A/N:Hey y'all, yes I know,
'm
such a bad bad bad lil author for making y'all wait soooo long once
again for a new chapter!!! And I really do know how much it sucks
waiting when you're really into a story. All I can say is I
remained flattered by those who truly enjoy and love this story and
continue to review and email asking when I'll update. If you guys
didn't keep pestering I truly doubt we woulda made it thus far.
So please continue to hound me and I will produce as often as I
can. I will be including song title and artists from now on since
each chapter does begin with a song. Enjoy!
I thought this song was fitting for this chapter since its Widow Maker's first real appearance and I thought the lyrics fit her thoughts and perhaps would better explain her rash behavior i.e. psychotic tendancies a bit further. I guess you could best describe her as being captured by her train of thoughts and that train ran away with her. Kinda reminded me of the chic who was just on the mtv spider-man who was obsessed with him... ok now 'm babbling, just read and you'll understand 'm sure. ;)
Evanescence- Going Under
Chapter 10: The Widow Strikes
Now I will tell you what I've done for you
50 thousand tears I've cried
Screaming deceiving and bleeding for you
And you still won't hear me
Don't want your hand this time I'll save myself
Maybe I'll wake up for once
Not tormented daily defeated by you
Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom
I'm dying again
I'm going under
Drowning in you
I'm falling forever
I've got to break through
I'm going under
Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies
So I don't know what's real and what's not
Always confusing the thoughts in my head
So I can't trust myself anymore
I'm dying again
I'm going under
Drowning in you
I'm falling forever
I've got to break through
So go on and scream
Scream at me I'm so far away
I won't be broken again
I've got to breathe I can't keep going under
It was early afternoon the next day when Peter finally stepped back into the Daily Bugle building. He went about his usual routine, which consisted of pouring a cup of coffee and having a talk with Ben and Betty about the latest news. Their talks were often beneficial to his work, leading him to important news events and photographs for Jonah. At the same time, he was also presented with the more than likely chance for Spidey to get involved in situations where his assistance was required. But with Christmas only two days away, and the amount of snowfall left on the ground within the city and without, there was little news of which to speak.
Instead they settled for discussing holidays plans: what they had to give Jameson and how he'd ungraciously grumble about it no matter what the gift, their holiday bonus from Scrooge himself, and the annual Christmas party.
"JJ's first wish on his Christmas list has gotta be getting Spider-Man unmasked ..." Ben chuckled, as he sat on the break room table.
"With a big red bow?" Betty added with a chuckle of her own.
Peter smiled goofily. "Yeah, and I have a real job instead of freelancing..."
"Another impossible dream 'm afraid son," Ben shook his head in a mixture of disgust and dissapointment. He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "If it were up to me, 'd replace Brock with you any day. Brock's got no talent...."
"And he never catches Spider-Man's good side," Betty teased.
Peter laughed before biting into a donut.
"That's reserved for our talented Mr. Parker..." a feminine voice proclaimed, coming from behind Peter.
All three heads turned at once to see who had joined them.
"Hi everyone," Amber smiled joyfully.
Peter's mouth would've hung wide open if he wasn't chewing the donut.
Amber was looking quite stunning, wearing a festive red business skirt and an off-white blouse with a green wreath pin. Her hair was half tied back, streaks of shock white blonde standing out amongst the other golden tendrils. Her dark eyes smoldered in contrast to her glossy pink lips.
"Ms. Dieson..." Betty nodded curtly. She turned her head back to Peter, raising her chin in annoyance at the interruption.
"Afternoon ma'am," Ben smiled warmly. "How are you today?"
Peter was intrigued by Betty's polite, yet brief acknowledgment of Amber. Now, he knew full well Betty was one who had to warm up to someone before she welcomed you to their tight knit circle of DB friends. Peter remembered she wasn't exactly a good friend of his at first, but she'd always been warm and kind, much like Ben. What was it about Amber that made her so curt? Was she bothered by Amber's beauty? Betty was a little older herself, but definitely a beautiful woman. Pete mulled the thought over in his head as he finished up his jelly-filled pastry.
"I'm well, thank you, Ben..." she smiled prettily for the elder man. "I'm already over Jameson's harsh attitude. You guys were right; he is just the same with everyone. I shouldn't be discouraged by his ... constructive... although rude ... criticism." she stood beside Peter. "Peter cheered me up the other day. It was very sweet of him." Amber placed a hand on his shoulder in appreciation. "He taught me to use Jameson's criticism as a tool to produce better work."
Betty watched the manicured hand resting on her friend's shoulder with scrutiny.
"Just glad I could help," Peter shrugged, blushing a bit.
"How nice...." Betty drawled, arms crossed. "If you all will excuse me, my break is over. I have a few errands to take care of for Mr. Jameson before I head out." She smiled at Ben, touching his arm before planting a friendly kiss on his cheek. "If I don't see you later, have a good holiday, Ben. Say hello to the wife and kids."
"You do the same now, Miss Brant." Ben answered with a chipper grin.
"Peter..." Betty grinned, stepping up to give him a kiss and hug. "Happy holidays, dear. Tell the same to your Aunt and that nice woman, Mary Jane, you told me about." Betty glared over his shoulder at Amber, who currently had a look of anger in her eyes until she noticed Betty was watching her. "Maybe you can stop by my desk before you head out, Peter."
"Ok..." he said clueless to as what she'd want. He did notice she was glaring at Amber. "Later Betty..."
"Well," Ben looked at his watch. "No news is good news sometimes eh, Parker? Think I finally understand that now." He huffed, hands in his pockets. "Got a half day cuz of it," he chuckled, patting his blazer pockets. "Best go start my Christmas shopping."
"You mean finish don't you Ben?" Amber smiled sweetly.
"No...no...start..." Ben assured, fishing out a pack of cigarettes from his inside pocket and grinning before leaving the two younger workers alone.
"I'm a little surprised Peter," Amber started once they were alone.
"By?" Peter questioned as he stirred his freshly poured coffee.
"You never called me back. You'd make a girl think you weren't interested in a free lunch!" Amber teased, elbowing him gently. She watched him squirm from the corner of her eye as she set a tea bag into an empty mug.
He chuckled nervously. He could feel his skin getting hot and he was sure his cheeks were as red as his costume. "Uh yeah, sorry Amber ... with the storm and all... I was busy."
"Oh, that's ok. I'm only teasing..." she poured a cup of steaming water into the mug.
"Glad you're feeling renewed after the other day with Jameson though," he reissued, hoping to leave the previous conversation behind.
"Well, thank you," she leaned against the table, comfortably. "I am. I wrote a new story about that rape attack in Queens the other night."
Peter nodded, recalling the dismal story from TV.
"Poor woman, men like that deserve the cruelest punishment possible," she replied coldly, her hands tightening around her mug.
Peter felt his spider sense tingle at the nape of his neck. He furrowed his brow in confusion. He looked to Amber and her eyes were filled with irritation and her lips were pursed together in a scowl. The grip she had on her mug made her knuckles turn white.
"Some men will stop at nothing to hurt women, and it's just not fair. They attack us when we don't want them, reject us when we pour out hearts out to them. We give and love so much and do everything for them. We just wanna love them and take care of them. Then they cheat on us, or claim to love someone else. It's all crap I tell you. Men just continously hurt us, turn us against each other and we're supposed to just take it? I don't think so." She growled. "We'll have our revenge..."
Peter was taken back by her ferocity. Perhaps Amber had been hurt in the past? It was good to feel passionate about a story you were working on, but maybe she's too close to this. Though, it wasn't his job to tell her what story to work on. He supposed any woman would be upset covering a story like that. He remembered the look on Mary Jane's face during the report, and hers was not a pleasant one either. But Amber seemed beyond angry. She looked downright fierce. As if it was she who was attacked.
He frowned with sympathy. "You ok?"
She seemed stuck in a daze. "Huh?"
"Uh... maybe you should cover something else for the Bugle. You look like you're taking this to heart too much," Peter suggested.
"Well, of course. She's a fellow woman..." Amber shrugged it off, then she smiled brightly. "I'm fine, thanks for worrying. You really are a sweetie."
"No problem..." he answered unsure of what else to say.
