#thornhat

Chapter 1: The Meeting.

    It was all getting too much for Elliot as she watched the Fox Brothers get all the recognition on television for getting rid of a threat, and for saving the city from a dangerous lineage that was her own. She hated seeing them earn from her loss.

                      She was sick of it.

    Sick of being framed as the villain of the story, so instead… She decided to call some villains to really show them what being one was all about.

    She sat in her room, dialing the number she found on the business card that had appeared when she was grieving the loss of her reputation at the hands of the twins who’d tortured her since she was 14.

    ‘6..66…’ She continued until she counted the 6es and it was enough, and she then called to set up a meeting with the big man himself…

    Lord Black Hat. Owner of the Black Hat Organization infamous for getting rid of heroes for villains, dealing with them for the low low price of… She actually wasn’t sure what the payment was going to be, but anything would do to get rid of those men they called heroes for doing what could only be described as glorified murder.

    And not too long later, she had an appointment.

    When the time came, she stood to her feet and went to go meet with this man, this infamous villain known for striking fear on the hearts of even the strongest and bravest of people. And to be honest? She was a bit intrigued, maybe even excited to be meeting him.

    With an arrival to Hat Island’s Black Hat Manor, she took a deep breath in, hyping herself up to knock on the door before she lifted her hand, knocking a few times as she waited for an answer.

    To her surprise, someone answered fairly quickly. It was a scrawny man wearing a paper bag on his head to cover his face, looking like a nerdy scientist. Elliot was… Confused, but intrigued at the sight. “Hello? And what brings you here to this building?” The scientist asked, blocking the doorway with his own body.

    ‘I’m here to see.. Black Hat.?’ Elliot replied, her voice a bit shaky from anxiety, but she seemed to be trying to be brave. “… I see. Come this way,” The scientist guided, beginning to walk off, expecting Elliot to follow. “Oh yeah, my name is Dr. Flug, by the way.” He turned to her for a moment before he just continued walking to Black Hat’s office.

    ‘Oh! Nice to meet you, Doctor. My name is Elliot Rose,’ She introduced as well, her tone kind yet still shaky. The entire walk to the office seemed longer and longer the more she thought about it, halls decorated with lavish wallpaper and fancy paintings.

    After what felt like an eternity, Flug arrived at the office, opening the door and moving aside for Elliot to step forward, looking nervous and shaking, “Lord Black Hat, sir.. There is a client here to see you,” He informed, standing there and waiting for a response.

    Black Hat slowly turned in his seat, fingers interlaced in a menacing manner, a malicious grin spread across his face, his top hat casting a shadow over himself that made an eerie aura around him. “Just on time too. Very good.. Come here, Miss Rose. Let us discuss your little heroic issue..” He commanded, tapping his desk with a sharp claw.

    ‘Yes, sir,’ Elliot bowed slightly, feeling his presence heavily, her heart nearly stopping in her chest from nerves. She walked forward to stand in front of his desk, hands awkwardly at her sides. ‘I-I came here to ask about your hero extermination services…’ She began, clearing her throat a bit.

    ‘I want the Fox Brothers dead.’ She practically blurted out before she realized how direct that was and looked away awkwardly, knowing that statement was true and would very much stand for a long, long time.

    Black Hat raised an eyebrow, his grin only widening at Elliot’s directness, and he looked very pleased with her. “Very well then. What must be done will be done,” He assured, giving her a nod before summoning the rest of his organization to his office.

    Flug, Demencia, and 505 stood there, ready for duty, waiting for Black Hat to explain their course of action now. “You three. Our newest client Miss Rose needs you all to deal with a pathetic hero duo named the Fox Brothers, a pair of identical twins that have been causing her harm for a very long time.” He began,

    “They reside in Atreno city, do not bring them back here alive. Make sure to deal with them while you’re out there,” He commands, seeming more and more eager to get this done now.

