This mission was of words far beyond dangerous. Whould I survive? That was a question that had no answer. Not yet at least. And this is all because of a pop corn machine.

Two days ago, my mom bought a popcorn machine to place in the toy store she runs as a way to increase business and attract knew customers. But, someone has been emptying it out every hour, the cost of buying that much popcorn to refill the machine has been decreasing profits. So, my mom has chosen me to find out who was eating all the popcorn so that she could ask them to stop. It is a dangerous mission indeed.

For days I’ve been watching and waiting without finding anything. I told my good friend June about this and she advised me to put a video camera inside the store to catch the popcorn eater red handed. So that afternoon I hung up some old cameras that where lying around at home from when my mom was into photography. That day, my mom had refilled the popcorn machine twice. Time to catch the culprit.

I pulled up the camera footage on my mom’s laptop. Me and my mom sat down, our faces glued onto the screen. I pressed play. Half way through I found my thief.

Turns out it was me. I guess that makes be since considering every few minutes I would grow bored and head over to eat a hand full of popcorn— I could help myself, I love popcorn. I have a problem.

I apologized to my mom. And promised to make up for the money I cost her in chores. I guess I costed her a lot of money because the list of chores she gave me is so long it’s my height, maybe taller.

I guess my spy mission is over for now, and I’m alive. Mabye my next spy mission will be even more epic.

“Start searching.” I order Selene as I sift through dusty cardboard boxes, my heart racing as I search for the star artifact. “But I don’t WANNA!” Selene breaks into a desperate plea.

“Selene don’t make me tell mom.” I threaten. “UGHHHHHH fine!” Selene groans as she starts to search with me.

I roll my eyes and continue searching. “I FOUND IT!” Selene screeches. I dash across the room,almost tripping on a pile of books to see a glowing 3D star.

“Good job.” I say hugging my 10 year old little sister. I carefully put the star in my black tote bag.

We both activate our magma boots and jump onto the ceiling. We gracefully dash across the roof of the room.

We both then silently drop down and use our obscurer’s to walk past the gaurds without them noticing.

Once we got out of the building me and Selene high five and hug.

“NOT SO FAST!”

I put my finger up to my mouth indicating to stay quiet before quietly activating my magma boots by tapping the bottom of them.

Selene and I quietly jumped up to the ceiling, using our special magma boots designed for walking on ceilings. I retrieved an black obscurer ball gadget from one of the many pockets, on my spy suit.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Selene asks.

“Yes.”

“Fine”

“Just because I’m your little sister and your trainee does not mean you get to boss me around!” Selene whined.

I sigh amused at how much Selene could whine in five minutes but then again I’m 14 and she’s 10.

After entering the designated room with Selene we gracefully landed on the floor and then went to oppisite sides of the room.

Selene and I discreetly put away our obscurers and retrieved our space balls, which would knock out anyone within a five-foot radius when activated.

“Let’s strike…..now” I whisper to Selene. Our hands shook as we frantically pressed the hidden button. The balls lit up which meant they were activated.

Then in sync we threw our space ball’s which made our enemy’s grunt and stumble before falling on top of each other.

“Yes!”

She had been watching the same man for weeks, and she was still unable to ascertain his identity. He was always alone, always dressed in black, and always seemed to be watching his surroundings. She was certain that he was a spy, and she was determined to find out what he was up to.

One day, she decided to follow him. She stayed close but not too close, and when he entered an abandoned building, she knew she had to act fast. She followed him inside and watched as he made his way to an empty room at the back. He opened a hidden door and disappeared inside.

She waited a few moments before slowly making her way to the door. She opened it and entered a dimly lit room filled with surveillance equipment. There was a computer, multiple monitors, and a telephone. She quickly realized that this was a secret operations center for some kind of espionage network.

Just then, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. She quickly ducked behind a desk and held her breath, hoping that the intruder wouldn't see her. Fortunately, it was just the man she had been following. He shut off the lights and left the room, locking the door behind him.

