A thick Smoke cloud was emulating from a few blocks away. Civilians were confused as to what was going on, but others were scared. A man walks through the streets, and sees the smoke, with cars stopped in all directions. It looked to a few people, like a bomb had gone off a few blocks away, and an ambulance passed them quickly, as it raced down the street to see what was going on, and so they could help. Some people were talking to each other, as they were confused, but very concerned as to what was going on.
The man glanced at the smoke, and his heart felt like it sank, like a ship. Something was wrong, and he needed to know. He began to run past multiple people in a hurry. "Get out of my way!" The man shouted. He ran as fast as he could, and his eyes widened in horror as to what he had just saw. It was a little boy on the ground in front of a large truck, which was now crashed, and the side of the truck was on the ground, and multiple barrels were on the ground around the boy. It was the man's son, Matt. The man was Jack Murdock, and he was a famous boxer in New York City, and he and Matt lived there for all of their lives.
"Holy hell…" Jack said to himself. He ran quickly and crouched down in front of his son. E. had just arrived, and helped some of the people hurt in the crash. "Matt, you're gonna be okay," Jack said as he was looking down to him.
Matt had his eyes closed, but slowly opened them to see his father, "D-Dad?" He asked. Matt could barely stand, and blood was leaking from his forehead. His arms and legs felt like they were broken, but could hear the sirens going off. He looked completely broken, as he gazed to his father.
Matt slowly spoke up, "W-What happened?"
Jack looks around confused as to what had happened to his son. He gazed upon multiple barrels, and one was open, and it was leaking a liquid. They were chemicals, as Jack glaced at the truck, which had read "Rand Chemicals" on the side.
"Jesus…" Jack slowly spoke, as he gasped quietly.
He looked back to his son, and saw his face look dirty, and some liquid all over him, "Agh! Dad! It-Oh it burns!" Matt screamed and covered his eyes quickly.
Matt's eyes felt like they were burning as he was hit with the very chemicals that were leaking onto the street. His hands were also splashed with them, and his hands were tingling, and his shirt was stained with the dirt from the street, and he had a large bruise on his arm.
"Someone get us some help!" Jack shouted, as he tried to look around for the paramedics. He never wanted this to happen and never thought it would. He was scared for his son.
A man was gently helped up by two paramedics, and he coughed. He was bleeding from his head, like Matt was, and he looked to Jack thankful, "Your boy," The man started. "He pushed me out of the way. He saved my life," He explained and smiled to Matt.
Jack looked to Matt. His eyes gazed upon the child, and he took his hands, "Close your eyes," He said.
"What?"
"Close your eyes!" Jack ordered.
Matt however didn't listen, as he couldn't hear him. Matt could barely hear anything, as the crash had hit him hard, and the chemicals had splashed into his ears.
All Matt could see was his father, but then, he saw nothing. He couldn't see anything anymore. All he saw was darkness, and he was confused, "I-I can't see!" He screamed.
Jack was shocked by this, and he couldn't respond. He held up his son, and hugged him tightly, and shedded tears.
"I can't see! I CAN'T SEE!" Matt screamed. He didn't want this to happen to him, and he didn't want to feel any pain. The crowd all felt bad for Jack and his son. Matt was screaming, and it could be felt all through the city. Matt squirmed when he was being taken to the hospital. He screamed in pain. His eyes felt like they were burning and his ears felt like bells ringing non stop, and his hands burned in pain. All Matt wanted was to simply die.
15 Years Later
Hell's Kitchen was dark and dirty. It was night, and for some people living there, it was just like any other night in New York City. Neon lights shinned all through the city, and emulated a smog, and dust. Many bars and nightclubs, and even landmarks in the city were brightly lit at night, and it was a clear starry night, with the moon hovering above all of the City. Criminals thrived in the night time in New York, like how they were usually portrayed in crime movies. It offered to them the perfect opportunity, with all the lights, sounds, and more. However, it also offered quiet things, like gun fire, kidnapping and even murder. It was perfect for them. It may be bright out, with cars lining the streets, and people roaming through the sprawling city, but the night was perfect still for them. New York to many always seemed like it had everything you would want, and that was usually a plus, but it did offer a lot that people didn't want at the same time, with crime running around all over the city was something no one wanted. Hell's Kitchen to many was ground zero for criminals in New York, and they thrived in it, and tons of successful criminals lived there.
