Chapter One: Secrets

**Chapter One: Secrets** is the first chapter of the Vlad Arc in the World of the Exceed. It is the debut chapter and the first appearance of many main characters part of the Vlad Arc.

## Synopsis

Vladimir Gladkov is just a local boy when he meets a strange girl that he's fallen in love with. She's kind, caring, and charming. Everything he's ever wanted, the perfect girl for him. But what dark secrets is she hiding? And more importantly, what dark truth does she know that's under the friendly facade of Springdale?

## Plot

The story unfolds with an unknown female with a hood covering her face speaking to an someone through an earpiece. She appears to be inside a large cave with bright crystals of different colors about, and water dripping from the ceiling. The unknown female explains through her earpiece that she is "on his trail", and the male on the other side replies by saying in a deep gruff voice, "kill him." The female takes the order and then takes the earpiece out of her ear, and throws it towards a nearby pool of water. She smiles to herself and says that she'll be sure to kill "him", and then a large blinding light occurs. A few moments later the light fades and the female has disappeared.

The setting now shifts towards a busy village, and Vladimir Gladkov, is sweeping an area of pavement. Suddenly he notices that two large men are approaching him, both of them in biker jackets coated with flames. He recognizes them as Tommy Korvosk and Maximus Porvosky, members from his former gang, the Flameriders.

Vlad quickly makes a move to hide, but Tommy and Maximus catch him just in time. They start taunting him and beating him, but soon they are approached by a girl wearing a hood. Her face is covered by the hood, and she appears to be holding a shiv in her left hand. Tommy and Maximus exchange glances before they start laughing at the sight, but the girl warns them that she can hurt them with her shiv. The boys then start to become intimidated, but stand their ground. The girl gives them one last warning to leave Vlad alone or else she will not hesitate to stab them. Tommy then suggests that they should get out while they still can, and Maximus reluctantly follows.

Vlad now starts to turn away to flee, but when the girl removes her hood and reveals her face, he is captivated by her beauty. She then introduces herself as Sorai Skorviski, and Vlad humbly thanks her for helping him. Sorai then offers to help Vlad finish up cleaning the pavement, and Vlad accepts her help. While they clean the street together, Vlad is even more lovestruck when he realizes that they have a lot of things in common. Both of their favorite colors are gray, both of them have no real interests, and are in need of a friend.

Sorai then asks for Vlad's number, and suggests that they should meet again sometime. Vlad agrees and gives her hug before she leaves to go to her home, and Vlad leaves to go to his.

On his way, he bumps into Smithers, who initially looks confused that Vlad would be so far away from home. He asks him why he's not on the usual street, and Vlad explains that he was sent for a job all the way across town. He then asks why Smithers is wearing a leather jacket similar to the ones that local gangs wear. Smithers just shakes his head and replies that it's nothing before offering to walk home with Vlad.

During their walk, Vlad and Smithers exchange pleasantries and Vlad tells him about a beautiful girl that saved him from Maximus and Tommy. Smithers' response at first is to laugh, but after seeing Vlad's serious face he starts to question himself. He asks Vlad if he's serious, to which Vlad replies that he is very serious. Then, in his head, Vlad narrates that he has never been one for love at first sight, but now he thinks that he has just experienced it.

They walk for a little while longer and Smithers tells Vlad a little bit about his day at his new job as a janitor before stopping by an old and rusty building that houses Vlad's apartment. Smithers then waves goodbye to Vlad and tells him that they should meet up so he can meet this mysterious heroine. Vlad laughs and waves back, heading into his apartment.

Fortunately, Vlad is able to make it to his apartment safely, which is revealed to be an old room with tearing wallpaper and carpet. The furniture is very minimal, consisting of one ridden couch and a TV from decades ago. Vlad then lazily flops himself on the couch and turns the TV on before dozing to sleep.

However, the TV is still playing, and a broadcaster explains that a young eighteen-year-old man named Rick Rodney had just been found murdered and stabbed multiple times. He also explains that the man had last been seen with what looked like a female around the same age wearing a black hooded cloak. A crime photo of Rodney's body is then shown on the television, and the man had seventeen stab marks all over his body, and some organs were even missing. The broadcaster went on to explain that the police thought that this was a classic case of overkill. The scene then switches yet again to show a police chief standing behind a podium with a microphone warning all young men to make sure that if they saw a female with a black hooded cloak, they should get away as quickly as possible and call the police.

The next day, Vlad awakens just as the sun comes up and hurriedly heads for his closet to change into a new uniform for the day, since he forgot to take off his old one. After he changes, he walks outside and explains in narration that he hates chilly air; but would go through anything just to see Sorai again.

He then gradually comes to a stop outside of a large building labelled "Cleaners Co." and walks inside. He stops by the front desk and asks the lady, whom he calls Ms. Phillips, if Mr. Hunter is available. Ms. Phillips nods her head and tells him that Mr. Hunter is just sitting in his office doing some paperwork. Vlad quickly thanks her before rushing towards a hallway to the right of the front desk, and at the end of the hallway large glass doors with the label "Mr. Hunter" is visible.

