Nearing the end of Volume 4 and I gotta say, it was a lot more fun doing it than I thought it would be. Just the fact that it let me explore some more paths for my own characters was enough to change my view on this whole series. I would have to say, this series has become my new favourite to write, only because "Class 1-B's Ace," one of my other series, has really slowed down because i'm caught up with the manga. We'll just have to see how my new series "Predator Squad" does in comparison to both of those. It'll be interesting to say the least, considering it's my first ever completely original series. Enjoy!

-Point of View: Drake-

A week had passed by and me and Weiss were still kept in the Schnee manor as prisoners. Neither of us had left Weiss' room at all since our "conversation" with Jacques. The entire time, I've been helping Weiss to enhance her semblance's strength in the same way she used it at the party. Her bedroom was becoming a mess because of it but she didn't care in the slightest. Today, Weiss was at it again, holding her sword ready to try and perfect her semblance. I stood behind her, waiting to see what she would do. She held her blade up to her body, spun around, and then placed the tip of her blade directly on the ground. One of her Glyphs appeared on the floor in front of her and it had the same symbols as the one she used at the party. I walked over and put my hand on her left shoulder. "Remain calm. Focus is key. Visualize what you wish to create." I said as she took a few deep breaths. And then, from the middle of the Glyph, a huge sword made of ice began to appear. It was rising from the ground slowly. I could feel Weiss beginning to breath more and shake, meaning she was starting to lose control. "Hello, sister." Someone said which made Weiss lose focus. Her Glyph and the sword disappeared and we both turned to see who it was. Whitley stood at the door, looking as smug as ever. "Leave." Weiss demanded. "How hurtful. And here I am, about to offer you a favor. Father's taking me into town soon to introduce me to some of his business partners. I thought i'd see if you wanted me to pick you up anything, since your... well, stuck here." Whitley said as me and Weiss glared at him. "Are you jealous? Is that it?" Weiss asked him. "Whatever do you mean?" Whitley asked as I just rolled my eyes. "Is that why you hate me? Are you jealous of my abilities? Of Winter's?" Weiss curiously asked him as Whitley went deep into thought. "Hmmm.... no, not really. Honestly, I find it barbaric, just like your friend here." Whitley said as I clenched my left fist. "It's beneath people like me. Like father. What could a single Huntsman do that an army could not? That's why we have one, even if it is run by a fool." Whitley said as I started to walk over to the door. "She said, leave." I said as intimidatingly as I could. "Fine, fine. I've got better things to do. But... before I go. My father wishes to speak with your... friend. He's in his quarters, waiting for you." Whitley said as he walked through the doorway. But he didn't quite leave just yet. "Enjoy your... training, however pointless it is. What is your plan, anyway? What do either of you hope to accomplish while trapped in this room?" Whitley asked as I was about to slam the door on him. But Weiss beat me to it, making a Glyph appear on the door and shutting it in his face. 

"Honestly, how could you bear to live with someone like him?" I asked Weiss as I walked back over. "He used to look up to me, actually. But ever since I went to Beacon, he's been like this. It disgusts me." Weiss said as I agreed with her. "Are you going to listen to him and go see my father?" Weiss asked me as I let out a sigh. "Oh, i'll go see him, alright. I've got plenty to say to that jackass. And maybe, I can convince him to let us leave." I said as Weiss chuckled a bit. "I doubt that'll happen." She said as I went to exit the room. "Hey, you never know. You just keep practicing though. I'll be back in a while." I said as Weiss gave me a nod. I then left her bedroom and walked through the manor. I passed by Klein who didn't say any words to me. He just gave me a concerning look. I didn't say anything to him as I passed by either. I just kept my eyes focused straight ahead. And eventually, I arrived at Jacques bedroom. I knocked on the door a couple times and waited for his response. "Come in." Jacques said with a bit of a gruff tone as I entered the room. 

