Some say it's dangerous to be out in the city at night, alone, especially with the crime rates being higher.
But not Max.
Standing high on his building's rooftop, he took in the sights, the sounds. Car horns, sirens, people yelling. He loved it. It was his home. Looking at the time, he took off, running towards the edge of the roof. Flipping over the gap, the ground was a quick blur as he landed on the next rooftop.
It's what he did every night. It's how he let off steam. Especially on this night. A year had passed since his father had died. Car accident, head on collision. Max was only 13 years old at the time. His older brother, Jack, immediately took up responsibility for Max, refusing to let him get sent to a foster home. He dropped everything, dropped out of school and got a job. They moved from the suburbs to the city. Max didn't show much emotion anymore, not since the funeral.
Tonight, he wanted to forget the past. He dashed from rooftop to rooftop, his music blasting in his ears. The next gap looked a little wide, but he was sure he could make it. With one giant leap, he flipped through the air and reached out for the ledge. Missing it by an inch, his body went numb as it slammed against the side of the building. Turning his head, he watched as the ground raced to meet him, screaming in horror.
"Ahhh!" Max yelled as he hit the floor. He opened his eyes to see a familiar ceiling fan turning slowly.
"Max?" Jack said as he rushed into the room. "What are you doing on the floor?" He helped his brother back onto the bed. "Same nightmare?" Max nodded, still numb from shock. Jack sighed and sat next to him. "Want to talk about it?"
"No," Max said. "I'm fine." It was the sentence Jack had become all too familiar with over the last year. He knew Max was not fine. But the boy wouldn't talk about it. He kept to himself, and it wasn't healthy.
"Max, I just-"
"I said I'm fine, Jack." Max stared into Jack's eyes. His small, grey eyes said a thousand things, pleading to his brother for help. "Really."
Jack knew when Max was lying. But he didn't know how to help him without using words. So, he did what anyone would do when comforting a friend. He hugged him as hard as he could without hurting him. Max hesitated before he returned the gesture. He felt so unsure of himself, all his emotions clashing in his mind. He was overwhelmed. "If you ever want to talk, I'll be there. Listening the entire time. Alright?" Max just nodded and Jack let go. "Goodnight, Max."
"'Night, Jack." Max lay there in bed, debating with himself. Should I tell him? No, he's already got so much to deal with. It gave Max a headache to keep everything, his thoughts, his feelings, all bottled up inside. Forget it, he thought. He turned off his lamp and stared out the window. In the distance, he could see the signature Skyline logo. He didn't know what kind of business it was, or what they did. All he knew was that Jack worked there.
Max sat in a tree, high above everything else in the park. It was where he always waited for Jack after school. He would look down at everyone in the park, watching what they did. What else would he do? He was too old to play on the playground and he couldn't stash his bag anywhere to run around. Usually, he would do his homework, but not today.
He stared at a man he had never seen before. He was sitting by the fountain, reading a newspaper. He had gray hair and was, surprisingly, wearing a suit on a day like this. At least take off your jacket. Max flinched as he felt his phone buzz. "Jack?"
"No, Max," said a deep voice.
"Who's this and how do you know my name?"
"My name is Alex. I'm your brother's boss." Why did Jack give him my number? "Listen, I'm more of a face to face kind of person. Why don't you climb down from that tree and come sit with me by the fountain." Max's jaw dropped. It's the same guy?!
"How'd you know-"
The man, now known as Alex, looked up at Max through the branches. "Come on down and I'll tell you everything you need to know." Max gulped. What do I do? I mean, he knows Jack, so he's not much of a stranger. But why does he want to talk to me? "Do you even know what you're brother does at my company?"
Now he was intrigued. "What does he do?"
"I can't tell you. It's a secret." Max could here a playful hint in Alex's voice. Dang it. Now I really want to know. I'll keep my phone in my hand the whole time and I'll be ready to run.
"Alright, but don't try anything." Max hung up and dropped down from the tree. Meanwhile, Alex watched him from a distance. He's definitely the perfect one. Max approached Alex slowly, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. "Alright, I'm here."
"Come, sit." Max sat a few feet away from Alex, giving himself space. "Max, I'm going to be frank with you. We've been watching you for a while now."
"Who's we?" Max said, getting more nervous than he already was. "And why?"
"The agency. We think you've got great skills, perfect for your brother's next mission."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute. You mean Jack is a-"
"Yes, and if you're smart about it, you won't blow his cover."
Max was baffled. He had kept his secrets to himself, but Jack? Jack always told him everything. "Why wouldn't he tell me?"
"To protect you, of course. But now, we need you."
"What for? A mission?"
"Yes, but-"
Max interrupted him. "Will I get cool gadgets and stuff?"
"Maybe, I'll have to-"
"What about a gun? Do I get a-" Alex covered the rambling boy's mouth before he could say anything further.
