Chapter 10: A Fragile Truth…

The next few days went by as one would expect them to; many people gave me sideways glances, some bitter stares, but no one really pestered me about. Well, except for teams RWBY and JNPR but it was only general concern for me. They knew something was wrong about me, but they didn't ask questions they knew I wouldn't answer. That helped as I had enough stuff on my mind; Gohl specifically was the major problem. He had left the note for me, but I couldn't tell when he was going to strike or when he would. But knowing him he would seek absolute revenge. He wouldn't just kill me that would be too simple for him. No, he would tear me apart, my body and my mind. He was cynical that way. But until that day came I would be waiting to strike back and fight back.

It was early evening on Friday and there wasn't anything to do so I just laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling letting thoughts run through my head. 'Is there any way to escape from myself? Of course not, that part of me I can't possibly get rid of. But I can try to fix the damage I've already done before it gets out of control. But, is there a realistic way to fix this. There are very few options for fixing what I've done and none of them are particularly appealing. To what lengths will I go to fix what I've done? Also, what point will be too much, at what point will I just break, like dad? He had lost everything, the only thing that was left was a slow agonizing death or a life of misery. There was no going back then and there's no going back now, my carefree life of adolescent bliss was ripped from me back then. I just hope no one else has to face that sudden change like I had to.'

Submerged in my thoughts I barely noticed when Ruby opened the door, "How are you doing?"

Giving off a loud sigh I replied, "As good as I possibly could, considering the circumstances."

"Look, what happened with Yang is behind us, we don't hold anything against you."

"It's not just that," I said, getting up off of my bed, "it's everything that I've been dealing with. There's so much crazy shit happening that I just can't escape from. I would like someone to talk to but there's no one I can do that with. I've done so much wrong in my life that no matter what I would be considered nothing more than a psychotic, even if I consoled it with you. It's just that I'm trying to move forward in my life, but there's always my past, holding me back because I've done wrong. There's no escape from it, all I can do is delay the inevitable for as long as I can."

Confused, Ruby continued, "Okay, well I was going to ask if you wanted to join the rest of us, but you have more important things on your mind."

She started to close the door, but I got up and stopped her before it shut, "No, that sounds good. It helps really, having people like you there to help me. You're just so trusting and so kind, even after what you've seen of me."

The five of us walked down the sidewalks of Vale, just simply being friends, for the most part. Everyone was their usual self except Weiss. She seemed tense around me, but I really couldn't blame her. She had already been weary of me, but now she was more so concerned about what I would do next. But everything else was going perfectly well.

We were walking down the street when I got a feeling of dread in my mind. I stopped in my tracks and looked around me. Nothing out of the usual, various people walking up and down the street, others in shops examining various goods. The others had gotten a little ways away until they noticed I had stopped. They came back with looks of confusion on their faces.

"Is everything okay back here?" Yang asked, obviously concerned about me.

"Huh, yeah, just got a little distracted," I lied through my teeth. 'What could make my semblance go off so strongly at a time like this?'

Obviously not believing me Yang persisted, "Well I don't think that's what happened? If you have something on your mind, you can tell us."

"It's just that sometimes I get these feelings, you know? Feelings that something's going to happen, something bad."

"You're just too tense," Ruby chimed in, "You need to remember that we're here right next to you. If something does go wrong we'll be right beside you, no matter what."

"You know, it's good to have friends like you, friends who'll stand beside me when I most need help."

Suddenly an immense explosion emerged from the dust shop a block away from where we were standing, nearly demolishing the entire store and surrounding buildings. Rubble flew from the explosion and pedestrians began to panic and scatter from the scene. "Speaking of trouble…" Yang jibed.

"We'd better check to see if we can help," I said as I began to run towards the wrecked shop. The rest of them began to follow shortly afterwards. 'That was what I had been alerted by, but what made it feel so bad? What my semblance trying to tell me? What could've happened in the explosion?'

Once I was in the wreckage trying to help people out I began to see what had happened. The shop was completely trashed, display cases burst open and scorch marks were scourged into the walls. The people in the explosion were horribly bruised and had many broken bones, however other than the store clerk they all wore similar uniforms. They wore uniforms I had seen before, gray masks covered all of their face except their mouths and on the back of each one was a picture of a red wolf face with claw marks running down it. 'Where have I seen these before?'

As the others approached from behind Blake was quick to answer my question, "White Fang! What are they doing here?"

"They must've been trying to rob the store when something went wrong and the dust crystals ignited," I analyzed as I checked around to see if anyone else was injured. "But why did they ignite is the real question?"

From behind some fallen shelves came a series of coughs and muttering, "Why did I agree to work with those animals? No restraint, no common sense. If you shoot a burn crystal it will explode, that's what I was telling him. But no, he had to see for himself, the idiot."

After a few more coughs the voice had a face to its name and as I looked at it I knew why my heart had been filled with dread. But now I was filling up with rage. The white suit plastered with dirt and the black bowler hat were unmistakable. "Roman Torchwick," I fumed through gritted teeth.

"You!" team RWBY shouted towards him.

Clearing out his throat he looked at them, cocky as ever, "Oh hello Red. Sorry about the mess, one of those idiots didn't mean to do it but he was a bit tense.

"What are you doing here?" I shouted from behind the others. I pushed myself forwards, pointing my revolver at him.

"Davey, what a surprise seeing you here," he said in an eerily calm voice.

"Shut up. You aren't going anywhere so I would suggest that you stop your mouth from running before I have a reason to really hurt you."

Blinded by instinct I forgot that Ruby and her team were behind me listening to this, "David, what is he talking about?"

In a mocking tone Roman kept talking, "Oh, did he not tell you Red? Isn't that a real shame? Seems you can't trust anyone now."

"What are you talking about?" Weiss shouted, most likely paranoid.

"I'm talking about David's past, the one he won't tell you about. And why is that David, is it because of regret, shame, fear of rejection."

"Shut up or I will bury you so far down that you'll be beyond hell!"

"Oh please, you have nothing to threaten me with. No one will trust you especially after you tried to kill her father," he said pointing a finger at Weiss. With that, my entire world that I was trying to rebuild fell apart.

And so the plot unfolds. Sorry for the late and short chapter, Summer Schooling had me wrapped up so I had little time to work on this, but now it is out. So, this series is going quite good for me. You all are really nice towards me in this. But I can't wait for Volume 2 to be released. Unfortunately I couldn't go to RTX but I hope those who did had a wonderful time. Now you need to wait until the next chapter for me to show what Roman means. But no matter what this will keep being a passion project for me. So until next time, stay classy.

-TheInnerPeace singing off (Did I just say "stay classy?" God, that's just stupid).