A heavy silence filled the room. Klaus rubbed his forehead as he let out a sigh of frustration. Turning to face Jean, he was met with a reaction that came as a surprise. Jean’s face had changed from that of shock and dismay to one of conviction. Klaus took a step forward towards Jean.

“Tell me…”

His voice left his mouth with a steadfast tone.

Klaus took a seat in the chair once more. Placing his arms against

the armrests, he returned the same sense of conviction through his own voice.

“Your mother was a rare case. When she was pregnant with you, she

had no idea that she would become the thing people fear the most in this world.

Becoming a beast is far worse than death.”

Klaus paused.

“It consumes your body, your mind and soul. You forget everything

you knew. You target and kill those closest to you. Once they’re dead, you

feast on them, leaving behind nothing but the bones. You’ll feel an eternal

hunger. And you'll be stuck living and surviving off a life of murder.”

“And that’s what happened to my mother?” Jean interrupted.

“She turned, yes. I was there during your birth. While your mother's situation was different, you too, are a rare case. You

possess the blood of a beast and a human,”

“What does that mean?”

“Your half beast, half human. Your physical capabilities far surpass that of a normal human.

But, up until this point, the beast blood inside you has yet to truly awaken.

Nobody knows what happens when it does…”

“Why?”

“Because none of them have lived long enough for it to happen,”

Another moment of silence filled the room. The tense atmosphere

only drew out the silence and the conflicting emotions both Klaus and Jean were

trying to suppress.

“Were they killed?”

“They never survived birth…”

There was a knock on the door. Klaus let out a huff of air from

his nostrils as he stood up.

“Jean, I’m sorry you had to learn the truth this way. I promised

your mother that I would protect you. That’s why I had to do what I did. But

now, it seems like reality is going to get the better of us both.”

Klaus pulled the chair back to its original position before

yelling towards the door.

“Come in!”

The door slid opened and the woman from before walked in. Still

holding her clipboard, she pushed up her glasses.

“I guess a proper introduction is due,” she said.

Jean simply looked at her without a word.

“My name is Annabelle Matthews. Feel free to call me whatever

you’re comfortable with. I’m the head of health and research here at the

Hunter’s Society.”

She reached her hand out expecting a handshake. Jean instinctively

did the same. Her hands were soft which contrasted with her

commanding, almost callous appearance. After letting go of Jean’s hand she turned towards Klaus.

“I’m assuming you’re okay with him hearing the results?”

“That’s fine,”

Klaus stood with his back against the wall as Annabelle began to

read from the clipboard.

“Fractured bones, surface and internal injuries, both minor and

major healed within one hour. No operation or physical treatment performed

besides the I.V. drip. 'Potential' status remains stable and without any signs of

the beast blood impacting it. Brain scans show no signs of damage or other

problematic issues. He’s all cleared to begin orientation and training.”

Jean immediately looked to Annabelle and Klaus in confusion. It

was clear to him that there were going to be more questions than answers.

Flushed with anger, he yelled;

“Training? Orientation? Potential? Wait, Hunter’s Society? What

more aren’t you telling me Klaus!?”

Klaus remained silent as Annabelle answered Jean’s questions.

“The beasts are attracted to your blood. At least that’s what

we’re assuming is drawing them to you. For the past sixteen years of your life,

Klaus and a group of hunters from the Hunter’s society have actively been

hunting and killing any beasts that attempted to get near you. Moving forward,

the luxury of simply sitting back and letting others protect you is over. Now

that you know what you are, the only way you’re going to survive in this world

is to be able to fend for yourself.”

Hearing these words, they drifted into Jean’s ears as nothing but

pity and subdued disgust.

“You’re going to go through a preliminary trial to test your

aptitude. Then you’ll be enrolled in the Hunter’s Academy where you’ll undergo

training to become a certi-”

Jean snapped. His body felt hot as if the blood coursing through

his veins were boiling. His anger and frustration amalgamated into intense

rage. Without saying a word, he raised his right arm up and slammed it against

the wall beside him leaving massive branching cracks that reached the ceiling.

The room fell to silence once more leaving behind the sound of tiny bits of

rubble hitting the floor.

Klaus was now standing upright at full attention while Annabelle

had visibly taken a step back upon the impact.

“If I’m such a threat to myself and others around me, why don’t

you just kill me now? My life is supposed to be over now right? Fuck off with

your Hunter’s Society bullshit! First you tell me my life has been a lie. Then

you tell me that it was for my protection. You spout some nonsense about my

mother, who I’ve never even met in my entire life and you expect me to just

roll over and accept the shit you’re telling me!?”

Klaus put his hand forth attempting to quell Jean’s burst of

anger. Jean swatted Klaus’s hand away.

“If all of this was a lie, then I guess you’re just another person

sent to watch over me! Everything you’ve ever said to me was for the job

right!? Promise to my mother? You're probably the one who killed my mom!”

Jean eyed the pen on the table. Klaus, noticing this, attempted

to leap forward and grab it. However, Jean had managed to

snatch the pen away before Klaus or Annabelle could do anything.

Jean gripped the pen with two hands and pointed the ball-point

towards his head.

“Here! I’ll make it easy for everyone!”

Tightening his grip on the pen he closed his eyes as he let out a

primal scream before pummeling his own head into the tip of the pen. The sound

of the pen piercing through skin and bones brought the room to one final moment

of silence. Jean could feel a warm liquid dripping down his forehead. He opened

his eyes to see Klaus standing right in front of him. Klaus’s hand was hovering

above Jean’s forehead.

Jean looked up to see blood pouring from Klaus’s hand. Jean’s eyes

widened as he saw that the pen had stabbed right through Klaus's palm. With a

shaking voice, Jean let loose his grip on the pen. He looked down at his hand

to see it wet with Klaus’s blood. As tears began welling up in Jean, he was

embraced by Klaus.

A moment passed before Jean began to hear and feel Klaus’s tears.

Holding Jean like a father would his child, Klaus dropped to his knees beside

the bed. Still holding Jean, the only words Klaus could bring himself to say

amidst weeping was;

“I’m sorry….”

The weeping became painful cries of grief. His voice breaking between the tears, he continued to say;

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry,”