Exile

Prologue

Prologue: Regrets

The Last Son of Krypton sat alone, holding his head in his hands. The reverent silence inside the Fortress paid some semblance of respect for what used to be the World's Mightiest Hero. His glory days were the stories of legend, stories of conquering evil and paving a path for a brighter day. But those days were far behind him now. Like most heroes, the Man of Steel had taken a long fall from grace.

His red and blue armor, once a symbol for hope, peace, and justice everywhere was now replaced by the darkest shade of black, mirroring the blackness that had crept into his very soul. The same blackness had choked the very hope out of the hero once known as "Superman."

His body was wracked with tears. He spent a lot of nights doing exactly what he was doing right now, crying his eyes out. Who could blame him? Some tragedies are beyond words, and some truth isn't worth the pain. But he took the pain upon himself because he felt responsible, like he always did. Because they looked up to him, because they revered him, he was the only sensible one to blame when it happened. He had no clue of what would happen, the grave consequences of past mistakes. Now he knew, and that burdened him. His mind was constantly seeking answers, constantly wondering why the world that he had protected, the men that he had fought and lived alongside all his life would one moment turn on him. He had no idea. He couldn't comprehend it. All he knew was that somehow, someway, it was his fault.

Kal-El wiped the tears from his eyes and silently said a prayer for the world that he had left behind, the world that had shunned him. Inside his mind, he could never let go of the weight that bore him down. He could only wish that his load was lighter. For in the mind of the Last Son, were the words and curses of every human being left on the planet. He heard every single one of them, their spite etched into his brain. They all blamed him. They all hated him. And no one anywhere uttered his name with respect.

And he didn't blame them. It was his fault. He was Superman. He was born to save the day.

But this time, he didn't. And half the human race was dead because he had failed.