NOT IMPOSSIBLE CHAP. 5

C H A P T E R

5 

M I S S I O N   I N   A C T I O N

I woke up and shielded my eyes from the bright sun that filtered through the window. Just for a second, I looked around my surroundings, confused. I scratched my head. I didn’t remember even going to sleep. I looked out the window. Kids were lining by the bus-stop and grownups were coming out from their house, rushing to their car.

Then I remembered. Trinity has a job! What will I do, just hide at her house? What if they catch her for questioning?

“Daniel?”

I turned my head. “Hi.”

“There’s some breakfast in the kitchen and…I painted your bike.”

“Wh-what? You found it?”

“Yeah, it took awhile, but…you going out there was too risky.”

“Thanks. Sometime today, I might have to head out. I think they hunt by night.”

She nodded, her head in a daze. She had been so bright and bubbly when I first talked to her, but now she was so quiet and distant.

“I need to get to work.”

“Oh, right, right. If you dropped out, there might be suspicions.”

Just then, my hand went to rest at my side, but accidentally hit the remote and a small box-shaped television clicked on.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I—” My mouth dropped open and my eyes stared at the screen.

“Two state police from Ronny Dr, Ohio, have spotted a terrible murder in action. Seventeen-year- old Daniel Burton has been caught murdering what was found to be his parents. The police say it was in cold blood and the reason for the incident is still unknown. They’re sending out troops all over this part of North Ohio County and it may come to lock-down—”

Trinity flicked it off, but I hadn’t seemed to notice.

No.

“Daniel, is there—”

“No,” I said. “I can’t believe this. If they found me, I could be locked up for life, or worse, a death sentence. And they really…they really did that. Why?” I looked at her. “I’m just an ordinary kid! I haven’t even finished school, and I’m already framed for murder? Just a week ago, I was studying for my history exam and-and preparing for my wrestling class, and-and—”

“Hey,” Trinity sat down beside me. “I don’t know what to say, this is all terrible. But we’ll find a way out.”

I barely looked her in the eyes. “I have my doubts about that, Trinity.”

Just then, hard rapping sounded on the front door.

“Hide!” Trinity left the room and probably looked out the window. 

My heart almost skipped a beat when the front door opened and footsteps sounded in the hallway.

Who is it? Who is it? I breathed rapidly, looking through the crack in the closet door. I shut my eyes and sat very still. And then, the door swung open and I yelped.

“Danny!”

“Huh?” My shoulders dropped in relief at the sight of my friend, Andy.

“Oh, I’m so glad it’s you!” I got out from the closet and laid down on the bed. 

“So. You’re a criminal?”

My eyes darted to his. “Did you think—” 

“No, no, I was just kidding.”
“There’s no time to kid, right now. If they barged in right now, we would all be getting locked up or put down.”

Andy sighed and sat down. “You need to get out, Danny. They’re going to check every house.” His head dropped in his hands. “I’m so, so, sorry, Danny. I-I should’ve believed you, I was an idiot to not. And now your parents are gone and you’re literally on the run from the government and—”

“Hey Andy,” I said gently. “It’s ok. I wouldn’t t have believed me either.”

“Still. I was a terrible friend. I betrayed you.”

I didn’t know what to say. “When I first heard the door open, for a minute I thought Trinity was going to betray me.”

“I won’t do that, Daniel,” she frowned at me. “Don’t you know that?”

“I had my second thoughts. But it’s okay now. What we have to do now, is make a plan.”

NOT IMPOSSIBLE CHP. 4

C H A P T E R

4 

M U R D E R E R

I walked home from Andy’s house lightheaded. I shouldn’t have ever thought he’d believe me. It was stupid. I’m stupid. 

I blindly walked down the sidewalk, my eyes down, trying to decide whether to tell Trinity or keep quiet—at least for awhile. 

I soon came up the drive to my home and reached for the doorknob, only to stand frozen in shock staring at the blood dripped on the floor. 

I heard more voices and as I rounded a corner to the livingroom, my feet seemed to freeze to the ground and my hands were numbed motionless. 

Mom and Dad. 

