The sounds of crashes and screams and curses and threats did not help lighten the mood outside the Daily Bugle offices. Yes, Electro was out, the Chameleon in prison and the Vulture gone. But that still meant Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, Green Goblin, and Venom were still in there. And thinking that Spider-Man had to go at it alone did not make anyone feel better.

A metal arm was seen flying out the window, and Doctor Octavius' pudgy frame appeared, using another tentacle to bat away a now visible Spider-Man. As Doctor Octopus emerged back into the building, Spider-Man was caught by one of Venom's black sticky web-like lines and was yanked backwards. The scream of agony that came moments later had Jillian standing, facing the structure.

"This isn't right. They'll kill him--and I know he won't. Spider-Man doesn't kill people. But they'll kill him."

"Don't talk like that! Spider-Man's strong, he knows what he's doing!" Mary Jane shouted back. Jillian turned around and saw her tear-stained face. "Mary Jane, I'm sorry. I didn't--"

"Yeah. I know. It's just hard. The worrying. The waiting. Watching the television as your only way of knowing he's okay."

Jillian put her arm around her and gave her a not-so-obvious hug. "I won't leave this place until he's out safe. I don't have anywhere to go, but still." Jillian said, remembering that her apartment had burned to the ground. That was a lovely memory. It seemed so long ago.

"Oh, you know you're staying with us, you idiot." Mary Jane chuckled.

"Thanks."

"One rule."

"What?"

"No peeking at Spidey's stuff, then writing about it in your newspaper."

Jillian took offense to that. "I don't do that. Whatever happens with Peter is off the record. I only write down actual events, or when I am literally standing with Spider-Man chatting. I'm not that kind of person."

Mary Jane didn't answer. No one spoke for quite awhile, and the only sound was from the brawl that was taking place inside. Jillian's face was stern--how dare she accuse her of something like that? What, was miss supermodel/actress afraid of the tabloids now? Hrmph. Jillian tapped her fingers, tapped her foot, looked at the crowd and finally had had it with waiting. She did not like to wait.

Jillian stood, limped her way over to the person who seemed to be the commanding officer, and asked what was going on. They stood a few feet from the front doors of the Bugle, which had nearly been blown off from the crater Doc Ock had caused.

"What's the word?" she asked him.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but--"

"Oh no. I am a very close associate and friend of Spider-Man. I want to know everything you do."

The old, graying man was shocked. "Well, it's classified."

"Classified my ass!" Jillian shouted back.

It was at that moment that two long, metal tentacles wrapped around Jillian and the old police chief. They were lurched inside after screams from the onlookers had pierced the air. They bumped into some broken beams and dust scattered on their bodies. She heard laughter--uncontrollable, evil laughter.

When Jillian saw Doctor Octopus, he did not look at good as he did earlier. He had a black eye, a missing tooth, and bleeding cuts on various parts of his body. "Perfect." he mumbled. He started moving into the wreckage with stealth, not making a sound. Jillian didn't dare scream for help, for the mutinous look in his eyes told her that he'd kill her as soon as she spoke. The police chief understood that much as well. Jillian tried to reach for the spider-tracer that Ock had failed to notice was still around her neck, but her tied arms could not reach.

There was a sound from above, and Mysterio soon came crashing from the ceiling. He landed hard on his back, his goldfish-bowl helmet cracked. He was down for the count.

Doctor Octopus sneered at his weakness, then moved into the stairwell where he saw Electro wrapped in webbing and ready for delivery to the nearest prison cell. So it was down to three. Himself, Venom, and the Goblin. How interesting...

Doctor Octopus put his hand to his ear and spoke: "Venom, Goblin, come in."

"Venom here--no sign of the wallcrawler."

"Goblin hiding in elevator shaft. I killed two escapees, their bodies taken by police. Didn't see me."

"I have two hostages.Going up to City Room. Keep Webslinger busy."

"Will do."

"Roger."

Octavius jerked them forward as he climbed the stairs. Spider-Man would no doubt prepare Mysterio for the cops...which gave him enough time to come up with some sort of plan. Of course, with hostages you didn't need a plan. Just throw one out the window one way, the second one another, and make your escape.

Indeed. This had not gone as planned. If Mysterio hadn't suggested that they scatter, maybe they would have finally killed him. But more than half were out, and the hostages had escaped. Well, all but two now...

A buzzing sound came from Ock's ear. Jillian could hear the muffled voice say: "Venom...down!...Spider-Man...chasin me...damn...good luck, fellas..." and then the noise was gone. Octavius cursed. Great. Now only two left-- that much was obvious. And Jillian knew that, with his bulking tentacles, there was no way he could make it out safe. The hostages were his best bet...a brilliant idea. The Wallcrawler was a sucker for people. Hell, he risked his life everyday to save them. Just like when he gave himself up to save Jillian that long time ago, when he had yet again partnered with Venom. And, yet again, the mistake had been made.

Well, not again.

Spider-Man was not to survive.