The Change

The SBSSU

My alarm clock started buzzing, waking me up immediately. I turned it off and stared at the ceiling of my room. Its been almost a year since that day I was attacked and my family had been broken. I saw it on the news one day, the headline stated: The Steel Bond Has Been Broken! I remember what they had spoken about that very day I had watched it.

^ "The Steelman family, a small family set in Mesquite, Texas. This family has been torn apart by the a diseased son, war in Iraq, divorce, family violence and also a court case concerning the home placement of two little children. Well folks, what is sad now is that a teen ridden with disease, which is now cured completely, is now suddenly taking on assassins from the future? More with that when we come back!" The new reporter stated.^

It feels like is has been so long since that day. ^"...Ultimatum J..."^ The title ran through my head like a runner on a track. Though I always worried for my family, I am now beginning to move on. So I got off of my dorm room bed and stood up to stretch. I was at the SBSSU now, they helped me graduate high school, now its time to prepare for life outside of the school.

I had gotten changed into a pair of plaid shorts and a blue T-shirt. I had my class ring sitting on my right ring finger. The shadow cast luminescence almost blended in with my abyss black skin. The markings on my body where a pure glowing white today. I had energy going today. I pulled some stuff off of my nightstand. My roommate came out of the bathroom just then, and greeted me, "Hey J, how's your morning already!"

I grinned my famous grin, as my mom would say, "Doing alright Henry." Henry nodded at me, glad I was doing alright. He was the first one to accept me in this school, even though his body looked like he was mummified almost completely. I always wondered what his face looked like under the wrappings, it was sad what had happened to him.

The SBSSU was a bit dangerous at times when it came down to specifics. When Henry was called down to the Deans office, he left on a mission with the military to help aid in battle. He was supposed to help take care of some ISIS terrorists that had been threatening a church over seas. Seeing as how he had been lucky to do so, not many of us students see it that way now.

The men were lucky enough to capture Henry and tortured him for answers, using a manipulation device to stop him from using his powers. They gutted him, taking his intestines and stomach from his body, since they were not able to get any answers from him. When he came back they used a type of magic spell or something to resurrect him. He needed not to eat, drink, or even breathe to live anymore, that's why he was always dead looking. The school decided to cover his body with wrappings so he wouldn't be able to see all the scars, even though he could always feel them. They replaced his eyes for snake eyes, from a deadly snake that lived in the combat training room down in the floors below the school.

But Henry now lives a new life, the tall guy is pretty happy, or at least so he says. I always wonder about him. I put some of the stuff from my nightstand into my pockets, a few pens and pencils, my pocket watch I got for my birthday here at the SBSSU, and a phone given to me by the school. I held in my hand a schedule for this years classes. Henry looked over, putting some clothing on to make himself look like a regular student. "Whatchya got this year," I heard him say.

There wasn't that much this year, mainly just stuff to help me blend into society, there was some combat training; not too much though. "Well, mainly blending in classes" I told him. He laughed, "It seems they don't want you on the battlefield then friend, maybe I can help work things out for you so you can join me in the Supernatural Corp in the military. Then we can fight alongside each other like brothers" he ecstatically spoke. Henry always loved the fight.

I walked out of the dorm, and straight to the first class of the day Combat Training. As I headed towards the elevator, I bumped into someone. The guy who I bumped into pushed me, "What's with you, ya look like a black hole." The man speaking to me was Yurik von Brauheimer, he was born in America, but his family was Russian. "Look, its Yurik and Ultimatum J" one student pointed out. Another replied, "Isn't Ultimatum J a first year college student here?" A female student replied then, " Yeah, he came here after he was attacked and his mother died. They say an Ultimatum can evolve into something else after that stage, that's what happened to S and K." More students kept on speaking one after the other about me. Then Yurik's name came up again; he almost snapped at the person who said his name. Henry stepped in for me to keep things calmed down as much as possible. A random student whispered, "Look it's Henry the Gravedigger."

"Yurik," the guy almost snapped at Henry next, but noticed who it was and stopped, "J is just here temporarily, like we all are. You need to get ahold of yourself, and stop acting all tough guy. We all know your just talk so shut the hell up!"

Yurik looked Henry in the eyes, "Its been a while Henry, since you stuck up for an Ultimatum. How about this, if you think that the Ultimatum is so special, then let's have some fun, if you fight me in a match, and win, I won't beat his ass to a pulp when the school tournament comes around. It will be the opposite, if he is strong enough."

I looked to Henry, "There's a tournament, since when? That didn't happen last year."

Henry ignored me for the moment, "Fine, and if you win, you get to beat him to a pulp during that time, but only if you two are in a match."

I looked at him surprisedly, as he walked off. I followed after him, noticing he was heading toward the combat gym. "Henry, when did they ever have the tournaments? And why did you make that deal? I don't wanna be beaten to a pulp!"

"You won't J, because I ha e never lost to Yurik, and second tournaments are only mentioned to college level students at the SBSSU. You were a high school senior last year. Besides, the tournament was held just before winter last year, you weren't here then" Henry explained to me. I rolled my eyes in a grave manner. Great now I have to deal with a tournament.