Well here we are, chapter 10! Whoopee! As I've been a little busier than expected I haven't had much time to write and update, so… Here you go. Read and review my faithful viewers! And stay beautiful.


Chapter 10: Spider-Team

Ben&Laura's Apartment

4:43 am

Ben Reilly woke with a start. Sweat dripping from his brow as he heaved and stared at his surroundings. It was as if his entire body was warning him. Or perhaps his sixth sense? He suddenly felt something soft wrap around his chest and back. He blinked and looked beside him to find Laura, with a worried look in her eyes. He smiled reassuringly and leaned close to kiss her cheek.

"Is something bothering you Reilly?" the female asked him.

Ben sighed and just shook his head as he held her close to him.

"I'm not sure Laura. I think it was my spider sense. Trying to warn me of something, but I don't know what it is."

"Then use it as a sign to be prepared. For anything," She spoke back.

Ben nodded his head and kissed her lips softly before laying back onto their soft bed.

"Well, I think I'm awake now. I just wish there was something to do instead of just lying here in dead silence and boredom."

Laura gave Ben a small Cheshire smirk and slowly crawled on top of her lover and melding their lips together. Reilly smiled and wrapped his arms around his lover and let the world and his troubles slip away for just awhile.


Manhattan

3:29 pm

"Whhoohooo!"

Ben yelled out with joy as he shot out another line of web and swung through the behemoth structures of his city. Citizens peered up at the sounds from above and some smiled, praising this hero who gave them hope and kept Peter Parkers memory alive. And others silently cursed under their breath. Wishing he would just drop dead so they could continue with their schemes and cruel acts. And there is one amongst the rabble, watching from the shadows with a smile on his face, and a deadly gleam in his eyes.
The Spectacular Scarlet Spider swung across the lower rooftops when something, or more precise, someone caught his eye. Ben smiled under his masked and waved at the passing spider themed vigilante.

"Hey kiddo!" Ben yelled out to the new Spider-Man.

Said vigilante waved back and swung over beside the man who he saw now as a sort of older brother.

"Hey S.S. Sup'?" the young hero asked.

Reilly shrugged his shoulders and landed on top of a roof as Spider-Man followed.

"Well, surprisingly not much. It's been really quiet the last few weeks. I don't know what it is, but I have a bad feeling in my gut."

Miles Morales sighed and scratched the back of his head thoughtfully for a moment.

"You know I've been thinking the same thing. Of course I've also been wondering if some of that famous Parker luck came with these abilities," the young hero said.

Ben smirked and laughed softly as he stretched out abit.

"Yeah that sounds about right. But don't let it get to you too much. Just remember that with the luck comes the ability to change it."

The younger boy nods his head then suddenly, both heroes can feel the sensation in the back of their heads. The two heroes are quick to jump up out of the way as something flew past them.

"Whoa! What was that?" Miles asked.

"Looks like an old feathery friend wants to play."

"Well looky here! Two spiders to kill for the price of one!" Chirped up the voice of a figure flying around the two heroes.

"Seriously Vulture? Don't you ever get tired of Spider themed vigilantes whooping you?" Ben asked.

"I'm here to kill you so be a good little prey and die!"

The vulture screeched out as he swooped down at his intended targets. Our two heroes quickly avoided the pitiful attack, and turning in mid air synch, shot 4 strands of webbing at the feathery villain. Stopping suddenly in mid air, the Vulture turned to see what had happed, only to be pulled into to fists to his now broken nose.

"Gah! Ow!" the villain cried in vain.

Almost laughing, the two arachnid warriors wrapped the villain up in webbing.

"Well, I think that's enough fun for now kiddo, you gonna get him to the cops or should I do it?" Ben asked.

"Nah, I got him. Maybe we can patrol together some time? I bet it'd be way easier with 3 of us."

Ben blinked then tilted his head in question.

"Oh right! You haven't met Spider-Woman yet right?"

Bens eyes widened as he shook his head and sighed.

"Sorry, I did forget her with all the stuff that's been happening lately. But yeah, I'll definitely have to look her up ok? Later"

With that, Ben shot out a web and swung away into the cool night.


The Apartment of May Parker

8:30 pm

May Parker had proven to all of the world that she was one tough woman. She had lived through enough emotional turmoil that would kill any normal man. But she was made of tougher things. She raised the boy who had become a national hero of New York City. Grieved at his death, and had even stood up and smacked Captain America. No wonder she would be perfect bait. The shadows seemed to shift themselves around as May Parker sipped her tea. Thinking it was just her eyes playing tricks on her she sighed and set the tea cup down, relaxing in her chair as she flipped through the news. Unaware that the shadows lurking behind her. The elder woman didn't even have time to scream as darkness consumed her and the world went black.

