People often say that once a snowball starts rolling down a slope, it only gets bigger, faster, and deadlier. Right now, that saying couldn't be more accurate—or more terrifying. The NYPD and the FBI had no idea what they were dealing with when they decided to hide the truth about Arthur Maxwell and his network of corruption. Their attempts to bury the evidence had only fueled the fire, and now, they were facing the consequences.
For the past week, one by one, the names on the list had been systematically eliminated. Each death was more gruesome than the last, each one a stark reminder that The Wraith was not just a vigilante—he was a force of nature. The city was in chaos, and no one was safe.
In the NYPD precinct, Captain George Stacy sat in his office, his eyes fixed on the television screen. The news anchor's voice was calm, but the words she spoke were anything but.
"Once again, The Wraith has made another claim. This time, it was Judge Judice Thompson, who is suspected of receiving bribes totaling over $200 million for more than a decade. Judge Thompson was found dead this morning, hanged from the front porch of her house. So far, neither the police nor the FBI have released a statement."
Captain Stacy picked up the remote and turned off the TV with a sharp click. He leaned back in his chair, his face a mask of frustration and exhaustion.
"Back to work, everybody," he called out to the officers in the bullpen. His voice was firm, but there was no hiding the weariness in his tone.
The officers reluctantly returned to their duties; their faces grim. The atmosphere in the precinct was tense, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone.
Detective Misty Knight walked into Stacy's office, closing the door behind her. "Things are definitely not going great, Captain," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "The FBI taking over the case was a mistake. A big one."
Stacy nodded; his expression dark. He had objected to the FBI's decision to take over the investigation after Arthur Maxwell's death, but his objections had been ignored. And now, things were spiraling out of control.
"The Wraith is moving faster and faster," Misty continued, pacing the room.
"No matter how hard the FBI tries to hide the people on that list, he always finds them. And he's not just killing them—he's exposing them... Every death comes with irrefutable evidence of their crimes. It's like he's holding up a mirror to the city, forcing us to see the rot we've been ignoring."
Stacy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This isn't the work of a single person," he said, his voice low.
"The number of targets he's taken out in such a short time… it's too much for one man to handle. He's got resources, connections, and a level of precision that's terrifying..."
Misty nodded; her expression grim. "Yeah, but on the bright side, at least this mess isn't on us anymore," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Stacy chuckled despite himself. "True. The FBI wanted to take over, and now they're dealing with the fallout. But still… this isn't how justice is supposed to work."
Misty shrugged. "Maybe not. But let's be honest, Captain. The people he's going after? They're not exactly innocent. They're criminals—criminals who've been protected by the system for far too long. If anything, The Wraith is doing what we couldn't."
Stacy didn't respond, but he couldn't deny the truth in her words. The Wraith's targets were far from innocent. They were corrupt judges, politicians, policemen, and businessmen—people who had used their power to exploit and harm others. And now, they were paying the price.
For the past two weeks, New York City had been shaken to its core. The Wraith's name was on everyone's lips, his actions sparking a mix of fear, outrage, and, surprisingly, support. With each kill, he didn't just deliver punishment—he exposed the truth. He came with evidence, with recordings, with documents that laid bare the crimes of the city's elite. The people were seeing the dark underbelly of their city for the first time, and it was changing everything.
The Wraith wasn't just a killer—he was a reckoning. And as the body count grew, so did the public's perception of him. People who had once feared him were now starting to see him as a necessary evil, a force that was holding the powerful accountable in a way the system never could.
But for Captain Stacy and Detective Knight, the situation was far more complicated. They were caught between their duty to uphold the law and their understanding of why The Wraith was doing what he was doing. And as the snowball continued to roll down the slope, they couldn't help but wonder where it would stop—or if it ever would.
Everyone knew the truth: the powerful and wealthy could slip through the cracks of the justice system, emerging unscathed no matter how heinous their crimes. It had happened before, and it would keep happening. The system was rigged, designed to protect those at the top while crushing those at the bottom.
