The Agent and His Kids (Monthly Short Fiction Contest)

Hi! I finally finished this! I'm sorry I didn't post earlier, school's been crazy, and I'm in the school play and it's coming up so we've been practicing like crazy! Anyways, here we go!

---

Robert first met them when he heard fighting outside his auto shop.

He walked out, seeing two teenagers fighting. There were others surrounding them, cheering. Robert could see one of the teens get punched in the stomach. He was slowing down. Trying to get into the circle were 2 kids of different ages. The oldest, who couldn't be more than 14, yelled. "Joseph! Let him go!” No one listened. Instead, she was pushed to the ground.

At that point Robert had heard enough. "Hey," he yelled, coming over. His voice carried over the entire crowd, and they all froze. The teen who punched the one named Joseph stopped holding the boy by the scruff of his neck. Joseph struggled and continued to try and fight out of the teen's grip.

Robert stepped forward and pulled the teen's away from each other. Then all the kids scattered, except for Robert and the younger ones, who he assumed were his siblings.

The 14 year old checked over Joseph, but he pushed her away. "I'm fine," he insisted, but the black eye and bleeding lip said otherwise. He noticed Robert still there. "What are you looking at?"

Robert sighed. "Come on, I got some supplies inside," he said. He heard the kids arguing, the 14 year old saying they shouldn't trust some guy they don't know, but Joseph wasn't listening, and Robert could hear them follow.

Inside, he made the teen sit down as he washed a cloth. "Listen sir, you don't have to do any of this," he said. Robert shook his head. "Maybe not," he said. Then he handed the cloth to Joseph, who put it on his lip. He winced.

"Why'd those guys come after you," Robert asked, looking for ice in the fridge. The youngest kid, who seemed around 8, spoke up. "Oh, he told him that his girlfriend would rather kiss a dog than him. And then he told him to sh-," the kid said. "Ethan," the 14 year old exclaimed. The boy (now known as Ethan) rolled his eyes. The girl put her hands on her hips. "You want them to stay like that?"

Joseph sighed and put the wash cloth down. Robert put the ice he found in the wash cloth and put it on the teen's eye. "Let me guess, no friends, only enemies," he said. Joseph nodded cautiously. "Thanks," he said sarcastically.

Robert put a little more pressure on the black eye and Joseph winced. "Listen, I get it. I had a load of enemies growing up too. Just make sure you can protect yourself." Joseph nodded.

"Hey," he started. "do you need help around here? I'm good at fixing things, and I should probably repay you for all this." Robert handed him the ice. "Believe me, it's not necessary." Joseph scoffed. "Oh come on! You work here alone by the looks of it, and maybe after a few shifts I can get some money from this. Win win."

Robert laughed a little to himself. "You really want to? Fine, a job's open, and it's yours." Joseph smiled. Then, remembering his siblings were in the room, decided to introduce them.

"This is Jessica," he said, pointing to the 14 year old. She crossed her arms.

"Ethan," The 8 year old said, smiling a toothy grin.

"You can come on Monday, if your siblings have to come they can too, as long as they stay away from anything dangerous," Robert told Joseph. The teen nodded.

---

A few shifts later, and Robert found out that Joseph wasn't lying. He had a knack for fixing things. Soon Robert thought of the kid as less of an intern and more of his apprentice. The other kids came every time. Jessica usually made some food for a break. Ethan liked to cause trouble around the shop, much to the annoyance of his siblings and the humor of Robert. He loved the kids. He had never realized he was lonely until they came around.

---

But perfect things never last.

It was late. The kids should've been there by now. Robert hated feeling like a worried parent, but how could he act any other way?

Suddenly, his computer screen lit up. Robert saw it and his eyes widened.

“Hello, Mr. Campbell. Been a long time,” the man on the screen said. Robert recognized him.

Mr. Miller.

He had hoped he would never see the man again. The man who ruined his life, and now had come back to try again.

