<The Opening> (I) Opportunities

Prologue

“The entities that plague our world have been on the rise recently. We must send out more teams.”

“But, Chief, we don't have enough members left. Our last excursion left us with no more available Drivers.”

“Recruit more than. We mustn’t let this plague go uncured.”

“Yes, Chief, I will get on it immediately.”

“We must do everything in our power to stop these abominations. We can no longer afford to take the safe route. It ends here..”

Disposal of entities is The Slasher Coalition’s role in this world. They work in the shadows and use any means to eliminate these invaders threatening world security. Founded in 1988 after a report was filed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about suspicious activity in rural Michigan regarding a pitch-black entity terrorizing the locals. SlashCo would initially enlist the help of the Drivers United group, which coincidently investigated the same reports through a series of unlikely events. However, after many failed missions, the original Drivers have all been killed or turned away from the organization, prompting the current head of SlashCo, Chief Marshall Wolf, to open the secret division to public recruitment for the first time since its creation nearly 40 years ago. The entities SlashCo would come to investigate over the years were eventually given the moniker of Slashers.

(I) Opportunities

⏺ 𐀔

“A recruitment poster. I haven't seen this one here before,” says a girl in a light tone.

“Hmm, let's see what it has to say,” responds a deeper voice. “The Slasher Coalition is looking for new... Drivers? What like a trucking company?”

“That's a weird name for a trucking company. WAIT, does that say 100 dollars and hour?!”

“It does?! I mean, we have to apply, right? How can we turn down such an amazing opportunity.”

Thus, the couple takes the flyer with them back to their apartment, hopeful that this is the shattering point they need to break out of their stagnant lives.

“Wait, I can't drive!” shouts the girl as if she remembered this fact.

“I’ll just have to give you a crash course in driving then. But 3 days is going to be tough to learn all you need to.” replies the deeper voice of the man, “but if they turn you down without giving you a chance, they'll have to answer to me.”

“And what's that supposed to mean exactly?”

“Guess you'll just have to wait and see,” he replies laughingly, flaunting his muscles in the air.

Unaware of the consequences this action would have, the two continue to joke together through the night as the flyer rests on their table.

☀

“Hey honey, look at this. It's a recruitment flyer I found while walking today,” says an older lady in a calming tone.

How often do I have to tell her I can’t take a job requiring me to talk? Does she forget I’m functionally mute, like no one is going to hire me. But I might as well look at it since she went out of her way to get it for me.

Alright, let's see what this says: The Slasher Coalition is recruiting… Drivers? What does that even mean? Are they looking for delivery drivers? Maybe I could do that, but again, I can't really talk, so they have to accept that if they want me to work.

“Oh, are you taking an interest in something for once? Normally, you just trash them as soon as I hand you them.”

Well, I can't trash an opportunity that is willing to pay me 100 dollars an hour. Does she know how many plushies I could buy with just one hour of work?! That's like 3 or 4 an HOUR. I’ll be dying in plushie heaven after just one day of work. I need this job; I have to apply immediately, but how does one exactly do that it doesn't have a web page or anything. Just an address and a date. That doesn’t mean what I think it does, does it? Im going to have to do this in person, which means I'm screwed from the start.

“Why do you look so sad all of a sudden? You looked so hopeful earlier.”

I hand her the flyer back and point to the date and time labeled at the bottom of the flyer.

“Huh why is this a problem, youve got nothing going on that day?”

Oh my god, do I have to spell everything out for you? Get it through your thick skull. This time, I point at it with more aggression, then signal back to myself.

“Ahh I get it its in person interviews only... Well lets see im off that day so i can come with you and be youre voice.”

My savior! Maybe I was a bit harsh on you earlier, even if you didn't hear it since it was inside my head. But that's not important right now, what is important is that I need to get some nice clothes and practice my interview responses (Yeah yeah, like I’ll actually be able to get a word out while there). But really in all seriousness, if I get this job, it will be a significant turning point in my life.

