Okay, hi! This is my first non-USM (Cartoon) fic that I've posted on this profile. This is going to probably be more intense than all of my other fics. Take note of the rating. There will be some swearing, some graphic scenes etc... This is just a fic I thought of that involves a Crazy-Spider-Man, how or why will be revealed in later chapters.
Read at your own discretion.
Disclaimer: All rights go to Marvel, Sony, Disney - just whoever owns Spider-Man and the Marvel characters. Plots and coo-coo-crazy stuff is mine though.
Gifted to my friend: Fernandidilly_Yo because she is just awesome and I happen to enjoy our talks.
And, uh, Fernandidilly_Yo, this fic might be weird, puzzling, and a tad bit, uh - INSANE! I ask that you don't judge me too harshly. XD
But hey, what are friends for?;)
Enjoy :)
August 18,
Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, far off from N.Y.C,
10:13 P.M
It was a particularly cold early autumn night. The sky was bleak and frigid, devoid of any life all aside from a pale white moon that lightly frosted the ground in frothy white; the chilled wind howled in distress and shook the vulnerable, naked limbs of trees, and sent demonic shadows scratching and crawling along the ground. A light frost crept up silently on windows and water, etching its sharp crystals into the glass, cracking the surface into shrapnels of white and silver.
It was the kind of night that implicitly urged people to stay indoors. The kind that suggested that something sinister was lurking in the dark. The city of New York didn't know what it was, but something evil tainted the air that night.
But why tonight, of all nights? What unfortunate event could've occurred to bring upon such a rotten and twisted aura?
Well, past the bland lights of the city, away from the self-made glow of the buildings and several miles across the black rolling waves of the sea, one edifice held a secret. A secret that challenged the very safety and life of New York.
Below the dark water, wrapped tightly in folds of a raw, powerful ocean, was a building. It was made up completely of steel and concrete, reinforced with a thick metal alloy and titanium, designed to keep the crushing pressure of the water out; there were no windows, for there was nothing to see but an endless sea. The weak moon glimmered feebly down on the water surface, its rays not strong enough to make the tough descent toward the isolated edifice, and not confident enough to even try.
There was only one way in, also meaning there was only one way out - and the only way out was authentication from the man-on-top. Alongside that was an impeccable security system, intended for only the most deadly that the world had to offer. But to any who could make it past the unbreachable entrance, the words: Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane was twisted and etched inside, there to greet anyone who happened to be as unfortunate enough to even approach the brooding building.
The institute was built by the Government as a place to house dangerous and mentally unstable criminals in need of some…rehabilitation. Its occupants were dark, twisted, and teetering past mentally insane and plummeting right off the edge of sick and demented - its habitants certainly didn't fail to leave the institute on its toes. In fact, just a month earlier, the staff received a new patient.
An "extra special" case.
Ravencroft hadn't felt the same since.
Usually, an aura of black danger shadowed the place even on the sunniest of days. It left chills running down people's spines and goosebumps spreading on their arms. The institute was no place for the weak-minded. But now…a new aura has settled in. Ever since the new patient was checked in, a rotted, twisted, sick energy seemed to blanket the entire building, just squeezing and squeezing till the occupants inside were struggling for air in its suffocating embrace. It lurked in the nooks and crannies, it spooked the demons in the closet and scared the monsters under the bed. It whispered a breathy laugh as cold as the wind above, as raw as the ocean currents, and as sharp as a knife in the heart. Something different was here, something not quite…human.
And that something was right down the hall.
It was a room that was almost constantly locked. There was always a minimum of at least two guards posted in front of the door 24/7, always armed and always alert. The only way into the room was a clearance code known only by two people. One of which was a psychotherapist doctor, consistently accompanied by her two assistant nurses, who went in for 2 hours every two days. No one else, not even the guards assigned to watch the cell, has even seen the inside of the room.
Not that the guards lasted long. They always seemed to be switching out and requesting different jobs. No one liked guarding that cell; rumors were spreading.
Tonight's guards was a man named Hal and a woman named Kathy. It had been a particularly long day for both and they had just clocked into their night shift looking to a night of boredom and exhaustion.
