[West Queen west]

7 April 2024, 7:00 A.M.

Striding through a yellow and black swirling circular portal is a 195cm/6'5"ft tall male that physically looks to be in his twenties with fair skin, black spiky hair and yellow iris eyes, wearing a black buttoned shirt under a red puffer jacket and black pants with two horizontal white band lines on the left side and black combat boots. His head swiveled, a predatory grin splitting his lips as he took in his surroundings. He drew in a long, appreciative breath, the air filling his lungs with the scent of fresh and familiar air before getting struck down to the grounf by an intense surge of electricity fired by a figure in the sky.

A figure descended from the heavens, a silhouette against the swirling vortex. Lightning crackled around him, illuminating his pale face and the angry blue fire in his eyes. He wore a black long sleeved shirt and jacket worg dark green cargo pants with combat boots that seemed to hum with energy, and his grip tightened around the crackling orb of electricity in his hand.

The man struck by lightning only brushed at his chest with a dismissive flick of his wrist sending the wisps of smoke swirling away. The fabric of his shirt was singed, but his skin beneath was untouched. He got up to his feet, looking directly at the figure.

"Akashi. So you did manage to survive the slaughter." Aggregor smirks "I'm very impressed... Really." He starts Clapping his hands at the quiet and pissed master of lightning."

[Hamilton, Canada]

5 September 2022

10:15 AM

The morning sun, a mischievous sprite, danced through the gap in the curtains, illuminating dust motes swirling in the air. A groan rumbled from beneath the covers, and a hand, pale and freckled, swatted at the offending light. Finally, with a sigh, a head emerged from the duvet. Red hair, a vibrant shock against the white pillowcase, tumbled across the forehead of a young man with eyes the color of a stormy sea. He blinked slowly, adjusting to the sudden brightness, then yawned, a sound that seemed to shake the whole room.

He stretched languidly, the worn flannel pajamas protesting against the movement. Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, his bare feet finding the cool wooden floor. A quick glance at the clock on his bedside table confirmed his worst fears: it was already late. With a resigned sigh, he stumbled towards the bathroom, the sounds of his footsteps a muted rhythm against the wooden floorboards.

The bathroom was small, but it served its purpose. A quick splash of cold water to the face, a vigorous scrub of his teeth, and a messy attempt at styling his unruly hair – he was ready to face the day. He padded back to the living room, the scent of coffee still lingering in the air from the morning. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. The room was quiet, save for the cheerful chirping of birds outside.

He sat at the small kitchen table, a bowl of cereal balanced precariously on his lap. The silence was broken only by the rhythmic clinking of his spoon against the bowl. He was lost in thought, staring out the window at the world bustling below, when his phone, lying face down on the table, vibrated. He sighed, a mixture of annoyance and resignation. He picked up the phone, the notification flashing – a message. He glanced at the message, a frown creasing his brow. He finished his cereal in a hurry, the clinking of his spoon now a frantic rhythm.

Then, he was gone. A blur of motion, a whirlwind of red hair and long limbs. The only evidence of his sudden departure was a brief flash of light blue, like a miniature bolt of lightning, followed by the faintest crackle of static. The silence that followed was absolute, broken only by the distant chirping of birds and the lingering warmth of the sun.

Inside the National Bank in Hamilton, where the air was thick with tension. Two masked robbers, their faces obscured by balaclavas, terrorized the bank employees and the hostages huddled together.

"Hurry it up!" Robber 1 snarled, his shotgun leveled at a female teller who was trembling as she stuffed cash into a black bag. "Now!"

Robber 2, already clutching a bulging bag of stolen money, urged, "That's the last one. Let's get out of here before the cops arrive."

But before they could make their escape, a chilling voice echoed through the bank, sending shivers down their spines. "...Or someone worse."

