Marvel: Silver Hand

Six years had passed, and Alexander Athos was now ten years old. The boy had grown taller, his black hair a little longer and his grey eyes sharper, filled with a mix of youthful curiosity and the occasional glint of mischief. Celebrimbor had remained his constant, if unseen, companion, silently watching over him as he navigated the trials of childhood.

Alexander was in his last class of the day, fidgeting in his seat as the teacher droned on about fractions. Celebrimbor floated nearby, his arms crossed and his spectral expression fixed in a scowl.

"This is insufferable," the wraith muttered, though no one could hear him. "How do mortals endure such tedium?"

Alexander, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy school. Despite Celebrimbor's grumbling, the boy took his studies seriously, earning praise from his teachers and pride from his parents.

Finally, the shrill sound of the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day.

"Yes!" Alexander exclaimed, stuffing his books into his backpack and rushing out the door.

Alexander pedaled his bike through the streets of the city, the wind whipping through his hair as he made his way home. The sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

As he rounded the corner onto his street, his heart sank. His home—the apartment building his family had lived in for as long as he could remember—was engulfed in flames. Fire trucks surrounded the area, their sirens wailing and their lights flashing. A crowd of onlookers stood at a safe distance, watching in horror as the fire consumed the building.

Alexander skidded to a stop, his bike crashing to the ground as he stared at the inferno. "Mom! Dad!" he screamed, his voice cracking.

Before anyone could stop him, he bolted toward the building.

"Kid, stop!" a firefighter shouted, stepping in his path.

"Let me go!" Alexander yelled, kicking and struggling. "My mom and dad are in there!"

The firefighter grabbed him firmly, trying to hold him back. "You can't go in there, it's too dangerous!"

But Alexander was relentless. He bit the man's arm and broke free, rushing headlong into the burning building.

Inside, the heat was unbearable, and the air was thick with smoke. Alexander coughed and stumbled through the chaos, calling out for his parents.

"This is madness," Celebrimbor muttered, "You'll die in here, boy!"

Alexander doesn't see him, his focus is entirely on finding his family.

As he made his way through the inferno, a fiery plank fell from above, heading straight for him. Celebrimbor shouted a warning, but Alexander froze, unable to move in time.

Suddenly, a strong arm yanked him out of the way. It was his father, Damian.

"Dad!" Alexander cried, tears streaming down his soot-streaked face.

Damian smiled, his blue eyes full of love. "Alex, you shouldn't be here."

The fiery plank crashed down, trapping them. Damian pushed Alexander out of the way just as another section of the ceiling gave way.

"No!" Alexander screamed as the flaming debris fell onto his father.

Pinned beneath the rubble, Damian's face contorted in pain, but his voice remained steady as he spoke his final words to his son. "Alex… be a good person. Help those in need… always."

And then, he was gone.

A firefighter burst through the flames, grabbing Alexander and pulling him out of the building just as it began to collapse. The boy was unconscious by the time they reached safety, his small body limp in the firefighter's arms.

Celebrimbor stood at a distance, his heart heavy with grief as he watched the scene unfold. He had seen countless tragedies in his time, but this… this felt different.

Out of the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. In the crowd of onlookers, a man stood apart. His eyes glowed red, and flames danced along his hands. He wore a wicked grin, his expression one of cruel satisfaction.

Celebrimbor's anger flared, his wraith form shimmering with rage. Though he knew he couldn't act now, he burned the man's image into his memory. The red eyes, the flames, the twisted smile—he would not forget.

As the building collapsed in a roar of fire and smoke, Celebrimbor turned his gaze back to Alexander. The boy had lost his father and his home in a single moment, and the wraith could feel the weight of the boy's pain.

"I will not let this go unanswered," Celebrimbor vowed, his voice low and determined. "You will have justice, Alexander. One way or another."