Hey Guys!

Not much to say besides; I'm losing interest in this story, so as you can see, I'm hurrying along. I'm excited for the threequel because I just wrote it out a SECOND time and I have to admit, I love the twists and turns.

Oh! And it's the moment you've all been waiting for; Hal's Past! I, also, tried to keep this very short and to the point. In general...I just don't feel like writing that much anymore. I used to like adding detail, but now...

Anyway, (I'm also stopping with the super long intros!) I hope you like it. I believe I'll have about three more chapters left. Or maybe two. Depends on my mood.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Hal's P.O.V

Years ago, when I was just a teenager, fear was something I learned to embrace.

I was roaming the streets of San Francisco, cursing my father, my mother, and my siblings. I cursed everyone and everything and eventually stopped at a lone beach near Pacific Heights. No more than eighteen years ago was the body of Brittany Emerson found here. I clenched my fists and then cursed louder; this time blaming the man who killed my only friends; Mal and Natara Fallon.

Throughout my incredible frustration, I didn't hear footsteps shuffle across the sand. Nor did I hear the low chuckle. It was her hand that knocked me out of my thoughts. I looked up and my eyes widened. Her.

"Having fun?" she asked, her words sent a feeling of unease towards me and she smirked viciously. "Matthew...Correct?"

I looked away. "I'm not supposed to talk to you," I said coldly. "Now leave, or I will..."

"Will what, Matthew?" she snarled. "Call the police? Please; you're still in trouble from last time."

"How did you..." I began but stopped. "Right, you have your sources. What do you want, Genevieve?"

The lady smiled when she knew I recognized her.

"Why honey," she said, "I grow old and weak. I need a successor and from what I've learned...You're the man."

I kept my gaze on the sand. "I won't fall into any of your traps. I've seen what you've done to innocent people."

"Oh really. Then you would know that I was only ridding the world of its imperfections."

I looked towards her. "Imperfections?"

She smiled cruelly. "You should know a bit about imperfections, my dear boy. Let's take your father for example."

Rage; indescribable rage churned inside me. "I hate him," was my only reply. Genevieve clicked her tongue and gripped my shoulders. Even though age was weighing heavily on her, she still had a firm grip.

"Yes, I know. And what about your family."

Now, I didn't really hate my family...But something about her presence...It changed me. "I hate them too!"

"And these, Matthew, are imperfections that I believe just aren't considered 'fit' to be in this world." She then leaned in closer, her warm breath tickling my ear. "I can heal this hurt," she whispered. "I can make the pain disappear with a simple action. But in order to do this, I need you to follow me and agree to take over my art once I am done with."

I thought for a moment. I was only a fifteen year old. I still had a whole life ahead of me. But like I stated...Genevieve was convincing.

"And not just that," she continued. "You can rid people of this earth and get away with it. I can change your identity and even give you a new background. You can be the smartest person in the world if you let me lead you."

Her voice was eerie, like a lullaby. I nodded, completely unsure of what I was getting myself into.

"Alright," I responded. "I'll join you."

"Delightful," she said, grinning manically.

By the time I was eighteen, I was now Hal Talon, a graduating senior. However, I knew better than Genevieve. Her 'spell', or whatever you prefer to call it, faded off and I saw her evil.

Fortunately, Genevieve didn't make it through one night. She passed away in her sleep and this gave me the chance to grasp the money I had inherited from her and go off to live in Miami. Little did I know that the little baby I made fun of for having a strange head would be working closely to my occupation and I wouldn't meet her until years later.

I snapped back into reality, reliving my horrible past. Natalia saw my expression of 'pain' and gripped my arm.

"You okay?" she asked, as the sirens in the background got louder. I looked down at her and nodded.

"Never felt better," I replied with a rather fake smile.

Marley ran over to the button Rufus had pointed out earlier and slammed it, causing all the electricity to die. She then whipped out a flashlight and turned towards Chief Spencer, Trevor, Natalia and I and shook her head. "Well, obviously we got a raid going on," she shouted. "I think this means that we have our guys."

I raised an eyebrow. "Kind of odd though, that right after Rufus mentioned a raid...One happened."

Marley sighed. "I've learned not to question things like that anymore." She then turned to Trevor who was composing himself. From my first impression, he always seemed like this well put guy. Then we arrived in the city...

"Trev, I need you and Chief Spencer to scout the perimeter. Natalia and Hal, you take roof. I'll be in the basement, where I'm positive electronic waves from my laptop will not be able to pass through."

"I don't like the idea of us splitting up," Trevor admitted and I had to agree.

"Look, Marley," I began. "I know you mean no harm...But what happens when we get ambushed? They'll capture each of us because we're not together."

"I know what I'm doing," Marley said quickly. "Trust me." And with that said, she ran off to her station. I looked towards Natalia and she shrugged.

"I trust her," she said and I sighed, seeing no way out of this.

"Fine, let's go. Good luck you two," I shouted to Chief Spencer and Trevor as we trekked up the stairs. When we reached the roof, Natalia gasped. The view was even worse outside. Children ran away, screaming as their parents were ripped away from their homes. Several cloaked figures roamed the streets with guns in their grasp.

"This is not good," Natalia muttered. "We are in the city for an hour and it's already under siege."

"Keep hope," I reminded her. "We still have our advancements."

She ignored this and looked over the edge where Chief Spencer and Trevor were on guard. Oddly enough, our villains didn't care much for them. Not even the sound of my phone going off bothered them. I answered it, seeing as it was Marley.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Hey," she greeted, her voice rushed and frantic. "Um...We got a problem down in the village headquarters."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, thinking of what could happen.

"Well, Rufus told us he was going there...I think our bandits might have just found their target of interest."