The robbers whirled around, their eyes widening in terror. Standing before them, seemingly materialized out of thin air, was a figure of imposing stature. He wore a sleek, black bodysuit that clung to his muscular frame, augmented with black metal pads on his shoulders and knees. Black vambraces, adorned with menacing gauntlets, encased his forearms. A sleek black mask concealed most of his face, only his mouth, a flash of vibrant ginger hair, and a pair of piercing blue eyes visible behind a pair of black goggles.

The air crackled with ozone, and a trail of blue lightning crackled in his wake as he landed with a thunderous roar. The robbers recoiled in fear, their grip on their weapons loosening.

A predatory grin curled the speedster's lips, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He struck a confident pose, hands resting casually on his hips, a picture of effortless power. Leaning forward, he drawled, "Boo..."

Robber 1: [stammered,] Aaah, shit! It's the Speedster!

"Yep," the speedster confirmed, his voice a low growl.

In a blur of motion, the speedster was upon them. He moved with impossible speed, a whirlwind of black and blue. In the blink of an eye, the robbers were disarmed, their weapons scattered across the floor. With incredible agility, he bound them with what appeared to be thin, invisible ropes, their struggles futile against his superhuman strength.

The speedster stood over the two miserable robbers, the stolen money bags clutched in his hands. He surveyed the scene, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Cheer up, fellas," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You'll live to rob another day... hopefully. But I wouldn't recommend it, especially after today. You'd have to be pretty foolish to try again."

Suddenly, a wave of cheers erupted from the hostages. A man, emboldened by the speedster's swift and decisive action, had jumped to his feet, applauding wildly. Soon, others followed suit, a chorus of grateful voices filling the bank.

The speedster, initially surprised by the outpouring of gratitude, found himself strangely affected. He stood amidst the cheers, a strange tingling sensation running through him, almost as if he was in a trance.

Then, his earpiece beeped, snapping him out of his reverie. He blinked, his focus returning to the task at hand. "Yeah?" he responded into the device.

He listened intently for a moment, then sighed. "I'm on my way there now," he said before ending the call.

With a final glance at the grateful faces of the hostages, a small smile playing on his lips, the speedster dropped the money bags and vanished in a flash of blue lightning, leaving behind a stunned silence and the lingering scent of ozone.

[Meanwhile]

Inside an interrogation room, two people sit individually behind one table across from each other:

• The interrogator [Michael Cage]: A male in his thirties with dark blue eyes, light brown short slicked back hair with a full ducktail beard style that's brown. He has dark red glasses on and his appearance is very formal; wearing a black suit.

• The interrogee [Ivy]: A female light elf in her late teens with light blue eyes, long and blonde hair with a few strands that's braided. She wears an oversized grey hoodie.

Michael removes his glasses and looks at the girl in an exhausted state before sighing.

Michael: I'm sorry, let me reiterate so we're all on the same page... [He points at her] You an elf.

Ivy nods shyly with her arms crossed.

Michael: Okay... And you walking down the street with your sister until some guy tried to kill you and your sister but she fought back and some kinda... shadow... kidnapped her and the–and the guy? [She nods.]

Michael: Alright. [He exhales before putting his glasses on and standing up] I will be right back.

Michael turns to leave and just when he is about to turn the door handle, as Ivy speaks out in a near whispering tone.

Ivy: When will I get out of here?

Michael: [He turns to her with a gentle small smile to reassure her.] Soon. And don't worry, We will find your sister... and alive, Ivy. I promise.

After hearing his promise makes Ivy feel at ease as she uncrosses her arms nods trusting him before he opens the door and leaves, shutting the door on his way out.

Outside in a wide hallway, two males also wearing formal suits stand after waiting for Michael.

• [Ender] The male on the left has a light skin and brown hair. His hair is of an medium uneven lengths as it is supposedly straight and slick. He has light yellow colored eyes.

• [Kyle] The male on the right has a peached skin tone, Dark brown straight-medium lengthed hair and light brown eyes.

Ender [to the Michael]: Well?

