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
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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
36: The Monte Cristo Code
1948. Captain Hargreaves downed fistfulls of antacid as he awaited the wealthy parents of the young men who had been kidnapped by the Three Billy Goats Gang. His ulcer was screaming as he thought about donations they had made to the TCPD and the strength of their connections in the Titan City government. By the … Continue reading 36: The Monte Cristo Code
31: Perspective Provided
2019. No routes of the Titan Metro Line made their way into the hillsides beyond the Englehart River, but Gracie didn’t really want Stephen to give her a ride all the way to Sprang & Sons. That might raise more questions than she wanted to answer. So, she asked him to bring her to the … Continue reading 31: Perspective Provided
30: Enter the Zephyr
1986. Sunday nights, the sign above the Golden Sphinx stayed dark, as did the strands of lights winding up the potted palm trees out front. The desperate and lonely men of Titan City would have to look elsewhere for titillation. But between the iron bars covering its windows, light shone through the red lace curtains. … Continue reading 30: Enter the Zephyr
28: A Chance and a Choice
2019. As she waited for her appointment with the Crimson Wraith, Gracie returned to her copy of Nights of Justice: No definitive consensus exists regarding the precise inception of the Crimson Wraith’s career. He did not, after all, trumpet his arrival to the major media outlets of the day. The earliest known police report to … Continue reading 28: A Chance and a Choice
22: Your Weirdo Pal in a Cape
2019. He sat at the breakfast table, wearing a casual outfit once again from the autumn collection of the douchebag department — burgundy cardigan over eggshell henley and crisp chinos. Every inch of fabric appeared so soft that it simply whispered “money” without having to shout. The sun room’s brightness bathed him in a heavenly … Continue reading 22: Your Weirdo Pal in a Cape
21: The Killer
1979. Hank Mills didn’t mean to kill his wife, and he wanted the Crimson Wraith to know that. Titan City’s Scarlet Stranger caught up with him about a block from the tenement building where he’d left Carla, appearing in an explosion of blinding light and sulfurous smoke. Among the rest of its graffiti, his building … Continue reading 21: The Killer
20: Miss Chapel
2019. She’d heard about it, knew it was there, sometimes even saw its blue lights glowing in the distance, but not once in her life had Gracie ever had reason to pass under the Arch of Mercy and cross the 6th Avenue Bridge. The Arch of Marcy served as a portal between her world — … Continue reading 20: Miss Chapel
19: The Other Side of Purgatory
2019. When Gracie had seen them on TV, the insides of police stations contained an almost-boiling-over chaos of phones ringing from a scattered array of desks, where beleaguered detectives all sat somewhere near the verge of losing their sanity, sobriety, and spouses, and suspects being marched past them in hand-cuffs proudly proclaimed their hate for … Continue reading 19: The Other Side of Purgatory
18: Defender of the Defenseless
1939. Will had anticipated much of that night: the point in the secret passage where Chubby would also wear the cloak and mask to block Robert’s escape, the blanks he had loaded into his father’s pistol, the mannequin lowered from the roof to make him appear to float outside the window, the disabled car starters, … Continue reading 18: Defender of the Defenseless
17: Fifteen Seconds
2019. Seven cameras with two hundred hours of video on each, but it was fifteen seconds of footage that Kevin focused on. In those seconds, the door could be seen to open. Light cut into the darkness of the front hallway, and a figure stood there, silhouetted. Their left hand raised, and then the footage … Continue reading 17: Fifteen Seconds
16: You Cannot Kill Me Again
1939. “Murderer…” The hollow, ethereal voice did not rouse Robert at first. He merely shifted in his bedsheets. “Murderer…” The second time drew him toward waking, but his eyes were slow to open. “Murderer…” When at last he was awake enough to realize that the voice was no dream, Robert’s eyes shot open to see, … Continue reading 16: You Cannot Kill Me Again
15: Hancock’s Plan
2019. Gracie received a text from Brianna: Heard you aren’t feeling well and taking time off. Good! Could tell you need rest. Can’t be a superhero all the time. Rich had been cool about it when Gracie asked if she could get her shifts at the bookstore covered for the week. And her attendance at … Continue reading 15: Hancock’s Plan
14: A Ghost, Freshly risen
1939. Too hot. Far too hot. Will was smothered, damp, and could not move. Something heavy enshrouded him. He pushed against his bonds, twisted, and let out a groan A dull, hollow ringing filled his ear, a tone that would one day fade from his attention but never fully leave his hearing. It accompanied a … Continue reading 14: A Ghost, Freshly risen
13: What is Lawful and What is Right
2019. There wasn’t much sleep for Gracie that night. She tried, but everything in her head felt jumbled and on fire. First thing she did was clean the whole apartment up and down, left to right, and back to front. Bringing order out of chaos sometimes calmed her. She even cleaned Kristen’s room, although some … Continue reading 13: What is Lawful and What is Right
12: A Father’s Love
1939. Below them, the Englehart River rushed through the snow that clung to its shores, and falling flakes caught streetlights in their crystals. Will pressed his back against the cold metal railing of the 6th Avenue Bridge, his eyes on the barrel of the pistol Robert pointed at his chest. “That’s it,” Robert said with … Continue reading 12: A Father’s Love
11: Return to Sunset
Meanwhile… The elderly residents lounging in front of Sunset Gardens in defiance of autumn chill smiled at the gentleman who approached. They didn’t know his name nor recognize his face, but he was a handsome young man — young to them at thirty-nine years old — sharply dressed, with briefcase in hand. He looked like … Continue reading 11: Return to Sunset
10: Don’t Be Afraid
2019. As soon as Gracie walked through the door of Sprang & Sons, Brianna hit her with, “Whoa, are you all right?” Gracie nodded. Brianna squinted at her. “Are you sure?” “I’m sure.” “Are you sure you’re sure?” “I’m sure I’m sure.” “Okay…” Her pinched brow told Gracie that Brianna was dropping the subject out … Continue reading 10: Don’t Be Afraid
9: The Wraith’s First Flight
1930. The portraits lining the walls of Finn Manor depicted figures with whom William Finn — formerly Will Singer — shared no blood but his new father, Josiah, urged him to call "family." Yet to William, every heartbeat within those walls felt like kin, and in each face, he so often found a warm smile, … Continue reading 9: The Wraith’s First Flight
8: What Price Justice?
2019. Jerry and Joe slinked away as Gracie and the Crimson Wraith stood face-to-mask in the strange fog that had arrived just ahead of the costumed crimefighter’s appearance. “Don’t,” the Crimson Wraith repeated, keeping his red-gauntleted hand raised to her. Gracie didn’t — didn’t move, didn’t blink, for a moment she didn’t breathe, and she … Continue reading 8: What Price Justice?
7: The Hunger and the Hustle
1922. From his corner on the exhaust-choked streets of Titan City, Young Will Singer watched shiny new motorcars carrying well-to-do businessmen honk arguments at each other, each one of them seemingly in someone else’s way. The summer heat made hot tempers hotter, and Will felt thankful for the shade he stood in as he held … Continue reading 7: The Hunger and the Hustle
The Crimson Wraith 