Inconnu paced around his office, his long legs striding across the thick carpet. From what he could tell, things were going downhill. When he called Mikala to see what was up...well, that wasn't the most pleasant phone call he had ever made. What was he paying her for!

He sighed loudly while running his deformed hand through his short night black hair. Things were becoming complicated. He knew somewhere in his gut that this would happen...he just knew it. He scoffed loudly. "Anything that damn doctor touches backfires..." He shook his head at the thought. Everything was just...a bundle of mess. He normally had the ability to foresee possible routes, but he never thought to add in the DeMarquise as a questionable factor that would louse everything up for him.

This wasn't good...

This doctor was becoming more and more of a pest. Sure, Inconnu would have his revenge with him, but he was messing up all that he had worked for before he could accomplish it! Inconnu stopped pacing long enough to scratch his chin. His calculating mind began to ponder every angle that could could come up... DeMarquise would have to go. That was a given. He might end up six feet under, but-

He used but. There was doubt again....Kenneth's side was coming in again. Kenneth wanted DeMarquise to suffer more than anything...murder on the one hand did not seem right. Yet that man ruined his life...

He ruined his life....that was the defense Inconnu would present to Kenneth every single day. DeMarquise and that little helper of his would get theirs also, but DeMarquise is someone with a much bigger score to settle. He'd get his soon enough...

Inconnu stroked his chin carefully. The inevitable came....

Inconnu had lost patience.

Yes...he'd settle this all right now...no more waiting. No more games. The sooner he got Kristina and Spider-Man, the sooner all of this will be over with. DeMarquise will meet his death, his nice backstabbing counterpart will meet his, and he'll have his Kristina. All the games end now...

..................................................

Peter was the first to get up that morning. He glimpsed at Kristi's shut eyes. Feeling eyes on her, one eye popped open. Peter gave her a small smile. "Well good morning."

Kristi extended her legs out in an attempt to stretch. "Good morning."

The crease in Peter's forehead furrowed inward. Quietly, he said with soft tones, "Kris...you know I didn't come here last night for...this to happen. You know that right?" A lot of things happened that night. He was ready for them, she was ready for them, but he didn't want it to seem as though he came to her for that.

Kristi turned her head completely toward Peter's. "I know."

His blue eyes stayed on the sheet. Unsure, he said slowly, "So...no regrets?"

Kristi turned her head so it would be directly under his. Looking up at him, she said with a small smile, "Not one." Peter gave a small smile back in return. Peter turned his head to the side with a look of amusement on his face. She was just so interesting to look at. Kristi eyed him funnily. "What?"

Peter shrugged his bare shoulders. "Nothing. Nothing at all." He yawned once before glimpsing at her clock. "Can I take a shower here?"

Kristi nodded her head slowly. "Sure, but what would you wear?"

"My clothes from last night."

"They're probably still wet though."

Peter shrugged his shoulders once more. "It doesn't matter."

Kristi bit her lip for a moment before turning to get out of her bed. "I might have something you can wear."

Peter narrowed his eyebrows at her. "Um...no. I don't think so."

Kristi stopped in mid roll and turned her head toward Peter. "Why?"

"Because... you're a girl."

Kristi smirked at him. "How nice of you to notice."

His eyes shifted over her covered form. Very matter-of-factly, he said , "I've always noticed."

A smile crept on her lips, but she kept it down to a swift twitch of the lips. "Hmm...." Blushing slightly, she grabbed for her robe that had been discarded earlier on her midnight blue lounge chair that was in front of the double doors. "Well, I have some scrubs and a Saints shirt you could probably fit," she said as she tied her robe around her waist tightly.

"Let me guess....you keep spare pairs of those kind of clothes whenever you have male counterparts come over...am I right?"

She made a loud exaggerated sigh and gasp of shock. "You figured me out Parker." She pushed herself off of the bed and began to walk toward her closet. "I need bed warmers of course." When she was walking, she felt soreness like never before. She stopped for a moment before beginning to walk again attempting to analyze the sudden soreness.

Peter sat back on the bed and watched her attempt to walk. He turned his head to the side as he watched her. He made a small "hmm".

Kristi heard his "hmm" and turned around. His face seemed almost...amused. Placing a hand on her hip, she said quickly, "What are you smirking at?"

He widened his eyes in innocence. "Nothing." Turning his head to the side again, he asked seriously, "Are you hurt?"

"No, why?"

"You're walking funny." A thought flew into his head as to why that was so, but he quickly pushed it aside for some reason.

Kristi knew what it was from...and even though she attempted to keep herself from blushing, it happened anyway. Trying to play it off, she said nonchalantly, "You're the first bed warmer I've had that actually did their job right."