Michael: We dealing with a Shadow... possibly just a mutant with shadow abilities. Has kidnapped two people without leaving a trace.

Ender and Kyle look at each other before Kyle speaks.

Kyle: A shadow kidnapping people... Seriously? [He looks around the hallway for any other person walking before whispering] Since when are we the police? We have other priorities than playing detective, Mike.

Michael: I know. But we need know what the hell is taking these people. And why.

Ender: Spirit?

Kyle: [He snaps his fingers and points at Ender] I was thinking the same thing.

Michael: Yeah? Well what type of spirit is able to snatch TWO people at once, with one of them being an elf that good at fucking magic, meaning she would have disposed of the ghost and be here right now. And why kidnap them?

Kyle: Again... Cops job. NOT ours.

Michael: Cops don't deal with the supernatural.

Kyle: And since when do we?

Michael: Since Viktor told us to come here, deepshit. Stop complaining. We doing this mission. Like it or not, so come on, let's get outta here.

Kyle grunts, Relentless to say something but ends up sighing and follows Michael with Ender out of the police station and into a parking lot towards Michael's car (a black Chevrolet tahoe)

Just as they all about to enter the car, Michael looks at the side window and sees a reflection of a shadowy figure standing behind him, making him turn around with a gasp to see nothing infront of him. Ender (opening the rear dooe from the same side as Michael) notices his sudden turn and looks at him in wonder.

Ender: Michael? You alright?

Kyle on the other side of the car hears Ender's question and looks at Michael.

Michael: I think i saw the ghost standing behind me.

Ender: Think it's after you?

Michael: I hope not.

Kyle: ...Did you react to it?

Michael: [He slowly turns to look at Kyle with a confused look] Of course I reacted to it, it's a freaking ghost.

Kyle: [Shakes his head] Oh, you shouldn't have done that, man.

Michael: What, why?

Kyle: What... [He looks at Michael with his eyebrows raised in shock before sighing.] You older than me, yet don't know the basic shit of dealing with ghosts?

Ender: The hell are you blabbering about, Kyle?

Kyle: You too?! Urgh... Apparently, if you "think" you saw a ghost, you shouldn't react to it.

Ender: "Apparently," huh..?

Michael: [scoff] Is that so?

Kyle: Yep.

Michael: Aaand where did you get this information?

Kyle: Jimmy.

Michael: Jimmy... As in... Jimmy Winston? The guy that was born and raised in a sewer. Same guy that can't die and shockingly gets drunk from water?

Kyle: Yep.

Ender: [whispers under breath] Oh God...

Michael: Kyle... Jimmy is not a reliable person to go to.... FOR anything but killing.

Kyle: Pfft, come on, that's Bullshit. Why would Viktor even include him in the team if he's not reliable?

Michael: He took him in because he can't die or ask questions about the people he kills, Kyle! He even shat on someone's couch and then blew up the entire house to eliminate ONE. DAMN.. fly....

Kyle: Okay... [he looks aside quietly before looking back at Michael with a regretful expression.] Okay, that's a lil concerning.

Ender: Once claimed Hitler to have been his child.

Kyle: Aaaand I've lost my trust on the guy. [He face plams.]

Ender: [He chuckles] Let's get outta here.

Just before they could enter the car, something suddenly hits the roof of the car causing the roof to collapse inward.

All in a horrific shock, Kyle becomes the first to take a look at what fell on the roof and slowly notices blood which made him slightly hesitant to continue but does so afterwards and to his surprise, sees a blonde light elf completely naked, revealing her slender build.

Kyle: Is... Is that...?

Michael and Endor gets close for examination and Michael looks at the elf's face, devastated.

Michael: Anna...

[Sometime after the incident]

Inside the interrogation room, Ivy cries after hearing the news about her sister from Michael who stands infront of the door with a sad expression on his face.

Michael: Ivy...

Ivy: You promised....

Michael: Tch...

Ivy: [She sobs before looking at Michael from her chair, with her eyes full of hate and sadness] You promised to find her ALIVE!

