Chapter Two
And so the end of the Vanquisher's career was not very successful.
Much like the beginning of the Vanquisher's career, it was also very curious.
It began at eight years old, in second grade.
Found at one of the lunch tables was a simple note, written in the barely legible handwriting of second grader.
"Cameron is stupid and smelly."
Cameron was upset by this more than one would expect, and thus the teacher sat down with the class and decided to have a talk with them.
"Class, I know most of you have heard about the note, and I would like to say to whoever did this: I am very disappointed in you."
The Vanquisher whispered to Katie, the girl sitting next to him.
"What did it say?"
She grinned widely. "Cameron is stupid and smelly."
He looked back at the teacher.
"I think you guys are all smarter than to write somet-"
"It was Dylan"
The class turned towards him.
"And why do you think that?"
"I just do."
The teacher looked over at Dylan. "Dylan, how does that make you feel?"
"Bad," he said, staring at his shoes.
"And why is that?"
"'Cause I didn't do it!" he said quickly. His face was reddening.
The teacher's eyes narrowed. She thought the sudden outburst by one of her students had merely been speculation, but now he might be right.
"Dylan, can I talk to you in the hall?"
The class gathered around him.
"How did you know that?"
"I dunno," he said, "I just did."
Two minutes later, the teacher came back in with Dylan.
"Cameron, Dylan has something to say to you."
Cameron walked over. Dylan continued staring at his shoes.
"I'm sorry, Cameron."
"For what?"
"I wrote that note."
The Vanquisher's face lit up as the students around his stared with amazement.
His feat quickly became known around the grade, and he became more popular. He began to be more outgoing, and got more friends.
Two years later, he learned why he might need to keep some of his discoveries to himself.
A love note was left in Rebecca Stevens's desk. Knowing of his ability, she came to him with it. She was one of the most well-liked girls in the grade, and he was ecstatic when she told him what had happened.
It took him a few minutes to realize that Harry Georges had written the note. Rebecca talked to Harry, and he confessed.
News got out quickly.
At recess, the Vanquisher was still brimming with joy. He walked around the playground, beaming.
A few minutes later, though, there was some commotion. A group of kids were in a circle, shouting and cheering. The Vanquisher ran over and elbowed his way through the crowd.
He was horrified. Two other students were beating up Harry. Harry was trying to fight back, but it was pathetic to watch. The other kids were punching him repeatedly in his stomach and face. One particularly hard blow floored the boy completely. One of the students smirked at this and began strolling away, the other stayed to continue to torture the poor boy.
The Vanquisher caught up with the first boy.
"What was that for?" he shouted.
"That loser wrote a love letter to Rebecca! You should know, you figured it out."
He walked away leaving the Vanquisher standing there, dumbfounded.
That event changed the Vanquisher's life completely. First, he realized that he could not take his skill for granted. He must be careful how he used it.
Second, he became friends with Rebecca Stevens. She would be the only stable factor in his otherwise chaotic life. She would help him with any problem he had.
And he was going to need all the help he could get.
Much like the beginning of the Vanquisher's career, it was also very curious.
It began at eight years old, in second grade.
Found at one of the lunch tables was a simple note, written in the barely legible handwriting of second grader.
"Cameron is stupid and smelly."
Cameron was upset by this more than one would expect, and thus the teacher sat down with the class and decided to have a talk with them.
"Class, I know most of you have heard about the note, and I would like to say to whoever did this: I am very disappointed in you."
The Vanquisher whispered to Katie, the girl sitting next to him.
"What did it say?"
She grinned widely. "Cameron is stupid and smelly."
He looked back at the teacher.
"I think you guys are all smarter than to write somet-"
"It was Dylan"
The class turned towards him.
"And why do you think that?"
"I just do."
The teacher looked over at Dylan. "Dylan, how does that make you feel?"
"Bad," he said, staring at his shoes.
"And why is that?"
"'Cause I didn't do it!" he said quickly. His face was reddening.
The teacher's eyes narrowed. She thought the sudden outburst by one of her students had merely been speculation, but now he might be right.
"Dylan, can I talk to you in the hall?"
The class gathered around him.
"How did you know that?"
"I dunno," he said, "I just did."
Two minutes later, the teacher came back in with Dylan.
"Cameron, Dylan has something to say to you."
Cameron walked over. Dylan continued staring at his shoes.
"I'm sorry, Cameron."
"For what?"
"I wrote that note."
The Vanquisher's face lit up as the students around his stared with amazement.
His feat quickly became known around the grade, and he became more popular. He began to be more outgoing, and got more friends.
Two years later, he learned why he might need to keep some of his discoveries to himself.
A love note was left in Rebecca Stevens's desk. Knowing of his ability, she came to him with it. She was one of the most well-liked girls in the grade, and he was ecstatic when she told him what had happened.
It took him a few minutes to realize that Harry Georges had written the note. Rebecca talked to Harry, and he confessed.
News got out quickly.
At recess, the Vanquisher was still brimming with joy. He walked around the playground, beaming.
A few minutes later, though, there was some commotion. A group of kids were in a circle, shouting and cheering. The Vanquisher ran over and elbowed his way through the crowd.
He was horrified. Two other students were beating up Harry. Harry was trying to fight back, but it was pathetic to watch. The other kids were punching him repeatedly in his stomach and face. One particularly hard blow floored the boy completely. One of the students smirked at this and began strolling away, the other stayed to continue to torture the poor boy.
The Vanquisher caught up with the first boy.
"What was that for?" he shouted.
"That loser wrote a love letter to Rebecca! You should know, you figured it out."
He walked away leaving the Vanquisher standing there, dumbfounded.
That event changed the Vanquisher's life completely. First, he realized that he could not take his skill for granted. He must be careful how he used it.
Second, he became friends with Rebecca Stevens. She would be the only stable factor in his otherwise chaotic life. She would help him with any problem he had.
And he was going to need all the help he could get.
