CHAPTER ONE: Previously

My name is Reed Richards. Once upon a time, I was the leader of the Fantastic Four. Now I am alone. I must now face my deepest fears. As some of you may know, Victor van Damme was once my trusted partner. But, even he kept dark secrets from me.

Victor was the heir to the throne in the mysterious country known as Latveria. I once went there on a mission to stop Victor from conducting experiments on my friends.

Over the past few months, I have had to face many desperate decisions, and events.

The death of Franklin Storm (who died of brain cancer), the murder of General Ross (Blown up by the murderous Colonel Wraith), and the assault of my girlfriend, Sue Storm, at the hands of Victor.

I am trying to come to terms with what Victor did to the woman I love, but now, her brother, Johnny, blames me for everything that happens to Sue, and I've had to move out of their house, and into the house of my friend: Ben Grimm (The Thing).

Recently, I left the Fantastic Four to pursue a year of soul-searching, but disaster struck there too. The Ultimates began to aid my team, and Dr. Henry Pym started seeing Sue. Upon my return, I had planned to propose to Sue, but Pym shattered my dreams.

Finally, Sue decided to leave Pym, and she has begged my forgiveness, I have come back to her, and on our first night together (ever!) she was kidnapped by Victor, and taken to Latveria, as a hostage!

Johnny Storm sped through the sky at 300 miles an hour, and approached the shadowy Baxter Building. The flame surrounding his body was a dark red, and his eyes glowed with orange.

As, Johnny walked into the dark Baxter floor, he found himself trapped in a dark spiral of wires and knives.

Johnny fell to the floor, and felt a sharp stabbing in his lower stomach, a knife had found it's way inside him, and now Johnny was struggling for breath.

Johnny looked up, and in front of him stood a dark figure. A figure of DOOM!

Next time: As Ben Grimm is captured by Doctor Doom, Reed Richards tries to work out the truth, and heads to Latveria for the final showdown.