Sweat trickled down Kevin’s brow as he tried to stay still and focus on the house. Lights were on in the living room while the first floor was dark and the curtains were drawn close. He knew it wasn’t empty though, his task was there somewhere. He had never been entrusted with such a responsibility and although being included made him swell with pride it also made him palpitate. This was an important assignment and his future depended on its perfect execution. His eyes watered as he strained to see through the never-handled-before binoculars. The night was chilly and his windcheater wasn’t helping much as he leaned on the moist wooden fence for support. Police stakeouts in series and movies looked fun but this hardly felt so. Just then he noticed a movement inside. His mark had made an appearance. It was time to report.

Kevin pulled off his right glove and reached for the walkie-talkie in his jeans pocket. The black device’s fleeting glow in the golden hue of a night lamp above made him smile. Wow, he was holding one of these bad boys! Wish he could get one of these too. Always limited to the lower rung in their rebel group, he had seethed in envy as his seniors often communicated through it. Thanks to this mark, he could now brag about being in the loop too. “Delta, this is..uh..what was it.. Alpha. Can you hear me? I mean do you read me? The bird is in the cage. I repeat the bird is in the cage. Over!” he almost yelled into it. “Alpha, I read you. Quit shouting and being jumpy or you’ll mess it up. Over.” Pat came the reply from the other side.

Kevin made a face and went back to his binoculars. It was time for the second phase. As if on cue the phone inside rang and the mark came near the window to receive it. He watched nervously as she spoke into it and her expression quickly changed from confused to angry. Delta seemed to be struggling with his job. She looked out the window trying to spot something, or was it someone? Before he could figure it out, he felt her furious eyes boring into him. He was made. He hissed an SOS plea in the walkie-talkie still in his hand and made a run for it. Alas, his foot tripped on the moist grass and he fell spread-eagled on his back on the pavement.

When he came to, God knows after how long, the mark was standing over him. If looks could kill, he would surely be in hell by now. “You boys have got some nerve!” She snarled as she came down and pulled his earlobe while simultaneously motioning him to get up. “Oh, you seem new. The others outsourced the guard duty this time, huh?” she said while trying to place him. Kevin couldn’t help but notice that the mark, or Alex’s babysitter, was a pretty young girl with Hulk’s anger issues and Thor’s strength. Sadly, his mother had found the perfect replacement while she was out. “You school kids have taken your silly antics too far this time. Don’t you have any studying to do? Alex is grounded for getting detention and you can’t “release” him under my watch. IS THAT CLEAR?”

He nodded vigorously when the walkie-talkie suddenly came to life. “Alpha, we need to call this off. Charlie is watching Avengers: Endgame again and doesn’t want to leave. Jerk. Just wait till he calls us to rescue him next time.” His plea had obviously gone unheard.

Kevin stared in disbelief as the mark laughed out loud and went in.

This post was created for the Blogaberry Creative (Monthly) Challenge.

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024

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