Chapter 28: Lights Out...

Back at the safe house, Felicia Hardy, also previously known as Black Cat, was stirred from her peaceful slumber by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Bang! Bang! bang!

'Ghhhuuu...give me five more minutes...' Bleary-eyed and disoriented, she initially didn't notice the absence of Grim from the bed beside her.

It was Miss Xuãn, Cheng's mother, who entered her room, a look of bewilderment etched on her face.

"Something's happening outside," Miss Xuãn said, her voice filled with fear. Felicia looked at her, confused, but then became alert, had the Gang found them already?

Together, Felicia and Miss Xuãn peered through the blinds, their eyes widening in shock at the sight that greeted them.

Several colossal Pillars of light, magnificent and otherworldly, pierced the sky, turning the darkness of night into day.

"What in the world..." Felicia muttered, her instincts as a former superhero/thief kicking in. Her concern deepened as she finally noticed Grim's absence.

Riiiiiing!!!

Before she could process the situation further, Miss Xuãn's phone rang with a call that would change everything.

It was her son, Cheng, alive and well. The relief in his mother's voice was palpable as they spoke.

He apologized profusely and explained that Grim had rescued him. But just as he was about to return to look for him, the mysterious light had appeared, emanating from where he had last seen Grim.

Felicia, now fully alert, noticed a note left on the desk. Picking it up, she read Grim's words...

"Hey, went out for a stroll. Don't worry where I've gone. Might save the world or take a nap somewhere. Whichever comes first. - G"

Felicia couldn't help but feel a mix of exasperation and worry. "He's worse than my kids," she grumbled, vowing to give Grim an earful when he returned.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a call from the police station. After a brief conversation, she sighed deeply, realizing her hopes for a peaceful night were dashed.

With the mysterious light fading, Felicia instructed Miss Xuãn to follow her to the police station, while also asking for Cheng to make his way there as well.

She quickly sent a text to her hero friend she had initially tasked with finding Cheng, cancelling that request and issuing a new one.

Dressed and ready, the duo stepped out of the safe house, their minds filled with questions and concerns about the night's events.

...

Meanwhile, New York City was in chaos due to the unexpected light phenomenon.

Grim, the inadvertent source of the disturbance, had long since vanished from the scene.

And unbeknownst to him, the use of his Destructive Light Spear had eliminated several demons lurking within the city.

...

As the light dissipated, the police arrived at various locations, only to discover craters a hundred meters wide at sites that were later identified as gang hideouts and affiliated buildings.

The city was abuzz with speculation and fear, as authorities tried to piece together the cause of these sudden and inexplicable events.

...

(Lower East Side Cemetery...)

In the dead of night, under the starlit sky of New York City, a lone figure made his way through the quiet cemetery.

Grim, having decided against returning to the safe house, found himself drawn back to his grave.

It was here, in this sombre place of rest, that his weird new life began. And perhaps, he mused, it might be where everything would eventually come to an end as well.

The cemetery, with its tombstones and polished memorials, to Grim was as good a place as any to get some nice Zz's.

He approached his grave, a site that held both memories and a peculiar sense of belonging.

Kneeling down, he began to dig through the soft grass with his hands, uncovering a hidden cavity he had previously made.

His original plan had been to unearth his coffin to use as a bed, but the effort seemed like too much effort.

'Sigh, ain't nobody got time for that...' Grim thought immediately scrapping the idea.

Instead, Grim chose to lie down on the ground, using the cool stone of his tombstone as a makeshift headrest.

As he settled in, his shadow stirred, transforming into the familiar form of Σκιά.

The skeletal wolf bound to Grim, curled protectively around his head, offering itself as a pillow.

"Thanks, Cubby," Grim murmured, his tone soft but thankful. He reached out and scratched behind the wolf's ear, eliciting a contented sound from the creature.

Cubby responded by laying its head down, its flame flickering gently in the darkness.

Grim pulled his hood over his head, casting his face in shadow. He closed his eyes, feeling a rare moment of tranquillity envelop him.

The troubles of the world, the chaos he had caused, and the burdens of his existence seemed to fade away, if only for a while.

Beneath the vast expanse of the night sky, both the undead and his otherworldly companion found peace in each other's presence.

The cemetery, a place of sorrow for so many, served as a sanctuary for Grim - a reminder of what he had lost and what he continued to endure.

As the night progressed, the only sounds that could be heard were the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant hum of the city.

...

(Thirty minutes later...)

As Grim and Σκιά lay resting in the cemetery, an unexpected visitor made his way through the maze of tombstones.

This old man, moved with an air of familiarity, as if the paths between the graves were well-trodden by him.

Under the moon's gentle glow, he observed the pair from a distance. There was no fear in his gaze.

The old man, carrying two warm blankets, gently draped one over Grim's resting form.

The fabric settled softly over him, providing warmth against the cool night air. Then, with equal care, he placed the second blanket over Σκιά, ensuring that the spectral wolf too was covered.

He stepped back, observing his handiwork. A faint smile touched his lips as he saw them resting more peacefully under the blankets.

Then, just as quietly as he had arrived, the old man turned and disappeared back into the graveyard.