F•A•S•T//r.s.l.❣

0.6

Weeks Later

"Athena, you're up" David's voice spoke in the intercom. I looked up from my combat boots and stood up, directing myself to the door.

Every newbie here has to put their assets to display; if anything, they get cut and sent back to their mediocre lives, and I don't want that.

Over the weeks, I learnt to love the F.A.S.T. spy compound and its people- hell, I even made friends (something I have never properly had before). I also discovered some new talents (I can apparently sing, I'm working my way in Dance and I have a new favourite sport).

For some reason, the F.A.S.T. Ambassadors line up multiple situations and sit in a room full of monitors- for the GoPro attached to your shirt and the one fitted to a helmet on your head to show your facial expression. They also put the one you excel on at the very end, raising the stakes.

It was a very Divergent/Hunger Games type of test but anything over my mental tests (those were scarring).

Ross told me that when he had his moment three years ago, he almost killed himself with a flamethrower here so I'm frightened for what is to come. But he also told me about the two weeks of rest where you're spoilt with food, praise, sleep and visits.

"Introduce yourself" David, as my mentor, was hooked up to me via a small Bluetooth set attached to my ear.

I looked up, aimlessly. "My name is Athena Carmichael"

A black panel above me lit up, moments after my words. It flashed red, then stayed Amber for a few seconds until flashing green.

"Go" David commanded. So I ran, and grabbed a rope to climb up a wall.

There was extra pressure, seen as my friends also came to watch how I did.

Beyond the wall, was a puzzle I completed in 30 seconds which lead to a small trap door, the walls closing.

Sneaky little idiots.

I pressed my back and feet against the walls and pushed, until they were swiped away from me and I fell back, rolling down padded ground to a maze of laser beams. Suppose this calls for my dance skills, or flexibility all together.

+++

I was sore, beat up, bruised and on the verge of quitting. There was a moment where I just fell and cried, these tasks becoming overly demanding. But, I made it, and I knew I made it when a set of arrows and a bow was in the middle of a hall. Multiple targets were held up.

Once I set up, I started talking in a hushed voice. "When do I begin?"

"Go ahead, almost there, darling" David said and I released my fingers, first arrow hitting the very middle of the target.

It was the same for the next 8, then came the last one. What my stay here depended on.

I inhaled, then my breath hitched slightly, eyes narrowed then firmly shut as I released the final arrow.

All 10 targets with an arrow stuck to the middle of them. I dropped the bow, catching my breath as chatter took over my ear device.

I removed the gear given to me and walked to the control room, greeting Tommy, Sheila, Brixley, Ethan and Ross. The moment I set foot in there, I was attacked by hugs.

"Guys! I'm soaked with water, sweat and probably some blood" I exclaimed. "I must feel disgusting"

"Aww, whatever. We're proud of you regardless" Ross grinned, and then kissed my lips very quickly when the ambassadors had their back to us.

I forgot one little detail...we're dating secretly as we're not exactly meant to get too close to our peers because some of us might never see each other again and that would involve emotional distress and whatnot.

But who cares about the rules, eh?

David walked over to me, giving me a big hug. "I'm proud of you"

"Thanks" I smiled, then straightened up to get the news.

"You are something else, Athena. Even when things weren't looking up, you didn't give up and that is the exact spirit we need here at F.A.S.T." The only woman who was an ambassador spoke. "To get in, you needed 65 or more out of 100. You got 85"

I did my awkward, fangirl scream and jumped about in excitement. I just about gave them time to congratulate me before being dragged off by Bri and Ross. She twirled, released me and then handed me to Ross, who sealed a kiss on my lips.

An Italian accent began to leak through. "Lets'a go celebrate with pizza!"

double update BC why not