I got cocky and screwed up. It was a simple in and out mission, and now the building's guards were after us. That also meant there could be Agents. The hardline was in the building across the street, but when you're on 15th floor and the guards know you're there, there's only one way to go: up.
When I reached the rooftop, Bit was already jumping. She made it look easy. She just ran, closed her eyes for the briefest second, then leaped and cleared the 50ft gap like it was nothing. I started to run for the edge, but then had to stop and take a step back. I never did like heights. I heard the footsteps in the stairwell behind me, but I still had to take a second to focus. Inside my head, I repeated the mantra.
"This is all a program, it isn't real, none of this is real, you can do whatever you want. Believe. Believe...no...Know. Know. You can do it. It's easy. Just do it. Do it."
I stepped back a bit more, took a useless deep breath, and ran for the edge. I bent my legs to jump, but somewhere in the back my head my mind screamed "IT'S REAL"
I jumped and made it about 10 feet out from the ledge of the building and then started to fall fast. I was screaming. There are no words to describe a 20 story free fall. When I hit, the ground gave way like jello and then spit me back up. I took a breath and groaned in pain before I felt that familiar feeling: a flash of light, a blast of noise, the feeling of the world shattering and disappearing. Then I was back on the deck of the ship.
I groaned as I got up, my body making the program's pain a reality. I felt like shit. Not from the impact, but for failing. Failing a training mission. For forgetting everything I've been taught. The deck was quiet, and I knew everyone was looking at me. I nervously raised my eyes to the captain, standing beside me. She knew that I knew what I did wrong, and didn't bother chastising me for it. She rest a comforting hand on my shoulder. The rest of the crew, my fellow red pills at least, all looked at me sympathetically.
"You'll get it next time, kid. It's never easy letting go of what you've been taught is real. Everyone falls their first time."