Spider-Man: Web of Secrets Volume 1
by Graphixx03
Chapter 1: First Impressions
On the outskirts of Manhattan, by the docks in a dark warehouse, two shadowy figures met in secret. Both of them were wearing long trench coats and hats to hide their appearance. One man was of a normal build, while the other was tall in thin. The warehouse was barely in tact. The roof was leaking and letting in the rain. Puddles formed on the ground and the wood creaked autonomously
"Are we ready to perform our first test?" The first man said.
"There were some complications, but have the green light." The thin figure replied.
"I don't want to hear about any 'complications'. This has to go smoothly."
"I am just taking every precaution, sir. We can't make any mistakes. If this gets back to me. If anyone finds out I'm involved. I'm a dead man, my life is over."
"Believe me, the last thing you have to worry about is people finding out." The man threatened, "if this blows up in our face, I won't have any problem finding a replacement."
"Good to know." The thin man stated confidently.
"Well convene at the lab tomorrow evening. If this works out, phase one will be complete."
Peter Parker was just your average college student. He lived with his aunt in Queens. He was broke and scrapping for money. He graduated Midtown High School with flying colors, and gained a nice scholarship to help him through the first two years of his collegiate career. He had just recently begun his fourth and final year at Empire State University, where he was studying for a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics. There was also something very unordinary about Peter Parker…
"Look, I know that I wasn't on your agenda today, but you weren't exactly on mine either." Spider-Man quipped as he did a flip over the masked criminal.
He landed behind him and swung his leg low, sending him to the ground.
The criminal reacted quickly by firing his gun up in the air, but Spider-Man dodged the bullet and webbed the pistol, yanking it from his hands.
"There is no way you have a license for this thing." He said, as he strung webs around him lying on the sidewalk. He picked him up and slammed him against the stone wall of the jewelry store that he ran out of. With his free hand, he removed the ski mask, revealing the bloody face of the thug.
"Ah, Phineas Mason. It's been, what, like three months?"
Phineas didn't respond. He only struggled to release from his grip.
"I assume these jewels were to pay for your latest invention? Listen, this whole spat was just way to quick. I expect you have some sort of new toy to kill me with next time, okay? So when you get back to jail, get to tinkering, I could use a challenge."
"You suck." He grumbled.
As he heard sirens in the distance, Spider-Man delivered his final quip as he swung off from the crime scene. "I know… tell your old pal Frank I said Hi."
This was a normal occurrence for Peter, having to take down criminals on his way home from school, or on his way to work. It kept things interesting. Unfortunately for him, it often caused inconveniences in his personal life.
"Mr. Parker, this is the third time this week you have come into class over fifteen minutes late. And I don't need to mention the one time you smelt like rotting fish." Dr. Curt Connors said
Peter sat in the office of Dr. Curtis Connors. He was a well-respected scientist and professor at ESU. He was most notable for his missing left arm, which he had lost in a horrible car accident several years ago.
"I know, Doctor Connors, really, I'm sorry." He replied, reflecting on his drug dealing bust at the docks earlier this week.
"You are one of the most brilliant students we have here in the university, Peter. I'm not just saying that. You are so bright. Your grades won't go down because of your knowledge, but because of your absences. This has been a consistent issue. You have to turn it around in your final year."
Peter nodded In agreement to his comments while wishing he could come up with a valid reason.
"The reason I bring you in here to tell you this is because of the potential I see in you. Don't waste that, Peter."
"I won't. I promise."
Dr. Connors returned to his work as Peter was on his way out of the office. He pulled out some papers he needed to grade, when suddenly, he experienced a massive headache. He grasped his head and grunted in pain as all the papers fell to the floor, scattering under his desk.
"Doctor Connors?" Peter said worryingly.
"I'm fine, just dealing with some migraines." He struggled to say.
Peter reluctantly left. As soon as he closed the door, The doctor struggled to his lab coat, hanging on the coat rack at the front of his office. He pulled out a syringe that contained an unknown substance and inserted it right above where his left arm was amputated. Slowly the pain went away. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and went back to his work as if nothing had happened.
