Arson

Prologue

I remember it, like it was yesterday.

Six years old, I had spent the day watching cartoons and ignoring all of the troubles around me. Things I now destroy without mercy.

I look back on that day every now and then...today is no different.

"Alexandria!"

"Daddy!"

My father worked long and hard for his money. He was the sole breadwinner for the family, and we were always strapped for cash.

But I didn't know it.

You see, daddy dearest had a problem with some...colorful, characters. Every now and then, they'd come by...not so rarely that it would be weird, but to say the least, I just thought it was dad's work buddies.

Little did I know, that it was more than that.

"Daddy?"

I had woken up to get a glass of water. All the lights were on, and the thought of having that glass wasn't the main thing on my mind.

Dad and mom were talking to some men in the house.

Dad and mom began arguing.

Dad and mom hit the floor with bullet holes, for not paying up their dues.

It's all the same. The bullets leave the cartridge, and I'm left alive to remember the wrath of those stronger than me.

I was left TO ROT!

Alone, no family, and a thirst for the blood of those who took them away.

But...I did find a sense of family, later in life.

Styx.

He trained lost souls to fight in his private war...but I was already fighting my own. He just made me a killing machine.

And that's where I am right now.

The barrel of my gun leaked smoke, a body laying down on the cold concrete. Styx was by my side, looking down upon the mugger I had killed.

"Beautiful work as always, Phantom." He thwacked the body with his blindstaff. The man was blind, but he could see things I couldn't even imagine.

"Could've been more centered...it's not fully between the eyes."

"We can't be perfect, we're all far from it," The old man grazed his staff across the alley floor, feeling what was there. Seeing what wasn't. "Did he give you what you wanted?"

"A sense of relief, and vengeance...yes."

He stopped his pace, now turning his head to gaze at me. An expression of distrust, but also a hint of amusement, adorned his face.

"Alex..." Styx said in a patronizing tone. "You know what I meant."

"Styx, Micro is already on my tail about tracking this guy! He's given me a few leads, but they've all been dead ends..." A strand of ashy blonde hair fell between my eyes. With a huff of air, its blown out of my way. Just like most of the people I deal with.

"Alexandria," Tilting his head in a sudden jerk, Styx summoned me to follow. "What's the least expected place to find a ghost?"

The rifle on my shoulder shuffled and slid as my walk bounced.

"In a populated area."

"Exactly. So..."

"He's blending in with the crowd, yeah, I get it! Don't you think I've already searched that-OOF!"

His staff slammed into my waist, making me crumble to the ground.

"I've warned you about taking that type of tone with me, girl! Now listen! You've searched, and expected him to just...appear. Truth is, he ain't! Look for what isn't there...only then, will you find Frank Castle."

The sound of his hypnotic footprints became more distant with the passing seconds.

...Look for what isn't there.

Yeah, okay Styx.

_______________________________

"Rough day? Oh...yeah, definitely a rough day." He chuckled as I walked in from the garage.

"Don't ask. Let me see the monitors again. He's got to be close."

I'm tired of this. The guy obviously doesn't want to be found, besides, I've got my own assignments I need to get done.

I can't be worrying about one man.

One man that would gladly shoot me if he had the chance. Without question.

Oh well, I'm better than he ever was. Faster, unnoticed, a complete ghost story. Unlike him.

Ugh, he was so sloppy. Unprofessional, why would Micro want anyone like that working with us!?

"Micro, this guy is seriously unhinged. Why can't I just hunt down the guys you want...?" I snarled, watching over the repeated monitor feed.

"Because, I don't know who they really are. He has information I need, so-" Micro's eyes darted to the screen. "Holy crap, I think I just found something."

"Something useful?"

"I hope. You see that guy?" His finger floated around the monitor, around this one section. "That's our boy."

"...He looks like a hipster." I snickered to myself.

"Well, I guess being alone for that long will do that to someone-"

I smacked him upside the head.

"Hey!"

"Need I remind you that I was alone for most of my life up until now?"

"You had Styx!"

"Yeah, like I needed that..." My eyes rolled. "Now keep talking before I get bored."

"He's been circling a certain motel complex. Visiting a certain diner. It's our best lead."

"You've said that with every lead we've gotten," I began checking the recoil on my rifle. "What makes this one so special?"

"The feed is live."

"...Wait, what?"

"Yeah, he uh, he just got to this diner in one of the Boroughs- Alexandria, don't entice this guy for a fight please. We need him to trust us!"

"Don't worry, I'll stick to the plan! You just make the call..."

"Yeah, just make sure you write your will beforehand."

It's just one man.

He can't do anything to me.

I just...why did I feel so nervous...? I've never felt nervous.

I hated feeling any form of weakness, or much emotion for a matter of fact, but...why was it so strong now?

What was I getting myself into?