Peter's jaw dropped, literally. She said...about him...those words? "Um....I..." He scratched his head, almost embarrassed, until his pride puffed up. Playing with her, he said, with a grin, "Wow...I'm that good." As soon as the words left his mouth, he could feel the blush creeping up his cheeks. He never had the opportunity before to think of himself as "good". Now that he did, he felt funny. He felt happy, nervous, and embarrassed...

It was Kristi's turn to drop her jaw. "Are you bragging about it?"

"Is it really bragging if you are just stating the facts?"

Kristi twisted her mouth at him and marched toward his side of the bed, grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it. Peter held up his hands in defense. "What are you doing! You are abusing the bed warmer!" he said with a loud chuckle.

She smacked him once more in the face with a laugh. "You are my bed warmer, I can do whatever I want to you."

"You're one of those really controlling type of women, huh?"

"You know it."

Peter reached up and grabbed the flying pillow with one hand and Kristi's waist with the other, pulling both of them down on top of him. With a raised eyebrow, he said quickly, "My how the tables have turned."

Kristi rolled her eyes at him playfully. "Are you going to let me get you the clothes?"

"You're asking your bed warmer for permission?"

"It's not permission, it's a simple question."

Peter took a deep breath before shrugging his shoulders lazily. "What do you think?"

"Yes."

"On one condition."

"What?" Peter puckered his lips up. Kristi laughed at his facial expression. His face was scrunched up and his pouty lips were poking out. "Okay..." She placed her lips over his and blew hard, making a loud squeaking sound against them.

Peter pulled his head back quickly in laughter. "Don't you dare EVER call me a goober again!"

Kristi smiled sweetly before leaning down to give him a kiss. Pulling away, she pushed herself off of him and proceeded toward her closet. She was half way there when she felt Peter's hand at her hip. He grabbed her arm and put it around his neck and he walked side by side with her. "What are you doing?"

Peter sighed. "What kind of man would I be if I didn't help his girl walk?"

Peter took a shower in Kristi's bathroom. She did find the New Orleans Saints shirt and scrubs. They were both entirely too big for her, but they fit Peter. Once Peter had taken his shower, Kristi took hers. Peter went downstairs to fix something to eat.

Peter padded downstairs with a content smile on his face. Everything was great between the two of them. It amazed him constantly how every thing turned out for him. Just when he thought he hit the bottom, he had a break. Fate had a funny way of playing things out. He felt a small tugging in the back of his head, but pushed it aside. He was too busy concentrating on the good....

He went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Taking out the EGGO waffles' box. Placing the yellow box on the counter, he reached for the dark-blue toaster that was already sitting on the counter top. He placed four waffles in the four slot toaster and set it for medium. He placed the rest of the waffles back into the freezer section of the refrigerator. He still felt that nagging in his head, but who was he to bring himself from Cloud Nine?

He took out the orange juice and butter and placed them on the counter. He looked up to cabinets. He could never remember which one was the glass cabinet. With a small laugh, he said out loud to him self, "Where are the glasses?"

"Last cabinet," a male voice said. Peter's hand froze. His spider sense was going off like crazy now...

He whirled around quickly and nearly stepped back in shock. "Nice to see you too Parker," Klefton said as he plopped down on the sofa. He extended his massive arms across the back of the sofa and crossed his legs. "Good morning."

Peter flexed his fist in and out quickly. How the hell did he get in? "WHAt are you doing here?"

Klefton glimpsed at his watch. "It's time."

"Time for what?"

"Time for you and Ms. Devun to be leaving now."

Peter's breathing was beginning to increase. No...Klefton wasn't the direct threat. So where was it coming from? His eyes darted around quickly until he saw men dressed in black come from Kristi's laboratory. There must have been at least 10 of them. There were more coming from the vents over the entertainment system. Peter stepped from behind the kitchen island and took a fighting stance. None of the men charged however...

About eight of those men began their way upstairs. "No!" Peter shouted. He outstretched his arms and shot webbing at the top two men. Yanking hard, he pulled them down the steps. The remaining men began to attack him. Instead, he jumped upward and stuck to the ceiling, climbing his way to the steps. The men had already been on their way back up the steps.

Hopping off of the steps, Peter landed in front of them and did a swift kick, knocking most of the men backwards. The remaining men grabbed a hold of him, causing them to lose balance and tumble down the steps.

Klefton sat downstairs bored by it all. Shrugging his shoulders he made his way to the kitchen and waited for the eggos to pop up. He had skipped breakfast that day....

