Nightmares:
"You lose Parker! I am your Superior!" yelled Octo Octavius. "Your life is mines!"
"I could feel the tentacle crushing me - as I was thrown hard against the wall. I struggle to free myself, but the tentacle was too strong. Again, I hit the wall. I feel the tentacles slowly tightening...too tired..can't breathe, blacking out.."
The scenery changes into the top of the Brooklyn Bridge. A tentacle sprouting from the concrete is still wrapped around Peter; his mouth is covered - he witnesses Octavius carrying Gwen in his arms. He tries to yell out, but is muffled by the tentacle. Gwen sees him, and softly speaks, "Help me Peter." She doesn't struggle, as if willing to accept her fate. Octavius walks over to the edge holding her - then Spider-Man is in place of Octavius, and he mechanically drops her into the waters. Gwen falls in slow motion..."
"No! " The anguish and pain from many years ago return in full force. Peter abruptly sits up, sweating, in the darkness on his bed. It was just a nightmare. He looked at the clock - 2AM. He has only been a sleep for one hour - the nightmares keep reoccurring. Yesterday, the nightmare was about Uncle Ben, an image of him impaled by a tentacle and asking Peter, 'why did you let this happen?' He can't sleep - has to get up, and get out into the night air.
A month ago, Peter had regained control of his mind and body after Octo Octavius had taken control for many months, and with the help of Miguel O'Hara and the Avengers had ended the Goblin Wars. Peter was now in the process of putting his life back in order. He discovered that he is a founder/CEO of Parker Industries, and, practically alienated all those closest to him; he pushed Mary Jane, the woman, he supposed loves the most, into another person's arms. And then he had to break the news to Ann Marcioni, Octavius' fiancee; he felt so guilty. Having trouble sleeping at night was an understatement.
A few weeks ago, the Avengers has checked him physically and has performed all types of brain scans. All indications are that the villain Octo Octavius has been permanently removed and won't be coming back.*1
He can feel the night air brushing past his mask as he swung. He wanted to go higher, faster, as if he can leave the pain and guilt behind him. He reaches out to one of the higher buildings, lands on a ledge overseeing the NYC horizon and goes into his familiar crouch. He takes deep breaths hoping the cool air numb his emotions.
'I am so sorry for failing you Gwen, Uncle Ben.' The pain from losing his love ones, the guilt from not being able to save them, and the self-hatred for being the survivor, all these emotions that he felt many years ago, were again tearing at his soul. The pains that had at one time healed have all returned in the harshest way. To make matters worse, the emptiness seem to be worsening - augmented by the re-occurring nightmares. He crosses his arms and held them close to his chest in the hopes of alleviating the pain within him. 'What did Doc Ock do to me? I need to talk to someone, help sort things out.' He shoots a web line to the nearest building and swings into the night air, hoping the adrenaline and the rush from a crime scene will soothe the pain.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
In one of the dark alleys below, a person in a hood with dark shades chases a middle-aged woman into a dead end alley.
"Someone help me please! Someone.. " screamed the lady.
"I just want to your purse lady! Just hand over the purse, and you won't get hurt." He draws out a knife and slowly heads toward the trapped woman.
"I would turn around and head out of here if I were you," the red and blue vigilante leaps down from the wall 20 feet above, and lands between the lady and the mugger.
"I just need some cash, man..!" the mugger in desperation jabs at Spider-Man with his knife.
"Then get a job!" And in an instant, with one slap, Spider-Man knocks the knife out of the assailant's hand. And with the other hand, he pushes him hard against the alley wall, knocking the air out of the mugger's lungs, and the hood off his head.
At arm's length, Spider-Man stares at the assailant, a slightly overweight man with short brown hair, using sunglasses to cover his bloodshot eyes. 'A drug addict,' thought Spidey. As he stares, the face before him transforms into a rounder face, with a Moe-like haircut. He then sees Doc Ock laughing at him, 'I am the Superior Spider-Man.'
"Like hell you are! You're dead! Get out of my head!" He slaps the thug again and then again - only to be interrupted by the victim's female voice, ""Spider-Man, I think the person is already unconscious."
Spider-Man steps back, 'Oh God, what have I done?! I almost beaten him to a bloody pulp.'
*1. Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #3
