The sky hangs low and gray over crumbling buildings. Trash litters the cracked sidewalks, and the hum of the city feels distant out here. A boarded-up house sits on the corner, barely standing shingles missing, porch half-collapsed.
Inside, it's dead quiet.
The floor creaks under Larenzo's shoes as he steps back from a lifeless body slumped against the wall. The man's face is bloodied, chest still. A faint scorch mark lingers near his ribs evidence of a Mark-based kill.
Another figure stands across from Larenzo hoodie on, face half-covered by a scarf. His breathing is steady. Controlled.
Larenzo:
"He activated his Mark fully. On purpose." fire emitting from his right hand
He runs a hand through his hair, glancing toward a half-boarded window. Sirens whine in the far distance, faint but closing.
Larenzo:
"He got us flagged on purpose… Our location's blown. Ditch the car."
The man nods, pulling out a cracked phone. He snaps a quick photo of the body flash on and pockets his phone.
Other Guy:
"Yeah…"
Larenzo stretches his neck with a slight wince, feeling the tension in his shoulders.
Other Guy:
"Is this all we got to do today"
Larenzo:
"Yeah, MPs deep right now. Charlotte told us she been seeing more units being dispatched; so unless your tryna get into some deep shit don't use the mark unless you have to"
Standing in the center of the room they look at each other. Their Marks pulse faintly along their skin brief and clean, a shimmer of light,
No more words.
The door bursts open and both of them shoot into the sky in opposite directions, shoes cracking the concrete as they leap. Clouds of dust swirling behind them.
They vanish over rooftops in a blur, leaving nothing but the body and silence behind.
…
Soon a squad of armored trucks arrived at the scene. Groups of soldiers jumped out heavily armed with heavy suits and high tech rifles among them.
A figure came out the main truck wearing white attire with streaks of red lines throughout his combat suit. He looked at the house and smirked.
The concrete outside was shattered, chunks of asphalt and dust scattered across the yard. Blaze's eyes narrowed two deep indentations in the ground told him everything he needed to know.
Blaze:
"…They jumped from here."
[Blaze aka John Herro
Mark: Mythical
Ability: {???}]
He stepped carefully inside the house. The room smelled of smoke and scorched wood. Burn marks streaked the walls, and the corpse slumped against the far wall bore a burn along one side. Evidence of a brief fight.
Blaze crouched slightly, scanning the area. His boots clicked softly on broken floorboards.
Then, a flicker. A faint pulse of energy a Mark barely registered in the air. He froze for a fraction of a second.
Blaze lifted his right arm to his ear, pressing his earpiece.
Blaze:
"All units, focus all comms and signal tracking to the west road. I've got a lead."
Soldier (over comm):
"Copy that Captain Blaze, redirecting scanners."
Blaze didn't move from the center of the room. He could feel the signature pulsing sharp and controlled. He started walking toward the door, eyes scanning every corner, instincts ready.
Once outside, he looked around. Broken windows, rusted fire escapes, distant sirens. Blaze paused, hand still on his earpiece.
Blaze:
"Requesting clearance for Mark usage."
Static crackled, then a familiar, calm voice came through.
Ghost (over comm):
"Agent Blaze, you are authorized. Minimal collateral, understand? This is the 7th ward"
Blaze allowed a small smirk, feeling the familiar heat build in his arm.
Blaze:
"No promises."
His right arm glowed bright red, the surface streaking with intricate, red-like patterns. His eyes flickered red in the dim light.
A surge of power radiated from him, alerting anyone sensitive to Marks. He was ready.
Blaze exhaled slowly, then pushed off the ground, ascending into the air with the controlled grace of a predator. Air swirled around him, a blur of red light in the shadowed streets.
He took off darting through the air
Sam feels the surge instantly. The pulse hits his chest like someone dumping ice water over him, sharp and electric. He stumbles mid-jump, almost losing his footing on the slick rooftop.
Sam:
"…Shit."
His landing is sloppy boots skid across the rooftop, gravel scattering under him but he forces himself forward. Panic claws at his spine. Every shadow feels like it's watching him. Every distant siren feels like it's getting closer.
A few rooftops away, Larenzo drops down silently, barely a whisper of sound. His senses flare sharp, instinctive catching that surge of energy Sam felt.
Larenzo:
"Tch… That wasn't Sam."
He whirls toward him, already calling.
Larenzo:
"Sam! You leak a signature just now?!"
Sam jolts like he's been shot.
Sam:
"No—no, I didn't trigger my Mark!"
Larenzo's jaw tightens. He knows that spike. Knows exactly who it belongs to.
Larenzo:
"…Damn its Blaze."
Sam stops cold. Completely still. Like the name alone froze his blood.
Sam:
"Blaze?! From MP?! Why is he?"
Larenzo:
"It's because of you. Your signature flashed too long. He definitely picked it up."
Sam steps back, almost stumbles, breathing ragged.
Sam:
"But I only used it for a second, bro! I can't I'm not"
Larenzo exhales, frustrated but controlled.
Larenzo:
"If Blaze catches you, you're dead. He doesn't restrain Mark users unless they're worth the effort."
Sam's hands tremble. Sweat beads down his temple as his eyes jump to the skyline
A streak of red light cuts across the horizon.
Blaze.
His Mark burns like fire through the smoke around him, red patterns crawling up his arm, flaring brighter with each step.
The ground almost seems to vibrate when he moves.
Larenzo (thinking):
Fresh kid. Wrong Ward. Wrong night.
And Blaze shows up.
He cracks his neck calm, but every muscle coiled tight. A faint glow pulses under his sleeve, his own Mark responding to the threat instinctively.
Larenzo:
"I'm coming. Don't die."
Sam swallows the lump in his throat and nods fast.
Larenzo scans the rooftops angles, exits, distances, MP positions calculating at high speed.
Larenzo:
If he's this close… one wrong move and Sam's gone.
I can't let that happen.
The air shivers with residue from Blaze's last pulse. It fades… but the pressure doesn't.
It's like the whole district is holding its breath.
Larenzo steps back once. Just enough space. Just enough calmness.
A slow inhale.
Then his Mark ignites flame-like streaks coiling up his hand, racing across his cheek, coming to life with a heat that bends the shadows around him.
Larenzo:
Well shit Sam….this won't be easy…