Grant could not sleep the whole night, he kept having reoccurring nightmares of how the knife slit the driver's throat and then how the same outcome could have happen to him. When he awoke from those nightmares, the image did not quite bother him, so why did it bother him subconsciously?
All I need is more training for the foolish guilt to not bother me. Grant thought, then his alarm rang for him to attend class.
He got ready and left his room to go to the diner for breakfast. As he was walking there, other students were obviously talking about him. He could hear that comments about him being son of Deathstroke or the heir of Deathstroke. He didn't understand, how the other students found out, but he didn't care. All he could guess is that rumors spread fast.
He continue to walk to the diner, but two students block the entrance for him. They are both taller and older than Grant, around seventeen. One of the boys' body is completely lit in dim orange, yellow, and red light. His body resemble the colors of the sun, and he has little flares come out of his body at random. There is small amount of heat radiating from his body. He has long red hair and bright blue eyes. The other boy is very muscular, bald, wearing a black suit and holding a mace. They are both smirking and looking down at Grant. He look up at them, too tired for their bullshit.
"Excuse me." He says with irritation in his voice.
"We heard that you are the son of Deathstroke, so how about you slit our throats and pass over our dead bodies? Hahaha!"The boy, who resembles the sun, is trying to edge on Grant to a fight. While the other boy let out chuckles, irritating Grant more.
"I don't wish to fight. It is my first day in the H.I.V.E. and don't wish to make enemies. I simply wish to get my breakfast and attend class in time." Grant tries to explain to avoid a fight.
However, there was a third member in this group, a small girl who sneaked behind Grant. She grabs a knife and stabs him on the back. He let out a scream, surprise by the sudden attack. He turns around to sees the little girl.
She is no older than twelve, one year younger than Grant. She has blue dreadlocks, orange sunglasses, orange suit, and yellow skin.
Grant is about to punch her, when he feels a strong arm grab his shoulder, pulls him back.
"Wow. You seem to have a knife on your back, let me help you with that." The bald boy sarcastically remarks. He grabs the knife on Grant's back and pulls it down, causing a larger and deeper slash on Grant's back. Grant lets out a scream and falls to the ground in pain.
"What is wrong? Did you trip? Let me help you up." The long hair boy states and he grabs Grant's arm, but the boy's hand is burning Grant's skin. Grant tries to struggle against him, but the struggle is futile, the boy is too strong compare to Grant. The hand is burning Grant's skin, his skin starts turning black.
"Aahh!" The boy lets out a yelp and let's go of Grant, revealing a second degree, borderline to third degree, burn. The boy had a small throwing knife lodge onto his shoulder. All of them turn around to see, a boy dress as an owl.
"Talon…" The long hair boy says as he pulls the knife out and throws it back to Talon. Talon catches it.
"What are you doing?" The boy questioning Talon. "Why are you getting involved?"
"Why are all of you violent towards the new student?" Talon questions back to the long hair boy.
"Ha! We all have different reasons. Akka…Blackmace…You want to state your reasons?" The other two stand next to the long hair boy.
"I, Akka, wish to test the boy known as Deathstroke's heir. It would be believed he would be fit to survive, however I was wrong in my presumption. It is the survival of the fittest. The weak is meat, and the strong shall eat. He is not fit, so he is meat." Akka says looking down on Grant, who is still on the ground.
"I am Blackmace. I thought this weak boy would pose a threat for the rest of us to get money in the future. You know, people will want to hire the one who is known to be Deathstroke's heir. It is getting rid of the competition! I am doing all of this to get more money, and he poses a threat to that! I have to get rid of him." Blackmace says pointing his mace towards Grant.
"See, Talon! We all have our reasons. Hahahaha! I am the Sun Emperor and I just do this for the sake to kill someone! I thirst to kill! I want to burn him to ash! So, why do you stop me? Why do you care? He is competition to you, Talon! He will challenge your prodigy title in the assassin path, so why do you not kill him? Kill him!" The Sun Emperor trying to urge Talon to kill Grant.
Talon walks over to Grant. Grant looks up to him, wondering if Talon will really kill him. Talon reaches to Grant and picks him up. Putting Grant's arm over his shoulder, supporting him. Talon then looks at the three of them and responds to Sun Emperor's questions.
