Chapter 3: Paradiso.

-Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters-

In a mansion-like building in another part of New England, a bald man in a wheelchair was at work, looking for something. He was sitting in front of a large computer of sorts, which he was connected to with a mental interface.

A few seconds later, an image of the boy appeared along with general information about him, and newspaper articles of five other murders that occurred in the same area where he was, all having one thing in common: The image of a crow being drawn in blood or fire at the crime scene, and all the victims being suspects in the murder of a couple in which the wife was raped and murdered, the husband was killed, and the son barely made it out alive.

"New mutant found. Name: Eric Draven. Age: Seventeen. Residence: Hell's Kitchen, New York. Suspected powers: Psychopompe." The machine said.

"Oh my. That's quite a gift he has." The man mused. 'Jean, Scott, I have a mission for you both.' He told them telepathically. A few minutes after this message was sent, two teenagers walked in.

One was a boy with brown hair and brown eyes that were obstructed by a pair of ruby red sunglasses. The second was a beautiful young woman with red hair, green eyes, and a very sexy figure. (With a pair of DD-cup breasts for those of you who are curious).

"What's up, Professor?" The girl asked.

"What's the mission?" The shaded teen asked.

"Cerebro has just picked up a new mutant signature. One that belongs to a boy who's powers make him a Psychopomp." The man explained.

"Whoa, hold on, did you say psychopath?" The boy questioned.

"Psychopomp, Scott. They're like the go-betweens for deities of the dead, they bring the souls of the dead to the underworld. Ya know, like a grim reaper." The girl explained.

"Oh, my bad." Scott said sheepishly before composing himself. "Are we going after him?" He asked.

"Yes, if I'm reading these most recent reports right he's already used his powers to kill at least five of a seven man group responsible for his parents death." The man explained. "So we must find him before he can kill the last two." He added.

"If he hasn't already, you mean." Scott states.

"Correct. That's why we need to move fast." Xavier nodded.

However, before anything else could be done, Cerebro suddenly started sounding another alarm.

"Another one so fast?" The bald telepath blinked in surprise as he had a look into who was found this time.

"New mutant found. Name: Darryl Albrecht. Age 18. Residence: Hell's Kitchen, New York. Powers: X-Ray vision, thermal vision, infrared vision, night vision, telescopic vision, photographic muscle memory." The machine reported.

"Same area. Think they know each other?" Scott wondered.

"It could be possible." Jean nodded thoughtfully.

"Hmmm." Xavier hummed before he concentrated again. "Storm. Can you travel to Hell's Kitchen to investigate a new mutant?" He questioned telepathically.

"Of course. Where are they located?" The weather witch asked in reply.

"Hell's Kitchen, New York." The telepath replied.

"I'll leave as soon as possible." The woman nodded as the communication ended.

"I've tasked Storm with finding our second mutant." Xavier told his two students. "Let us be off." He added as he wheeled out of the room.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, at about the same time, Sarah woke up in her living room after having fallen asleep there, and soon noticed that she now had a blanket draped over her and–most peculiarly enough–her mother was fixing breakfast.

This made her blink in surprise and confusion. Seriously, one night, her mom was a druggie that was sleeping around, and now, rather abruptly, she's making breakfast like none of what she did before happened.

Was she still asleep and dreaming this up?

"Oh, you're awake?" Darla said as she kept cooking. "Do you like your eggs up or easy? I can't remember." She questioned as the girl got up.

"I don't like eggs." The new teen replied as she walked up to the table.

"I thought you did?" The woman asked, sounding dismayed.

"Yeah, when I was little." Sarah stated.

"... Forget it." Darla groaned as she moved to put the eggs in the trash. "I was never really any good with this mommy shit." She lamented.

"No, wait." The girl said as she stopped her. "Over easy, that's how I like them." She added before the food could be disposed of.

"... Thanks for reminding me." Darla sighed with a smile as she resumed her work on the eggs.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, at the Albrecht house, Darryl was currently bringing in some donuts from the shop down the road as his parents watched the news about the various murders that had been occurring over the course of the days leading up to Devil's Night–murders all performed by an entity the media dubbed The Crow.

