Shout Outs: Thanks to Sonar for reviewing the story.

Chapter 13: Meddling with the Future

Ben stared to the side with a tightened look before he turned his head to the other side. Once he knew it was clear, Ben went back and rejoined with Peter (who had his arms crossed) and Mysterio.

"Well, it's definitely a clear path," Ben said. "The robots have been long gone."

Peter nodded. "Alright. We should get going. The more time we waste, the less we will have things done. Any idea where we could have a place for the night? We won't be safe here anymore."

Mysterio smirked and before Ben could even say it, they were suddenly whisked away in a breeze and seconds later, they re-appeared in the spot.

"You gotta stop doing that!" Peter exclaimed, frustrated as he was fighting with the breeze.

Mysterio chuckled. "But it's so much fun though…"

Peter growled, giving him a glare. Scowling, Peter withdrew his glare and began to look around the darkened area.

"Where are we?" Peter wondered

"Home."

And on cue, the lights flickered to life though Peter raised his hand in front of face to block out the glaring lights. Peter gazed around; the room didn't look anything special. It looked more like a typical boy's room with a bed, a desk that had a computer and a window to the side. However, instead of being all in one piece, the room looked a bit destroyed as though there had been a fight.

Perhaps the only thing that wasn't completely broken was the computer. But what caught Peter's attention was a covered board that was to the right of him. Curious, he walked towards it.

"What's behind this?" Peter asked, curiously.

"I don't think you should—"Ben squeaked but it was already too late.

The only sound that was heard was the cover falling to the floor. Peter numbly stared at the board that contained multiple of pinned images and articles; all of them seemingly being connected by a large red string that went around the pins.

Articles containing DEATH OF PETER PARKER or THE MURDERER OF UNCLE BEN or WHO'S THE NEW WEB SLINGER? and the list goes on.

There was one particular article that caught Peter's attention more than the others since he was especially trying to avoid the story about his death.

THE MYSTERY IN THE SHADOWS

If everyone had thought about the mysterious new web-slinger now known as the Scarlet Spider was captivating, then there's more to come. Reports have been stating the city had apparently met a new shadow but no one knows who it is or where it came from…

"Tell me everything," Peter said.

Ben blinked. "What?"

Peter whirled around and stared at Ben who slightly flinched from the look. "You heard me…everything of what's going on right now. We need to know what we are facing. What happened to this room? Why were those robots created—the one with the police?"

"Does this thing even works?" Mysterio asked as he tapped at the top of the computer with his knuckles.

Ben scowled. "Yes. And would you stop that?"

Mysterio glowered a bit before he removed his hand away from the machine. He gave out a small 'humph', muttering.

"Looks like just a pile of rubbish."

Ben cleared his throat. "Alright…those robots or police robots—whichever name you prefer—are designed to help with the police force to capture thieves, criminals, crooks or vigilantes like us…you name it—even though the city eventually loved us. But they usually come on the last minute if the police really needs help," Ben sighed. "You would be surprised at how much things had been changed…"

Peter went in thought, registering the information in his mind. Of course Ben was right. A lot of things had been changed in the future…

"Who's this?" Peter questioned as he pointed to the article that read:

THE MYSTERY IN THE SHADOWS

"I remember you mentioning about a silhouette lurking in the darkness," Peter said. "He might be bad."

Ben nodded. "As I said, I don't know at all on who the new guy is. For all we know, he could be."

An unsettling silence settled in.

While Mysterio and Ben were talking to each other, Peter withdrew himself from them. It's crazy while he was thinking about it. His life was just a messy roller coaster ride. First, he gotten his Spider powers and he was trying to understand them. Now, his uncle died down and moving fast forward, he met with Tony with his 'internship' but during that time, Peter had lost nearly everyone—Ned, Aunt May and now recently, Tony…

And then, he just now figured out that there were more of him. Him! As in with Spiders!

"We have met…once up a dream."

And suddenly, Peter realized that he had been mentioned that there were more of him before. Mysterio was the first one who had let him know during his tyranny. Tony only came later to confirm the theory.

How could I forget? Peter muttered in thought.

All those torturing and reading minds, Mysterio gave Peter a one crucial information to him.

Ugh.

All this thinking made Peter's head hurt.

He then turned around and stared at the crime bulletin board. The article about the mysterious shadow keeps having him drawn to it and that was until he had idea. If this…silhouette is still about in the city then the only way is to draw it out.

"I have an idea," Peter suddenly announced which interrupted Mysterio and Ben.

Ben had his head move to the side. "Like what?"

Well, this is bad…Ben thought. Why he agreed to this atrocious plan of Peter's is beyond him.

"You ready?" the slight buzz from Ben's ear com rang into his ear, slightly having him jump from startle.

Ben scowled, pressing the ear com. "Yes. Remind me again. Why are we doing this?"

"You want to know who this guy is, don't you? Then the best way is to draw him out."

"And then? If the plan fails?"

"The plan won't fail," Peter reassured him. "But if you think about it: compare to the one where Mysterio made his plan, this one doesn't seem so absurd."

Ben snorted. Huffing, Ben stared at the entrance of the alleyway. He had no clue if the guy would even show up at this location but yet again, he might. Who wouldn't want to capture a vulnerable person? Only Ben isn't so defenceless…

Ben cleared his throat.

"It seems that I'm lost," Ben replied in a loud voice. "Whatever I'll do. I'm so alone…"

"Would you actually try to have a bit more gusto?"

