Chapter 18

A man screamed in pain as a crimson blade tore into his chest. The man watched his life pour across the ground, staining it a deep red.

His killer watched in enjoyment. A cruel smile split his face, unlike his eyes which hid behind a mask of stark white bone. The killer wrenched his blade free of the man's chest and laughed as he turned to face a new target.

Another Human to the slaughter. The killer lazily slashed their blade, freeing the man's head from his neck. Bullets came from all around but the killer was unfazed. He slashed and cut and tore the bullets from the air, taking their energy for his own.

He lashed out, he cut down human after human. Every human who stood in front of him fell with a scream. He sent them to their graves with a laugh and a smile.

It was so enjoyable!

"Stop it…"

The killer turned, he stalked through a deep and dense forest. His prey ran, they tried to lose their stalker. The killer was relentless, however, and caught his prey, leaving the corpse to be found by others. A message to the living.

The world shifted and twisted as the killer slaughtered more and more. Human after human fell before him.

"Stop it!"

Another forest, brilliant and green. A road of dirt, unassuming and brown. A caravan of people, true people. Monsters in human skin attacking. The killer felt at home as he charged and left the caravan behind.

A slash here to cut down a gunman. A stab there to finish a wounded warrior. Blocks and parries to build his power. A man who got too close, intent on killing the man to whom the killer owed so much.

A release of power. A splatter of blood. The Euphoria of a good kill. Forgotten admonishment. Remembered praise.

The Killer is celebrated.

"No!"

A forest of red. A betrayal. Humans who don't know how close to death they were. The forest of red again. Anger. A loss of control. The killer is enraged. No control.

A forest of green and a human. A human who should die. A human ready to die. No death. No control. The Killer rages against his bonds.

A machine. Power and battle. The rush of a coming kill. Anger at the escape. Useless! Useless! Useless!

Adam awoke with a start. He clutched his face in his hands and barely contained an agonized yell that threatened to spill from his lips. The others still slumbered. He pulled himself out of bed and stumbled out the door.

The cool air of the outside should have been refreshing, but instead, it felt suffocating. He felt trapped by nothing at all. He needed to escape.

He stumbled into the locker room. A shower came, fast and cold. It woke him and helped him settle, but it didn't ease his pain nor his panic.

The sun had started to rise when he left the locker, dressed in his combat attire. He left a message to his team that he was going training and walked to the Emerald Forest. The sounds of birds made him feel at ease.

He walked deeper into the forest, out of earshot of anyone nearby.

And he screamed. He yelled with all his might. Birds flew away in shock.

The faces of so many seemed to float by his vision, they appeared in the corner of his eyes but never showed themselves.

His kills. Those he had caused the deaths of, directly or otherwise.

You still have a chance. Just kill them all and bring the head of the Schnee back! Blake will welcome you with open arms! Think of how warm and soft she will be!

"AAAARGGGHHHH!" He screamed once again, drawing Wilt and pouring Aura into it. A violent red slash tore several trees down with ease. The sound of its crash to the ground echoed all around him.

He looked to the sky and breathed. He let himself get so angry over a dream. I'm pathetic. He wasn't that monster anymore. He didn't kill people anymore!

But had he atoned? Was running around fighting his former allies atonement? Was becoming a Huntsman atonement? Just what the hell was he doing and was it enough?

What was redemption? What was he trying to do? What was the point of anything he was doing? Was he doing any of this for Blake? He'd barely even tried to convince her to change!

His blood was boiling. It felt like he was back in the mine, suffocating with all the others. Dying with all the others.

He didn't know how long he stood there, panting and trying to bring himself under control. The crunch of sticks underfoot and the deep growling told him all he needed to know, however.

A smile overcame his face, cruel and unyielding. He fell back into a familiar feeling. It was like each Grimm was painted red. His blade seemed to fly, it skimmed through the air, through flesh and bone, like none of it existed.

All he could see were those who had stood against him. Those he had slaughtered.

I killed them… I am just as much of a monster as they were. But it felt so good.

A laugh bubbled up from within. It had been quite some time since he had taken such pleasure in battle. The sure joy of utterly destroying an opponent. Of eradicating their very existence.

It had been so long!

"Hahaha hahaha!" Adam let himself go, he let his rage and his laughter and his euphoria out. Let his instincts carry his blade from one Grimm to the other.

And when no more Grimm came. He collapsed to his knees. His anger, his anguish, his pain and his heartbreak, they all rolled down his face in the form of tears.

What am I? A Faunus? A monster? A Huntsman? A hero? A villain?

With all of this, he no longer had any clue of what he was now, nor of what he was heading towards.

He took one final deep breath and wiped his face clean.

And he returned to Beacon, as the forest held no answers.

Yang was waiting for him on the steps up the cliffside. Adam sighed and walked right up to her. No use hiding now. "Waiting for me?"

