Chapter 1

Lightning crashed overhead, sparking the sky surrounding its glow. The Empire State building stood, uncaring about the harsh zig-zaged white lines the coated the dark midnight sky. Miles away a single, slim figure walked down the ghost town-like street, shivering from the cold air.

The wind kept tugging at the figures navy blue hood, pulling it back to reveal dark red hair pulled back in a rubber band and grass green eyes that darted around in alertness, sharp with anxiety. She cursed the wind under her breath pulling her messenger bag closer to herself.

'Its not even starting to rain and already I hate this storm', she thought to herself bitterly. In hopes for getting out of the rain she surveyed her surroundings for a short-cut home. Green eyes found a dim alley-way across the street. She hesitated for a second before darting over the street, making it to the supposed safe get-away from the wind.

She closed her eyes and sighed in remorse, leaning onto the wall behind her. "April Jones," she said to herself, eyes still closed. "-you have got to be more careful on nights like this. You`ll get sick in weather like this."

"Or youse`ill find yo' self in very un wantedings attention, eh Ms, 'Jones'." a voice near the front of the alley way said, mockingly followed by idiot laughter. Aprils eyes snapped open and started backing away slowly from the three men that stood at the entrance of the stared at them in anxiety, taking note of their makeshift weapons; a plank, a pole and a hockey stick.

' Casey would have a cow if he found out others were stealing his ideas of " outside security precautions" April thought smirking at the image.

"So," the one goon in the middle said, snapping her out of her thoughts. " are you going to give us the bag like a good little girl. Or' he dropped the hockey stick and reached into his back pocket brandishing a silver knife. " we gotta do this the hard way?"

April gulped and took a step back, yet still managed to sputter out " I-if you want it s-so b-bad, c-come and g-get it."

She immediately regretted her poor choice of words when the guy stepped forward, smirking gleefully at her nervous movements. " That works for me..." he muttered taking another step forward, he`s friends quickly following suit.

"Works for me, too." a new, practically flat-toned voice said calmly. Suddenly a thin, dark shadow flashed in April`s eyes from the left. There was then a slim dark figure in front of her, blocking her view of the goons.

"W-who the heck are you?" the guy bearing the pole hissed nervously. The figure paused before shrugging and stated " The Shadow." They said calmly before 'Shadow' lunged at the guy with the knife. In a panic the guy struck out with the knife, effectively striking the figures upper leg. The figure grunted in pain before grabbing the knife and striking the top of his head, knocking him out at once. Once he was down April watched in awe as the figure grabbed the last two by the shoulders and effectively causing them to fall to the ground passed out. ' Shadow' crouched over growling in anger while clutching they`re leg in pain. April barely registered the police sirens that were becoming louder by the minute.

"Thanks." she said wearily. The figures head snapped up and whirled around to stare at her. April gasped at the sight. A dark black sleek suit covered the figures slim figure. Blood dripped from the wound on they`re leg, the rain barely masking the scent of blood. A black hood clung to the figures head, a piece covering the nose and mouth. Blue and red lights started to coat the wall near April, but she ignored them entirely.

"Do you need to... leave now or... do you want some help?'' April asked calmly taking a step forward ignoring the wince from her savior. When there was no reply she went in a different direction. " What`s your name?"

The figure suddenly reached behind themself grabbing a circuler object. Before April could react they threw the gas bomb at her feet. After a moment the smoke cleared revealing no one there, but a single sheet of paper flouted down to the ground.

Just as the police came into her view April grabbed the note and read the six words on the paper... after a moment she smiled :

Shadow- Always watching and always there.

Above her lightning crashed over a head sparking the sky the shadow of a dark silhouette. There one lightning strike... gone the next.

A.N. …. Review? Please?