“I’m looking for the best of the best. I don’t want the skim from the bottom of the barrel. I want the skim from the top of the barrel. Like when the water gets a film of ice on the top of it. That’s what I want.” I started rambling, my vision blurred slightly. Someone coughed and my eyes went straight to a tall, brown-haired man in the back of the group. “Am I boring you, sergeant?” I yelled at the person who coughed, glaring daggers at him while reaching for my actual dagger.

The person started to answer, but I quickly interrupted him, drawing out my dagger. I waved the dagger in the air until everyone had their eyes trained on it then I pointed it straight, point first, at the man. I said, with my eyes trained on the man, “Doesn’t matter you can leave or you will be escorted out.” The color drained out of the man’s face. He gave a slight shiver then ducked his head and lumbered out the door.

“Now that you know I’m serious, shall we begin?” I chirped with a clap, sticking my dagger back in its sheath in my belt. Everyone was slightly pale yet still followed me to the testing area, if warily.

“First we will begin with a “war game”. Everyone will start with two dart guns in their corner. There will be sets of two other guns around the room. Three hits mean your dead, but not out. You will never get out. Now your names are in your starting corners.” I was pacing in front of the group, a dart gun in my hand to demonstrate my point. The dart gun looked like a real Glock 19, serial number and all. The only catch was the ammo was soft foam darts. I would have done real ammo but the lawyers that I talked to were quick to state that using real ammo was a bad idea.

“What’s the point of this game, ma’am?” A very pretty blond woman asked one of her perfectly manicured eyebrows quirked up.

“I will never tell you the point of these games. You will just have to deal.” I yelled angrily, I didn’t want to explain myself more than I already had to. Everyone should already know my rules, after all, most of them came to me begging for the chance to do a heist with me. “Now everyone to your assigned corner, this will be fun!”

Once everyone was in their assigned corner, I blew the whistle that was hanging around my neck than quickly put the whistle down my shirt so it wouldn’t get in my way. The game had begun in full swing. I reached back and grabbed my guns, cocking them to be fired. I had noticed that a small cavity in front of me housed a sailor with absolutely no tactical experience. I ducked around the corner quickly. When I noticed he wasn’t looking, I shot him three times in the ass and ducked back into my alcove.

I peeked back around the corner in time to see a big man in black. He was going to be my main target, I failed to notice that the other participants were wildly shooting at him. I was shooting around everywhere, getting lots of hits but not, myself getting hit. I realized that my guns were out of darts. I looked across the hall and saw two other guns wrapped in plastic. Just then the sailor popped his head around the corner. I nodded my head down the hall. I realized that I must have looked like an idiot, I was grinning and laughing my head off. The sailor nodded back at me and smiled. I dove across the hallway and started sliding to the other guns placed in the corner. The sailor jumped up, covered me than ducked back down in his place, narrowly avoiding being hit by several bullets. In spite of myself, I smiled even wider at the adrenaline of almost being hit.

I smashed in the corner that housed the guns; I located and grabbed by guns, ripping off the plastic wrapping. I jumped up from my corner, seeing the big man in black from before still standing up and taking hit after hit. He was my target.

I shot him until my guns jammed, it was that or that they ran out of bullets. ‘Fuck it all’, I was still standing up without a weapon to defend myself with, I was vulnerable. I noticed that the big guy in black was still standing, ‘He must not have a strategy.’ I just happened to look at the pretty blond woman from before as she gave the large black man a signal to move in front of her to block shots. It was cheating something that I had too much of in my lifetime. I had a whistle hanging from my neck, in case I needed to stop the game for any reason. I had a reason, a big, black, hulking reason. I blew the whistle, a long, high-pitched sound echoed throughout the room.

I glared at everyone around the room. “Who is responsible for this?” I gestured to the large black man and stalked over to him. I had a sneaking suspicion to who it was, but I wanted confirmation.

The pretty blond woman looked around the hulking mass of the man, looking smug. “It was a great idea right. I didn’t get hit at all. Bart here,” the woman tapped the man’s arm, “took all the hits for me.” She flipped her hair in my face, smacking me.

I shot out my hand and grabbed her hair, twisting my arm in a death grip. The woman cried out in pain at having her hair ripped out. I gritted my teeth, trying to calm myself down so I didn’t beat the shit out of her. I gave her hair one more tug, glad to see the scared expressions of everyone but one pretty Asian girl that only looked interested in the proceedings. I dropped the woman’s hair, put on a cool facade, and turned to face the applicants.