The Docks were even worse at night, and this was even more prominent as a small white van pulls up, and slowly parks outside a large warehouse. Two more criminals were waiting outside, and one of them had a gun loaded in a holster, while the other had an assault rifle in hand. A few more criminals were inside the warehouse, and decided to spend the time by playing cards. "Well…?" One of the criminals questioned, as two men stepped out of the van.
"Relax. We got 'em," The van driver nodded.
The other criminal that was inside slowly opened the back of the van revealing multiple women tied up, and with their mouths taped shut. Blood was leaking down from their faces, and had some cuts on their arms, and multiple bruises on their faces. They were trying to break free, and squirming. The women were scared for their lives, as they weren't sure what was about to happen to them, but it was no doubt that it wouldn't be good. One of the women's eyes were red, and indicated to the criminals that she was crying, and screaming for someone to help them. All they wanted was for someone like Spider-Man or The Fantastic Four to save them, and give the criminals that were staring at what they deserved. They couldn't move at all, as their arms and legs were cuffed and taped together, and their screams were muffled, as tape covered each of their mouths.
"Alright," One of them began, and another pointed his gun at the helpless women. "Each of ya lovely girls is a grand each. So, you either be quiet, and I'll give you a bucket," He said, as he gently showed the women a small bucket.
One of the men grabbed one of the kidnapped women, and dragged her out of the van, and tossed her onto the ground hard. He pointed his assault rifle at her, and the end of the weapon gently pressed against her cheek, and he was ready to shoot with no hesitation.
"We know our jobs after this, right?" One of the thugs asked.
The other three looked back to him, and merely nodded. The woman tried to squirm out of the thug's direction. However, unfortunately for her, one of the thugs noticed, and stepped on the woman's legs, and drew a small taser, and shocked the woman. The weapon was shocked hard in the stomach, and she screamed feeling horrible pain. She began to cry out in pain, and fear, hoping more for someone to help.
"Scream all ya want, bitch," One of the thugs laughed.
"Yeah. C'mon, bitch. Scream all ya want. It ain't like the cops are gonna come," Another said, and snickered at the helpless woman.
However, above them on top of a few shipping containers, a man dressed head to toe in all black perched himself from above. It was very dark out, so it helped him remain hidden in plain sight. It looked like he was just a shadow on top of the shipping container, and he wouldn't strike at all. He clenched his fist, and gritted his teeth in rage seeing what he was seeing. The thugs to him seemed like they haven't showered in over a week, and wearing cheap deodorant one could buy at a local grocery store. It was even more clear like a few of the men had been smoking cigarettes for the past hour. He could hear the women screaming for help, even at where he was at the moment.
"Huh?" One of the criminals noticed a shadow above them, and one of the women's eyes widened in shock seeing him.
The man in black suddenly leaped off the shipping container effortlessly, and collided with one of the criminals, as he knocked him down on the ground hard. The man in black let out a faint grunt, as he leaped, and the thugs were all surprised by this. "What the hell?" One of them was extremely confused.
The man in black used their confusion to his advantage, and swiftly elbowed one of them hard in the stomach. He was ready for a fight, and the criminals knew that just judging by one of them being hit hard by an elbow. The man in black quickly and hit the criminal he elbowed hard in the knee with a fast kick, and ended up breaking his knee hard. "AGH!" The man screamed in pain, as the attack collided.
The other criminals quickly drew their guns, and were ready to shoot.
CLIK!
