~Thirty-two Years Later~

~Bad News~

I've never been a very compassionate man. I've never cried over someone, nor have I been tempted to.

I just thought you should know this about me.

It's really nothing important, just something that happened to cross my mind. A mere thought in the history of my life.

See? Nothing important.

That, along with the rest of the thoughts swimming around in my head, was about to make me go jump off of a cliff somewhere.

Today was my favorite day, the day when the initiates come.

Did you notice the sarcasm?

Somehow, I had to memorize 24 names and life stories in the next five minutes, along with making sure the initiate's dorm was completely cleaned out.

Sometimes I wonder why I even do this anymore. Why do I separate kids from their families and drag them here? I know the answer, it's because my father wants me too. But why does he like creating all of this fear? What did the people from the other side do to us?

I guess some questions just go unanswered.

I gave one final look around the dull, grey, underground dorm room before walking out and up the steps leading outside. The initiate's dorm was such an awful place. It was barely able to house 24 children. Let alone 24 teenagers.

I reminded myself not to think about it too much. Dad gets what dad wants. Even if I'm the leader of this place and an adult man.

I cleared my throat, straightened my black cape that hung loosely around my shoulders, and ran through my speech one more time.

It was only meant to get the kids an idea of how things work around here. Not to mention that it scares them into acting tough. Yes, another thing from my father. He made up this thing called "the less pleasant place". I'm supposed to tell them that it's where you go if you are too wimpy.

I grabbed the handle to the room they were crowded in, put on my menacing face, and walked in.

"Welcome!" My voice boomed across the small room full of scared looking teenagers. "My name is Bad News, and I'm the leader of this place, The Wicked Side."

~Dan~

I was laying on my back, looking at the ceiling of my new home.
I'd stayed up all night, too worried to fall asleep.

Five minutes. I thought. Five minutes until wake up time.

My heart pounded in my chest, making me feel like I was spasming.
In the bed next to me, Corey flipped from his side to his back and sat up.
"Corey?" I whispered. "Are you awake?"

"No, dufus. I'm stinking sitting up in bed and speaking to you, in my sleep." He answered with a sarcastic tone.

His sharp words hurt me, and I silently looked at my hands.

"Ugh, what time is it?" Corey asked, not bothering to whisper.

"4:56." I replied.

He laid back down.

"Did you even sleep?" He asked.

"No." I answered.

"No." He mimicked. "Dude, we have training today. Training. How are you going to train, if you haven't slept?"
I shrugged.

"You're never going to survive." He mumbled.

His words struck me like a sharp blade.

It hurt because he was right, I was never going to make it.

It was like everything was already laid out for me.

Heck, I probably had my own space saved at the 'less pleasant place.'

Everything was silent for about two minutes before Corey asked,

"Did you see who everyone is? Did you know anyone?"

"Other than you, no. But I wasn't really looking." I replied.

"I saw you, and everyone else from The Hideout." He said.

"Did someone say The Hideout?" A girl voice asked.

She was on the other side of Corey.
"Corey? Dan? I didn't know that you guys were here."

It was Penelope.

"Well we are here, so shut up and leave us alone." Corey snapped back.
"Whatever Corey, you're a dinkhead. Hi Dan." She said.

"Hey." I replied.

"Dan." Corey said while glaring at me. "Don't socialize with her, it's not worth it. She'll brain wash you, and make you act the way she wants."
He then turned around to look at her.
"Be gone you brainwashing alien! You're not making my friend your next victim!" He shouted at her.

"Who's shouting?" The person in the bed to my left asked.

It was Ava.

"It was Corey." Penelope answered.
"Ugh Corey, you woke me up!" Ava suddenly yelled at him.

"Um, sorry Ava...I didn't mean to wake you." Corey replied, ashamed.

Ava was basically the only person that could keep Corey from acting like a complete jerk. Now that I knew she was here, things were looking up.

A light suddenly turned on.

I was momentarily blinded, then I regained my vision.

"Wake up! Time to train!" Bad News yelled from the doorway.

People began to get up and put their shoes on and whatever else.

"Meet me outside in 3 minutes!" Bad News yelled.

