As always I really appreciate the reviews. I can't believe I got three reviews in one day! School is over so now I can write and update more often. I'll even try to update a couple times a week. It's time to bring the sand! This is my first major fight scene ever so please let me know if you like it and what I can do to improve it. Spectacular Spider-man doesn't belong to me. Sigh. Please enjoy!
Peter's vision was suddenly blinded by the rush of sand slamming into him. He was pinned back against the brick wall and started to feel it give way. Peter was thrown out of the other side of the building and crashed into a dumpster, denting it and getting covered in garbage. Peter groaned. "Come on Sandman, this suit is dry clean only!" Peter got back up to his feet as Sandman approached him.
"Sorry Spidey, I'll help you pick up the tab." Sandman swung his arm forward and it shifted into a giant fist made of sand. Peter nimbly jumped over it and grabbed onto the arm and did a handstand. Peter then cart wheeled forward along the long arm of sand. Peter grabbed onto the arm and swung his foot around with all of his force and delivered a devastating kick to Sandman's face. Sandman took a step back. A hole was visible in his face and it slowly began to fill with sand again. Sandman laughed and another fist came out of his chest and made a bee line straight for Peter. Peter quickly sent out a web line and swung out of reach came to a rest on the side of a building.
Come on Parker! Think! How did you beat Sandman last time? I had him covered in cement and he became soaked in water and froze. Sweat ran down Peter's neck and turned the sand in his suit to mud. It's the middle of April; I won't be able to freeze him. Maybe heat would work. Yeah. It's time to apply what I learned in science class. He's made out silicates and different minerals like sand. If I could heat him up high enough the minerals would crystallize and he'd shatter like glass. But how am I going to do that? Where's the Human Torch when you need him? I guess I could always throw him in some water and watch him fall apart like a sand castle.
Sandman's body began to stretch and he began to rapidly rise to perch. I'll just have to make it up as I go along. Peter leaped off the building and quickly turned around in mid air so he had Sandman in his sight. He sent out web lines from both of his wrists to two sides of buildings far down and was flung forward like a slingshot. Peter crashed into Sandman with great force and clouds of sand were sent up. Peter landed lightly on his feet and surveyed the spread out pile of sand in front oh him. "Jeez, you should really pull yourself together, you're falling apart."
Peter's spidey sense tingled. Peter quickly ducked forward as sand quickly flew past where his head had just been. It kept on going and crashed into a car and knocked over a traffic light. Peter squatted down in battle position with his legs spread out and one arm placed forward. Peter was surrounded by sand that began to rise up in a sea of tentacles. They waved around cautiously as if probing for weakness. "This is a new move, trying to go for a nautical theme eh?" Sandman's disembodied voice responded.
"What can I say; you pick up a lot of new moves in the slammer."
"I can see that," Peter said as a sand tentacle rushed out him. Peter quickly chopped at the base and it felt into a pile of sand. The sand slowly trickled back into the sea of tentacles and another one sprang up. "Alright, time to improvise." Peter backed flipped onto a traffic light and sent out a web line. It connected with a mail box. Peter yanked it up and hurled it taking out the tentacles. Sorry U.S. Postal Service. Sandman quickly reformed into his human shape and shifted his hands into a mace and a hammer. He rushed forward and swung at Peter who nimbly dodged from side to side.
Peter ran forward and slid underneath Sandman's legs and sent out a web line to Sandman's rear and flipped him on to his back. Peter jumped up and came down with a hard punch to Sandman's chest. Peter's fist connected with concrete and a groan escaped his lips. Sandman's chest had dissipated at the last second. It quickly reformed trapping Peter's fist. Peter yanked as hard as he could but he couldn't get it free. Sandman grinned.
"Nighty night, web head," Sandman said as he brought down his hammer fist down on Peter's head. Peter's vision darkened for a moment and then came quickly back into painful focus. Peter felt himself being lifted up. Another blow sent him flying across the street; the asphalt was being thrown up and could see the path that Peter had been thrown across the street. Peter wearily got to his feet. His costume was torn up in several places and Peter could taste blood in his mouth. Well this is just great. So much for promising Gwen I would stay safe. Peter looked up and saw Sandman approaching. There was no rest for the weary.
Peter looked around and say the damage that there fight had brought. Car alarms were going off, and people were screaming, and fire hydrants were spraying out water. The fire hydrants! If he could just lure Sandman away somewhere and spray him with the fire hydrants he would go from Sandman to Mudman. But where could he go? New York was populated by millions and it would be hard to find a deserted area. Peter sighed. He'd have to figure something out. Innocent people could get hurt. He had a responsibility to uphold.