"Have you actually seen him?" His mother questioned.

"I have, but the problem with that is: he's wearing the face of a teen who died a year ago." Darryl sighed in reply.

"You aren't joking at a time like this, are you my son?" His father questioned.

"No I'm not. I know what I saw; Hell, he even got into the apartment because he figured out I was with his mother and girlfriend up to when they died." The teen revealed, startling them.

"He didn't try to hurt you, did he?" The patriarch of the house asked in concern.

"No, but he did look through my memories and find out about my powers." The Seer replied.

"Is he a mutant like you?" Frieda asked.

"Hard to say. I think so, but I can't say for certain." The boy replied.

"Because of present circumstances fogging things up?" Roman guessed.

"Exactly." The teen nodded. Right at that moment, there was a knock on the front door.

"Now who could that be?" Frieda questioned as her son stood up and opened the door.

And when he did, his eyes widened as he beheld someone who was probably the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his entire life.

'Cloud white hair, dark blue eyes, deeply dark and supple ebony skin, and a body that somehow surpasses Sofiya… She looks amazing!' He thought, managing to contain his awe.

"Hello. I came here to speak with you about a specific matter." The weather witch told him.

"That voice… Ororo, is that you?!" Roman gasped, walking to the door and seeing her. The woman also looked surprised to see a familiar face.

"You know each other?" His son asked as he allowed the woman to enter their home.

"Yes. She used to be married to Prince T'Challa, so everyone knows her, even after they went their separate ways." Roman explained as he let the woman take a seat.

"The prince and I desired different things, these could not be reconciled, so we decided that the best thing was to separate." Ororo nodded. "But I did not come to rehash old Wakandan affairs." She continued. "I have come to see young Darryl on behalf of my employer and dear friend Charles Xavier; Headmaster and Founder of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters." She continued.

"Oh, so you found out about my powers." The teen noted. "Let me guess: I'm being offered a place there?" He questioned.

"That is correct, but know that whether you take that place is entirely if you wish to join by your own free will." The weather goddess explained. "The institute is not in the habit of forcing or coercing those we approach into joining–nor will we ever be." She added.

"Well, my powers are rather subtle in what they are, so all things considered, I may not exactly need it." Darryl mused. "But if I want to find their limits properly, I'll need this, and finding out in a controlled environment is preferable." He considered. "Alright, I'll go, but not until after the crimes happening here are addressed." He told the woman.

"Fair enough." Ororo nodded in reply.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, back with Sarah, the girl was attempting to get into the Draven's now condemned apartment building, where she saw that the door was open, and a recently used fireplace, with burnt letters and pictures in it.

"Okay, somebody was definitely here. Hopefully it was Eric." She muttered as she looked around. "... I know it was you who saved me, Eric. If you can hear me." She said to no one in particular. "I know you're here, and I know you're back. And that you didn't even bother to come see me…" She continued before sighing, running her hands through her hair. "What am I even saying? I bet you don't even care…" She sighed.

Right as she was about to leave, though…

"I do care, Sarah." Eric said, appearing behind her in the sunlight that was shining at the moment and letting her see his shadow.

"Eric!" The blonde gasped as she ran to him, jumping into his arms as he hugged her tight.

"Somebody missed me." He remarked with a chuckle.

"You were dead, what did you think was gonna happen?!" The girl retorted, refusing to let go of him.

"I don't think it matters." The boy replied as he continued to hug her.

"I didn't expect the story I heard about crows to be real." Sarah told him, just enjoying the hug.

"Neither did I, but I have a chance to deal with the asshats that killed me." Eric sighed in agreement. "And now I'm going to finish what I started." He added, looking out the window.

"Just be careful." The new teen told him, not wanting him to get killed before he could wrap up his business.

"Top Dollar and his mob are the ones that need to be careful." The gothic musician told her in reply.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, back with Top Dollar and his gang, Skank was currently trying to explain what happened to T-Bird. It was all the same tale the man had heard before, but he quickly perked up when he heard the name Magneto be mentioned.

That was a name he was familiar with.

"It's been a while since I heard Magneto's name." TD mused.

"Yeah. He may hate humans, but he knows how to do business." Grange nodded in agreement.