"I fight, I kill, and I become something society does not accept to make society better. My mission is to get rid of the rats in the world. This student does not seem to me to be a rat, yet. However, all three of you, seem to be growing scale tails and filthy fur. If you become a rat, I will hunt you down as an owl would."
The Sun Emperor releases a burst of flames and approaches Grant and Talon. "I could kill both of you!" He yells and launches an attack on both of them.
A cloak man blocks Sun Emperor. "Is it not too early to start training? You cause a scene if you didn't notice." The cloak man points at the diner, showing how students are watching, whispering, some edging to see a fight or blood.
"You know that fighting must be done in the training rooms," The cloak man continues. "Well then, all of you go back to class. I will take him to the infirmary." The cloak man grabs Grant, who is near to losing consciousness from the loss of blood. The cloak man carry's Grant to the infirmary.
This is not a man. Who really are these men? Grant's last thoughts before he passes out.
~0~
Grant awakes in the infirmary. His back is bandaged and so is his arm. He gets up and seems to be able to move fine with slight pain. He looks around wondering what time it is. He goes to the clock on the wall and notices he missed his first day of classes, it is the afternoon. Grant very irritated by this outcome he grabs the base lying next to his infirmary bed and throws it towards the door. Suddenly, the door opens and a hand catches the base. Talon came to visit Grant, but found a base coming straight towards him, instead. He looks at the base first, then at Grant, noticing Grant's obvious and rightful anger about the situation that took place hours ago.
"You should not throw things around the infirmary. You never know how the lunatic doctor will make you pay for any items you break. I hear, he sometimes purposefully lets students die because they irritate him." Talon trying to calm down the situation.
"Why are you here?" Grant asks Talon, trying to cool off his anger.
"I came to see how you are doing? I can see you are doing better, so I could leave." Talon responds as he places the base down in a random table, and then heads for the door.
"Thank you." Grant murmurs towards Talon. "But why did you help me, instead of watch like everyone else?"
Grant is still confuse of Talon's act of kindness. This school does not make people like Talon, so why did he help him? Isn't this a place where Grant was meant to not trust anyone? Talon turns around and responds to Grant's question.
"I did it because you are new and those three are upperclassmen, about to graduate from this school. Yet, they find it fun to challenge someone who knows nothing, who is new to the system, only because he is a villain's heir. It did not seem right, so I intervene."
Grant is a little offended by his response, but it is true. Grant would've died if not for Talon's intervention.
"I hope you don't feel that everyone in this school is like them." Talon continues. "There are some people who have some honor and try to shape the system, but because of our ways not fitting with the superhero's ways or society's ways we are classified as villains." Talon tries to cheer up Grant.
"You are kind. I notice from your actions that not everyone is like them in this school. Although if they were it would not matter, this would not scare me away from this school. I am determine to become the best assassin I can. Then I will give a reason for those three to challenge me, not because of the person I have a relation to, but because I will be the one they fear."
Grant claims looking directly to Talon's eyes. Talon a little shock of Grant's will, but that type of spirit will be needed for students to survive in this school.
"I never officially introduce myself." Talon says extending his hand. "I am Talon, and your name?"
Grant still suspicious asks Talon, "What is your true name?"
Talon pulls back his hand and chuckles. "You are smart." Talon comments.
"Of course." Grant smirks, accepting the compliment. "But that is not the point, it seems that the only thing the rumor mentions is that I am the heir of Deathstroke."
"Yup." Talon asserts Grant's theory. "The full rumor is that you are the apprentice of Deathstroke. Some are speculating you are an heir or his true son, however nobody knows."
This information gets Grant really thinking, because there is only a few people who know his relation to Deathstroke and that is the Mistress and her seven cloak men. He starts suspecting that it might be the same person who brought him to the infirmary.
What is her interest in doing this? Is she trying to test me? Also, is she the same person that showed me the tour around the school? If so, she definitely has a deep interest in seeing how I grow?
Grant is paranoid, yet excited to know that one of the cloak men is fascinated by Grant. It gives Grant the motivation not to disappoint.
"I have many questions for you about this school, would you mind answering them?" Grant asks Talon.
"Of course, I don't mind." Talon responds. "Ask away."