Michael: [He looks down] I know... I'm very...

Ivy: [She interrupts him] Don't! [Michael looks up at her in surprise] I don't... wanna hear it. Not one.

Michael nods before snorting and clearing his throat, he opens the door wide and looks at her for a second before leaving the room.

Michael: [Standing outside the door, He leans back to the door and hears Ivy cries that breaks his heart as he shuts his eyes tightly and clenches his fists before Endor and Kyle walk up to Michael and also hear the cries.] I promised to find her sister alive...

Ender: Don't let that mess with your mind, Mike. We still on a mission here. We need to find this ghost and fucking exorcise it or whatever before more people die.

Kyle: He's right. Being here is wasting time. And even more so, once these dickheads figure out we're not the FBI.

Michael sighs before nodding and they'd start walking down the hallway before hearing a scream coming from the interrogation room. They'd turn around and run to the door, opening it wide to see Ivy standing scared in a corner with the table and chairs flipped and thrown to different spots, in the center of the room is the Anna with pale skin and no trace of blood on her body.

Kyle: What the hell?

Michael: Anna?

Anna: [She turns from looking away from Ivy to looking at the three with completely black eyes with blood coming out of her eyes and mouth. She speaks in demonic tone of almost two nearly different woman voices] Michael Cage. Arm yourself, run if you wish to, try not to hide as you are now... on his list.

Michael: Who's list?

Anna: Your end and many, many more.

Michael: Are you him, possessing that poor girl?

Anna: No. I am Anna, tasked to only deliver the message to you and say my good bye. [She turns to Ivy who has tears in her eyes] Good bye, sister. [She says in an elvish language before the body fades out of thin air.]

There's a long silence in the room before the speedster appears behind them in the hallway with an electric sound effect. He wears a suit and fixes his black tie before seeing Endor, Michael and Kyle and speaking forth to them "I'm here guuuuyssss..." He notices them looking coldly and silent with the elf girl (ivy) in a corner with her eyes red from all the crying. They'd all look at the speedster as he asks "...What'd I miss?"

A few minutes later...

The speedster, Ender, and Kyle were huddled in a dimly lit room, the tension palpable. A strange, unsettling silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft ticking of a clock.

The speedster was pacing the room with his mind racing after being told what's happening.

"Okay... lemme get this straight. Elf girls were getting mugged, the big sis fought in self defense and both her and the mugger disappear. Day later, big sis appears dead on your car and next thing she's in the interrogation room with lil sis, looking all demonic and shit, is that right?" He looks at the three with one of them nodding at him.

Kyle sighed, rubbing his temples.

Kyle: This is getting ridiculous. First, we have a shadow creature kidnapping people, probably stalking Michael, and now we've got a possessed elf. What's next, a freaking dragon attack?

The speedster scoffs before going to a window and crossing his arms "wouldn't put it past this world."

Ender: Heh... So what's the plan, Jack? (Speedster's name.)

Jack answers with his gaze fixed to the door.

Jack: We figure out what happened to the girl and what's hunting people... Plain and simple.

Kyle: Uhmm... Isn't it obvious what's possessing her?

The two look at Kyle in confusion and wonder. Noticing the silence, Kyle sighs in disappointment.

Kyle: It's a freaking demon, you guys, come on!

Ender: I'd agree with you if it weren't for the fact that she claims to be REALLY Anna, Kyle.

Kyle scoffs and chuckles in disbelief

Kyle: And you believe that? [Scoffs] Demons lie, Ender! It's what they do... ALWAYS. [He says firmly and loud.]

Ender: Uh-huh... And how do you know this?

There's a long pause as Kyle looks at Ender with his mouth open before clearing his throat.

Kyle: ...Uhm.... Books.

Ender: [His eyebrows raise in surprise at Kyle's answer] Books? You...?

Kyle looks at Ender, offended with a shake of his head as he answers.