"Only does business with us cuz of my uncle Wilson's marriage to one of his kin, Typhoid Mary." TD nodded. "But what would the Master of Magnetism want with a guy brought back from the dead? He's a shade, not a mutant." He mused.

"I-I don't know, but the guy didn't seem to like what the kid said to him!" Skank stuttered.

"What exactly did he say?" TD questioned.

"I didn't get the full thing, but I caught a bit that compared Magento to the Nazis." The thug replied, causing the mob boss and his second in command to wince.

"That would do it." The long haired man nodded. "Dude's Jewish, that'd be like comparing Malcolm X to the Klan." He added, getting a whistle from Grange.

"He's got balls, for a kid." He nodded.

"Yeah, then the guy went off to who-knows-where." Shank finished before he started panicking. "Oh man, I'm next! He's gonna kill my sorry ass next!" He wailed.

"Calm down, Skank, we let anything happen to ya." TD told him as he patted the man on the cheek. "It's like my uncle Fisk always said, a man's nothing without his people." He added, turning to Grange. "Get him patched up." He told the man.

"Got it." The man nodded as he too Shank to get his wounds addressed.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, back with Sarah, she was having another hotdog at the usual spot when Darryl pulled up, only this time he wasn't alone. With him were Scott, Jean, Ororo and Xavier, who had all ridden in the bald telepath's Rolls-Royce.

"You take onions on your hotdogs or no?" The seer asked as he sat down.

"I prefer mine without." Scott replied.

"I like a small amount." Jean added her two cents.

"When someone's dead, they can't come back, can they?" Sarah asked, ignoring the banter and looking at Darryl.

"Used to think so." The young man shrugged with a sigh. "Now I'm not so sure." He added.

"What are you two talking about?" Ororo asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Someone that died a year ago came back to life recently, and he's out for the blood of the people who killed him, his girlfriend and his parents." The Seer replied.

"You're referring to Eric Draven, are you not?" Xavier questioned, rolling up to them.

"How do you…?" Sarah questioned.

"He's like me." The Seer told the blonde, and she instantly knew what he meant.

"What kind?" She asked, looking at the bald man.

"Telepathy." Charles replied, tapping his head. "I am Charles Xavier, I run a school for gifted youngsters like your friends." He explained. "These are my colleagues, Ororo Munroe, Scott Summers and Jean Grey." He added, gesturing to his companions.

"Well, ya picked a dark time to visit." Sarah remarked.

"So we've heard." Scott shrugged.

"But is getting revenge for what happened really the best solution?" Jean asked with a frown.

"You're not the one who died." Darryl told her. "Death leaves a mark on everyone, especially the soul that dies. He knows who killed him, his girl and his family, and he wants to return that feeling of death." He added.

"And he's not gonna stop until he puts every last one of them in the ground." Sarah added nonchalantly as she sipped on her soda.

"The way she says it so nonchalantly is unsettling." Scott whispered.

"Agreed." Jean replied quietly with a nod.

"How do we even find who we're looking for?" The weather witch wondered.

"Knowing him, he'll make it clear where he is when he wants us to know." Darryl told her in reply.

(Elsewhere)

As night fell, Top Dollar was now in the process of having a meeting with his constituents about his plans for the year's Devil Night, as well as his plans to deal with the threat to their business known as The Crow.

"Gentlemen, there comes a time in a man's life when he has an idea." He began. "The idea gains traction, attracts more like minded people, and then becomes… An institution." He continued. "Gentlemen, Devil's Night, our night. Has become that institution. So much so that some greedy motherfuckers have started making Devil's Night greeting cards, you believe that?!" He laughed.

"That's no reason to quit." One of the men commented.

"No, that's a good reason to quit." TD corrected. "The best reason, even." He continued. "So, what I want to do here is crank things up a notch." He added further. "Greed is for suckers. Disorder, anarchy, that's what I want." He continued. "I want us to make such a big fire tonight that the gods will notice us again." He added. "I want you to look me straight in the eye and say, ARE WE HAVING FUN OR WHAT?!" He yelled.

He then grabbed Skank by the collar.

"What about you, Skank, how ya feelin'?" The man asked, grinning like a mad man.