Inside, I saw Jacques standing over by his fireplace, moving the wood around with a fire poker. "You wanted to se-" I began to ask as out of nowhere, I was punched in the back of the head. I dropped to the floor on my front and looked behind me to see two large men standing over me. They both began to kick me, stomping down onto my legs, back and even my head. They kept this up for a good minute easily, each stomp hurting more than the last. "That's enough! Bring him to me." Jacques said as the two men stopped. They each put a hand under one of my arms and they lifted me to my knees. They then dragged me over to Jacques who was still facing the fire. My vision was getting blurry and I could feel blood dripping from my head and mouth. "Is this... your punishment... for me?" I asked Jacques as I coughed up some blood. "Hmm... in a way, yes. Take off his jacket and shirt." Jacques ordered as the two men did as he told. They slipped off my blazer and undershirt and then went back to holding me. "Just... let me... and your daughter leave here. You'll never see me ever again... And I promise... i'll protect her." I said as I coughed up some more blood. "You? Protect her? Why, you can't seem to protect yourself. Unless this is what you call protecting." Jacques said with a small chuckle as he turned his head to face me. "No. You have made a mockery of this family for the last time. And because of that, you have left me no choice." Jacques said with an intimidating voice. "So what then? Are you going to kill me?" I asked him. Jacques then turned the rest of his body around, still holding on to the fire poker. "No. Death would be too easy. I want to make you suffer for everything you've done. So, i'm going to make you mine... forever!" Jacques said as he held up the fire poker. And as I looked at it, a realization of dread grew over me. It was not a fire poker. What Jacques held in his hands was a branding iron. And the end had the Schnee family crest which was glowing red hot. "Keep him still. I want to make sure he feels every second of pain." Jacques said as he slowly began to walk around me. "No, stop! You don't have to do this!" I begged as Jacques stopped behind me. "Oh, my dear, Drake. I was going to do this anyway!" Jacques said as he placed the end of the branding iron on my back. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" I screamed in pain as he held it on me for several seconds. Jacques eventually removed it and began to walk around me again. "Don't think we're done here. That's only one..." He said as he now stood in front of me. "The first was for your rude behavior! This one is for your actions during the charity party!" Jacques yelled as he placed the branding iron on the lower left side of my chest. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed as the pain hurt even more. Jacques kept it on me longer too, making me feel every bit of his rage towards me. He removed it after a few seconds but he didn't start walking again. He just stayed there in front of me. He then crouched down and put his face up to mine. 

"How does it feel? This experience is all thanks to your actions, you know. And because of them, I now own you." Jacques said as I spit blood onto his face. "Nothing.... you can do.... can break me. After the night... Beacon fell... No pain I receive could be.... as bad as that night." I said as Jacques slapped me across the face. "Insolent little shit! You will learn your place in all this! I will always stand above you! You will do as I say, whether you like it or not! You will never leave this manor, ever! You will die here, by my hands! I will make every single day here a living hell for the rest of your pathetic, miserable life!" Jacques roared as he shoved the branding iron onto my left cheek. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I wailed as the pain was utterly excruciating. The brand wasn't touching my eye but it felt like it was. Jacques left it there for a good 20 seconds easy before finally taking it off. On my body was three Schnee family crests. One on my back, one on my chest, and the last on my cheek. And they would all be staying... permanently. I lowered my head and tried my best to endure the pain. "Let this be a lesson of what happens when you trifle with with someone who is more powerful. Now, take him back to my daughters room." Jacques said as I was dragged out of his room. I was taken through the halls of the manor, passing by several servants. They all looked in horror at what Jacques had done to me. But we eventually came to Weiss' room. The men opened up her door and threw me in. They were kind enough to give me back my jacket and shirt as they threw them in to. They then slammed the door shut and left. Weiss ran over to me and sat me up slowly. "Oh my gosh, what did he do to you!?" Weiss asked me as I coughed up some more blood. "I think... that's pretty obvious. There wasn't.... much of a chat." I explained as Weiss nearly broke down into tears. I then tried my best to move around my head and look around the room. My vision was starting to come back to me and I could see there was a broken window. "What.... happened in here?" I asked as I tried my best to point at the window. "Nothing you need to worry about. We're leaving... tonight." Weiss said as I gave her a nod. 

-Time Skip: 6 Hours- 

The pain from the branding iron was still lingering but not as serious as before. Night had arrived and it was now time for me and Weiss to finally make it out of here. While I was away with Jacques, Weiss managed to perfect her semblance, creating the broken window in her room. And, she was able to ask Klein for assistance. He gladly agreed and it would only be him who would be helping the two of us tonight. Everything we'd been through, all the pain we'd endured, all the suffering that happened to us both, was all for this one chance to finally escape this nightmarish prison. Weiss packed up a small briefcase of supplies and held her weapon in her hands. We gave each other nods, knowing that this was it. Weiss slowly opened her bedroom door and peered out into the hall. She saw no one and we both left the room. But when we went to walk down the hall, we were met by Klein. "Shhh..." He said quietly as we nodded in agreement. The three of us then silently walked through the Schnee manor, heading for our escape route. But as we rounded many corners, we started to hear a buzzing sound. It was coming from Klein and we watched him pull out a scroll from his pocket. He answered the call. "Master Whitley! I... Um... yes, of course. I'll be just a moment." Klein said as he hung up. He then looked at me and Weiss and said "Head to the first floor library. I'll meet you two there." Klein then walked away and Weiss took the lead. 

