It was early afternoon and Angel was standing in the elevator with John. She hit the C button and waited for the elevator to move. In a minute the elevator doors reopened and they stepped out. Angel led the way down the grey hallway and straight into an office. She pulled out a seat and told him to sit in it.
“So…” she said taking a seat on the desk. “This office here is where you’ll be working for a good amount of time.”
“Really? Wow… free food, a cozy bed and now an office all to myself. You guys just love spoiling me huh?” John said his smile wide showing his perfect teeth.
Angel sighed and looked at him. His eyes were a light tone of grey this afternoon and his hair was brushed back. It looks like he had been running his hands through it for hours leaving it nicely done. With the smile he had on now his dimple showed and angel knew just by the dimples that she was in trouble. If she was to stay focused and do nothing she had to work overtime.
“Look,” she said “Just drop the funny man act ok? Sarcasm was never something I liked and I still don’t. Drop the ‘I’m ok with being here’ act too because I know you’re faking it. I think you should know that just because they act like they’re your friends now it doesn’t mean you can get by them. There is no way out.” Angel finished crossing her hands and sounding bitter.
John’s smile faded and his teeth clenched. He looked at her with a dark glare. “I have no idea what you’re talking about and anyway, don’t you think you should tell me what I have to do and move along?” his voice took on an angry tone and he spoke like he was warning her.
April stiffed her posture and didn’t let him in on her fear. His voice took on new meaning and for the first time in a long time she was intimidated. “Right…” she said looking at him. They stood silent for a couple moments till Angel jumped off from the desk and walked behind it.
“You’ll be working on counterfeit birth certificates and IDs.” Angel said. She opened a drawer and pulled out blank cards and certificates. She hit the button on the printer to turn it on and moved the mouse around on the computer. She invited him to the computer and taught him where to enter information and how to print. She showed him the vent where requests came in and told him to always check. “If Illegals are supposed to take on fake identities then obviously your job is important. Sometimes it’s not Illegals ordering the stuff though. Sometimes its just people who got in contact with an illegal. In that case there’s a picture in the request seeing as how you cant use the computer system to draw up there photos. You’ll have to send it through the printer but set it for scanning.”
John nodded and looked through some paper work. “Like this girl? She’s fifteen and requesting a fake ID that says she’s over eighteen. We know that girl is sneaking of to the clubs.” John pulled up the photo and looked at her. John laughed and Angel gave him an eye brow of question. “Believe it or not I think this girl looks like you.” He said with a smile.
“Ugh, give me the file.” Angel said with skepticism in her voice. John handed her the file and a paper fell out. Angel and John both moved to pick it up but Angel picked it up before he could. He looked at her and shrugged. The paper was folded up and looked like it had been through many hands. On the outside a name was written. “Dawn” It said in print. Angel’s eyes widened at the sight and she quickly pocketed it with John’s back to her. He looked through some more files not saying anything.
Angel opened the file and looked at the photo. Her eyes burned but she held back the tears. It had been years since she saw her little sister Annie. Angel sucked in some air and held onto her composure. She hadn’t cried in so long and she didn’t plan now. Tears, she thought, was a sign of defeat and weakness. Angel wasn’t weak.
“So, what happens to the stuff? How does it get to the people?” John asked turning to her. He looked at her and his eyebrows went down causing his nose to wrinkle. “Something wrong?” he asked. “You’re sort of pale.”
Angel cleared her throat and shook her head. “Nothing wrong,” she said “They are delivered.” She closed the file and handed it to him.
“Like through mail?” he asked.
“No, they’re personally delivered by an Illegal. I might be taking that on as a job.” Angel said thinking to herself that maybe she could see her sister delivering the ID. John nodded his head and moved the mouse on the computer to stop the screen saver. “Hey John…” Angel said. John turned to her with a surprised look.
He smiled and said “What?”
“Danger…” she corrected herself watching his amazing smile fade. “I just remembered that you don’t put the finished product here.” She told him pointing to the vent that connected to the delivers. “Just leave them in this corner and someone comes and picks them up.” She said.
John nodded his head and said “Ok, will do.”
Angel let out a breath and walked away from the desk. She held the door open and paused. She couldn’t believe her sister had managed to get in contact with her. She knew that her sister was brilliant but she couldn’t believe she actually did it. Angel sighed and began walking out the door.
“Angel” John called to her.
“Yes?” she said not turning back to him.
“You sure everything is alright?” He asked.
“I’m fine…” she said walking away from the room.
Angel speed walked down the hall and into the stair case. She walked up a flight of steps and stopped. The stair well wasn’t very well lit but it was good enough. She sat down and reached into her pocket. The stairs was the only place in the whole area that didn’t have cameras. It was perfect for her to read her sister’s letter and nobody see.
Angel sighed and opened the letter. IT was in her sister’s hand writing and just looking at it Angel felt like she had a piece of home in her hands.