"Like a little worm on a big fuckin' hook!" Skank gulped, causing everyone to laugh.

"Like a little worm on a big fuckin' hook, you hear that?" TD howled.

His people clapped and cheered at their boss's plan, already looking forward to it. However, unknown to them, Eric was listening in from a fire escape. Deciding now was a great time to strike, he made his presence known.

First, he had Edgar fly in first and spook Skank as he landed on the table, before he started walking in, using his Crow vision to mark his enemies and targets.

"How the hell'd that thing get in here?" TD questioned.

Then, while silently entering through an open window, he did his signature death whistle, causing the gathered people to shiver at the sound of it.

"Gentlemen." The psychopomp as he walked into the room.

Immediately, everyone had their guns pointed at him, but he wasn't fazed by this as he sat on the table.

"You have someone I want." He told them, looking directly at Skank, who whimpered in fear.

"Well, too bad. Ya can have 'im, Crow." TD told him. "Ya know, you've been causing me a lot of trouble." He continued. "Now, normally, I'd deal with problems my own way." He elaborated, rolling a bullet between his fingers. "But it seems to me that you fall under the purview of a superhuman problem. And unfortunately, I don't have guys for that." He admitted. "But I do know someone who does." He added.

"Oh really? Who?" Eric questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Family connection, courtesy of Fiske Enterprises." TD replied before he snapped his fingers and then a figure walked in.

He was a Hispanic man with a short beard, a bald head and was dressed in an outfit similar to Tin Tin. But what was really standing out about the guy, was the crosshair mark he had seemingly pressed into his forehead.

"Crow, I'd like you to meet Bullseye." The man said.

"Charmed." Eric said dryly, not looking impressed.

"Let's see you give me that face after I kill you." Bullseye remarked.

"One problem with that." Eric countered. "I'm already dead." He grinned before he whipped out two 20 gauge shotguns–one sawed off, the other not–and started blasting, tearing several guys to pieces and shooting one guy's jaw clean off.

Bullseye immediately opened fire on him, nailing him several times in the chest and head in rapid succession. The total number of shots fired was twenty at best. After that, Eric fell off the table and onto the floor, seemingly dead.

"Well, I reckon that's that." The shooter quipped as he reloaded his SMGs.

"Hey, he's gone." A goon said as he checked where Eric fell, only to get shot in the head by a glock.

Then the carnage began anew as Eric went on a rampage, gunning down thug after thug as he attempted to get to Skank. The psychopomp even managed to draw his sword and cut down a few of his thugs.

He then kicked one guy against the table and ran his blade through his stomach, before spinning around and decapitating another who tried to grab him–before disappearing in a swirl of crows and appearing behind one of the bosses that was across from Bullseye.

"You're all going to die." He stated matter-of-factly before stabbing him in the neck with his right Hidden Blade.

Bullseye tried to shoot him again, but Eric moved faster than him and kicked his guns out of his hands before he Sparta kicked him onto his back.

"Urgh…" The man groaned as sheetrock fell on top of him.

"Bullseye." Eric smirked before he turned to Skank, who was cowering in a corner. "You didn't think I forgot about you, did you, Skank?" He asked darkly, grabbing and hoisting him up by the collar–Hidden Blade to his throat.

"Ain't no Skank here, Skank's dead!" The man (if he even counts as one) tried to lie his way out.

"Props on being self aware." The boy whispered as he shanked the thug in the chest and killed him instantly.

To add insult to injury, he threw him out the window where he ended up landing on a police car, startling the two officers inside.

"This is the police! Come out with your hands up!" A voice called from a helicopter as it flew at the window.

Eric turned to look down at the police that were below him, shushing them as he started to disappear in a swirl of crows while Edgar followed.

(Elsewhere)

Darryl was driving around in his own car, trying to look around for Eric. His car was actually a black Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole with Destiny's Festival of the Lost symbol on the hood in purple.

"Where are you…?" He muttered to himself as he kept looking around, hoping he'd turn up. He was searching the area around Top Dollar's club since there was a serious commotion around there, so he figured that Eric was nearby. "There you–." He began to say before a flock of crows dropped out of nowhere and both Edgar and Eric landed on the hood of his ferrari.

