Destination Everywhere

Part 1

Xander stands in a small elevator filled with people he doesn't know. Being a numbers geek, he does a quick headcount. There are seven other members of this awkward elevator ride, eight if he would include himself. They would be able to invite five more people until they would reach the maximum number of persons allowed in this elevator: thirteen.

But, why thirteen? He asks himself. And why is the number always associated with bad luck? He makes a mental note to look it up when he gets some downtime.

Another of the right elevator riders, David Coldwell, abruptly clears his throat and claps his hands together to get the attention of the other elevator ride passengers. "Now," he begins, "I suppose you are all wondering why I've gathered you here today." he moves his hand and pressed the emergency stop button of the elevator. The elevator holts to a stop and the box is frozen, suspended between two stories of the office building.

"Who do you think you are?" exclaims a woman. Her face is already red with rage.

"My name is David Coldwell, Mrs. Morningdew. I do suggest you hold your temper, for I hope my offer will please you and your child the most."

Mrs. Morningdew gasps, awestruck at what the man had told her. "No one... Only my husband... Knows that I am in my first trimester of pregnancy!"

"Precisely," replied David. "Do any of you have any other objections before I explain what is going on?"

No one else in the elevator dares to say a thing. Xander, particularly, wants to see what this well-dressed man has to offer. He had come to this building for a job interview, was this a part of it? It was a strange test for a simple worker, but Xander decided it was best not to interrupt the mysterious man.

"Very well," David continues, turning to pull a small lever next to the emergency stop button. Once it is in position, the elevator creaks, and the doors grind open. One rider gasps, but they speak for everyone who can now see a hidden floor of the building through the doors of the elevator.

"Please follow me and do your best not to disturb the other workers, we all have been very busy as of the late." David steps in front of the other passengers and out of the elevator. The room they enter is large and mostly lit by desk lamps. There are far-off windows, but they only let in a soft glow of sunlight.

Xander is the first, followed by the other six elevator passengers, that follow David out. David leads them down the lane between work desks. What is different between these cubicles and others Xander had seen is what is cluttering each desk. One desk is covered in locks and keys by a small chest. Another desk has jars of what appeared to be different colors of moving glitter. And, yet another, has movie-prop-looking electronics scattered about.

David leads the crew into a conference room. There is a circular table set up with seven chairs. At the top of the table sits a projector that is illuminating a square screen. It is entirely white, except for a logo of a griffin hanging over the acronym M.P.A.

Along with the others, Xander takes a seat and turns to watch Daniel stand near the projection. "I would like to thank you all for joining us. From me and everyone else at MPA, we are very thrilled that you have accepted our invitation.

"Every one of you came here today with the expectation of going to a job interview with Mr. Kass Coldwell, my twin brother and the owner of this building. But what you may not have known is that we have a signed, federal agreement that allows me to use his name on any paper that I wish. This includes the invitation email that I sent to each of you and fourteen others who did not accept this opportunity.

"But enough with the business side of things. You have all been invited to join the MPA: The Magical Protection Agency. We operate globally, from 1,000BC all the way until 4765 in three dimensions.  I am the leader of the United States branch, and head of the recruitment sector within in.

"Every one of your application forms was astronomical, but there is still one task each of you must complete before you are hired for the positions we have chosen you for. Each of you must step through here and speak to leadership before you are accepted into the agency."

David side-stepped the projection screen and it became a swirling circle of multiple colors, something like a portal out of a fantasy film. Xander can't help but be enthralled by this offer. Does this mean there is magic in this world? Whatever this opportunity could mean to him could change everything.

"Who would like to go first?" asks Davis.

Zander rises to his feet. The others in the room are skeptical of him, it is obvious across all of their faces. This could be the opportunity of his lifetime, and being the first to stand up guarantees his entrance into this wondrous story. He steps through the portal, into somewhere unknown.