    The group looked at each other for a moment before nodding and heading off, leaving to go to the Hatship, leaving Black Hat and Elliot alone in the office, nothing but the sounds of the group’s receding footsteps being heard down the hallway.

    “Now, Miss Rose.” Black Hat suddenly said, breaking the silence that stretched between them, “If you would so kindly tell me why you’re so eager to have these two gone.. Just like that.?” He asked, seeming both genuinely curious and having malicious intentions with this information.

    ‘Well, sir..’ Elliot began as she went on to tell him her entire history with them without questioning why he needed this knowledge, seemingly starved of someone to actually talk to, letting out all her trauma to him because she had held it in so incredibly long that she couldn’t help but pour her heart out.

    That’s when Black Hat knew she would be the perfect employee candidate.

    Desperate enough to let him have her soul, he was sure of it. He tended to go for those types anyway.. Just look at Flug. He grinned widely, listening until she was finished, fingers intertwined and elbow propped up on the desk. “I see, I see… You’ve made the right decision coming to me. Letting emotions get in the way of what needs to be done is always a grave mistake. Especially in a situation like this.”

    ‘Yes, sir. Thank you,’ Elliot nodded, smiling a bit at him, a sense of peace washing over her at his assurance that she did the right thing. At least… In this case. Despite having such hatred in her heart, she was still a good person deep down.

    Black Hat was wanting to change that. And he knew he could… With enough motivation.

    “Miss Rose. I have a bit of a proposal for you..” He trailed off a bit, awaiting her reaction.

    Elliot perked up, looking at him with big eyes, curious. ‘Yes? What is it?’ She asked, genuinely curious and almost excited.

    “You said you’re in need of a job after everything, is that right? I suppose I could humor the idea of hiring you as my own.”

    “Employee, that is.”

    Elliot nodded eagerly, her face lighting up at the idea of working for him full time. She didn’t truly know what she would need to go through, but she was willing. If it was for him, anything. ‘O— Of course! I’d love to work for you! I want to show you how much I appreciate your help and service to me!’ She exclaimed, looking very adoring towards him.

    Black Hat let out a deep, rumbling chuckle, not having expected her to be so eager, yet he wasn’t opposed to it. “Very well then… I’ll just need you to sign right here.” He pulled out a contract from thin air, a quill with ink also appearing.

    Elliot stared down at the pencil and the contract for a moment, realizing the gravity of this decision, but she was ready to plunge in head first if that’s what it took. So with a swift motion, she took the quill and signed right on the line.

    She could immediately feel something change, something leave her. Her soul, it had been taken. Taken by Black Hat himself.

    Black Hat grinned even further, making the contract disappear, a malicious look on his face as he saw her realization. But.. Not an ounce of regret? That was unheard of. But he was intrigued even more by the sight of it.

    “My dear… It is done. As from now on, your alias is Thorn. To shield you just a little more from your past that haunts you.” He declared, watching as she took that in.

    ‘Understood, sir… Does this mean that we’ll be working together from now till…’ She wanted to say the word, but her face flushed red and her voice caught in her throat before she could muster up the courage to finish.

    “… Forever, my dear.” Black Hat assured, humoring her foolish desires for him to love her as she already seemed to love him. In a promise of a gesture, he held out a pinky to her, knowing that she would immediately agree.

    And she did. Thorn wrapped her pinky around his, ‘Forever..’ She repeated, looking at him with a hopeful gleam in her eyes that showed her naivety. She really was desperate for any sort of positive attention.

    The deal was sealed. Black Hat could feel a sense of possessiveness now, and with her in his organization now, he knew that it could thrive. He saw potential in her, only hoping that she would go through with it.

    “You are now mine, my dear. You come when I call, you listen to my every command. Is that clear?” He asked her, humoring her delusions a bit more with the first statement.

    ‘Understood.’ Thorn nodded, heart pounding in her chest.

    She had no idea the gravity of this agreement, but she was willing. That’s all that mattered.

    Right?