Then he walked out of the room.
Me, already being ready, simply stood up and followed him out.

After climbing a set of stairs, I walked outside.

"What's your name?" Bad News asked.

"Dan." I replied.

He simply nodded, and then waited for the other kids.

I counted all of the kids as they made their way out the door. There was 12 girls and 12 boys, counting me.

"We're going to be fighting today! I want to see your level of skill at your beginning point!" Bad News yelled. "Fight your hardest! And don't hold back! I choose when you stop, not you." He paused. "The partners are paired over there." He said as he pointed at a chalkboard to our right.

No one moved.

"Go!" His voice boomed across the whole area.

Everyone began walking toward the chalkboard.

Bad News put a thick mat down on the dusty ground.

A girl with brown hair and blue eyes that had already checked her name stormed off toward Bad News.

"Why are all the girls paired up with boys?!" She asked.

"Because I like to mix it up! What's your name?" He replied.

"Th-Thalia." She stammered.

"Well, Th-Thalia. I like to give people a real challenge. Is fighting a boy, too big of a challenge for you?"
She shook her head.

"Good." He said menacingly.
She backed away toward her friends.
I went to check to see who I was paired with.

The list read:

Brian vs. Penelope
Cameron vs. Alyssa
Corey vs. Thalia
Dan vs. Carla
Finn vs. Ava
Jake vs. Rose
Jeremy vs. Victoria
Justin vs. Jane
Mark vs. Danielle
Paul vs. Clara
Sam vs. Emily
Shawn vs. Britney

"Alright!" Bad News yelled. "Finn and Ava first!"
Ava, with her chin held high, walked to the center of the mat, then flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder.
Some guys started snickering.
Then I understood why.
Finn was massively huge, strength wise.
Ava looked panicked.
"Go!" Bad News yelled.
Finn, looking bored, kicked Ava's legs out from under her, and after she fell face first onto the ground, he sat on her and looked at Bad News.
"Can I be done?" He asked.
Bad News nodded and Finn stood up.
Ava also got up and walked away, her face bright red.
"Corey! Thalia! Let's go!" Bad News yelled.
Thalia, also looking somewhat smug, walked onto the mat.
Now, Corey might not have huge muscles, but he's strong.
He's someone that people often label as weak at a first glance at him, and I could tell that Thalia was one of these people.
She took one look at him and smiled.
"I'm paired up with this wimp? Come on you've got to-"
Corey didn't need someone to say start.
He forcefully punched her straight on the jaw.
Thalia stumbled backward.
"I'm so going to ruin that pretty face of yours." She spat.
"Ha!" Corey yelled. "Nice joke, tell another."
Thalia tried to punch him, but was instead slung over Corey's shoulder.
I didn't even see him pick her up, just...that.
He slammed her onto the ground and pinned down her arms above her head with his right hand.
He raised his left fist.
"Enough!" Bad News yelled. "Jake and Rose!"
I started to get the feeling that this wasn't fair for the girls.
Jake walked up to the mat and waited.
Rose, who was quite gorgeous, strutted up and put a hand on her hip.
Everyone waited.
Jake punched at her shoulder, but before he could hit her, in a sudden and swift motion Rose grabbed his arm, twisted it around, and pinned it to his back.
He tried taking a step but was immediately knocked onto his hands and knees.
Then she kicked him, making him fall over.
He rolled over, then jumped back up.
"Oh quit you baby." Bad News said. "You lost to a girl, get over it. Okay...Dan and Carla."
I started to panic.
I cautiously approached the mat, fear pulsing through my veins.
Carla got there the same time that I did.
We stood there for about a minute.
Carla punched at me.
Instincts took over.
I dodged, grabbed her arm, and kicked both of her feet from under her.
She fell face first.
"Great job. Shawn and Britney are next." Bad News said.
Before I knew what was happening, Carla jumped up, pushed me onto my stomach, and stomped on me.
I heard a sickening crack come from my ribs as the air rushed out of my lungs.
Shouts erupted from the crowd as I felt her repeatedly kicking me.
Then there was nothing.
Except for a cloud of black.