The Grey Truth

The Grey Truth: Chapter One

It was the first day for the new recruits. They had all been anticipating their first day of training to become reapers. They all stood around the room, chatting and looking about nervously or excitedly. All but one, the odd one out of the group, this recruit was standing off to the side, silent, filling out papers that weren't related to these courses, but their current, though temporary job.

After a time, the door to the room opened, and two tall men walked in. The recruits stopped what they were doing, put things away, and stood before the men in perfect attention.

One man was dressed in a simple vest, white shirt, and black pants, like most reapers, though, he was also wearing black and red ankle boots, red framed glasses, and a red and black jacket slung off his shoulders, and had long, flowing, bright red hair. The other man was slightly taller, and wore a business suit, and simple glasses with thicker temples which had four decorative stripes cut into them.

"Alright, recruits, I am your instructor, Mister William T. Spears. I am here to train you, to whip you into shape," the suit-clad man stated. His voice was cold and serious, as were his eyes. "Now, due to today being the first day, I will be taking attendance," William said, though before he was able to begin reading off the names, the other man cut him off.

"Will, silly, you forgot to introduce me!" he shouted, more dramatically than needed.

William sighed a bit, and adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose before he spoke. "That is my co-instructor, Grell Sutcliff. If in any case I am unable to be here, Mister Sutcliff will take my place."

Grell smiled, pleased that William had introduced him. He sat on the edge of the desk, allowing William to continue.

William looked at Grell out of the corner of his eye for a short moment, and then proceeded to look through a few papers, finding the student list. "Now, as I was saying, I will be taking attendance. From today on, I will have a list on my desk, it will be your responsibility to check your name off each day," he explained, and proceeded to call out the names on the student list. "Joseph Powers?"

"Here, sir," a blond-haired male stated clearly.

Will checked off the name on the list, "Drew Summers?"

A shorter, black-haired boy answered, "I'm here, sir."

Another check was made, "Wilfred Anderson?"

"Call me Will, sir," a slim, brown-haired student asked, once again, a male, and once again, another check was added.

"Gregory and Fredric Williams?"

Two identical, ginger-haired boys answered, "Right here!"

At that, two more checks were added, and then, William stopped, looking at the list. "Well, that can't be right, Josephine Grey?" he muttered to himself, under his breath, and then called the name, "Josephine Grey?"

Several of the recruits chattered and muttered to themselves, and then a voice was heard.

"Present, sir," the voice called out, a female voice. The voice belonged to the odd one in the group. Josephine Grey was a tall, slim girl with dark brown hair tied tightly into a slightly messy bun, with some of the ends of her hair poking out of it. Her posture was perfect, and her eyes and voice were as stern and cold as William's.

It was at this time that Grell spoke up. "Well, it seems we've got an odd one in the group," he stated, standing and getting closer to the girl.

William also got closer to Josephine. "How on earth did a girl get into this school? I've never, in all my years, seen a girl step foot in here," he said, not expecting what was about to be stated back to him as a response.