Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter as well as a shout out to TwoGunSilver for helping me with a scene to make it sound better description-wise.

WORDS STYLE:

Flashback

Thinking

[Tv/Intercom]

SHOUTING

TwIsTeD

Cover Art: By Seshirukun

Chapter 2

Adam stood on the large auditorium stage, his attention merely going over the students all around the room that were waiting patiently for the Headmistress to give a speech for all the students that were gathered. Next to Adam were the Teachers of Beacon and Huntsman and Huntress's that guard the outside as security. Adam was standing straight, acting calm yet having a serious look in his single gaze unlike the other who stood next to him, more so relaxed. A sigh escaped from the Taurus's mouth as he felt a single gaze upon him.

"Avoiding her is gonna be a pain like the flight here." Was the only thought the red-head had upon spotting a certain Schnee whose gaze was fixated on him as if questioning him with just a look.

"Seems someone has a crush on you." The voice originated on Adam's right. "How cute, perhaps a scandal in the making?" This caused him to focus his gaze on the one beside him, also being her first day as a Huntress under Beacon security, same as himself. Adam took in her appearance which she possessed fair skin, ashen-black hair, and bright amber eyes. Her clothing on the other hand was different from what he's seen back in Atlas, it consisting of gray pants and boots; a beige leather, sleeveless jacket with light-beige details; brown gloves, a sarashi tied around her chest and another around her hips, and a pauldron on her left shoulder. She also wears a belt around her waist, which has multiple brown pouches attached to it. Around her neck was a strap on it. He took in her entire appearance before turning away from the smiling woman.

"She merely knows me from Atlas." This got a raised eyebrow from her while he spoke. "Besides, it doesn't involve you." His words followed by his single gaze hardening which caused her to smile while looking away as if giving up on getting more from him.

"Well, you're a cheerful one." Her tone was dipped in sarcasm before being silenced by a cough, causing the two to look towards the right at an annoyed Glynda eyeing them with her usual scowl as she was walking past them towards the mic. Meanwhile, the students muttered to themselves with one blonde staring directly at Adam while hearing others speak around her.

"Is that him?"

"Yeah, he was the one who won the Vytal Festival for Atlas a few years ago."

"Is he that good?"

"Good, not only did he win but during the first round, two of their teammates got immediately taken out which left him and his teammate to fight the four enemy team, it was amazing!"

"Oh yeah, Winter Schnee was his teammate. Gotta admit those two were the best tag team I've ever seen from any Vytal festival recording, I thought a Faunus and a Schnee—"

"Shh, dude."

The blonde starts to smile to herself, not even noticing Ruby Rose's gaze on her while she stood next to Oscar and another new friend, Vomit Boy.

"I don't get why Glynda allowed her to attend Beacon, I thought her mother was against having anything to do with the last headmaster as Sensei said." As he thought that, his gaze hardens yet before he could get stuck in his thoughts as he worried for an impending argument to come until he heard loud tapping on the mic which they all look towards Glynda, the Headmistress who began a speech to for all to listen but as she went on about peace, it didn't take long for Adam's eye to drift to a particular Cat Faunus.

"Hmmm." Adam could see her amber eyes looking hardened.

"But this bond cannot exist without effort. This is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. Now, remember, to do your very best. You will gather in the ballroom tonight; tomorrow, your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed." With that brief explanation, she removed herself from standing next to the mic and turns towards the security, more so Adam and the young lady next to him.

"The rest of you may leave. Mr. Taurus and Ms. Fall." Their attention having been focused on her proceeded to increase while she approached them. "As you already know from being informed, due to having just graduated, you will be given an assignment. It will take place tomorrow, the contents of the assignment have been left in your respective rooms." Her words gained an understanding as they nodded which signaled Glynda to go on her way, leaving the two by themselves which Adam stares at the Headmistress who proceeds to walk off stage with Adam's gaze focused back on her, becoming suspicious at Glynda who was making her way off stage. Wondering why she would allow Ruby into the school despite her age.

"Could Ozpin have faked his death and be pulling the strings behind Glynda's actions?" With that thought in mind, he makes his way to the stairs.

"Already that quick to leave, though we could chat?"

"I'll be taking my leave to look around the Academy, to know my surroundings." Adam turns his head to meet her gaze. "I would suggest you do the same, after all, we will be protecting the students and need to know where everything is." This got a smirk from her before she turned in the opposite direction.