Talon and Grant converse with each other, and get comfortable with each other. Grant feels that Talon is someone he could trust and his first friend in the H.I.V.E.
"Visiting hours are over." A doctor enters the room, interrupting their conversation. "If you feel well enough to discuss and stand, get out of the infirmary."
"We will leave, Crime Doctor." Talon responds.
The boys left and continue to discuss as they head to the dorms. As both boys were about to split ways, Grant comments how he would like to continue to discuss and even train with Talon, since he heard that Talon is a prodigy in the path of assassin. Talon is a little shock and embarrassed about how Grant wishes for Talon to be an elder student mentor, however he agrees to Grant's request and both part ways.
~0~
A year has passed, since Grant enrolled in the school. He has become very popular, he converses with many of the other students, even with students who would be considered very weak. He has become the student who is good looking, strong, popular, kind, and smart. Although most of his kind characteristics, are just a ruse. He finds it easier if he is nice to everyone, less people will bother him and it gets people to listen to him.
After getting use to his classes, he has been able to make top grades and move quickly to higher level classes. (He has been able to share an upper class with Talon.) He also tries to get along with the instructors, but notices that the main instructors are the seven cloak men which they don't stay too long to converse. Also they tend to be busy, so most of the time they get substitute instructors to teach the class.
Grant tries to figure out who is the cloak woman, who is trying to test him. He tries to observe little gestures or things that could make the cloak woman different from the rest. But it seems all of the cloak men are the same height, their cloaks cover them to have the same shape, and they have the same male voice. Still, Grant is determined to find the cloak woman for him to know who she is and what she wants. Also it is a test for himself to confirm how good his skills have become.
His closest friend is still Talon, however he starts to notice, while they are both combat training, Talon seems distracted and absent minded during classes. One day, during training he was able to get behind Talon and get his sword around Talon's neck.
He pulls away. "What is wrong, Talon? You haven't been your usual self for weeks. I was able to get a killing blow on you, which is very strange." Grant is worries for his friend. He wants to support him, as much as Talon supported Grant.
"I…I am sorry. I don't know…Is what I am doing right?" Talon looking down, his grief written on his face. Grant grabs Talon's shoulder to show he is willing to listen. They both sit down and sit in silence for a while, until Talon is ready to tell Grant everything.
"My real name is Calvin Rose." Grant is surprise that Talon would tell him his name, they never told each other their names. Grant would just address him as Talon, and Talon would give any nickname he felt that week to Grant. (Grant has yet to come up with a villain name, most people just address him as Deathstroke's heir or whatever other name. However, he has taken Talon's advice and took up a mask to hide his identity.) Still, even as close friends, they never shared each other's true names.
"My origin, I guess if you call it that, is I escaped a cage that my abusive father put me in and ran away." Talon continues to tell his story to Grant. "I join a circus. The ring master and all the circus members were kind and became a family to me. I was trained to become the newest escape artist, and I became the best. I was able to copy some of Houdini's tricks, I was actually told many stories about the magician. I have a personal admiration for him. It was great! Those days were fun, but they came to an end when the ring master gave me up to the Court of Owls."
Grant continues to listen, still shock that Talon, Calvin, would tell him all of this personal information. This is not like him, but he let Talon continue.
"I was able to impress the Court of Owls and they took me in. They kept trying to test me, see if I could escape their maze that so many have died or went insane in. I did, in one day. I was even strip naked and put into the trunk of a car, chained, thrown into the river, but still escaped. They found me to be a prodigy as a Talon, they would train me. However, they heard about the H.I.V.E. and didn't know if this academy might harm or benefit their society they were trying to create. They told me many times that I would help them get rid of the rats that could ruin their future society. So this was my first mission, to see if the school is creating allies of the night or rats."
Calvin seems to be gulping down his urge to weep. He continues on with his story.
"When I attended, I killed a man the first day visiting the academy. I believe that is the same for everyone, but I was already use to it. So it impressed them and they took me in as a student, not knowing my intentions. I started to observe the students and the instructors, and found the academy disgusting at first. But I noticed other students like you, Grant, who have the heart and skill to help society. When I reported this to the owls, a couple of weeks ago, they rejected my idea. They said that if most of the members of a hive are wasps, it is a wasp home. They gave me the mission to destroy the H.I.V.E. and kill everyone. Every women, man, and child. But I can't do it!"