Said gothic teen looked around before noticing Darryl sitting in the driver's seat looking at him with a miffed expression. That prompted him to get off the hood and into the passenger seat.

"Sorry about landing on the hood of your ride." He told the seer as he started driving again. "That symbol actually looks pretty good for Halloween." He noted.

"Thanks." Darryl replied as a helicopter flew overhead. "That your handiwork?" He asked.

"Yep. Now all I have to do is kill three more. Then it's over." The psychopomp nodded.

"Do you know where they are?" Darryl asked.

"Don't need to." The boy replied. "They'll come to me." He added.

"I hope so." Darryl commented as he stopped at a redlight… before hearing his door open and close, prompting him to look and see that Eric had vanished. "Should've expected that." He sighed.

(Elsewhere)

Meanwhile, in the same cemetery he was buried in, Eric soon found Sarah lying down by Shelly's grave, and–acting on a brotherly impulse–he quickly placed his coat over her as she shivered from the cold.

This made her look up and see him.

"I know what you're gonna tell me: you shouldn't hang out in graveyards." She sighed.

"Why? They're the safest place in the world to be." Eric smiled as he stroked her hair.

"That's because everyone's dead." The girl said solemnly. "You didn't say goodbye." She told him.

"You'll just have to forgive me for that." Eric told her, though his voice sounded shaky.

"And you're never coming back?" The blonde asked.

"... I don't know." The teen replied with a sigh as he went to wait for Top Dollar. "Go home. If I'm somehow still around after all this, I'll come find you." He instructed as he vanished in a murder of crows.

Sarah immediately took her leave, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire that was going to happen.

(Later)

Eric groaned, tiredly as he stretched his arms out while he stood on top of the Hell's Kitchen Catholic church, perched on the top of its cross like Altair Ibn-LaAhad.

Why was he doing this?

Because after spending plenty of time taking out Top Dollar's operation, he decided it was time to put his powers to good use: by scraping the scum off the streets of the town.

Thunder rolled as dark clouds covered the otherwise full moon as Eric continued to Leer down at the streets below–Edgar giving him a crow's eye view from a different angle as he rested on the ground level window sill.

Minutes later, his target came into range. It was a black Cadillac with tinted windows, and it was headed straight for the church.

Eric blinked to stop looking through Edgar's eyes as the car parked–rain pouring down from above and sloshing off his costume–and pulled a black eagle beaked hood over his head as he adjusted and checked his newest weapons: Dual Hidden blade bracers.

He watched a crime boss and his thugs get out of the car and head into the church. He had caught wind of Top Dollar's (T-Bird and his gang's boss) whereabouts, along with his half-sister. Both had an incestuous relationship with each other, which sickened Eric to no end.

Deciding to see what they were saying, he listened in through Edgar.

"Brother, look." Myca, Top Dollar's sister said, pointing at Edgar. "A Crow. That must mean he's here." She continued.

"Well then, if he's here then I dare him to try and kill me." Top Dollar said, sounding rather full of himself.

'Challenge accepted, you disgusting fucknugget.' Eric thought as he stopped listening in. Leaping from his perch, he descended down from the roof of the church and then shanked two goons as he landed on top of them. Throwing two knives and a couple more and then using his bracers' Hidden Gun to pop a round in the head of the Cadillac's driver.

This all happened in exactly five seconds, and now Eric had his Hidden Blades out and pressed to both siblings' throats.

"Hello, vermin." Eric greeted them neutrally.

"Well well well, the brat of the hour. Here to try and finish me off?" Big Dollar questioned.

"They call me–." The Psychopomp said as he turned to Myca so she could see a part of his face. "The Crow." He added, pushing them back so the long haired man could grab a weapon–he wanted this to be a good fight.

As the two did so, Eric smoked a quick cigarette before tossing it in the car window, causing it to hit the radio and make "Burn" by The Cure to start playing, right as a flash of lightning let Top Dollar see just who he was looking at.

"So you're Eric Draven." He said. "How'd you come back?" He questioned.

