Broken
Chapter Four: The Choice
Zooming down the road with Happy in the driver's seat and Peter swinging from building-to-building, Pepper pulled out all three parts and looked them over. The Beginning, The Search and Goodbye My Friend. If Pepper knew anything, the next one had to be only one thing.
"The Choice," left Pepper's lips.
"Come again?" Happy asked.
"The Silhouette is focused not around Peter but Spider man. It wants to make a perfect story for him to turn him not into a villain but a hero."
"So, this silhouette leaves the parts of this story behind like what bread crumbles?"
"Correct, to lead us to the part of the story. The Silhouette is the author and we are the characters in a story we never wanted to be a part of."
"So, this silhouette it has to be one of the kid's enemies, right?
Before Pepper answered, her cell phone rang. She looked at the name and sighed. It was Tony. She thought she put her phone on silent, but maybe she didn't. Staring at her cell, Pepper took a long deep breath wither she liked it or not she had to talk him. Swiping the green dot, she held her cell up to her ear.
"Hey," Pepper said, pushing her lips into a smile.
"Is that all I get? I've been calling you for a while now," Tony paused. I got curious and looked into what happen to Peter's aunt.
Pepper's body stiffens. She didn't know what to say, so she just let Tony talk.
"She was hurt under unusual circumstances. Even the cops don't know what to make of it. "Now I got wind of Peter's friend Ned is also hurt ...please tell me you, Happy and Peter are not anywhere near this?"
Pepper bit her lip as she glances to Happy, who looked back at her with unsure eyes. She also felt the same. She had made a promise to Peter and even thought she wanted to let Tony in on this, she would keep the teens' wishes for even she wanted to see how the story ends.
"Uh, no, we're keeping an eye on Peter, making sure he does nothing stupid," Pepper pushed out her lips.
A sigh came across the receiver while Pepper's stomach was riddled with knots. Pulling the cell away from her ear, she took another deep breath.
"Well, I have to go...um, I'm sorry Anthony, I love you," Pepper said before hanging up.
"Pepper..." Happy said.
"I know Happy I know." Is all Pepper said.
The two remained silent as they zoomed on down the road.
Sitting at home on the couch, MJ sighed as she looked over at the show on the TV. Taking a few sips from her cup, she almost spit out her water when breaking news interrupted her program showing Ned's house surrounded by cops and an ambulance.
"Crap..." MJ said as she pulled out her cell phone.
She brought up her contacts and was about to push Peter's name when a thud followed by the sound of a window breaking caused MJ to look toward the kitchen. Slipping on her shoes, MJ was torn. She wanted to go into the kitchen, but she also wanted to run.
Backing up toward the front door, MJ stopped and glanced behind at the men by the window banging on the door. One of the men dressed in a suit with spiky black hair stuck his head through the window, laughing.
"We're coming to get you!" the man said, laughing.
Running up stairs pulling down cabinets and tall potted plants behind her, MJ looked around for a few moments before diving in into the bathroom. Locking the door behind her, MJ jumped into the bathtub. She kept pushing on the window, trying to open it as there was banging on the door.
Soon, there was silence. MJ turned to the door pulling out a wooden board from the towel rack. With sweat pouring off her, MJ stared at the door handle. But she let out a scream as she smacked a hand busting through the window.
Soon the door kicked opened and Peter punched the guy through the window. Taking a hold of MJ's hand, the two of them took off running.
"Peter, what's going on?" MJ asked.
"I'll explain later," Peter replied.
Meanwhile, pulling up outside of MJ's house, Happy jumped out the car. Pepper was about to follow him, but stopped when she noticed something sticking out of the slot of the window. Walking over toward the item, she was just about to reach it when a man jumped out the window with a grin on his face. He picked up the item, revealing it to be a thick large envelope. He extended out to her while chuckling.
Pepper reached out to take it only for the man to drop the envelope and pull her close, putting a piece of glass up to her throat.
"I got you now girly, master will be pleased," the man said before licking Pepper's cheek. "Tasty,"
"If I know your master, he wouldn't like you touching his goods." Pepper said.
Pepper stepped on the man's shoe and elbow, the man in the stomach not before slicing Pepper's face with the glass. She kicked him back into The Silhouette. Turning around, the man's eyes widen as he bowed perversely.
"I'm sorry ...master," the man begged.
"She's right. I don't like you touching my goods," The Silhouette whispered.
The man tried to move, only for the guy to drop to his knees with a steel quill in his chest. Pushing the man over, The Silhouette pulled out the quill before walking over and picking up the large envelope.
"So it is you, Victor Peterson," Pepper said, wiping the blood off her cheek.
Victor smiled. "I go by the name The Author now." "I knew you would figure it out...my muse."
"I have to say you created a wonderful story,"
"Thank you. I couldn't do it without such excellent characters."
Victor handed the envelope over to Pepper. Opening it up, she read the title aloud.
"Part Four: The Choice," Pepper said.
By this time, Happy, Peter, and MJ were a few feet away from her.
"Pepper!" Happy screamed, running toward her, but she held up her hand.
"No, a choice needs to be made," Pepper said.
Victor smiled. "Good, so much suspense, and this twist is glorious."
"What? I don't understand what choice?" Peter asked.
"MJ or Pepper." Happy said, glaring at Victor.
"Happy," Peter wanted to protest.
"To save the girl, a sacrifice must be made," Pepper said.
Peter tried to rush toward Pepper only for Happy to stop him with MJ's help. They kept Peter from getting closer as Victor stood there with over a dozen of his goons behind him.
"I had a feeling it would always come down to this one day. Locking you away wouldn't be enough. Pepper paused. I would keep having nightmares about you finding me and making me choose.
"And your answer?" Victory asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Pepper replied.
Victor smiled as Pepper looked at him. He extended out his hand. Pepper placed the pages back in the envelope and tossed it behind her.
"When you see Tony again tell I'm sorry," Pepper said glancing over at Happy.
Stepping forward, Pepper took a hold of Victor's hand. Turning around, the two walked away, with Victor's minions following them. Peter looked away while Happy looked down. He took a deep breath before he let go of Peter and picked up the envelope.
"He took her. It's my fault," Peter said, looking away.
"No kid, all of this is Victor's fault. This was some kind of twisted story he created and if I'm right, there's one Part left." Happy paused. We better get ready, for it's time to fight back.