Peter tumbled to the ground with four men. They all were on top of his form. Standing up quickly, he knocked all of them off of him. He was about to run upstairs, when one man grabbed him by the leg, bringing him back to the ground. All of the man power now was being concentrated on getting Parker.

Kristi stepped out of the steamy bathroom fully clothed in some basketball shorts and a simple black shirt. She heard the clanging downstairs and chuckled to herself. Must Peter make that much noise with the pots and pans?

Then she heard banging and thumping. That's not pots and pans....

She rushed out the room and ran straight into two men dressed all in black. She screamed for a moment. Out of pure reflex, she kicked her legs up and nailed the men in the chests, causing them both to fall backwards. She hopped up quickly and jumped over them in haste for the the stairs.

Peter heard Kristi's yell and struggled even more to get the men off of him. As strong as he was, certainly he couldn't get all some odd 15 men off of him. He struggled more and more until he felt something cover his face. He could no longer breath correctly as he inhaled a thick gas

Kristi saw all of the men on him and thrusted her hands into the air quickly. They all flew off of him as if each one were connected to strings and had been pulled back. It took a lot out of her to move so much...ever since that whole episode with the roses, everything was weakened. Her head began to hurt if she exerted too much concentration on her mental powers. This time was no different.

She ran to Peter's fallen form and held him in her arms. "What did they do to you?"

Peter was already beginning to fade in and out. "Mask...gas."

Kristi squinched her eyes as she looked at him. He was already beginning to pale. "Peter?" she whispered. "Peter answer me please..." No response.

Kristi forgot about the men behind her. Five of them gripped her form and tugged her away from Peter's. They all held her down as they quickly put the mask over her face. She had inhaled two puffs but threw the people off of her with her mind. She had to struggle with that though...her head was starting to hurt.

It didn't take much gas to weaken her. She fell to her knees quickly and watched the room begin to spin. Someone grabbed her and forced the mask onto her face. Her hands swung into the air quickly, attempting to hit anything. She made a connection with someone's face. She was dropped swiftly as she quickly smacked the mask away. Everything was going in and out...

Someone picked her up once more and held the mask firmly over her face until she stopped moving completely. The mask remained there about ten seconds after she had stopped moving. "Hey! That's enough gas! You put in twice as much as you were supposed to," Klefton said with an angry bark. He took a bite out of the waffle. "Pick them up and take them out through the elevator shaft to the back." He sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs once more. "Hurry it up! We don't want to keep the Professor waiting..." Klefton took another bite out of the waffle. As they picked up Peter, he said with a smirk, "Thanks for breakfast."

.............................................

Peter's cerulean eyes opened slowly. He squinted them tightly shut once again when he saw a bright light being pointed into his face. Turning his head to the side, he peered at his clothes.

They were the same clothes he had on when he was at Kristi's.

He wasn't there anymore, that much was evident.

He shifted his head once more to look around the room. His eyebrows furrowed inward when he felt patches on his head. He saw his small reflection in the large glass wall. He attempted to raise his arm to sit up, but that was impossible. He grunted once more in an attempt, but proved to be futile. He didn't feel weak...he felt as though he had his strength. These bond had to have been something specially made for him. "Hello Parker. Rise and shine doll face!"

Peter turned his head toward the other direction. His face grimaced as he saw Klefton and the doctor once again."What-"

Klefton held up his hand. "Is going on. I know, I know." Chuckling to himself, he said rather frankly, "We've caught you. That's what's going on." Klefton pushed himself off of the wall that he was leaning against and walked over to Peter. "Maybe if you weren't so busy jackin' off with Devun then maybe you could have been thinking straighter."

Peter's face first turned flush in embarrassment, but the reason for the flush soon turned to anger as his jaw tightened. "Where-"

"Is she? Oh don't worry. She had a little more of the gas than we had wanted her to, but she's mellowing out. We've got some special stuff for her." Peter was about to open his mouth when Klefton interrupted him. "Like what you wonder? Okay first...I'll answer your question. How do I know what you are thinking?" Klefton pulled up a chair and sat next to Peter. "Well...we have nice little devices here that interpret your waves into images and or words. But yeah...now back to Kristi." His eyes glimpsed and the recorder. Peter's protective nature was being traced back to their night together.

An image was being printed out along with Peter's waves. He gave Peter a sinister smile. "Oh you're a vivid one aren't you! Now. All you have to do is submit yourself to us and everything will be easier. I promise."

"What have you done to her?"

Klefton's eyebrow rose in humor. Shrugging his shoulders, he said quickly, "Screwed her seven different ways while she was unconscious."