Dead on the floor. And beside them, stood three men in black uniforms, holding what looked like machine guns.

I almost whimpered.

One of them with a microphone in his ear, gasped and pointed at me. “There he is!”

I gasped and almost stumbled backward. I dashed out the door quicker than lighting and could only hop on my dirt bike sitting in the garage.  

Where to?

Trinity, I have to warn her!

Sweat poured down my forehead and everything seemed like a blur, I was beginning to think if I was still dreaming or maybe I really was delusional.

I plugged in the ignition and flew down the streets, glancing in the rear-view mirror and seeing the men in black come running out the door. I flew down the streets and zoomed down a corner. Beyond the corner were allies, some leading to dead-ends but two leading to the edge of town.

I need to lose them.

I raced down one way, turning right, driving behind the lined buildings. The farther I went, the damper the roads became and I soon found myself in a part of town I didn’t know existed. 

I had to make sure I was safe, completely alone, so I slowly stopped the bike. I parked it in a corner completely black and almost visibly hidden. My heart raced and my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

I’ve never felt like this before.

I was so scared. But the bike was too risky, too loud. I needed to walk to Trinity’s house silently as a cat. I creeped alongside the edge of the dark brick wall, trying to breathe in and out as steady as I could. But my efforts were all in vain. My breath was so shaky, and my chest hurt like a rock. I tried to calm down so I paused for just a minute, trying to think.

Mom and Dad are dead.

I wanted to choke. But I couldn’t cry now. First, I needed to get to safety quick. There must have been twenty guys now looking for me.

But why me? Is it because I saw the murder? Or something more…I remembered my mother’s words, words that had puzzled me so much, and still did.

“His life depends on it.”

Well, now it really did. I was literally on the run. I took a deep breath and walked further into the night.

…

Knock, knock.

I stood on the front porch with my head down. It had begun to rain and now my clothes were drenched. 

Open the door…I urged worriedly. What if they found me? Trinity’s house wasn’t hidden, it was just farther from mine. There was still a risk.

I suddenly heard something. A rustle.

I rapped on the door harder this time.

Finally, someone opened it for me and gasped. Trinity stood there, her hair wet and wrung out, like she took a shower just a minute before. 

“Oh my, Danny? You’re soaked! What happened?” She held open the door and I hurried in. “I’ll explain everything. But first, do you have like a secret room or something? Maybe a basement?”

“Well, the basement’s really moldy and dirty and—” 

“It will do.” I walked past her and swiftly found a door in a corner, that I assumed led to the basement. When we were both downstairs, I flicked off the light and listened. 

“Danny—”

“Shh.”

“Dan—”

“Shh!”

Trinity lightly scoffed. “What is going on?” She demanded. “Why are we in the basement? It’s pitch black.”

I looked at the outline of her figure. “Do you think it’s safe to turn on a light?”

“Safe?” She crossed her arms. 

I reached for the string above me and a little white light-bulb dangled just an inch from my head.

“Trinity. I need you to listen.”

She nodded slowly. “Ok…”

“Tonight my parents were murdered.”

Her mouth fell open slightly. “Oh my…Daniel,  are you serious?” She spoke softly in a whisper, as if she knew I was being chased down by men with guns.

“The government. I knew it for a few days now, and—”

“Knew what?”

“I heard my parents talking in the basement. Something about “they’re coming”, and my life depends on it. And when I came home today, I saw them. Three men in black uniforms armed and ready to kill. Ready to kill me.”

“But why?”
“I think Mom and Dad were up to something. Something that would stop whatever evil plan the government has in store. They had a whole secret room in the basement.”

“I-I don’t understand—”

“You don’t need to understand. You just have to trust me. I’m trying to protect you. But in the mean-time, I need someplace to hide. They’re out looking for me. Maybe they think I know something. They have no idea I’m completely clueless about all this.”

Trinity looked down. “I…I don’t know what to say. It sounds pretty dangerous. But you can stay here as long as you like. Did you tell Andy?”

“Oh, Andy? I thought he was in on it this whole time, until I discovered he thought I was crazy instead. I think it’s safest not to say a word. After all, my parents looked into it. Not his.”