Kyle: Yeah! I read books.... sometimes.

Ender: Uh-huh... Anyways, We've never dealt with something such as possession of a person. Let alone an Elf...

Kyle: Yeah, We need to tell Vik to send someone else to handle this.

Jack: Ha! Viktor doesn't care if we can handle this or not. He only cares if it's done. And believe me, if it's not done... YOU'RE done.

Kyle: Ah. Great. Just great.

Just when silence occurs, Michael opens the door.

Michael: Guys... I need you to see this.

The three trade each other glances before walking out the door, following Michael into the interrogation room.

In the Interrogation Room

Ivy, still shaken from the previous encounter, was trying to calm herself. The sight of her sister in such a state had left her feeling helpless and scared.

As the group entered, their attention was immediately drawn to Anna. She was now more paler with sick facial features and completely grey blind sighted eyes, standing in the center looking up, gagging.

Jack: [Eyes widening in shock] The hell happened?

Michael: [Shakes his head, a look of concern on his face] I don't know. She just started acting... strange. We need to do something.

Kyle: [Steps forward, his eyes fixed on Anna, gagging with black goo dripping out her eyes and mouth.] We should call an exorcist...

Ender: [rolls his eyes] An exorcist? Really?

Kyle: What? They great at these things.

Ignoring Kyle, Jack turns to Ivy, who's been silent, watching helplessly and scared at the scene unfold.

Jack: Ivy... It's Ivy, Right? You're a light elf. Can't you use your magic to save her?

Ivy hesitantly looks at Jack with her eyes wide with fear. She knew she had the power, but she was afraid to use it.

Ivy: N-N-No... I... I can't...

Michael: Ivy, please. Do it for her.

Ivy: [Her voice trembles] I... I've never seen anything like this before.

Kyle: [Scoffs] Well, now's a good time to start learning.

Jack shoots Kyle a warning look, then turns back to Ivy.

Jack: Ivy, you need to try or else she dies.

Ivy looked at her sister, her heart aching as she watches Anna start convulsing with her body wracked with tremors. A dark, almost ethereal energy seemed to emanate from her, twisting her form into unnatural positions.

Ivy took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A soft glow began to emanate from her, a gentle counterpoint to the darkness surrounding Anna.

Ivy: [She nods at Jack with her eyes filled with determination] Okay... I'll try.

Ivy steps forward with her hands reaching out to Anna with a surge of power emitting from her hands as a bright yellow light.

Anna looks away from the ceiling to Ivy with cracking sounds from her neck.

Anna: [Speaks at a low tone] Sis...ter...

Ivy shreds a single tear as faint black goo stream down from her eyes as she smiles brightly, leaving Ivy and the rest bewildered.

Ivy: Anna?

Anna: Good bye...

Ivy: What?

A bright light emerges from Anna's body, blinding everyone in the room for a couple seconds before everything is in silence.

Having have used their sleeves to cover their eyes, they all carefully look up to notice Anna is gone.

Jack and Kyle both stand by the doorway, bewildered by what just happened as Ender is out making sure noone else walks in to the scene. Michael is with Ivy sitting on thr ground, trying to comfort her.

Jack: [Whispers to Kyle while they look at Michael and Ivy.] Why did you say it's stalking him.

Kyle: [Sighs, whispering back] He mentioned seeing a shadow just before... Anna appeared.

Jack: Hmmm....

Ender taps on Jack's shoulder announcing his return as they walk inside from the doorway with Ender shutting the door on his way in.

Ender: Alright, Bois. Cops won't be questioning what's happening for now so... What's the plan?

Jack: We find an expert and keep you safe Michael.

Michael: I'm sorry, what?

Jack: What happened to Anna could happen to you next.

Michael gets up and stands close to Jack.

Michael: The hell it will. We need to find Anna.

Kyle: [chuckles] Are you in insane?

Michael: She's still alive, Kyle!

