NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 20: Bye Mary
Atlas sat in his small office, staring at the list of recruits. His brow furrowed as he reviewed the names of the two who hadn’t sent the money. He couldn’t shake the surprise that came with the revelation. Wow, he had been really wrong.
“Mary,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. She was the last person he’d expected to fail the test. Mary had always presented herself as the epitome of morality. With her strict upbringing and her insistence on inviting people to church, she had seemed like a solid, dependable person. Atlas had pegged her as someone who would stick to her principles, even in a scenario like this. Yet, here she was, pocketing the money and making excuses about Western Union.
He tapped his pen against the desk, pondering how someone like Mary could justify her actions. Maybe she had a reason, but the point of the test wasn’t to understand motives. It was to see who would actually follow through. And she hadn’t.
Then there was Bolt. Atlas had liked the guy from the start. He was a solid fighter, dependable in the arena, and someone who seemed to have his life together. Atlas would have bet money that Bolt would come through. Ironically, he had bet money—$500—but it didn’t pan out.
What Atlas didn’t know was that Bolt had a bit of a drug and impulse problem. The night he was supposed to send the money, he had gotten caught up in his vices. The $500 had been blown on blow and hookers instead. It was a secret Bolt had managed to keep hidden from everyone, but this test had exposed the cracks in his armor. He wasn’t the reliable person he appeared to be.
“Well, either way, those two are done,” Atlas said aloud, making his decision.
He marked down their names on the slots, bringing the list of remaining recruits from seventeenth to fifteen. His hand paused as he hovered over Bolt’s name for a moment longer than Mary’s. A part of him regretted losing someone with Bolt’s potential, but this wasn’t about potential anymore. It was about reliability, and Bolt had shown that he was anything but.
Atlas leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly, the weight of the decision settling in. He reached for his phone and called Alicia.
“Alicia, I need you to make some phone calls,” Atlas said as soon as she picked up.
“Who’s getting cut?” she asked, already knowing what this call was about.
“Mary and Bolt,” Atlas replied.
“Really? Mary?” Alicia sounded as surprised as he had been.
“Yeah, I know. But they both failed the test. And we can’t afford to keep people who aren’t fully reliable.”
Atlas had told Alicia about the tests, and at first, Alicia thought he was nuts. Seriously, wasn’t this trial workout supposed to be finding the top fighters for their team? Since when had it become about money and trust? Well, either way, since it was Atlas who was making the decisions, she just accepted them.
“Understood. I’ll make the calls and let them know,” Alicia confirmed, her tone professional.
“Thanks, Alicia. Let’s get it done,” Atlas said before hanging up.
Alicia took a deep breath before she started making the calls. First up was Mary. She knew this one was going to be tough.
Mary picked up on the second ring, her voice cheerful as usual. “Hey, Alicia! What’s up?”
“Hi, Mary. I, uh, need to talk to you about something,” Alicia started, trying to keep her tone neutral.
“Oh? Is it about the training? Did I do something wrong?” Mary’s tone shifted slightly, a hint of worry creeping in.
“Well… yes and no. It’s about the team,” Alicia replied, choosing her words carefully. “After reviewing everything, we’ve decided to make some cuts.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. When Mary spoke again, her voice was quieter, more uncertain. “Am I… am I one of those cuts?”
“I’m afraid so,” Alicia confirmed, her voice softening.
Mary was silent for a few moments, and Alicia could almost hear her processing the news. When she spoke again, there was a mixture of hurt and confusion in her voice. “But… why? I’ve been doing everything you’ve asked. I’ve been training hard, showing up on time… What did I do wrong?”
Alicia felt a pang of guilt. “I can’t go into details, Mary. I’m really sorry. But the decision has been made.”
“But this doesn’t make sense!” Mary’s voice cracked slightly. “I’ve been giving it my all. I thought I was doing well…”
“You were, Mary. You’ve improved a lot. But we had to make some tough choices, and unfortunately, this is one of them,” Alicia said, trying to offer some comfort.