As Vlad reaches the office, he knocks on the door softly and waits until Mr. Hunter gives him permission to come in. Once Vlad has entered the office he asks if Mr. Hunter wants him to go back all the way to the other side of Springdale to clean. Mr. Hunter shakes his head and explains to Vlad that all street cleaners have their days off on Fridays, and wonders aloud why Vlad is being so unusually disorganized today. Vlad hesitantly replies that it's nothing before politely dismissing himself out of the office in embarrassment.

Vlad walks out of the office expecting a long trip to the other side of Springdale so he could see Sorai again, but is surprised when he finds that she is standing right in front of him. In shock, he asks why she's there, and how she got there. Sorai explains that she found out that he worked for Cleaners Co. on the Westside based on the symbol that had been on his cleaning uniform, and that she arrived by taking a public bus early in the morning.

Vlad is initially still surprised that Sorai would come all this way for him, and decides to voice his question. Sorai is hesitant at first, but then she answers that from the moment she first saw Vlad she could see that they might become very good friends. She also tells him that she's been planning to stay over at the Westside for a few days, and asks if there's an available apartment near where Vlad lives. He replies to her and says that it would be great, and then proceeds to ask if she would like to meet one of his friends, Smithers. Sorai excitedly says that she would love to make new friends, and follows Vlad as he heads towards the track to his apartment.

On the way, Vlad mentions that his apartment building has been empty for a while and has some really cheap rooms near his, and then starts to offer her some cash to help her pay, but Sorai quickly stops him. She tells him that she has some money saved up and can afford an apartment rent for a few days. They then stop a few moments later in front of the apartment building and Vlad leads Sorai to the front desk. He asks the man at the front desk if Sorai can rent room number two-seventy-five, the one right next to his. The man at the desk stamps a piece of paper and says that the price will be a hundred bucks for the month. Sorai raises her eyebrows in surprise and reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a hundred dollar bill, slamming it on the table.

After the room is paid for, Vlad now leads Sorai to her room and tells her to ask him if she needs help with something. But before he can walk away to his own room, Sorai grabs him by the jacket and asks if maybe they could hang out in his apartment together for a while. Vlad now raises his eyebrows in surprise and stutters as he agrees and tells her to give him a moment to call up Smithers.

Now, Smithers is seen in Vlad's apartment talking to Sorai as they laugh at something. Sorai then asks how long Vlad and Smithers have been friends, to which they reply that they had known each other ever since they were in a gang called the Flameriders. Sorai just nods her head and mutters that it's interesting before asking where Smithers is from. Smithers hesitates for a few moments before admitting that he was born on the Eastside of Springdale, but Sorai comforts him quickly by revealing to him that she was also born on the Eastside, and still lives there. She then mentions that she is also currently attending Eastside High, and asks what kind of school the boys go to. Vlad and Smithers embarrassingly admit that they never really went to school, and dropped out at an early age due to the bad parenting they received. Sorai flares up at their response and ecstatically invites them to come along with her to visit Eastside High. Vlad and Smithers only exchange glances before agreeing.

The scene has now shifted to the dark setting of Vlad's apartment as Smithers suddenly awakens and finds himself on Vlad's floor. Right next to him he sees Vlad himself, and on the couch he can catch a glimpse of Sorai. He begins to get up clumsily and decides to walk out of Vlad's apartment in a hurry.

Outside in the night, Smithers heads straight into the street until he stops in front of a bar. He walks inside and is greeted by all of the men and women handing him bottles upon bottles of alcohol. He then starts to dance to a tune playing on a boombox and drinks more until he throws up before the drunk jeers of his fellows.

Suddenly, all the lights stop flashing and everyone in the bar goes quiet. YJ Apa, the leader steps out to the front stage of the bar and gives a speech about the strength of their gang, the Yellow Jackets. Smithers cheers on with his fellow gang members, but is questioned by YJ on why he isn't wearing his gang jacket. Smithers replies by telling him that he simply forgot and wouldn't mind borrowing a friends' for the night. With that, YJ cheers for the continuation of the party as Smithers drinks more heavy alcohol.

Back at the apartment, Sorai awakens drunk herself. She struggles to get up from the couch and accidentally trips over Vlad, but is relieved when he doesn't wake up. Without making another sound she heads outside, facing a large wilderness. She then pulls out an earpiece from her pocket and opens her mouth to speak to whoever is on the other line.

She eerily says that she's "got eyes on him" and the deep male voice on the other side replies that she's doing a good job. He says that she'll have a worthy reward only once the mission is complete. Sorai smiles creepily and puts the earpiece back in her pocket, whispering to herself that "he" won't be smart enough to figure out her real plan.

Sorai then hears a voice behind her, and turns around to realize that Vlad had seen her outside and, drunk and disoriented, he asked her what she was doing up so late. Sorai replied by saying that she was having a case of insomnia, and points up at the full moon in the sky. She says that she likes the moon because it's peaceful, unlike the raging wars going on in the land. Vlad curiously asks what kind of wars are going on. Sorai laughs at his unintelligence and says that it's nothing, rubbing the earpiece between her fingers in her pocket secretly.

## Characters

* Vladimir Gladkov

* Tommy Korvosk

* Maximus Porvosky

* Sorai Skorviski

* Smithers

* Rick Rodney

* Ms. Phillips
* YJ Apa

## Places

* Springdale
	+ Vlad's apartment
* Yellow Jackets' bar