She waited a few moments before emerging from her hiding place. She quickly gathered as much information as she could before making her escape. She knew she had stumbled upon something big, and she was determined to find out more.

She followed the man for several days, gathering as much information as she could. Eventually, she was able to identify him as a secret agent working for a foreign government. She also discovered that he was part of a larger network of spies operating in the city.

She was determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and expose the network. She contacted her superiors and briefed them on her findings, but they warned her to keep quiet and not to take any unnecessary risks.

She continued her investigations in secret, and eventually she was able to uncover the entire network. With her information, the authorities were able to make a series of arrests and shut down the network for good.

The spy had been caught, but she knew there would always be others. She was determined to keep up the fight and make the world a safer place.

Her back to the wall, Ophelia listened into the dark.

“It’ll work,” a voice said calmly, “trust me.”

“Don't be ridiculous,” another hissed, “One can't possibly—”

“One can't, blah, blah!” Cut in the first, sharper. “Shut it!”

Two spoke. For eight years, Ophelia had worked for the Spiders, operating as a Daughter of the Cause. Eight years of sneaking, listening, learning—paying attention to slight changes, the smallest details. So although she arrived late—the curtained door closing just as her figure appeared at the window—by the squeak and groan of the wooden chairs, Ophelia knew not two, but three conversed inside.

And it was the third, the silent one, that she needed.

Gas lamps flickered along the wall. Wind whistled through the arch of the open window, a chill pickling Ophelia's skin. A rhythmic clicking pattered against the cobbled stone floor, and a ghostly white ball scampered past her boots.

The rat skidded to a halt before the door. Lifting the cone of its nose, its silk whiskers twitched.

Ophelia tugged on the sleeves of her jacket and shuffled an inch to the left. The rat glanced her way. Two beaded eyes met hers, and Ophelia raised a brow. After flicking its ears, the rat scurried forward, a scattering of red dust covering its plump body as it parted the string curtains and disappeared inside.

Ophelia waited. Waited for the swaying curtain to settle. Waited for the conversations to stop.

A minute passed.

A lamp beside her popped...

A sharp intake of breath...

Then something heavy—two somethings—collided with wood.

From her pocket, Ophelia removed a pair of gloves and slipped them on. The first part of her plan, the easy part, was completed. “Now,” she whispered, “for the hard part.”

She parted the curtain. Rivulets of stringed beads fell over her like water, trickling down her back. Two candles, on the centre of a round table, lit the small room. Smoke twirled toward the ceiling, but below, the orange flames flickered over two slumped forms, their opposing heads resting on the tabletop. Ophelia touched the leather pouch at her hip.

She could hear the gentle breaths of the two sleeping bodies, as for the third... She heard no breath—the rise and fall of their chest motionless, for they had no need to breathe.

The Cause taught Ophelia that genies were pure magic, a seemingly impossible creation that could make just about anything possible.

Dangerous, some would say.

Evil.

Yet others considered them harmless—but a figment of their host's conciseness. Without another mortal body to control them, it was as though they didn't exist at all, purely a puppet to be used, and the thing that made them dangerous was the host themselves.

Ophelia didn't know what she thought, nor did she really care. She knew the facts. And the facts were that she could still hear the subtle creak of the chair posited between the sleeping, proof that, despite no physical manifestations, two still remained awake in that room.

“Where is your lamp?” Ophelia moved towards the empty chair. “I’m here to help. Tell me where your lamp is, and I'll set you free!” Her words were pointless. If the genie was smart, they’d know she wasn't there to help. Her mission was to destroy magic, and that lamp—that genie—was a tonne load of magic.

“This yours?”

Ophelia froze.

“She cute. Got any tricks she can do? Besides knocking people out... Or not knocking people out.“

Ophelia turned. One of the sleeping figures was awake, a young man, with a scar below his left eye. He stared at her, and Ophelia was certain she had seen him somewhere before. “How—”

“Thanks for shutting Thea up,” he said. In his hand, the rat squirmed, and as he held the rodent over the sleeping girl's head, a few more specks of red powder flittered over her brown hair. “She was really starting to bug me,” he added. “Mayhaps she’ll be nicer when she wakes. What do you think?”

