Episode 1: The Fall and the Rise

Episode 1: The Fall and the Rise

The City of Evernight

In the cold, rain-drenched alleys of Evernight City, a boy named Benjamin Crowne wandered alone. He had known nothing but pain since childhood. His parents died when he was just a boy—victims of a cruel world that never showed mercy. Even the adults who should have protected him did nothing but torment him. Bullies saw him as weak, teachers ignored his suffering, and the streets whispered nothing but despair.

Years of torment led him to one final moment.

The Edge of Despair

Standing at the edge of an abandoned skyscraper, the rain poured over him like the world itself was weeping. Lightning cracked in the distance, illuminating his trembling form. The wind howled, but it wasn’t enough to drown out the storm raging inside him.

Benjamin clenched his fists, looking up at the dark sky.

His voice, barely above a whisper, carried more pain than a thousand screams.

"Do I deserve to live...? God, tell me... do I deserve to live?"

A moment of silence. Nothing. No answer. Just the wind. Just the rain.

He took a deep breath, a final breath, before whispering his last words:

"The world doesn’t kill you with a blade. It kills you with silence."

And with that, he stepped forward.

The Rescue

Before the ground could claim him, before his life could slip into nothingness, two figures saw him fall.

A boy and a girl.

Their names: Ronan Vale and Selene Ashford.

Ronan’s instincts took over—his body moved faster than thought. With a burst of speed, he dove off the rooftop, arms outstretched, catching Benjamin mid-air just before the impact. The force of the rescue sent them both rolling onto the wet pavement.

Benjamin was unconscious.

Selene rushed to them. "Shit! Is he breathing?" she asked.

"Yeah," Ronan panted. "But he’s out cold. We need to take him back."

Without another word, they carried the boy through the storm, vanishing into the night.

The Awakening

Benjamin's eyes fluttered open to dim lights and the faint hum of machines. He was lying on a bed inside a cavernous hideout—a secret underground base. His body ached, but the pain was distant compared to the weight inside his soul.

Two strangers stood over him.

"You're awake," Ronan said, arms crossed. His voice was sharp, but not unkind.

Selene leaned forward. "What the fuck happened to you?"

Benjamin looked at them. His voice was quiet, but his words cut through the silence like a blade:

"I wasn’t trying to die. I was trying to see if the world would stop me… And it didn’t."

Silence.

Ronan and Selene exchanged a glance. They had seen broken people before, but Benjamin wasn’t just broken. He was shattered.

And sometimes, shattered things are remade into something unstoppable.

This was the night Benjamin Crowne died.

And the night something else was born.

Episode 2: The Line Between Hero and Villain

The Names Behind the Masks

Benjamin sat on the cold steel table of the underground hideout, arms crossed, eyes void of emotion. The two strangers who saved him from his fall stood in front of him. The boy spoke first.

"I’m Ronan Vale."

The girl smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Selene Ashford."

Benjamin stared at them, unimpressed. "Cool. And?"

Selene rolled her eyes. "And we’re not just some random people. We’re heroes."

Ronan and Selene exchanged a nod before stepping back. With a flick of their wrists, their suits activated—sleek, armored, and built for war.

Ronan became "Phantom"—a figure of shadows, his suit black with silver streaks, built for speed and stealth.

Selene transformed into "Nightflare"—a warrior wrapped in dark red and black, her gauntlets charged with energy.

They expected some kind of reaction from Benjamin. Shock. Awe. Anything.

Instead, he sighed. "Good for you."

Selene narrowed her eyes. "You don’t care?"

"Nope," Benjamin said, standing up. "Heroes don’t impress me."

Ronan crossed his arms. "So you’d rather be a villain?"

Selene clenched her fist. "If that’s the case, I’ll put you down right now."

Benjamin shook his head. "I don’t want to be a hero or a villain. Both are just masks for different kinds of lies."

Ronan and Selene exchanged a look.

"Too bad," Ronan said. "You don’t get a choice."

Selene tossed a bundle of clothing at him. "Suit up, loser. You’re going on patrol."

The Reluctant Fighter

The suit was basic—dark colors, a simple cape, and an unmistakable resemblance to an old hero’s first uniform. Benjamin hated it.

He didn’t even bother naming himself. When Selene asked, he shrugged. "I don’t name losers."

"Well, good thing you’re not gonna stay one," she shot back, dragging him out into the city.

The streets were alive with crime. And Benjamin? He was dead inside.

The Fight Against Blackout

His first real confrontation came faster than expected.

A man was robbing a bank, shoving stacks of cash into a duffel bag. He had broad shoulders, a towering frame, and an eerie calmness to his movements. His clothes were simple—a red and black striped button-up shirt, worn-out jeans.

Benjamin didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, pointing at the guy.

"Stop right there, idiot."

The man slowly turned, unbothered, his dark eyes locking onto Benjamin. He chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

"Do you know who you’re talking to?"

Before Benjamin could react, the man grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground with one hand.

"I’m Blackout."

And then the beating began.

A Lesson in Pain

The first punch nearly knocked Benjamin out. The second cracked something in his ribs.

Blackout didn’t just beat him—he humiliated him.

Every hit was deliberate, controlled. He wasn’t just fighting; he was teaching Benjamin a lesson.

Minutes later, Benjamin lay on the ground, coughing up blood, barely able to move.

Blackout sat down next to him, resting his arms on his knees. He let out a sigh, looking at the night sky.

"You’re new to this, huh?" Blackout muttered. "Let me guess—forced into the mask, don’t know who you are, thinking maybe being a hero makes you worth something?"

Benjamin didn’t answer. He could barely breathe.

Blackout smirked. "You’re not ready for this. And if you keep pretending you are, you’ll die."

He reached down, gripping Benjamin’s mask. With a sharp tug, he tore half of it away, revealing part of his bruised face.

"Go home, kid."

And with that, Blackout walked away, leaving Benjamin broken, bleeding, and questioning everything.

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