April 20, 1889, was the day change happened throughout the world. A meteor crushed landed on Earth causing a worldwide virus that cause many people sick.
It wasn't easy surviving, and many people met their end. Till the 30th of April 1945, was the day where some of the world population who had the virus, ended up surviving.
The human body adapted to the virus, which caused an unknown phenomenon to occur.
Twenty percent of the population were born with abilities that etched into their DNA. Abilities like fire breath, teleportation and many more. These were known as Evo-human.
Thirty percent were made. Using bio tech, machinery and advances level human technology. These were known as AI-humans.
And the remaining fifty percent were normal.
Ordinary people who woke up every morning, went to work, paid rent, argued with loved ones, and prayed they would never find themselves standing in the wrong place when power decided to collide with reality. These were sub-human.
Soon, people put on costume and become superheroes. While some become villains and cause trouble.
Between them stood companies, governments, and systems designed to maintain balance. Entire industries had grown around the management of power.
Andrew Hale sat in a glass-walled office overlooking the city, fingers steepled beneath his chin as a wall of holographic screens flickered before him.
Mission logs scrolled by in cold, efficient text.
MISSION FAILURE.
CIVILIAN TARGET: STATUS UNKNOWN.
EXTRACTION FAILED.
Andrew closed his eyes.
His reflection stared back at him in the darkened glass—Tan skin, green eyes, short slick back blond hair. He wore a black suit, tailored and professional, the uniform of someone meant to look composed even when everything was falling apart.
Across the room, different masked heroes spoke in hushed voices.
"Response time was too slow—"
"Law anticipated the route."
"We lost the signal before—"
Andrew raised a hand.
Silence fell immediately.
"How old is the boy?" he asked quietly.
A rookie hero stood up and swallowed. "Fourteen years sir."
Andrew's jaw tightened. "End the debrief," he said. "I'll file the report."
The screens blinked off one by one.
As the room emptied, Andrew remained seated, staring at the city beyond the glass. His communicator buzzed.
ASHLEY – ON MY WAY HOME
Andrew exhaled slowly and stood.
Ashley Hale hated paperwork more than crime scenes.
The blood never bothered her. The lies did.
She stood beneath flickering lights in a precinct hallway, flipping through a thin file with practiced efficiency. Her long, wavy black hair was tied loosely behind her back, strands already escaping as the night wore on. Her pink eyes scanned the page, sharp and focused.
SUBJECT: LAW
STATUS: AT LARGE
She closed the file with a soft snap.
"Still chasing your number one criminal?" a fellow detective asked.
Ashley smiled faintly. "My number one pest more like it, left a very interesting pattern."
Law had been her shadow for years. A criminal mastermind who specialized in trafficking powered individuals, especially minors. And selling their powers to the black market.
Every time she got close, he slipped through her fingers.
But tonight felt different.
Ashley grabbed her coat and headed for the exit.
The apartment greeted them with familiar quiet.
Andrew loosened his tie as he stepped inside. Ashley kicked off her shoes, sighing as she leaned against the door.
"You look like hell," she said gently.
"So do you," Andrew replied.
They shared a tired smile.
Dinner was simple, nothing special but simple.
As they ate, Andrew spoke.
"We lost a kid today."
Ashley stilled.
"Law?" she asked softly.
Andrew nodded. "Fourteen. Boy. Took him right out from under us."
Ashley's hand clenched around her fork.
"I'll find him," she said.
Andrew looked at her, something fierce and unspoken passing between them.
"I know cupcake."
They finished dinner in silence, the weight of the unspoken pressing down on them both.
Outside, somewhere far from warmth surrounded by bright lights, a boy sat in chains.
The basement was completely white with no shadows allowed to enter.
Frost sat on the floor; wrists bound by reinforced cuffs etched with glowing runes designed to suppress ability output.
He didn't struggle.
Struggling wasted energy.
Across from him, seated comfortably in a metal chair was Law.
He wore a clean suit, gloves pristine, dark hair neatly combed. His smile was polite. Curious.
"Your shadow," Law said conversationally. "It's fascinating."
Frost stared at the floor.
"You're not the first to say that," he replied quietly.
Law chuckled. "But I bet I was the first to ask if you were related to Jinx and Joker."
Frost's fingers twitched.
"We can't control what our parents produce," Law continued. "Frost Vladimir, the prince of shadows."
"Leave me alone," Frost said.
Law tilted his head. "I will, after I extract it from you?"
Frost finally looked up. "You wouldn't be able to control it," he said. "So don't be stupid."
Law's smile faded.
He stood and took a step forward.
A black hand came from underneath his shirt and slammed into Law's chest, sending him crashing into the far wall.
The room shook.
Law groaned, then laughed as he pushed himself upright.
"Oh," he said, eyes alight with interest. "Even the smallest shadow is enough for you. Scary."
He wiped blood from his lip and adjusted his suit.
"I'll figure it out," Law said calmly. "I don't know when. I don't know how. But in a few days, your powers shall be mine."
He turned toward the stairs.
"And when I do," he added, "well, you won't like what happens next."
The lights shut off.
Frost was alone again.
"Thank you Micheal, you always keep me safe and I'm glad." his eyes slowly shut and afterwards he fell into slumber.
Dreams followed.
He saw himself flying above the city. He saw people calling his name with hope in their eyes.
Then a giant shadow emerged and began to cause chaos within the city. More and more shadows followed suit.
The giant shadow held Micheal over his head before crushing him.
He woke gasping, heart racing.
"I don't want to hurt anyone, Micheal, make sure Mara doesn't try anything." he whispered to the darkness.
Micheal listened within the tiny shadows.
Miles away, Andrew and Ashley drove through the night.
Ashley broke the silence.
"We'll get him," she said.
Andrew nodded, hands tightening on the steering wheel.
"We always do."