Chapter 43
About a week after my birthday, and things have gone quiet again. And though I still feel like myself again, I also still feel major guilt for what happened with the Hound. Thankfully, things surrounding that have calmed down. Grimm has been convicted and sent to prison while the Symbiote was placed under maximum security in the Vault. But like always, something new always happens that eventually leads to a new villain to fight.
Lisa: “Breaking news! Police are currently in search of an escaped convict by the name of Hazel Rainart, who police found to have escaped during Daniel Grimm’s transferal into Rainart’s facility.” the screen shows us a mugshot of a middle-aged man with short dark brown hair and beard with a kind of almond like complexion and hazel like eyes, fitting for his namesake. “While the man was convicted of any violent crimes, he is still considered dangerous given his large muscular physique as he was gym instructor and bodybuilder before turning to crime. Said crimes consisted of several robberies in order to make fast money on account of his sick twin sister, Gretchen Rainart. Ms. Rainart’s current status is currently unknown to us due to patient confidentiality, but we are sure that whatever actions Mr. Rainart, she will be the motive behind them.” As the news plays in town square, the man himself can be seen ditching his prison uniform and replacing them with some clothes he took from some nearby shop. A black ¾ sleeve shirt with dark green patterns on the sides and shoulders, black pants and some heavy brown boots with metal fronts.
Hazel: “Gretchen. Wait for me.” For the moment, he also covers himself with two-tone olive green over coat as he attempts to hide from the public eye. We all meet up at Weiss’ as usual after school for a quick look at our homework before we go on our patrol when the news on Hazel came on.
Blake: “Hazel Rainart. I think I actually remember reading about that when it happened. His arrest and sentence were two years ago.”
Yang: “But why break out now? Non-violent burglary. He could’ve had a shot at parole.”
Ruby: “With good behavior. And even then, parole isn’t immediate. They said his motives were tied to Gretchen being sick, but they didn’t say with what specifically. His rashness is likely related to that.”
Weiss: “He was stealing for quick money to treat her, which tells me it might be something fatal if not treated properly but the procedure is too expensive for a gym instructors' salary.”
Blake: “And even if he went pro with his body building, body builder contest in Vale are very here and there. Their seen a lot more in either Vacuo or Mantle.”
Yang: “Even if they were more frequent here, he’d actually have to win first.”
Ruby: “Now hold on. There's no use speculating over this. We're better off asking someone more in the know. I’ll try asking Captain Tomo about it. See what she can turn up.” Afterwards, we head out on our patrol as usual, going our separate routes, and I give Vernal a call.
Vernal: “Captain Tomo speaking.”
Ruby: “I heard the news about that Hazel guy.”
Vernal: “Let me guess. You want to more about him.”
Ruby: “Him and Gretchen both. I’m hoping I can get a better grasp on his exact motives.”
Vernal: “I’ll see what I can dig up, but it’ll take some time. I’ll let you know when I’ve got something.”
Ruby: “I’ll be waiting then.” And she hangs up. Afterwards, I catch wind of a crime in progress. There, we cut back to Hazel sticking to the alleys as he passes some kind truck. He can see a crime in progress across the street from the alley and he bears witness to me coming in and kicking their butts, dragging them all outside and webbing them up to a nearby lamp post before swinging away.
Hazel: “So that’s the fabled Scarlet Spider. Funny, I thought she’d be a bit bigger, but her physique is that of young teenager. I’m almost impressed.” That’s when the cops start showing up on the scene. “Shit!” He worries about going backward, so instead he jumps into the back of the truck he passed, only to find it filled with sand. He keeps his eye out on the cops arresting the criminals and waits for them to leave, but he didn’t notice the truck owner come up and get in the front until the truck starts moving. “Oh great!” With the truck moving out into public, he decides to lay low inside until the truck stops wherever its going. Over an hour later, the truck pulls into a fenced off area labeled ‘super collider testing grounds’ for the SDC outside of the city, and Hazel is startled as the back moves and dumps all the sand into some kind pit, with him still in it. “Argh! What the hell?” He takes off his coat as he’s irritated by the sand getting all in it. “Where am I?” To which he heard the intercom.
SDC staff: “Attention all staff, the collider sequence is about to begin. Please clear out the test site for your own safety.”
Hazel: “Collider sequence?” To which a large three-pronged device above him to lowering down till it's almost connecting to the pit. “Hey! Wait a minute!” The machine starts spinning! And keeps going faster until the sand starts flying around with him. The collider is going so fast that he can’t get past it without getting hit. The whole experience eventually starts emitting a weird energy that Hazel absorbs into his body... along with a bunch of sand, changing his molecular structure. Because of this, as the sequence continues, he eventually starts dissolving into sand, now flying around with the surrounding sand. Eventually, the collider slows down and stops, and as it rises up again, Hazel Rainart is gone, becoming one with the sand below.