Peter's face turned a shade redder. Knowing that sick idiot, he probably would do something like that. "Bastard!" He moved his fingers and wrist around and shot some webbing to Klefton's face.

Klefton quickly dodged it and said with a satisfied grin on his face. "Watch the language!" He grabbed the controller and nodded his head to the doctor. "Please, be a dear doc and turn that switch up."

DeMarquise flipped a small black switch. Peter's body automatically stiffened from the quick bout of small pain he received. Klefton leaned in toward Peter with his head cocked to the side. "Now...are you going to be a good boy and listen to me?" Peter spat in his face. Klefton, wiping his face, gritted his teeth toward Peter. Slamming down on a button on the controller he held, he promptly felt relief when he saw the controlled expression of pain on Peter's face.

He released the button and looked at Peter. "Now...shall we try this again?" Klefton reached for a gas mask and attempted to place it over Peter's mouth. Peter twisted his head back and forth so Klefton couldn't get the mask on. Klefton sighed exasperatedly. "You really are a prick you know that?"

DeMarquise stepped around Klefton. "Let me have some fun with the spider." Securing some special gloves on around his arms, he looked up at Peter with a look of content on his face. Peter narrowed his eyes at the shorter man. His spider sense went off , but he could do nothing to move his head. from the blow.

DeMarquise took his small palm and cracked it across Peter's cheek. He did it three more times before he crumpled his small hand into a a fist and slammed it into Peter's jaw.

Peter's head whipped to the right side swiftly. Slowly, he turned his head back into place. The impact of the doctor's hand to his own flesh stung enough to bring some moisture to his eyes against his will. His cheek, sore from the previous hits, swung to the right side once more. The doctor punched him once more in the face. Peter's head turned back slower. He could already began to taste the blood.

DeMarquise's teeth were gritted shut. He loved this...Spider-Man was tied down with something that he couldn't break through AND he got to inflict pain on him....oh he loved this!

He took another swing at Peter, this time in the stomach. Once...twice...three times did his fist make contact with Peter's stomach. He snatched the controller from Klefton, who stood by with his arms crossed. He encircled his fingers around the button and slammed it forcefully.

Peter's jaw tightened as his teeth grinded against each other in order to keep control.

DeMarquise smiled to himself as he heard Peter's suppressed whimpers. He was supressing them...this wouldn't work The doctor's eyebrow rose quickly. Oh...he wanted a nice high pitched yell...

The doctor walked across the room, letting go of the button momentarily. He could hear Peter's body sigh involuntarily. He went to the dial and turn it up two more notches. He pressed the button once more. This time, he got a loud scream from Peter's body.

Peter's body shook as he attempted to break the bonds that held him pinned down. His body was propped up against a wall. The metal linking that held made his wrists red from the impression of his wrist against the metal. He didn't feel the minor pain that was coming from the bands. The pains he was feeling traveled from his head into his chest. He couldn't withhold his screams as hard as he tried while he gritted his teeth as hard as he could. His body shook slowly from the pulsation of pain underneath his skin. He tightened his eyes shut, his stinging jaw tightly shut, trying to silence the sounds of pain coming to his lips. His blue eyes rolled in the back of his head as it flung around in an effort to break the his bonds.

DeMarquise observed Peter's spasmodic movements with a laugh. He loved the sound of Peter's screaming, still, it was not high enough and then the boy had the nerve to try to silence them! He turned it up another notch.

Klefton was leaning against a white wall watching with little interest. The doc was having too much fun with this. He saw Peter's face turning red from the blood rush, his hands were flexing in and out rapidly. "Hey doc...tone it down. He's gotta be conscious for all of this stuff to happen."

"Oh no...I'm having fun!" He turned it up another notch....he still wasn't satisfied.

Peter's muscles contracted and tightened in quick bursts. There was a constant burning on his skin, as if someone was holding a large torch on his skin. Everything burned...it burned so badly. He couldn't concentrate on pulling away now...his entire body ached with the large burning sensation.

Peter's body shook more violently now. Blood was beginning to come from his nose. The red droplets were being strewn across the room from his quick movements. Klefton felt a slight pang in his head as he saw the blood smearing across Peter's sweat drenched, shaking cheeks. He pushed himself off of the wall. He couldn't watch any more. "Doc...you got five minutes. Then we gotta keep going," he said as he began to make his way toward the exit.

DeMarquise never took his menacing gaze off of Peter's beaten form. He removed his thumb from the button on the controller. Peter's body fell limp instantly. "Oh that's more than enough time."

Peter couldn't understand what was being said. His only understanding was that the pain that plagued him had left him...but he knew it would be back. His head had drooped, his mouth slightly lax as he attempted to breath.

