Chapter 2
For much of the month, Gray survived like those around him, spending his days on the street among the people and his nights above them. Dressed fully in black with the mask pulled down over his face, leaving only a sliver open for his eyes, Gray sprinted across the roof then launched across the gap between the next rooftop. Remaining airborne till he was well over the edge, Gray broke the impact with a well-rehearsed roll. He skid to his knees, and remained crouched as he let his breath return to him again, though he could go on for hours straight without feeling winded. He was ready, Phase two had been active for the past few weeks and the payoff was exhilarating. It was a success, the victim was saved, a woman, no older than twenty-one, out late from work attacked on the way to her car. The punk went down fast and easy and Gray was hardly seen. He had been trained well. There were others like it, all similar scenarios; a single victim, preyed upon by one or two low-life thugs. It didn't matter to Gray what their motives were, they all went down the same. Now Gray was ready for a real challenge, a true test of everything he'd worked on for the past ten years. That night, the street answered his challenge. The crash of glass shattering had rung out to him a block down the road. A ringing alarm called out helplessly to the night. Gray crouched on the ledge of the roof next door, taking his time, watching and waiting for his moment. Finally the first of the group emerged from the jewelry. More followed, darkly dressed men hefting duffels loaded with jewels. Gray took note of their weaponry, one had a crowbar and two carried automatic hand guns, the other two seemed to be unarmed, but Gray knew anyone of them could be concealing anything under their jackets and hooded sweatshirts. The small band of burglars turned sharply down the alley to where their '74 Ford LTD awaited them. They were panicking, Gray could hear it in their voices.
"Come on, man, get it open!"
"Will you shut up!" Gray smirked as he waited only moments longer. With a group like this, he would try another weapon other than his fists. He leapt from the edge, reaching out and grappling the fire escape with his hands to the distance and soften his fall. Crouching low, he landed in the midst of the burglars.
"What the!" one of them exclaimed.
"Who's this clown?" another asked snidely. Gray scowled, this wasn't the affect he hoped for. The initial shock seemed to have worn away already and now the largest of the five made his move. Gray saw the twitch of movement as the burglar raised his gun but Gray was faster. Gray cast a shuriken with trained precision. The gun was knocked out of his hands, leaving only one more real threat in the group. Gray lashed out, grabbing the second gunman's hand and twisting it from his grip then following through with a punch. A cry of utter bewilderment sounded behind Gray. He kicked out, knocking the wind out from another burglar. The man with the crowbar made his approach, swinging down hard. Gray caught the bar with one gloved hand then dispatched the burglar with the opposite elbow. From out of nowhere, the fifth burglar lunged at him with a short switchblade. Gray redirected the blade then took him down hard and fast. As one of the burglars crawled, struggling to his feet, his hand rested on the cool metal of one of the discarded handguns. Gray just barely heard the scrape of the metal on the ground as the burglar leveled the gun and fired without a single thought. He felt a stinging, searing bite in his shoulder as the shot met its mark. Gray felt tiny drops of blood splash on his mask. Gritting his teeth, he kicked out behind him with a grunt before the burglar could fire a second shot. He crashed to the ground as the gun clattered away. Gray stood amongst the crumpled, unconscious forms of the burglars as he clutched the wound on his shoulder. He felt his strength slowly give way as the blood leaked through his fingers. Gray pulled off the mask from his bearded face and clumped it, pressing the cloth to his shoulder with as much pressure as he could muster. He slumped heavily against the side of the burglars' Ford as he steadied his breathing. Eyes to the ground, he spotted the dull shine of brass keys on a ring, abandoned in front of the driver's seat door. Scooping the keys in his hand, he fingered the correct one to the Ford. Gray worked the door open then slid into the driver's seat and shut the door. He placed the key into the ignition, ready to turn it but suddenly stopped. Resting his head back on the seat, he sighed deeply. Where could he go? He was bleeding out and needed medical attention. His sanctuary was no good, he couldn't treat this wound himself. Fighting to remain conscious, he weighed his options. He also couldn't risk going to a hospital, too many questions, all of which Gray was far from ready to answer. Yet one option remained. With another heavy sigh he decided, it was finally time.