Chapter 9

Hey everyone,

Thank you for your valuable input in helping me choose a name.

Many of you suggested the name "GHOST," which I cannot use because there are already two fan fictions with that name.

Some of you provided reasoning behind the names I had considered, which aligned well with how the protagonist would operate and fight.

After thoughtful consideration, I have finally decided on a name...

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[Gotham City, August 28th, 12:30 AM]

During the previous week, Alex had observed an increase in drug peddlers in his neighborhood. He took it upon himself to deal with them and sent them packing to the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD), albeit not without inflicting a few injuries in the process.

He decided to find out who the dealer was and decided to take action.

Alex discreetly followed one of the peddlers, ensuring he stayed at a safe distance to remain unnoticed. Lately he had not been using his stealth skill that he got from the system as the energy consumption was high.

Eventually, the man who Alex was following, led him to a desolate industrial area, filled with abandoned warehouses. It was evident that the man was meeting someone there.

So, Alex sent out the drone to carefully assess the surroundings, noting potential escape routes and hiding spots, preparing himself for any unforeseen circumstances. While he was observing the surroundings through his glasses, Alex watched the lackey wait outside a warehouse for someone. After some time, a tall man arrived and escorted the lackey inside.

As Alex cautiously approached the hideout, he sent his drone inside to survey the individuals inside and around the premises, to gather information. The warehouse had some modifications done to it and living space was arranged. There were seven men and a woman inside and one was on the lookout.

As usual he called the cops before moving further inside, he turned a corner and spotted a bald man wearing earphones, lost in his music. The man remained oblivious until Alex was just five meters away from him.

Startled, the bald man looked up and found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. He opened his mouth to speak but dared not utter a word.

Alex gestured for the man to open the door and lie on the ground. In the next moment, the man lost consciousness. Withdrawing his finger, Alex searched the man but shook his head with disappointment.

The man had nothing but a knife on him. He stored his gun and the knife in his inventory and pulled out his pack of cards.

Through his drone which was in stealth mode, he was able to see the people who were inside the room. Two of them were on the left, two behind a sheet of cover which seemed to be a bedroom, one on the right, and the last one was in the bathroom.

Alex walked into the room casually. An Asian man watching the TV on the right was stunned. "What the hell?".

However, Alex just threw a card which burst on making contact with man who was thrown back and was knocked out. The sound drew the attention of the others in the room. They were stunned when they saw Alex who was totally covered in black.

In the next moment, the woman, who walked out of the bedroom screamed. "Ah!" Alex tilted his head, as observed the woman like she was an idiot. But the men swiftly surrounded him.

With a focused gaze, he locked eyes with the six men who surrounded him, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and confusion. The room hummed with anticipation, waiting for the impending clash.

The overweight individual, who appeared to be the boss, spoke up, "You don't seem like the Bat. Who are you?"

"You would really want to know, wouldn't you?" Alex spoke as his mechanical voice came through his mask. During the past week, Alex had been working on a voice changer and certain other gadgets that he could use or sell to others. "You guys can call me whatever you want. I go by Scorpion. Hehe."

"Oh, so you're one of those freaks like Batman who wears a mask, huh?" the leader chided.

"Alright, boys, take him down." Without warning, the men charged at him, fists clenched and adrenaline pumping. Alex moved swiftly, his body a blur. He evaded their attacks, and counter attacked them using his power to imbue the cards in his hand with explosive energy.

One by one, the men fell, struck down by Alex's precise throws. Cards ignited upon impact, sending his adversaries sprawling to the floor. The hideout reverberated with the echoes of booms and the groans of defeated men.

Alex swiftly tied them up and searched them if they had any weapons. With the room now momentarily clear, Alex's attention turned to the lone woman among them. She stood, her expression a mix of defiance and trepidation. Approaching her cautiously, he knew time was running out.

Alex leaned in close, his voice low and assertive. "Alright, darlin', time for some answers. Where are the drugs?"

The woman's eyes darted around the room, a flicker of panic passing through them. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Alex's brow furrowed, his patience wearing thin. He grabbed her by the collar, pressing her against the wall. "You've got five seconds to spill the beans, or things are gonna get real messy."

Fear filled the woman's eyes, and she quickly relented. "Okay, okay! There's a hidden door in the near the back. That's where the drugs are, please don't hurt me."

