Death's Trials (An Original Superhero Story)

1•The Notourious Shadow•1

A/N: Okay, this chapter is really long and I'm sorry about that. It's 5736 words altogether including this a/n so grab some snacks and get comfy. Usually the chapters will be somewhere between 1500-3500 words, but a lot of the times I can go over. Whoops 😅 So the next chapter should be around 3000 words.

Maybe.

Don't count on it.

Also, I already had this pre-written so I decided to post this today while I try to get rid of Writer's block for Agent Phoenix.

And this is when the actually swearing starts.

4 YEARS AGO

Thursday. 9:20. South Avenue.

•Dani•

I ran up the stairs of the fire escape with Ness behind me, my ears focusing on the chatter from down below.

"How could someone do this?!" An older woman gasped.

"How would they do this?" A younger, more curious voice came forward as well.

"This is a mockery!"

"A stain on the town's reputation."

"So. COOL!" I caught on to a little boy's voice and I smiled.

Finally reaching the flat roof of the building, I jumped up and peered over the edge.

I had the perfect view of the city center. Including the wonderful, newly decorated buildings.

That city was the closest stop from where the criminals had kept me. I was only planning on staying for a few nights. So, I'd decided to paint the town red.

Literally. With spray paint.

That brings us to what people were staring at.

On the buildings and skyscrapers were drawings and tags made up of nothing but shades of red.

I grinned as people gawked at my masterpiece. Some in horror, others in wonder, while most children pointed and laughed. Glancing down at the shadows of an alleyway below, I glared at it.

Come on... Work.

I had never actually used my powers on purpose before. I either did it by accident or I was pumped full of chemicals that would force me to use it.

One of my powers were melting into the shadows, in turn becoming one myself. It was helpful for doing things like covering ground fast. I dropped my glare and sighed.

Nothing.

When a quiet 'thump' sounded, I spun around. Ness followed my movements and she growled, her shiny dark brown coat morphed into black as a defensive reflex.

Nobody was there, or that's what they wanted us to think.

Scanning the area, I noticed a medallion on the roof: a simple bronze chain with a plain circle of steel at the end. It had something engraved on it. I walked over and picked it up, never actually getting a chance to read it since I was interrupted.