Chapter 8

It was a new morning for Atlas, just another seemingly normal day. This morning though, something newsworthy had hit the station. Nobody even knowing how it started. All they know is that a train headed for Atlas came with everybody on board lying in a pool of blood. The only clue they had was a name written all over. Mysterio.

Now, this man had struck a blow to Atlas. Fist Vale, now here. Fear was at a high. For if this man could destroy Amity, then what would he do here. What was next?

Nobody had an answer, except for the culprits who started this. It was in his office, one mad had gritted his teeth, and gripped both fists where one could draw blood. His name was general Ironwood, and he already knew the events that occurred a few days ago. Also gaining some information about the man.

Which was why it greatly frustrated the Atlas general that he could do nothing about Mysterio. The minute specialist Schnee gave him the intel on where Mysterio was headed, Ironwood was sure he could catch the man.

He had set up extra guards where the crook's stop was at. Once he got off the train, he would be surrounded. His men outfitted with equipment to counteract the various gases that could have been used against them.

Instead, he had multiple lives lost. The train never reaching the stop at all. By the time his men found the dysfunctioning train, the Grimm were already there.

Ironwood was about to make a few calls, but his scroll rang. Picking it up, he saw it was one Jacques Schnee. This was already a bad time, his mood quite foul. Still, it was best to see what the man wanted. The good thing being his, 'partner' for dust, had become more bearable after recent events.

"Hello, if I may ask, what is it? I'm already dealing with a situation here, so please be quick." Jacques complied, and gave his reasoning for the call. Making Ironwood rub his head even more, because now the situation got worse. "They took who?!"


'Ah man, how'd I get into this mess?' Currently in the cold, early morning, one man by the name Mysterio was contemplating his life choices. Completely uncertain how he got into the catastrophe he was in. Which was stuck being in Hydra, watched by both men and trigger happy guards.

'Seriously, this sucks.' And to make matters worse, Mysterio was completely blamed on the deaths that occured on the very train he was on. Now, Mysterio may have killed some people in his career, but it was at the very minimum. He wasn't some serial killer like Carnage, Goblin, and other damn lunatics.

Hydra on the other hand, seemed quite fine with those deaths. The worst part being they 'kindly persuaded' Mysterio into putting them all to sleep. Then shooting each and every one of them in the head, leaving only a few alive for the Grimm. Using Mysterio's own signature name to make it seem he did it all on his own.

While the crook loved attention, he assuredly didn't like infamous attention. Because those that killed usually meant they were put on the list where they were fine to be killed. In other words, if he got a bounty, the person hired could shoot him in the head and get away scot-free.

'And to make things worse, I'm being used as the side act while Hydra gets the main act. Taking all that dust.' Right now, Hydra was adding extra options on the plan Mysterio originally made. Making it work for more than one person. All Mysterio got though was that he would be more or less a distraction.

What worried him the most though, wasn't the bad attention, or even the fact he could be man hunted. No, all he had to do, was remember the item Sin took from him. The amulet.

'...I have to get it back, but how?' If the circumstances were correct, Mysterio would be more than happy if the amulet was gone. Do a tap dance in a graveyard, phone prank M.O.D.A.K., give his savings to an actual charity.

Sadly, these weren't the right circumstances. Mysterio needed the amulet back. His master gave it to him for a very good reason. If he lost it, and he met his master again, asking where it was…...There was a good chance he'd be sent to hell for the rest of his miserable existence.

As Mysterio tried coming with fruitless plans for his situation, the door opened up. "Hey dome head, the bosses brought you company, enjoy."

The goon then through some kid into the room Mysterio was being held in. The kid stumbling onto his knees as the goon just laughed, closing the door shut. Once Mysterio got a plan, he'd make that man experience his worst nightmare. Until then, might as well see what company misery brought him.

"I see you've been caught as well. And you are?" The kid just looked up at him. Mysterio getting a good look at what his appearance was. Feeling a familiarity to him for some reason.

The child had a sense of maturity around him, possessing snow-white hair and piercing blue eyes with a fair complexion. Wearing a well dressed attire consisting of a vest, fine trousers, and polished shoes. The color scheme being white and blue. Very familiar.

"..." As for the kid, he just stared at the man with a narrow eyes. Uncertain if he should speak or not. Glancing around the room, the child saw no chairs, no blankets, just a tiny room with nothing but the man and him inside. Sitting on the cold concrete ground.

"Come on kid, may as well speak. Nothing else to do in here after all." Hearing those words, the child just sighed. Seeing how the man was right-unfortunately. Better to speak and learn his situation, then do nothing at all for who knows how long.

"Fine….my name is Whitley Schnee, and it appears I'm a hostage like you." Mysterio was about to comment on the hostage thing, but then recognized the name Schnee. SDC..Schnee Dust Company….Whitley Schnee.