Sandman rushed at him and the wall he was just leaning against crumbled in a cloud of dust. A look of confusion crossed Sandman's face. Spider-man wasn't there. "Hey Marko, are you looking for me?" Peter swung around and grabbed Sandman by the arm. He swung around to build up force and threw Sandman to the ground. A crater formed from the impact. Sandman got to his feet uneasily and rubbed his head and groaned. Something hard hit Sandman and he looked up. "C'mon Sandman, this is no time to lie around. I thought you were going to pound me into the side of the pavement or something." Peter sent out another web ball to emphasize his point.
"Just you wait Spidey," Sandman yelled angrily. "You're gonna be six feet under the ground by the time I'm done with you!" Peter leaned back from his perch on top of a building and yawned.
"You sure you can back up the threat?" Peter said mockingly. It was working. Sandman was definitely getting angrier. Sandman turned into a whirlwind of sand and began to rise off the ground. This was either very good or very bad, but at least Peter had a plan now. "We're playing follow the leader now Sandy, so try and keep up." Peter began to quickly swing high above the New York streets. Sandman began to catch up. He passed Peter and rematerialized off the side of a building directly in front of Peter. Peter let go of his webbing and swung above Sandman. Peter did a handstand on Sandman's head and then gave him a vicious kick with both legs that sent him plummeting to the ground.
Sandman sent out a portion of his sand down below to cushion his impact. He landed a lot more gently than the last time.
"Oh so you can teach an old dog new tricks," Peter called down to the street.
"Old!" Sandman cried out indignantly. "I'll have you know I'm only thirty-three."
"Wow! Thirty-three and you're still not doing anything with your life. I couldn't tell from your sandy, grainy complexion. Use some moisturizer to look younger."
Sandman ran over and picked up a car. "I'm glad I got another chance to finish you off. Even better I'm getting paid for this," he said as he raised the car over his head. Peter's eyes widened.
"Paid? Who's paying you to take me out? Not the Big Man again, is it?" Sandman cursed under his breath. He couldn't seem to keep his big mouth shut.
"Forget I said anything. Nobody needs to pay me to get rid of you." With this Sandman hurled the car that he been holding at Peter. Peter quickly dodged the incoming Honda. Peter glanced below and saw several people down below. Damn! The car was going to crush them! Peter quickly jumped from building to building, sending out web lines as he went to create a web to catch the car. Gravity began to work against the Honda and it began to fall. People screamed. The webs were slowing it down but it wasn't stopping. Peter shot out more webs from his spinners and pulled the car up with all of his strength.
The Honda descended slowly and finally came to a stop inches above an oblivious elderly man crossing the street. The car was really taking a toll on Peter. His muscles ached and he didn't know how much longer he could hold it. "Um, excuse me sir, but you please hurry up!" Peter shouted.
"What?" the old man shouted deafly, continuing to cross the street at a snail's pace.
"A car is going to crush you! Move faster!" Peter yelled desperately.
"Young whippersnappers, they think that everything is so important and that you have to rush. Slow down and smell the roses. That's what I always say," the man muttered. Peter let out a groan of frustration. The old man finally reached the other side. Peter lowered the car to the ground with a sigh of relief. He turned and saw Sandman laughing at him.
"Hey! I don't remember you laughing when you saved all those people on the oil tanker." This shut Sandman up.
"Yo, Spidey, that was a one time deal. I saved those people because I wanted to. Maybe if you sit still and let me beat you to a pulp, innocent people won't get hurt," Sandman said reasonably. Peter shook his head tiredly.
"I can't do that. I guess I'll have to finish you off quickly." Sandman spread his legs out and took a battle stance.
"I'd like to see you try."
Peter ran forward and jumped up high with a hand spring. Sandman was ready for him and Peter was met by a giant fist of sand. Peter sailed back into a computer store and broke its glass window. Peter quickly got up and swung two computers at Sandman with his webs. Sandman put his two arms together and turned them into a giant shield. The computers were embedded into the sand. Sandman dissolved the sand and the computers fell to the ground and broke. Sandman fell into a pile of sand. The pile rushed forward towards Peter. Peter jumped and clung to a wall. He checked his vantage point. There were several fire hydrants just down the street; all he had to do was lure Sandman there.
Suddenly Sandman jumped up and grabbed Peter and body slammed him into the ground. Peter nearly blacked out. It felt like he had been hit by a truck. Who knew that sand was so heavy? Sandman lifted up Peter and slashed him across his chest with a sand sword. Blood spurted out and Peter screamed. Peter side kicked Sandman's legs out from beneath him and slammed him head first into the ground. Peter stood up and winced at the pain. He shot out some web and used it to bandage his chest wound. He had to get to those hydrants. Peter swung off to the end of the street. He was nearly there when Sandman quickly shot out sand like cannon and sliced straight through his web line.