"Agreed." That was all she said before beginning to move, both leaving in opposite directions yet as they did so, Cinder's gaze focuses on one certain Schnee who was watching Adam closely.

She watched as Adam disappeared from her gaze upon entering the door for the staff of Beacon, this merely caused her to frown, knowing he saw her yet once again he avoided speaking to her.

"Why...?" That was the single question she had going through her mind, why...why Adam was purposely avoiding her and why he chose to go to Beacon which left her sister behind. Weiss's expression showed a true frown that had deepened from being bothered by this yet focuses on everyone else beginning to move and follows suit with her hands going into her pockets while her headphones go on her ears.

With it being close to midnight, a few students moved around quietly, preparing to sleep many others were in their sleeping bags asleep or trying to sleep while some just staying awake by reading, studying, or contemplating how they ended up in Beacon, one being Ruby Rose who chose to write her thoughts in a letter to her friends back home unlike another who was fully awake and that was a single Schnee in the room who sat on her sleeping bag, wearing her normal nightgown with her headphones resting on her shoulders.

"So she didn't know?" Weiss stared at her scroll, at the messages with it being of Winter. "Adam…" Weiss tried hard but even so, she could feel the stares coming from many Faunus's in the room who looked at her with untrustworthy gazes, having known about the stories and incidents pertaining to her families, her 'fathers' dark deeds against Faunus despite the company cleaning up its act and her father getting life in prison after he charged for many crimes. His now ex-wife, her mother taking control of the whole company. Yet despite the looks, no one spoke up but stared at her, as if trying to decide for her.

(Do you not know who I am, I'm Jacques Schnee, President of the Schnee Dust Company!)

(Do you think your status means anything to me?)

In the end, she needed a break from the gazes and stood, knowing she could leave all her stuff in her sleeping bag since, with all the gazes, no one would be foolish enough to ransack her belongings even if they didn't like her. Weiss turned to leave, heading towards the nearest restroom yet while she did so a single blonde couldn't help but notice this and found it to be interesting, suddenly getting up too.

"I wonder if talking to Adam first would be a better idea?" Weiss's hands were in the water lathered in soap. "If I message her without an answer it might make things wor—" Weiss jolts upon the door opening and turns to see one blonde-haired girl entering with a smirk upon her face while eyeing Weiss. The two stare at each other yet Weiss goes back to washing her hands until she started to get uncomfortable with the other approaching her.

"Gotta say, didn't expect the Schnee's to be such cowards." Yang just displays her smugged smile. "But what you gonna do when 'daddy' gets thrown in jail at such a young age." At this point, Weiss turns to glare at her.

"What is it you want?"

"Nothing much," Yang moves to lean against the wall. "just wanted to get a look at the daughter of the guy who gave my Tribe some trouble." This confused the heiress who stares at Yang who spoke without care.

"You could say, my 'Tribe' are good at 'taking' things." Immediately Weiss got on the defensive and turned to face Yang, now standing defensively in front of the calm girl, more so enjoying her reaction.

"You're a bandit?!"

"I 'was' a bandit, now I'm a Huntress in training since mom needed me to learn as she did." Yang at this point was having fun at seeing the complicated expressions on Weiss's face while the heiress knew she had other reasons why she was here.

"What reason do you have in telling me this?!" Her demand was met with a shrug.

"Don't know, maybe that you knowing may spice things up for me. After all, our families have caused problems for each other, more so the fact both sides have killed one another, too." Her words put Weiss on edge until Yang turns away while yawning.

"I'm gonna hit the hay now," Yang turns to give her one more smugged expression. "so let's chat again tomorrow, and perhaps during the test we could continue what our families started?" With those words left in the air, Yang leaves the room with Weiss just taking a deep breath before letting it out as she still felt a little on edge on her words lingering as of planning to start something during the test yet in the end she left the restroom. It was at this time, she noticed one Faunus having walked past the room she was in, and that being one Adam who was getting used to the hallways and where everything was.

Immediately Weiss took her chance and walked quickly after the red-head who wasn't even focused on her at all.

"Adam." A jolt was given and with it, he stops in his tracks

"Hello, again..." He didn't even turn. "Weiss."

"So, you didn't join the Atlas military." When he heard that question, the older one audibly sighs and turns to meet Weiss's gaze to see how she felt.

"Atlas wasn't my goal, to begin with, you already know why, Weiss." The girl avoids his gaze after glancing at the concealed eye. "I know I'm not liked much there in the Military so staying would be more pointless." His words caused the girl to ball her hands yet even so she spoke.

