Project Nightmare

“Everbright City. Full of grandiose and splendor with all its towering skyscapers, bustling streets of hopeful people and bright, colorful lights. It's one of- If not the most prosperous city in the entire world. The metropolis known as the city of everlasting lights, of everlasting dreams and of an everlasting bright future.People from many different places move to Everbright City hoping for a bright future, hoping to make their dreams come true. However something haunts this city. Something of pure malice. Something that shrouds this city of bright lights under a shadow. Something so bleak that there's no future in sight. Something that steals dreams and instills nighmares. That something... That someone, is the Nightmare.”

Project Nightmare is only a temporary title for a little storyline about the characters I've made.The overarching story is set in a fictional version of the world inspired by the mid-20th century era, taking place in a fictional metropolitan city based on New York. It revolves around the mystery of a ruthless serial killer who leaves no trace of their identity after commiting their crime, only leaving the victims with similar conditions without fail. They've ruined many lives, especially ones of the main cast. They are known as the Phantom.But it's also the story of a group of talented characters who undertake the most unorthodox of cases, from silly ones to really gruesome ones. Meeting the most unique characters while also seeing how each character handle each other and how they work together to solve the crime. It's also a story about solving their own mysteries.

The Cast

So far:

Early Life

Not much is known about Jack's early life. He suffers from Amnesia so his earliest memory was waking up on a bed and covered completely with bandages due to various injuries. He was under the care of Dr. Silvester Grey who rescued him from a terrible accident. He wouldn't disclose any further details about it and claimed it would be better for Jack if he didn't know the truth. Despite his curiosity about it, he was at Dr. Grey's mercy. Jack accepted his circumstances and accepted to start over from whatever past life he had.When he fully recovered from all his injuries, Dr. Grey insisted they live together from now on to monitor his health due to how unstable his body is. Jack suffers from an unknown condition. One of its traits is that it lets him regenerate most wounds at an abnormal pace, which lets him survive the most lethal kinds but in exchange it takes a toll on him physically and mentally depending on how much was sustained. If left unchecked, this condition also gives him chronic and agonizing pain along with the feeling of detachment from his own body. Dr. Grey regularly gives him injections that will stabilize these conditions, which made him tolerant if not numb to most pain inflicted on him.While living with Dr. Grey, he was taught many things regarding the medical field like the human anatomy, medical procedures, various chemicals and their properties. He was also taught in using firearms and self-defense since Dr. Grey had a keen interest to that. Jack initially wanted to start over as Dr. Grey's assistant-medical practitioner but later on Jack found a strange but familiar interest for criminology and murder mystery instead. Dr. Grey was worried and warned Jack not to pursue it, but Dr. Grey's kind heart couldn't bear to keep Jack from doing what he truly wants as long as he doesn't join the police department. In the end, Jack pursued criminology and became qualified to become a police detective, but decided to work as a private detective to respect Dr. Grey's wishes.

New Life as a Detective

He quickly made a name for himself as a 'miracle' private detective. In his first ever job helping one of Dr. Grey's connections, he solved a cold murder case, nearing end of the statue of limitations. This is very unusual for a private detective to even achieve that when word of this broke out, many eyes took notice of his talent and hired him for his services ever since. Eventually the police department took notice and offered him a position, which he declined out of respect for Dr. Grey's concerns. However the police commissioner didn't want to give up on that talent, so he frequently hires him as a private detective to help the police department whenever unconventional murder cases arise.

Establishing a Firm

Jack first started off as his own entity. Dr. Grey, while not officially working for him, was around to help him out and give him advice frequently. With his reputation as a detective growing, Dr. Grey insisted that Jack opens up an office for more proper negotiations with future clients. Coincidentally Dr. Grey had a vacant room within his clinic and pharmacy building and was remodeled to become Jack's office later on.During his work with the police, he met a rookie detective named Antonio Rivera. At one point Antonio saw him as a rival (though one-sided) because he believed the Police Commissioner didn't trust him to solve the case on his own. But after events of Antonio being accused of murder for the same case they were investigating along with being cleared of suspicion by Jack himself, Antonio quickly grew to respect Jack. Not wanting to owe someone a favor, he invited himself as Jack's apprentice and partner detective. While Jack didn't approve any of this, he eventually gave up from Antonio's persistence. Later on Jack accepted him as a partner and worked together for most of the time.Another member that eventually joined was Juniper Summers, though not officially. Previously she worked for a pharmaceutical laboratory funded by the government and made a name for herself through her research and discovery. However she was involved in a defamation incident that turned into murder but with the help of Jack and Antonio, her name was cleared. To return the favor, she decided to work for Dr. Grey which he wholeheartedly accepted, but worked closely with Jack to help with any need for forensic science.Later on Jack meets Elizabeth Mardsen, an award-winning actress. Initially (and briefly) meeting her during one of Jack's earlier cases on a murder that happened within the run-down apartment complex she apparently lives in, Jack meets her again but this time she was being accused of the murder of a co-star during a movie shoot. With her name cleared with the help of Jack and his entourage, she frequently visited Jack's office and declared herself as the assistant. While most she does is clean the office, cook for everyone and making sure everyone was fine and not overdoing themselves, her connections as a celebrity helped them gain access to things and places they normally couldn't obtain, especially precious intel. Because of this, she acts as an informant.