Ophelia didn't know what to say. Poppies never failed. The right dose could have kept them both asleep for over an hour... And it was the correct dose. Never had she made a mistake. Ever.

She didn't know what to do. She hadn't planned for this.

“You work for him.” He said it as a fact, which meant he knew who she was.

But who was he?

The boy leant forward, and his face hardened, scowling like a stone gargoyle. He lifted the rat, holding her body next to his face. The rat's whiskers twitched.

“Has he come for me?” The boy's voice deepened to an almost comical tone, and Ophelia shivered as the boy suddenly grinned, slumping back into his chair. “Nah!” He added loudly, lightly booping the rat's nose. “Doubt it. He probably don't remember I exist. What does he want then?” He gestured to the genie in the chair. “Not this mug, I hope. He's taken...” The empty chair groaned, and the boy huffed. “I ain't a creep! But seriously.” He turned back to Ophelia. “What does Ciarán want?”

“You know Ciarán?”

“Durr! I’m his brother, Cosmo.” The boy frowned, and a flash of hurt crossed the boy's face. “He's never mentioned me?”

“No... And he never mentioned it was you who owned the genie.”

“Woah, woah! I don't OWN Clay.”

“Then you won't object to me taking the lamp.”

“Ah... No.” Cosmo released the rat onto the table, her ghostly white body gliding across the table before she leapt off, vanishing through the curtain. “I know what you lot do. Clay's staying right here.”

Ophelia reached for her pouch, her fingers twitching in the powders inside.

Cosmo held up a hand. “Hey, poppies don't work, so look, spy to spy—” His head snapped to the genie. “Shut it! You're making me look stupid. He thinks I ain't a spy,” Cosmo conversed to Ophelia, “but game recognises game, am I right? And you're game. I didn't even hear you when your first came in—real sneak attack.” Cosmo planted his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his hands. He smiled. “I have something way more valuable.”

“What I need is that lamp.”

“What youse need is to know your queen’s a witch—the big bad—the thing you fear the most. The thing you fight against.”

“I need the lamp,” Ophelia repeated, “I don't care about the queen.”

“That's cool, me neither... She is rather pretty, thou—” Cosmo sucked a sharp shot of air through his teeth and be rubbed his arm facing the empty chair. “Whatever... So you don't care for her,” Cosmo continued, “but my brother does. Mayhaps you should tell him, as a gift from me.”

“Why?”

“You're a spy. Thought it was your job to relay important gossip... And you might be able to help us.”

I just figured out I have a crush on you I catalog things about you in my mind I know you think it’s weird but I can’t stop The depths of your soul I’d like to find

We don’t talk much, we just became friends But you’re the sweetest in the world You gave me the idea for my pen name And in my chest butterflies unfurl

You told me to have a good day And you walked me to the door You held it open as I left And after that I just thought about you more

I know what time you go to sleep Because you told me once and I was shocked So early, that must be how you’re always so nice You get enough sleep and your kindness can’t be topped

I call myself intrigued Others might call me a spy Maybe a little obsessed But truly I am obsessed, I can’t lie

You never answer your texts Because you’re not glued to your phone Like most of us often are I’m glad you’re like that even if it makes me feel alone

I don’t really know what to do about this crush Since I don’t want to date anyone right now So I’ll suffer on in silence Wishing you’d be my knight in shining armor while I’m stuck here with my crown

Anyone can wear a crown And if it were up to me it’d be you Because you’re just the bestest person Everyone adores you and now I do too

How do I make a crush go away? Tear it from my heart Without damaging my soul Or ripping my mind apart?

The answer is I can’t No matter how hard I try So I’ll keep on loving you As a spy on the sideline.