"So how 'bout that lunch today?" Amber gripped his arm.
Her eyes were soft and her smile was tender again, as if all that anger and tension radiating off of her magically disappeared.
Peter swallowed hard, thinking of what to say. Then something logical and truthful popped into his head. "I don't have time for a lunch break today, sorry. I have some last minute shopping to do and film developing in the darkroom before I go."
"Aw, that stinks. Maybe tomorrow or after Christmas then?" she offered. "I'm free ... well 'm free during Christmas too..." she shrugged with a sad laugh.
"No family?" he touched her shoulder, sympathetically.
She shook her head, feigning indifference. "No."
"No special someone?" he pryed, hoping she'd say yes so he could prove to MJ that she was just being friendly.
She chuckled bitterly. "No, Peter," she looked down, frowning. "I'm all alone."
He felt his heart twist with guilt. "Don't say that..."
"Least I save a bundle on presents," she sighed, trying to perk up.. "Oh, speaking of..." she lit up brightly. "I have something for you."
"For me?" he raised his brows.
"It's nothing special, just something to say thank you for being so nice to me," she explained.
"Amber..." he was speechless.
"Now, don't worry, I don't want anything in return. I just wanted to do something nice for someone. Its been so long since I could," she jogged off to her makeshift desk. All the freelancers had small, folding table desks and folding chairs in a small corner of the Bugle they were permitted to use.
Peter watched her grab a well-sized box wrapped in silver and gold trims and carry it over to him. He felt a mixture of guilt, surprise, happiness and sadness all at once. "Wow..." he shook his head. "Amber I couldn't..."
"You have to..." she shoved it at him forcefully. Then she smiled. "I'd be so hurt if you didn't accept it."
Peter was taken back by her force. "Well, ok..." he placed it on the table and began unwrapping it. Once the wrapping was removed, a white box was revealed and Peter peeled the lid off, looking inside. He gasped softly, pulling out his present.
A dark brown leather camera case with his initials engraved in bright blue on the side stared back at him.
"Amber..." he fingered the supple leather. "Wow... I..."
"There's sheepskin inside too..." she unzipped the bag to show him. Her face was alight with happiness.
"This is too much Amber. I... don't know what to say...wow...." he grinned.
"Think nothing of it. A friend of mine works in a camera store," she revealed.
"Thank you... I love it..." he put it down gently, as if it were made of glass.
She threw her arms around him and squeezed him close. "I"m so happy you like it!"
Peter was again in shock at her outburst and strength. He hugged her back, unable to help noticing she smelled of cherries and lavender. Her hair felt like spun silk against his cheek. He closed his eyes wondering what he was getting himself into.
From across the room, Betty Brant stood at her desk, glaring with a mix of concern and worry in her eyes at Peter and Amber. Her eyes looked down at the old newspaper article in her hand. The headline read:
HUSBAND GRIEVING MURDERED WIFE, MISTRESS THE PRIME SUSPECT TURNS UP MISSING
The picture below the headline was of a young teen with blonde hair and strikingly similar facial features to Amber.
**********
Peter hurried down the busy streets of Broadway, dodging in and out of panic-stricken shoppers way. With the new Toys R Us on the corner of Broadway and Times Square, all the parents were rushing for last minute presents from Santa. Peter, on the other hand, was headed in the opposite direction which created some crazy pedestrian traffic as he attempted to avoid those frenzy parents.
Although, his goal was much the same as theirs, find a present before time ran out. He hadn't purposefully waited to the last minute to shop, but there was one last thing he wanted to get for Mary Jane. And he felt obligated to get something for Amber, not only because she had bought him a present, but because he felt she deserved something nice. He also felt so guilty that he'd winded up inviting her to Aunt May's house for Christmas dinner. When had he turned into such a sucker? It wasn't until after he'd offered that he remembered MJ would be there as well. But then, he remembered Harry was also invited and maybe he could get Amber interested in Harry. That is, if Harry was over MJ himself. Peter rolled his eyes at the predicament he put them all in. What a dinner this was going to turn out to be! It had all the ingredients for reality tv programming at its best.
He only hoped MJ would understand why he invited Amber and not think of it as something more. Amber sure was beautiful, charming, and sweet, not to mention intelligent and funny, but there was no one for him but Mary Jane. Peter smiled at the thought. Yes, no one could dare compare to her. She was his perfect redheaded angel. He'd love her forever and he'd cherish her every moment he lived.
But he would cherish and love from afar. Because to give her his love was like feeding her poison. And for a few precious moments today, worrying about MJ's feelings and Amber's feelings towards him were his most dreadful concerns and it actually felt good compared to worrying if someone's life was in danger or if he'd make it on time to stop a robbery or an attack.
Just for a moment he felt like a regular guy with everyday concerns. Someone who was not so different from everyone else. He felt that way with MJ yesterday and the day before. She made him feel whole, complete inside and out. She made all the bad stuff seem more tolerable, all the aches and pains he felt more bearable. He felt happy and excited to be near her. She loved to laugh and live and love. And he missed feeling that way.
But he wasn't free to laugh and live and certainly not to love. He was obligated to his duty, to his promise to Uncle Ben and to his vow to keep her safe and alive. With great power, there must come great responsibility! There was those ever true words once again.
With those thoughts running uncontrollably through his mind everyday since she told him that she loved him, he was sure to drive himself insane. He tried to push them aside long enough to find the gift he wanted for her before he chickened out. He'd kept the same frame of mind that he had yesterday when he put those tiles together to tell her, in a subtle way, that he loved her right back. It couldn't hurt to let her know, could it? Just as long as they didn't act on it.
He groaned at his own stupidity. How could it not hurt?! He'd known for a month now how she felt and he couldn't act on it and it ached him to a numbness in his heart. Worse off, he'd loved her for so long, before he even liked girls! They grew up next to each other, he watched her grow more beautiful and further away from him each day. Now that she loved him too, he knew it was far worse off to love each other and not be together, than for him to just ache for her love in return.
She was too good to be second best to his duty as Spider-Man. She was worth more than that. She deserved the best of everything and she deserved a man who could be at her side all the time. Not someone who was running off at all hours of the day and night to fulfill a duty he bestowed upon himself with this great power and the responsibility that came with it.
Of course, MJ would probably answer that with something like, "That's what makes you who you are and I love all of you. I'll stand by you."
Peter envied her strength in love. He didn't hold such belief in love to see you through everything anymore. After all, the one person who loved him most and who he loved was gone because of him. Uncle Ben... He couldn't deal with the grief of losing her the same way.
His love was like a kiss of death and MJ was too precious to him for such a horrid fate. Maybe that was what Gobby was trying to tell him in his nightmare...
He wondered if just withdrawing from life itself as Peter wasn't such a bad idea. Aunt May and MJ would be safe, he'd have no weaknesses then. There was no one to love him, no one for him to love... He felt as if Spider-Man ruled his life and all his decisions already, what would the difference be? The hurting would stop. MJ would go on with her life, Aunt May would be safe.
And if he remained the sliver of himself that was Peter? Aunt May would still have a child that was like her son, Harry a best friend and for MJ, someone who she loved and could never love her in return.
Did he even know how to be Peter anymore? Did he know what it was like to wake in the morning to a shower and breakfast, to go to work, and come home to dinner, TV and friends and then sleep? MJ gave him a taste of that recently and as good as it felt, he knew it wasn't the life he could live.
And as a reminder, his spider sense went off like a gunshot to his nerves. He looked around, searching out the danger that reminded him once again who he'd become and what his life was really all about now. He couldn't see any danger, but his spider sense told him it was close enough to make his entire head buzz. He dodged into an alley behind a huge snow bank, changing into Spider-Man.
Emerging from the alley, he hopped onto the building closest to him and wall crawled to the roof. He searched the city until he heard a cry of terror from behind him. He spun quickly, jumping from the building. He soared into the air landing on another rooftop. He looked down and saw a woman trying to fend off a muscular man with a knife. Another man was sprawled on the ground, apparently knocked out.
"Just gimme your damn wallet lady, or your friend here gets his insides carved out like Christmas dinner!!" the man threatened, gripping her wrists.
