Jason lived in a failing city.

He knew that is was terrible, and his parents did too. His father was a policeman, and every day he would come home, exhausted. Jason walked home from school always keeping his guard up, eying alleyways and dark corners. However his mother insisted on staying, that "this city was our home" and "we aren't going to abandon it."

He could barely remember a time were the terrifying noises at night, filling his room with the husk of fear. Building were being left behind constantly by people who didn't want to stand up for themselves. Those who stayed hardened, adapting to the tough city. Thugs and criminals were always somewhere, hiding in the darkest of places.

After two years no one decided to do anything about it. Things were starting to seem as if the law didn't really matter anymore.

"Take one down and another takes his place," his father always said about putting criminals into prison.

"Why don't you just find the cause of all this?" Jason would ask him.

"The big leaders of this city," his father huffed, "the ones at the very top. They don't care what happens as long as they are living in luxury."

"Can't they go to jail?" Jason would ask when he was younger.

"Not inside the law, son."

Everything changed one night when his father came back with surprising news. He could tell when there was news, his dad's eyes would be full of thoughts and concerns. Jason sat down at the dinner table, not making eye contact with his dad.

"How was work?" Mom asked, setting the table with grilled chicken.

"The usual," Dad sighs, "criminals on the street, police quitting. Only one thing was out of order-"

"What's that?" Jason blurts.

"Last night there was a sighting," Dad says, leaning forward, "of a masked vigilante. Person saved a kid from a burning building down on 2nd Street."

"Is that bad or good..."

"Bad for the cops," Dad scratches his head, "this vigilante is beating up thugs and sometimes killing them. That's against the law, to kill people."

"This city needs a hero though," Jason protests, "it's gotten so bad here-"

"We need a hero that doesn't kill people Jason," he cuts me off, "you know that."

"It's about time someone did something, and I'm going to find out who."