Chapter 8 – Running With the Devil

I live my life like there's no tomorrow and all I've got, I had to steal. At least I don't need to beg or borrow.

I patrol the dark streets of this diseased city, with its heart screaming in pain for someone to rescue it. Someone with enough guts to tell all those with supposed power that they are as vulnerable, that someone must be vulnerable itself. Fully conscious of the dangers it must face to rescue the still aching heart.

That person must be a…Daredevil.

As this Daredevil, I go around alleyway to alleyway, rooftop to rooftop, thug to thug. But the thing that surprises my adversaries the most is that…I'm blind. Fully blind, no eyesight whatsoever.

But that's more of a gift than a liability, for I have sight beyond sight to say the least.

Grew up being taken care by my mother, never met my father. Ever since I was born, I've been blind. But my mother taught me how to feel…see the world without my eyes. To use the very ground to see, like a badgermole.

Tonight I head to visit someone…for there has been a crime in this city. And the criminal…

Republic City Police Department

"What do you mean Wong Fisk?" Chief Beifong asked as she dropped several documents on her desk as she spoke with the Daredevil in her office. He stood in the shadows; he looked at space as he held his battle pole. "You know what this man has given the city? He commissioned several cultural centers for the spirits' sake!"

"I'm not condemning his philanthropy work, Chief Beifong. I'm condemning his other line of work." Daredevil said as he stepped forward, his dark red suit clearly visible, his eyes were bright crimson like that of a spirit demon from the darkest depths of the Spirit World. "Like the paperwork says, he has been selling stolen munitions to the Agni Kais to annihilate the Triple Threats for months now."

"Look, I am well aware of Fisk's criminal allegations but I can't simply arrest him. Not just with this." Lin replied as she looked out her window and saw the full moon in the sky. "The fat man has more money than all the people in the city, only rivaled by Hiroshi Sato of Future Industries, Kuro Shinzou of Shinzou Enterprises. Even if we got him behind bars, he would buy his way out."

"That is what saddens me most about the legal system, Chief Beifong." Daredevil responded as he left grabbed a strange cup on the desk. "This cup…it feels strange."

"Leave that alone, its none of your business." Lin responded, making the vigilante leave the small cup back on the table. "I will make some of my detectives look into Fisk's contacts. But I have a job for you."

"What is it?" Daredevil asked.

"There has been a killer loose in the streets, aside from that Punisher fellow. This one…is not a serial killer per say but there had been several bodies found. The bodies of members of the Red Monsoons were found outside the limits of the city east."

"East? That's where the border with the Earth Kingdom is…and where the wilderness begins." Daredevil said. "Any markings on the bodies?"

"Claws, cuts all over their torsos. Apparently they were trying to dump a body but they were caught by something out there. Strange thing was that if couldn't have been a predator, there were no bite marks." Lin informed the vigilante. "My gut tells me that this thing is in the city now, find it and stop it before it hurts any of my city's citizens!"

"Will do." Daredevil nodded and jumped out of the office's window and into the streets outside.

Republic City Streets

Killings are escalating quickly. Fisk's goonies taking out people, the Punisher up to no good, and now this strange beast.

I head towards the Moon District; there I shall start my search. As I stick in the shadows, I look for any irregularities. It's late, so there shouldn't be that many people walking in the streets.

The frigid wind of winter strikes me and my body aches of coldness and tiredness. But the work of the Daredevil never ends, both in the streets and in the court room.

My senses detect someone or something sneaking through the alleyways, oddly enough is not big like I had believed it to be. It was at least five feet and three inches, barely taller than a twelve year old.

Nevertheless I follow this supposed beast, but once I get close enough I stealthily attack it. But to my surprise the short beast counter attacks and elbows me in the face.

"Ugh!" Daredevil grunted as he walked some steps away from the man-beast. He rubs his nose, blood.

"What ya tryin' to do bub? Attack me from behind? Funny." The man beast responded, his hair was long and pointy and his claws extended from his fists. They shined like the purest of metals.

"Human?" Daredevil asked as he avoided the man's berserker attacks swiftly. "You my savage beast?"

"Looks like it bub." The man replied as he kept swinging his metallic claws, cutting through the alley's bricked walls like butter. "Name's Lugaan but you may call me The Wolverine."

"You are not from around here huh?" Daredevil asked again as he kicked the Wolverine in head.

"Nope, been wandering the world since… I don't even remember." Wolverine responded as he nicked Daredevil's shoulder. "Tag, you're it."

"Your abilities are uncanny, but I believe we are on the same side." Daredevil said as he did a full-nelson on Wolverine, locking his arms with his so he wouldn't swing his claws. "Let's stop this fight in a draw."

"Not so smart are ya kid?" Wolverine asked as he smirked, he knocked Daredevil back with a headbutt…with the back of his head.

"Agh! Is your skull made of steel?!" Daredevil said as he rubbed his hurt forehead.

"Something like it, but you are right." Wolverine responded as he retracted his claws. "Not going to cause too much trouble fer ya and the police here. See ya."

"Wait." Daredevil said as he followed Wolverine into the street but he was gone.

This had been the strangest man I've ever seen since that kid I rescued from the Equalists. The kid's heart beat was different from normal people but this man…this man was like a wild animal. Wolverine…the ferocious animal.

Having discovered who my man-beast was I head back to my apartment. But as I do, I hear that the Avatar had challenged Amon to a private duel next week. A terrible mistake, from what I've seen his martial arts rival my own…he beats benders with ease.

I just hope that she has help, from that young man. Thor I think his name was, a warrior by nature, I felt in him.

I drop my cowl on my bed and take out my combat gloves. I hear the world around me, the sounds of people waking up and starting with their day as I end mine. For some reason I feel like this won't be the last time I cross paths with the Wolverine or Thor.

This is one of the few things I share in common with Lin Beifong…our guts never lie.