1988. It had been two days since Hank last saw Jasmine. She never came back from checking in on one of her friends who had said something about a client asking her to wear a white rabbit costume for an Alice in Wonderland fantasy. Hank didn’t have that friend’s address or phone number, which left … Continue reading 64: Because of You
CrimsonWraith
63: No Chance
2019. Like the 6th Avenue Bridge, the Robinson Street Bridge had been destroyed at Zero Hour. Mirroring 6th Avenue’s Arch of Mercy, the Arch of Memory welcomed those who crossed the Brennert River, on whose banks stood the Titan City Correctional Facility. The TCCF had been home to Hank Mills since 1988, adding thirty-one more … Continue reading 63: No Chance
62: Quoth the Raven
1988. Jasmine had the police blanket over her shoulders when Hank arrived. He found her sitting on the front stoop with emergency lights painting the sides of the tenement buildings and bodegas all down the block. When she saw him walk up to her, she reached up like a child to be picked up by … Continue reading 62: Quoth the Raven
61: Killers of Different Kinds
2019. Gracie didn’t mind the little specks of rain drizzling down the windows of the Lincoln-Zephyr. Weather like this made people more quiet, and, in her experience, that made them a little more gentle, easier to deal with. She would have preferred to be wearing something soft and warm though, not her courier suit. It … Continue reading 61: Killers of Different Kinds
58: What Love Is
2019. “Can we talk?” Kristen said quietly when they got to the register. She wasn’t holding eye contact with Gracie. “Yeah, sure,” said Gracie. She turned to Brianna, “You cool with that?” “Of course, go on. Go on.” They went out back to the back alley, and before Gracie could ask how Kristen was, she … Continue reading 58: What Love Is
57: The Psychedelic Torments of Doctor Oblivion
1969. Tommy waited until Shirley said she was done eating to rise from his chair, pull a small box from his pocket, and present it to her, on his knees. She squealed in delight and threw her arms around him, shedding and wiping away tears. Then, after they cleared the dinner table of his small … Continue reading 57: The Psychedelic Torments of Doctor Oblivion
56: Shifting Seasons
2019. Goblins and ghosts in a myriad of masks filled the lobby of the Snyder-Finn building. Princesses, fairies, pirates, spacemen, and superheroes ran shrieking in every direction, children who had apparently never learned to communicate at a reasonable volume, drunk on candy and the promise of more to come. These were the children of Kevin’s … Continue reading 56: Shifting Seasons
54: Love Whispers
1966. The Troubadour had his rights read to him, his hands cuffed, and his mask removed. Thus ended the crime spree of one of the Crimson Wraith’s most remarkable adversaries of that age. Thus began the incarceration of Esteban Valentino, twenty-five years old, son of Cuban immigrants, graduate of the Titan University theater program. He … Continue reading 54: Love Whispers
53: Different Choices
2019. Judge Ghosh tugged at his beard thoughtfully as he looked down from his bench at Zack. “What I am curious about,” he said, “was exactly why you decided to ask the District Attorney to drop the charges against Miss Chapel — in your own words please.” Zack looked at the DA who nodded at … Continue reading 53: Different Choices
51: Justice to be Served
2019. Morning frost clung to the edges of the star-shaped reflecting pool in Titan City Justice Center courtyard, holding in place fallen leaves that stuck halfway-in, halfway-out of the water. Gracie bundled up in the black overcoat Stephen had provided her, wearing the suit that had been purchased for her courier job with Snyder-Finn. Gracie … Continue reading 51: Justice to be Served
50: The Playwright of Peril
1966. The sun shone brightly on the steps of Titan City Hall, where three men stood at the podium — Kelly Winchester, the Crimson Wraith, and the Wily Wisp. In their hoods and domino masks, the costumed crimefighters' smiles were as broad as their spandex-covered chests; and on those chests, the Crimson Wraith bore the … Continue reading 50: The Playwright of Peril
49: Prison, Institution, or the Grave
2019. Danny nodded. “Yeah, Edward was murdered.” “You guys were talking like he was real old, so I just thought, you know, ‘natural causes.’” “He was eighty-seven years old, but someone felt like going ahead and murdering him anyway.” “What the fuck? Who would do that?” “We don’t know yet. Kevin thinks it was someone … Continue reading 49: Prison, Institution, or the Grave
47: When a Wraith Retires
2019. Alone in the Crypt together, things were all business between Gracie and Danny. Kevin had sent her down to get her voice and palm scanned for security, apparently unaware the two had any tension between them. Danny said nothing about the morning. Mostly he kept his eyes on the monitor as he pulled up … Continue reading 47: When a Wraith Retires
46: Face-to-Face with Shadowmaster
1954. Gazing upon Lady Luna’s arrow gleaming in the darkness, its promise of death pointed at his heart, Eddie cursed himself for not being more suspicious of her. Perhaps that was the unease he had felt around her, something his father’s feelings for his childhood sweetheart had kept him from seeing. Had there been any … Continue reading 46: Face-to-Face with Shadowmaster
45: Boxing with Shadows
2019. Kevin steadied the heavy punching bag that hung from a chain in the room of Finn Manor that he called “the dojo.” Gracie felt the boxing tape squeeze as she readied her fists one more time and tried to make herself want to hit it. But she wasn’t angry at the bag. It wasn’t … Continue reading 45: Boxing with Shadows
44: In the Lair of Shadowmaster
1954. The mask felt strange to Eddie. As the Wily Wisp, the rest of his costume differed from his father’s only in color. But the skull of the Crimson Wraith was something else altogether. Before most of the world had even heard of Titan City’s Scarlet Stranger, Eddie had met him in person. But the … Continue reading 44: In the Lair of Shadowmaster
43: The Weight of a Cape
2019. The wheels of the treadmills sang under their feet as Kevin and Gracie brought their speed up to a full run. Wires from the electrodes they wore bounced with each step. Working out wasn’t really Gracie’s thing. It felt strange to run without something to run from or to. “Looking back through the legacy … Continue reading 43: The Weight of a Cape
42: The Return of Shadowmaster
1954. Seeing Sylvia on the rooftop the night before, masked as Lady Luna, unsettled Eddie less than opening the door of Finn Manor to her the next day in broad daylight. Perhaps it was the smile she wore — the kind that said, I’m in on the secret, part of the club. Eddie didn’t remember … Continue reading 42: The Return of Shadowmaster
41: To Know Things
2019. Danny didn’t look bad in his thin white tank-top and plaid pajama pants. Gracie surprised herself by how she noticed the muscles in his arm when he reached to take the maple syrup from the refrigerator for their toaster waffles. Apparently, he didn’t spend all his time behind a keyboard doing computer stuff. “We’ll … Continue reading 41: To Know Things
40: The Silver Arrow of Lady Luna
1954. All throughout the Titan City Capitol chambers, onlookers edged forward in their seats, eager for William Finn’s response. News reports held pencils at the ready, some toward the exit to see just how quickly they could phone their editors with what would surely be tomorrow morning’s headline. Even if Will had no confession regarding … Continue reading 40: The Silver Arrow of Lady Luna
The Crimson Wraith 