Chapter 29

Chapter 29

June 2, 1999 - London, England

Shadowflame darted through the shadows, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he fled the scene of the battle. The glowing remnants of his recent fight flickered in his mind—the flames, the struggle against Plantman, the sheer thrill of tapping into powers he barely understood. Each step felt heavy, but he couldn't stop now. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were hot on his heels.

He leaped over a low fence, his senses alert for any signs of pursuit. The cool night air brushed against his skin, and the familiar sounds of London enveloped him. He could still hear the echoes of Plantman's desperate pleas and the crackle of fire as he unleashed his power. I did it, he thought, exhilaration mixing with exhaustion. I actually defeated him.

The exhilaration quickly faded as he realized the implications of his actions. The fight had drawn attention—both from law enforcement and the public. He had shown them more than just his fire powers; he had revealed a glimpse of his true potential. What would happen if the world found out that Shadowflame was more than just a vigilante with flames?

Pushing these thoughts aside, David focused on reaching home. As he neared his house, he activated his New Order. I have the ability to turn invisible, he commanded, vanishing from sight as he approached the window. The cool night air still clung to him, filled with the remnants of battle, but he knew he was safe for now.

Once inside his room, he deactivated the order and let the invisibility fade. He took a moment to catch his breath, heart still racing from the thrill of the night. The victory felt hollow when faced with the reality of what lay ahead. He needed to assess the damage.

David glanced at his clock: it was late, and he could already hear the distant sirens approaching. The news would be abuzz with the spectacle of the night—the fiery showdown, the mysterious vigilante, and the defeated villain. He quickly changed out of his Shadowflame costume, tossing it into his closet and trying to appear like the average teenager again.

Once he was in his pajamas, he plopped down on his bed, the exhaustion finally crashing over him. As he lay there, his mind raced with questions. What would his parents think if they found out? Would they be scared? Angry? Disappointed? And what about his friends? The more he pondered, the more it felt like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I need to be careful, he reminded himself, closing his eyes. He had to keep his identity a secret, not just for his own safety but for the sake of his family. They were blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadows of London.

The next morning, David awoke to the sounds of breakfast wafting through the house. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the exhaustion of the previous night still lingering in his bones. He could already hear his parents chatting animatedly, the normalcy of their routine a comforting reminder of what he was fighting for.

Descending the stairs, he was greeted by the sight of his mother cooking and his father reading the newspaper at the table. "Morning, sleepyhead!" his dad called out, looking up with a smile. "We saved you some pancakes."

"Thanks, Dad," David replied, forcing a smile as he settled into his seat. He tried to appear as relaxed as possible, but the weight of his secret felt heavier than ever. He watched his parents, their faces full of warmth and love, and he felt a pang of guilt twist in his stomach. They had no idea what he was putting himself through.

As he ate, his father's voice broke through his thoughts. "Did you see the news last night?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his tone. "They're talking about a vigilante in London. They're calling him Shadowflame. Sounds pretty impressive, huh?"

David's heart raced. "Uh, yeah. I heard a bit," he managed to say, carefully avoiding eye contact.

"It was all over the news! Apparently, he fought some kind of villain in the park. I've never seen anything like it. People are really divided on whether they like him or not, but I think he's doing good," his father continued, unaware of the tension building within David.

His mother chimed in, "Some people are scared, though. They think he might be too dangerous." She shrugged, looking concerned. "But I don't know… if he's taking down criminals, maybe he's not so bad after all."

David felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He wanted to tell them the truth, to share his world with them, but he knew the risks. They wouldn't understand. They might worry too much, or worse, try to convince him to stop.

After breakfast, David made his way to his room, his mind still reeling from the conversation. He needed to think. Shadowflame was gaining notoriety, and with that came attention—potentially dangerous attention. If someone like Plantman was out there, who knew what other threats lurked in the shadows?

Sitting at his desk, he pulled out a notebook and began jotting down everything he had learned during the fight. He documented Plantman's abilities, weaknesses, and his own strategies. I can't afford to make mistakes, he thought. I need to be ready for whatever comes next.

As he continued writing, a notification popped up on his phone, drawing his attention. Curiosity piqued, he opened the app and was met with a flood of messages and videos. His heart dropped as he clicked on one of the videos titled "Shadowflame vs. Plantman - The Fight of the Year!"

The footage revealed his encounter with Plantman in its entirety—his flames, his acrobatics, and the sheer power he had displayed. Comments flooded the screen, some praising him, others condemning him. David's breath caught in his throat as he realized the world now knew his abilities, that he wasn't just a vigilante but something more—a potential hero or a looming threat.

He slammed his phone down, a mix of panic and anger bubbling within him. What have I done? The stakes were higher than ever, and he had to figure out how to control this new notoriety. He couldn't allow himself to get caught up in the attention; he needed to remain focused on his mission.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. "David? Can I come in?" his mother called from the other side.

"Yeah, Mom," he replied, quickly shoving his phone into his pocket, masking his frustration.

As she entered, he forced a smile. "Everything okay?" she asked, noticing his furrowed brow.

"Just… thinking about some stuff for school," he lied, wanting to keep the conversation light.

"Alright. Well, if you need anything, just let me know. Remember, we're here for you," she said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

David nodded, the warmth of her touch grounding him momentarily. "Thanks, Mom. I appreciate it."

After she left, he let out a deep breath, knowing he had a lot of work ahead of him. I can't let them down, he reminded himself, looking out the window at the sprawling city below. He had to continue his mission as Shadowflame, but now he had to do it with more caution than ever. The world was watching, and he needed to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

End of chap.