flicked over her quickly, calculating, trying to figure out whether she was a threat or just another agent to get through.
"OH!, so you are the one they paired me with" he said, his voice loud enough to break the quiet tension in the room. ".". "Didn't think they 'd send someone like you on this mission."
Mia's gaze flicked to the other agents, who were now watching the exchange with a mix of curiosity and amusement. She kept her face neutral, but inside, frustration simmered. Another rookie who thought he
Had it all figured out?".
"Someone like me?"she asked, her voice cold and calm, tilting her head slightly. "And what exactly does that mean?"
Jack's grin was smug, but it faltered for a split second—a flicker of uncertainty behind his bravado. He wasn't as confident as he wanted her to think. "Well, I figured the agency would send someone who looked like they could handle a real mission."Not someone who looks like they'd get lost out in the field. But I guess I was wrong."
Mia took a slow, deliberate breath, her patience fraying at the edges. Every word from himwas a jab meant to get under her skin.But she wasn't here for a fight. She was here to get the mission done.
"You're not here to judge me," Mia said, her tone low and steady. "You are here to follow orders . And if you can't do thatmaybe youshould we consider why you are even here".
Jack blinked, clearly taken aback by her calm response. He didn't retort right away, glancing over his shoulder, clearly gauging the reaction of the other agents in the room.
"That's funny "he said after a moment, his tone laced with mockery. "I thought the point of being an agent was to be in control of the situation. But you seem... well, you seem like you're more comfortable staying out of the way."
Mia's eyes narrowed, but she didn't let her irritation show. "He had no idea to who he was talking to".
"You'll see soon enough".she said quietly, turning toward the briefing table and walking away, her steps measured and unhurried." If you even make it that far."
She could feel Jack's eyes on her as she walked, could almost hear the tension radiating off him. But she didn't care. She wasn't here to impress him. She wasn't here to play his games.
Mia had a mission to complete. And "Jack?" He'd either figure it out or be left behind.