The man in black suddenly heard their guns being loaded, and ready to fire at him at any given second. He needed to get out of their sight quickly. He quickly rolled to the side, and to a darker corner of the area. The criminals quickly tried to shoot, but none of the bullets hit the man in black. Bullets began to rain on the concrete ground quickly, but the man quickly barreled to the right, and leaped onto the side of the shipping container.
"The hell did he go?" One of them questioned.
"Back to back, circle up," Another ordered.
The man in black heard their footsteps from afar. Their shoes splashed on a few puddles surrounding them. That was a dead giveaway as to where they hid.
The men circled all around them, with their guns pointed in all directions, and ready to shoot whatever moved. They all began to sweat rapidly, and two of their hearts beated rapidly in fear. One of them slowly slid one of his feet across the ground. They may think they're safe, but in truth, they were not at all. The man in black suddenly dropped down, and crashed into one of the men, and swiftly uppercutted one of them hard. He let out another grunt, as he swung his fist hard in the criminal's jawline, and swiftly kneed him in the stomach.
"C'mon! C'mon!" The last criminal said, as he pointed his gun at the intruder, and was ready to shoot.
BLAM! BLAM!
The man in black suddenly heard bullets being fired at him, and he quickly barreled out of the way again. The bullets however hit one of the other criminals hard in the chest, and blood gushed out of their chest, and he was knocked onto the ground. "Shit!" The criminal quickly looked around, and tried to shoot again. The man in black however charged from behind, and quickly jumped, and made an in air twirl, and kicked the criminal hard in the jaw, and knocked out two teeth, only seconds upon contact. The man quickly swung a hard right hook at the criminal, and striked the criminal hard with a wooden stick by the looks to the woman.
The man in black quickly un-cuffed the woman's arms and legs, and took the tape off her mouth, "Get to your friends, and head towards 48th. Stay in the lights, flag down the first officer you see," He said. The woman however was too scared to move an inch. He could hear her heart beating rapidly, and smell the sweat pouring down her face, and he gritted his teeth. "GO!" He shouted in rage. The woman ran off instantly as she heard him scream.
Multiple thugs charge straight at the man, but he knew they were coming. He grabbed, and drew out another wooden stick from a holster, and stood still, awaiting them to either try to stab, or more likely, shoot him. He didn't wear any body armor, as it would slow him down, and he needed agility more than just brute strength. He could hear multiple footsteps and heartbeats closing in on him fast. He could smell gunpowder from all directions, and he readied himself for another round. Thugs surround him, and a few held knives for protection. The man in black stayed quiet, and so did the thugs. A few slowly approach him, and that was what he anticipated. The man in black suddenly threw one of his sticks onto the ground, but it bounced off the pavement, and it one of the thugs hard in the hand, and knocked the gun off of it. "AGH!" The thug screamed in agony.
The other thugs try to shoot, but they aren't able to as the man in black swiftly backhanded one of them hard, and quickly dropped down, and sweeped another, and knocked him down on the ground hard. The man in black quickly elbows another criminal hard in the jaw, and hits him in the nose hard as well, as knock out a few teeth. One of the thugs managed to jump the man, and grabbed him by the throat. The thug quickly tried to apply a lot of pressure, and choke the mysterious attacker to death. However, the man in black swiftly headbutts the man hard with the back of his head, and knocks the thug off of him. The man in black began to breath heavily, exhausted from the fight, but he knew the thugs wouldn't let him go so easily. He quickly grabs one of the thugs by the throat from behind, and begins to apply pressure to him.
Another thug quickly tries to charge into him hard, with both of his fists clenched, but the man in black, quickly jumped, and elegantly twirled in the air, and kicked the other thug hard in the chest, and knocked him back hard. The man began to breathe much more heavily, as the thug he coked fell onto the ground, while he only held onto him by the hood of his sweatshirt. He was tired, but thankfully, barely anyone touched him. Though, while tired, he was pretty angry, and turned the thug around, and began to pummel him hard in the face, and breaks his nose in the process. Blood began to gush out of his mouth, and nose, and each punch only got worse for him. Each punch swung at his face got harder and harder, and he was pleading that the man in black wouldn't kill him. Though, he wished his suffering was over, and it was just a horrible nightmare. It however felt like a nightmare to him that would never end.