She cried for help as he knocked her down, snatching her bag as she fell. She crawled to her fallen guy friend and wept fiercely. "You got what you wanted, now leave us alone!" she pleaded.
"Not a chance," he rummaged through her wallet, searching for money. "For all the trouble you caused me, I should slit both your throats..."
Spidey leapt into action. He landed on a garbage dumpster directly in front of the fallen couple and he glared at the robber. "Now is that anyway to spread the holiday cheer?!"
"Ugh! Spider-Man!" the burly man growled.
"Huh? Where, where?!" Spidey looked left and right quickly. "Darn, and I forgot my autograph book at home! I hope he's as dreamy as everyone says he is?" Spidey sighed.
"You're insane!!" the man snorted, eyes wide in surprise.
"I may just be...." Spidey shrugged indifferently. "I'd be insane to offer you a chance to walk away in one piece too..."
The mugger looked left, then right, attempting a plan to escape. "It's Christmas man... I needed a few extra bucks..." he chuckled nervously, backing away. "Can't blame a broke guy can ya?"
"Hmmm, and slitting their throats would have put you right on Santa's naughty list..." he t-sked. "Besides, you won't have to worry bout Christmas where you're going. I'm sure one of your new girlfriend's will be happy to give you a... present..." Spidey wisecracked.
The mugger made one last futile attempt at escape, but Spidey leaped on him quickly. He thrust his knife at Spider-Man but he dodged it with a warning from his spider sense. The mugger growled in frustration and attempted a second swipe.
Spidey gripped the mugger's wrist and pried the offending object from his grasp. "Now didn't your mother teach you not to play with utensils?" Spidey grabbed his other wrist, trying to hold him down. Despite his overpowering strength, the mugger struggled. He sent a kick into Spidey's ribs that threw him off balance momentarily.
Once Spidey was off of him, he got to his feet and threw another kick into the side of him.
"Go to hell you costumed freak!" he growled, running away like a mad man.
Spidey leaped to his feet, shooting a strand of webbing at the mugger. He snagged the back of the man and pulled hard. "Don't run away!" As he said it the mugger continued to run in place, looking like a dog trying to escape a leash. Spidey turned to the fallen woman who was busy trying to wake the man. "I hate it when they do that..." he said to her.
She gave him a moment of brief attention. "Please, he has my money! I need that money!"
"Have no fear ma'am... I've got this new bait I've been dying to try out and looks like I snagged a 200 pounder...." Spidey pulled hand over hand on the webbing attached to the mugger. "It's all in the wrist, really..." he continued to reel the man in. Now he was helplessly flailing on the floor much like a fish out of water.
The mugger pounded on the floor, screaming. "Lemme go you spider freak!"
"Flattery won't get you anywhere unless you're a gorgeous woman!" Spidey grunted, lifting the heavy man to his feet. He dug into his pocket, pulling out the stolen money and credit cards. Then he webbed up the man from his neck down. "Now, you be a good boy and wait for the boys in blue...."
"You'll pay for this you rotten son of a........"
Spidey squirted his mouth with a glob of webbing. "Put a sock in it will you?" He turned his back from the helpless mugger. He noticed the man was awake now, his head in the woman's lap.
"Oh Roger, thank God you're ok!" the woman smiled, brushing his hair back.
"Emily..." he sat up quickly. He put a hand to his pounding head. "Oh, Emily! I was so scared I lost you! I couldn't bare the thought! I can't go a minute longer pretending! Emily, this could've ended so differently, and this has made me realize that I can't waste anymore time!"
"Roger?" she tilted her head in confusion. "What are you saying?" her eyes fell on the hands now grasping her arms.
"Emily, I love you! I loved you since the day we met! I'm tired of pretending to just be a friend. I want so much more with you! Emily, you mean the world to me and I can't bare another day without you being my lover!" Roger confessed his eyes wide with fear of her reaction.
"Oh..." she closed her eyes.
Spidey cringed.
"Roger, I can't believe this..." she opened her eyes. Then beamed brightly. "Roger I love you too!" she pulled him into a hug. "I waited so long, hoping and wishing that you felt this way..." she giggled happily. "I love you too!!"
"Oh Emily!" he laughed, pulling back just far enough to kiss her.
Spidey couldn't help but smile and blush under his mask. He also couldn't help the bitter irony of the situation before him. He cleared his throat after a few blissful moments. "Ahem..."
They broke apart, looking at Spider-Man shyly.
"Thank you Spider-Man!" the man stood, reaching out to shake his hand.
"Wow..." Spidey accepted, shocked. People being nice to him was something he was certain would take some getting used to. "You're welcome." He handed the money and cards to Roger.
"Yes, thank you for saving us..." the woman, Emily, smiled. She wrapped herself around Roger's arm. "From that man and from each other."
"Yes," Roger agreed. "I've been trying to tell her forever it seems. I guess its really true what they say, you know? It's always in times like these, when you're so close to losing something important, that you realize just how much it means." Roger smiled down to Emily.
Spidey wanted to laugh or cry at the irony of it all. It made his stomach queasy and his heart constrict. He felt their story hitting right on the mark. He could only nod in response. After a moment of silence he finally spoke. "You should get to a payphone and call the police, and make sure you get checked out at the hospital."
"We will," Emily nodded. "Thank you again. We sure have changed our minds about you. You're a real hero."
"Just trying to be a courteous, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man," he replied, looking once again at the mugger all webbed up. "Say hi to your new girlfriend for me." He waved teasingly. He turned back to the couple and nodded. Then he shot a web-line to the top of the building he leapt off of.
"Bye!" they called out.
**********
Betty Brant stepped out of the Bugle in quite a rush. She had special dinner plans tonight and she was already running late with Mr. Jameson's countless tasks monopolizing the majority of her time.
The weather was still frigid, but at least it was 5 degrees warmer than it had been for the past two days. It had been so cold that any kind of increase in temparture made a big difference.
Shivering when an icy wind blew past, she buttoned up her trench coat and slipped on her gloves, walking behind the Bugle building and into an alleyway that cut across to the restaurant she'd promised to meet Ned Leeds at.
Ned was one of the Bugle's most popular reporters, and currently, her boyfriend. Though no one at the Bugle knew that they were dating yet. Betty usually tended to keep her personal life just that, and this breach in protocol with her coworker had her fearing what the office might think if news got out.
Speaking of personal, her thoughts brought her back to Peter Parker and she scowled to herself. He'd never stopped by before he left for the day. She'd assumed that he was growing attached to this Amber Dieson person, who'd appeared out of nowhere mere days ago and swept up the young photographer much as the storm had swept into the city. Betty hadn't trusted her from the moment she'd laid eyes upon the other woman.
Now, granted, she'd been a tough cookie to break... Parker knew that. Hell, Betty had been nothing but unkind to him when they'd first met. It was her way of testing people. But for Betty, Peter had become one of the few friendly faces within the Bugle after only a few days of his acquaintence. He was always polite and patient, his boyish, sometimes awkward demeanor leading her to believe that he was one of the few really good kids out there, just trying to make it in the world. Well, it didn't hurt that he was pretty good looking as well, but Betty only had eyes for Ned.
Still, Peter was a friend, and that Amber character just hadn't sat right with Betty from the start. She was too flashy, too forward with herself. It was as if she expected everyone to open up and like her immediately. And it all seemed so fake. Betty could swear she was older than she claimed as well. Call it women's intuition, but a girl could just tell about these types of thing. Add to that the fact that she flew off the handle with Jameson too easily. Yeah, it didn't take much to piss Jonah off, but Betty had never seen him so angry over a freelancer since Peter. But in contrast, Peter had never provoked JJ intentionally, like she'd overheard Amber doing. There were just a lot of things about this new character that left Betty wondering about her character...
Speaking of, it was just that that really got to Betty. Amber's personality, her attitude, her demeanor. After arguing with Jonah and talking to Peter that day, she'd gone into the women's restroom and thrown a fit. She couldn't quite tell if it was because of Jonah or something Peter had said. Regardless, it had been pretty creepy.
Being the reporter at heart that she was, Betty started investigating Amber's past. That was when she found the article from her former hometown as well as a picture that resembled Amber as a younger woman. The name under the caption was different, and there were some noticable differences between the two, but Betty was almost sure Amber was the mistress of the husband whos wife was brutally murdered in the article.