But now, there was The Wraith. He was a force of nature, a reckoning that no amount of money or influence could stop. He didn't just punish the guilty—he exposed them, dragging their crimes into the light for the world to see. And he did it without mercy, ensuring that those who had played with others' lives would pay the ultimate price.
The public's perception of The Wraith was shifting. While his methods were brutal and his actions far from pretty, people were beginning to see him as a necessary evil. He was doing what no one else could—or would—do. He was holding the powerful accountable, and for that, he had earned a grudging respect. But for those who knew the full extent of his actions, the moral implications were far more complicated.
At Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the atmosphere in the room was tense. Logan, Charles Xavier, Storm, Dr. Hank McCoy, and Michelle Amanda sat together; their eyes fixed on the television as it played the latest news about The Wraith's actions. The screen showed graphic images of his latest target, accompanied by a detailed report of the evidence he had left behind. It was a grim reminder of the chaos unfolding in the city.
"So, this Wraith," Charles Xavier began, his voice calm but laced with concern, "is the one who saved you and the twins, Michelle? And he's now on a path to uncover a ring of crimes related to mutants?"
Michelle nodded; her expression serious. "Yes, that's what he told me. And he won't stop for anything. He's determined to see this through, no matter the cost."
Charles sighed, leaning back in his chair. "This is… a lot to process. It seems the issues run much deeper than we initially thought."
Dr. Hank McCoy adjusted his glasses, his tone thoughtful. "The man is as dedicated as he is merciless. From what we've seen, he ensures that each death delivers a loud and clear message. He's not just killing—he's exposing. And he's doing it with surgical precision… Naturally, his method, IS very unsettling…"
Storm turned to Logan, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Logan, you've met this Wraith, right? What do you think about him?"
Logan, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, let out a low grunt. "He knows what he's doing. He's determined, driven, and he's not stopping until he's finished. One thing's for sure—he's either coming out of this alive and victorious, or he's going down trying."
Charles frowned; his expression heavy with disapproval. "Taking justice into his own hands is not the right thing to do, Logan. No matter how noble his intentions, his methods are… extreme… Anyone with a sound mind can see it,"
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Charles' words hanging in the air. Everyone had seen the gruesome aftermath of The Wraith's actions. His methods were brutal, his punishments merciless. While his targets were undeniably guilty, the way he delivered justice was far from the idealistic vision Charles had always championed.
Logan, however, wasn't having it. He pushed off the wall, his voice sharp with frustration. "But it's the only way that works, Charles. Did you know about this? About how they've been playing with mutants' lives? Even now, WE were the only one who knows most of their victims were mutants, but the rest of the world just labels them as 'missing people.' The Wraith knows about this and is doing what needs to be done. Plain and simple."
Charles' expression softened, but his resolve didn't waver. "I understand your frustration, Logan. But violence begets violence. There has to be another way... a way to do this correctly, through a proper channel…"
Logan shook his head, his jaw tightening. "Have you seen the news, Charles? Those people that are the proper channel, WERE the one that is doing all those crimes… Sigh~ One thing I know for sure about this guy is that he's dangerous, skilled, and cold-hearted. I know what you're thinking, Charles—that we should stop him, that we should intervene... But trust me, you don't want to be in his path... With someone like him, you either step aside or stand beside him, OR become his enemy. And I, for one, don't want to be his enemy."
With that, Logan turned and left the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. The others sat in silence, the weight of his words settling over them. Charles looked troubled, his fingers steepled in front of him as he stared at the floor. Storm and Hank exchanged glances; their expressions thoughtful. Michelle, meanwhile, sat quietly, her mind racing with thoughts of The Wraith and the path he had set them all on.
The debate was far from over, but one thing was clear: The Wraith had changed the game. And whether they liked it or not, the X-Men would have to decide where they stood in this new world he was creating.