"It's your FAULT! It's all your...".

I opened my eyes as and sat up realizing my hands were trembling and I was drenched in sweat. I never needed an alarm because I always woke up from memories or nightmares. My past always haunted me. Sometimes I would have nightmares where watched a younger me do cruel things to animals or something. Were they real or were just nightmares?

There was something wrong with me and I didn't know what. A part of my life is still a mystery to me. The fact I didn't know anything about my parents made things more confusing. I didn't have a place I truly belonged to and I always felt out of place.

Why did they leave me? Would I be the same person if I was raised by them? I have to stop wondering because if they really wanted me then they would have never abandoned me. I stood to my feet and walked into the bathroom.

Once I was dressed I left the hotel but I paid the desk clerk for another night before leaving. I stepped outside and looked up at the building Giz-tech which stood high and mighty across the street. I grunted as I started walking alongside other pedestrians. 

"John?"

I looked over to see a man who stood about the same height as me, Light brown skin and dark brown hair. It was Gizmo Valentine and he stared at me in disbelief. I grunted as I felt my fingers twitch. I continued walking as he sprinted over to me.

"I'm sorry... you got me mistaken for someone else." I said as I continued walking and pulled my hood over my head.

"John.... When are you going to stop being this cold hearted douche?"
I stopped and turned to face Gizmo. We were around the same height so we stood at eye level.     

"What do you want from me now...Huh? You want to blame me for your mother's death again? You want to spread more lies saying I'm the one that caused it?" I snapped.

Gizmo's mouth to drop open. I turned and stormed off before I decided to punch him.
I kept walking until I found myself outside Zestro's pizza and was greeted by Brianna; Mr. Zestro's daughter. Her eyes lit up with joy as she jogged over and hugged me.                   

"Well hello, stranger." She smiled happily even though she knew I wasn't much for smiling but she could tell I was glad to see her.

"How has everything been?" I asked causing her to shrug as she looked around she took my arm and pulled me to a booth. I sat down as she placed a menu in front of me.      

"I went to college and since I got out I've been here helping out my dad. Zayna is in college now, but I get to see her every now and then. My mom died from a drug overdose, and my brother was murdered because he kept dealing with the wrong people."

I felt sorry for Brianna because her mother was hardly ever around. Now I understood why she never talked about her when were close.

"I'm so sorry."

She shrugged as she began to smile before stepping away. She didn't have to ask for my order because she knew it would be the usual thing I always got. My appetite for the food didn't really ever change. As I looked out the window staring at the city and the people. A figure appeared in the seat across from me.

I looked over to see... Gizmo. My fingers twitched wildly as I started thinking about slamming his head through the window.     

"Look man I'm sorr... about.... Look you can't just keep acting like I don't exist. Dude, I said those things four years ago when I was grieving. How can you be mad at me still?" I sighed as I shook my head.

"I'm not angry...I've moved on with my life but you can't expect me to forget the fact you blamed me for her death then told everyone I caused her to die. I lost...." I said with a frustrated sigh.

I shook my head as I still thought about what she said to me.

Flashback

I stepped up to her porch with a bag of gifts I bought her for our anniversary. She opened the door and her eyes were watery. I instantly knew something was wrong.             

"Are you okay?" I asked as she took off her glasses. She shook her head as she started to close the door but stopped.                    

"I can't be with someone who would cause his friend's mother to die. I can't be with someone so reckless." She shut the door in my face. I stood there shocked in disbelief. Gizmo ruined everything for me and I knew if I didn't leave it would never stop.

Present

"That was bad on my part. I should have never taken things that far dude, but I'm not apologizing, though." I shook my head as I stood to me feet just as Brianna came with my food.

I handed her some money and walked out empty handed. I couldn't stand to be around Gizmo. I hated remembering parts of my past that had him in it. I didn't want to forget about her but he made it to where I had to.

I looked around at all the places in Darko city: Stoker Enterprises, the Last Bite, the Art sanctuary, Comet Electronics, Darko High home of the dragons, Chaotic Comics, and the Ecstasy. There were so many places and so many people. The city was loud and always busy.... with crime.
The skies always looked as if it would rain so there was not much sun. It was always cold or windy. I loved this place but I hated it at the same time.

The city was not only buildings and houses but trees... A lot of trees. Surrounded by a forest the city was practically closed off from other cities or towns. When I was younger I learned that the Darko city was once multiple towns living close to each other.

That was almost three hundred years ago. Darko city has been a place of its own for nearly two hundred years now. I thought it was strange for a place like this to be that old. On both sides of the city there were lakes that had to be cross to get in to the city.

Three lakes surrounded the city and the ocean on the far side of it. I continued walking down the street when I got pulled into an alley. As I prepared to fight I realized it was Gizmo. He grabbed me again and I realized we were somewhere else. He had teleported! He was the man that was shooting at me the other night. At least he didn't know I was the one he was trying to capture.        

"Look dude.... the only reason I'm here right now is to say.... I don't hate you." I nodded as I shoved him off of me. I raised my thumb up to him as I stepped away.

"I thought you hated superhumans... now you are one?" I questioned as Gizmo chuckled awkwardly as we started to walk down the alley. 

"Things happen dude." I nodded as I kept my distance from him.

I was unsure if this was his way of trying to reconcile a broken bond or if he had an ulterior motive. I decided to play along and see what he really wanted.                

