A stormy dark night covered the sky over the kingdom of Vale. The lights of the buildings flickered amidst the harsh rain. Some of the buildings were coming apart from the constant battling between the police and the other forces. The only lights that stood against the darkness were those highlights that were used to illuminate the sky. Some patrols drove by the street at high speed through the rain chasing another car and some other cars kept on going their own way.
On top of a tall dark building stood a lone figure. Sitting amongst the large gargoyles was a man dressed in black. The man wore a black armored suit that resembled an aviator's jacket black pants, black leather gloves, a utility belt with two twin semi-automatic pistols with spiked butts, black combat boots. All that underneath a black cape with red inside. His head and face were covered by a black mask with aviator goggles and a black fedora. But amongst all of those things the most iconic piece was the long red scarf that was wrapped around his lower face.
This man was The Shadow.
The rain poured on him but it was like it didn't bother him. If anything The Shadow sat there like a guarding dark knight.
"The kingdom of Vale. Some call it the best of the four kingdoms, but those people don't know a damn thing. No place is perfect, I learned this at a very early age. It has been fifteen years since that day, and I still feel like it's just one day ago. The day I lost a big part of my little world. Growing up kids are told that the world is a wonderful place being protected by the Huntsmen. Lies. Even now after all this time I can still remember that night, the night when it all began."
It was a bright day as a young boy ran around a big house. He wore a white shirt and a pair of brown shorts. He had black hair and green eyes and played around like there was no ill in the world.
"Lamont, don't go around the house without telling me!" called out a voice
The young boy, named Lamont, looked up and saw his father walking towards him wearing blue polo shirt, dark blue pants, and blue shoes. He had short black hair and a pair of glasses on his face.
"But dad, come on that's what makes it fun." said Lamont before his father held his hand.
"I know that. But dinner is ready, and uncle Arron made it back in time." said the father
"Really? I thought he'd be working late tonight?" asked Lamont as they walked to the dinner.
They made it to the dinner where a tall man with a shaved head and a mustache. He wore a black t-shirt, a cargo pants, combat boots, and had a red scarf wrapped around his right arm.
"Hey Michelangelo, I see you found the little rascal. Hey Lamont, how you've been?" asked Arron as he shuffled Lamont's hair. "I still can't believe you gave the kid such a lame name."
The now named Michelangelo rolled his eyes at his brother's comment.
"This was my family. It was small but I loved them regardless. My father worked with my grandfather at the family newspaper, Pulp News. My uncle Arron worked as a private detective but also did some odd jobs around the kingdom. The problems of the world were nothing but a far away storm."
All three of them sat down on a table and began eating their pizza. Sadly the grandfather would be caught in the middle of some work and wouldn't be joining them.
"So, Lamont, what do you want to be when you grow up?" asked Arron
"Arron, he's still a little young for that. He still needs to go to college." said Michelangelo
"I want to become a Huntsman. They are so cool and awesome. Who wouldn't want to be a legendary hero like them? Like in all those stories and legends." said Lamont
Both Arron and Michelangelo shared a nasty look, obviously not agreeing with the young man's claim.
"Son, you do know that all those are just legends right?" asked Michelangelo
"Oh come on dad, people can be that good right?" asked Lamont
"Yeah, there are good people but there are a lot of bad guys out there. Life isn't a fairy tale." said Michelangelo
Lamont only grunted in disagreement.
"Listen to your old man Lam, life isn't always black and white. You just have to do what you can, and who knows, maybe you'll make a difference." said Arron causing Lamont to smile widely.
Just then a door opened up and an old voice called out.
"I can't believe you guys started out without me? I hope you saved me some." said the voice.
"Grandpa!" called Lamont before going to the door.
"Yes, troubles seemed very far away. But just because troubles seem far away, it doesn't mean that they won't come your way."
The world turned black as a pair of flashing red and blue lights brought a new world into view. The day was stormy and rain poured through the streets.
A pair of officers had arrived at their front door with bad news.
Right next to the young boy was an elderly man that looked to be in his fifties. He wore a black buttoned up shirt, caky pants and brown shoes. This was Bruce Cranston, the head of the Cranston family.
"Gentlemen, explain to me what happened?" asked the elderly man.
"It appears that your son and his brother where found in a car crash, forgot to put on their seat belts." said the officer
"What are you talking about?" asked Bruce
"They are both dead sir." said the officer
Lamont Cranston's world had been shattered into a million pieces.
"How did this happened? How could it happen?" asked the young boy as tears began to swell.
"Lamont, son." said the elderly man kneeling next to the boy.
Two days later the funeral had taken place and a few people were paying their respects to the family. Lamont stood face to face with the grave stones. His father's was next to his mother and his uncle's laid next to their's.
In his father's gravestone it read; Michelangelo Cranston, beloved son and father rest in peace.
In his mother's gravestone it read; Margo Cranston, beloved mother and devoted wife, rest in peace.
In his uncle's gravestone it read; Arron Cranston, beloved son and uncle, rest in peace.
Young Lamont's heart laid in pieces. First his mother had died before he could ever meet her and now his father and uncle had died by an accident. That last part truly confused Lamont. His father and uncle always told him to put on his seatbelt whenever he entered a car and they did as much as they preached.
"Lamont. Do you want to go home?" asked Bruce appearing next to the young boy.
"They always drove carefully. Even uncle Arron didn't drive recklessly. They'd never forget to put on their seatbelts. This doesn't make any sense." said Lamont
Bruce looked sadly at his grandson and then kneeled next to him.
"Son, come with me." said Bruce as Lamont began to follow him.