Calvin starts weeping, could not hold his cries back any longer.
"I have made friends." Calvin continues to explain between his cries. "There are good people here, that could be our allies, so why!?...Why should I kill everyone!?…I can't!...But if I don't the court still will…and kill me too, for failing…I still want to believe their mission is good…but if I do that, then I accept that the H.I.V.E. is evil!…I don't want to choose!...What do I do!?..."
Calvin is desperate, holding Grant as he continues to cry. Calvin cries for a long time, and Grant tries to comfort his friend, however he does not know what to do, either.
They both go back to their dorms, but neither could sleep. Grant has the whole situation in his mind, he kept trying to find out what to do, how can he help his friend?
He continues to have the problem in his mind for weeks, trying to come up with better ways. He converses with Calvin, but it seems the two of them grow apart because of this sudden confession.
Grant stays awake tonight, still having the situation replay in his head, trying to come up with solutions. Then a sudden thought comes into his head.
Should I help him? Grant snaps that thought out of his mind, how could he think that? Calvin was always helping him, so how could he not support Calvin back. But, why did that thought come to his head?
He starts lingering in that thought.
Calvin seems to be giving up being a villain. He did reveal his whole identity to someone, while I did not. He seems to be weak in his classes and in combat. He does not belong here. Now that I look back, he was never meant to belong here. He is willing to kill, but only for the good of society. He is not a villain. He is at worst an anti-hero. He is leaning to a superhero, he could be a very dangerous threat.
Grant's thoughts start to make sense, and that is what is scaring him. How could he believe his friend to be an enemy? Someone who supported him, so long. But could these suspicions and thoughts, somehow help his friend.
~0~
Another year passed, and Grant was becoming in a way valedictorian in the school. He is in every criminal path and doing exceedingly well. The instructors and students are impress by him. His outfit starts resembling more and more his future outfit as the Ravager.
When his life is coming together, it seems Calvin's life is falling apart. He is still one of the best students in the assassin path, but he is shattered inside trying to choose between the lesser of two evils. Grant's empathy starts to turn to pity for his friends predicament.
He kept overpowering his friend in their training sessions. Grant taking note of this, finally came to terms of what he had to do.
He went to one of the cloak men. He figure out which one of the cloak men is the woman who has been helping and testing him. He approaches her, and states the fact that he knew she was a woman. They then go somewhere, where they can talk in private.
They were in a dark and large room. She grabs him by the neck and he has a sword towards her neck.
"Good. You have exceeded expectations." She comments letting go of Grant's neck and he pulls away his sword.
"Why were you testing and keeping watch on me?" Grant questions her.
"Grant…" She responds. "That is not the reason, you came to me. What is the real reason?"
"Talon, he is a traitor." Grant bluntly states and continues to explain the situation of how Calvin does not want to be a villain and wishes to run away from the H.I.V.E. and the Court of Owls.
She stays silent, not positive to take Grant's evidence as truth. She questions him. "Why should I believe you? Is he not competition to become the best assassin in the school?"
"He is not, anymore." Grant responds. "He is weak. He is no competition. So I benefit from this in no way, besides not wanting a traitor in our midst. He told me this personally, as his closest friend."
"So why would you betray him, if he is your closest friend?" She continues to interrogate Grant.
"He was my friend." Grant explains. "However, he has changed too much and become weak. He does not have the strength to be a villain."
"You know we will kill him for his traitorous act? If not us, the Court of Owls." She states trying to see if Grant is serious about his decision.
"I know." Grant coldly states. "I don't care. This is his fault for not handling this type of lifestyle. He might get mercy from having death, instead of continuing this life."
She walks close to Grant and holds him. "You are no longer a worker bee. You have become a killer. Tell me, what name do you wish to be called?"
Grant looks at her and separates from her. He feels numb, not knowing if he did this to help his friend, benefit himself, for the mission, or for the sake of a kill. Regardless, he has ripped apart his friendship and left his friend to die. If there is no greater love than to love a friend, then he committed the most violent act; betraying a friend.
"Ravager." He says with nothing in his eyes, except the assassin he will become.