"Dammit, Matthew!" A priest heard Matt's father, Jack shout at him in anger. Him and his father walked together to their local church in Hell's Kitchen. It was on a Monday afternoon, so no one didn't come for a session. The priest looked to the two, with a calm and collective manner, as he held a book in his hand.
"You can't say that here!" Matt said.
"Da, I know that, Matty. Just listen to me for once!" Jack looked to his son in rage at what he had just heard.
The priest gave the two a smile. "Jack Murdock. Been awhile since I've seen you here," He said.
Jack sighed at the Priest, Father Lanton. "Yeah, yeah. Sorry father. Busy with the fights and all," He explained calmly. He was still angry at his son, but knew Matt's reasons, and needed to calm down. "Speakin' of which, I'm gonna be late. I'm at my rope's end with this one, father! Just picked him up from da flippin' precinct for breaking and entering!"
"I told you, dad. I didn't break, I just entered!" Matt spoke up, as he glanced to his father annoyed. To Matt, Jack wasn't believing anything he had told him, and felt the police didn't listen either.
Jack however turned around and walked away and out of the church. "Listen to this kid! I swear I'm raisin' a lawyer! Do your confession, and then get home, and clean the kitchen! I'll be back by midnight," Jack said disappointed in Matt. Jack didn't want his son to become what he did, and wanted him to be a lawyer, with great education. He and Matt had a hard time living in the city, as Jack was not much of a famous person. He was a boxer, but he was mostly known for losing matches, more than winning. Jack fought for his son, as he loved Matt very much, and hearing what Mad had did broke his heart.
Father Lanton looked to the young boy, still wearing the nice smile he had when the two entered the church. "So, you didn't do anything wrong, Matthew?" He asked politely.
"No," Matt replied in an honest tone.
Lanton knew he was telling the truth, by the tone in his voice. "Then I suppose we can skip the confession. What happened?"
"Jack Andrews happened," Matt began to speak angrily, as he took a seat in a wooden bench inside. "He conned Ben Dillon out of his baseball cards! Ben isn't that bright, father, and Jack knows that. So I…" Matt sighed, with his fists clenched. "I got them back."
"Which were in his home, I assume?" The Priest asked.
"Yeah."
"But you were righting an injustice."
Matt looked to the priest with a small grin appearing on his face. "Exactly! Who cares if I broke the law? God would've wanted me to get those cards back for Ben!" He said.
The priest sighed, "'Render to caesar the things that are caesar's'."
"What?" Matt was confused as to what the priest just said to him.
Lanton sighed. "When jesus asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to caesar, that's how he responded. Caesar's face adorned the coins, so they were his. We move through two kingdoms, Matthew. The kingdom of god is paramount, but we have obligations in the material world as well. Rules of order to follow," He explained.
"I don't understand, father."
"You are a good boy, Matthew. And you did a good thing for your friend, with you righting an injustice. But man's laws are still man's laws," The priest replied in a sincere tone, and still with the smile on his face. "So you did one thing wrong, as far as I can see…" Lanton began to turn around, but his eyes still gazed at Matt. "You got caught," He said.
Matt's eyes widened, but he was still confused as to what the priest had meant by what he said. Those words still rung in Matt Murdock's ears even now as an adult. That meeting had occurred a week or so before he became blind. He tried to make his father proud, even after his passing, and became what he wanted Matt to become. He, with his friend Franklin, or as his friends, like Matt called him, Foggy Nelson started their own law firm in Hell's Kitchen. The city had never been the same since the emergence of people like Spider-Man, and more recently, The Fantastic Four. Matt walked down the streets of the city to meet with his friend and law partner at their new office. He couldn't see what was around him, but he didn't need to see to know the city is and has been suffering for years. The dust, and dirt seen in the night carried well into the daytime of the City. New York may have been known to be the city that never sleeps, but to some, that was a bad thing. Criminals may not be as active during the day, as they are during the night, but they were still prominent through the island of Manhattan, and spanned beyond to other islands. Matt could hear everything around him, from cars honking to people arguing, to more, but he ignored it.