Lamont followed his grandfather into the large home until they found themselves in a large studio. Bruce grabbed open one of the drawers of the large desk. From inside the drawer, Bruce pulled out a set of papers and records that read about several gangs and underground businesses.
"What is that?" asked Lamont
"This, was a case that your uncle and father were working on. Some shady operations and gang activity, drug rings and weapon smuggling. They had found out who were the corrupt agents and their leaders. The night of the accident they were going to expose all of this." said Bruce
"Why didn't they take this to the Huntsmen? They could've helped." said Lamont
"Lamont...They were working with Huntsmen and some of they were working for the people doing these things." said Bruce
The young boy couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. Huntsmen were Lamont's heroes and now his grandfather was telling him that they were responsible for the death of his father and uncle.
Tears began to swell on Lamont's eyes and a great anger began rising. It was almost as if he could a dark rage that went deeper than any other emotion he'd ever felt. Lamont was shaking in rage, at how unfair the world was.
Lamont began to cry as he ran out of the house. Lamont ran faster and faster through the forest until he reached the streets of Vale. Lamont looked around in search of the answers he wanted and needed more than anything.
"I wanted so badly to prove my grandfather wrong. I didn't care about anything else. What a fool I was. But it was what I needed to face."
Lamont ran through the streets until he found himself on one of the darker parts of the city.
Lamont saw a group of men loading up a large number of boxes into a truck. Not wanting to be seen by the men, Lamont hid behind some of the large metal trash cans as the men continued doing their thing. Just then one of the boxes fell down and broke open spilling several cases of illegal weapons and dust.
"Hey, careful with that! The buyers won't pay top dollar for dented goods! We already had trouble with that nosy reporter." said one of the men as two of the men picked up the spilled merchandise.
"What's going on there?" called a voice.
Lamont turned to see a pair of Huntsmen and a police officer. Lamont recognized the cop as the one that went to his home to tell him the horrible news.
The officer and the Huntsmen pulled out their guns and aimed them at the criminals.
"Alright creeps, you're under arrest for illegal smuggling of dust and weapons. Hands in the air or we'll open fire." said the officer
The criminals did as the officer told them.
Lamont smiled knowing that everything was going to be alright, but he was about to be proven wrong.
"Go call for reinforcements." said one of the Hunstmen
Just as the officer was about to call for back up to make the arrest, a blade came out from behind the officer's back. The blade had come from the weapon of the second Hunstman. The chilling sight of the officer spewing blood would haunt Lamont for a long time.
The huntsman pulled out his blade and the officer fell down dead.
"You guys are getting sloppy. This is the second time this week we clean up after you." said the Huntsman
"Whatever, you still get paid anyway." said one of the criminals as he pulled out a small stack of Lien and gave it to the Huntsman.
The group began laughing as they were still being paid by their work.
Lamont wanted to scream, this couldn't be happening. Huntsmen were supposed to keep the peace and protect the innocent not being paid off by a couple of criminals.
At that moment the criminals were dragging the body towards the trash cans. Lamont kept low as he tried to slip unnoticed but he accidentally knocked down one of the glass bottles shattering it.
"Who's out there?" called out the criminals
Lamont threw caution to the wind and began running as far as his legs would take him. The Huntsmen and the criminals saw this and quickly started their pursuit.
Lamont could hear his heart beating faster and faster, the fear of death and his ideals being shattered fueled the young man.
Lamont couldn't believe it, he didn't want to believe it. But what he saw proved what his grandfather had told him to be true. The world was just as dark as his grandfather had told him. As Lamont ran he began hearing things all around him, voices and dark thoughts about almost any and all forms of depravity.
"That night, it all began. That night Lamont Cranston died."
Lamont tripped and fell to the ground. The criminals and the rogue Huntsmen caught up to Lamont who tried to get away but to no avail. Lamont turned when he heard a gun cocking.
"Sorry kid, wrong place and the wrong time." said the rogue Huntsman with a wicked grin.
The trigger was slowly pressed as Lamont's fear turned to rage. And in a final attempt to fight the inevitable Lamont released a loud and defiant scream.
"NNNNOOOOOO!" screamed Lamont as the bullet flew at him and his eyes turned red.
"And the Shadow was born."
Everything laid still including the bullet. Everyone was frozen in place all except Lamont that looked straight at the bullet coming at him. Lamont's head was on fire as not only the criminals and the bullet were frozen but any and all people and animals in the neighborhood were frozen in place.
However, there was only one person that was immune to the paralyzing psychic wave. The sound of someone walking towards the scene grew louder and louder until Bruce appeared before Lamont.
"You gave me a scare back there son. I thought you'd be a little older before you'd be capable of this." said Bruce as he stood before Lamont.
"Grandpa? What's happening?" asked Lamont as Bruce grabbed the bullet out of the air.
"I'll tell you in a second. Let me take care of this scum." said Bruce as his tone grew darker and pulled a semi-automatic gun.
In the blink of an eye, the criminals were shot square in the head by Bruce just in time for their minds to be unclouded.
Lamont looked at his grandfather and saw how his eyes had turned red much like his.
"If you want to know more about our family, I can show you." said Bruce as he held out his hand.
A sense of fear came over him but something else took its place, rage. Lamont took his grandfather's hand, tiered of being afraid of the darkness.
"That night I was reborn in that gutter. I know the darkness that plagues this world. The lies about the kingdoms being safe and that the Huntsmen were great protectors. I will forever fight this war against the worst of humanity."
The Shadow looks upon the dark city and how the siren lights call him to action. The Shadow stood up and then disappeared amidst the darkness of the shadows.
"Who knows what evils lurk in the hearts of man?...The Shadow knows."
MWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA...