When she awoke she found herself chained to a chair. Her eyes shifted around adjusting to the sudden light until a dark shape obscured her vision. She peered up into nothingness. A face hidden in shadows and a trench coat. She gulped and stared, waiting for some word. Anything. Death perhaps? Instead, the figure just began to laugh. He laughed and turned away and began to walk towards a door.

"W-what do you want from me?" she called out to her captor.

The figure turned to her and she knew he was smiling somewhere in the darkness.

"To catch a "Spider" my dear Mrs. Parker," came his chilling reply.

She heard the door swing shut behind him as he left and May Parker sat in her chair horrified.


Manhattan 10:30 pm

The explosion rocked the nearby skyscrapers, shattering glass onto innocents below. Screams and sirens could be heard. People fled in terror others towards the chaos to help. The Scarlet Spider among them. The hero swung into action, swinging from a web into the enflamed building. He searched the area for signs of life. He cried out to them and was rewarded with a small helpless voice calling back. Spotting the small child he quickly scooped her up into his arms and leapt back out the window. He did this several times before he was certain he had saved them all.

Sighing in relief the Scarlet Spider was about to leave when his spider sense went off. Searching for the attack his eyes were drawn upward as an object crashed into a police cruiser. And upon further inspection, Ben could make out a body.

"What the Hell is this!" he could hear a nearby policeman scream.

Moving quickly, Ben moved toward the body and turned it over. If he hadn't turned away he would have thrown up like a few nearby people did. The poor body was of a woman, her throat had been slit wide open and the blood gushed out like a waterfall. More disturbing was the small note carved into her stomach and photo attached to what was left of her clothing.

"No… Oh God No!" Ben cried out.

The photo was of a kidnapped May Parker, and the grizzly message etched into the woman's skin read: "Find me, or she's next. Love, Mr. K."

Ben swiftly swung up onto the rooftops, scanning for any sign of the person who had done this. He searched and his eyes were drawn to a crimson puddle on the roof.

Now Reilly's mind was racing at full speed. Whoever killed that poor woman had Aunt May. And it was obvious he intended to kill her. Even more obvious was the fact that whoever did this, knew who he was, who he really was. Ben searched the puddle and found more splatters and more.

"Whoever this sick psycho is, they've made me a trail to follow," Ben spoke aloud.

Following the blood trail, our hero finds himself to an abandoned apartment complex. The run down building slowly crumbling to the lack of maintenance. Narrowing his eyes, the clone silently enters the building clinging to the ceiling as he creeps along listening for a sound, watching for a movement. Finally his ears pick up on the sound of shuffling, and cries. His eyes widen as he jumps towards a door, kicking it open.

May Parkers eyes widen as the door crashes against the wall, and even more surprised when The Scarlet Spider entered through the doorway and rushed to her side.

"It'll be ok Mam! I promise your gonna be ok."

His voice sounded frantic, and familiar. May Parker calmed down a little and slowly nodded her head.

"Thank you, but please just get me out of here and away from the maniac that put me- Look out!"

Ben's spider sense suddenly flared, he swung around and was met with shadows. Everything around him was now dark. The world was black and Ben Reilly, and May Parker could see nothing at all. But they could hear.

"Ah, we meet at last Mr. Spider. I knew I could get you here with the right bait."

Ben gritted his teeth and swerved around angrily trying to see.

"Where are you! Why did you kidnap this poor woman!"

"Tsk tsk. You know why my spidery friend. My employer wanted me to find you. To bring you back to him. But how could I pass up the opportunity to kill you instead? To watch you writhe around in agony and pain as I kill people you love?"

"Shut up! I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not the one you think I am, because I know who I am. Now try saying that ten times fast," Ben retorted quickly.

The laughter followed. Laughing that was cruel and seemed to come from everywhere. May Parker was still strapped to her chair; she could see nothing but her ears where fine. She pondered on the mysterious words of this psycho. Who was this young man saving her life? Did she know him? Could he be the Peter Parker from that other dimension? He went home though, didn't he?

"I didn't know you inherited that from you little donor. That humor is almost too much. Shame I have to end your witty quips. But say hi to the real Peter Parker, clone."

Ben Reilly's spider sense flared, he quickly jumped and landed onto the ground pain shooting up his arm. He could feel the hot liquid spilling out.

"What the hell?"

What's wrong? Can't keep up?" the maniac laughed.

May Parker sat in her chair silent, whoever this Scarlet Spider was, she knew he was attached to her Peter Parker now. But a clone? Her world was swimming.