Peter fell but was able to land on his feet and keep running. The fire hydrants were behind him and Sandman was in front of him. Sandman laughed with a grin on his face. Peter raised his eyebrows in confusion. "I've always wanted to try out this new trick of mine. Right now seems to be the perfect time to do it." He has a new trick? Peter thought. What's he talking about? Sandman fell apart and became a pile of sand. Peter laughed.
"That's your new trick? Wow! Why don't you play dead while you're at it?" Peter stopped laughing when he saw something begin to emerge from the sand. Slowly two figures emerged from the sand. Instead of one there were two Sandmen, both identical. "Oh," Peter said quietly. "That's what you meant by a new trick." Both of the Sandmen nodded.
"So web head…" the first one said.
"How do you like our trick?" the second one finished. Peter groaned.
"I don't like it all." They both then rushed him and attacked him with a furry. Sand began to fill the air. Peter quickly dodged both of their attacks and was very grateful for his spidey sense. I just need them to hold still long enough. Peter behind the line of fire hydrants. He shot out webs from his spinners and bound the two Sandmen together. That will hold only for a second. Peter then ran along the line of hydrants and smashed each of them with his foot. Water shot out and began to soak the two Sandmen. They both yelled and broke free of the webbing. They tried to get away, but they could hold their form and fell down as a puddle of mush.
From atop a rooftop Perry Atherton shook his head. He should have never hired that incompetent fool. Even worse, he let it slip that someone was after Spider-man. Spider-man would be on the look out and that would make it difficult for his boss and business to prosper. Perry's cell phone ran. He swore. If it wasn't one bloody thing, it was another. He answered it. Perry knew who it would be.
"Atherton, has the spider been taken care off?" Perry sighed.
"I regret to say milord that he hasn't. My trust was placed in the wrong place."
"Make sure that it doesn't happen again. In our kind of business, we can't make any mistakes."
Perry began to sweat nervously. "Yes milord. It won't happen again."
"For your sake, I hope so." The call ended. Perry looked across the New York skyline and ran his hand through his black hair. He would need someone else to hunt Spider-man down. Someone capable, he would have to look into it.
Peter knelt down beside the partially liquefied Sandman. Sandman refused to look him in the eye. Police sirens could be heard in the distance. "Marko, earlier you said that someone paid you to take me out. Who was it?"
"It's not Marko, my name's Sandman," Sandman said half heartedly.
"Fine Sandman, who was it?" Sandman sighed.
"It was some British guy, who was going set up some criminal business here in New York. That's all I know. He never told me his name or his organization." Peter nodded.
"Thanks, Sandman." Peter was about to swing off but Sandman called out.
"Hey web head!" Peter turned to look at him. The police were pulling up in their cars. "I'm gonna get you next time. Then I'm going to get my big score. Got that?" Peter nodded.
"Of course you are. See you later Mudman." As Peter swung off he could hear Sandman yell, "My name is Sandman not Mudman!"
Peter swung near Gwen's house and changed out of his spidey suit. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door. Gwen opened it and ran out to give him a hug.
"Peter! Are you alright? You never came back to the alley." Peter laughed.
"I'm fine Gwen, honest." Peter took a step into the light and Gwen got a good look at him. She let out a gasp.
"Oh Peter… What happened to you," she asked, concern written all over her face. Peter's face and arms were covered in bruises, he had a black eye, and his mouth was bloodied. Gwen put a hand on his chest and Peter took a step back and let out a yelp. "Peter," Gwen said seriously. "I know something is going on. Tell me." It wasn't a request. It was a command.
Peter sighed. "You're right Gwen, something is going on, but I can't tell you." Gwen looked like she was about to protest but Peter put a finger to her lips. "I don't want you to get hurt. You have trust that I'm doing the right thing. If you got hurt I would never be able to forgive myself." Peter looked into eyes pleadingly. "So please, don't ask," he said softly. Gwen nodded slowly.
"Alright Peter. I wont ask, for now."
Peter smiled. "Thank you Gwen."
"C'mon. I think I have a steak for your eye and you could use some bandages." Peter followed her into the house.
Woo Hooh! I just hit the 10,000 word mark! How much longer will Peter keep his secret from Gwen? What will Perry Atherton do next? I'm open to ideas and any constructive criticism. Once again guys, your reviews mean so much to me and are what keeps me going. Please review and tell me whether you love it, hate it, and why.