~Edgaress Allan Poe

Part Two because it sat in my drafts long enough for there to be more to the story 😭

I found out today That there’s another girl Either she has a crush on you Or maybe it’s her that makes your heart twirl

It doesn’t really matter Because either way I know My chances just became slim And my spirits very low

I can’t say I didn’t expect it Or at least something of the sort Happiness is my sworn enemy With its kind I cannot consort

A mutual friend just let it slip Out of pity or out of ignorance I suppose I’ll never know But what I know now is she’s put you in a trance

I’ll keep on being a spy Right on that sideline And I’ll keep on cataloging things About you, and that’s fine

I’ll keep on zoning out While my eyes are trained on the back Of your beautiful head Of my thoughts I won’t keep track

I’ll still gaze at you With love in my eyes And melt when you do something sweet For it’s this other girl I despise

Or maybe I should thank her For making it so I don’t have to decide What to do with the crush Keep it inside or outside

I’ll keep it on the inside No one will ever know I’ll never breathe a word of it Not to my raven nor my crow

I haven’t cried about it though At least not yet I truly hope I don’t And I hope all your needs are met

In this girl I’m just now hearing of I don’t even know her name I hope she loves you As much as I do, for my heart you somehow did tame

I love you darling, As the moon loves the sun Hiding in the shadows Where I’ll never be your number one.

-E.A.P

I wasn’t sorry when Evi left home. I mean I was ,but I wasn’t going to let her know it. I don’t remember Mama; she went away with baby Ferenc after the spring rains. But Evi left school to care for Papa and me. She was a little mother. Papa was angry at first. He was angry at the whole world for takng his baby boy. He used to shout and throw things. When his blood was up, Papa would take the strap to us. I am his favorite. I made him laugh with my funny songs and dances, but Evi only made Papa angry. Evi would make that face, all sad and teary, and it would upset Papa so much. I told her to be nice and to not to make a fuss. But she wouldn’t make happy and Papa couldn’t help himself. When the troubles came, Papa started planning Evi’s marriage. I remember when Papa told Evi her husband was Bela Bussink, the old clockmaker. We were at the dining table with good mutton stew and appelkuchen for dessert. Cinnamon, warm and sweet, was heavy in the air and I pleaded with Evi with my eyes to be nice. I saw her eyes grow wide and I held my breath. All she said was, “Thank you, Papa.” Her voice was a pebble in a shoe. Then she smiled. I was so happy the night wouldn’t be spoiled. I was cross the next day when I realized I would have to take over the cooking, washing, and mending. I would have to be the little mother while Evi got to live with old Bela. He was no prize sure. At school, we threw rotten apples at his door and called him Old Mandrake because he was so gnarled. But old man Bela had a bigger house than ours and all of his children were grown and gone except for his youngest son, Erik. But Erik was a few years older than Evi and would be married off soon enough. Stupid Evi, I thought, she gets everything first. I didn’t see much of Evi after her wedding. I had to wear hard shoes that day and a silly dress Evi made for me. When I did see her it was the same old Evi, more pale maybe and that same awful teary face. I had to cook and clean for Papa and had worries of my own. One day Evi came back home to help with the canning. She was different. I can’t explain it she was just different. Eating her pickled beets a few nights later, I thought about my big sister. I knew she had a secret, a secret from me. Papa would be cross if Evi was keeping secrets. Next day, quick as a flash I slipped from school and followed Evi. I was an undercover agent like in the comics. I laid in the shadows of the bush watching her house. Finally Evi came out with a large willow basket. I could tell she was only pretending to shop. Soon Evi meandered to Zsusana’s back door, the midwife’s back door. Everyone even Papa feared the midwife. Maybe it was her loud voice. Or the bold way she had about her. The menfolk would whisper about Zsusana and grow silent when she was around. Church or no, midwives can bring babies into the world or stop them. I knew Evi was going to have a baby. I pressed my head to that door. The two talked of angels makers. The two talked of freedom. Through the thick wood I could not make out many words. Some I couldn’t understand. But I knew evil when I heard it. I followed her back to Bela’s house. I lost her in Little Wolf woods then she came up behind me. Something stone hard flickered across her face and then she was my sister again. “Evi, I heard everything. Don’t do the bad thing. Don’t kill,” I implored my sister. “Oh ZuZu, such big ears you have,” Evi said. She kissed my forehead to quiet my racing heart. Wrapping her arm round my shoulder, Evi pulled me close. "You have things all mixed up. Come home with me. I am making gruel for my husband. He’s under the weather. Let us talk over hot chocolate like when Mama was alive.” I don’t remember Mama. Sweet, velvety chocolate, the thought of the steamy mug filled my head as we walked through the forest.

