“Matt quit staring at it, here” I poked the cloth at him, and it seemed as if I drew him out of his thoughts. He took the cloth in a rather dazed motion and laid it over the cut “Thanks.” I tilted my head slightly sitting down on the couch beside of him cautiously.

“Matt, you okay?” he didn’t answer “Matt.”

“Yes, I’m fine, don’t worry about it Rayne.” I rolled my eyes at him, leaning back against the couch lazily. “Why are you so concerned?” I saw his eyes wander to his feet.

“You…have just been acting differently lately.”

“So you want us to search the coast first? Do you have any clues to his whereabouts?” The chief nodded slowly “Check the states near the Atlantic ocean, mainly Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia.”

“Why these?”

“The ocean would provide a nice escape if he needed it and I believe he was sent there before in the past as a spy for a Chinese immigrant. It would be a perfect escape for him.” Conner nodded raising his hand in a formal salute. “Then just as you ordered I will send a battalion of troops soon, they should arrive on the east coast tomorrow night. I will also be sure that Unit No.7 accompanies them. Surely that one will be a great aid in finding this “dead” soldier, I believe in the past he was the leader of her division.”

“Well done Conner.”

“And how is that?” I closed my eyes lightly.

“You’ve been troubled lately, it’s not that obvious but sometimes I will just catch you in that same daze, like your thinking back on those days that you hold so secretively.” He leaned forward over his knees propping his elbows up against his legs.

“Rayne, its fine, anything that bothers me now is my problem. I know you feel excluded because of how I keep to myself, but allow me to reassure you, it’s for good reason. I just don’t want you to get hurt...I would have to be cruel to pull you into this.” I opened my eyes slightly, both of them latched thoughtfully onto a single section of our pale ceiling. “Then when all of it’s over…will you be able to tell me?”

“Troops, load the plane, all of you secure your weapons and check for both guns and ammunition in your belts!”

“When it’s over? I’m…not sure.” He stood up, lightly setting down his black coffee mug on the table.

“I want Units No.92 95 and 93 to take the cockpit, tell them to prepare for take off!” No.7 shook her head as the wind from the spinning engines blew through her hair “It’s been so long Kytris. I know you’re alive some where, knowing you, no simple bomb could have taken your life. Your in America I swear it, and I’m going to find you.”

“Will it ever be over…?” He whispered readjusting his sunglasses. I merely stared at him, those words not reaching my ears. I could only stare at that one necklace draped around his neck. I rarely caught sight of it but because of the thin white button down shirt he was wearing, part of his chest was visible, the metal glistening by the light of the basement. A sharp metal shard, it had been burned and was slightly rusted but its dark shell still reflected the light.

*      *      *

I sat there silently holding my legs with me on the couch, my eyes, watching his coffee mug sitting on the table silently. My sight landed on the peculiar cup, but that wasn’t what I was seeing. Memories were replaying themselves over and over again in my head, and all I could do is just keep asking myself. What? What was so hard about his past that he couldn’t even show me a detail? He said it was to protect me but would that mean he was some kind of criminal? No, we would have found out by now, he’s been out of the house several times and wasn’t noticed. Well he was always noticed because of his model appearance, but never was anyone suspicious, perhaps an undiscovered criminal? No, he was too laid back to be any kind of criminal. I would usually look back on these moments and laugh at myself for thinking in such a way but after three years of secrecy some things just kept getting harder and harder to look into. Matt was like family to me, and it felt like I barely knew him. We were best friends of course, but all I know is the simple collection of information all friends tend to know.

*      *      *

“Jeanne!” I ran up to her and embraced her in a tight hug, Matt standing causally behind me.

“Rayne, Matt, you made it!” I heard Mark comment as he stepped into the room from the kitchen. “Get ready the pools out back as usual and on your way you might notice something special.” He winked at me and I grinned back, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

Mark was like a big brother to me, both him and Jeanne became a couple not too long ago. Mark was about twenty two, and Jeanne was eighteen. I was only Seventeen being the youngest, but at this point that wasn’t an issue.

 “Oh yeah, and since the weather is pretty warm and its late in the afternoon the pool water shouldn’t be freezing so all of you can go on and head in, I’m fixing some sandwiches for later.” Mark announced retreating into the kitchen. Jeanne seemed to nod after him and after latching her hand around my wrist pulled me to the lit pool.

“Ok then lets get swimming!” I laughed at her eagerness and nearly thought she was going to throw me in, until she stopped at the very edge.

The pool was a nice size, lacking a slide but equipped with a diving board. The area around the pool was rough and was great for traction in case it got wet. There were four plastic chairs lining one side, and two glass tables, one of which was now holding towels.

“Ok you heard what Mark said, both of you jump in.” I quickly removed my shirt, revealing my black and maroon two piece under it.

 “Oh, yeah” I paused thoughtfully glancing back at Matt who was now finding a comfortable position in one of the chairs. “Matty isn’t going to swim.” Jeanne rolled her eyes “As usual.”