Kyle: Yeah and still possessed as far as we know. [Scoffs] Don't forget, She fell on the top of your car, Mike. She's a pretty much dead elf, possessed by a demon.

Ivy starts sobbing after hearing Kyle.

Ender: Dude!

Kyle: Ender, I know. But that's the reality of it. I'm not gonna sugar coat it or whatever. [He looks at Ivy] Your sister's dead. The person we all saw here is a demon. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Now, I know that what I'm saying may make me look like an ass but that's how reality is. Even in this crappy supernatural world.

Michael stared at Kyle, his jaw clenched. He was seething with anger, but he managed to keep his voice calm.

Michael: And how the hell do you know that, Kyle? This is our first time encountering something like this. I mean, what if it ain't a demon.

Kyle scoffs

Kyle: It's freaking obvious it's a demon, Mike. Do I really need to restate why it's a demon again?

Ender: Okay, Kyle... Let's say you right. Let's say, we really dealing with a demon here. You could have spoken in a more sensitive way. Instead like a douche.

Kyle shrugged, his expression unrepentant.

Kyle: Look, I'm just stating the obvious.

Ivy, her sobs subsiding, looked up at Kyle, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow.

Ivy: You have no right to say that. She's not gone. I saw her. I felt her. She's still in there, somewhere.

Kyle: [scoffs] Girly...

Ender, seeing the tension in the room, decided to intervene.

Ender: Alright, let's calm down. We need to focus on the situation at hand.

Jack: Yeah. Kyle, Ender, you two take Ivy and Michael somewhere quiet and safe. We don't know if they'll be taken like Anna was. I'll go after Anna and find out why this spirit is after Michael.

Jack turned to leave, but Ivy's voice stopped him.

Ivy: W-wait... [she stammered, her voice trembling.] I... I know someone who might be able to help. Maybe.

Everyone turned to look at her, surprised.

W-who? [Michael asked, hope flickering in his eyes.]

"Jack turned to leave, but Ivy's voice stopped him.

Ivy: W-wait... [she stammered, her voice trembling.] I... I know someone who might be able to help. Maybe.

Everyone turned to look at her, surprised.

Michael: W-who? [Michael asked, hope flickering in his eyes.]

Ivy: This woman... She lives in the old Victorian house on Elm street. [Ivy said, her voice barely a whisper.] She's... she's an old friend of my grandmother's. They used to call her "The Whisperer."

Jack's interest was piqued. "The Whisperer? What does she do?"

Ivy: I... I don't know exactly but Grandma always said she had a way with the unseen. She could... she could talk to spirits.

Jack nodded thoughtfully.

Jack: Alright, I'll go see what I can find out from this "Whisperer". [He looks at Ender and Kyle] You guys find Anna or whatever... I'll go to this "whisperer" see if maybe she can help.

Kyle and Ender exchanged a look, then nodded.

Kyle: Alright, let's get this show on the road.

Kyle and Ender headed outside, leaving Michael with Ivy inside while Jack has already left to find the whisperer. Ender couldn't resist asking, "Why were you such a jerk to Ivy back there?"

Kyle: [He shrugged, with an unrepentant expression.] Just stating the obvious.

Ender shook his head in disbelief.

Ender: "Stating the obvious?" Dude, she just lost her sister! Show some compassion, Kyle. Some empathy.

Kyle: Compassion?! Empathy?! Ender, we're dealing with something waaay beyond our understanding here. Ther–

Ender interupts Kyle.

Ender: That shouldn't excuse you of being a heartless dick, Kyle. Ivy is in there GRIEVING. HOPING tht there's just even a slight chance that her sister is still alive in there. She needs support.

Kyle: And Michael is providing that with safety in case the spirit comes after her. Now shut your pie hole and come on, we got work to do.

Kyle started walking down on the pavement, ahead of Ender.

Ender sighed, knowing that arguing with Kyle wouldn't get them anywhere. He turned his attention back to the house, his mind filled with worry as he walks behind Kyle.