• Back

Image Records

Character Profile: Silvester Grey

Description:

Silvester Grey is a Physician and Surgeon, famous for his unorthodox methods and his low mortality rate. He's called the "Demon Doctor" due to his reputation.He is also a war veteran. In his past life, he served the military. He's fought many battles and have seen the destruction of many lives and his own self and well-being. Tired of all the death and destruction that comes with war, the swore to save lives instead and studied to become a physician and surgeon. However, he hides a big secret that might endanger the lives of those he tries to protect the most. But can he handle holding that kind of burden?

• Back

Image Records

Early Life

When he was a child, Antonio lived in a quaint ranch by the countryside down south. He grew up without a mother due to her passing away early in his life but had a kind father who did the bulk of the housework despite his illness. He had many siblings and he was one of the eldest which shouldered plenty of responsibilities on him but he was a rather free-spirited and irresponsible kid which got him scolded a lot by his father. However, something his father can rely him on is that he did enjoy doing the ranch work. His father hoped that Antonio will be the one to inherit the ranch once he's older because no one else was as interested in it as him.While growing up, he's fantasized of adventure and becoming a hero after watching too many Wild West films, though those were a thing of the past. He would often spend time acting out these fantasies with his family while riding their ranch horses. In his coming-of-age, he found the ranch life dull and was something he wasn't so passionate about after all. Instead, he was on the pursuit of a new beginning in the metropolis of Everbright City as the hero he dreamed of becoming, by becoming a lawman. While this disappointed his father greatly, he supported Antonio's decision and hopes that their youngest son would take the business instead when he's old enough.

New Life in Everbright City

He moved to Everbright City with a rough start and didn't know much about the city life. He got too excited about the idea of just getting to this point that he didn't think about where to start before coming here. He didn't even have a place to live yet. After his arrival from the train, he witnessed a lady have her luggage stolen. He managed to catch the thief before the police officers did. The officers commended him for being a good citizen and the lady was very thankful and called him a hero. Fortunate for Antonio, the lady she helped was a landlady for an apartment complex and when he mentioned he was trying to find a place to live as they were talking, the lady offered him to live in one of the vacant apartments at a discount. He denied the discount at first but the lady gladly insisted on it which Antonio couldn't refuse anymore.The next week after settling in his new home, Antonio thought of starting his new life as a police officer. He had an easy time getting the position because the officers that he helped out by the train station recognized him and recommended their bosses to go through with hiring him. With that, he was officially part of the police.

Life as a Police Officer

At first, Antonio was thrilled at the idea of being an officer but after a couple years, he grew to find out it wasn't as glamorous as he thought it was. He was often stuck doing mundane tasks helping civilians or acting as security which he was more than happy to do, but he yearned for something more exciting.He's gotten word that one of his younger siblings named Alan was already living in Everbright City as an actor but later found him as a police officer working for his precint which surprised him. Alan explained it's a side gig to figure out and authenticate his next role as a detective for his upcoming show. Though, Alan has been getting the kind of exciting work, like working on homicide cases, that Antonio wanted in the first place which made Antonio rather upset. He begged the police commissioner himself to let him work on homicide cases but the commissioner said that he wasn't "hard-boiled" enough to handle work like this. Alan overheard everything and asked the commissioner to be his assigned partner, which made him budge to agree. Much to Antonio's annoyance being under his younger brother's shadow, he had no other choice but to take that opportunity than care about his pride.While working with Alan in homicide crime scenes, Antonio quickly figured out that he's not so capable of seeing dead people up close nor could he catch up with the investigation work since he's not a very bright individual. Alan however was exceptional at his work, eventually promoting him to detective in just a few months. While Alan was a detective, he kept having Antonio work with him. It helped Antonio gain some experience, but he wasn't able to keep up with Alan. Before they knew it, Alan was promoted to the famed Elite Detectives Division while Antonio was stuck as a police officer. He continued being Alan's partner with a shattered spirit and low self-esteem.A year passes and he met a newly-promoted Elite Detective named Jonathan Mardsen, nicknamed Jon. He was Alan's assigned partner which meant they worked together often too. They quickly became good friends because of their similar upbringing and because of Jon's contagiously bright and cheery attitude, which reminded Antonio of how he used to be. Then Antonio, Alan and Jon became an inseparable and legendary trio of sorts within the police department. Ever since that fateful encounter, they were thrusted into multiple events that were unimaginable to any of them. Something that'd put them in their separate ways.

