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There was a swirling burst of light that cast shadows all around. By the time the glare faded, Shadow Star was gone.

Rebecca Firestone looked flustered, as if she had a lady boner on camera and didn’t know how to deal with it. Nick could understand that completely. “Well, you heard it here first. Shadow Star has promised he will take out the menace known as Pyro Storm. A fitting end to what will surely be a day to remember. Back to you, Steve.”

“Thanks, Rebecca. That was certainly illuminating. He seems to be the hero that Nova City needs. In other news, do squirrels have feelings? One expert’s answer may surprise you. Stay tuned.”

Nick grabbed the remote and turned the television off.

The room fell into darkness.

I meant what I said in the alley when our picture was taken.

Had he meant…?

It’d been raining.

Nick had accidentally probably on purpose kissed the side of his head.

Then—

There we go. Shadow Star, you don’t need to smile because you’re brooding and deep or whatever.

Exactly. I breathe the shadows of the dark, and—

Everyone sayI think Nick is super cute!

I think Nick is super cute.

“What the hell?” Nick whispered. “He couldn’t have—”

Right?

But what if?

Did it even matter? Weren’t there more important things to focus on?

He picked up his phone. The screen lit up. He stared down at it.

He was on the cusp of something big. Something great. He didn’t want it, but he didn’t know if he had a choice.

He called the one person who could help him. The one person who could make it all okay.

It rang once. Twice. Three times.

A voice spoke.

“You’ve reached Seth’s voicemail. I’m probably busy. And nobody calls anyone anymore unless it’s an emergency. Send a text like a normal person. Unless it’s an emergency.”

He didn’t leave a message.

He remembered the way his father looked in the hospital, bruised and beaten.

He remembered being told that Before had become After.

Maybe it had all been leading to this.

Here. Now. This moment.

This was his origin story.