Crimson Gold

Prologue

My name is Ryan Mercer. They call me a killer, a monster, a terrorist. I'm all of these things. 10 years ago, they took me and turned me into what I am today. Now I hunt; I kill; I consume; I become. I am what I was made to be, what I chose to be. This is my story.

3rd Person POV

New York: 10 Years Ago

"Subject #2 has been a success," a scientist reported, watching emotionlessly from a viewing room along with several other scientists as a black-haired boy laid on a table below. Electricity coursed through his veins while armed guards stood at the ready around the edges of the circular chamber. "It has been four years since capture, and all tests have been successful. The final steps are in place, and we are one step closer to achieving the goal Blackwatch has so tenaciously worked toward. Only a few more steps, and Blackwatch's perfect weapon will be in our grasp."

The boy jerked, barely conscious as electricity shot through his body.

"Keep the subject under control," the head scientist instructed. "With luck, when he receives the strain, he will become the weapon Mercer was meant to be." He pointed at one of the soldiers. "You. I want him ready for transport ten minutes ago."

The soldier nodded, but before he could exit the room, the lights flickered, and an alarm sounded.

"What is going on?!" the head scientist demanded.

One of the other scientists checked a monitor. "I don't know, I—" He was cut off as a blade sprouted from his chest. With a scream, he was yanked into the darkness of the doorway as red and black tendrils absorbed him. Stepping out of the shadows, a man was revealed, black jacket and hood covering crimson eyes glowing with rage.

"You Blackwatch scum disgust me," he snarled. "As if making monsters and infecting a city weren't enough, you took a boy, a freaking 5-year-old boy! Away to torture and experiment on for four years to turn him into a weapon!"

"Mercer!" the head scientist yelled, horror on his face. "How did you find this place?!"

Mercer chuckled darkly. "Clearly, you forgot what I am. Why don't I remind you?" His hands morphed into claws, and he charged. Impaling one scientist, he lifted him into the air before throwing him into another.

Two guards charged, but Mercer cut them down with ease. In the chaos, the head scientist tried to escape. Mercer saw this and chuckled. "No. No. That's not going to happen." Morphing his hand into a Whipfist, he launched it, nailing the head scientist through the shoulder. "Get over here!" With a yank, he threw the scientist through the viewing window, shattering the glass.

Leaping down to the ground, Mercer walked past the heavily injured scientist and crossed to the boy's side. Hands changing to normal, he turned off the machine and removed the wires from the boy.

"Rise and shine, kid," Mercer greeted as the boy groaned and opened his eyes.

"W-who are you?" the boy asked weakly.

"The guy who's busting you out of here," Mercer replied. "Can you walk?"

The kid shook his head. Mercer cursed under his breath and gently picked up the boy. "Come on, let's get out of here."

Timeskip

"H-how did you find me?" The boy asked quietly as Mercer walked through the woods, carrying the boy in his arms as the Blackwatch base burned behind them.

"I was actually clearing out another base when I caught wind of some sort of 'super secret project,' so I decided to go check it out," Mercer explained. "What's your name anyway?"

"Ryan."

"Name's Mercer. Alex Mercer." Alex gently set the kid down and examined one of the wounds on Ryan's chest. Eyes hardening, he looked at the kid grimly. "I've got some bad news, kid. The stuff that they injected in you... It's killing you from the inside."

"I'm going to die?" the boy asked quietly.

Alex hesitated. "Not necessarily. There is one way you could survive."

"How?"

"The Blacklight virus." Alex held up his hand, changing it into a blade. "It'll basically make you like me."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it'll hurt, and the consequences are real." Alex looked at him seriously. "Are you sure you want this? Once I do this, there's no going back."

The kid hesitated, then nodded. "I'm sure."

Alex nodded and, blade changing into a claw, stabbed the boy in the chest.

The boy gasped as the blades sunk into his flesh, and red and black tendrils flowed inside him. As he fell unconscious, he vaguely heard Alex mutter, "Welcome to the family, kid."