"Your the guy who's gonna run this company." Man, wasn't everyday Mysterio saw someone with wealth. Yeah he knew a few rich villains, but not personally. "I guess you're going to be the bargaining ship or something for this heist, huh."

"...I guess….But more for appearances sake for my father…" Whitley said it in a small whisper, but thanks to the size of this room, Mysterio heard it clearly. Which actually confused him a bit.

"Appearances sake? Shouldn't your dad be all happy to get you back?" Whitley didn't say anything regarding that. Mysterio however, wished to know. Interested in the kid, if only for a good time waster. "Come on kid, may as well speak. We're going to be here for a looong while."

Whitley didn't bother saying anything at first. But after minutes passed with nothing to do, the male Schnee decided there was no harm in saying his thoughts. Since he doubted he would meet this man again once this was all over.

"I guess I can talk, but first, I want to know who you are." Of course, Whitley might as well know who this man was, and why he was here. Mysterio also deciding that he could give out some information at the least.

"Eh, why not." Standing up, he then posed himself in a way he thought was cool. "For you are speaking to, the mighty, the spectacular, the grand master of effects and illusion, Mysterio!"

"Mysterio!" Now Whitley surely knew that name. It was the name spreading all over Remnant. A man who destroyed the Amity Colosseum in Vale, and killed an entire train of people. Only those who lived in the gutter didn't know this man.

"That's right. You clearly know who I am, and must be amazed." Whitley just stared at him, not amazed whatsoever.

"...If your this 'great' Mysterio…..Then why are you stuck here?" Yeah, that was a good point. Instantly all of Mysterio's boldness went down. Since as Whitley pointed out, why a powerful person as him, was stuck in such a dingy little room.

"...Let's just say…...stuff happened. A-anyway, I told you who I am. Now, you tell me what's a guy like yourself doing here." Directing his embarrassment toward another angle, Whitley decided he may as well humor the man.

"Fine, but you speak after me, got it." Whitley demanded.

"Sure, why not. Now just go." Sitting down, Whitley made himself comfortable as best he could and explained the events that lead to his imprisonment.

"Well, it was really just a simple day for me. Got up, ate breakfast, and decided to do some early work." It was morning when it all began. Hearing the news of the train, Atlas has contacted all security to raise their guard. Everybody to stay focused and be ready for an attack.

Whitley on the other hand, didn't mind much. With the city on alert, he could rest in peace, not having to hear the annoyances of people talking about the many things occurring in their daily lives. For him, he'd rather just read a fine book without anybody bothering him. Which was exactly what he did.

"Of course, I didn't realize at the time that I was being followed." Whitley of course, did have some security around him. Taking the form of two Atlas droid guards. They watched over him as he made his way to the Atlas library.

Normally he would have done this at his mansions own library, but…..his sisters have arrived their. Feeling rather uncomfortable near them, he decided to just vacate the area while his sisters Weiss and Winter went to prepare for whatever important things they needed.

It was while he was walking, Whitley then noticed something ammissed. Noticing the area being a bit devoid of walking citizens. He wouldn't have minded to much, but even the Schnee felt something off about this.

It was then those goons affiliated with Hydra struck. His guards instantly went into protective mode, raising their weapons. Before they could do anything though, a man wearing a skull mask came and effortlessly destroyed them. The rest was history after that.

"And now I find myself here with you." He said in a flat tone. "How about you sir. How's a supposed mega-criminal stuck here?"

Sir? That made Mysterio feel old. Still, he answered the kid's question. Mentioning how it was Hydra who did the train, and pinned the blame on them. Stating how they double-crossed him and how Mysterio fought his best…..He may have made his story sound a bit extravagant than it was, censoring his fear of them. But hey, the kid seemed to have bought it.

"I see, quite impressive. And I guess they took all your equipment so you could do nothing in here." Whitley noted, seeing the lack of weaponry on the man.

"Pretty much. They'll give it back when they initiate the plan of taking all that dust. I guess that's why they have you." Whitley nodded.

"Exactly. Those brutes more than likely believe that I have codes for the SDC security. And like you said before, a bargaining chip. At the least when this is over, I'll go home. Now that was a laugh. Mysterio just chuckled at the kid's line of thinking.

"...Is there something funny?" He asked.

"Yeah. You thinking we're getting out of this alive. That's what's funny." The young Schnee started to look worried. Not sure if this man was actually telling the truth.

"B-but, they have to let us go. Once we're done being used, that's it. Isn't it?" Poor kid. Made sense a pampered brat like him didn't understand the true cruelty as the world knows it. Mysterio may as well break it to him.

"Sorry kid, but this is Hydra. These guys mean business. Once they get the job done, they'll no longer have any use for us. Meaning that by the time the crime is up, both of us we'll be in a six-foot grave."Now Whitley was looking quite frightened. Death. When he was so young. Surely it was a lie.

