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CHAPTER ONE: KRIS, THE REAPER

General Matthew Anderson strode through the corridor with ease and carefree smile, despite the fact that there were many number of dangerous individuals behind the locked doors that lined the hall. He appear nonchalant about it. With disinterest in his eyes, he scan the empty hall, not even flinching whenever some prisoners yell or curse at him as he passes by. However, Kruz knows that under the facade, the man is the devil himself.

"Just like what I imagined. These scumbags appear the same.. Can we really use him, Kruz?"

Captain Hans Kruz, walk side by side with General Anderson, his hands behind his back. Dressed in faded military fatigues and walking straightforwardly, he regarded The General with a stiff nod.

"He is more capable than anyone can be. He's one of the best there is, and I can assure you Sir, that putting him back in the squad would be the best," he said calmly, and although there was a touch of reproach in his voice, his face remained mostly expressionless.

Gen. Anderson did not bother answering and silence fell between them. When they turned the corner into the maximum security wing, Kruz saw two uniformed officers standing side by side in front of the very last door.

"General. Captain," they said smartly, saluting to Anderson and Kruz respectively.

"What is his status?" Kruz asked coolly.

"Secured, General," One of them answered immediately.

General Anderson hummed, then turn his eyes toward Kruz. "I wish to see him in person." He stated with authority, but didn't wait for confirmation from Kruz, as he was already moving toward the door. Kruz just shook his head dismissively, then took a deep breath and followed nonetheless, with the two guards trailing quietly behind him.

The General arched his brow when he finally open the door and catch the sight of him. In a small dark room, a man who appeared to be in his late twenties, was heavily restrained. Both his wrist were strap by a piece of metal and chained in the wall. He wore only close-fitting black pants so his body was completely displayed for them to see. And Gen. Anderson was not impress on what he found. The man's light olive-toned skin was marred by horrific-looking scars, gashes, and what had obviously been bullet holes. He want to ask why he's in that state, but he bit it back. He's The General, and he can't let them see that he's favouring anyone. Schooling his features, he willed his eyes to regard the man before him with outmost indifference.

Kris McAdams or highly known as the Reaper, was emaciated and had a wild look about him. His untended hair had grown long during his time on his isolation and was hanging limply about his face.

Despite his reputation as a mass murderer, the man had a naked, vulnerable look on his face and he was shuddering uncontrollably. Almond-shaped eyes of a startling amber flitted around quickly and, in his half-alert state, made him appear very much like a caged animal looking for a means to escape.

Gen. Anderson walked directly into the room and did not comment on the guards, instead watched Kris with detachment.

"Can you understand me?" He asked him clearly.

Kris head rolled to the side and stared up at him through his hair, his face set in a grimace. He opened his mouth, closed it, wet his lips, and opened it again. "I always been fluent in English," he slurred, his voice low and deep. "And I'm not stupid..."

"A useful excuse, no doubt, but, " Anderson chuckled dryly. He surveyed Kris restraints with a clinical air and strode closer, stopping just far enough away that he would not be able to reach him even if he surged to the ends of the chains. Not that he's afraid of him. Because Anderson knew very well that he is much stronger than the man. And with his state, he highly doubt it if he can even scratch him. But of course he is well informed with his kind. Wielder are dangerous beings, even if they're heavily emaciated. "I am hoping that you are intelligent enough to understand that you are a tool to us, nothing more. And after what you've done, we can easily terminate you without further ado."

"And all this time I thought I was merely everyone's toy," Kris smirked mockingly, appearing unaffected by his unexpected carefree nature. He stared at Gen. Anderson through narrowed golden eyes that glinted dangerously. Calculating him. Studying his indifference. "I'm fully aware of my situation. Though I'm not aware of why you're in here reiterating it, as if I knew nothing at all."

"You will address me with respect, young man," he informed him. Anderson was smiling, but there's an edge in his voice that give no room for argument. "I have a higher position than you, and as your superior I expect nothing less." He watched Kris closely. "And I do not appreciate misunderstandings so I will make myself clear. I do not take kindly to dealing with preventable mistakes, particularly in high profile missions, like the one you'd messed up a year ago. Do not disappoint me again. You would not appreciate the situation you found yourself in the next time you did."

Kris stared up at him silently for a very long moment. The silence stretching for a couple of minutes. And Gen. Anderson is busy guessing on what was really going through his mind. That's why he's a little bit shocked when he asked, "Why specifically are you here?"

Anderson's smile fade, and his face become hard and expressionless like a mask, his eyes completely unreadable as he watched him. There was a beat of silence in which it seemed he would not answer but then his eyes glint with amusement, he open his mouth, and spoke in a mocking tone, "You honestly expected me to answer that question."

Kris' eyes remained at him in the same narrow-eyed, hawk-like manner. The average person would probably turn away from such an expression, yet Anderson watched him evenly, expressionlessly, and even slightly amused, after a moment Kris turn his eyes away and just shrugged. He allowed himself to fall back against the wall gracelessly and gave up on whatever enjoyment he gained from attempting to intimidate him.

"It's been a pleasure," he said blandly after a moment.

Anderson scrutinized him for a breath longer before he turned and strode back into the hallway without further comment. Once the guards followed him out and the door was locked once more, he turn to Capt. Kruz, and said simply, "He will do."

Kruz looked at him and frowned, can't fathom what the man was thinking. "What did you conclude?"

He strode further away from the guards and out of their hearing range before he stopped and turn his icy blue stare again at Kruz.

"Despite his attitude, he gives the impression of reasonable intelligence," he said calmly. "I would not hesitate to have him terminated should he once again become a liability; however, he may prove useful. I have decided to go through with my recommendation to appoint him in my new squad. And of course to call his soon to be partner."

Capt. Kruz eyebrows shot up in surprise. He'd previously thought that this visit had been solely for the purpose of Anderson determining whether or not Kris would be a public risk if he were reinstated as an agent. "Oh?"

Anderson curtly nod his way, and starts striding down the hall. "I will notify the other party tomorrow."

"Who do you have in mind?"

"Its confidential."

Kruz tried to hide his dismay in his voice before he speak again. "What makes you think that he would agree to such thing?"

"Captain, Agent Kris do not have a choice in that matter. He's the one who should be grateful that the Organization is willing to give him a second chance. After what he'd done, having a partner is the best thing he can ask for as punishment."

There was another beat of silence and this one was wrought with tension. Kruz continued on his slow pace, and even the General did the same. They both didn't speak. As if they knew what the other is thinking at the moment. Finally Kruz open his mouth, and softly murmur. "We'll see how it turns out, then."

That earn a grunt from the General. As if he agreed with him. Yet, they both knew what's mostly going to happen. Kris is a temperamental bastard. And being a Wielder makes him more dangerous. Whoever this soon to be partner of his, surely pitiful, indeed. However, Kruz could only contemplate at the fact that The Organization had basically just given the poor fellow a death sentence, by sending him as a sacrificial lamb as The Reaper's handler...

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