Mary sighed, the hurt evident in her tone. “I guess I’ll just… focus on something else then. Thanks for the opportunity, Alicia. I just wish I knew why.”
“I understand, Mary. And I really wish I could explain more. But this isn’t the end. Keep training, keep improving,” Alicia encouraged, but she knew her words would do little to ease Mary’s disappointment.
Mary mumbled a quiet goodbye before hanging up. Alicia stared at the phone for a moment, feeling a knot of unease in her stomach.
The call with Bolt was next. Alicia braced herself as she dialed his number, knowing this conversation might not be as subdued as Mary’s.
Bolt answered with his usual laid-back tone. “Hey, Alicia. What’s up?”
“Hi, Bolt. I need to talk to you about something important,” Alicia began, keeping her voice steady.
“Yeah? What’s going on?” Bolt sounded curious, but not overly concerned.
“It’s about the team,” Alicia said, repeating the line she had used with Mary. “We’ve had to make some difficult decisions, and… you didn’t make the final cut.”
There was a long silence. When Bolt finally responded, his voice was tight, barely masking his anger. “You’re cutting me? After all the shit I’ve put into this? What the hell, Alicia?”
“I know this isn’t what you want to hear, Bolt,” Alicia replied, trying to remain calm. “But we had to consider everything, and the decision was made.”
“Consider what? I’ve been busting my ass in that gym! You’re telling me that wasn’t enough?” Bolt’s voice rose, the anger boiling over.
Alicia took a deep breath. “It’s not just about effort, Bolt. There are a lot of factors we had to weigh.”
“Bullshit!” Bolt snapped. “I’ve seen how hard some of those other guys train. They don’t push half as hard as I do. Seriously, that John guy is nowhere near as good as me. What the hell is this really about?”
“I can’t give you the details, Bolt. I’m sorry,” Alicia said, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on her.
“This is fucked up,” Bolt spat. “You’re making a mistake. I’ve got more to offer than most of those other guys. But whatever. If that’s how it is, I’m out.”
“I’m sorry, Bolt. I really am,” Alicia said, though she knew her words wouldn’t make a difference.
“Yeah, sure,” Bolt muttered before hanging up.
Alicia let out a long breath after the call ended, the tension in her shoulders finally releasing. She knew these conversations were necessary, but that didn’t make them any easier.
***
As Atlas looked down over the list of recruits, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. The team was getting smaller, and the decisions were only going to get harder from here. But that was the reality of what they were building. Only the best would make it, and the best weren’t just the strongest or the fastest. They were the ones who could be counted on, no matter what.
Mary and Bolt were out. Fifteen left. The journey was far from over.
Atlas stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the arena below where the remaining recruits were sparring. Even when the team was training, he was training himself as well, frequently fighting two-on-one fights with the recruits. The trials weren’t just about finding the best fighters; they were about forging a team that could survive anything. And that meant cutting anyone who didn’t make the grade, no matter how much it stung. His potential group of six people for the portals, including himself, depended on making these tough calls.
Alicia knocked on the doorframe, peeking into the office. “Hey, you got a minute?”
“Yeah, come in,” Atlas said, turning to face her.
Alicia walked in and sat down across from him. “So, I’ve been thinking… Why are we cutting so many people so fast? Can’t we have a larger backup team? I mean, what if something happens?”
Atlas leaned back, considering her words. “I get where you’re coming from, Alicia. I know it sounds harsh, but we can’t afford to have anyone on the team who isn’t 100% reliable. We’re going to be facing some serious challenges, and I’d rather have a small team I can trust completely than a larger one with weak links.”
Alicia frowned, still not fully convinced. “But what if we face something we didn’t expect? Having more people could be a lifesaver.”
“I understand your concern,” Atlas said, his tone softening. “But we have to think strategically.”
*What she doesn’t know is that I only need to really prep a team of five new assistants, and having the right five could be a literal lifesaver,* thought Atlas.