We walked through more of the manor, finally arriving on the first floor. But as we entered another hallway, we heard glass break from one of the rooms. "You need to control yourself!" Someone yelled. I recognized the person who said that. It was general Ironwood. "You're talking to me about control!? Do you even hear what you're saying?" Jacques asked him. "I am basing everything on my report from your daughter." Ironwood said. "A daughter you stole!" Jacques yelled as I made the connection they were talking about Winter. "Oh we are not getting into that again!" Ironwood yelled as Weiss crept up to the door. I stayed close behind her at all times. "Oh, yes, we have far more pressing matters to discuss, starting with your apparent lunacy!" Jacques yelled as I heard him slam his fist down. "Jacques! Winter is one of my best. If she's telling me there's a threat in Mistral then I am not going to that that news lightly! She's been there for weeks, people are mobilizing, sudden spikes in weapons and Dust trades. Someone is about to make a play and I don't trust Leo to stop them." Ironwood said as I became intrigued. Who was this Leo person he was referring to. "You've never trusted anyone other than yourself!" Jacques yelled. "And for good reason!" Ironwood roared as he slammed his fist down onto Jacques desk. "...If Oz had just listened to me from the start..." Ironwood said as we heard Jacques let out a sigh. "You need to get a grip." He said. "That's exactly what i'm doing. Our people need protection. By this time next week, Atlas will be officially closing its borders. No one in; no one out. Without the council's permission." Ironwood explained. "You mean without your permission?" Jacques smugly asked him. "And if that becomes the case, I would think you'd want to be on my good side." Ironwood said as we could hear him start to walk away. He was heading right for the door. Weiss quickly pointed her sword at the doorknob and made a Glyph around it. We could see that Ironwood was trying to open the door but it wasn't budging. Ironwood then tried to break down the door, beginning to body slam it. Me and Weiss quickly looked at each other and then took off down the hallway, as quietly as me could.

After a while, we finally managed to make it to the first floor library. "Klein? Klein, where are you?" Weiss whispered as we looked around for Klein. He appeared in front of us, opening up a hidden door in a wall. "Keep your voices down, I told you i'd be here." Klein said in his scruffy voice, his eyes red. Weiss then ran over, dropped her weapon and briefcase and hugged him. I saw Klein's eyes change back to the normal colouring. "Are you sure Mistral is safe?" Klein asked as Weiss let go of him. "No. But it's where Winter is." Weiss said as Klein put his head down. "I suppose she'll be the only family you have left after tonight." Klein said as he let out a sad sigh. "That's not true. I'll always have you. And... don't forget about all my friends." Weiss said as Klein put his head back up. He then looked over at me. "And... I am going to miss you as well, Mr. Col-... Drake." Klein said as I walked over and hugged him. "Thank you for everything. You and Weiss were the only ones who cared for me." I said as I let go of him. "Thank you, my boy. And... before you go... I have something that I would like you to take with you." Klein said as he handed me something from behind him. Klein then turned his eyes red again and started talking in his scruffy voice. "This large hand cannon used to be mine. It's got the power of a shotgun and the range of a sniper rifle. Hit this switch and the weapon turns into a double ended straight sword. The weapon can also carry different types of Dust. And they can be infused with the blade." Klein explained as I took the weapon from him.

https://youtu.be/vR1_zXk5a0k

"Wow... Um.... Thank you, Klein." I said as he changed his eyes back to normal. "That weapon used to be my own when I was your age. I too was a Huntsman. But since starting to care for the Schnee family, I have lost all use for it. So... I wish for you to take it. Use it well.... better than I ever could. A Huntsman needs his weapon after all, right?" Klein said as I gave him another hug. "I... I... I don't know what to say. Thank you, Klein." I said as he hugged me back. "You take care of young Weiss now." Klein said as we heard a door open in the distance. No doubt it was Ironwood breaking out of the room him and Jacques were in. "Klein!? Klein, get down here this instant!" Jacques yelled as Klein let go of me. "Go, now." Klein said as me and Weiss walked into the secret entrance. "Thank you, Klein." We both said as we gave one last look at him before he shut the exit. 

We followed the path for nearly an hour but we finally reached the end. We came out at a hanger, and there was a airship docked there. The pilot was refueling it. Me and Weiss walked over to him and got his attention. "Excuse me?" Weiss said as the pilot turned to face us. "Yes, what can I do- Oh! Ms. Schnee! What may I do for you?" The pilot asked. "Where is this ship going?" She asked. "Going to the Atlas base currently in the North of Mistral. Why?" The pilot asked as Weiss handed him a boatload of money. "Here. We'd both like to come with you. Will this be enough to suit you?" Weiss asked as the pilot took the money and inspected it. "Okay, you two can hide out in the cargo hold. I'll take you as far as I can, but if we get caught, you're on your own. Understand?" The Pilot said as we both gave him nods. "Crystal." I said as he went back to refueling the ship. Me and Weiss then walked into the ships cargo hold and sat down on top of some of the crates. I looked over at her and it looked like she was going to cry. "Are you gonna be okay?" I asked her. "I'll.... be fine. It's just... this is all so hard for me. Leaving. Saying goodbye to the people that I call family." Weiss said as I walked over and sat next to her. "Don't worry. You'll still have me. And your sister. And everyone else who cares about you." I said as Weiss leaned against me. "Thank you, Drake..." She said as she closed her eyes. We took off minutes later and we had finally escaped the Schnee family manor forever. I didn't look back as we left. It would only bring back bad memories. But now, only one thing was on my mind. What exactly is going to happen once we get to Mistral?