"N-no, this can't be. You have to be lying. We can't just die!" Mysterio just looked at the Schnee pitifully. It made sense the kid was scared, even he was. Mysterio wasn't a good person, but perhaps he could comfort the kid a little.

"Well, on the bright side, at least you'll be missed by many. The only person who'd give a damn about me is gone." Which was technically true, seeing as how his daughter is being held captive somewhere not on earth. "Buy you, at least you have a family."

"...as if."

"Huh?" Strange, the kid suddenly looked sad. Quite lonely in fact. In a way, it appeared as if the Schnee had nobody with him. But that was a lie, wasn't it. He had two powerful, arcane sisters, and a father and mother. Along with good friends. After all, it wasn't like Whitley was Mysterio. A crook who nobody actually cared for, where the people would celebrate his death. Knowing they wouldn't be bugged anymore by him. That is, if they'd bother remembering him.

"What's with the look? Surely a guy like you has a bunch of buddies?" Asking the sulking Schnee, Whitley just looked back at the villain and considered if he should answer. After a few minutes, Whitley decided he may as well, considering how he would die as the man said they would. Get whatever feelings he had left out of his chest.

"...Honestly, I don't." He answered slowly. "Nobody is really my friend, not truly. At most their just trying to be friends for 'benefits'." Ouch, even Mysterio felt a bit bad. No friends, even he had a few. Granted, they were the people who'd most likely ditch him at the sign of trouble, but at least he had a few drinking buddies.

"Okay, so no friends. But what about those sisters of yours, your parents? They would definitely miss you if you die." Whitley just looked displeased at that. Actually giving a snort, something he'd usually never do.

"As if. I don't know about you, but my family…..is more than a little distant from each other." That was how it was many years ago. His father focused more on the company, mother always in the garden drinking. Winter was at the military all the time, and Weiss, she just didn't talk much to him.

"Things did change when this whole….dimensional war happened. Yet for me, nothing changed at all." Yes, nothing. His father did get a little better in treating him and his siblings, but that was it. Weiss and Winter, in the end those two were always talking to each other. More so with the events that past. The two sisters always happily talking, showing signs of affection.

…...Neither of them even bothering to speak to him. Even when they visited the mansion, witch was becoming scarce these past months, the most they said to him was a simple 'Hello'. Nothing more. Even the family butler Klein didn't say much. Then their was his mother, Willow Schnee.

"...Oddly enough, some guy called Parker, one of Weiss's partner at Beacon, came. Helped my mother by giving her some drink. It's been….helping her." He didn't personally know this Parker guy, but he was there-by accident-when he saw him helping his mother, Willow.

Whatever he did for her, it made his mom much more active. She still stayed in the garden, but wasn't as drunk. Despite this, she seemed to be more active around her daughters, not her son.

In the end, this made Whitley feel more suffocated at home. More…...lonely.

"..." As for Mysterio himself, he didn't say anything. By no means was he mocking the child, or even though his situation was funny. In fact, a part of him actually felt…..sad for him. It was then Mysterio realized why, because he felt that same loneliness as well.

All his life, he wished to be a director. Bringing his ideas to the world, inspire them. His parents though, while they took care of him, didn't really support his ideals. If anything, they didn't say much to him. Instead of loving parents, they only just took care of him until he left the house. Neither of the two even calling him, to see how he was doing.

When he was at college, he had no friends. His classmates actually thinking his dreams were pathetic. More interested in their own things like basketball, video games, and other careers.

His own wife, didn't even support him. In fact, his very dream was what drove them apart. Since during that time, he didn't have a very successful job, being just an intern. His wife soon leaving him taking their daughter with her.

This would then lead at the moment where he would become Mysterio. Where he had finally got the chance to show his script. The very thing he worked his entire life for. Only for his work to be rejected. Nobody, his co-workers, employer, thought anything special about it.

Thinking on it, he became Mysterio because of these moments. No friends, no family, nothing. Sure, he chose to be bad, does everything by his own will. However, had he had a pal, even somebody that gave him help, would he have become Mysterio?

Shaking his head, Mysterio decided that was enough recollection. That was the past, this is the now, the present. And right now, he could die, failing the one person he made a connection with after his first death. He couldn't fail her. But what about the kid?

"...hey, kid…." Before he could speak though, the door opened up. Revealing a smiling Sin and the fearsome Crossbones.

"Alright then Mysterio, brat, let's go. It's time." Standing up, Mysterio decided to put away any advice he had for Schnee for later. Right now, they had a job, a rather forced one. Still, he had to do his best, or he'll meet Frances in hell if he failed. Luckily, after all this time stuck here, he had a plan.


It would appear Mysterio and Whitley will be teaming up in this situation. Failure is not an option. We also see a bit of background from them, how Mysterio ended up where he was, and the choices made. Hopefully those choices will get him out.

Next Chapter: February 6th.