She looked up at him and sighed herself. "Yeah. I saw you leave this morning. Usually, you're more aware of people around you, but today you really sucked at it." She shrugged. "I followed you because you didn't look good. I was going to talk to you but then… well, you started screaming your head off and calling down a ton of Grimm."

He shuffled a little awkwardly. "You didn't want to fight some?"

"I was ready to help if you needed, but I thought you needed to kill them more than you needed the backup. I don't know what's going on with you Adam, but as your partner, I'm here for you." She stood and stepped up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. "We all are."

"I'm fine-"

"Don't lie to me, ok? If you don't want to talk just say so but don't lie to me." Her look was serious and he wondered if she was ready to punch him if he tried to lie again.

"Alright. I don't want to talk about it. Happy?"

"No. But I'll live." Yang let out a heavy sigh. "Come on, the other two are busy getting excited. Or Weiss is at least."

At his raised brow she smiled. "With team CFVY still away on their mission, Weiss volunteered us to set up the school dance! It's just over a week away but they aren't sure when CFVY will be back so they need someone else to set up the dance."

"And your point?"

"With your two teammates organising the whole thing it means you have to come !"

"Ugh… great."

Yang entered the RSTY dorm to see Weiss trying to get Ruby to pick between one of two colours. Both looked pretty much the same. The partners turned to look at her as the door closed.

"Did you find him?" Weiss asked.

"I did. He was training in the forest, not hard to miss. He went to get some food."

"And did you make sure he agreed to come to the dance?"

"About that… he kinda said it was a waste of his time." Yang scratched the back of her head as Weiss facepalmed. Ruby raised her hand

"Does this mean I don't have to go?"

"No!" Yang and Weiss said in unison.

"Awwww…" Ruby moaned.

"Look, I'll talk to him. I have an idea that might convince him to come, it shouldn't be too hard." Yang gave the two a smile she didn't fully feel.

"Alright. We'll handle getting everything set up."

"But I want to read comics!"

"You will be helping me, Ruby!"

Yang left the pair to their arguing. She had some planning to do after all.

Scarred. Despised. Cold.

That's what he was. It was branded to his face for all to see. He wasn't human so he didn't deserve rights. He was lucky they had taken him in!

The boy fought desperately to convince himself. If he did, it would numb the pain he felt, it would help him continue on. He grunted as he pulled the mine cart along, he passed by tunnels full of Faunus. Each working hard for their daily rations.

Humans stood all around. Some in armour with guns and blades and clubs. Others stood in warm furs with long whips and clipboards. Run, and you'll be shot. Fail to work and be docked pay or whipped.

This was the life of the Faunus. To humans, they were sub-humans who were lucky to have been born. It didn't matter how he felt, because he wasn't human.

"That's not true…"

Fires consumed the entire mine. The screams of those trapped within still echoed in his ears despite the roar of the flames. The boy pulled his stolen fur tighter around himself. He needed to stay warm after all.

He felt sadness and horror, but elation as well. He was free. No longer would he be beaten or told he was less than human because of the horns upon his head.

He was no longer just a tool told to mine for others. He needed a name.

A woman flashed in his mind with a word, a name. Was it his? Hers? Someone else's? It didn't matter because it was his now. He would cherish it. But didn't he need another name as well?

He touched his horns and thought back. Humans thought he was lesser because of them. Hated because of them. But he was proud of them! The woman flashed by again and another word. Something she had told him. Tried to teach him.

He knew his name now. The boy turned and walked out into the cold, blistering wind. He stomped through the snow and he vowed to become strong.

For he bore the name Adam Taurus, and none could take it from him.

A dream. Nothing more than a fake reality born of the combination of various memories and imagination. Yet it still hit him hard. His journey had started long ago and it had led him here, but what was here?

Adam looked into the bathroom mirror. The burned and scarred face stared back at him. A blue eye and a grey eye. The mark of the SDC stood out as always.

The Schnee Dust Company. A conglomerate who did whatever they wished.

Scarred, Despised and Cold. The feelings of a scarred and broken boy.

What about now, however? Was he their property? Was he still that broken boy? And if he wasn't, what was he?

He had to find out before he slid back. He didn't know what he would become if he did, but he wouldn't be happy.

I don't know if I deserve it, but I don't want to lose this chance to be happy.

And he still had Blake to think of. His beloved was moving further and further away from him and if he didn't act he would lose her forever. He may have already lost her.

Adam was so very lost, and for once he wished someone would come and help him. Save him. Before he lost it all and let his rage take hold.

His hands clenched the sides of the sink and sent a large crack through the ceramic.

"Damn it…"

A/N: Dream times baby! Adam's having some trouble after Torchwick escaped. The second dream isn't really what I think happened in Adam's past, but it's a possibility. He has a lot to think about, especially in terms of redemption and atonement. He really needs someone like Iroh in his life. Needs to figure out who he is and what he wants. Before he stumbles backwards into his old self. He's made progress for sure, but only in the vague direction of 'better'. With the dance coming up who knows what progress he can make in the meantime.

I hope you all enjoyed and I will see you next time!