EPISODE 5: THE SCAPEGOAT

Ep 5: The scapegoat

“Let’s get back into our business” I just diverted my teammates from grieving about my best friend’s tragic past.

“Then Sir, you were saying something like this mission is a trap on radio while you were caught by the dark triangle” Agent Pegasus asked me.

I saw Nashira staring at my eyes giving me a sign not to reveal it to them. Then I said, “It’s not like that, I just got confused, mate” I replied him.

“Okay Sir, you are bleeding” Agent Pegasus said.

Then, Nashira did some bandages over me and reduced the bleeding.

“Thanks, I owe you” I replied with a smile. She reciprocated it.

After few hours, the gates of the air base opened and we landed safely. We saw our commander and Agent ACE walking towards us. We saluted them.

“Good job, agents. We stopped that group before their deal happens or there would have been more casualities”, Commander said.

“First day was pretty rough, I think so. Get yourself cleaned up Agent” Commander said on looking at my injuries all over my cheeks.

Then, commander and Agent Ace carried away with their plans. While going, Agent ACE looked back and made a damn smile. I just acknowledged him by showing my middle finger.

“Guys, who do you want as your team leader? Let’s come to a decision” I asked the team mates.

“We need you, Sir”, they replied.

“Then, let’s end that asshole” I said with anger.

“Okay, I would like a throw a party this evening. And I want you guys to be there” I said happily.

“No need to worry, Sir. We would be there for sure” Agent Pegasus said.

“Okay, I had been calling all of you with code names. For instance, say me your real names, agents” I said.

Then they revealed their names as LUKE BUSH (Agent Pegasus), NICHOLAS FROST (Agent Archer) and ANNA DOYLE (Agent Vega).

“Looking great” I said with a smile.

“Okay, you carry on, let’s meet evening” I said and started going for my cabin.

When I walked a few steps, Agent Vega shouted to call me and asked with a grin, “What’s your real name Sir?”

I just made a short laugh, then turned back and said, “It’s Jonathan Ray”.

Then, I just made me walk to my cabin. While I was taking my bath, I just heard some footsteps. I just got anxious and ended the shower, wiped off my body with towel and wore a bath robe. I just took my gun and moved slowly towards the other room. I found out that it was Agent ACE.

“Hello, lucky stone. Are you feeling better?” He asked me.

I just caught his neck and held him against the wall and asked with anger, “You f***ing bastard, why do you want to manipulate those IR holographic images?”.

“What?

“I have nothing to do with that”, Agent ACE replied in struggle for air.

“Are you kidding me? I knew that only you have access to that confidential report” I said him furiously.

“I can explain you. Let me down, I got nothing to do with that” He pleaded.

Then, I just took my hands off his neck and he sat on the sofa.

“I had been jealous with you. But it’s got nothing to do with this”, He said.

“How can I trust you?”, I asked him.

“I will show you the file that I sent you, so that you might believe the fact”, He replied.

 We proceeded to the command centre to and lead me to his computer. While going, Nashira just smiled at me but then after finding that I am going behind Agent ACE, she just gave a stare representing suspicion.

We both sat in front of his computer and he moved the cursor to the folder representing the details of my mission. He clicked on the 3D hologram file and said,

“It’s the file I sent you, take a look at it” Agent ACE said.

I was shocked to find that the file he sent was showing that the cult group’s hiding was on 6th floor.

“We received your file showing that hiding was on 5th floor” I said anxiously.

“What? How’s that possible?”, He asked shockingly.

Then, I showed him the proof depicting that what we received had wrong information.

“This doesn’t make any sense, let me do some research and say you, Jonathan Ray” Agent Ace said me.

“Okay” I replied.

He then just apologized for underestimating my skills and said,” You deserve to lead my team. I am happy for you”

I just blinked at his transformation and smiled at him saying “Thanks”.

“I will call you, after doing my research on this”, He said.

“Fine”, I replied.

Then, I just then went to the medic room for having stiches. While going, I just crossed with Nashira.

“Hi” I said with a smile.

“Hi Jonathan”

 “I just want to get some dressing on my face, could you help me?” I asked her.

“Fine, just get seated inside the medic room. I will be there in few minutes” she replied.

After few minutes, she entered the room and cleaned my wounds with antiseptic, applied bandages.

She gave me some pain killers and asked, “Where you and Agent Ace were going?”

“I just asked him about the manipulated hologram” I replied her.

“What happened then?” she asked.

“He sent us the proper file, but somebody else have changed it before getting received to us”, I said her.

“Who would be that?” She asked.

“He said that he would do some research and provide me the details later” I replied.

“Okay, let’s hope he finds that suspect before something bad happens”, She said me.

Then, to distract her, I just took my phone and captured a photo of us both.

“Why did you take a picture?” she asked with anger.

“Just to show my mom, how my next girlfriend looks like?” I replied and smiled at her.

“Aww!  So sweet of you”, she said and pulled off my bandage.

“Ouch! Holy F***”, I shouted in pain.

“Hey, where are you going? Its bleeding again and it’s all your fault” I shouted.

She just raised her hand, showed her middle finger and walked away.

“Shit” I replied and tried fixing that dressing by myself.

Then, I had some good sleep and was taken up by a call. I just answered the call and it was Agent Ace.

He was asking me to meet him in the air base. I just dressed up and reached there to meet him.

“Hi, any leads” I asked Agent Ace.

“Something bad is going to happen, Agent” He replied with extreme fear. He was having tremors and was sweating so much.

“What’s going to happen?” I asked him anxiously.

“Death…” He said and just fainted in shock and had seizures. I called for help and while they are taking him away, he whispered, “They are going to… They will…”. Then his seizures worsened and was taken to med bay for emergency treatment

I was completely confused by his words and I thought to ask him after he recovers.

Then, Austin saw me in airbase and reached near me,

“Hi niggah”, Austin said.

“Hi” I replied in low voice.

“What happened to Agent Ace?” Austin asked me.

“He just fainted while we both were talking. I don’t know why” I replied.

“He is a sober and was always on antidepressants. That overdose might have caused him. He would be fine within few days” Austin said.

“Okay” I replied.

“Where shall we go for party?” Austin asked me.

“India looks fine for me” I said.

“Did you call your team mates?” He asked me.

AER FOURSEASONS

“Yeah, I called them” I replied him. Then, my team mates arrived for the party and we all got into the copter. We reached Aer four seasons rooftop nightclub located in Mumbai city. We all had some fun over there with a champagne but until we received an emergency alarm from our facility.

 It was written that,

“Agents, this is a state of emergency, please arrive the facility”

We were all confused on seeing that message. I got scared thinking that it might be about Agent ACE.

“What would that be?” I asked Austin.

“I have no idea Jonathan” Austin replied.

Then, we had no choice but to travel back to our facility. We got into our copter while, Austin paid the bill. He then got into the vehicle and we started our journey.

PENTAGRAM DRAWN ON COMMANDER'S CHEST

When we returned to our facility, there was a state of CODE RED has been decreed. We just walked into the facility, where there was complete silence and our fellow agents were looking with great fear. We were anxious about what has happened there. We slowly walked towards the command centre and we were so much shocked in fear to see a video playing on all the computer screens in the centre showing the body of Dante Jacob being hanged naked in front of our eyes with the sign of pentagram drawn in his chest with his own blood wearing the head of a scapegoat and blood drippingfrom his slit throat. And on seeing that I found out Dark triangle’s trap was just a pinch of sand and there is something more dangerous than that yet to be witnessned.