"What do you really want?"

Gizmo acted shocked as I stepped in front of him.   "There's nothing I want from you. I just thought... Never mind."

He turned and walked away. I stood alone in the alley wondering where I should go next. I continued to sight see when I saw two of the women from the other night. I passed by them as they waved at me. I nodded my head in acknowledgment as I continued walking.

I decided to go to club Ecstasy. I approached the building to see that it had a closed sign on it. I sighed unhappily as I continued walking. I decided I'd pick up another job to get some extra cash. A woman named Constance who had a way of manipulating all the gangs.

Her motives were to tear them apart from the inside. I returned the hotel as I continued to plan out what I would do and what she most likely would want.

I turned on my TV as I dug in my bag. I searched for something to wear for the night. I ignored the TV until I heard Skylar Presley's voice. She was talking about an attack at the mayor's office. A group of superhumans attacked and vandalized the building. Six people were killed and things were destroyed.

The superhumans have been attacking places like this for weeks now. I shook my head as I grabbed my goggles, boots and combat pants and left once more. I hid in an alley to change my clothes.

Once I was suited up I was on my way to where Constance usually stayed. I roamed the streets for a long time before I found myself in the neighborhood she stayed. Hudson Heights was the place and I was walking down a road called Atrocity Avenue. This was the neighborhood Gizmo's mother died in.

After a while I found Constance sitting outside smoking. Her brown skin and long black hair was soaked. She had just showered or at least it's what I thought.                            

"Well, I see the troublemaker has returned. Never thought I'd see X prowling these streets again." I shook her hand as I noticed her crew starting to surround me.

I turned and stared at them until they backed away. I heard her laugh silently as I returned my attention to her.                     

"I need a job. Got anything for me while I'm still here?" I asked as I continued to look around.

She shrugged as she continued to smoke. I was able to smell it as the smoky air flew into my face. I waved the air away as I continued to look around. I felt as if I was being watched but by what?          

"You not into killing so... not really. Plus kid... this not the life for you so get off these streets while you can." She said slowly as I nodded and turned to walk away.

I stopped when an arrow landed next to my foot. I sighed as I realized I was about to have to fight which I hated doing. The archer dropped in and quickly took out Constance's crew. I glanced at her as she got up and ran. The archer appeared before me but froze.                   "
X? It's me Sean.... You helped me capture my father and we took him to Mr. Glen." I stared at him long and hard as I tried to remember that day.                       

Flashback

Seth Sanders stared at his son as he was covered in blood. He had been badly beaten and his arm seemed to broken but his smile never faded. I stood beside Sean trying to talk him out of shooting his father.      

"He's not worth it kid." Mr. Glen said as he stepped beside Sean. Sean sighed deeply as he lowered his bow and walked away. I followed behind him until we heard a loud gun shot. Sean didn't flinch at all, he just kept walking.           

Present                           

"I remember you. What are you doing here?" I asked as he glanced at his bow. His blonde hair waved wildly with the wind. I looked at his suit which consisted of: goggles, gray mask that covers his nose and lips, a dark gray vest lined with blue, blue undershirt and grayish black combat pants.

"I work for the Taskforce... in a way." He answered as I nodded understandingly as he turned around and signaled for me to follow. 

"Sounds like a lot of rules and regulations." I said causing Sean to laugh. He nodded he looked down at the ground for a moment. He sighed as he walked over to a motorcycle.

"They know too much about me is the thing I hate. They know about my sister and everything. Now I want to take her back to Hyper city. Its home and she is only a freshman right now and I'd think she'd like being back home." I nodded as I patted him on the shoulder.

Sean was a really good guy which was rare to me. Even from the life, he told me he had grown up from he still turned out good. He was a better person than I could ever be. Sometimes I wished I could be a good person like him but for me I don't think that's possible.             

"Why did your team attack the club the other night?" Sean suddenly became tense which made me extremely uncomfortable.

What was going on in this city and why was there so many monster attacks happening. Before I came here I saw news reports of people getting killed or eaten. It didn't make since how things got this bad. The worst part of it is that it's been happening since I left.                            

"Dr. Lee has been working his butt off to cause chaos. He has been hacking into the network and broadcasting his experiments. He says he has an army that can help protect us from a future threat. The guy is crazy bringing back a race that was on the verge of extinction. Then he's controlling monsters somehow. It's all too much for me." Sean said as he scratched his head awkwardly.

I always felt that I had personally met the man known as Dr. Lee, but how had always been the question.               

"Dr. Lee....You guys are trying to crack down on these strange occurrences? Darko city is hunting grounds for everything because this place is so big. There's not really an easy way to stop this." I said causing Sean to chuckle silently.          

"Maybe catching Dr. Lee would slow things down or something." Sean said as he climbed onto his motorcycle.   

"I'll stop him to see if I can get a reward." I said sarcastically as Sean laughed as he started his ignition.                       

"The rest of the team doesn't know you so if they see you at all doing any of the things we use to do.... Well, they will be after you, buddy. I will do the best I can to keep you off the radar. Also...get out of this area cause the task force is on the way to pick up those losers" Sean said as he stared at Constance's crew.

I nodded as I watched him drive off into the night. I decided that maybe there was more I could stick around for. Things here seem to be filled with a lot of adventures that I wouldn't mind getting into. One thing for sure was I remember the name, Dr. Lee. The question is why he seems more familiar than he should.