Well I think we can all agree that desperate times call for desperate measures, hence my situation. Gary said I should find myself lucky, the OAM only chose special people for their missions. Personally I wasn't a big fan of working under people especially since I haven't met a single member of the OAM except Gary, he's my 'guardian' that's the only thing I was told, basically his work is to train me and give me missions but I don't like him one bit, why? because he's too secretive.
I hate the guy for keeping secrets from me, I've known him for six months and I don't even know his last name, all I know is that we meet up every Wednesday's and Friday's in an old abandoned warehouse from 6 to 10pm, after that, he locks me out and I never hear a single thing from him till the next time for practice and it pisses me off.
I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets because frankly it's getting too cold here and my feet are freezing off. I just manage to make it to the warehouse without collapsing. The streets are empty probably because it's really cold and the snow makes it impossible to walk or do anything, hence why all the shops are locked but my stupid guardian dude made me come for practice, I think I might fall sick after this but that won't matter because OAM pays all my bills, they own me.
I look around for a brief moment and input the passcode, the door beeps and does a facial recognition scan before opening. You're probably wondering why an old smelly warehouse has such great security but is horrible, and smells like death on the inside...well I don't know, I have no idea.
I walk into the empty warehouse and the smell of old iron, death and pain hits me. I groan because I have been living like this for six months, two times every week! "Hey, Gary! I received your stupid text, I'm here! can we get this over with?" I call out and a door beeps, then Gary walks out. Gary is in his early thirties, he's tall and has muscles, like mind-blowing muscles. He's blonde and has a really cool beard, it makes him come off as a lumberjack or a street fighter or bouncer or all those scary dads. He was wearing a white shirt, rolled up by the sleeves and office pants. Now that I think of it, he reminds me of Iron Man. I cringe at the memory of watching my favorite avenger with my dad, well until...the incident.
"You don't think I know that? I have security cameras everywhere, no one goes in our out without my knowledge," he said absentmindedly as he scanned the clipboard in his hands. "Seems like your performance has gone way up, you've levelled up, well then no need for this." he then tossed his clipboard across the room. "Time to see how you'll perform on the field."
"I am beyond confused."
"Just try not to destroy anything." he signalled for me to come over and snapped his fingers. "Fight mode, activated." a feminine voice from nowhere called.
The lights to the crumpy old warehouse came up, super bright. "Let's move to the arena and get you suited." Gary said and opened the door he came out from, I had never been there before hence my reaction when I saw a room filled up with weapons of all sorts.
"Are you kidding me?! you've had all this yet you made me practice with absolute nonsense compared to this!"
"Enough, you have ten seconds to gear up."
"Ten?!"
"Time starts now." he said looking at his watch, I couldn't even argue. I looked around and went for the bullet proof vest, then the guns, ammo and I managed to grab a face mask in the nick of time because I did not trust Gary one bit. "Poor selection of weapons, why didn't you pick any knives, your area of specialisation is in throwing things, you're not very good with guns. Apart from that, your selection was at least a B plus," I couldn't help but groan. He never gave me a straight complement.
He must have noticed my mood, "You didn't do all too bad kid, great work for a beginner. And you know the rules, criticism before complement." I nodded and followed him to the "arena" .
They were a few people there, two guys and one lady, they were talking but immediately stopped when we walked in. "Who are they?" I asked Gary. "These are the people supervising your test today,"
"They're from the OAM?" I asked shocked. "Yes, I am Phoenix, this is Landon and Bird." I was confused once the girl was introduced as Bird. "No, it is not my real name. Code name." she smiled at me.
"Are you ready for the test?" Bird asked.
"Test?"
"Yes, test, it will decide if you get contracted with the OAM or not," Gary said clicking away on his computer.
"Get suited, boy."
The test was exhausting, it went from taking out simple guards to jumping from high ends, even with virtual it still hurt. I was groaning in pain at the end of the test, apparently I was also bleeding and bruised, that exactly wasn't all. Just when everything was about to become blurry I saw a guy walk up to me, he hit me by the side and I groaned in pain. "You're the kid trying to break into my base? The OAM really let their guard down." I scoffed and he kicked me till I rolled to the side.
"Just defeat him Finn, and you'll be done with the test." Gary said throughout the speakers. I could fill tears in my eyes. "It hurts,"
"Take him out! or you're done." he shouted at me.
I groaned and tried to stand up but the guy was quick on his feet and pushed me back down making me hiss in pain, he pulled out the gun from his pocket.
"Do something Finn, don't just lie there." I could hear Gary's voice but I ignored it. I was too weak to move.
"Say goodbye to the world as you know it, your friends, your family, gone." he loaded the gun and put it up to my head. "Goodbye weakling," I closed my eyes and braced myself for my end. He pulled the trigger, I heard the sound but I didn't feel anything. I opened my eyes trying to figure out what happened. the dude was gone and so was the virtual world, it was over.
I looked up and Gary was discussing with Phoenix and the others. He didn't have a happy look on his face. All I heard was, "I understand." I groaned and placed my head back down sighing in defeat.
"Get up boy," I looked at Gary and his outstretched hand. I grabbed it and I stood up, "Gary," I started.
"Leave Finn, just leave."
"I tried my best." I told him. "Your best wasn't good enough! You get it?! You didn't make the cut, you don't get into the OAM, your contract has been terminated, just leave" he shouted at me.
"I can't leave, I have to help my family, what about them? what about my education? what am I supposed to do now? I can take the test again, right now, I'll try my best...just please." I fell down on the floor covering my face with my hands trying to fight back tears.
Gary sighed, "there's nothing we can do boy. Just forget about everything, forget the OAM contacted you, forget everything."
"Is that it? what now?"
"You leave." then he walked off.