As she hangs the flyer up in her room so as not to forget, the hopeful young girl gets some much-needed rest. Oblivious about what would transpire in the coming days, she holds her positive view of the future close to her heart.

ꩇ ᛒ ℭ

Three friends sit on a call together, talking about everything and nothing simultaneously.

“Hey ⬛, I think we need to call it a day on this raid.” says a voice softer voice.

“Yeah, seriously ⬛, we've been going all day, and it's just wipes after wipes,” replies a second, stronger but friendly voice.

<Okay, Okay, we’ll try again tomorrow or later this week> Types the final member of the trio.

“Yeah, we’ll clear it for sure later this week. Now that we have the mechanics down, it will be the easiest thing ever.” states the first voice confidently.

“If that's what you call ‘having down,’ we definitely got this in the bag. But to the rest of us here, we didn't even have the first mechanic fully understood,” quickly responds the second voice.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. But anyway, have you guys seen this recruitment flyer thats been flying around?”

<The one for that weird company Slasher Coalition>

“Yeah, it says they need drivers, which is fine, but get this: they pay 100 dollars an HOUR!”

“An hour?! You mean that you just need people who can drive, and they’ll pay you nearly 800 a day?”

“That's exactly what I'm saying!”

<Where do we apply? I need this money NOW>

“It says here that they we have to meet at ⬛ next tuesday the ⬛.”

<Damn, so soon, but we can’t let this opportunity pass us. I guess I'll see you guys sooner than expected then>

Thus, the group of three set up plans to apply for The Slasher Coalition together. Blind to the effect this would have on their life, they were hopeful that this opportunity would change their lives for the better.

Ꟙ ߐ

“Do you think we have enough to make rent this month?” asks a concerned voice of young Lady.

“Hmm, if we pool together our savings, I think we can just barely make enough to survive this month, but next month, we’ll have to cut back on our expenses,” replies a soothing but concerned voice of a younger man.

“Cut back even more? What can we cut back on? We already eat only one meal a day to save money and buy only necessities.”

“I think we'll have to cut out some of our meals or pick up a second job for both of us.”

“Ugh, is anyone even hiring though?”

“Well, everyone is hiring, but no one is HIRING if you understand.” replied the man jokingly, trying to lighten the conversation.

“Guess it doesn't hurt to apply to any job that says they are hiring.”

The two searched for jobs over the next few days but have yet to find one to hire them. They don’t even get a single response to their applications.

“This is not working ⬛, no one will take us in. No matter how qualified we are for the job.” stated the young lady frustratingly.

“Let’s not give up just yet, okay? I found this flyer while walking back from work. If we can get hired here, we are set for life.” replied the young man.

“What do you mean set for life? No job can just set you for life?”

“Well, normally not, but a job offering 100 dollars an hour just to be a driver? Seems pretty set for life to me?”

“Wait, 100. As in like the number after 99 and before 101. That 100?”

“Yes, that 100”

“HOW DO WE APPLY?!” Screams the young lady, brimming with excitement at the opportunity before her.

“Woah, lets calm down a bit okay?”

“CALM DOWN? HOW CAN I BE CALM WHEN THIS LIFE-CHANGING CHANCE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US?”

“Okay, okay, I get you. But it says here we must meet them at ⬛ on the ⬛. So That gives us roughly 3 days to get ready.”

"3 days, tsch. Barely giving us time to get ready, I see. Guess I better practice my interview skills to get ready.”

“We got this. This is the turning point we’ve been asking for since we had to get new jobs. This is the start of our real lives.”

“Yes, exactly. The start of our real lives is finally here.”

Nescient to the drastic changes this choice would have on their life, the two, feeling hopeful for the future of their lives for the first time in a long time, hurriedly practice their interview skills the rest of the day. They gave each other mock interviews and asked every possible question to be as prepared as possible.

End of <The Opening>