[ WP ] A villain is trying to make is mark in the city , but he has no super powers , only elaborate setups to make it look appear he has powers .

The Magician lay on his back, clasping his reddened jaw as he gazed out the window of the sky-scraper's top level. The fires below were withering. High-pressure hoses were unveiling the remains of the hidden explosives within the parked vehicles that had seemingly exploded upon a flick of his wrist. 
 
 `` The game's over, fraud.'' The Deliverer said as the Magician was enveloped in his shadow, `` You wanted to be a Freak, now you can join them. In the place they all, inevitably, end up.'' 
 
 The Magician looked up at the trench-coated, cowboy-hatted hero, `` And again, you ride off into the sunset.'' 
 
 The Deliverer took a step forward, `` Where are the innocents you took? Are they alive?'' 
 
 `` I'm alive.'' Came a feminine voice from behind him. 
 
 Hand zipping to his gun-belt, the Deliverer spun on his heel to face the middle-aged woman who had just entered the office. 
 
 `` Deliverer, meet Jane Henderson.'' The Magician said, `` Wife of Danny Henderson, forty-three, serving twenty in Attica. His crime? Robbing a convenience store of three-hundred and seventeen-dollars. Barely enough to cover a month of rent.'' 
 
 `` Last time I visited him, he told me he was happy that at least he had a roof over his head.'' Jane said. 
 
 `` That was one of your more famous front-page photos, was n't it?'' The Magician said, `` Danny all trussed up to a light-pole, and there's you, fleeing the police and photographers you could have escaped hours before.'' 
 
 The Deliverer's eyes widened at Jane, `` But... you vanished into thin air.'' 
 
 `` On CCTV.'' The Magician said, `` Easily edited.'' 
 
 The Deliverer turned his head back to the Magician, `` The others...'' 
 
 He heard footsteps. Five more figures appeared behind Jane. He recognized them, the three women and two men he had been on a hurried mission to rescue only moments ago. 
 
 `` John Darby, Baker.'' The Magician said, `` His son had a heroin addiction. John tried to get him into treatment, but he got himself busted. Stealing a handbag. Ten years.'' 
 
 `` Sally Fawkner, former schoolteacher. Being treated for bone-cancer, on her brother's dime now, except he's got thirty. Smuggling coke for a mob boss, for just enough to cover her next round of treatment.'' 
 
 `` Gina Saviero, homemaker. Working at a fast-food joint for six an hour, thankfully the food stamps keep her children from going too hungry. Where's daddy? He's -'' 
 
 `` I get your point.'' The Deliverer growled, `` I feel for them. But there's one thing you're forgetting.'' 
 
 `` And what's that?'' 
 
 `` Those people broke the law.'' The Deliverer said, `` Justice can be blind, but it's all we have to protect us from barbarity.'' 
 
 The Magician laughed audibly, `` Take a walk down Wall st. sometime.'' 
 
 `` Maybe after I drop you off at the police station.'' The Deliverer said, pulling the rope from his belt. 
 
 The Magician's lips curled into a smile, `` Ah, but we're forgetting the grand finale.'' 
 
 `` And what's that?'' 
 
 `` Well, it has to be spectacular.'' The Magician said, `` It's been a hell of a show already.'' 
 
 He nodded at Jane, who produced a cell-phone. She quickly sent a text. 
 
 `` What are you - `` 
 
 `` I lost everything that night.'' Jane said, `` We've all lost everything. But I'm not dying slow. Might as well go out with a bang...'' 
 
 
 