She had wanted to share the information with Peter in case he was getting too close to her to warn him off. Though Betty was still a bit confused as to why she would have to try and keep him from this girl in the first place. Once, jokingly, she'd asked the photographer if there was anyone special in his life that might be the reason why he lived in daydream-land all of the time. She remembered how his face had lit up when he responded. Mary Jane... MJ.... Then, as if realizing something, the smile faded, the light behind his eyes dimming considerably. "We can't have a relationship," Peter had said. Apparently there were some big problems that they couldn't overcome. Then Peter had looked angry at himself for mentioning her to Betty at all, as if he shouldn't have revealed he cared about her, or anyone else for the matter. It had passed though, and a few days later, and curiousity getting the better of her, Betty had asked about her. He mentioned that MJ was doing well, but that was all he knew about her. He'd seemed so lost about that, as if he'd lost the most important thing in his life.
So that was why the whole fiasco with Amber seemed so strange. While the new girl was very attractive and obviously interested in Parker, Betty was sure Peter was still pining away for this MJ. How was she sure? Well, all Peter ever seemed to do when he wasn't taking pictures or arguing with Jonah was drink coffee and daydream, wearing a goofy smirk not unlike the one she'd seen when she'd asked about MJ the first time. If he was so in love with this girl, why then, would he be accepting Amber's advances?
And that was exactly what it was to Betty. Amber was chasing relentlessly after Peter. She only wished she had gotten to show Peter the article today before he'd left. Pulling it from her pocket book, she studied the words as she walked, hoping to find some kind of absolution that the girl pictured in it was indeed Amber. She just hoped Peter would be in tomorrow so she could give it to him or she'd have to wait until after the holidays were over, and by then, the kid could be knee deep.
"Betty...." a snowy breeze blew against her face, seemingly whispering her name.
Betty whipped around, startled. Nothing but piles of snow and wet trash bags laid behind her. She looked around suspiciously for a moment longer, but still saw nothing. Shrugging to herself, she turned back around and continued walking, convinced that she was just hearing things. The end of the alley was in sight now and soon she'd be back on the populated streets.
"What are you up to Betty?" again she heard that cold voice, whirling around her, right past her eyes this time.
"Who's there?!" Betty growled, trying to sound more angry than scared. She failed miserably, her voice cracking in dry fear.
The wind whipped her hair back and forth across her face and somehow, it seemed to grow darker in the alley around her. She sped up from a walk to a jog, then into an all out run.
Suddenly a tidal wave of blackness slammed into her head on. She fell backwards, the wind knocked painfully out of her. She looked up, clutching her chest as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes were wild, searching desperately to find out who and where her attacker was.
A figure descended upon her then, and Betty looked up at it in fear and confusion. "W-w-ho are you?" she gasped, chest still heaving from her fall.
"You're worst nightmare 'm afraid..." it replied, arms crossed.
Betty's vision swam, momentarily blurred as she tried to regain equilibrium. Once everything came back into focus she was met with the sight of a tall, curve-shaped figure clad entirely in shining black vinyl. The shape could only mean that her attacker was female. She wore narrow, high-heeled boots that reminded Betty of something from one of those ridiculous comic books kids were always reading, and the only shock of color on her was a blood red hourglass pattern printed upon her chest and stomach. Her face was covered with a black mask attatched to the neck of her costume. Raven hair flowed from the face mask and her hands were gloved with the same material as the rest of her costume. Long claws protruded from the tips of the gloves. Her eyes were dark with stormy anger, glinting threateningly in the light of the falling snow.
Betty's heart hammered heavily. The woman looked dangerous enough in the costume, but the bulges of trim, wiry muscle beneath the shiny material gave her even more reason to be afraid. The masked woman's shadow cast a dark glow, seeming to fill the entire alley. Betty shook with fear. "Who are you?!" she repeated trying to stand, to sound brave.
"You are a meddling lil wench," the woman growled with obvious annoyance. "What's the matter? Not big on Spiders? And with that Spider freak running around this city, one would think you'd know one when you see one," she drawled. "I, my dear Miss Brant am the most deadly female spider known to man." She paced back and forth smoothly, studying her prey. Then she spun and appeared in front of Betty's face in an instant, causing the reporter to gasp. "That's a Black Widow, if you didn't know," she informed the other woman haughtily.
"BUT..." she raised a finger, of which there was a deadly black claw attached, and slid it dangerously along the side of Betty's face. The woman in black placed her finger against Betty's lips as to shush her. "...you may call me the Widow Maker." Her eyes were wide with delight and insanity as she told Betty this.
Betty stared at her in a mixture of fear and shock, and, despite her better judgement, a touch of humor. "Widow Maker? So are you like, Spider-Man's sister or something? The bad seed? Evil twin maybe?"
Widow Maker laughed, throwing her head back in overdramatic fashion. "Foolish bitch!" Without warning she smacked Betty hard across the face before snatching the newspaper article Betty still clung to. "I see you still don't understand." She crumbled the article in her hand. "The black widow spider kills the male after mating. I kill those who reject us. Men, women who stand in my way. Whoever, whatever stands in my way."
Betty's heart beat sped up further, if it were possible. She clutched her burning cheek, tasted blood from the inside of her mouth.
"Men who run off with other women on me will not be tolerated. I will kill any woman who dares threaten my happiness!!" she ranted, still leaning threateningly over Betty.
"I don't understand what I have to do with this...." Betty replied, eyes warily following her every movement.
"Meddlesome bitch...." Widow Maker snarled, using her claws to shred the article.
Betty finally put two and two together.
"You think you know. You think you understand...." Widow Maker gripped Betty's coat, lifting her off her feet. "You don't!! I want what's mine and no one will stand in my way. I won't let you meddle in my affairs and ruin my chances with him! I'll kill you before I let you. He's mine!"
"I don't want Peter!" Betty responded desperately. She looked down and locked eyes with the psychotic woman. She knew now without a doubt that it was Amber underneath that crazy costume.
"Liar!" Amber hissed back, so enraged by her bold lie to even care Betty had figured out her identity.. "I saw the way you held him today. I saw you watching us!" Widow Maker tossed Betty hard, into a snow drift beside the building.
Betty hit the wall with a painfilled grunt. She groaned in pain and rolled onto her back, looking up at Amber in disgust. "I knew you were no good!"
Widow Maker savagely kicked Betty in the ribs before she could say more. "Bitch!"
Betty curled into the fetal position, overcome with pain when she heard something crack. This woman was strong. "It's the truth!" she coughed.
"No one will keep me from the man I want," Widow Maker warned. "I will dispose of you."
Betty watched with wide, horror filled eyes as her claws came down towards her face.
"Each one of these claws are filled with Black Widow venom...." Amber purred, wiggling her claws inches from Betty's horror striken features. "The venom of a Black Widow spider is fifteen times more toxic than that of the rattlesnake. There's enough venom in each of these claws to be rid of you once and for all." Happy at this thought, she reached back to strike.
Betty's thoughts turned to the innate desire to survive at all costs, and she somehow found the breath to call out. "There's another woman, not me!"
Widow Maker stopped. "Who?"
Betty felt sick with guilt but she didn't want to die. She would just have to warn Peter in time if she got out of this. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Mary Jane.... Mary Jane Watson...."
Widow Maker's blood red lips formed into a wicked smile and she laughed maniacally. "And so she shall die...." Widow Maker vowed. She closed her fist, leaving only one claw out. "For that information, I'll let you live. But, you will forget who I am and when you wake up. You won't recall any of this."
"The hell I won't!" Betty shot back.
Widow Maker threw a fist into Betty's jaw, sending her flying back into the brick wall. She then grabbed the flailing woman's arm and jabbed her with her exposed claw.
Betty screamed in horror. She felt the effects of the venom invading her system instantly. She felt herself grow wet with cold sweat, her eyelids growing heavy. She was paralyzed, unable to move. Her vision deteriorated as she fought off the urge to pass out.
"Don't worry dear, just enough to put you out and mixed with my special serum. You'll forget all this when you wake in the hospital...." Widow Maker teased Betty by clawing her cheek gently; not hard enough to break skin. "That is if you wake in a hospital."
