Erica's POV

To say that I don't like this new plan is an understatement. I despise it. These people have committed despicable crimes against the world, and now we have to work with them like none of that ever happened. I understand why they are our best bet to win. We know that they will do anything for money and are not part of SPLINTER. So, if we give them money, and now freedom too, they will help us.

But as bad as trusting them is, I don't think I can ever work with him. I won't even say his name. I hate him. So, seeing Grandad let him out of his cell is unbearable. I want to punch his ugly face to the moon. Then burn him alive, making sure he pays for everything he has done to me.

Ben comes over to me and places his hand in mine. It's calming and relaxing, bringing me back to Earth. I admit I do have feelings for Ben, but I just don't know how to tell him.

What I feel for Ben is different from what I felt for He Who Must Not Be Named. I looked up to him, respected him, wanted him to think I was the coolest person on Earth. But with Ben, it's different. I feel a need to protect him, care for him, love him, make sure he doesn't break, or die, or.

"Erica."

My mom's voice pulls me out of my trance. I look around to see that everyone is walking out of the room.

He Who Must Not Be Named is smirking. "It seems like some things never change."

I storm out of the room, annoyed at his comment, but stop right next to him. I look him in his one eye and say, "Oh, I've changed. But it seems like you haven't."

I proudly walk away. We might be on the same team, but that doesn't mean that we have to get along.

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We have to get along. Or at least that's what Mom says.

Apparently, in order to win, we have to trust each other, get along, be like one big family. Bla bla bla. That's why we are sitting around one big table, eating dinner together like a family would. But I think we probably have the Guiness World Record for the most awkward family dinner right now.

For some reason, Mom thought that if we sat WLA agent next to CIA agent we would get along better. So now I'm sitting next to a human slob, and a giant. Thank God I'm not sitting next to him. He's at the end, next to Ben and my dad.

I overheard my mom saying that she wanted us to sit next to each other. Luckily Grandad knew how bad of an idea that would be. Honestly, he doesn't seem too thrilled about the seating arrangements either. He's next to Dane and Ashley.

I see Ben give me a plea for help, but there is nothing that I can do. I'm just glaring at all my enemies while eating next to them.

We're sitting in complete silence for a pretty long time. Or maybe it just feels that way. My mom just has to break it though.

"So, I just want to thank our guests for joining us first. But we do have a big problem. SPLINTER has started their operation, which means we have to stop it. We are also in COVID times, so most places are closed down. Luckily the CIA has given us most of their budget, because if we don't succeed, everyone will die. Including you all." She says as she looks at our enemies. "So, we are going to have to work together to stop them before everyone dies."

Grandad speaks up to explain our plan. "Tomorrow we are going to try to find information on SPLINTER'S plan. We are going to be in pairs, depending on our skillsets, to achieve maximum chance of winning. I know some of you probably don't like your partner but suck it up and work together. I don't like mine."

"Dad. Can I share the partners and their missions!" Alexander interrupts.

Grandad rolls his eyes. "Why not."

My dad cheers, not understanding that most of us will probably be with someone we don't like. I'm hoping I will be with Ben. We have already shown that we work really well together. Why wouldn't they choose us?

Dad starts to read off the names from the list, and their assigned task. "Team one: Cyrus and Warren. You two are spying on suspected SPLINTER agents in the CIA headquarters. Team two: Catherine and myself. We are going to hack into the CIA mainframe and find any information on SPLINTER! Team 3: Ashley and Zoe. You two are going to infiltrate the CIA academy of Espionage and look for moles. Oh, and Team four: Dane and Mike, are doing the same thing."

I count the people left. Yes, I'm going to be with Ben. We're probably going to be doing some cool thing.

"Team 5: Murray and Ben, you two are going to take all the information we find and put it together to find out what SPLINTER is doing."

Uh oh. If Ben's with Murray that means I'm with.

"Team six: Erica and Joshua. You two are going to be floaters. You are doing it all. Torturing people for information, finding moles, hacking into the mainframe. You guys have to be the best."

Oh shit.