"Busted again, Tiger?" Mary Jane said, coming from behind him once he exited the lab
"You know it." Peter replied.
"Maybe you should start leaving like an hour early just account for crime-fighting." Her voice trailed off at the end to keep it quiet.
"Yeah, and then somehow I'll end up in a car chase that takes me to Jersey." He whispered back, "It's fine, I'll just have to head home earlier tonight. I can't miss anymore assignments.
"So you won't be coming to Max's tonight? He's having some people over for a movie."
"I've got to work…I just don't think I can have a social life right now."
"Right…" Mary Jane replied, thinking about their history together, "Think you will ever?"
Peter just smirked back with uncertainty as he separated from her, heading to his next class.
Done for the day, Mary Jane walked out of the University. She began reminiscing of the times she had with Peter when they were together. She looked at a newspaper stand to see Spider-Man on the front page of the Daily Bugle. The tagline was "Spider-Menace Strikes Again!" She sighed and kept her head down, continuing onto the bus stop.
Max Dillon was a popular person around campus. He was the star of Empire State's Basketball Team and didn't have the ego normally associated with that kind of status. He was well liked around by his classmates and never had any qualms with anyone.
While he lived on his own, he was never lonely. His friends were often over, and when they weren't, he went out with them. This evening was no different as he set up his apartment for a movie night. The showing was the latest horror flick gone straight to DVD.
As he scanned around the room, there were plenty of familiar faces from around campus. Mary Jane, Flash Thompson, Elizabeth Allen… just a few of the people who made an appearance. He was just missing one person… the one person he really wanted to come - Sally Avril.
He made sure to invite her. She even seemed really excited to come. As the head cheerleader, they saw each other every game, but never spoke much. Tonight he was hoping to change that. Get to know her. Take it slow and do things right. Unfortunately, she was either late, or wasn't going to show. Max wasn't going to lose hope though.
"Great party, man!" Flash said as he came up to Max.
"I don't consider this much of a party, but I'm glad you are enjoying yourself!" Max replied.
"Hey, you got beer and pizza, it's a party." He added with a smug look, "Where's the butt, Parker at?"
"You mean, Peter?"
"That's what I said." Flash laughed.
"You really can't go over those high school days can you?" Max defended Peter.
"Not after what happened Senior Year."
"Ah yes… won't that be something we all cherish forever." Max smiled.
Flash just rolled his eyes as he took a swig of his Budweiser.
Max once again glance over at the front entrance, as he placed a bowl of chips on the table, in front of where Mary Jane and Elizabeth were sitting.
"Waiting for someone in particular?" Mary Jane asked.
"Is it that obvious?" Max chuckled as he sat down on the couch.
"Please, you haven't removed your eyes from the door since we all got here."
"It's no one, just was hoping to make some new friends today is all."
"Maxy, I'm a friend." Liz interjected, "You don't stare around for me."
Max delayed, and then smiled, "you guys know Sally? Sally Avril?"
"Yeah, she's cute." Liz replied.
"We've, uh, well, I tried to connect with her the other day, things didn't work so I invited her over to this little get together. I figured that with the atmosphere, it would be a more inviting place to get to know each other. You know. No pressure… I guess maybe it wasn't for her."
"No, you made all the right moves. She'll come around. I'm sure something just came up." Liz replied.
"Yeah don't give up on that one. It's all about good timing sometimes." Mary Jane said, speaking from experience.
"Thanks guys, lucky to have so many high school friends that transferred over to ESU."
Peter's job was one of a kind. He was signed on to an exclusive deal for the Daily Bugle. His primary assignment was to take pictures of Spider-Man. The Bugle was known for their intense bias against the masked vigilante, mostly due to their publisher, J. Jonah Jameson. Most times, he was out in the field, but today, he was touching up some of his latest photos for submission.
"Peter, do you have the photo of the attack on Times Square from last week on file? Ned is following up some leads and wants to use it for his page four." Joe Robertson said.
"Yeah, I'll email it to him." Peter replied.
Joe Robertson was the editor in chief at the Daily Bugle, he was also Jameson's best friend, and often voice of reason. While not always successful, he has looked out for Peter in the year that he has been at the Bugle, especially when it came to Jameson.