Before passing out, the last thing Betty heard was her evil laughter, She saw her jump to a hanging line, crawling up and away. A vision of Spider-Man doing much the same played in Betty's head oddly, right before she passed out in the snow behind the Bugle.
I thought this song was fitting for this chapter since its Widow Maker's first real appearance and I thought the lyrics fit her thoughts and perhaps would better explain her rash behavior i.e. psychotic tendancies a bit further. I guess you could best describe her as being captured by her train of thoughts and that train ran away with her. Kinda reminded me of the chic who was just on the mtv spider-man who was obsessed with him... ok now 'm babbling, just read and you'll understand 'm sure. ;)
Evanescence- Going Under
Chapter 10: The Widow Strikes
Now I will tell you what I've done for you
50 thousand tears I've cried
Screaming deceiving and bleeding for you
And you still won't hear me
Don't want your hand this time I'll save myself
Maybe I'll wake up for once
Not tormented daily defeated by you
Just when I thought I'd reached the bottom
I'm dying again
I'm going under
Drowning in you
I'm falling forever
I've got to break through
I'm going under
Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies
So I don't know what's real and what's not
Always confusing the thoughts in my head
So I can't trust myself anymore
I'm dying again
I'm going under
Drowning in you
I'm falling forever
I've got to break through
So go on and scream
Scream at me I'm so far away
I won't be broken again
I've got to breathe I can't keep going under
It was early afternoon the next day when Peter finally stepped back into the Daily Bugle building. He went about his usual routine, which consisted of pouring a cup of coffee and having a talk with Ben and Betty about the latest news. Their talks were often beneficial to his work, leading him to important news events and photographs for Jonah. At the same time, he was also presented with the more than likely chance for Spidey to get involved in situations where his assistance was required. But with Christmas only two days away, and the amount of snowfall left on the ground within the city and without, there was little news of which to speak.
Instead they settled for discussing holidays plans: what they had to give Jameson and how he'd ungraciously grumble about it no matter what the gift, their holiday bonus from Scrooge himself, and the annual Christmas party.
"JJ's first wish on his Christmas list has gotta be getting Spider-Man unmasked ..." Ben chuckled, as he sat on the break room table.
"With a big red bow?" Betty added with a chuckle of her own.
Peter smiled goofily. "Yeah, and I have a real job instead of freelancing..."
"Another impossible dream 'm afraid son," Ben shook his head in a mixture of disgust and dissapointment. He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "If it were up to me, 'd replace Brock with you any day. Brock's got no talent...."
"And he never catches Spider-Man's good side," Betty teased.
Peter laughed before biting into a donut.
"That's reserved for our talented Mr. Parker..." a feminine voice proclaimed, coming from behind Peter.
All three heads turned at once to see who had joined them.
"Hi everyone," Amber smiled joyfully.
Peter's mouth would've hung wide open if he wasn't chewing the donut.
Amber was looking quite stunning, wearing a festive red business skirt and an off-white blouse with a green wreath pin. Her hair was half tied back, streaks of shock white blonde standing out amongst the other golden tendrils. Her dark eyes smoldered in contrast to her glossy pink lips.
"Ms. Dieson..." Betty nodded curtly. She turned her head back to Peter, raising her chin in annoyance at the interruption.
"Afternoon ma'am," Ben smiled warmly. "How are you today?"
Peter was intrigued by Betty's polite, yet brief acknowledgment of Amber. Now, he knew full well Betty was one who had to warm up to someone before she welcomed you to their tight knit circle of DB friends. Peter remembered she wasn't exactly a good friend of his at first, but she'd always been warm and kind, much like Ben. What was it about Amber that made her so curt? Was she bothered by Amber's beauty? Betty was a little older herself, but definitely a beautiful woman. Pete mulled the thought over in his head as he finished up his jelly-filled pastry.
"I'm well, thank you, Ben..." she smiled prettily for the elder man. "I'm already over Jameson's harsh attitude. You guys were right; he is just the same with everyone. I shouldn't be discouraged by his ... constructive... although rude ... criticism." she stood beside Peter. "Peter cheered me up the other day. It was very sweet of him." Amber placed a hand on his shoulder in appreciation. "He taught me to use Jameson's criticism as a tool to produce better work."
Betty watched the manicured hand resting on her friend's shoulder with scrutiny.
"Just glad I could help," Peter shrugged, blushing a bit.
"How nice...." Betty drawled, arms crossed. "If you all will excuse me, my break is over. I have a few errands to take care of for Mr. Jameson before I head out." She smiled at Ben, touching his arm before planting a friendly kiss on his cheek. "If I don't see you later, have a good holiday, Ben. Say hello to the wife and kids."
"You do the same now, Miss Brant." Ben answered with a chipper grin.
"Peter..." Betty grinned, stepping up to give him a kiss and hug. "Happy holidays, dear. Tell the same to your Aunt and that nice woman, Mary Jane, you told me about." Betty glared over his shoulder at Amber, who currently had a look of anger in her eyes until she noticed Betty was watching her. "Maybe you can stop by my desk before you head out, Peter."
"Ok..." he said clueless to as what she'd want. He did notice she was glaring at Amber. "Later Betty..."
"Well," Ben looked at his watch. "No news is good news sometimes eh, Parker? Think I finally understand that now." He huffed, hands in his pockets. "Got a half day cuz of it," he chuckled, patting his blazer pockets. "Best go start my Christmas shopping."
"You mean finish don't you Ben?" Amber smiled sweetly.
"No...no...start..." Ben assured, fishing out a pack of cigarettes from his inside pocket and grinning before leaving the two younger workers alone.
"I'm a little surprised Peter," Amber started once they were alone.
"By?" Peter questioned as he stirred his freshly poured coffee.
"You never called me back. You'd make a girl think you weren't interested in a free lunch!" Amber teased, elbowing him gently. She watched him squirm from the corner of her eye as she set a tea bag into an empty mug.
He chuckled nervously. He could feel his skin getting hot and he was sure his cheeks were as red as his costume. "Uh yeah, sorry Amber ... with the storm and all... I was busy."
"Oh, that's ok. I'm only teasing..." she poured a cup of steaming water into the mug.
"Glad you're feeling renewed after the other day with Jameson though," he reissued, hoping to leave the previous conversation behind.
"Well, thank you," she leaned against the table, comfortably. "I am. I wrote a new story about that rape attack in Queens the other night."
Peter nodded, recalling the dismal story from TV.
"Poor woman, men like that deserve the cruelest punishment possible," she replied coldly, her hands tightening around her mug.
Peter felt his spider sense tingle at the nape of his neck. He furrowed his brow in confusion. He looked to Amber and her eyes were filled with irritation and her lips were pursed together in a scowl. The grip she had on her mug made her knuckles turn white.
"Some men will stop at nothing to hurt women, and it's just not fair. They attack us when we don't want them, reject us when we pour out hearts out to them. We give and love so much and do everything for them. We just wanna love them and take care of them. Then they cheat on us, or claim to love someone else. It's all crap I tell you. Men just continously hurt us, turn us against each other and we're supposed to just take it? I don't think so." She growled. "We'll have our revenge..."
Peter was taken back by her ferocity. Perhaps Amber had been hurt in the past? It was good to feel passionate about a story you were working on, but maybe she's too close to this. Though, it wasn't his job to tell her what story to work on. He supposed any woman would be upset covering a story like that. He remembered the look on Mary Jane's face during the report, and hers was not a pleasant one either. But Amber seemed beyond angry. She looked downright fierce. As if it was she who was attacked.
He frowned with sympathy. "You ok?"
She seemed stuck in a daze. "Huh?"
"Uh... maybe you should cover something else for the Bugle. You look like you're taking this to heart too much," Peter suggested.
"Well, of course. She's a fellow woman..." Amber shrugged it off, then she smiled brightly. "I'm fine, thanks for worrying. You really are a sweetie."
"No problem..." he answered unsure of what else to say.
"So how 'bout that lunch today?" Amber gripped his arm.
Her eyes were soft and her smile was tender again, as if all that anger and tension radiating off of her magically disappeared.
