Chapter 3: Streets of Rage

It was well into the night, and well past the hour for anyone to be out on the street. Side Town was bad enough during the day. Things only went downhill when night time came about. Sirens of all kinds cut through the night air. The occasional gunshot. A brick through the window. All familiar background noise in the town. And it was in this run down place that a man, who's memory had been all but lost, was to start anew.

His legs were weak, barely keeping him upright as they struggled to carry him down the stairs. The landlord was gone now and did not notice his passing. Jason approached the rickety old door with arms wrapped over his chest and widened eyes. The thin piece of wood was the last thing between himself and the outside world. The building was strange enough, but basic human curiosity washed over the man again again. A pale and shaky hand, encased in the same gloves, lifted itself from the safety of Jason's chest and nudged open the door. He took one step into the unknown and marvelled at the view around him.

Broken down buildings, uneven streets, cracked pavement slabs, a racoon's paradise of garbage at every corner. But this wasn't the main point of Jason's interest. His gaze was fixed squarely skywards. Tiny droplets of water fell onto his face and stung at his unblinking eyes. And for that small moment he felt as if all the troubles of the world were being swept away. For the first time he actually felt a sense of calmness. The chilling water ran a slalom down his face and hair. He could specifically define what he was feeling, but it clearly soothed the man.

Soon enough, that same curiosity overwhelmed him once more. Jason began to timidly shuffle along the pavement, passing by an assortment of yet more garbage, homeless people, savaging animals and a whole variety of shady characters. All of which donated greatly to Jason's fascination. This town, which to others would seem rundown and rancid, was something of a marvel to this person. He knew no better than this town, and had no idea of what a "normal" life was. These new sights were forming what must be normal to him.

Jason was soon out of eye-shot of his building, but continued on regardless, wide-eyed and jaw dropped. Even the smell of decaying garbage, and possibly animal corpses, could not overcome his wonder. Nothing phased the man. Panhandlers would approach and beg, yet all they got was a bemused smile and confused look. Maybe even a stifled chuckle. Any other person and the beggars would react quite viciously, but so odd was this man that they thought it best not to. However, his almost childish adventuring wouldn't last much longer. One turn can bring up many interesting things in Side-Town, none of them good. Tonight would be no different.

Rounding a corner and walking on just a little more, Jason found himself walking behind a row of commercial stores and rundown diners. Alleyways branched off in between the buildings and it was down one these dank alleyways that an all too common sound burst out. A young girl screaming. In just one second, the man's smile was swept away as he stumbled across the scene of five men, all dressed in an assortment of scruffy clothing, besetting a young girl while an unconscious man sat limply against a wall. Laughter and jeers mixed with the sound of struggle and fear.

"Oh-hooo! Looks like we got ourselves a feisty one ta'day boys!" one taunted as he made a grab for the girl.

"You best be keeping' quiet and forgettin' 'bout daddy lil' missy," started another "'Cause once we's done with you, an' he's had at watched, we're gonna finish him off!"

"Yeah yeah yeah! You got nowhere to run!"

The man's stomach twisted and his whole body began to shake. It was uncontrollable. Something was building up that he couldn't explain. His thoughts became clouded and he could think of only one thing.

Kill...

With gritted teeth and glaring eyes Jason flexed his hands, the gloves creaking slightly as he did so. He hadn't even noticed the fact that his feet had begun to move of their own accord. He found himself just a few feet away now, blue sparks flicking from his gloves. One of the men finally noticed him and turned to face the intruder.

"'Ey! What you doin' here kid? Get outta here before we gut you too!"

"Help! Please, God help!" cried the young girl from amongst the group.

"Yo, Billy Boy, deal with this joker."

Billy Boy nodded and flicked out his switchblade as he approached the man, a cruel smile to counter his prey's glare. The criminal let out a shrill laugh as he lunged. But his pre-emptive strike was cut out. His outstretched arm became trapped in a grip that suggested it could apply more pressure if need be. One twist and Billy dropped his knife. Another hand grasped his side and the man suddenly found himself colliding face first with a wall. He bounced off and onto the floor. Before he could even come around, the sound of electricity ripped through the air and in turn his chest. And thus ended Billy Boy's life. The rest of the group looked on in abstract horror, including the young girl.

"Holy fuckin' shit!" cried one "Billy!"

"Get this motha and teach him a thing or two 'bout messin' with us!" shouted their apparent leader.

Two more came at him, up in arms over their friend's demise. One armed with a lead pipe, the other an iron chain. But they too fell. The pipe was swung once, and then again. The first was dodged and the next ducked. A two hands shot forward, grabbing both the pipe and the man's neck. The same grip that had caught Billy now closed in around the man's neck. He struggled of course, kicking, punching and gasping for air. His friend came to aid, lashing fiercely with his chain, but to little avail. Bone's collapsed under the iron hand and another life faded. All attention fell upon the man with his chain, the previous victim being tossed aside like garbage.

