The Vigilante Of Agwin [Beta]

Chapter 1

Ansel sat next to an empty desk and wondered why it had been several days since his best friend, Jack, last showed up for class.

Ansel and Jack have been friends since their first year at Agwin High School. At first, their relationship was limited but grew as they did more things together. They would play video games, go shopping, and hang out on the school rooftops. Even in Ansel's opinion, if Jack's views on the hierarchy were problematic, it was still difficult to hate him. Where the hell is he? Ansel wondered. He found it difficult to focus, and many sleepless nights spent finishing homework didn't help.

He never got answers. Not from his teachers and classmates. The school royals were no help, not even Broven, the King of Agwin. It wasn't like they could since they were off fighting a turf war against a rival high school, Wellston.

-=*=-

After class, Ansel fled through the halls. His eyebrows drew together, the skin between them wrinkled, pupils dilated. His hair was iron gray, which he gelled back as it made him feel more sophisticated. Except for today, Ansel's once clean-cut hairstyle had grown disheveled, like his clothes.

It was a typical Agwin High School uniform. A fashionable light brown blazer adorned in dark trimmings hugged his full figure, as did a pair of ebony trousers. A white linen undershirt finished with a rose-red tie peaked from the collar of his coat.

Ansel thought back to where he and Jack sat on the school rooftops eating lunch. He could recall one vivid memory he had. Jack was a compact, clear-cut boy with exact features, a lot of soft brown hair, and thoughtful light brown eyes.

"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in a different world," Jack said.

"What do you mean?" Asked Ansel, chewing his food.

"A world where we all lived as equals. No hierarchy, no royals. Where the strong would protect the weak instead of looking down on them." Jack elaborated.

"What?! High tiers and low tiers don't mix!" Ansel said. "Don't be silly."

"But... don't superheroes believe in protecting the weak?" Jack said hesitantly.

"What? Those lunatics?" Ansel scoffed. "All they do is get themselves killed! All for a stupid book!"

*Sigh* "If only I were strong enough," Jack said, looking down. "I would join them ten times out of ten!"

"I wouldn't if I were you," Ansel replied. "I'd rather not lose you."

Try as he might, the memory gave him no clues of where Jack could be, or at least he thought.

He focused, and his eyes began to glow. Four figures resembling Ansel appeared out of thin air, walking beside him. The viewpoints from the figures flickered to life in Ansel's mind like a dozen lamps. The beings, Ansel's clones, broke away in different directions, more than ready to aid in the search.

He searched everywhere, his eyes scanning the campus like two green cameras. He stopped by Jack's dorm, the classrooms, courtyards, cafeteria, and restrooms—still nothing. The school was like a palace. It had three stories and was bright thanks to its many large windows. He could hear the chatter of students echo throughout the hall and the squeaks of rubber soles along the hard floor. Rays of natural light illuminated the tan concrete walls.

As Ansel continued through the hallway, sweat pooling down his forehead, fidgeting his fingers, he didn't notice two students near the school lockers. One student, a girl with straight dark hair, kneeled over what was presumed to be her books and papers strewn across the floor.

She tried to gather her stuff as the other, a boy, trampled them, his lips curled. He was robust, with lots of razor-sharp dark blue hair, which looked like it could cut you if you weren't careful. "That'll teach you not to walk into me, you little runt!" The boy snarled. The girl, tense and with bags under her eyes, hesitated to speak. "I... I-I stayed up all night to f-finish this project!" She stammered. Her eyes began to well with tears. In that instant, the boy noticed Ansel pass by. He sneered, turning around to face him. "Hey, Ansel! There you are! Good timing!" He said. "Glad to see you not hanging out with that loser, Jack! Did you finally decide to leave that misfit?"