"You know that story about crows bringing dead souls back to life to get their affairs in order? That's how." Eric replied evenly, before outstretching his arms, wrist blades visible–like Ezio Auditore. "Well? Here I am. Come get me." He taunted.

"Figured as much. Fine, then." Top Dollar said before he snapped his fingers, and a gunshot to ring as Edgar was grazed, but not hit fully.

"Bullseye." A familiar voice chuckled as the sound hit Eric's ears.

"Trying to exploit my weakness, smart and bold move. But not a good one." Eric said as TD grabbed a crowbar.

"What can I say? Runs in the family." TD jeered as Eric drew his sword and the two charged.

As the man swung at him with the crowbar, Eric deflected the blow with his hidden blade, before using his right hand to reach past Top Dollar's right cheek, deploy his blade–and slash him as he pulled back. This caused the man to whirl away.

"Rgh! Little shit!" The long haired man cursed as he gave the teen a glare, with Eric not giving a shit.

"Say an insult that hasn't been used on me before." He yawned.

"Brother!" Myca yelled as she grabbed a shotgun and pointed it at Eric from behind.

However, the boy avoided it by doing a backflip as Edgar crowed at him to move, allowing him to spin around and take the gun before wracking her across the face with it, knocking her against the car.

Her half brother tried to attack him while his back was turned, but the teen heard him coming and evaded the blow while he made a cut on the man's other cheek. Top Dollar was starting to feel more and more agitated, like Eric was toying with him, almost.

'Smug little bastard! I'll keep his head as a trophy!' He thought angrily.

Deciding to switch gears, he decided to bring out his Ulaks, and when Top Dollar swung at him again, the Psychopomp grabbed the crowbar in the hooks of his weapons and used them to forcibly snap it in two like they were bolt cutters.

The mob boss stumbled back as Eric elbowed him several times in the gut to get him off, and then stalked toward him.

He then dodged a 'sneak attack' from Myca and slammed her onto the ground, knocking her unconscious without looking so he could deal with her later.

Then, he sheathed his Ulaks and brought out his hidden blades, and with a running start, he headed straight for the man.

Top Dollar tried to shoot at him with his pistol, but the grim reaper deflected the shots by catching them with the edge of his blade and then sending them back at him–blowing out his knee caps.

"FUCK!" Top Dollar yelled in pain as he collapsed to the ground, completely at Eric's mercy as said teen stood over him.

Taking his left wrist blade, the Psychopomp then drove it into the man's chest–causing him to start choking on his own blood as rain, thunder and lightning continued to crash, roll and pour around them.

"Your little peons killed my parents, and then they tried to kill me. Look at where that got you: here, dying at my feet." Eric told him.

"You can't kill me!" The long haired man garbled, coughing up his own bile. "No one can! NO MAN CAN MURDER ME!" He yelled, but thunder drowned out his voice.

"Then I leave you to the forces of fate. May no one remember your name." The goth teen said, reading the man's lips before he shoved his right blade into his throat, ending his life. "Per amore della Vergine Maria, lascio riposare la tua anima. Represcat in pace." He said as he closed the man's eyes to give him some form of dignity.

"Brother!" Myca yelled in dismay as she glared at Eric, Bullseye and Grange next to her. "You'll die for this!" She vowed.

"Been dead, done that." Eric retorted, drawing his sword, right as Grange shot him in the shoulder, and Bullseye winged Edgar to make it stick–allowing Myca to pick the corvid bird up.

"All of your power, in this crow… Now it is mine!" She hissed with a snake-like grin.

"No it ain't, cunt!" A familiar voice barked before Darryl shoulder checked her, forcing her to drop Edgar. "I gotcha little buddy." He told the bird as he set him down inside his car. "Rest, heal. I'll be right back." He added, closing the door as Edgar cooed in reply.

As this was going on, a now vulnerable Eric was busy trying to fight off both Bullseye and Grange with his good arm, which was swinging his sword to deflect knife blows.

"Ya know, you really should've thought this whole thing through a bit more." The marksman mutant quipped as he swung a knife at the psychopomp. "You wouldn't be in this situation otherwise." He added.