She nodded her head and then glanced at the stairs. “Let me get you something to eat. And also, my brother left some of his clothes here before he went to collage. Some of them might be your size.”

I smiled. “Thank you so much.” We went upstairs and I took a hot shower and then changed into dry clean clothes. They were a little big, and I guessed her brother was an athlete, as most of the shirts were printed on them a sports’ team or something. When I came out from the shower, I took a seat on a stool in the kitchen. Trinity placed a bowl of chicken soup before me. I thanked her and dug in. You had to be quick, since no one would ever know how close the enemy was.

She sat across from me, her eyes distant. Just a day ago, we were both simple strangers. Now she was my only ally.

“What are you gonna do?” She finally asked. 

“Well, I really should leave town. I left my motorbike hidden in an ally, but I’ll wait a day or two to get it. The problem is, they’ve seen it, so now It’ll be recognized.”

“How about you? Have they seen you?”

I took another sip of the glorious warm filling my bones. “Only for a second. Hey…you don’t happen to have any spray paint, do you?”

“I do. Do you want to disguise your bike?”
“I think it will be good. And Trinity—”

She looked at me. “Yes?”

“Thanks for all this. You know, if they saw you, your life would be on the line. You didn’t have to do any of this.”

“It’s alright. I’m not gonna let some crazy group of of cop-like things kill you.”

I smiled. “Thanks.” I glanced out the window.

What’s gonna happen now?

NOT IMPOSSIBLE: CHAPTER THREE

C H A P T E R

3

M I S S I O N—A C C E P T E D

I got home from track practice the next afternoon and found the answer-machine beeping. I clicked the button and surprisingly, it was Andy’s voice.

“Hey, Danny! Meet me at my house at four.”

I blinked.

Maybe it’s about the secret.

After showering and changing, I left the house and skateboarded to Andy’s, not even noticing that once again my parents weren’t in sight.

“Andy? You here?” I came inside, after discovering the door was unlocked.

Andy came out from the kitchen, a cup with a straw in hand. “I have come to a decision, Danny.”

“Well, what?”

“We have to send out troops.”

My mouth fell open.

“I mean, spies. We have to spy. To see if there’s any threats.”

I looked skeptical.

“First, we’ll go to Mr. Rodiwro’s house. He’s pretty mysterious right? Who knows what he keeps up in his attics. Maybe he’s helping the government too.”

I nodded, curious where this was going.

“And then—and then we’ll check Mrs. Rosalie’s house.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Mrs. Rosalie’s just a nice old lady. Why would she be helping the government?”

“Who knows why people do things…” Andy looked distantly. “I have a theory.”

“Really?” I came forward. “What is it?”

“I think—” Andy looked around the house, making sure no one was in sight. “That she trains her cats to be assassins. And we’re all going to be ambushed!”

My shoulders dropped and I felt all light in me dim. I almost grew bitter for a second. “Really, Andrew? You don’t believe me? You asked me to come all the way down here just to make fun of me?”

Andy sighed, an amused smile on his face. “What, you didn’t think I’d really believe you, did I? It sounds crazy.”

I stiffened. 

Traitor.

“I’m done here. I have to go.”

Andy stood from his chair quickly, and blocked my way out. “Wait, wait, wait! C’mon, Danny. It’s just a joke. You’re not mad, are you?”

I looked at him blandly. “Why would I be mad?” I responded flatly. But I could barely keep it in. 

How could he? My one friend.

“You’re going to be sorry. But I’m going to figure out what happen and save me and everyone else, if something were to happen.”

“Danny,” Andy sighed. “Listen to yourself. I always knew you had a big imagination, but—you’re seventeen. And you think we’re all about to just randomly die?”

“Andy, I heard them!”

“Maybe you heard wrong…?”

I gave up on trying to convince him. “I’m going to tell Trinity. I know she’ll believe me.” I tried to move past him, but he didn’t listen. 

“Daniel. If you tell her this now, when she barely even knows you—you are going to make her never talk to you again. I’m telling you, she’ll think you’re crazy.”

I pondered this for a moment. “You’re right. I’ll tell her just in time, before they attack.”