30 Days of Writing: (25) Winter
“It’s February. Why the hell is it so cold?” Drew complained as we walked to the mission debriefing room. “And it’s snowing. Why?!”
“At least it is not windy,” I said, trying to comfort her.
She turned to me with suspicion. “Was that your doing?”
I blinked, surprised. “You noticed?”
“Wait, really? I was just kidding!” she exclaimed, eyes wide.
“Oh.” Full of surprises as always. “Well, I always do that. The only time the wind picks up around me is if I am collecting information.”
“That’s cool,” she said, awe evident in her voice. “I wish I can do that. Talk to water, that is.”
“You simply need to listen.” I shrugged. “It takes time. I first could listen to them when I was in elementary school.”
“I have been hearing whispers…” she muttered thoughtfully.
“Have you managed to manipulate ice yet?” I asked, remembering she had mentioned it being on her to-do list.
“No,” she groaned. “I have to change the way I manipulate it since it’s a solid. Apparently, I shouldn’t treat it like a liquid.”
“You can ask Vincent for help,” I suggested. “Or Stephen. They both manipulate solid objects.”
“Water’s too complicated!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. “Why does it have so many forms, dammit!”
I laughed. “Maybe you should try manipulating snow first? It is still winter so you have some time.”
“Good idea, Maddy!” She beamed at me. “See, this is why you’re the genius between us.”
I shook my head. “Well, we are here now. I will see you later, Drew.”
She waved goodbye as she opened the door. “Later, Maddy~”
I headed back to the intelligence department’s main room, where the sounds of keyboards clacking and people chatting were of comfort to me. I breathed in deeply and then smiled. It had been a while since I entered here on duty.
As always, Jen greeted me with a smile and handed me a USB drive. “A recent batch of photos captured Lustrei meeting with Michael Gilford in front of a hotel in London just three days ago.”
“The infamous mercenary also known as the King who leads the Vipers?” I asked, inserting the drive into my tablet. It was downloaded in less than two seconds, and I browsed through the photos.
“Correct,” she said, pressing a few buttons on her own tablet. “And then, yesterday, this phone conversation was recorded.”
She sent me the file, and I listened to it through my earpiece. Sighing, I waved my hand and the wind came, eager to do my bidding. “I will look deeper into this. If Lustrei truly wishes to experiment on children…”
“Understood. I will keep an ear out for anything relevant.” She bowed and took a few steps away before pausing. “Off the record…”
“What is it?” I asked, concern.
“Welcome back, Madison,” Jen said, turning to me with a bright smile. “It really has been dull without you.”
“You mean ‘not as cold’!” Krystal exclaimed, spinning her chair around to face me. “Seriously, I do not miss that draft, especially in this weather!”
“Shut up,” Rochelle said, smacking her shoulder. “Good job in revealing that you’ve been eavesdropping.”
“It’s not like she doesn’t already know! Maddy knows everything!”
I smiled. “Get back to work, Krystal, or else I might give you another assignment to do.”
She suddenly looked terrified. Maybe it was the tone of my voice. “Nope! I’m good, ma’am! The one you already gave me regarding that leak from that company is hard enough, even with three others working on it! So, no need to give me another, ma’am! Everything’s peachy here!”
--
Does it make me a sadist if I enjoy the fear in my subordinates’ voice?
Maybe. You’re scary, you know.
Thank you. I shall take that as a compliment. And is it really that cold?
With this wind and snow? Yeah. I really wish spring would come soon.