Chapter 20:

Peter let out a cry of relief as the symbiote began to peel back, away from Kitty. The first thing to be revealed was her face. Battered and bruised as it was, it was still the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He pulled off his mask and rushed to her side and held her head as she opened her eyes weakly.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," he replied with a tear running down his face. He kissed her as Captain America and the others poured into the room, distracting Osborne from his work once more.

"Ah, the avengers," Osborne said in a mocking tone, "So nice of you to join us."

"Party's over, Patriot," said Captain America as he readied his shield.

"I agree," said Osborne, as he pressed a button on his arm, and began to move towards the energy field.

Mary-Jane and Harry dropped in between Osborne and the heroes. Francis fired an arrow at Harry, and it bounced off his armour as Harry lunged for Captain America. Hitting him with his shield, Captain America proceeded to throw his shield at Mary-Jane, who caught it. Mary-Jane then lunged for Mary-Anne with the shield.

"Oh no you don't!" Francis shouted as he fired off several more arrows at M.J, who abandoned her attack to roll out of the way and throw a grenade at Francis in return. Peter grabbed the grenade with webbing and hurled it at Osborne as he made his way to the energy field. Osborne reduced the grenade to dust with a single repulsor blast.

Osborne fired a repulsor beam at Peter, who jumped out of the way. He rolled to dodge a second one and backpedalled to avoid the third. A smirk crossed Osborne's face as he shifted his arm away from Peter. The beam charged slowly, giving Peter enough time to realize it's intended target. Kitty was semi-conscious on the floor, unable to move. Peter tore himself towards her.

From the shadows, a figure screamed and tackled Osborne with all it's strength.

"YOU PROMISED!" Spider-carnage roared as he struck Osborne in the chest. A repulsor beam to the face knocked him back several feet, but didn't kill him.

"Next time get it in writing," said Osborne, and he turned to his minions, "Time to go," he said. He walked towards the energy once more, with both goblins guarding his back.

"SSSSSCCCCCRRRRREEEEEE-AAAAAAAAWWWWWW!"

All the bodies turned to see a large chunk of the domed roof be torn off. In it's wake floated Jean Grey, her flaming red hair flowing fiercely in the wind. She wore an expression of malice as she stared down at Norman Osborne.

"You dare to steal the M'kraan crystal from it's holy resting place, mortal?" Her voice sounded immensely powerful, like a thunderstorm.

"I thought we might meet again," said Osborne. "So I came prepared." He pressed another button on his arm, and a single beam of the blue energy struck Jean, who fell to the ground stunned for the moment. Osborne and his Goblins made a hasty retreat into the energy field, disappearing from sight as Jean recovered.

"FOOLS!" Phoenix screamed as she shot after them.

"You four," Peter shouted, "follow them! I'll be right behind you!" Captain America nodded as he and the others ran to the portal. Peter, however, turned back to where Kitty lay.

Only, he was already there.

"Kitty," Spider-carnage whimpered as he stroked her face, and she stirred slightly. "You're back..." he continued to cry.

"HHHHMMMMM...?" Kitty muttered behind closed eyes.

"Now everything' gonna be okay..." Spider-carnage murmered, "everything can go back to the way it was..."

"Kitty," said Peter.

Spider-carnage snapped his head around to face Peter, and shouted, "GO AWAY!"

"No," Peter replied.

"SHE'S MINE!" Spider-carnage roared and leaped to his feet. He and Peter began to circle around Kitty, eyeing the other.

"She's not your Kitty Pryde," said Peter. "I'm sorry, but yours is dead. Along with everyone else."

"But if I can get her back, maybe they'll come back too," Spider-carnage replied.

"No they won't," said Peter, "they're dead."

"But...but...he promised he'd bring them back..." Spider-carnage cried. " But you took him away. So...If you are gone, then he'll come back. Then she'll come back to me, then they all will!" Spider-carnage tackled Peter, who kicked him off and retaliated with a series of web-shots.

"He lied to you!" Peter shouted.

"NO!" Spider-carnage roared as he barrelled towards Peter, who punched him in the face. Spider-carnage retaliated by sweeping Peter's legs out and bringing his elbow down on Peter's ribs. Peter rolled and struck out with both feet, Kicking Spider-carnage in the face.

Peter got to his feet as Spider-carnage charged him again, this time forming his hand into a blade, ready to kill. He tackled Peter, who caught the bladed arm and did his best to keep it away from his throat.

"I NEED HER!" Spider-carnage screamed as he pressed the blade closer to Peter.

"SO DO I!" Peter shouted back at him. This caught Spider-carnage's attention, and he released Peter.

"No...I...I...need...she...UNCLE BEN!" Spider-carnage yelled as he fell to his knees, holding his head in his hands. Spider-carnage looked upwards through the hole in the roof, and up into the sky. His eyes fixated on a single star as he said, "I'm so sorry."

Spider-carnage looked at his bladed arm, as if considering something, then drove it into his heart. He hit the floor, and as he bleed out, his eyes feel on Kitty, who had finally sat up, and was looking back at him.

"I love you," Spider-carnage whispered, before closing his eyes.

Kitty turned away from the horrid sight before her as Peter picked her up with both arms. Nothing needed to be said as he carried her through the energy portal. He simply held her tight, afraid to let go as the blueish energy consumed them.

The blue light faded before them. And what they saw could best be described as hell on earth.