"Can I speak with you for a moment?" Dick asked, his voice steady but respectful.
Mikey paused. Though his face was obscured, his intuition told him something had shifted. The man who once kept his distance, aloof and uninterested, was now seeking his guidance. This intrigued Mikey, but he couldn't let his guard down too easily. Dick had changed, and Mikey wasn't sure if that change was genuine.
Harry, Mikey's loyal second-in-command, kept a watchful eye on the interaction. His role was essential, and his position in Mikey's hierarchy was unchallenged. However, seeing Dick approach Mikey with a sincere request made Harry uneasy. He didn't want to be caught unaware, especially when Mikey had already given strict orders about maintaining control over their inner circle.
As they moved to a quieter corner of the campus, Mikey faked boldness, trying to regain his position as the dominant figure.
"Why did you stop me?" Mikey asked, playing at arrogance.
Dick didn't hesitate. He explained his desire to learn martial arts, and Mikey was stunned. He could read the sincerity in Dick's eyes. This wasn't a trick; Dick truly wanted to improve, to become stronger.
"Why would you come to learn under me?" Mikey asked, still a little skeptical.
"I know you're the best around. You've been training for years. Help me grow," Dick replied, his voice earnest.
Mikey's pride swelled. He had been right all along. People recognized his strength, his skill. But it wasn't just about teaching; it was about power. Dick was offering to pay him, which Mikey reluctantly declined, unwilling to show any weakness by accepting money.
"No, I don't need your money," Mikey responded, trying to sound unaffected. "Come by after school. We'll talk more."
He dropped his bag in front of Dick, an obvious ploy to test him. Dick, unaware of Mikey's trick, picked it up and handed it back. Mikey's anger flared briefly at Dick's naivety, but he masked it with a smirk, his mind already planning how he could humiliate Dick during their future training sessions.
This would not be an ordinary lesson. Mikey had a different agenda. He would take Dick to a secluded area, away from prying eyes, and put him through a grueling, private session that would break his spirit. Mikey had no intention of teaching Dick any real skills, not without humiliating him first.
"Stop following me like a puppy," Mikey said, his voice dripping with disdain, as they reached the point where Harry was waiting.
Dick, eager to follow Mikey and continue their conversation, hurried to keep up, not realizing the trap Mikey was setting for him. Mikey felt a twisted satisfaction in the power he held over Dick. For once, he wasn't the one being disregarded; Dick was the one desperate for approval.
Harry had arrived earlier than expected. Mikey had asked him to come and join him at this location, and Harry, who was always obedient, hadn't dared forget the command. Mikey's instructions were clear: the blood-machines and the underground machinations had to remain their focus. Mikey wasn't going to let anyone, even Dick, disrupt his plans.
As they climbed into the car, Mikey threw his bag at Harry, who caught it with ease, and Mikey jumped into the vehicle without waiting for anyone else. The car sped off immediately, with Harry struggling to pull himself into the moving vehicle.
"Boy, what's up?" Poured, the driver, asked with a grin, the kind that didn't reach his eyes. Poured was part of the team, and his loyalties, like Harry's, lay firmly with Mikey.
Meanwhile, Dick had a different plan. He headed straight for the library during break time to look for a book about ants. He'd been struggling to understand his newfound connection to them, and every lead seemed to bring him in circles. His search took him from shelf to shelf until finally, by sheer luck, he found a book titled Ants Are Neighbors by a young author named Hez. The cover featured a bold diagram of an ant, which caught Dick's attention immediately.
Flipping through the pages, however, he soon realized that the book didn't offer much useful information. Hez was clearly a novice, and the book's content didn't go deep enough for someone of Dick's growing curiosity. He needed something more substantial—something from an expert, someone who had studied ants and arthropods for years.
Frustrated, he continued to browse, but before he could make any more progress, the bell rang, signaling the end of break. Dick quickly tucked the book under his arm and made his way to Ms. Caul's office. He knocked, and the door opened immediately, revealing the smiling face of his favorite teacher.