"You new to this post?" Hal asked Kathy as soon as they had both settled in their drilled left-right positions. His helmet was pulled up, leaving his face bare.
Kathy gave him a half annoyed eye-roll under her helmet. She replied nonetheless, "Yeah, just got the assignment today, you?"
Hal nodded, "Same." He shouldered his gun and tapped his leg thoughtfully. He could feel a cold breeze whistle through the corridors and suppressed a shiver when he felt an icy waft of air blow over his naked face. They needed to do something about the ventilation. He glanced at his co-worker through the corner of his eyes. She didn't move and stared listlessly ahead, eyes forward and back straight.
He could barely make out a crop of blonde hair and sharp cheekbones beneath her helmet. Not bad, not bad at all…he had been needing a night out for a few days. Perhaps his chance for one was standing right in front of him.
He smirked. "You know," he said, leaning casually against the wall and making sure not to look at Kathy directly when she turned to acknowledge him. "My friend Jordan used to have this job. He managed to stay a whole week before he couldn't handle it anymore. He requested a post-transfer immediately, or he was going to quit right then and there."
"Really?" Kathy said doubtfully, "And what was so bad that he wanted a post-transfer? Was the hallway haunted? He saw a ghost?" she chuckled mirthfully. "Sounds like he's just being a wuss to me."
Hal grinned as if he expected Kathy to say that. "No, no ghosts." He agreed nonchalantly "'The Ballad of the Spider' is what drove him crazy. Haven't you heard the rumors?"
"Of course I have." Kathy scoffed in contempt. "The Ballad of the Spider: a twisted poem-thing constructed by Mr. Cuckoo in there," she jerked her thumb behind her to gesture to the door "Designed to drive the agents and staff to madness blah, blah, blah, blah, and they're all just what you said. Rumors. Lies and gossip. I bet our crazy Shakespeare in there is just lying on his cot drooling or staring at the ceiling or something equally stupid like that."
Hal shrugged carelessly, "Honestly, I kind of hope there is a Ballad. I'd way rather be scared shitless than being bored out of my mind. I've been here only," he glanced at his watch, hidden underneath his uniform sleeve; "30 minutes and I feel like I'm going crazy."
Kathy offered him a half-hearted chuckled but voiced her agreement. The night shifts were definitely the most boring ones - well, depending on where you were at in the institute. They fell into a dull silence again and remained that way for several more minutes. Kathy was leaning against the wall now and Hal had gone as far as to holstering his gun with his free arms now crossed loosely across his chest.
The minutes ticked on and the night seemed to drag relentlessly.
As Hal was coming up with a conversation to have with Kathy, to ask her to a club opening in a few days, he was interrupted by a small, near indistinct sound. He stood a little straighter and listened more intently, straining his ears to hear it again - if there was really even a noise at all.
Tap-Tap-Tappety-Tap
Kathy noticed her partner's tense position and leaned upright as well. "What's wrong?" she asked. Hal shushed her and motioned for her to listen too. He heard it again.
Tap-Tap-Tappety-Tap
Tap-Tap-Tappety-Tap
It was soft and barely distinguishable. The two looked at each other curiously. "What is that?" Kathy whispered, coming in closer. Hal shrugged, he leaned forward and put his ear to the wall. The tapping was there alright; louder, but still soft - almost dainty. Hal pointed to the spot of their discretion, "It's coming from here." he whispered.
"Well, of course, it is, silly." A voice whispered back. Hal jumped away from the wall with a gasp. That definitely didn't come from Kathy. Said woman was looking at Hal in confusion. She hadn't heard a thing.
"So, you're my new babysitters. " The voice whispered again, in a wryly amused croon. "I was wondering when the other two were gonna leave. " There was a soft, loving sigh. " And I liked Agent Jordon so much. He was fun. He liked listening to my Ballad too. He stayed a whole week just to hear it, you know. "
"Ballad?" Kathy whispered to Hal, obviously picking up on the tiny voice now.