Ben scowled, biting his tongue to not make a remark or otherwise this plan would fail since it would alert the shadow that there are others nearby. Growling, Ben changed his mind.

"Listen, Spider-Man. Why don't you—"Ben suddenly stopped in mid-sentence upon hearing a whoosh sound. Heart pounding, Ben turned around to the opposite side and stared down the path with wide eyes.

"Ben? Ben?"

Everything else seemed to be blocked by the pounding heart from Ben. He was starting to sweat, hands being stiff and his mind racing.

It was here.

"Peter…it's here…" Ben hissed.

Just because he was a hero, it doesn't mean that heroes have no fears. And this shadow certainly scared him. It had been chasing him since he came into the city and the police had been trying to capture him but with no such luck.

"Okay…okay…you got this…" Ben muttered, shaking himself to have a better composure.

A sudden low chuckle and it made Ben be weary of its presence.

"Well…what do we have here?" the voice slithered, creating goosebumps for Ben.

"I know you're here!" Ben exclaimed, preparing to fight. "Show yourself!"

"If I showed myself, I'm afraid that wouldn't be fun…" it hissed something awful, making Ben wince.

Acting instinctively, Ben shot out his webs but missed the target since the shadow moved away in a blur, allowing the web to strike the wall instead.

It moves fast…

Ben continued to fire his webs as he was thinking up a plan just for the time being until the others get here.

If I could somehow trap him…

Eyes narrowed, Ben shot out multiple webs to each side of the wall while occasionally, performing flips in order to close the large web that was currently forming. He then went the final middle circle before closing the hole. He proceeded to the other side to do the same thing until both sides were trapped by two large webs.

The attacker hissed upon the closure but the foe started to advance in by leaping forward which made Ben be prepared. The villainous enemy jumped forward and then Ben struck, wrapping quickly around the body before Ben brought him down, slamming him down to the ground. The adversary gave out a horrible snarl though it swiftly flipped itself so he was facing Ben.

And then, the creature grabbed Ben's string and suddenly Ben found himself he couldn't move. As though he was paralyzed. Frozen on the spot and his eyes were barren. His mind went blank.

The horrid beast chuckled, creepily getting himself up as a sinister smile went across its face.

"I've got to hand it to you…you know how to fight well…" the creature replied wickedly and he crawled himself towards him as he was pulling on the string, dragging himself forward so that he was out of the shadows.

Even though Ben felt frozen, his eyes widen from cold shock.

"What…" Ben struggled to speak. The words hurting his throat, making his tone raspy. "What are you?" he croaked.

Ben numbly stared at the horrid creature that kept moving forward, pulling Ben closer to him.

The enemy had a half and half body; the lower half had a body of an actual spider while the top was human. Ben didn't even know if he could call the top part a human body because the head was completely deformed and he couldn't even recognize what is what. His red eyes were fixed on Ben who was still paralyzed.

"One could say a hunter hunting for Spiders like you," it hissed. "You are a thorn to my sides and now I've finally captured you and I would end you quickly!"

"No…no you won't," Ben gritted.

The horrid looking spider smiled horribly. "We shall see about that…"

And then, the Scarlet Spider started to see things differently. Just like that, whatever was happening, scenes started to unfold in front of him. The scenes were different Ben had trouble identifying what images were those until they began to be formed clearly.

He saw homes but was burning in flames and there were rather large amount of webs almost everywhere and the city looked like a ghost town, being completely deserted. If there were bodies to be found, they would be trapped in webs, frozen.

N—no… Ben gasped.

Smiling wickedly, the spider creature was now close to the defenceless Scarlet and just as he was about to suck his energy, something stopped him. Out of nowhere, a hand stuck forward behind Ben, coming out of an opening hole. It grabbed Ben by the shoulder and then unexpectedly, something rammed to the side of the enemy, having him be away from Ben and Ben was soon gone.

Snarling, the spider creature twirled itself up, being on its leg and he made his eyes slit, staring dangerously at the newcomer.

"You know…I thought I saw uglier enemies but man was I wrong," a voice from the shadows spoke and came out of it. "You look uglier then all of the enemies I've fought combined."

Peter stared with his mouth open, forming into a small o as he was being stunned by the creature's appearance. It was unlike anything he had ever seen.

"What are you?" Peter asked as he finally found himself to be able to speak.

The enemy chuckled, clipping its pincers. "Shocked at what you had find?"

"Uh…kinda."

The Spider screeched something horrible as he spoke. "Then you're about to match my appearance!"

Eyes narrowed, Peter took a fighting stance as he was ready to fight the creature that was crawling towards him at a rapid pace. But before Peter could even fire his attack, he felt himself being pulled away abruptly in another opening hole. The portal closed itself, preventing the spider being to not come after them.

And then, Peter felt himself falling and falling until he was met with a painful smack against the concrete ground.

Author's Note: Three guesses as to who this beast is…ungh, he was actually hard to write so I had to research about him but poor Ben :( he saw things that weren't real; hope he's alright. But man, Mysterio was being creepy when he pulled Ben away from the web trap. Oh and if anyone wants to know, Mysterio was the first one to let Peter know that there were more of him. Go back and read chapter 30 of Spider Man: Illusions if you're interested. And I was trying to describe a crime board with all of the articles and images at the beginning; I don't know if you guys got the picture XD But where did Peter land now? What happens next? Find out! Toodles!