Peter swallowed hard, thinking of what to say. Then something logical and truthful popped into his head. "I don't have time for a lunch break today, sorry. I have some last minute shopping to do and film developing in the darkroom before I go."
"Aw, that stinks. Maybe tomorrow or after Christmas then?" she offered. "I'm free ... well 'm free during Christmas too..." she shrugged with a sad laugh.
"No family?" he touched her shoulder, sympathetically.
She shook her head, feigning indifference. "No."
"No special someone?" he pryed, hoping she'd say yes so he could prove to MJ that she was just being friendly.
She chuckled bitterly. "No, Peter," she looked down, frowning. "I'm all alone."
He felt his heart twist with guilt. "Don't say that..."
"Least I save a bundle on presents," she sighed, trying to perk up.. "Oh, speaking of..." she lit up brightly. "I have something for you."
"For me?" he raised his brows.
"It's nothing special, just something to say thank you for being so nice to me," she explained.
"Amber..." he was speechless.
"Now, don't worry, I don't want anything in return. I just wanted to do something nice for someone. Its been so long since I could," she jogged off to her makeshift desk. All the freelancers had small, folding table desks and folding chairs in a small corner of the Bugle they were permitted to use.
Peter watched her grab a well-sized box wrapped in silver and gold trims and carry it over to him. He felt a mixture of guilt, surprise, happiness and sadness all at once. "Wow..." he shook his head. "Amber I couldn't..."
"You have to..." she shoved it at him forcefully. Then she smiled. "I'd be so hurt if you didn't accept it."
Peter was taken back by her force. "Well, ok..." he placed it on the table and began unwrapping it. Once the wrapping was removed, a white box was revealed and Peter peeled the lid off, looking inside. He gasped softly, pulling out his present.
A dark brown leather camera case with his initials engraved in bright blue on the side stared back at him.
"Amber..." he fingered the supple leather. "Wow... I..."
"There's sheepskin inside too..." she unzipped the bag to show him. Her face was alight with happiness.
"This is too much Amber. I... don't know what to say...wow...." he grinned.
"Think nothing of it. A friend of mine works in a camera store," she revealed.
"Thank you... I love it..." he put it down gently, as if it were made of glass.
She threw her arms around him and squeezed him close. "I"m so happy you like it!"
Peter was again in shock at her outburst and strength. He hugged her back, unable to help noticing she smelled of cherries and lavender. Her hair felt like spun silk against his cheek. He closed his eyes wondering what he was getting himself into.
From across the room, Betty Brant stood at her desk, glaring with a mix of concern and worry in her eyes at Peter and Amber. Her eyes looked down at the old newspaper article in her hand. The headline read:
HUSBAND GRIEVING MURDERED WIFE, MISTRESS THE PRIME SUSPECT TURNS UP MISSING
The picture below the headline was of a young teen with blonde hair and strikingly similar facial features to Amber.
**********
Peter hurried down the busy streets of Broadway, dodging in and out of panic-stricken shoppers way. With the new Toys R Us on the corner of Broadway and Times Square, all the parents were rushing for last minute presents from Santa. Peter, on the other hand, was headed in the opposite direction which created some crazy pedestrian traffic as he attempted to avoid those frenzy parents.
Although, his goal was much the same as theirs, find a present before time ran out. He hadn't purposefully waited to the last minute to shop, but there was one last thing he wanted to get for Mary Jane. And he felt obligated to get something for Amber, not only because she had bought him a present, but because he felt she deserved something nice. He also felt so guilty that he'd winded up inviting her to Aunt May's house for Christmas dinner. When had he turned into such a sucker? It wasn't until after he'd offered that he remembered MJ would be there as well. But then, he remembered Harry was also invited and maybe he could get Amber interested in Harry. That is, if Harry was over MJ himself. Peter rolled his eyes at the predicament he put them all in. What a dinner this was going to turn out to be! It had all the ingredients for reality tv programming at its best.
He only hoped MJ would understand why he invited Amber and not think of it as something more. Amber sure was beautiful, charming, and sweet, not to mention intelligent and funny, but there was no one for him but Mary Jane. Peter smiled at the thought. Yes, no one could dare compare to her. She was his perfect redheaded angel. He'd love her forever and he'd cherish her every moment he lived.
But he would cherish and love from afar. Because to give her his love was like feeding her poison. And for a few precious moments today, worrying about MJ's feelings and Amber's feelings towards him were his most dreadful concerns and it actually felt good compared to worrying if someone's life was in danger or if he'd make it on time to stop a robbery or an attack.
Just for a moment he felt like a regular guy with everyday concerns. Someone who was not so different from everyone else. He felt that way with MJ yesterday and the day before. She made him feel whole, complete inside and out. She made all the bad stuff seem more tolerable, all the aches and pains he felt more bearable. He felt happy and excited to be near her. She loved to laugh and live and love. And he missed feeling that way.
But he wasn't free to laugh and live and certainly not to love. He was obligated to his duty, to his promise to Uncle Ben and to his vow to keep her safe and alive. With great power, there must come great responsibility! There was those ever true words once again.
With those thoughts running uncontrollably through his mind everyday since she told him that she loved him, he was sure to drive himself insane. He tried to push them aside long enough to find the gift he wanted for her before he chickened out. He'd kept the same frame of mind that he had yesterday when he put those tiles together to tell her, in a subtle way, that he loved her right back. It couldn't hurt to let her know, could it? Just as long as they didn't act on it.
He groaned at his own stupidity. How could it not hurt?! He'd known for a month now how she felt and he couldn't act on it and it ached him to a numbness in his heart. Worse off, he'd loved her for so long, before he even liked girls! They grew up next to each other, he watched her grow more beautiful and further away from him each day. Now that she loved him too, he knew it was far worse off to love each other and not be together, than for him to just ache for her love in return.
She was too good to be second best to his duty as Spider-Man. She was worth more than that. She deserved the best of everything and she deserved a man who could be at her side all the time. Not someone who was running off at all hours of the day and night to fulfill a duty he bestowed upon himself with this great power and the responsibility that came with it.
Of course, MJ would probably answer that with something like, "That's what makes you who you are and I love all of you. I'll stand by you."
Peter envied her strength in love. He didn't hold such belief in love to see you through everything anymore. After all, the one person who loved him most and who he loved was gone because of him. Uncle Ben... He couldn't deal with the grief of losing her the same way.
His love was like a kiss of death and MJ was too precious to him for such a horrid fate. Maybe that was what Gobby was trying to tell him in his nightmare...
He wondered if just withdrawing from life itself as Peter wasn't such a bad idea. Aunt May and MJ would be safe, he'd have no weaknesses then. There was no one to love him, no one for him to love... He felt as if Spider-Man ruled his life and all his decisions already, what would the difference be? The hurting would stop. MJ would go on with her life, Aunt May would be safe.
And if he remained the sliver of himself that was Peter? Aunt May would still have a child that was like her son, Harry a best friend and for MJ, someone who she loved and could never love her in return.
Did he even know how to be Peter anymore? Did he know what it was like to wake in the morning to a shower and breakfast, to go to work, and come home to dinner, TV and friends and then sleep? MJ gave him a taste of that recently and as good as it felt, he knew it wasn't the life he could live.
And as a reminder, his spider sense went off like a gunshot to his nerves. He looked around, searching out the danger that reminded him once again who he'd become and what his life was really all about now. He couldn't see any danger, but his spider sense told him it was close enough to make his entire head buzz. He dodged into an alley behind a huge snow bank, changing into Spider-Man.
Emerging from the alley, he hopped onto the building closest to him and wall crawled to the roof. He searched the city until he heard a cry of terror from behind him. He spun quickly, jumping from the building. He soared into the air landing on another rooftop. He looked down and saw a woman trying to fend off a muscular man with a knife. Another man was sprawled on the ground, apparently knocked out.
"Just gimme your damn wallet lady, or your friend here gets his insides carved out like Christmas dinner!!" the man threatened, gripping her wrists.
She cried for help as he knocked her down, snatching her bag as she fell. She crawled to her fallen guy friend and wept fiercely. "You got what you wanted, now leave us alone!" she pleaded.
"Not a chance," he rummaged through her wallet, searching for money. "For all the trouble you caused me, I should slit both your throats..."
