Beneath The Helmet
In the bustling city of Goldridge, a masked hero named Argon was revered by everyone. Shrouded by the mystery of his true identity, Argon fought bravely every night, protecting the innocent and delivering justice to the wicked.
Daylight brought out Alex Douglas, a 26-year-old journalist working at the city's renowned newspaper, The Goldridge Gazette. He conducted interviews, covering news stories by day, and each night he returned to his cold loft. He seemed no different than any other citizen, save for his insatiable curiosity about Argon.
One evening, Douglas was assigned to cover the grand inauguration of the 'Jewel of Goldridge', the city's tallest skyscraper. As he mingled within the crowd, capturing snippets of conversation and fleeting moments of excitement, the city lights flickered ominously. A deafening explosion echoed through the city streets, and amidst the rising smoke, the silhouette of an unknown antagonist emerged.
The city held its breath as they looked up at the towering figure, their eyes wide with fear. But from the darkness of a nearby alley, another silhouette emerged, one that was all too familiar - the masked hero, Argon.
The battle between the menacing figure and Argon was fierce. It raged across rooftops, each opponent's attacks filling the dark sky with sparks. Amidst the chaos, Douglas found himself drawn towards the heart of the battle, his journalistic instinct overpowering his sense of self-preservation.
Away from the crowd, he climbed onto a nearby building, his breath ragged as he chased the action while trying to stay hidden. From his vantage point, he could see the fight up close. As he was chronicling the fight, incessantly typing onto his phone, he found something peculiar. He slowly started to realize the correlation between his own actions, thoughts, and the masked hero's actions. Douglas inched closer, his heart pounding in his chest. His hypothesis needed confirmation, and the final proof lay beneath the helmet of Argon.
Suddenly, a stray blow from the antagonist sent Argon flying through the air, dislodging his helmet. It skittered across the rooftop, stopping a few feet away from Douglas. The hero quickly turned away, preserving his secretive identity. But it was too late. Douglas had seen it all. Through the lenses of his glasses, he saw a reflection maturing into an unbelievable realization - he himself was Argon.
Shock hit him harder than any physical blow ever could. He stumbled back staring at the hero who had mysteriously mirrored his every action on the other side of the rooftop. The memories of his nightly expeditions, the battles he fought, rushed back to him like a forgotten dream.
He remembered now, how exhaustion drugged him into deep sleep each morning after he returned from the battle, finally understanding that it was not just sleep but also a sort of amnesia induced by the helmet.
Panic receded gradually, being replaced by a surge of responsibility. He, Alex Douglas, was the city's beloved Argon. Picking up the fallen helmet, he looked at the city one more time. A city that loved him, needed him. With a newfound determination, Douglas latched the helmet onto himself and once again, as Argon, lunged forward into the fight.
The conclusion of the fight saw the departure of the antagonist and the victory of Argon. As Douglas tucked the helmet under his arm and watched dawn break over Goldridge, he made a silent promise. He might not remember his heroic nights, but for as long as Goldridge needed Argon, he would not hesitate.
As he picked up his discarded reporter's notepad, Douglas smiled for two. One for Alex Douglas, the curious journalist and another for Argon, the hero beneath the helmet. The city of Goldridge, unbeknownst to the true identity of Argon, thanked their hero and cheered as the dawn arrived, bringing with it hope and courage.
From that day forth, both Douglas and Argon continued their roles in the city. The line between them blurred, but it didn't matter, for both were the silent guardians of Goldridge. Both carried the same resolve - to protect, to serve, to reassure their city. And such a story of bravery and selflessness was inscribed in the history of Goldridge city.