"That certainly is true." Grange nodded as he kicked Eric down, causing him to fall and allowing him to be pinned by a boot. "After all, it's never smart to bring a sword, to a gunfight." He added, pistol pointed at Eric.

"It has a name." Eric growled as he tried to get up, the blade whispering to him in an attempt to keep up his spirits.

"Oh yeah? What's its name, goth boy?" The former second in command questioned in a taunting manner.

"It's…" The boy growled as he finally got a good grip. "HARBINGER!" He yelled as he slashed at Grange, cleaving his gun arm clean off before jumping up as his sword started to transform.

When it finished, Eric's sword was sporting a new look. It was now a single edged blade with a red handle, and it looked like it had a gun mechanism, oddly enough, and there were some visible gears. The silver blade was also segmented, for some reason.

As the boy could start to feel his body healing again, he wasn't sure if this meant his powers were back or not–but he liked it nonetheless. He then took advantage of Grange's shock and pain to bisect him diagonally before turning to Bullseye, who just wagged his finger.

"Another day, kid, another day." The man said as he ran away, committing to a tactical retreat.

It was at this point that a beaten and bloody Myca landed at the goth's feet, getting his attention as she groaned in pain.

"I don't hit ladies, but that only applies if you're a lady." Darryl grunted as he popped his neck. "And you're not one, you are one crazy ass bitch!" He added.

"Agreed." Eric nodded as pressed a sort of lever on his sword, which made his blade fold down, revealing to shotgun barrels–before he blasted Myca at point blank range, turning her face into paste.

"Well, that's that." The Seer mused. "Your crow is sitting in my car healing up. What are you gonna do now that your affairs are in order?" He asked.

"Guess… I'll just wait and see if I'll see the sun tomorrow." Eric replied as he sat down, finally letting his eyes rest after a long, long few nights…

But as he started to fall into slumber, he saw a beautiful girl with long light brown hair, brown eyes and supple features in a white dress walk towards him, placing a hand on his cheek as she kissed his forehead.

"Shelly?" The boy gasped.

Shelly smiled as she kissed him once more. "It isn't time to go yet, my love. You have a second chance now. So do what you want to do, and live for me." She whispered in his mind as he finally succumbed to his fatigue.

(Later)

Eric soon awoke hours later to find that he was still in the land of the living, but he could feel that he was laying in someone's lap.

"What the…?" He uttered in confusion.

"Yes, this is quite surprising, isn't it?" A female voice commented, causing him to sit up and look at the owner… and nearly have his heart stop for the second time in his existence at who he saw.

It was a woman, a beautiful woman with a voluptuous figure that was implied by the pale blue robes she wore–but beyond that, she was skeletal. Not emaciated thin, no, she was an actual skeleton.

The fact her face was a legitimate skull was a giveaway.

"W-Who are you?!" Eric gasped in shock.

"I am Mistress Death, and I have an answer for why you are still in the living world." The function in the universe replied.

"What is it?" He questioned.

"It is because your X-Gene interfered with your crow's resurrection magic, making your connection permanent and allowing you to regain your life force over the course of five days." The woman explained. "In short, your powers have now become yours fully, and your life restored–thus making you a psychopomp. The Herald of my arrival." She added.

"I have an X-Gene? That's the reason I'm still alive?" Eric uttered in surprise as he looked down at his hands. "Huh… I guess I got a second chance I didn't think I'd get." He mused.

"Yes, and as my herald, I will be expecting you to exact my will in this world." Mistress Death told him.

"So how will this arrangement work? Will you give me targets, or something else?" Eric asked, looking at his new employer.

"Do not fret about the details. I shall tell you in time." The woman said. "Now there is a group that will be integral to understanding your abilities." She continued. "Go to them, and you will see the path for your new life." She added.

"Alright." Eric nodded before he blinked, and Mistress Death was gone like she was never there. Shaking his head, he looked around and noticed Darryl's car was still present, and he could see that he was sleeping inside along with Sarah, who apparently wanted to stick around and see if he was still on Earth or not.

Deciding not to wake them, he whistled for Edgar, who was sleeping in Sarah's lap, to hop out of the car, his wound having long since healed, before leaving the church grounds—where he saw a Rolls-Royce pulling up to the church as well.