Spidey leapt into action. He landed on a garbage dumpster directly in front of the fallen couple and he glared at the robber. "Now is that anyway to spread the holiday cheer?!"
"Ugh! Spider-Man!" the burly man growled.
"Huh? Where, where?!" Spidey looked left and right quickly. "Darn, and I forgot my autograph book at home! I hope he's as dreamy as everyone says he is?" Spidey sighed.
"You're insane!!" the man snorted, eyes wide in surprise.
"I may just be...." Spidey shrugged indifferently. "I'd be insane to offer you a chance to walk away in one piece too..."
The mugger looked left, then right, attempting a plan to escape. "It's Christmas man... I needed a few extra bucks..." he chuckled nervously, backing away. "Can't blame a broke guy can ya?"
"Hmmm, and slitting their throats would have put you right on Santa's naughty list..." he t-sked. "Besides, you won't have to worry bout Christmas where you're going. I'm sure one of your new girlfriend's will be happy to give you a... present..." Spidey wisecracked.
The mugger made one last futile attempt at escape, but Spidey leaped on him quickly. He thrust his knife at Spider-Man but he dodged it with a warning from his spider sense. The mugger growled in frustration and attempted a second swipe.
Spidey gripped the mugger's wrist and pried the offending object from his grasp. "Now didn't your mother teach you not to play with utensils?" Spidey grabbed his other wrist, trying to hold him down. Despite his overpowering strength, the mugger struggled. He sent a kick into Spidey's ribs that threw him off balance momentarily.
Once Spidey was off of him, he got to his feet and threw another kick into the side of him.
"Go to hell you costumed freak!" he growled, running away like a mad man.
Spidey leaped to his feet, shooting a strand of webbing at the mugger. He snagged the back of the man and pulled hard. "Don't run away!" As he said it the mugger continued to run in place, looking like a dog trying to escape a leash. Spidey turned to the fallen woman who was busy trying to wake the man. "I hate it when they do that..." he said to her.
She gave him a moment of brief attention. "Please, he has my money! I need that money!"
"Have no fear ma'am... I've got this new bait I've been dying to try out and looks like I snagged a 200 pounder...." Spidey pulled hand over hand on the webbing attached to the mugger. "It's all in the wrist, really..." he continued to reel the man in. Now he was helplessly flailing on the floor much like a fish out of water.
The mugger pounded on the floor, screaming. "Lemme go you spider freak!"
"Flattery won't get you anywhere unless you're a gorgeous woman!" Spidey grunted, lifting the heavy man to his feet. He dug into his pocket, pulling out the stolen money and credit cards. Then he webbed up the man from his neck down. "Now, you be a good boy and wait for the boys in blue...."
"You'll pay for this you rotten son of a........"
Spidey squirted his mouth with a glob of webbing. "Put a sock in it will you?" He turned his back from the helpless mugger. He noticed the man was awake now, his head in the woman's lap.
"Oh Roger, thank God you're ok!" the woman smiled, brushing his hair back.
"Emily..." he sat up quickly. He put a hand to his pounding head. "Oh, Emily! I was so scared I lost you! I couldn't bare the thought! I can't go a minute longer pretending! Emily, this could've ended so differently, and this has made me realize that I can't waste anymore time!"
"Roger?" she tilted her head in confusion. "What are you saying?" her eyes fell on the hands now grasping her arms.
"Emily, I love you! I loved you since the day we met! I'm tired of pretending to just be a friend. I want so much more with you! Emily, you mean the world to me and I can't bare another day without you being my lover!" Roger confessed his eyes wide with fear of her reaction.
"Oh..." she closed her eyes.
Spidey cringed.
"Roger, I can't believe this..." she opened her eyes. Then beamed brightly. "Roger I love you too!" she pulled him into a hug. "I waited so long, hoping and wishing that you felt this way..." she giggled happily. "I love you too!!"
"Oh Emily!" he laughed, pulling back just far enough to kiss her.
Spidey couldn't help but smile and blush under his mask. He also couldn't help the bitter irony of the situation before him. He cleared his throat after a few blissful moments. "Ahem..."
They broke apart, looking at Spider-Man shyly.
"Thank you Spider-Man!" the man stood, reaching out to shake his hand.
"Wow..." Spidey accepted, shocked. People being nice to him was something he was certain would take some getting used to. "You're welcome." He handed the money and cards to Roger.
"Yes, thank you for saving us..." the woman, Emily, smiled. She wrapped herself around Roger's arm. "From that man and from each other."
"Yes," Roger agreed. "I've been trying to tell her forever it seems. I guess its really true what they say, you know? It's always in times like these, when you're so close to losing something important, that you realize just how much it means." Roger smiled down to Emily.
Spidey wanted to laugh or cry at the irony of it all. It made his stomach queasy and his heart constrict. He felt their story hitting right on the mark. He could only nod in response. After a moment of silence he finally spoke. "You should get to a payphone and call the police, and make sure you get checked out at the hospital."
"We will," Emily nodded. "Thank you again. We sure have changed our minds about you. You're a real hero."
"Just trying to be a courteous, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man," he replied, looking once again at the mugger all webbed up. "Say hi to your new girlfriend for me." He waved teasingly. He turned back to the couple and nodded. Then he shot a web-line to the top of the building he leapt off of.
"Bye!" they called out.
**********
Betty Brant stepped out of the Bugle in quite a rush. She had special dinner plans tonight and she was already running late with Mr. Jameson's countless tasks monopolizing the majority of her time.
The weather was still frigid, but at least it was 5 degrees warmer than it had been for the past two days. It had been so cold that any kind of increase in temparture made a big difference.
Shivering when an icy wind blew past, she buttoned up her trench coat and slipped on her gloves, walking behind the Bugle building and into an alleyway that cut across to the restaurant she'd promised to meet Ned Leeds at.
Ned was one of the Bugle's most popular reporters, and currently, her boyfriend. Though no one at the Bugle knew that they were dating yet. Betty usually tended to keep her personal life just that, and this breach in protocol with her coworker had her fearing what the office might think if news got out.
Speaking of personal, her thoughts brought her back to Peter Parker and she scowled to herself. He'd never stopped by before he left for the day. She'd assumed that he was growing attached to this Amber Dieson person, who'd appeared out of nowhere mere days ago and swept up the young photographer much as the storm had swept into the city. Betty hadn't trusted her from the moment she'd laid eyes upon the other woman.
Now, granted, she'd been a tough cookie to break... Parker knew that. Hell, Betty had been nothing but unkind to him when they'd first met. It was her way of testing people. But for Betty, Peter had become one of the few friendly faces within the Bugle after only a few days of his acquaintence. He was always polite and patient, his boyish, sometimes awkward demeanor leading her to believe that he was one of the few really good kids out there, just trying to make it in the world. Well, it didn't hurt that he was pretty good looking as well, but Betty only had eyes for Ned.
Still, Peter was a friend, and that Amber character just hadn't sat right with Betty from the start. She was too flashy, too forward with herself. It was as if she expected everyone to open up and like her immediately. And it all seemed so fake. Betty could swear she was older than she claimed as well. Call it women's intuition, but a girl could just tell about these types of thing. Add to that the fact that she flew off the handle with Jameson too easily. Yeah, it didn't take much to piss Jonah off, but Betty had never seen him so angry over a freelancer since Peter. But in contrast, Peter had never provoked JJ intentionally, like she'd overheard Amber doing. There were just a lot of things about this new character that left Betty wondering about her character...
Speaking of, it was just that that really got to Betty. Amber's personality, her attitude, her demeanor. After arguing with Jonah and talking to Peter that day, she'd gone into the women's restroom and thrown a fit. She couldn't quite tell if it was because of Jonah or something Peter had said. Regardless, it had been pretty creepy.
Being the reporter at heart that she was, Betty started investigating Amber's past. That was when she found the article from her former hometown as well as a picture that resembled Amber as a younger woman. The name under the caption was different, and there were some noticable differences between the two, but Betty was almost sure Amber was the mistress of the husband whos wife was brutally murdered in the article.