"Thanks. Oh and Peter, I hope you don't mind, but Ben Urich is looking for a photographer to help him with his latest scoop. I told him to reach out to you for assistance."
"No, that's great, it would be nice to shoot something else for a change." Peter replied.
Their exchange was suddenly interrupted by an outburst at the end of the hall. It came from Jameson's office, "I told you! I want two sugars, no cream, and what do you do!? You give me two shots of cream and no sugar! Do you want me to have gastrointestinal issues?"
"Oh boy..." Joe said, as he scurried over to Jameson's office.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Jameson, I'll get you a new one."
"Don't bother! You're..."
Suddenly, Robertson opened the door, "Jameson! Can I talk with you, privately? Sorry Glory, this will only take a minute."
"Ugh, fine. Get back to work! And remember Lactose intolerant!" Jameson shouted as she was on her way out.
Glory Grant, Jameson's personal assistant, whispered her thanks to Robertson as she left the room. Robertson closed the door, in hopes of calming down his hot-tempered boss.
As Glory walked by Peter's desk, He comforted her, "Don't worry, you are not the one at fault. I mean, who has coffee at five o' clock in the afternoon."
Glory chuckled as her frown turned to a smile, "Thanks, Pete, I needed that."
Peter finally returned to his home in Queens. Thanks to a car thief he spotted in Gramercy, it was just in time to say goodnight to his Aunt May.
"Late night at work again, Peter?" She asked him as she was about to head upstairs.
"Oh, you know Jameson..." He responded.
"I wish you would look for another photography job, I hear the Globe is hiring, maybe you can get out from under him."
"Nah, I've got quite the gig here." He said, thinking of how he can make money off of his alter-ego, "I feel like I'm doing a lot of good here, and that's the important thing, right?"
"I suppose so." She smiled, "Ben would be proud of you, Peter. There aren't many people like you in the world, today. Goodnight." She said as she walked upstairs to her bedroom.
"Goodnight, Aunt May."
Once he heard the door close, Peter pulled out a coin from his pocket. It was a token he kept from the worst night of his life…
"You can't do this to me, I earned that money." Peter yelled from underneath his mask.
"I can do what i want, you signed the agreement." The manager said.
Peter's stomach ached as the memories flooded back.
"Stop! He's got my money." The manager said as a masked crook fled toward Peter.
Peter just let him run on by with the money in the bag as he hoped into the elevator, as thanks the crook flipped a large dollar coin at him.
The elevator closed just as the manager caught up to him.
"What is your problem!" The manager asked.
"Oh, did someone take what was rightfully yours?" Peter replied sarcastically.
"Why you little..."
Peter clinched the coin in his fist, as he continued to remember the day he let that criminal get away.
The next morning felt gloomy for Peter. It was something he couldn't quite put his finger on, But there was a different atmosphere as he entered campus. People were whispering and murmuring on the streets. He even passed a few people who had tears in their eyes. When he approached the main building, there were two police cars parked in front of it.
Peter's immediate thought went to Mary Jane, who had 8 A.M. classes today. His second thought went to Curt Connors, who looked as if he was doing awful the previous day.
He walked inside, seeing the same upset faces as before. Mary Jane was sitting on one of the couches in the lounge area. She had tears in her eyes.
"What happened?" He said, "Mary Jane. What is happening?"
"Peter… it's…." She stuttered with sniffs and more weeping, "Max. He's dead."
Coming Up: Chapter 2: Cruel Intentions
Author's Note
Hi there! Thank you for reading the first issue of Spider-Man: Web of Secrets. A brand new adventure to keep up with. I hope to create an inviting, thrilling, and captivating story for you all. Each character in this story is going to have their own mark on this world. Whether it be secrets of the past, or events in the future. I have been planning this for months. Lots of work and time as gone into it. and I finally have enough content to publish this story and I'm so excited to share this with all of you. If you could, please review and rate my story. I would love to hear your thoughts on what could happen next. As well as your critiques, some input on the writing style, whatever you wish. If you are interested, please favorite the story to receive alerts on the next post! Again, I appreciate your time in reading, and hope to see you back here for chapter two!