Chapter One: Message of Mystery

Reed Richards was a very busy man. He had a machine to be completed for the government by Friday that he hadn't even started on, new advanced equipment for the team that was in need of testing, an idea to better his friend's life that he needed to do something about before it was forgotten, and these were just the things at the top of his seemingly endless list. So why did this mysterious psycho who he had never heard of before have to choose now to put his disturbing plan into action? Reed sighed as he took the dreaded message from the spot where he had placed it since finding moments ago at the site of the latest problem in the city, which had evidently been a set up, and went to discuss its' contents with the rest of the Fantastic Four.

He entered what he supposed could be considered the 'living room' of the Baxter Building finding Sue, Ben, and Johnny, his family, busying themselves in ways that reflected how vastly different they all were. His best friend's rocky exterior sat sprawled out on the couch, his large feet resting on the table, watching a football game that he yelled at every so often, while his brother-in-law pressed the buttons on a hand held video game determined to beat his old high score, and his beautiful wife wrote something he assumed was work related into a notebook. It was a rare peaceful afternoon that he would have to interrupt despite how much he yearned not to do so.

Clearing his throat was all it took to bring all eyes from what they were focused on to Reed. Sue looked up from her notebook, Ben turned the volume down looking away from the TV, and Johnny pressed the pause button on his game. This was the power of being a leader, although Reed had never wanted to be one. He was much more content to sit back and let others take charge a luxury which, as Mr. Fantastic, he no longer had.

"I'm afraid we have a message," he told them before reading aloud:

Hello Gentlemen and Lady!

How are you this fine, fine day? If you're reading this then I'm absolutely terrific, but if you're not then I still am because that means some blood gets to be spilled today at 2 o'clock! And, you know, I have a thing for blood spilling!

There is a grand opening to the new Howards and Tysons Co. and hundreds of people are going to be there. You must know where it is because it's right across the street from where you found this very message. If you aren't there when they cut the ribbon, then I can assure you no one who attended the opening will be going home alive. So be there or beware! Ha-ha-ha!

Love,

M.O.M

A.K.A. Man of Mystery

After he finished 'reeding' Reed looked up to see the disturbed faces of his team. "He's crazy," Johnny commented after a moment of silence. "You bet he's crazy, 'M.O.M.'? You gotta be kiddin' me!" Ben scoffed. "I know it sounds insane, but for the sake of those people, we have to go to that opening," Reed said. Four pairs of eyes turned toward a clock on the wall. They had less than a half an hour…