I

  strutted up to the S.O.A.S. building wearing a brand-new black suit jacket and pants. Underneath my jacket, I worea striking dark blue, button-down shirt with a black and blue striped tie. My short, spiky black hair was a little messy, just the way I like it. I pushed my hand through my hair as the automatic doors at the entrance to the building slid open.

There were hundreds of people walking around the huge modernistic lobby.

“Mr. Scarr,” the woman at the front desk announced as I walked toward her with a confused look on my face. “Mr. Wolfe would like to see you immediately,” she said. I looked at her cynically. I knew exactly why Mr. Wolfe wanted to speak to me, and I knew it wasn’t going to be a pleasant discussion.

“I’ll get on that,” I replied rudely as I headed toward the elevator.

I took the elevator to the top floor aware that my job at the company could be in jeopardy based on my actions the previous night. I walked through the large glass doors into a

sizable waiting room. There were a few men in suits sitting on

large, upholstered chairs reading the newspaper, but overall, the room was mostly empty. I stood in the center of the room trying to get anyone’s attention who could help me find out where I was supposed to meet with Mr. Wolfe, but no one seemed to acknowledge me. It did not appear that anyone was in charge. I finally saw a few of the men look up from their newspapers and stare at me with dirty looks on their faces.

“Are you Liam Scarr?” one of the men said as he stood up out of his chair.

“Depends on who’s asking,” I said.

“The boss would like to speak with you,” he replied as he pointed toward a large office branching off from the other side of the waiting room. I slowly walked to the door and pushed it open without knocking. Mr. Wolfe was sitting at his desk, and he immediately stood up when I walked in. He straightened his black suit jacket as he tossed his black tie on the floor of his office. He had on a red, button-down shirt underneath his suit jacket along with black shiny shoes that matched. His hair was a combination of brown and grey, which was clearly starting to turn all grey, and slicked back neatly. He stared at me intently.

“Mr. Scarr, nice of you to drop by,” Mr. Wolfe said. “I heard you wanted to see me,” I replied.

“Yes, you know...I was very displeased with a phone call I

received late last night. Your assignment was to ensure that Bethany Anderson followed through with her wedding.

However, it appears that Bethany Anderson broke her engagement and is now single again. She will not be getting married, and she and her fiancé will not be going on their honeymoon to Saint Martin as planned. I’m confused why that would be the case since you were supposed to ensure that the marriage took place,” he said angrily.

“Her fiancé was abusive. The woman was terrified. It didn’t feel like it was my choice to make,” I replied. Mr. Wolfe reached into the bottom drawer of his desk as he pulled out an orbuculum.

“This orbuculum is far more advanced than any technology we have in the year 2020. It is able to give us a glimpse into the future. In the year 2025, the S.O.A.S. will have complete control over the population. We will have finally created a socialistic society with no free will. However, in order for

this particular future to occur, we must make the necessary changes. Ensuring that Bethany Anderson got married was an event that needed to occur. Since that event ceases to exist, the possible future the orbuculum presented is now in jeopardy... because of you,” he said sternly.

“Do you want me to say I’m sorry?” I asked snarkily. “I didn’t recruit an arrogant thief because I wanted to

make friends. I recruited you because I wanted someone to complete missions with the utmost skill without having any feelings toward a wife that gets beaten. I thought you weren’t sentimental, but it seems as if I was wrong,” he said as he signaled for the men to come into his office. Four large men quickly dispersed throughout Mr. Wolfe’s office. They all looked at me with disgust.

“You’re a loose cannon Liam. I can’t have you interfering with my affairs any longer. Your time here has come to an end,” he said. I looked around at the large men surrounding me.

“Congratulations,” I replied. Mr. Wolfe signaled to the men as they slowly closed in on me.

“Take care of him,” Mr. Wolfe said, smiling. The men dragged me out the back door and tossed me onto the concrete. They all circled around me as I laid on the ground. One of the men pulled out a Glock 22 and pointed it at me.

“We can’t have any loose ends compromising our goal,” the man with the gun said.

“I guess it’s time to die then,” I replied.

“I’m glad we are on the same page,” he said. I slowly reached for my right ankle as I grabbed my black-and-white striped Desert Eagle pistol.

“Me too,” I said as one bullet flew directly into the man’s forehead. The man immediately dropped, and the other men

looked at the dead man nervously. They reached into their pants for their pistols, but before they could do so, I shot two of them and pistol-whipped the other. I quickly scanned the back parking lot, and it was completely empty. I began to strut down the street away from the S.O.A.S. building hoping to leave my past behind.