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I stand just out of reach of the fortress's defences. I knew for a long time the villain wanted to kidnap me and turn me to his side, but I was determined to be a hero. Except... when your mentor spends almost a year and a half putting you through deadly drills, you begin to wonder if they're actually good people. So many times I begged him to stop, but he'd always respond with "DON'T BE A COWARD! YOU MUST ALWAYS BE BRAVE!"

I believed in him, so I kept going. But the last straw came when he locked me in a cage above a raging fire. He was putting me through 'escape practice'. I still remember that cocky smirk as he told me of his heroic escape from that very trap. "Well, I won't tell you how I eventually managed... but I am PROOF that it is possible!" He literally LEFT ME ALONE, saying he'd check up on me in a while... I was going to die! If it weren't for his nephew just wandering around, I wouldn't be alive... and when the hero found out what happened, we were BOTH YELLED AT!

Enough was enough. If he was going to yell at his TEN YEAR OLD NEPHEW for literally SAVING MY LIFE, then I'm going to help the ONE person who wants the 'hero' dead. I take a deep breath, nod to myself, and step forward. As the defences activate, I continue on. I've been spotted by a sentry. I look directly at it. "I'm not afraid" I call. "Take me prisoner! I'm ready!"

I hear a booming voice coming from several speakers. "How can I be sure this isn't a trick?"

I pause, then look down. I strip myself down to my underwear. "That'll do it" the voice once again booms. Soon enough, a few henchmen, dart guns trained on me, appear. I hold my arms up in surrender, and my hands are quickly chained behind my back.

I'm put inside a cell, reinforced. Magnetic rings on my body prevent me from attempting to leave, not that the electricity surrounding my cage wasn't enough of a deterrent. Even then, I'm behind two sets of bars, and cuffs on my ankles keep me held back. I'm not the least bit surprised this guy went to such extremes - he's known for not underestimating ANYONE. Well, he was at least decent enough to instruct I be given a fresh set of clothes and something to eat and drink. Really... this guy is already a lot nicer than my mentor EVER was.

As I'm sitting in my cell, the doors eventually open. The first set open, then are locked behind the villain. I kneel down. "I don't get why you surrendered, kid, but it'll interest you to know that the hero threw you aside. I gave him an ultimatum - his surrender for your freedom. You really should have heard some of the things he was saying!" The villain, Merciless, laughs.

"I bet it was stuff like 'I trained him, he should be able to escape on his own' and 'I help those who help themselves'." I look up to Merciless's shock.

"How... how did you know?"

"Come on, sir. You've always been quite clever. You can't figure it out?" I lower my head, looking at the floor.

"Wait... you mean..." I lift my head up again. I'm crying now.

"He yelled at his own nephew for saving my life from a 'training' situation, sir! He... he thought I shouldn't have ANY help escaping from the dangers HE put me in!" I just sob uncontrollably.

"I... I see..." it's clear that even Merciless is stunned. "So... that's why..."

I wipe away my tears and look at Merciless with a stone cold face. "I want 'Supercharge' dead! I want to hear him beg for mercy, beg for assistance... I want to look him in the eyes as he's slowly and painfully killed... I want him to be desperately apologising, as if I'd suddenly forgive him."

Merciless bursts into laughter once more. "It seems like Supercharge dug his own grave 'training' you! So you're converting to my side? I don't need to convince you or torture you?"

I flinch. "Torture is *absolutely* unnecessary, sir." He nods in understanding.

"Alright. So, tell me: what do you know about him?" I grin as I spill all the secrets. This will be some sweet sweet revenge...

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Submitted by Crystal1501 on Thu, Oct 27, 2022 to /r/WritingPrompts/

The prompt

As a hero's apprentice you knew that the training would be grueling, but you didn't expect the hero to be actively trying to kill you during your drills. After sixteen months of torturous training you've finally snapped and have decided to kill the hero however you can.