Moving Back to the Ranch

He got word from a family member that his father's condition got worse, especially after hearing a piece of unfortunate news. He was in no condition to take care of the family nor the ranch anymore. Antonio left the force, said goodbye to the landlady that helped him out over the years and moved back home to take care of everything. For a few years he's the one taking care of his younger siblings, the ranch and now his bed-ridden father. It was tough taking the responsibility he always loathed having but he's kind, his love is strong and his family was the most important thing to him, especially right now.In one fateful day, his father felt he was on his last day and hoped to talk to Antonio and the rest of his children one more time. Alan however couldn't make it but hoped the best for him. Heartfelt talks were exchanged but he had something important to tell Antonio. His father knew Antonio's dreams mattered to him a whole lot and he shouldn't let his family stop him from chasing those dreams, saying it's okay to go back to the city and let one of his grown-up younger siblings inherit the ranch instead. His father also knew that Antonio had some unfinished business, something he needed to know the absolute truth about. A few moments later his father finally passed, but with those parting words he eventually moved back to Everbright City to settle things.He went back to visit his former landlady to tell her the news. Coincidentally, she had a vacant apartment, the same exact one he used to live at years ago which he gladly moved back into. Then he thought to work for the police department once more and was promoted detective almost immediately due to his past connections with Alan and Jon. While he thought he didn't deserve it, he kept a positive outlook and made sure to honor his new position.

New Life as a Detective

One of his first ever cases was a murder that happened on the very same apartment complex he lives in. One of his neighbors died and he was put in charge of the investigation. However, the police commissioner hired the private detective Jack Knightley because he found the circumstances of the case to be rather unconventional and wanted to see what the fuss was about this mysterious detective. Antonio at first was annoyed from insecurity, thought that they didn't trust him to solve this case. He had a brief rivalry with Jack, though one-sided. However during the investigation he was somehow pinned on the murder of his neighbor which was something he did not expect to happen and was devastated about it.With Jack's help, his name was cleared and the true murderer was apprehended. Being very thankful to Jack for saving his life. Wanting to return the favor, he abruptly left his position in the police department and begged Jack to hire him as his partner instead. Jack refused many times but Antonio was too persistent and never let it up, which made Jack lose patience and finally agreed on it so he can stop annoying him. Ever since, they've been working as partners with Antonio always looking after Jack and everyone else. While Jack on the other hand learned to appreciate having him by his side as his partner.

• Back

Image Records

Character Profile: Juniper Summers

Description:

Juniper Summers made a name for herself as she made a breakthough in the Pharmaceutical word, discovering and inventing a cure for an incurable disease. She works under a lab funded by the government and is under the guidance of leading pharmacists.After some trouble she ran into, she met Jack's entourage and worked under them instead as Dr. Grey's assistant and occasionally as Jack's Forensics Chemist. Other than her fascination towards mystery stories that compelled her to join them, she hopes to find answers about her past.

• Back

Image Records

Character Profile: Elizabeth Mardsen

Description:

Elizabeth Mardsen, known professionally as Eliza is an award-winning actress who made a name for herself after her debut role as a psychotic country woman who yearned for fame. Ironically at the time, she was a beginner actress from the countryside. Later on she's taken numerous other roles of different character archetypes but people adored her very genuine way of acting.Her past life was living a quiet life at the countryside on her parents's farmland. She moved to the city with big dreams and to follow her older brother's footsteps but there she hides a much heavier motive. When she was helped out by Jack's entourage, she swore to use her connections with other celebrities and influential people to get precious intel for them while visiting their office as a secretary. She hopes to also find answers about someone she lost.

• Back

Image Records

Character Profile: Jonathan Mardsen

Description:

Jonathan Mardsen made a name for himself as a rookie detective. Being recruited one day by the Police Department as a mere officer and managing to solve numerous intermediate cases a rookie wouldn't normally solve easily, not even his seniors. The Police Commissioner himself has acknowledged his talent in deduction and promoted him as a normal detective at first, but as more of his efforts paid off, he eventually was promoted into the Elite Detectives Division as their youngest member.Jonathan came from the countryside where he lived a simple life with his folks, had a modest and positive outlook in all things and not to mention he's naturally a charmer with his good looks that he gets along very well with most people.Jonathan had big dreams. Ever since he saw all the novels and shows of the big city detectives that have become glamourized lately, he knew that it's what he wanted in life. He moved to Everbright City to study Criminology and worked his way up but never expected he'd reach that far.As part of the Elite Detectives Division, he was tasked to help solve the most heinous serial killer of Ever Bright City, called the Nightmare. A professional serial killer known to leave a haunting image through their victims while never leaving a trace of their existence behind as if they were never there, like a figment of the imagination. Just like nightmares. Little did he know, his pursuit on this case and the Nightmare will change his life forever like a living nightmare. Will he be able to pull himself out of it or is it all inevitable?

• Back

Image Records

Character Profile: Alan Rivera

Description:

Alan Rivera is pretty new to being a detective himself but has a natural charm and talent for solving cases. As a police department detective, he was promoted into the Elite Detectives Division as their youngest member until Jonathan Mardsen joined the division a year later.He used to live a modest life with his family, away from the big city. Like most people who moved to the city, he dreamed big and fortunately hit it big. He had a successful career as a model and entertainer due to his good looks and charm, but took an interest in detective work due to wanting something more serious... Along with detectives becoming a hot topic and being seen as a glamorous profession, romanticized by all the novels and movies coming out. Though he asks himself if his life was all that glamorous, or if it was all worth it.

• Back

Image Records

Miscellaneous Gallery

• Back