PROLOGUE

~March 26th~

Sam was in the training yard of X-Out Academy sparring with his best friend, Michael. The two boys have always been close; maybe not always but ever since he came to the academy he and Michael started to get close and not too shortly after became friends.

“I’m not complaining but since when do you want to spar with me?”

Michael asked. It was true, Sam never wanted to spar with Michael but it wasn’t because he just didn’t want to, it was mainly to do with the fact that the last time they did spar together Sam almost killed Michael and not figuratively but quite literally. Sam kind of lost control and ended up breaking Michael’s leg which meant that he couldn’t go out on missions or even walk properly without needing the help of someone else.

“I’ll take it easy on you and besides I really need to let off some steam after this morning.”

Sam replied getting his knuckles ready.

“You mean the fight with Matthew?”

Michael inquired also getting his knuckles ready.

“Yes. Now can you shut your trap and fight me.”

Just as Sam said this he threw a punch which landed square in Michael’s jaw. Michael was surprised at the intensity and strength of Sam’s punch, he had forgotten just how strong he actually was.

“You know most people would usually give a heads up or even give a warning to alert the person before they throw a punch like that.”

Michaels said as he also threw a punch hoping to land one on Sam but he was ready and caught Michael’s punch in mid-air but not before landing a punch in Michael’s gut.

“Is this how you fight even on missions? Pathetic if I say so myself.”

Sam taunted letting go of Michael's hand and pushing him away causing him to stumble. If there was one thing Michael hated the most it was being criticized for his fighting even though it really wasn’t all that good but it wasn't all that bad either. Although his fighting skills weren't that good Michael was a master with when it came to guns. Some say that he was almost as good as Sam but no one, I mean no one could match up to Sam’s brutality, Not even Matthew. Truth be told within the last weeks of training Michael has made some extreme progress in his fighting and although he was still nowhere near as good as Sam it was enough to make him one of the deadliest teen assassins at the academy, right under Sam, Matthew, and George.

That sentence seemed to trigger something in Michael that made him see red. He started to throw punches left and right making Sam full-on smile because all he wanted was to unleash the beast within Michael and from the looks of it he seemed to have accomplished his mission. Michael’s punches were not in vain as he landed a couple of hits on Sam’s face and in his gut but it really didn’t do much because Sam’s six-pack acted as a shield from Michael’s punches but even though, they still hurt.

“Okay, you’ve had your fun. Now, it’s my turn.”

Michael’s face dropped and he went pale which only boosted Sam’s already huge ego and made him flash his signature smirk. He kicked Michael making him lose his balance and trip but Michael being quick on his feet stood back up and reassumed his fighting stance ready to protect himself from Sam’s inevitable attack.

He lunged forward making Michael flinch then started with his attack on his ‘pray’. He kicked and punched repeatedly leaving no room for Michael to fight back seeing as he was completely defenseless that even the little he tried was pathetic.

“Sam STOP!”

That voice was very recognizable and he could tell even if it was miles away that it, was his Uncle Peter’s voice. His voice carried so much power and authority it made him stop his brutalizing and face him.

“Have you forgotten what happened the last time you two sparred?”, His Uncle questioned. “Or need I remind you.”

“It was just a friendly spar Uncle Pete and besides, no one got hurt.”

Sam snared back at his Uncle. The look his Uncle gave him suggested otherwise but Sam being the oblivious mercenary he was didn’t realize the damage he had done to his friend until he turned to face him. The sight wasn’t a pretty one, to keep it bluntly but it wasn’t an all too bad one either. Sam was now starting to understand why people at the academy were afraid of him, it was because they feared for their lives and in his entire time of being at X-Out academy there have only been three people who willingly wanted to spar with Sam and it didn’t end well for any of them.

The first one was Matthew. He was so full of himself, he thought that he could beat Sam and this took place only after a week of Sam being at X-Out academy. Matthew being himself wanted so badly to please SAGE but it only ended with him being beaten up nearly half to death but he did get a good fight and Sam was left bruised for a while but not as badly as Matthew was. Sam being the nephew to the head of the academy called him by his name, Uncle Peter or Uncle Pete as Sam referred to him as but everyone else was mandated to call him SAGE. They didn’t know why and they didn’t question it because quite frankly they enjoyed living.

The second person was George. He was someone who Sam greatly admired but not because he was a good fighter or any of those things, he admired him because of his strength and determination. In Sam’s mind, he thought he and George would be great friends but those thoughts were quickly dismissed by him when he saw George picking on a boy at the academy. That boy was Michael. George was known as the bully of the academy and most people hated him because of it. Their fight was a bit unique, Sam was practicing his shooting in the shooting range when George walked in and started messing with him. By now you would think that people had learned their lesson about messing with Sam and Matthew being the perfect example of his ‘work’ but it seemed like they didn’t. George was skeptical when he heard that the newcomer, Sam, had beaten up the best in the academy. He didn’t want to believe them because the kid was not as build as Matthew was and had only been at the academy for a few weeks so it took George by surprise. The memory was still fresh in Sam’s head;

“So you are the scrawny kid who beat up Matthew. Folks are starting to say that you are the best but let’s not get ahead of ourselves now right because as long as I’m here you will never be the be……”

George’s words were cut short by a punch to the left side of his face.

“Do you ever stop talking?”

Sam asked as he started to put away his gun safely in its holster where it belonged. George got so furious his eyes switched to ‘kill mode’ with Sam being his prey and him being the predator. He swung a punch at Sam but missed as Sam could see the punch coming from a mile away. Sam ducked and landed another punch but this time on the right side of his face,

“I thought you were going to be better at this mister ‘best at the academy’.”

Sam’s voice was filled with so much mockery and sarcasm it was practically dripping. Again George tried to land a punch on Sam but ended up being tripped to the ground. Sam got on top of him and started punching him mercilessly, awakening the sadist in him. All the blood just made Sam go blood crazy and only want more.

George kicked and squirmed, trying to get the boy off him. By now the two had gained an audience who were now watching them and among them was Matthew who was smiling wickedly.

“Get off me you twerp.”

George whined and in the process got Sam to get off him. George’s face was not a total wreck but he was bleeding badly, almost as if someone has poured a cup of blood over his face.

“I hope this teaches you not to mess with me.”

Sam snared as he walked out of the shooting range feeling pretty good about what he had just done.

George learned to behave and started avoiding Sam like the black plague and if the toughest at the academy was scared of Sam then there was no one else who could do to Sam what he had done to both Matthew and George.

The third is well known, Michael, and everyone knows how that ended. It wasn’t a good thing to think about now more than ever considering that the two were now closer than before and Sam had genuinely regretted beating up Michael the way he had. He turned to look at Michael who looked like he was trying to hold on to the little consciousness he had left in him and not collapse because he couldn't show weakness. That was all Sam needed to know that his Uncle was right about him taking it too far and with that last thought, he left straight for his bedroom where he would grab his gun and leave for the shooting range knowing very well that no one would bother him, not even his Uncle Pete.