"Why , of course! " the voice preened. " Isn't that why you two came? You want to hear my Ballad too. You want to be, what was it? Ah – right, scared-shitless, remember ?" the voice giggled hysterically. " Did you tell the Pirate - Captain - the 'Top Dog ' - about it yet? I want to sing it to him. Him and his First Mate. Yes, sing it until their ears are bleeding and their heads are ringing." Cackling followed. " I want him to hear it until he is beggingfor it to stop."
Kathy and Hal exchanged uneasy looks.
"Oh don't be nervous. " The voice cooed, causing them to jerk back in astonishment. " Don't worry. I'm sure we'll be the best of friends. Soooo, I'll sing the Ballad to you ifyou do something for me too. Promise me? Do you promise ?"
The two guards didn't say anything, but that didn't matter for the voice continued on with a giggle, "Of course you do! We're friends now! So listen up my friends, because I'll sing it only once…or 10, we'll see!" giggling turned into deranged chuckles into hysterical, throaty laughs that got louder and louder, and crazier with every speedy breath.
"Just getting warmed up ." The voice guffawed breathlessly. "I do so enjoy doing this over, and over, and over…and over…and over… " the voice slacked off, but its excited and happy tone never faded. It seemed to whisper the line like it was chanting a beautiful, hypnotic mantra. Kathy and Hal backed up a distance from the wall, but not even the thick wall of concrete and steel between them could block the whispering.
The voice started in a low hum, gradually rising in volume, but the tune was still soft and serene – like a lullaby. After a moment of the appealingly captivating sound, the voice sang in a sweet, gentle murmur:
"There is a place - a place that I know,
A place where I like to go
Where walls are built
Made of brick and bone
Here I sit - I sit alone - arms tightly bound
Wrapped in white - my breaths, my sound .
The sweet tune of the words erupted into a harsh snarl that was twisted with loathing and malice.
Put there by a Pirate - a Captain.
Not a friend But a foe.
The tone dropped again just as rapidly, quiet once more, but this time more hushed, like a little kid revealing a secret that he was eager to tell.
Voices whisper
They sound silver-tongued in my head
"A freak of nature"
That what they said
A blood bath I've drawn
For you, my dear staff
I'll chuckle, I'll whisper
And then I'll laugh:
'I am no hero,
No hero I'll be
And I will get out
Just you wait and see'
The tone rose into an arrogant and condescending tone. Its smirk was practically felt through the thick walls separating the voice from its guards.
Agile and fast
They call me 'The Spider'
I'll joke and laugh
And I'll play with fire
The smoke is so pretty
And my venom is neat
I like to drink it
'Cause it's so sweet
The melody mellowed out suddenly. It turned sad and empty, hollow even. When the voice continued, it seemed choked, wet and raw. Like it had spent its free time swallowing glass and then spitting it back up again. The tone smoothed over Hal and Kathy like glassy ice, making them want to shake from sudden cold.
My withering webs
Decay, but won't fade
So I cut them loose
With a rusty blade
My past is torn
I'm a predator alone
My dear friends have gone
I've picked clean their bones
The voice paused for a moment, and for a second Kathy thought she heard a sob. But a stab of something unpleasant shot through her system and her stomach curdled as a boisterous laugh erupted through the wall. The voice proclaimed loudly with the glee and happiness of a sick child:
My prey don't see me coming
Now it's time to hunt
Listen to me now
And I'll say it blunt:
'I am no hero,
No hero I'll be
Are you not scared?
The question was soft but layered with thickly with irony and malice. It made Hal wonder if he was missing some crucial bit of information.
Don't worry; it's onlyme.
Watch me approach
But please don't flee
You see, sanity is gone
And they threw away the key
We'll stay together in this dark corner
Just you and me
But you won't - can't - utter
A solace or plea
See, I love pain
And you'll soon agree
Written in yourblood
This I decree
The voice shouted, rising and volume and bellowed out with a wave of emotions bleeding together: hate, awe, horror, admiration, pain, and pure, unadulterated laughter.
This is MY Ballad
The Ballad of ME!