My voice was cool stone, “Who died and how many times?” Everyone sheepishly raised their hand except for the pretty blond woman, the large man in black, and, of course, myself. I was still close to the man in black and his boss. Even though he was taller than me, I looked down at him and demanded with a seething voice, “Get out! Or you will be shot.” Looking scared, the man rushed out of the room quickly. I sighed and looked back at the applicants. I noticed the attractive looking Asian woman smiling.

I rubbed my face than ordered, “Go to your dorms, everyone. If you leave your dorm, I will not hesitate to kill you. You all have worn my patience quite thin today. You are not to come out of your dorms until dinner.” I looked straight at the Asian woman. “Eleyna, can I speak to you?”

Everyone began to disperse when the sailor ran up to me and grabbed my hand. He looked into my eyes, with a twinkle in his, and spoke. “We were having fun. Why did you end it?”

I snatched my hand from him in disgust. My voice reflected my disgust when I addressed him. “You know exactly why I ended the game. If you touch me one more time I will not hesitate to mutilate and kill you.”

I sat at a small table pushed up against a beige wall under a window. I had my head in my arms which were on the table. ‘Why did I have to do this?’ I asked myself. I heard footsteps approach me then quickly stop in a salute, heals tapping together neatly.

I didn’t look up. I heard steady breathing. I finally looked up to acknowledge the person who refused to go away. It was the pretty Asian woman. She spoke in a voice that was used to giving commands to soldiers. “Ma’am, I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to talk to me.” She seemed to think for a second, her head tilting to the side before she replied to her own statement. “Nevermind, I’ll leave you alone.” Eleyna looked slightly flustered but overall seemed nonchalant.

I dragged a hand down my face. “No, no you’re fine. Sit. “ I gestured

to the chair across from me.

“I saw you smiling when I offered to shoot the big guy in black.”

“ I do appreciate a strong woman. Would you have shot him?” She asked as she pulled out the chair and sat down.

“Yes.” I leaned back in my chair and pulled out my handgun. “I don’t tolerate cheating.” She glanced at the gun.

“I don’t like guns but if you must use it,” Eleyna said.

“Neither do I but they do come in handy sometimes. Look, I think you're a strong and very capable woman. I definitely want you on my team in the end.” I put my elbows on the table and studied her eyes.

“So you can send everyone home now. What’s the plan?”

“No, actually I want two people on my team. You, corporal, are one.” She looked a little taken back.

“Yes, I know you were in the military at the rank of corporal and were dishonorably discharged.”

Regaining her cool she said “You seem to know a lot about me. Did you know the reason I got discharged because my superior was harassing me and I punched him in the face.”

“Exactly,” I said, slapping the table and startling Eleyna in the process. “That is what I need on my team!”.

“Thanks?”

“Is that a question corporal?”

“No, ma’am!”

By that point it was dinnertime and everyone was back down chatting.

I settled back down in my chair and said, “Go get yourself some dinner, corporal.”

Just as Eleyna was moving to get up, the bold sailor put his hand on the back of her chair and slammed it down.

“Get your hand off my chair.” Eleyna said coldly.

Leaning back I said “I would advise you to listen to the lady, sailor.”

Smiling, he let go of the chair and backed up with his hand raised in a surrender.

“Ok, ok.” He said, still smiling. “It’s just I thought you might want to know that there are three guys with guns walking up the drive.”

I slammed my chair on the floor, startling both of them. “Tell everyone and gather them here. Both of you.” They both went running to get everyone.

I started pacing. I checked my watch, 10 till, right on time.

When everyone has gathered around, I started to freak out. “What am I going to do? I can’t be here when they get here.”

Seeing my distress, the sailor and the corporal stepped up.

The sailor said, “We need to hide you. Maybe…” But before he finished Eleyna piped up.

“I saw a small secret room near the girl dorms. She can hide there.” She turned to me. “It might be a bit small, but it should be ok.”

“Alright what will you do when they get here.” I tried to sound flustered.

The sailor looked curiously at me. “Well, we will just pretend that you were never here.”

“Ok,” I said, relieved that someone came up with a decent plan. I turned towards Eleyna.