"Quiet you. It's bad enough we have to do this in a public space. I will not have you blow my cover, understand?" Max nodded. "Good. Now Jack doesn't know anything about this. It would be better for you to tell him than I."
"Why?"
"Because he won't get mad at you." It was true. Jack rarely raised his voice at home. This was the first time in over a year that Max had been excited about anything. Alex knew how caring jack was about his brother. He knew he would do anything for him. Anything. "I've got to go, but I'll see you at the office tonight."
Max had been staring at the fountain, ignoring Alex. "Wait, wha-" Alex was already gone. So, Jack is a spy. And he didn't tell me! Max's phone buzzed once more. "Jack?"
"Hey, bud. I'm on my way."
"Great!"
Jack noticed the cheery voice his brother carried and smiled as he drove. "What's got you all excited?"
"I can't tell you, not over the phone. Well, I don't think I can, anyway."
"What are you talking about, you can tell me anything."
"It's just that, Alex said-"
Jack slammed on the brakes and pulled over instantly. "Alex?" he said nervously. "W-who's that?"
"Your boss?" Max laughed. "You can stop pretending. I know everything." Jack felt like his heart was going to explode. "Hello?"
"Max, I need you to get in that tree, now." Jack pulled out into the street, racing towards the park.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'd just feel a lot better if you got back in that tree."
"Something's wrong. Just tell me." Max heard a faint beeping from underneath him. "Weird."
"What? What's weird?" Jack slammed on his breaks as he turned. "Max?"
"The bench is beeping."
"Max, I need you to be in that tree, now."
"But-"
"Run!" Max instantly got up, leaving his bag behind and ran towards the tree.
"There, I'm in the tree," Max panted. "Now are you going to tell me why-" Max watched in horror as the bench he was sitting on mere moments ago was obliterated in a fireball. Everything was burnt to a crisp, including his backpack.
"Max?!" Jack said. "Are you alright?"
"Jack, what the heck was that?!" Max watched as people ran in different directions. He heard the sound of sirens getting closer and decided it would be best if he left too.
"I'm almost there. Just sit tight. Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Max. Don't lie to me. Are you hurt."
"No! Just... shocked." Max heard a car horn nearby. He saw Jack's black Mercedes-Benz and ran towards it. It was hard getting through the crowd of people. He felt a hand grab his shoulder, pulling him back. "Hey, what're you-"
"You have the right to remain silent," an officer said as he placed handcuffs on the boy. "Anything you say can and will be used against you-"
"But I didn't-"
"Hey!" Jack's voice called out. "What do you think you're doing with my brother?"
"Sir," the officer said. "Please do not interfere with my investigation."
Jack pulled out his wallet and flipped it over. A badge I had never seen before was exposed. "FBI. I hereby order you to release him and turn over you investigation to Skyline."
"Yes sir," the officer said, quickly removing the cuffs. "My apologies. I hadn't known-"
Jack sprayed the officer with something. "And now you never will." The officer blinked a few times, taking in his surroundings.
"Alright, move along! Evacuate the area! Let's go! Orderly fashion." The officer left the two alone as if nothing happened.
Max looked at his older brother, completely bewildered. "Jack?"
"Less talking, more walking." The two rushed to Jack's car and drove off.
Once they got home, Jack told Max everything he wanted to know. Jack told him he was a spy. He explained that Alex had been watching Max as a possible recruit, but Jack told him he wouldn't allow it, not until he was 16. Clearly, something important came up and the plans changed. Max was to be recruited immediately in order to be trained and to head out with Jack on his next mission.
"But how did you find out about Skyline? Isn't it some super-secret agency?"
"It is." Jack gulped. "Dad was part of it, before he died."
"Oh." Max said.
"Hey, hey, none of that quiet stuff, alright? I want to keep talking. This is the most you've talked since-"
"I know. It's just..." Max walked over to the window. "With everything that's happened between last year and today, it's just all so overwhelming."
"I know how you feel. But as a spy, you'll learn to look past that stuff and focus on other things, like missions and stuff."
Max nodded. Wait... If Dad was a spy... "Jack?"
Jack had a mouthful of pizza. "Mm?"
"How did Dad die?" Jack choked on the pizza, spitting it out. He gulped down his soda, trying to avoid answering as long as possible.
"Wh-what do you mean? You remember what they told us."
"Head-on collision," Max said. "But.. you said he was a spy."
"No, I said he worked for Skyline."
"Was it a mission?" Jack looked away. "Jack, look at me." He sat down next to him, Jack still refusing to look. "Jack."
"Yes," Jack whispered. He turned to Max with tears in his eyes. "He had just gotten some important documents and was on his way back to Skyline. A motorcycle pulled up next to him and-" Jack looked Max in the eyes, tears streaming down his face. "I can't tell you the rest, Max."
"Tell me!" Max said, his voice quiet as he struggled not to cry. "He was my Dad too!"