Dawn,
Dear God I hope you are alive. I hope you get to read this and I hope you know I never forgot. I remember what happened clear as ever. I remember how you told me you love me so I don’t hate you for leaving. I never could hate you. Since you left I was forced to live in a foster home till this family finally adopted me. They’re ok people and I live in a good neighborhood. Things are settling and Dawn, I think I might actually feel comfortable here with these people. They love me like family.
But they aren’t my family Dawn. You’re my family. I miss you so much Dawn. Everyday I wake up hoping that the pain will go away but it doesn’t. I have to find you Dawn. Even if it kills me I will find you.
I’ve made a major decision. I’m joining the Illegals. Then we can be together and try to get out and be a family again. I know you think it’s impossible but remember what you told me when I was little? You said “Nothing is impossible, things are just improbable.” We can beat probability.
I thought reaching you and finding the organization that took you would be impossible but if you’re reading this letter then Dawn I did it. I’ll do what ever it takes to get to you. I love you Dawn. You’re my sister and my only family. I can’t be happy till I see you again and we’re a family.
Hopefully I can hear form you sometime. Please be alive and please don’t be angry at me.
Love you’re sister,
Annie
P.S. Sorry about the fake ID.
Angel finally let a tear fall but quickly wiped it away. Angel looked at the way Annie’s I’s were dotted with hearts. Her S’s were beautifully written and you could tell this letter was written slowly. Angel couldn’t believe it. She remembered what she read and she knew what it meant but somehow in her head she still couldn’t believe it. No matter how clearly it was written
Angel folded up the paper and placed it back in her pocket. She tried to get up but her body wouldn’t agree. Everything was blurry and her body was heavy. Angel stopped trying and rested her head on the wall. She closed her eyes and let life drift away as she bit down on her lip to hold back sobs.
*********************************
John finished his last ID and put it on the pile. He left them there neatly and stood up. Separated was the filed that he and Angel looked at earlier. Something about the file was different. John could tell that Angel was interested in this folder. John looked around the room and spotted a book bag. He grabbed it and opened it. It was empty and unclaimed so John decided to put the folder in it and take the bag with him. He shut everything down and moved for the door. Worried about the book bag he considered leaving it here but he didn’t want anything to happen to the file. IF anything he would just place it in tomorrow’s pile and everything would be ok.
John closed up the office and headed down the halls. It was a little after dinner and everyone was gone. He walked to the elevator and hit the button. The elevator showed up empty and John debated which floor he would go to. He decided to head to the dining area first. It would be fairly empty and he would get a chance to speak to Newbie.
Within five minutes John was walking into the kitchen area heading for the sink. He had Newbie give him a tour of the kitchen and became friendly with some of the woman who worked in it. Now he had access to the kitchen at anytime. John spotted Newbie standing in front of the sink with his back to John.
“Hey Newbie,” John said walking toward Newbie. Newbie turned around and sighed then turned back. His face was still a bit bruised and John could tell he still hadn’t forgave him for it.
“My name is not Newbie…” he mumbled.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” John said “I meant Weasel.” John smiled at him now standing beside him where Newbie could see him and keep working.
“Keep smiling pretty boy. Just because you think you’re cool and your name is Danger doesn’t mean I’m afraid of you.” Weasel said his teeth clenched.
“Excuse me?” John said looking at Weasel angry.
“What you angry now because you’ve found one person who isn’t afraid to tell you you’re nothing to your face?” Weasel said turning toward him his eyes watery and lit up with fury.
“Listen man, I’m sorry we’re stuck here and I’m sorry they threw me into that ring. I’m sorry I had to beat you up and I’m sorry that you have dish duty. Don’t stand here and be angry at me because life sucks because my life isn’t exactly great right now.” John said his voice stern.
Newbie had a plate in his hand that he held tight. Suddenly, the plate went flying and crashed, breaking into pieces. Newbie let out a scream and well to his knees. He looked up at John his gave infuriated. His cheeks had trails of tears and were red making his bruises seem more then what they were.
“I shouldn’t be here man…” he said looking to the ground. “All I did was forget to pay a couple tickets and some how I end up in jail. Now I’m here and all I want to do is go home.” His voice was full of regret.
John sighed and got down on his knees. He reached to lay a hand on Newbie’s shoulder but hesitated keeping his hand in mid-air. He shook his head and put his hand on his shoulder. “Listen to me,” he said “We will get out some how. Then you’ll be home and everything would be ok. You’re right when you say it isn’t fair but that’s life. You just have to stay strong.”
Newbie shook his head and said “No, no, that’s not what Angel said. She said that you shouldn’t try to leave and don’t anything stupid. We’re never getting out of here.”
“Angel?” John said removing his hand from Newbie’s should and straightening looking down at him. He looked at him for minutes and some how he just knew. “How could you tell her?! No wonder she’s been riding my ass!”
Newbie looked up at him and said “I’m sorry.” His voice pleading. John got to his feet and couldn’t talk anymore. He had trusted Newbie and even tried to help him but he had just gone and opened his mouth.
Finally, John’s voice returned and he said “When they named you Weasel they hit the target on the bull’s eye.” With that John walked out of the kitchen not even looking back. Just another person John couldn’t trust.
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