Chapter 3

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   Walking through the secret tunnel that leads to the gym with Dad, we make our way back into the house as I study the yellow envelope. Once in the kitchen I take a seat at the table with the envelope in my hands.
Harley Barnes, it addresses from the top left corner however it doesn't have a return address on it for me to see who it's from. I tug the flap open and another envelope falls out but this one is smaller and at the bottom "S.H.I.E.L.D" is printed on it. Dad has wandered back into his bedroom as I hold up the envelope to the light above the table, a shadow of a rectangle appears and then I lower the envelope and pull the flap open.
   I pull out a letter and begin reading:
Dear Miss Harley M. Barnes,
      We have seen your work in the past and have selected you for this program due to your, talents. The program you have been selected for is called "Avengers: The Recruits" and this program will help us find and select a team to become the Young Avengers (this team will then take the place of the Avengers when they retire). For this program, you will participate in  multiple try outs over the next 2 months with others that have accomplished skills just as you. The try outs will test everything in you, so you either make it or break it. If you fail you will then be sent back home, if you succeed then you will continue on until the final test. You will be given more details on the location and time for when you should arrive at the HQ in the number below if you decide to try out.

-S.H.I.E.L.D

I glance at the number below and then stare at the phone sitting in its charger on the kitchen counter. "Hey Dad,"I call out from the kitchen.
"What's wrong?" He asks as he comes into the kitchen quickly.
"That letter I received...its from S.H.I.E.L.D," I say as he walks over and examines the letter. "They are offering me a chance to try out for a new Avengers team."
His eyes glaze over as he stares in the direction of the letter, as if remembering something. He shakes his head slightly as he scrunches his eyebrows and then looks back at me. "If you want to try out you can,but if you don't...then just remember that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to prove to people like that what you do and how good you are at it."
I follow his blue eyed gaze back to the letter.
"Well,"I say and then smile slightly "guess I can't pass up an opportunity like this."
He rests a hand on my shoulder and then brings the phone to me. "I'll leave you to it then," he says with a smile in his voice and then says in a serious tone "but I want a full report of it once you're done."
"Sir yes sir,"I joke as I dial the number.
After dialing the number and waiting for someone to pick up, a female voice answers the phone.
"This is Agent Hill of S.H.I.E.L.D, I noticed that you are calling from a secure line with the Avengers: The Recruits number," Agent Hill states into the phone "please state your full name."
"Harley Michelle Barnes,"I reply.
"Okay Miss Barnes,I am going to ask you a few questions and then if your profile fits the qualifications we need for the try outs then I will give you information over the program. Ready to begin?"
"Yes ma'am," I reply before she begins asking me basic questions like: what's my gender? How tall am I? How much do I weigh? When is my birthday? Where was I born? etc.
"Now can you tell me a few skills that you have?"
"Yes ma'am, I am trained in hand-to-hand combat, I am extremely useful with sniper rifles, hand guns, etc.. I have been on plenty of missions with my-"
   "Hate to interrupt you but we would like to not know about any family relations due to the fact that some would try and use that as a way to get onto the team."
   "Yes ma'am."
   "Please continue."
   "I have been on plenty of missions with my trainer ever since I was 12. I started my training early at the age of 10."
   "Okay,that will be all that I need for now. Let me run your profile through the database and if it is approved then grab a pen and some paper to write down some information over the program. If the information you gave me does not match the information in the database then you will not be able to try out. I will put you on hold now."
   I sit there waiting while elevator music starts playing in the phone. I sigh, since they're S.H.I.E.L.D you think they would've chosen better music.
"Okay Miss Barnes you are signed up for the try outs. Now get that pen and paper ready," Agent Hill says into the phone as I grab a pen and a notepad.
"Ready."

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