| “ | Can’t make it to the top of the ladder unless you’re a sociopath, because the ladder is made of humans.
— Billy Bennett
|
” |
Billy Bennett is a teenage boy and one of the supporting characters of the comics and TV series Deadly Class. His adolescence began in the late 80s as the son of a corrupt abusive father who drove his family to poverty due to numerous gambling debts. In order to supplement his addiction, Billy's father acted as a drug courier for the Mob. To help out, Billy was forced to enroll in a school known as King's Dominion - an institution that trained killers and assassins. Due to his lack of criminal lineage, Billy was designated as a "rat", the lowest group in King's hierarchy, making him a target for bullying and discrimination.
All of these did not affect Billy's demeanor, however. Throughout the series, he served as the class clown, punk rocker, and prankster of the school. He was energetic, positive, and happy-go-lucky even with all the horrors he had to endure in his life. Although he lacked a killer instinct compared to other students, he was by far the most human and reasonable. His fun personality allowed him to make friends with many rats, and even befriend other students with criminal lineages (known as "legacies"). He had proven himself to be a capable (though imperfect) combatant, being able to fight the police to save Marcus, facing off against Fuckface's group, and participating in the assassination of his own father.
Battle vs. Takako Sugiura (by Killermoves)[]
There was screaming and the breaking of windows. Pandemonium erupting everywhere. A school in Japan was in chaos. Things were not going well.
The American exchange student, punk rocker Billy Bennett, hid himself inside a storage room, with only a mop, a bucket, and a broom as his company. His eyes were closed and his teeth were gritting, as anguish yells and begs of mercy emanated from the outside.
And all of this was his fault. If only he was a better killer. If only he knew what Marcus and Saya would do.
Young Billy came into this school after being given a mission. For their special “international” assignment, they were all tasked to go to a foreign country and kill one person who needed to die. Saya suggested Billy to investigate some psychopath roaming around Yomiyama Middle School. It was a great idea at first since Billy thought Japan was cool, with all their black-and-white comics and cute school girls in short skirts.
Oh how he loathed his decision…
Billy had to go through lots of trouble in this school, from the stupid-ass dress codes to not being able to use his skateboard. But he should have known that something worse was about to happen. He should have chosen a different target. All his hard work and pain were for naught. Billy was going to die today.
---
The door of the storage room suddenly opened, making Billy jolt in surprise and fear. At the door stood a young male Japanese teen, with skin white and soft as a baby’s. He wore a black gakuran common in many Japanese students, though his uniform was bloodied all throughout. A pair of glasses hung on his face.
“Tomo!” Billy yelled. “Dude! Thank god you’re alive!”
“Watashi wa anata o korosanakereba narimasen… (I have to kill you…)” the boy replied.
“W-What?”
“Watashi wa ikiru tame ni anata o korosanakereba narimasen! Baka! (I have to kill you so I can live! You idiot!)”
Billy could barely roll out of the room to dodge a swing from Tomo’s nata. As his aggressor turned around, Billy managed to draw his blowgun and fired a hallucinogen dart at the boy. Tomo fell down, writhing and letting an animalistic scream, as his mind began making terrifying illusions. Billy then grabbed his skateboard and rode for his life. All around him were people murdering each other – stabbing, biting, and ripping. Billy kicked and kicked with all his might. All to get out of this hellhole.
It was that bitch with the glasses; the one he came here to kill. Takako Sugiura – a real fucking psychopath. Sure, he did found the girl and the reasons why she qualified as prey. But Billy gravely underestimated Takako. He wished he did more recon before making the most idiotic hit in hitman history. His failure to kill Takako gave her the time to run away and broadcast… something that turned this whole damn school crazy.
Billy arrived at the main entrance, but found the door locked shut. Escaping through the windows was no good since they were all fitted with metal frames. Smoke also blew into the corridors, creating a choking atmosphere. Billy… had nowhere to escape.
Suddenly, the speaker began to hiss, and the voice of a girl spoke. It was Takako’s.
“Watashi wa anata ga mada ikite iru koto o shitte imasu, gaijin… (I know you are still alive, white boy.)”
Billy listened with dread; his sweat flowing nonstop, his mouth chattering like crazy. Fear had conquered every part of his body, and he could feel the sensation on every surface of his skin.
“Anata ga dete ikitainara, watashi o mitsukete kudasai. Anata wa watashi ga doko ni iru ka shitte imasu. (Come to me if you want to get out. You know where I am.)”
A huge lump of fear forced its way into Billy’s throat as that ultimatum entered his ears. He had no choice. He had to face this psycho. It was his job after all. Billy then slid his skateboard and rode towards where Takako was hiding.
---
The door of the public information room swung violently from a kick. Billy then ran to the center of the room with his skateboard held above his head. “Alright you bitch! I’m right fucking here!”
As always, like how he tried to kill her the first time, Billy went unprepared. One might even consider him so unprepared he might as well be naked. He had no vision of what he was expecting; he just loved bursting in. Soon, that bravery of his started to sap away as Takako’s laughter filled the room.
“God…” Billy said, tears finally flowing down his eyes. “Where are you?! Damn you!”
A stinging sensation from a cold object awoken Billy. The air in his lungs suddenly left him. Looking down, he saw a knife embedded right into his left kidney. Hands were wrapped around the handle, connected to a petite figure, and a bloody face presenting a sinister grin.
As adrenaline rushed back, Billy smashed his skateboard at Takako’s temple. The girl fell down and grunted, as Billy held his left side and cried. Defenseless, Billy crashed down on the floor too, yelling in pain, tears and spit now sprinkling like a fountain.
“Buta! (Pig!)” Takako yelled as her hands caressed her bloody head. She stood up as Billy continued to cry like a mortally wounded animal. Picking a long spiky metal rod from the floor, she walked towards the dying American teen.
“Jigoku o tanoshimu! (Enjoy your hell!)” yelled the girl as she plunged the rod through Billy chest. The kid made one final gasp before making a gurgle. Soon, the aspiring assassin was no more. He had failed his mission.
Expert’s Opinion[]
Although Billy Bennett had an advantage in training, experts still believed that Takako Sugiura would win because of her manipulative skill and more brutal mind compared to the soft American teen. Her weapons also proved superior since they are deadlier, can kill more efficiently, and does not need to be set-up.