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This is it. Our last chance to bring Mia home. And we'll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.
55
ANTONIO
Xavier and I meet in the hidden library room, looking over the message update Lucas sent to us a few minutes ago. There's less than twenty-four hours between this moment and when we finally get to have Mia back in our arms.
"He's giving us assumed identities," I explain to Xavier as we read through the meticulously detailed information we each received from him.
Xavier's gaze remains fixed on the screen, devouring the contents of the message. A mix of gratitude and trust begins to replace the guilt that had once burdened him. "He's really thought this through," he remarks, a newfound appreciation evident in his voice.
"No room for error," I agree. "He wants us to quiz each other? What are we? Children?"
His attention shifts from the screen to me, resolve dancing in his eyes. "We owe it to Mia to give everything we have."
He's right and I know it, but it doesn't make this any less annoying. As we continue to read through the intricacies of the assumed identities, the weight of the imminent deadline presses on us. There's a sense of urgency, knowing that the countdown to Mia's rescue has begun. Less than twenty-four hours.
I can feel the tension rising inside of me, and I'm sure Xavier is feeling the same way. There's so much at stake, and we can't afford to mess this up. We have to get this right.
"Let's get started then," Xavier says, breaking the silence. "I'll go first."
I nod, watching as he adopts his new identity with ease. "What's your name?" I ask him.
He takes a deep breath before answering in a smooth, confident voice. "Agent Daniel Parker. Who are you?"
"Agent Timothy Johnson," I respond. "FBI."
Xavier nods, his eyes flickering with approval as we continue to quiz each other with carefully constructed questions and answers. We're like actors playing out a script, each of us performing our roles to perfection.
We spend the next few hours memorizing every last detail of our assumed identities until they become second nature to us. Our conversation is stilted, as we ask each other questions and answer them as our assumed identities would. It's tedious work, but it needs to be done.
Finally, after hours of practice, we're both satisfied with our performances. Xavier and I sit across from each other, the tension in the room palpable. We're both exhausted, but we can't stop now. We have to be ready for tomorrow's mission.
Xavier leans forward, his eyes darkening with intensity. "We have to make sure we don't slip up," he says.
I nod slowly, knowing that one mistake could mean the difference between success and failure. "We won't," I reply firmly.
We sit in silence for a few moments longer before Xavier stands up abruptly. "Let's spar," he says, his tone brisk and businesslike.
I stand up as well, feeling my adrenaline kick into gear. Xavier and I have always used physical activity as a way to blow off steam and clear our heads. And with everything that's at stake, we need all the clarity we can get.
We circle each other warily, our movements fluid and practiced. There's a sense of familiarity between us that transcends our individual roles in this mission. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses like the back of our hands.
The training kicks into gear, and soon we're moving so quickly it feels like we're flying. Punches are thrown, kicks are dodged, and we continue to dance around each other. Sweat drips down my face, and I feel alive.
The noise of our grunts and breaths fills the room as we both work harder than ever before. Each time I land a hit on Xavier, his expression hardens. Each time he lands one on me, I feel an intense burst of pain before pushing it aside.
The physical battle between us intensifies, and I feel my anxiety melting away. The pain of a punch to the stomach or a kick to the leg is nothing compared to the agony of losing Mia forever. I know that Xavier is thinking the same thing. We've both suffered enough pain in our lives to know what's at stake.
We take swigs of energy drinks and coffee to keep us going, determined to push ourselves to the limit. Our focus narrows down to the fight, blocking out everything else. All the while, our minds are still racing with thoughts of Mia. She's at the forefront of our minds, a beacon of hope that we're fighting for.
Hours pass as we continue to spar, perfecting our moves. It's dark outside when we finally call it quits, both of us exhausted but also exhilarated by our intense workout. We've been through so much together, and yet we know that this mission will be one of our toughest challenges yet.
As we walk towards our departure point, I can feel my heart racing with anticipation. We're so close now - just hours away from having Mia back in our arms where she belongs. But there's still so much that could go wrong.
"Agent Parker," Lucas greets in a firm, no-nonsense tone. "Agent Johnson. Here is your gear."
Xavier and I strip without hesitation, pulling the uniform and padding on, then securing our helmets nodding to each other.