"My sister was pretty upset that you left Atlas to become a Huntsman for Vale...without telling her." Adam just looks away from the girl staring at her feet. "I only found out today when I saw you."

"Get some sleep Weiss," Without turning her starts walking away from the girl who stares at his back. "you'll be needing it for tomorrow's initiation." That was all he said to the girl who stares at his back. In the end, she returned to the room where she found a piece of paper on her sleeping bag when she picked it up and opened it yet despite what the contents consisted she wasn't very shocked, simply crushing the paper and just enters her sleeping bag, proceeding to place her headphones over her ears to block out the sounds as she played the music to relax.

[Mirror

Can you hear me?

Do I reach you?

Are you even listening?

Can I get through?

There's a part of me that's desperate for changes.

Tired of being treated like a pawn.

But there's a part of me that stares back from inside the mirror.

Part of me that's scared I might be wrong.

That I can't be strong.]

As the music played, she began to doze off and think about the past, think about the things that transpired.

FLASHBACK, ONE YEAR AFTER THE ARREST OF JACQUES

"Ahaha." The girl was a bundle of smiles, moving quickly to outmaneuver the butler in a game of hiding and seek in the mansion, having hidden behind in her father's office which now was her mother's, hiding under her desk with Klein searching for her. With her father just a year ago being arrested it took time for things to get back to normal more so the fact that with him is gone now, changes began taking place with the newly turned eleven-year-old showing the most progress.

*click*

The door opens and with it multiple footsteps and voices caused Weiss to silence herself.

"So the White Fang's aiming for Dust shipments now?" The voice belonged to her mother yet even so she didn't quite understand what was being spoken.

"Yes, Ms. Schnee. It's been only a matter of time but it seems they've begun to move onto the other kingdoms rather than staying in their territory." Weiss's eyes widen upon recognizing the voice as the man she's seen her mother meet many times, General Ironwood. At this point, Weiss felt she should reveal herself since it was a private conversation until she heard the third voice, the one that belonged to the person who threw her father in jail.

"I've gone to war once before and I can see all the signs." The man sighs as he sat on a couch from a puff sound being made from someone sitting. "Even now I don't know what their goal is but to think they would locate themselves on a Grimm-infested continent means only one thing, I don't think Sienna is the one doing this, she may have been replaced. Clover would have been a good spy with his Semblance yet at this point I don't think it would be a smart move." Weiss was frozen, not quite knowing what she thought of the man despite having thrown her father in jail.

"Agreed, knowing Watt's has joined the White Fang makes things worse than it was. He has countless blueprints he designed of Atlas machinery be it artillery or equipment. If they attack another Atlas airship, I'm afraid it will be War."

"Can't we try contacting them to open—" Weiss's mother was cut off.

"Tried and failed, they made it clear they don't intend on working to find a middle ground nor inform us what their goal is. Not to mention, a battle there means war with 'Salem' who must be involved, we wouldn't hold any punches nor know how long that war will take the meaning as of right now I gotta find a way to prevent the war, even if I have to go there myself for a peaceful opportunity." Weiss displays a confused expression, not understanding who that was.

"Out of the question, we can't put your life into jeopardy like that. Unlike Oz, you can't—" Ironwood stops just as Weiss stood up, gaining their attention at the three adults stared at her with the girl looking down with guilt.

"Weiss, why are-have you been—" Willow was cut off by the third person walking towards Weiss who was looking down knowing she's in trouble.

"Seems I'm at fault," Weiss's eyes widen. "I must be getting old if I missed a kid eavesdropping on us

so relax, I'm to blame on this one." To get her to look up, he taps his index and middle finger against her forehead and that got her attention. The moment she looked up, she was met with the blonde-haired man that stood before her. His left arm was completely robotic not to mention the left side of his face was bandaged up tho the jaw on the left side showed parts of silver could be seen.

"The adults are talking so why don't you go find Klein." He told the girl with a cheerful smile upon his face, never once seeing a smile like that in her entire life as if it was giving off a bright and warm feeling.

"O-ok." With that said she hurried past him and left the room.

END FLASHBACK

(If only, he were my dad.)

Weiss was fully asleep now with the gaze of one Cat Faunus eyeing her before continuing her way towards the restroom while almost all the students were getting ready to go to sleep. Only a few were up either heading to or leaving the restroom. She had made her way to the restroom but instead of using it, she stared into the mirror, contemplating her thoughts before the thoughts of what has happened recently once again make their way through her mind and in turn causing her right hand to move to her chest, her very thoughts fixated on her past with her heart unable to stop beating so fast.

