AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! My apologies for the wait on this update. Times seems to pass by so fast, I hadn't realized it had been more than a month since chapter 3. Safe to say, though, I won't be giving up on this story. : )

I decided to split this chapter into two, mostly because it would take me longer to update if I added everything I wanted into it. Figured the wait had been long enough. Hopefully you'll enjoy the chapter! I'll try to get number 5 out sooner than later (I already have part of it written). It might be a week or two, however, since I have a fanfiction idea that I'm dying to write.

Also, I changed the last sentence of chapter 3 so that Peter's heading to Gwen's, not to his home.

Thanks so much for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! Your support helps me to write faster!

Disclaimer: I do not own Spider-Man, the movies, or the comics. I only own the writing, story, and some OCs later on.

-Indigo


I began running to Gwen's apartment building in a complete daze, sometimes swinging from rooftops and other times just sprinting through the streets. I had to warn her. I had to project her. I had to do... something! Adrenaline was racing through my veins like ice, but I barely even noticed. My vision kept on threatening to black out.

People stared at me, doubtless wondering what Spider-Man was heading off so quickly to do. I couldn't let them distract me, though. I had to see Gwen, make sure she was safe. Fear tickled the back of my mind as it shoved terrifying images flashing before me... Gwen being kidnapped, hurt, killed. I tried to push them away, but they were overpowering me. My breath was coming in quick, short gasps and a cold sweat coated every inch of my body.

If anything happened to her because of me, I would never forgive myself. I thought I knew all about putting blame on myself. Turns out, I didn't have a clue. I hadn't known Captain Stacy that well. I'd known Dr. Connors, but I always knew something was off about him. It wasn't the same, not by a long shot. The only thing that compared was Uncle Ben's death, though that I hadn't been able to prevent. But this was Gwen. She was my best friend, I cared deeply about her. I couldn't stand the thought of putting her in harm's way.

Even though I knew I wasn't thinking clearly, I still charged on ahead. I dragged air forcefully into my already burning lungs. Nothing could account for the desperation I felt. When the building came into sight I put on an extra burst of speed, racing across a roof and launching myself across the street. I began climbing up a few stories, almost loosing grip in my urgency. I burst in through her window - she leaves it unlocked for me, knowing that I commonly drop in - and had to stop myself from yelling out her name. I glanced around. The light was off and she wasn't in the room.

My throat seemed to drop into my stomach and I swallowed down rising bile. Okay, I coached myself, just because she isn't here does not mean that something's happened. Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe she's out with friends. Or... something. I wished that the little pep talk had done more good. In all honesty, it just made me more fidgety and anxious. I wanted to go talk with Gwen's mom, but it would appear odd if I just suddenly showed up in their house. When I began to reach into my backpack to grab my phone to text Gwen, I noticed hers laying uselessly on the bed.

"Shit," I mumbled to myself and then repeated the curse, this time louder. My one connection to her was gone. I fell to the floor and pulled of my mask, shocked when I felt dampness on my face. Had I started crying? I hurriedly brushed away the tears. It wasn't out of sadness, not yet. The panic and anxiety had toyed with my emotions, knocking away my heavily-guarded barriers and leaving my soul raw.

I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my forehead there, running my hands through my hair. Slowly, I took a few much-needed deep and soothing breaths. I had to calm down. By this time, I was sure I was in a complete panic and was about to begin hyperventilating. I raised my head and took another look around. Nothing out of place; her room was clean and orderly, like always. I put back on my mask when I decided it was time to head elsewhere.

I stood carefully, bracing one hand on the bed as I pulled myself shakily to my feet. After a few more measured breaths, I headed for the window and yanked myself up on the sill, perching there. I gazed out into the city and noticed it had gotten almost fully dark out. Various colored lights were visible everywhere I looked. Aunt May must be wondering where I was, but I couldn't go home. Not now. Way too much was currently at stake.

Suddenly, an idea on how to talk to Mrs. Stacy came to me. It was so obvious I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before now. As soon as I had moved out of the window and closed it, I started down the building. I used the fire escape for occasional balance, but I mostly just crawled my way down. I jumped to the ground when I was ten feet away and promptly dashed into a dark street. A few people lingered about, but I pulled out my phone anyway and dialed the Stacy's home number.

I had about given up hope of them answering when someone picked up.

"Hi, Mrs. Stacy? It's Peter," I responded, hoping my voice wasn't as shaky as I thought it sounded. "Uhm... Is Gwen there?" I swallowed.

There was a brief hesitation and then she said, "Oh, hello Peter. And no, she isn't. I haven't seen or heard from her since she got out of school. Why, is something wrong? You sound out of breath."

I laughed nervously and moved the phone to my other ear. "No, no. Everything's fine. Can you, uh, let me know if you hear from her? I'd like to talk to her, it's important."

"All right, I certainly will. Glad to know you two are talking again. Is that all you need?"

"Thanks so much, and yeah, it is. Bye, Mrs. Stacy," I said, already beginning to pull the phone away from my ear. I ended the call and put my hand to my forehead, sinking down the wall I was leaning against. She didn't know where Gwen was. It wasn't like Gwen to just disappear after school, she would have let her mom know. Wouldn't she have? I grunted and wondered what to do next.

I wasn't a detective or anything. I just helped fight crime. Knowing where to look for someone or where to find clues? I didn't even know where to even begin. Plus, it was getting late. I played with the idea of heading home and starting off fresh tomorrow, but I knew I wouldn't be able to rest all night.

I tried every immediate thing that came to my mind when I thought of where to find her. I called up a few of Gwen's closer friends, but they all hadn't seen her since she left school. She wasn't at any of her usual hang-outs. I'd even called the school and asked if they had heard anything.

Only one option was left that I could think of. I headed to the address that was written on the wall, the one that I was told to meet up at a few days from now. I cautiously made my way through the ever-darkening streets. I was nervous about what I would find at the location. Was it a trap? Would something terrible happen if I went there? I swallowed, pushing aside my own fears. Gwen was all that mattered. I couldn't put my own safety above hers.

The address led me to a vacant lot. There were a few weeds scattered on the ground and it was fenced it. Trash and other unseemly items were thrown about. After doing a quick scan for danger, I hopped the fence and dropped to the other side. The barbed-wire at the top had slit open my hand and I felt warm blood trickle down my fingers. I should have been more careful, it was a sloppy mistake.

Even though I didn't see anything that would give me any leads straight off, I still walked around the lot. It wasn't very big. A few bricks were stacked in one corner, probably from some long-abandoned construction project. I knew it wasn't likely, but I hoped that I'd find at least something. Instead, the search yielded nothing.

By the time I finished, it was nearing midnight. I had run out of options, no further ideas sprang into my mind. I didn't want to acknowledge the inevitable, though it was staring me straight in the face. Gwen was missing. Those three words felt like a dagger to my heart and with each moment that passed, that blade was being twisted.

I'd make the bastards that kidnapped her regret the day they were brought into this world. I had a futile hope that somehow, someway, she'd just appear at school in a few hours and everything would be all right. But I knew that this fantasy would probably never be true. I'd put her in danger, being seen with her as Spider-Man. And now it was she, not me, that was paying the price.

Out of alternatives and completely exhausted, I headed home. On my walk back, I put on my clothes over my suit and took off my mask. It was the usual thing I did when coming home, just has to be sure no one saw me. I unlocked the door slowly, hoping that Aunt May had gone to sleep. She had, which I was thankful for. As quietly as I could, I headed up to my room and collapsed on the bed.

I didn't get any sleep that night.