Jack pulled Max close, embracing him. "They shot him. They shot Dad. Right in the head." Jack broke down into tears, as did Max. The brothers held onto each other, forgetting everything else in the world. They were all they had.
"Y-you lied to me," Max said after calming down.
"M-Max," Jack said, wiping his own tears. "You know I'd never try to hurt you."
"But you did. You lied about Dad. You lied about being a spy. Everything I know is wrong!"
"That's not true."
"My entire life is a lie." Max broke away from Jack, pacing around the room. "My own Dad and brother, spies. Keeping secrets."
"I'm not the only one keeping secrets!" Jack said.
"What are you talking about?"
"You haven't talked about anything in over a year. You've kept everything bottled up inside of you. You think I don't hear you cry at night? I know you're in pain, but you won't even let me help you!"
Max fell silent. After a few minutes, he walked over to the door, grabbing his jacket. "You don't know anything." He left, slamming the door behind him.
He won't go anywhere, Jack thought. He got up and slowly walked over to the door. He's probably standing right there in the hallway. Jack opened the door and looked up and down the hall. The boy was nowhere in sight. "Max?" he called out. "Max, come back inside."
"Looking for a boy, deary?" an elderly woman said. Jack nodded. "I just saw him climb down the fire escape."
"Uh, thanks." Jack slammed the door and raced down the stairs as fast as he could. Max, I swear...
Max ran down the sidewalk, headed towards the tallest building in the city. Skyline, Inc. Where his older brother worked. Maybe I can find some more answers there.
As he walked into what looked like a bank, Max looked around confused. This doesn't look like a spy agency. Oh, wait. It's a spy agency, of course it won't be out in the open. He looked around for any sort of clue, but couldn't find one. "Can I help you, young man?" a bank teller said.
"Uh, yeah, actually. Can you tell me if a Jack Parker works here?
The teller quickly typed something on his computer. "Sorry, don't have anyone here by that name. Is that everything?"
"Yeah, thanks." Max begrudgingly walked away. So did he lie about this place too? Max sat in the lobby, trying to collect his thoughts. No, Jack wouldn't lie to me. He just didn't tell me the whole truth. That's different. Right?
"Ah, Mr. Chapel," the teller said. Max looked up to see Alex from the park walking in. "Welcome back, sir."
"Thank you," he said as he walked around the counter. He made eye contact with Max and smiled. With a quick flick of his head, Max looked towards the elevator and smiled. Alex walked over to push the button.
"Excuse me," Max asked the teller. "Do you have a bathroom I could use?"
"I'm sorry, but the bathroom is for faulty only. Not little children."
Max face turned red. "I'm not a child. I'm just short. And please? I really need to go."
"I can escort him," Alex said. "I'm heading up there anyway."
"But, Mr. Chapel-" Alex gave him a look and then a nod. "Ah, well, if it's alright with you, sir." I smiled and hurried over to the elevator to join Alex.
"What brings you to Skyline?" Alex asked him as they entered.
"Like you wouldn't know," Max replied when the doors shut.
Alex chuckled. "So, what does your brother think?"
"He was a bit mad at first, but I pulled him around." Max didn't notice that the elevators were open.
"Did you, now?" Jack said with smirk.
"J-Jack? What are you-"
"I figured you'd come here. Next time you run out like that, I'll beat your-"
Alex cleared his throat. Jack moved out of Max's sight. The room they were in was twice the size of the lobby. In fact, it didn't look like it was part of the building. There was a large holographic display in the center which read 'Code Yellow'. People were either on phones, typing on computers or both, at a rapid speed. It was as if they were on panic mode. "Status report, Agent Parker."
"Sir, our computers were compromised," Jack said. "Your itinerary was stolen, as well as other sensitive documents. It appears the bomb was on a timer, which is why it didn't go off while you were sitting there."
"Anything else?"
"Media is calling it a terrorist attack, although no one was injured," Jack said. He looked towards Max and muttered "Thank God."
"Let them call it whatever they want. Someone's bound to take responsibility." Alex turned towards Max. "What do you think?"
"Looks busy."
"Quite. Let's chat upstairs. Jack?" He nodded, joining the other two inside the elevator. When the elevator opened a second time, they were greeted with a spacious office with similar displays from the lobby. "Have a seat."
"So it's true," Max said. "You're all spies."
Jack nodded. "Yep. Now that you now our secret, we're going to have to kill you."
"What?!"
"He's just kidding," Alex said. "It's what he tells all new recruits."
"Oh." Max did a double take, staring with wide eyes at Alex. "Wait, new recruits?"
"Max." Alex pushed a button on his desk, dimming the lights. The wall behind his desk came to life, displaying Skyline's signature black and red logo. "Welcome to Skyline."
A/N: Thanks for reading the prologue! Please let me know if there's anything I need to improve on.
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