Killing Liza

I - Where's My Epic Background Music?

I breathe steadily, preparing myself for the buzz of the bell. It's utterly silent inside the training room where I stand, and that gives me a moment to think for a change. I study the layout, even though I've been in here countless times before.

It's a large, empty room, probably somewhere around twenty-two feet wide and around forty feet long. The ceiling is high, giving the training area an open feeling. Granted, the high ceilings are more for the necessity rather than the avant-garde structure design, but that's beside the point. Based on personal experience, I know that the walls are made entirely out of concrete reinforced with steel-fiber to avoid damaging the internal structure and having the whole Academy collapse in on itself. Aligning the corners of the expanse are small cameras and projectors that blend well with the walls. They aren't noticeable unless you know what to look for, but I can recognize the offset shadows anywhere.

I stand directly in the center of the room, facing the only door into the specific area. The window embedded into the right wall parallel to me is a one-way window, meaning that whoever is on the other side can see into the room, but I can't see them. I find myself grateful for the design. I don't need any distractions while they deliberate how well I can defend myself through their training courses.

Every time I find myself back in the area of The Onyx Academy, I can't help but notice how much I've changed and developed. The room has forged my path of the type of assassin I have become. I've put my blood, sweat, and tears into this room with the training I've endured. Now, the only blood that's being spilled is those unfortunate enough to train with me.

The harsh release of a lock tells me my time for thinking is over, and I focus on the door and projectors to see what kind of training I'll be treated with today. I wasn't allowed weapons of any sort for today, including my proclivity for mental weaponry, so I feel it will be more hand to hand combat. However, my mentor has never been known for his predictability.

Shortly after the clicking stops, the door opens, and six other assassins stroll into the room. Four men, two women. I noticed all of them were fully equipped with their preferred weapons of choice while I have nothing. I keep my face blank, not bothering to comment on the unfairness of the situation. The Onyx Academy firmly believes in keeping us prepared for any type of position where we may find ourselves stuck. In my current case, powerless, weaponless, and outnumbered.

Rules are simple for training. There's a ten-minute time limit to defeat any and all enemies. One can use any method possible to win, however, nothing that cannot be reversed-- this means death, if Academy assassins are used, and not the life-like holograms we train with. The last rule is 'losing promises punishment.' Punishments are promulgated by our mentors to instigate means of better survival. After all, what good is an assassin if they're dead because they weren't trained on how to stay alive?

There's the buzz of the bell that I was initially waiting for to indicate the start of the ten minutes, and immediately after, I have two of the male assassins sprinting towards me. I brace myself, completely shutting out distractions so I can scan for weaknesses.

The taller of the two moves to swing a right-hook at my face, and I block the movement quickly. Raw power slams into my forearm, and it takes everything I have in me to not acknowledge the pain of the hit. Clearly, this assassin has an affinity for strength. I sense more than see the attack from behind, and the other male that charged me attempts to take me out. I duck out of the way and dance around these two morons. After 30 seconds of watching the two of them--still aware of the other four assassins who have yet to attack me--I strike on the weakness I've gathered. While I am currently unable to read their minds and hurt and confuse them from within their own bodies, I still have the advantage.