Born For The Trigger: Inheriting Shadows

~CHAPTER 3~

~Danger Wears a Smile~

Sam was ready to kill, to get this mission over with and to get back home. He walked through the hallway of the school avoiding contact with anyone but even without trying to, he emitted the type of energy that said, 'I'm a bad boy, keep your distance'. Just as he turned the corner, he bumped into someone who was running and fell backwards. Sam looked up hoping to see the unlucky soul that had just signed their death certificate but was surprised when he saw a hand stretched out to him, offering help. He didn't take the hand, instead he just stood up by himself and pushed the hand away.

"Sorry about that. You must be new here, I'm Connor." When he spoke, it was like he had heard the voice before. It was so familiar but where did he hear it?

Connor still had his hand stretched out hoping that Sam would shake it but when he saw that it wasn't going to happen, he started to retreat his hand into his pocket to make the situation less awkward. Just before he had fully submerged his hand into the comfort of his pocket Sam noticed something that caught his eye, something that he had seen before. It was a neck chain with a crocodile tooth which had the initials 'CB' engraved on it. As if looking at the item had triggered a memory that was buried at the very back of his memory catacombs, he had a glimpse of a time before everything changed. Sam went back down memory lane, a place that he dreaded, a place he tried so hard to bury because every time he thought of it, he was brought to the verge of tears.

"Sam, come here."

The man who spoke had been standing there for a while holding two identical neck chains with their initials engraved on them.

"Dad, what are those?"

Just then Sam realized that the man who had called them was their father but he couldn't make out any details besides his voice which sounded like something he would wake up to every Saturday morning but it was different, it sounded shaky with a hint of sadness.

"Friends will not always be there but family always is."

He was about to turn and look at the boy he had assumed was his brother but before he could get a clear view he was snapped back to reality by the voice of Connor, "Hey, are you okay?"

Just then Sam realized that he was crying and that tears were running down his face.

"Yes, I'm fine." He said while pushing Connor out of the way refusing to face the fact that he could feel pain.

The pain he felt was different; it wasn't the pain you felt after mercilessly beating a man to his death. The pain he felt was the pain you feel when you lose that piece of yourself that keeps you sane.

Before he knew it, he was outside of the school sobbing. Even he himself was surprised at the fact that he could cry. He never thought that he could, or more accurately, he didn't think he was still capable of crying. Sam gathered himself up and started to walk back to the place where he left a dazed Connor. Connor was still standing exactly where Sam had left him and a part of Sam started to tell himself that this Connor character wasn't so bad but he quickly silenced it, not wanting to allow himself to feel anything. He paced himself, not wanting to reach Connor who by now thought he was crazy or at least in Sam's head that's what he thought. He knew that pacing himself was just delaying the inevitable so he walked promptly so he could clear up this mess before Connor could spread any rumors that Sam was a softie.

"You saw nothing. Tell anyone that you saw me crying and I will rip out your vocal cords."

To Sam it didn't even sound that bad; it was barely even a threat. Connor on the other hand believed every word and subconsciously held his throat, taking a huge gulp of saliva.

"Okay let's do this again. I'm Connor Bolton and you are?"

Sam thought that he was going crazy because it couldn't be possible. He didn't want to believe that it was possible. He ruled out any possibilities but that didn't stop his brain from wondering if Connor could be who he thought he was. Sam wasn't comfortable anymore, not that he ever was, and started to subconsciously tell himself that he had to kill this dude as soon as possible but he still answered the question.

"Mick. Mick Grayson."