Giggles and shrieks of laughter followed, completely hysteric and deranged. The kind that felt like a knife peeling the skin, the kind only a psychopathic freak would use. It curdled Hals' stomach and froze Kathy's blood. The two guards stepped as far away from the wall as possible, not stopping till their backs were against the opposite end. The laughter didn't stop, sometimes it rose in volume and other times it dialed down into low chuckles. But. It. Never. STOPPED!
Hal grimaced, feeling suddenly sick. Kathy fared no better, her hand lay on her stomach and she was looking at the door in disgust. "I'm starting to see the truth in those rumors." She muttered at Hal.
"No kidding," Hal agreed, "I'm starting to see why Jordan wanted a different post. This lunatic is a whole new level of crazy!"
"Oh, but you're not leaving so soon, friends." The voice called, it sounded like an order. "I fulfilled by end of our promise! I sang you my Ballad, and now you must do something for me." The voice was quiet for a beat. Then it fiercely demanded, " Let. Me. Out!"
Hal and Kathy shared a look. Silently they agreed that neither of them was letting that psycho out, they couldn't even if they wanted too. Besides, this guy was looney – like, loonier than some of the other patients they've seen. They shook their head and didn't say anything.
"Let me out! " the voice – no, Spider – bellowed. " Let me out! .OUT! We made a promised! A promise! You can't break a promise; you can't stab me in the back too!"
The two guards remained silent, refusing to acknowledge Spider, refusing to egg him on. They quietly leaned against the far wall, hands clutching their weapons with renewed vigor.
"NO! NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! " Spider shrieked desperately. " DON'T YOU SEE? I HAVE TO GET OUT! I HAVE TO SEE MY ROSE, I HAVE TO CLEANSE! THEY MUST FALL! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!" His puzzling pleas fell on deaf ears. There was a sudden bang against the wall and the guards jumped.
Then another and another, and another. Shrieks and yells and screams followed. They sounded gut-wrenching and hair-raising. Like death, itself was trapped behind thick, titanium reinforced doors. The guards contemplated calling the Head Guard, or even Spiders doctor.
But minutes after the tormented screams started, they abruptly ended, soon replaced with raw, broken sobs. There was a half-hearted thump and then more crying. "I just want to go home ." He whispered. " My Rose needs me. The thorns grow sharper every day." he wailed. " Thorns…thorns stained with blood and tears…please…I need…I need to cleanse the -heh…I nee-ha - hahah-hahahaha…hahahaAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! " the sudden laughter mixed in with the sobs to produce a low gurgling sound that sounded strangled and broke.
"All will be okay. I'll get out. My Rose won't be left untrimmed. I will get out! Just wait and see! This is my Ballad. The Ballad of ME! " shrieks of laughter, never ending, never stopping.
Breathless and heaving, Spider started singing:
There is a place - a place that I know,
A place where I like to go
Where walls are built
Made of brick and bone
Here I sit - I sit alone - arms tightly bound
Wrapped in white - my breaths, my sound .
Put there by a Pirate - a Captain.
Not a friend. But a foe.
Voices whisper
They sound silver-tongued in my head
"A freak of nature"
That what they said
A blood bath I've drawn
For you, my dear staff
I'll chuckle, I'll whisper
And then I'll laugh:
'I am no hero,
No hero I'll be
And I will get out
Just you wait and see'
Agile and fast
They call me 'The Spider'
I'll joke and laugh
And I'll play with fire
The smoke is so pretty
And my venom is neat
I like to drink it
'Cause it's so sweet
My withering webs
Decay, but won't fade
So I cut them loose
With a rusty blade
My past is torn
I'm a predator alone
My dear friends have gone
I've picked clean their bones
My prey don't see me coming
Now it's time to hunt
Listen to me now
And I'll say it blunt:
'I am no hero,
No hero I'll be
Are you not scared?
Don't worry; it's onlyme.
Watch me approach
But please don't flee
You see, sanity is gone
And they threw away the key
We'll stay together in this dark corner
Just you and me
But you won't - can't - utter
A solace or plea
See, I love pain
And you'll soon agree
Written in yourblood
This I decree
This is MY Ballad
The Ballad of ME!
(A/N: I have much more planned for this fic. Much more. So stay tuned! ;) )