Matt after minutes of walking and taking the subway arrived at the office. It was a small office building above a bodega blocks away from his apartment. He walked upstairs from one corridor to another, and opened the door into the office space. "About time," He heard Foggy's voice speak, as he saw his friend opening the door, and stepped inside their office. It was a small space, but smelled awful. Multiple boxes were scattered everywhere inside, as they had just bought the building, and had barely any time to unpack, seeing as they wanted to get started as lawyers right away.
Foggy soon noticed a small cut on the side of his friend's cheek, and one above his eye. "The hell happened to you?" He asked.
"Oh, I'm fine. Just fell last night," Matt said, with a small chuckle.
Foggy rolled his eyes at his friend's response. "Yeah. Next time, try not to play a video game requiring motion controls," He laughed.
Matt laughed with his friend, "Thought it would be fun at the time."
Matt was always much more calm and collective than Foggy was. They had met in college, and were roommates together, and had quickly grew to become best friends, as they studied to become lawyers. They were like brothers, with Matt being the more calm older one, while Foggy being the brash quippy little one. Both however had gone over their heads however, and had their ups and downs, but managed to get out of it. Though, if it's one thing Matt didn't like, it was how much Foggy had a tendency to eat junk food. He could smell many chemicals off of him, and it was horrible, and wished Foggy would take his advice and begin to eat better. Matt however began to sniff an aroma near them. "Are you cooking something?" He asked.
"Yeah. Just warming up Pop Tarts," Foggy replied.
"Why?" Matt asked.
"Because, I'm hungry...?" Foggy replied.
Matt chuckled, "Well, fair enough."
RING RING!
The two's conversation had to be cut short, as they heard their phone ring. Foggy quickly ran to the front desk in the center of the room to answer. They didn't have a secretary yet so it was just up to them to answer. "Hello?" Foggy answered with a bright smile.
"This Nelson and Murdock?" A woman on the other end of the line asked.
"That would be correct, ms…" Foggy paused, as he awaited the woman on the other end of the phone to respond.
"It's Karen. I interviewed there about a week ago?" She asked politely.
Suddenly, like a lightbulb, Foggy remembered her. He and Matt interviewed her for their secretary position sometime ago, and Matt very much liked all the answers she gave. He felt that she would be perfect for the job, but he wasn't sure about Foggy. However, she seemed like a shoe in, as barely anybody so far interviewed, and they were hoping to get a secretary rather soon to help them and their efforts in cleaning up New York. "Oh right. Yeah. Well, Ms. Page, I think me and my partner Matt," Foggy quickly glanced back at Matt, and quickly whispered. "You're cool with this, right?" He asked lowering the phone.
Matt merely nodded, with a smile.
Foggy smiled back, and put the phone back to his ear, "Well, you're hired!" He said. In truth, Foggy felt she was perfect as well as Matt was. They had both heard that she was a very hard worker, and was hoping to help make a difference in the city anyway she knew how to. They both loved her determination, and Foggy and Matt knew they just scored a good new employee. "You can start tomorrow."
"Awesome!" She smiled on the other end. "Looking forward to it, Mr. Nelson."
"Oh, please. Just call me Foggy," Foggy chuckled. She soon after nodding hung up the phone. Foggy and Matt were very much happy they had just scored a new employee very quickly.
"You guys are on a first name basis?" Matt asked.
Foggy rolled his eyes, "Hey now, Prince Charming, it's our business, so we can call each other whatever we want."
Matt nodded agreeing with his friend. This to him felt like the beginning of a very successful career, and wished his father could see what he became now.