She had wanted to share the information with Peter in case he was getting too close to her to warn him off. Though Betty was still a bit confused as to why she would have to try and keep him from this girl in the first place. Once, jokingly, she'd asked the photographer if there was anyone special in his life that might be the reason why he lived in daydream-land all of the time. She remembered how his face had lit up when he responded. Mary Jane... MJ.... Then, as if realizing something, the smile faded, the light behind his eyes dimming considerably. "We can't have a relationship," Peter had said. Apparently there were some big problems that they couldn't overcome. Then Peter had looked angry at himself for mentioning her to Betty at all, as if he shouldn't have revealed he cared about her, or anyone else for the matter. It had passed though, and a few days later, and curiousity getting the better of her, Betty had asked about her. He mentioned that MJ was doing well, but that was all he knew about her. He'd seemed so lost about that, as if he'd lost the most important thing in his life.
So that was why the whole fiasco with Amber seemed so strange. While the new girl was very attractive and obviously interested in Parker, Betty was sure Peter was still pining away for this MJ. How was she sure? Well, all Peter ever seemed to do when he wasn't taking pictures or arguing with Jonah was drink coffee and daydream, wearing a goofy smirk not unlike the one she'd seen when she'd asked about MJ the first time. If he was so in love with this girl, why then, would he be accepting Amber's advances?
And that was exactly what it was to Betty. Amber was chasing relentlessly after Peter. She only wished she had gotten to show Peter the article today before he'd left. Pulling it from her pocket book, she studied the words as she walked, hoping to find some kind of absolution that the girl pictured in it was indeed Amber. She just hoped Peter would be in tomorrow so she could give it to him or she'd have to wait until after the holidays were over, and by then, the kid could be knee deep.
"Betty...." a snowy breeze blew against her face, seemingly whispering her name.
Betty whipped around, startled. Nothing but piles of snow and wet trash bags laid behind her. She looked around suspiciously for a moment longer, but still saw nothing. Shrugging to herself, she turned back around and continued walking, convinced that she was just hearing things. The end of the alley was in sight now and soon she'd be back on the populated streets.
"What are you up to Betty?" again she heard that cold voice, whirling around her, right past her eyes this time.
"Who's there?!" Betty growled, trying to sound more angry than scared. She failed miserably, her voice cracking in dry fear.
The wind whipped her hair back and forth across her face and somehow, it seemed to grow darker in the alley around her. She sped up from a walk to a jog, then into an all out run.
Suddenly a tidal wave of blackness slammed into her head on. She fell backwards, the wind knocked painfully out of her. She looked up, clutching her chest as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes were wild, searching desperately to find out who and where her attacker was.
A figure descended upon her then, and Betty looked up at it in fear and confusion. "W-w-ho are you?" she gasped, chest still heaving from her fall.
"You're worst nightmare 'm afraid..." it replied, arms crossed.
Betty's vision swam, momentarily blurred as she tried to regain equilibrium. Once everything came back into focus she was met with the sight of a tall, curve-shaped figure clad entirely in shining black vinyl. The shape could only mean that her attacker was female. She wore narrow, high-heeled boots that reminded Betty of something from one of those ridiculous comic books kids were always reading, and the only shock of color on her was a blood red hourglass pattern printed upon her chest and stomach. Her face was covered with a black mask attatched to the neck of her costume. Raven hair flowed from the face mask and her hands were gloved with the same material as the rest of her costume. Long claws protruded from the tips of the gloves. Her eyes were dark with stormy anger, glinting threateningly in the light of the falling snow.
Betty's heart hammered heavily. The woman looked dangerous enough in the costume, but the bulges of trim, wiry muscle beneath the shiny material gave her even more reason to be afraid. The masked woman's shadow cast a dark glow, seeming to fill the entire alley. Betty shook with fear. "Who are you?!" she repeated trying to stand, to sound brave.
"You are a meddling lil wench," the woman growled with obvious annoyance. "What's the matter? Not big on Spiders? And with that Spider freak running around this city, one would think you'd know one when you see one," she drawled. "I, my dear Miss Brant am the most deadly female spider known to man." She paced back and forth smoothly, studying her prey. Then she spun and appeared in front of Betty's face in an instant, causing the reporter to gasp. "That's a Black Widow, if you didn't know," she informed the other woman haughtily.
"BUT..." she raised a finger, of which there was a deadly black claw attached, and slid it dangerously along the side of Betty's face. The woman in black placed her finger against Betty's lips as to shush her. "...you may call me the Widow Maker." Her eyes were wide with delight and insanity as she told Betty this.
Betty stared at her in a mixture of fear and shock, and, despite her better judgement, a touch of humor. "Widow Maker? So are you like, Spider-Man's sister or something? The bad seed? Evil twin maybe?"
Widow Maker laughed, throwing her head back in overdramatic fashion. "Foolish bitch!" Without warning she smacked Betty hard across the face before snatching the newspaper article Betty still clung to. "I see you still don't understand." She crumbled the article in her hand. "The black widow spider kills the male after mating. I kill those who reject us. Men, women who stand in my way. Whoever, whatever stands in my way."
Betty's heart beat sped up further, if it were possible. She clutched her burning cheek, tasted blood from the inside of her mouth.
"Men who run off with other women on me will not be tolerated. I will kill any woman who dares threaten my happiness!!" she ranted, still leaning threateningly over Betty.
"I don't understand what I have to do with this...." Betty replied, eyes warily following her every movement.
"Meddlesome bitch...." Widow Maker snarled, using her claws to shred the article.
Betty finally put two and two together.
"You think you know. You think you understand...." Widow Maker gripped Betty's coat, lifting her off her feet. "You don't!! I want what's mine and no one will stand in my way. I won't let you meddle in my affairs and ruin my chances with him! I'll kill you before I let you. He's mine!"
"I don't want Peter!" Betty responded desperately. She looked down and locked eyes with the psychotic woman. She knew now without a doubt that it was Amber underneath that crazy costume.
"Liar!" Amber hissed back, so enraged by her bold lie to even care Betty had figured out her identity.. "I saw the way you held him today. I saw you watching us!" Widow Maker tossed Betty hard, into a snow drift beside the building.
Betty hit the wall with a painfilled grunt. She groaned in pain and rolled onto her back, looking up at Amber in disgust. "I knew you were no good!"
Widow Maker savagely kicked Betty in the ribs before she could say more. "Bitch!"
Betty curled into the fetal position, overcome with pain when she heard something crack. This woman was strong. "It's the truth!" she coughed.
"No one will keep me from the man I want," Widow Maker warned. "I will dispose of you."
Betty watched with wide, horror filled eyes as her claws came down towards her face.
"Each one of these claws are filled with Black Widow venom...." Amber purred, wiggling her claws inches from Betty's horror striken features. "The venom of a Black Widow spider is fifteen times more toxic than that of the rattlesnake. There's enough venom in each of these claws to be rid of you once and for all." Happy at this thought, she reached back to strike.
Betty's thoughts turned to the innate desire to survive at all costs, and she somehow found the breath to call out. "There's another woman, not me!"
Widow Maker stopped. "Who?"
Betty felt sick with guilt but she didn't want to die. She would just have to warn Peter in time if she got out of this. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Mary Jane.... Mary Jane Watson...."
Widow Maker's blood red lips formed into a wicked smile and she laughed maniacally. "And so she shall die...." Widow Maker vowed. She closed her fist, leaving only one claw out. "For that information, I'll let you live. But, you will forget who I am and when you wake up. You won't recall any of this."
"The hell I won't!" Betty shot back.
Widow Maker threw a fist into Betty's jaw, sending her flying back into the brick wall. She then grabbed the flailing woman's arm and jabbed her with her exposed claw.
Betty screamed in horror. She felt the effects of the venom invading her system instantly. She felt herself grow wet with cold sweat, her eyelids growing heavy. She was paralyzed, unable to move. Her vision deteriorated as she fought off the urge to pass out.
"Don't worry dear, just enough to put you out and mixed with my special serum. You'll forget all this when you wake in the hospital...." Widow Maker teased Betty by clawing her cheek gently; not hard enough to break skin. "That is if you wake in a hospital."
Before passing out, the last thing Betty heard was her evil laughter, She saw her jump to a hanging line, crawling up and away. A vision of Spider-Man doing much the same played in Betty's head oddly, right before she passed out in the snow behind the Bugle.