Only The Goode Spy Forever

Chapter 39: Grammy

Chase Goode woke up at dawn with a hand clamped over his mouth. His attacker shushed him, but Chase threw back his head tried to hit the attacker in the face. His attacker dodged it and ran to the front of Chase and looked into his eyes. Chase and the attacker had the same eyes.
"Dad? What are you doing here?" He hissed. Chase could make out his fathers trademark smirk even in the dark.
"Good morning sleeping beauty," Zach responded. Chase held up a finger and pointed to Tanner and Daniel, his sleeping roommates. His dad nodded. Chase got up and took him into the hallway. "I hear someone is being a bad boy and breaking rules."
"What are you talking about?" Chase asked. Zach's playful tone turned serious.
"I went to go see your little sister for her birthday last week. Be smart. Sound familiar?" Zach asked. Chase sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair.
"I was shown something that made me think that she could be in some type of danger. She just doesn't understand the risks yet," Chase replied.
"Yet," Zach whispered. Chase got chills. "What did you see?"
"It was a picture, she was in town," Chase answered. Zach nodded.
"And she was with someone," his dad finished. Chase nodded. "I should've known that those walls wouldn't hold her." He chuckled. "They couldn't hold your mother."
"What are you doing here?" Chase asked again. Zach leaned back against the wall casually.
"I needed to be sure that our theory was right. I was going to ask you if you had any ideas," Zach replied. He paused. "And I had to see you." His father ran his hand along a bruise that was on Chase's neck.
"Hand on hand combat," Chase replied. Zach nodded, he had already known. "I do have an idea for Anna." Zach raised his eyebrows.
"We can't just run into town and grab her. We can't tell her no either, it will only make her retaliate. It needs to be subtle," Zach said.
"Scare her," Chase whispered. Zach looked intrigued. "Make her think she's seeing something that could blow her cover. No, make her think she's seeing someone."
"Who? She's not scared of anything," Zach countered. Chase let his gaze drop to the ground. He said the words that made him sick to his stomach.
"She's scared of me, of what I could become. Make her think I'm tailing her. She already assumes that I know because of my message. If she thinks I know then she'll that I might tell you," Chase explained. Zach grinned at his son.
"What are you proposing?" Zach asked. Chase grinned back. He revealed his plan. He knew that if Zach could get a disguise and pass her a note that said be smart Anna would flip. Zach agreed it was rather genius. "Hey, I've miss you, buddy."
Zach leaned forward and hugged his son tightly. It was enough to keep Chase going for a while longer. This was safe.
"Chase? What are you doing out here?" Daniel asked, turning on a lamp. Chase turned back to look at his father, but he was already gone.
* * *
   Chase walked across the grounds of Blackthorne. He had just finished his sniping class and as usual, he didn't miss. He pulled on his Blackthorne hoodie. It was December and the signs of fall were fading. Chase told himself that he just had to make it through his last few weeks. Then he would be with his sister and he would stay with her for a long time.
   He didn't know why, but he found himself walking to Abrielle's guidance office. Maybe it was because he was missing his father and needed to hear stories of his youth. Maybe it was because he truly did need guidance, which is true for every Blackthorne boy. Or maybe it was because he needed answers. He continued across the grounds as he saw a flash of red hair dart into the main office.
   "Abrielle?" He called. He got no response. Chase slowly followed the figure. He walked through the hall as he saw Abrielle's office door shut. This was different than anything he had ever felt. Whatever was through that door was willing him to enter. He felt the pull, he felt like a magnet. He slowly opened the door and dropped the books he had been carrying.
   "Hello, darling," a voice said.
   "You!" Chase exclaimed. He had only ever seen his grandmother in the picture that his father had kept. Seeing her in person was a whole different story. She was older than she was in the picture, that was a given. Gray hair streaked her red locks. Chase looked into her eyes. They were the exact same as his. The same deep green that anyone could get lost in.
   "You can call me Grammy," Catherine said. She stood up and walked over to Chase. She put a hand on his cheek. He recoiled at her touch. "I guess your parents have already given you the talk." She laughed. No, it was more of a cackle.
   "What are you doing here?" He asked. He recognized the sparkle in her eye. The devilish glint that his father had every time he made a joke.
   "I wanted to see you, darling. The rumors are true, you know. You do look exactly like Zachy did at that age. You're so handsome. You'll turn 16 next month. That's the same age Zachy was when he met my Cammie!" She said happily. She clapped her hands. She was clearly insane. "Her and Zachy got busy didn't they? Now they've got 4 children." Chase snapped back to reality. He lunged forward and gripped her neck.
   "Stay that hell away from Anna! What do you want with her?" He shouted. Catherine started gasping as he eased his grip to let her speak.
   "Just like your father," she said. She shook her head. "And he's just like his father."
  "Answer the question," Chase spat.
   "I only want her to help me," Catherine said innocently.
   "She would never join the Circle. Anna isn't a monster," he replied. She studied him.
   "Like you?" She asked. Words couldn't have hit more deep. "I don't want to restart the circle, that's child's play. No, I want her for something bigger than that. Besides, it's not just her that I want. I think there's someone else that would be of better use."
   "What?" He said, confused as ever.
   "Don't worry about that, darling. That's for me to know and for you to think about at night," she cackled. "I do have a proposition for you though." Chase cocked an eyebrow.
   "I won't do anything for you," he spat.
   "Not for me. Townsend is going to offer you a job. He wants you to assist on a mission for your winter break. I want you to tell him you'll do it," Catherine said.
   "Why? What does that do for you?" Chase asked.
   "I only want you to be the best fighter that you possibly can be. Oh, and if you don't I'll kill your sister," she said with a grin. It was almost as if she was kidding, but Chase wasn't taking any chances.
   He grabbed the knife that he noticed Abrielle kept taped under her desk and chucked it. Chase never missed. He wouldn't have. The knife hit exactly where her heart would have been, only Catherine was no longer in the chair. She was gone and Chase had been weak.

    During Chase's final week he was called in by Headmaster Marcus. Catherine has been right. His papa Ed offered him a job. Chase didn't want to take it. He wanted to be with his family. Ed had promised that he would see his family, just not Anna. Recent developments were going to make it harder for him to see her. Chase took the job.
   He walked back to his dorm and looked at his bags. He was all packed and ready to go. Tanner and Daniel would leave soon. They all would. Though it felt like forever. Chase knew that spring would come. He knew that he and his friends would be at the Gallagher Academy. He knew that he could finally protect his sister.
   Chase was getting ready to leave when he noticed the Blackthorne issued journal on his desk. He knew that Anna would be devastated that she couldn't see him over break. He quickly ripped out a page and scribbled a note.
   Spring was coming, and so were the Blackthorne Boys. Chase would see Catherine again and when he did, he swore he would be ready.