“Welcome to Aunt Norine’s Bakery!”

Kristen was hit by the scents of baking bread, cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin spice, and hot coffee. The door shut behind her. In one hand, the “help wanted” sign.

“Is the job still open?”

Norine broke into a big smile. “Why, yes it is, my dear! Are you applying?”

Karen nodded. “I don’t have a lot of experience but willing to learn.”

Norine wiped her hands on her apron and held out a hand. “You’re hired,” she said.

“Look, Donna,” Kristen said into her phone, nibbling on a leftover cookie from the shop. “She’s a real nice lady and it’s wrong for me to steal like this.”

“Oh, now you’re getting a conscience? Remember how much I’m paying you and get that recipe!”

A few weeks later and it was time for Norine to show Kristin the prized recipe. The recipe that had made her German spritz cookies famous around the world. The recipe that her rival, Donna Stollen, was desperate to steal.

“It’s not even her recipe,” Donna explained. “She stole it from my Grandma’s kitchen!”

The recipe was written on a crackly thin piece of scrap paper, the ink faded but legible.

“We start making these after Thanksgiving- they’ll fly out the door!”

Kristen nodded.

Later, Norine tasked her to return the recipe to its vault.

Right before she returned it to its place, though, Kristen snapped a few cell phone pics.

Over the weeks leading up to the holiday season, Kristen began to regret spying on the sweet old lady. And then stealing that recipe. But a deal was a deal.

Sadly, she pulled up the recipe photos and forwarded them to Donna.

“That’s it?” Donna texted back. “She adds a dash of anise?”

“I guess,” Kristen wrote back. “I’m going to bed.”

Donna introduced her new line of spritz cookies the day after Thanksgiving. Kristen stood outside the bakery, holding a tray of samples.

The line still wound out the door into the street, of Norine’s place. No one was raving over Donna’s recipe.

“This is war,” the woman grumbled, nibbling a bear claw pastry.

To be continued, maybe

Hey you! Yea, you reading this! Tell me again why I shouldn’t tell you about…Him? I’ll tell you why! No one’s ever seen his fucking face man! Oh, besides all of the social media posts and YouTube videos of dozens of bodies of drug lords, war lords and any other kind of lord getting scraped off the ground because of “you…know…who”! Still no one’s seen his face. Let me ask you something, you know anything about spies? Hmm? Most of these cold blooded fuckers just do government shit. You know, like knock off political leaders and strong men. Not this guy. This guy will go after anyone from a tyrant of some shit-stained country, to a crip or blood gang leader in LA! It doesn’t matter to this guy man! I’m trying to tell you! No one’s seen his fucking face! And if you did…you’re dead! Between you and me, I think I know what he looks like. Hahaha, I’ve seen Him man! I’ve fucking seen Him! And I’m still here! It’s like mom always said, if you’re gonna be- oh fuck it’s Him.

Dastardly creatures roam the world, Chaos unravels in flickers of gold Under the pretences They live as a spy Separated by a thin fence Good spy and bad spy

Destruction caused helping All happiness melting Follow the commands of you leader Your one and only feeder If you fail It will be too late to bail

Your are the danger Yet you will be needing saving From a stranger You corrupt out world by enslaving Your the evil yet you need to leave Or it is your life we will thieve