A wall of gleaming silk shone under the waxing moon. Sirens wailed into the city sky as the police converged on their destination. Behind the wall, the cries of people could be heard. Before it, footsteps.
"Stand down, Shadow!" an officer shouted over the megaphone. "This isn't your concern. Remove your mask and put your hands behind your head!"
The black figure proceeded at an even stride, only giving the assembled officers basic recognition by glancing in their direction once enough spotlights had been set upon it.
"I repeat! Stand down or we will fire!" the chief yelled, prompting other officers to draw their weapons. Passing in close to one of them, the Shadow extended an armoured arm and gripped the officer's gun, pulling her closer to tell her something.
Upon her release, she hurriedly made her way back to their commander, relaying the message. The man grit his teeth, but his decision of what to do next was all but made for him as the wall of webs just before them opened a gateway large enough for one person.
"Someone get in there!" he ordered, immediately seeing one of his men rush into and be forcefully ejected from the gap. The figure sailed through the air, spared a grinding impact with pavement only by the Shadow's swift movement. Set back on his feet, he staggered to the nearest car and sat on its hood. The armoured figure turned its glowing red eyes to the chief.
"...you're coming with us when this is over," he grumbled, revealing his interest in the vigilante as more personal than professional. It paid him no further mind as it quickly strode off into the gap.
Examining the ejected officer, his allies found him to be unharmed, but with a peculiar alteration to his wardrobe. His shirt now bore singes which formed the words "Wrong Answer". The culprit became obvious.
The crowd nervously parted, whispers spreading throughout them as the dark figure advanced on the skyscraper. They had heard of The Shadow, but had never expected to see him in person, and had been happy to believe that.
"What do you want from us!?" one of the bravest among the office workers shouted. "We're just paper pushers! If your problem is with the company-"
"I want nothing with you," the entity spoke, its voice made inhuman by the electronic filter through which it passed. "You misunderstand the situation. You are not targets, you are bait. For me. I will enter your building, and shortly thereafter you will be free to go home."
"Why should we trust you!?"
"I never said to trust me," the armoured man replied, turning his head back to the path before him. "I simply told you what is going to happen next. Someone's trust is only necessary when lives depend on their cooperation."
With that, he continued his advance, ignoring all further cries from the man. The doors of the building opened to receive him, and he disappeared inside. The crowd waited.
A small ping signaled the elevator's arrival on the roof of the building. The Shadow emerged from it to find himself facing the back of an ornate chair; practically a throne. A ringing girl's voice came from the seat.
"So, you finally trust the elevator, mm?"
"We both know the alternative would be far worse than anything you could build into it," he replied coldly. "What do you want, Nyx?"
"Ohh, come now, Simon..." the girl replied, her perch twisting from side to side like an office chair before a slender arm loosely wrapped around his neck. "I want what I always want from you. If my ambitions ever increase, you'll be the first to know about it."