Satisfied with the information, Alex released his grip on her, and she slumped to the ground, gasping for air. Before she fully recover he knocked her out cold.

With a quick glance at his watch, he knew he had some time to spare. Before leaving, he went inside the bedroom to search for any cash lying around and noticed a bag of cash. He took it and stored it in his inventory before setting out to find the hidden door.

Upon discovering the secluded side of the warehouse where the door was located, he left it open. He grabbed a can of luminescent spray paint and sprayed a trail on the ground, indicating a path leading to the room.

Aware of the imminent arrival of law enforcement, Alex knew he had to make a swift exit. With his ill-gotten gains securely stored, he moved with stealth.

As he slipped out of the hideout and into the night, the sound of sirens grew louder, piercing the air. Alex disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind the unconscious bodies as a testament to his formidable abilities.

In the distance, the flashing lights of police cars grew brighter, signaling the arrival of justice. Alex vanished into the city, leaving the consequences of his actions to unfold in his wake.

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[Gotham City, August 28th, 10:00 AM]

Alex noticed his sister breaking down as she spoke on the phone, her voice filled with despair. Confused but concerned, he approached her, gently taking the phone from her trembling hand and embraced her tightly. They stood there, his sister weeping uncontrollably, finding solace in his presence.

While she continued to cry, Alex glanced at the phone, which displayed "Betsy," one of his sister's closest friends. Taking a deep breath, Alex composed himself and spoke softly into the phone, "This is Alex, her brother. What happened? Why is she crying?"

Betsy's voice, choked with grief, came through the line, "Hey Alex, I just received a phone call from Cassy's mother. She passed away last night in her sleep." Her words were heavy, as if she had lost every ounce of energy within her.

"What?! How?!" Alex's body trembled, and he almost screamed. His emotions threatened to overwhelm him. From his memories, he knew who Cassy was. She had been a good friend to her sister and his (old Alex's) one-sided crush.

"I... I don't understand. How... what happened?" Alex managed to stammer, his voice weighed down with heaviness.

Hearing the commotion, his grandmother came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands. She froze upon seeing the scene before her. She hurriedly rushed towards them, pulling Missy into her embrace, and then gently hitting Alex on his arm.

Alex relaxed and stopped trembling, looking at his grandmother. She simply pointed at his palm. It seemed that Alex had been clenching his fist so tightly that he had started bleeding.

Betsy let out a deep sigh, her voice filled with sadness. "Cassy had been struggling with drug addiction. It seems that she overdosed last night. It was... unexpected."

Alex wiped his hands on his pants and continued the conversation. "Why would she take drugs? And you guys didn't know about it?" he questioned Betsy.

Betsy spoke, trying to compose herself. "We had no idea, Alex. Cassy was always so full of life, and she never showed any signs of addiction. It's a battle that many people fight silently, concealing their pain and struggles from their loved ones. We wish we could have helped her, but addiction is a complex and personal struggle."

Betsy's voice trembled as she continued, "Addiction is a powerful force, Alex. It can make people feel isolated and ashamed, leading them to hide their pain even from their closest friends and family. Cassy may have believed she could handle it on her own or that she didn't want to burden us with her problems. We can't change the past, but we can remember her with love and support others who may be facing similar battles."

Alex, visibly calmer now, spoke up, "We will talk about this when we meet. Please convey our condolences to Cassy's mother. We will see you at the funeral."

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[Alex POV]

After I ended the call, I decided to go to my room to calm down.

I had never let my emotions run wild. I'm a battle-hardened veteran soldier. I had always kept my emotions under control. But why does it seem like I'm changing?

Even last night, it was kind of impulsive to openly attack that drug dealer. I could have dealt with them stealthily.

It's reminiscent of my time in the orphanage when I was constantly impulsive. My body and mind don't seem to be in sync. It's as if the emotions of my old self are still quite strong.

Ah, problems keep arising one after another. I simply have to accept my fate and move forward. I can't dwell on this. If I want to resolve these emotional surges, I believe I need to uncover the cause of Cassy's death, what led me to turn to drugs and overdose.

But first I need to figure where she got her. I also need to find more about Betsy she seemed to know something.

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Thank You,

Everyone who has given me stones.

Keep supporting.

Author request: Please give me reviews and stones