"You bastard!" roared the defiant chain swinger as he lashed out again.

Their assailant caught the chain mid-flight and allowed it to wrap around his hand. He was now free to pull his prey forward and deliver a shattering punch to the face. Both man and chain dropped to the ground. The crazed saviour now looked to the remaining two, stepping past his previous opponent, making sure to crush his skull as he did so. One very smartly gave way to fear, dropped his weapon and turned tail.

"Screw this! You guys ain't worth dyin' ova'!"

"'Ey! Fuckin' coward. Get back 'ere!"

The leader had turned his attention away for just a second and already found that his attacker was face-to-face upon turning back. No words passed from the killer, only a look of intense hatred. The gang's leader spat at his eyes, but they remained unblinking.

"Fuck you man!" he drew a fist back, ready to send his own punch, but it too was caught, twisted and rendered useless.

The last thing he saw was electricity charging around the man's hand as it burst through his ribcage, tore up his innards and cut right through to the other side. He grabbed the man's shoulder and looked at him wide-eyed and confused. No human should be that strong. He managed only a few last blood filled coughs before becoming limp.

Jason let him fall to the ground and surveyed his handiwork. A job well done. The burning desire to kill faded gradually and his mind calmed. He turned to look at the girl, who immediately huddled away. She looked directly into his eyes and noted just how lifeless they were, as if the man didn't fully realise the gravity of his actions that night. A glove encased hand reached out for her and she whimpered.

"Please, no!" the girl shrieked "D-d-don't kill me!"

The hand jerked away and retracted back to Jason's side, a confused look written across his face. The confusion had lost its previous childishness. It looked almost sorrowful, yet the eyes remained empty unaware of how they should react. The girl now hung tightly onto the unconscious man again, who was just about coming about.

"Clara?" he murmured.

"Daddy! Help me!" she cried. The man surveyed the area. All he saw was four mangled corpses and a blood soaked culprit "Y-you! Get away from us you sick mother fucker. Leave my daughter alone! Help! HELP!"

These words hit harder than any of the criminal's attacks had. Jason staggered back away from the two. He began shuffling away, looking at the two as they each continued to shout out. Soon he was off into a full sprint down one of the other alleyways, tearing through garbage and discarded boxes. He couldn't tell how long he ran for, just that he kept running until he couldn't hear any shouting. When Jason had finally calmed down, he staggered up against a wall and collapsed down onto the floor and curled his legs up to his chin as before, the rain still pounding down onto him.

There was no wonder or curiosity anymore. Everything seemed so dark and unforgiving now. A number of strange feelings emerged, built up and then subsided in his body along with the occasional convulsion.

What are these?

******

Morning dawned. The crisp air was fresh and renewed, even within the cesspit that is Side-Town. It seemed to bring new dreams and hopes, whether they be false, fanciful or true mattered not. Morning also brought safety with it and the less corrupt citizens of the town were free to move around with relative ease and go about their business. It was like any other day, full of its own share of pain, sorrow and murders. Murders and attacks never usually generated much attention any more, maybe just a short mention in the papers and a "How unfortunate" from most people.

However, this new day's murder had a twist to it. Not so much the people who had died, or the condition of their bodies, but the two eye-witness accounts of a "blue electrical demon". The young girl and man had once again been beset upon, but this time by an army of news reporters who fought to ask questions to the two. A small group of police officers struggled in vain to get their witnesses through and the interview went on. They could only describe the murderer as a vicious dark figure with blue glowing hands. Tests found the alley to have a high charge of electricity and officials were dumbfounded when it came to explaining the cause.

Though they didn't know it, their suspect led just two blocks away in a similar alley curled up into the fettle position. He had weathered the storm of rain and remained outside. Though he was now entirely drenched. The water had helped to wash away most of the blood however. Jason stirred with a jump and found a familiar person standing just a few feet away from him.

"How are you feeling Jason?" Andy asked.

"...How did you find me?" he replied.

"Your little scuffle is all the news Jason," Andy started "I got a look in myself, and I've got to say...great job."

Andy's expression as quite dark. A far cry from the friendly old man he had appeared to be last night. He now stood with a stone-set expression and arms folded across his chest.

"You wanted to know why I brought you here? Who you are? What your purpose is?"

Jason was too staggered to answer any of these questions.

"Well...this was why. Jason. I brought you here to help. You are a...how should I say it? A Guardian. You must protect the people from others like those men last night, by whatever means necessary. Do you understand?"

"Bu...but...what about my past? My memories?!" Jason interjected.

"I will help you find out Jason. Over time, you will regain yourself. You will come to realise who you were and who you now are," Andy turned away slightly and shifted about "It won't be easy, and you may have to...kill many more people. But let me assure you that each and everyone single one of them deserves it. We'll talk more on the way back. Get up."

"...Andy-"

"Come on. We have work to do."

End