Deciding to test it, he waved it over to him and the driver obliged, driving up to him.

It was then that the doors opened and Xavier and Co stepped out of the car, and Xavier rolled out of the car via a ramp and up to him.

"Hello there. I'm Charles Xavier, and I run an Institute for gifted youngsters." The bald man began. "May I ask who you are?" He asked.

Eric smirked a bit before he responded.

"They call me, The Crow." The psychopomp responded calmly.

"Well then, it is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face, Mr. Draven." The telepath replied, getting a surprised look from the boy.

"How did you…?" He began to question.

"Before me and my colleagues came here, you were detected by a mutant locating system we have, and your name was mentioned." The man explained. What went unsaid was that he tried to read Eric's mind, but found that he couldn't.

"Oh, so you're a telepath." The boy nodded. "Alright, then what makes you want to find me?" He questioned. "I don't know if you've noticed but I have a serious body count under me." He added.

"I'm aware, but I've also been told part of the… Reason for that." Charles replied with some reluctance. "Death does leave a mark on people." He added.

"That it does." Eric nodded before crossing his arms. "So what? You want to help me understand my powers?" He questioned.

"That is our mission at my institute." Xavier nodded. "As well as providing young mutants a place to stay, a place to meet more like themselves. A place to feel safe. A family, a home, even." He added.

"Alright." Eric nodded. "But let me ask you this: How do you differ from Magneto? What assurance can you give me that you aren't just trying to get me to join so you can use me?" He questioned.

"I see you've met him." Charles noted with a heavy sigh. "But I differ from him in the fact that I actively want mutants to coexist with humans, and I'm willing to put in the effort for it. War is not my desire." He explained.

"We offer you a home, Eric." Ororo explained. "We could not in good conscience leave you in the place where you've experienced so much trauma." She continued. "Especially since you have nowhere to go." She added.

Eric was silent for a while before he let out a sigh. "Well with an argument like that, what choice do I really have?" He questioned.

"Hey, there's always a choice." Scott told him. "We just wanna make it the right one." He added.

"Again, not really making it sound like a choice." The psychopomp told him. "But still, it would be nice to have a home, again. I'm in." He added.

"Well then. Welcome aboard." Xavier smiled.

(Later)

When Sarah and Darryl finally woke up, Eric decided that he'd ride with the Seer to the Institute, but before he did, he wanted to properly say goodbye to Sarah.

"I'll miss you." Sarah whimpered as she hugged him.

"Me too." The boy nodded as he took Shelly's engagement ring and put it on the girl's finger. "I gave this to Shelly. I'm going to let you have it." He told her. "So I'll always be with you." He added.

"Thanks. It's great, knowing that you're still around." The blonde smiled.

"Yeah." The goth nodded as he stood and went to join Darryl. "I'll try and make time to visit when I can." He told her as he got in the car.

"I'll be waiting." The girl told him as she waved goodbye as they drove away.

Away into the distance, with the sun rising to greet a new day. To a paradise not lost, but found once again.

Dragon Emperor0: And that's it, that's a wrap. The three part introduction is finally done—and now all that's left to do is to figure out how we're gonna redo the other… twelve or so chapters.

ThermalsniperN7: Great… That's gonna be a pain to deal with.

Dragon Emperor0: Eh. Not if we take it one at a time and space it out to where we aren't doing three in one week. We'll be fine.

ThermalsniperN7: I hope so. And before anyone says anything: Yes, Darryl has a Ferrari with Destiny's Festival of the Lost symbol on it. I decided to do that cuz I wanted to be cheeky… That, and this was supposed to be posted on Halloween, so I wanted it to fit. The only reason we didn't is because writing three chapters in one night was too much of a pain.

Dragon Emperor0: Yeah. Anyway, as you probably saw we used the same battle scene from the original with Top Dollar but edited it to fit the story's new form—party because we wanted to deviate from the movie and partly because like we said: this will be mostly original text in essence. So of course we'll reuse scenes.

ThermalsniperN7: Exactly. Now if you'll excuse us, we worked well past 2 in the morning on my end, and I'd like to go to sleep.

Dragon Emperor0 Same. See you all next time.