(This wasn't the plan!)

(IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GO LIKE THIS!)

(I'm sorry, I…I…)

Her hand touched her bandaged ear once again.

(Traitor.)

She immediately jolts upon hearing someone speak near her.

"How bad is it?" She turns her gaze to meet the eyes of one Rabbit Faunus, located next to her. She had a worried look which caused her to look away which her eyes widen.

"I-I'm sorry, I—" She was cut off by her.

"It's ok, someone was bound to ask…." This seemed to make her look more worried as she watched her stare at her reflection, most notably the crack across it that went down across her face.

"I…I'm… Velvet Scarlatina…." As she gave her name, trying to start up a conversation to keep her mind off of her ear, she instead just stared at the mirror and slowly unwraps the bandage, as she did so the more she did the more dried blood began to appear on the bandages and when it was all taken off, Velvet's eyes widen as her hands moved to her mouth in horror while she just stared at what the bandages concealed.

(I'm sorry Kitten.)

(Are you even a Faunus?)

"Blake…Belladonna." She turns to Velvet as the tears began coming out, unable to stop as her visible ear shows it stood barely an inch above her head. Its tattered edge flecked with tiny crimson orbs of fresh blood and minute pearls of clear serum. One edge of the missing appendage was flat and showed the distinct sign of being cut by a blade, this caused a horrid realization in Velvet that threatened to force her to vomit. They had made a small cut in her ear and used brute strength to rip the rest of her ear from her skull if the small strips of ruined flesh on the uneven edges of the rest of the wound were any evidence. It was then she realized something upon hearing her name and the tears that fell, Velvet recalled instantly the news and immediately moved to embrace the girl who fell to her knees as the tears didn't stop coming out.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." That was all Velvet could say to Blake who could do nothing but break down crying into the closet person. It was during this moment that Adam was walking by, having stopped the moment he heard the name being said before the crying to place.

"…" He said nothing but felt the skin under his bandaged eye start to itch.

"Stupid Junior, stupid Roman." Muttered one henchman who was out of work. "What do I get by narrowly escaping from Vale police? That's right, getting fired!" He takes a drink of the alcohol, walking down the street despite it was the night it was still populated with the number of vehicles passing him time and again with a few people walking past him. With another drink of his alcohol, he turns a corner to enter an alleyway as a shortcut to his apartment complex yet that was when it hit him, immediately his hand shot to his mouth.

"Wtf is that smell, did something die—" Despite being drunk he was still somewhat self-aware but not in keeping his balance the moment his feet hit something, losing his balance and Gao his forwards. A single glass shattering was the only sound being made along with complaints.

"Dammit, I just bought that." As he complained he took out his phone."

"The hell did I—" He froze as the first thing he saw was his finger covered in blood.

"W-Wait—" At that moment he was hit by nothing but dread before shakingly turning on the flashlight. What was seen instantly caused him to keep down what he drinks, that being a corpse cut into pieces with the obvious thing being blood was still leaking from the body parts yet at that point he noticed something. The light was gone, not his flashlight but the light from outside the alleyway as well as towards the sky, he no longer saw it.

"Wh-What's—" He could only witness the light his phone made began to become consumed by darkness and with it, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck sticking up, and slowly he turns to point the phone at whatever stood behind him despite the light being consumed until it wasn't. The darkness was pulled from the light and what he saw caused death to grip his heart the moment a blade came down. Not a single sound was made but the leaking of blood until a voice spoke.

"So noisy." The darkness began to clear only a little above to reveal the server head on the group next to the corpse with a monster standing over it, licking off the white bone-like sword it wielded. It took the appearance of a humanoid Grimm that's very design was reminiscent of a samurai while it wore a straw hat. It reaches down and picks up the head, seeing the terror upon his face before it was tossed over his shoulder.

"The blood isn't even good." As it spoke, it reaches into itself to pull out a high-tech-looking device, a compass of sorts pointing directly at Beacon Academy.

"And so, it begins. As it spoke, it began walking away as it sunk into the darkness and as it did so the darkness concealing the alleyway followed to reveal the many corpses that littered it, each having a severed head with the expressions of horror upon their faces.

CHAPTER END

xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx

NEXT TIME, ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT; A BRIEF CLASH WITH A DEVIL. You can go on my profile to see its actual appearance and I paid a good artist to make it, so thanks go to him as the link to my account is in my profile.