He had the kids. Robert saw them behind the man, tied up and gagged. Robert tried his best to hide his emotions, but he knew he was failing from the way Mr. Miller smirked, like he already won.

“They aren’t part of this,” Robert said. “They aren’t part of the initiative.”

Mr. Miller shook his head. “Maybe not, but they’re a weakness of yours, making them valuable. You know what I want. Just give me the weapon, I’ll return your precious kids, no harm done,” he said.

Robert’s eyes flashed furiously. “You’re dead.” Mr. Miller laughed. “Well then come kill me.” The computer stopped showing Mr. Miller and instead showed coordinates. Robert grabbed his bag that he hadn’t touched in ages. He wouldn’t let the kids get hurt. Not by that man.

Robert remembered everything that had happened as he began to drive. All the death, all the fighting. Before he had been a measly mechanic, he had been a soldier. But not the ones in big wars, the ones behind the scenes. They were called the Invisible Soldiers Initiative: The ISI. And he worked for them since he was a kid. He only stopped because of what happened in his last mission. When his entire squad was murdered. And one of those responsible? Mr. Miller.

He wasn’t losing another family.

Finally, Robert made it to the coordinates. He slammed the door getting out. Some men in suits stood outside. Well, not for long. Robert raised his gun.

Bang, bang, bang.

Robert continued his journey.

Inside, the area was empty, but alarms were blaring. Robert barely noticed. He had something to do, and he wasn’t stopping.

Every now and then, people ran by and shot at him. Most missed. One didn’t and hit him in the arm, but at the moment Robert barely felt it. He was finding his kids.

Finally, he opened a door that didn’t open to reveal a lackey. The kids.

They were tied up. Joseph was beat up the worst. He had a nasty cut on his forehead. Robert assumed from talking back to his kidnappers, or that he had let them attack him instead of the others.

“Robert,” Joseph croaked. The older man nodded. “It’s me, kid. I’m getting you outta here.”

Robert began to untie him. Jessica seemed to be hyperventilating, and Ethan was unconscious or sleeping, Robert wasn’t sure.

Suddenly, Joseph’s eyes widened. “Behind you!” Robert turned around quickly enough to be punched in the face. He stumbled and saw a large man, twice his size.

Mr. Miller stood behind the large man, smiling maniacally. Just seeing him made Robert’s skin crawl. He stood up straight, feeling the blood drip down his face.

“I’m assuming you’re not here to bargain,” Mr. Miller said. Robert shook his head. Mr. Miller almost looked like he pitied him.

“Well, that is most unfortunate. Volt, get rid of him please. Maybe he told these kids where he hid it.” The large man took a step towards Robert, but he didn’t get too far.

Joseph tripped him.

The large man stumbled a little, which gave Robert just enough time to point his gun and pull the trigger.

The large man fell to the ground. Robert looked up at Mr. Miller. “Just give up Miller. It isn’t worth it, is it? Dying over a weapon?”

Mr. Miller shook his head. “This is all there is. I thought we could act like adults, but I guess not. Well then, from now on we’re true enemies, and I will kill you, Robert Campbell.”

Robert was about to shoot him but Mr. Miller threw a knife past him. Robert heard a small scream. He turned. It was Jessica. Robert turned back to Mr. Miller, but he was gone.

The sounds had woken up Ethan, who saw that his sister had been shot in the arm. “What-what’s happening? Jess…do something! Come on, do something,” he started yelling. Robert untied Jessica with trembling hands. Joseph at this point had untied himself and was working on Ethan.

They walked out of the building without any problems.

---

“She’s going to be okay, right,” Joseph asked Robert. The mechanic nodded. “Though I believe I owe you all an explanation.”

“OBVIOUSLY,” Ethan yelled from Jessica’s room in the hospital.

---

10 years later

The agent sat at the counter, alone.

“Joseph Campbell.”

“Who’s asking?”

A gun pressed to his back.

Joseph smirked.

“I was wondering when we’d do this again. Nice to see you, Mr. Miller.”