“Show me the closet.”

We went upstairs and the corporal showed me a small secret closet that I already knew existed. Before she tried to open the door, she leaned against the door. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just please get me to a safe place.” I looked around nervously.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I will protect you.” She pushed herself off the wall and opening the door. She ushered me inside. It looked like a pink dollhouse. Eleyna looked surprised at how big it was.

I got a little teary. “Ah. Uh. Yes, a cute little girls room.”

“Well. Here’s where you will stay. At least there are no windows.” The corporal backed out and shut the door.

I roamed around the room picking up a small defenseless girls toy, my toys. Just as I settled on the bed, I heard voices just outside the door.

“We will need to search all the rooms,” a voice said.

“That won’t be a problem, sirs.” I heard the corporal say. “This way.”

“No, we want the door behind you.”

“Excuse me? There…” I heard a thud. I jumped off the bed. I heard a turning of the knob. The three thugs busted into the room. “There are you,” I shouted.

Every single person who came to my little meeting had an ice pack somewhere. Except, of course, for Eleyna; she refused to take an ice pack.

“None of you, not one of you could defeat the thugs I hired? This was another game and all of you failed. Maybe I should get those thugs on the team, but I wanted someone with brains. Not a kill first ask questions later attitude. Though I do admire that quality.” I looked up at the ceiling contemplating. I shook my head as I looked back down. I started pacing again. “As of this game, I’m tempted to send you all home. It was such a disappointment.”

The sailor looked crestfallen. Eleyna made as if to step forward. I shook my head, hoping that it was enough to convey my message. I still wanted her on my team and I wasn’t disappointed in her directly.

I sighed again. “All of you get to bed and get out of my hair. I have to clean up after you guys.”

“Does that mean we get to stay?” The sailor said, looking hopeful.

“Don’t push your luck.” I said glaring daggers at him. “Now all of you go up stains I have work to do.”

Everyone filed up the stairs. I went to the supply closet and grabbed a broom. I went back to the bottom of the stairs. Dragging a hand down my face, I yelled, “Are you going to just watch or are you going to help me?” Eleyna and the sailor walked down the stairs. I pointed out the supply closet and started sweeping. The sailor got a mop and Eleyna got a vacuum. We all started to clean the floor several times the sailor made a move as if to talk but decided against it. It was peaceful, blissful silence. I just then realized how tired I was. I finished sweeping and put away the broom. I sat at the same small table.

After watching them work for a while, I pulled a back out of my back pocket. The sailor and Eleyna looked up slightly but went back to work, I started reading the book, but couldn’t concentrate. I still wanted to keep an eye on them.

Slowly they both finished up. The sailor finished first and put his mop away, Eleyna was a close follow.

For the first time I noticed my handgun on the table. I grabbed it and stuck it in my holster. Sliding the book back in its sport, I crawled up the stairs.

I was gazing longingly at my bed even though I had other things to do, when I heard a knock on my door. I looked up at the ceiling contemplating life. “Come on in.” I said. Sighing, it was a very sighful day, I settled into my desk chair. I never realized how uncomfortable it was.

I saw Eleyna peek her head in my room. I nodded my head towards my room. Slowly Eleyna came into my room. She shut the door behind her. I gestured to the bed. As she sat down, I said, “What brings you down here?”

“I’m leaving the team. I failed you and would like to resign.”

I looked at her eyes, they were sad but resolute. I sighed again. I felt too tired to deal with this. But deal with it I would. But deal with it I did. I needed her on my team.

“Eleyna, you can’t leave. You are the only person I’ve trusted in a long time. Besides, you didn’t disappoint me. You could tell something was up. That impressed me.”

She looked troubled. Then she looked relieved.

“Thank you ma’am.”

I smiled. “You’re welcome. Now get to your dorm and get some sleep.” I stretched out. “We have a big day ahead of us.”

“Are you going to change before you sleep?”

I looked down at my army green tank top and black jeans. I also looked over at my ratty tennis shoes in the corner. I had shaken them off when I waiting for my answer.

“Who says I’m going to sleep?” I saw her expression change. “It’s fine. What time is it?” I looked at my watch. 1:00. “You need to get some sleep.” I shoved her out of my room.

Once she shut the door, I grabbed a brochure off of my desk. This was my only way in, I thought.