"Oh, my hero!" Ms. Caul exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. She had taken to calling him this after learning that he was responsible for Moore's release. Though it wasn't widely known, a select few, including Ms. Caul, understood the truth behind the events.
Dick felt a wave of respect wash over him. He bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment, still somewhat embarrassed by the attention. He sat in the chair she gestured to, and for a moment, the two exchanged pleasantries. Ms. Caul's office was spacious, decorated with plush seating and a warm, inviting atmosphere. It was the kind of place where one could relax, and yet, Dick had come here with a purpose.
"Oh, sorry, ma'am," he apologized, suddenly remembering the reason for his visit.
Ms. Caul gave a playful smile. "I knew you'd say that. Now, tell me, why do you need to see me, hero?"
Her teasing made him laugh, and for a moment, the weight of his troubles lifted. But then, with a more serious tone, he explained his request: information about ants and their remarkable abilities.
Ms. Caul tried her best to recall any relevant information. "Well, ants belong to the family Formicidae. There are around 12,000 to 14,000 known species. That's about all I can remember from my studies. But... why are you so interested in ants?"
Dick hesitated for a moment, not wanting to reveal too much. "I'm sorry to bother you with this," he said quickly, hoping to change the subject.
But just as he was about to get up, Ms. Caul burst into laughter. Her contagious laughter echoed in the room, and Dick felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. She waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh, I understand you now," she finally said between giggles. "You're seeking revenge, aren't you?"
"Revenge? What for?" Dick asked, confused.
"Never mind, hero," Ms. Caul said, her smile wide. "I'll help you with everything I have. Just leave it to me."
Though Dick was still uncertain, he left her office feeling a little more hopeful. She promised to help him find books and resources to aid in his research, but he still couldn't shake the doubt lingering in the back of his mind. Would she actually follow through?
As the school day ended, Dick joined Mikey's group at the gate, where everyone was ready to go. Mikey still hadn't arrived, but the rest of the boys were already gathering, eager to begin. Dick watched them closely, calculating their positions in the hierarchy. Mikey, no doubt, was at the top, with Harry and Poure ranked just below him. These were the people he would have to contend with if he wanted to learn the martial arts.
The boys gathered, but something felt off. Dick didn't trust any of them fully. Not after the way they had treated him in the past. They were all interested in power, in becoming stronger, but none of them seemed to possess any abilities beyond the ordinary. It made him wonder just how far their training would take them.
When Mikey finally arrived, he was flanked by Harry, who was quick to greet him. Dick wanted to approach and say something, but the way the boys stood together made it impossible. Mikey and Harry spoke in hushed tones, and Dick noticed Harry occasionally glancing in his direction. Then, without warning, Mikey gestured for the group to follow.
No one questioned him. They simply obeyed, moving as one.
They left the school grounds and headed toward a familiar field. Dick had been here before. This was where he had faced Mikey in battle. Mikey had brought them here for a reason, and Dick wasn't sure what to expect. As they arrived, Mikey turned to face the group.
"This is where we'll train," Mikey said, his voice cold. "And where we'll see who's really worthy."
Dick's heart raced. The training was about to begin, and he had no idea what he was walking into.
Dick's mind raced, each thought coming faster than the last as he tried to make sense of his new reality. He had just entered Mikey's brutal world, a world where martial arts and power structures ruled everything. It was clear that his status was far from prestigious. He was a newcomer, placed at Rank 1, Level 1—nothing more than an unknown in a system where experience and strength meant everything. The questions tumbled over each other: What did Mikey really expect from him? Was he here to train, or was he just another pawn in Mikey's game? His status as a beginner felt like a shackle, but it also provided a strange sense of opportunity. For now, he had no choice but to accept it—no rank, no reputation, just a blank slate in this world of power struggles.