Klefton watched his form before he opened the door. Peter's weak head lifted slowly and stared blankly at him. His blue eyes were moist and full of contempt and confusion. Klefton strode out of the room and never looked back.

The doctor turned the machine up two more notches.....

Klefton went toward Inconnu who was watching the doctor through the observation glass. Klefton stood next to him with his back turned to the glass for a few minutes. His mind was flying in different directions. He wasn't sure what it was he was thinking, but he couldn't help but feel a pang a remorse for Peter.

Not taking his dark eyes from the glass, Inconnu said somewhat quietly, "You didn't like the show?"

Klefton shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't quite sure why he hadn't stayed... His green eyes fell onto the glass, watching Peter's shaking body. Looking down once more, he said quietly, "I'm not into the whole torture thing."

Inconnu sneered at that response. "I take it you like the faster approach correct?"

Klefton shrugged his shoulders as he smoothed out his suit. "I take that back...I do like torture...but this..." He looked at Peter. The doctor had stopped for a moment. There was blood coming from his scalp. He wasn't just sweating anymore...he was sweating blood. "This seems like too much."

Inconnu shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just letting the doctor have his fun. All of this could have been avoided if the boy had just been submissive to begin with. He brought this on himself." Klefton opened his mouth, but closed it slowly. Inconnu saw the reflection and said quickly, "You have something to say?"

Klefton squinted his eyes for a moment. "Professor...." he stopped in mid sentence. "I have nothing to say."

Inconnu just nodded his head.... Glimpsing at his watch, he said quickly, "Go tell the doctor to stop. He's had long enough. It's time to let the boy recuperate some..."

Klefton nodded his head slowly as he made his way to the lab once more. Peter's immobile body would not resist the serum now...

...............................................

It had been four hours later before Kristi's eyelids stirred. Her head fell to one side, the brief rubbing of hair on her cheek waking her up. Her eyes opened slowly, very droopy and very tired. Her head hurt as she attempted to lift it. She squinted her eyes for a moment for there was a dark silhouette standing in front of her. From the way the clothes fit and the body shape, she said quietly, "Peter?"

The body stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of her. Indeed it was him. "Yes it is…so to speak." His voice was different. It sounded more sinister…more evil. From what she could see, his blue eyes had become darker...just like everything else about him.

"What's happened to you?"

He turned his head to the side in false confusion. "What do you mean…Kristina?"

"Something's not right."

He turned his head back upright and crossed his arms. "The only thing not right…is you."

"What are you talking about?"

He shrugged his shoulders as he placed his hand in his pocket. "I've finally had my eyes opened by my friends: the good doctor, dear Klefton and our elusive boss." Our boss? This was not good...it could not be good.

Kristi tried to move her arm, but found the task futile. Her arms were pinned at her sides by a lock. Concentrating on turning the lock, all she felt was pain. She heard herself wince as she tried her powers. Her mind was pounding and felt as though it was going explode. Peter clapped his hands together. "Oh I see you've discovered the new trick. There's a nice little serum flowing through your body, primarily your brain cavity. When you try to use your powers, you will feel strong bouts of pain until you stop trying. The pain will increase every time you try to use your power." He chuckled to himself at the thought. "Isn't that great?"

Kristi shook her head in confusion. What was going on? "Peter…w-what's happened to you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Oh nothing really…I've just found new friends to play with." /he sighed loudly as he began to pace in front of her. "Ya know, I really am tired of getting dissed and dismissed by the people of the pathetic town you refer to as New York. Hey, if they want to go around killing themselves, who am I to stop them? It'll only free up more room on this planet."

No...this couldn't be happening. Peter's whole purpose was to never let the innocent suffer. She shook her head at him, "Your uncle Ben-"

He stopped pacing to interrupt her. "Was weak enough to be overtaken," he barked loudly. Going to a lower tone, he said, "So will it be with you."

"What have they done to you?"

He shrugged his shoulders as his head began to look up to the ceiling. "I was injected with a serum that has opened my eyes." For the first time, he actually made what looked like a genuine smile. "Not only am I seeing things clearer but I'm also seeing them as they are." He turned his head from the ceiling to her dark eyes. "Want to know what I see you as? I see you as a power hungry, over achieving bitch who just can't take a hint. Why couldn't you have just left me alone and not worm your way into my life…into my mind…into my HEART!" he stopped for a moment to ponder that last statement. With a quick chuckle, he said quickly, "If that's even possible."

He had given up...he couldn't do this..."Peter…fight this, please."

"Why? It's so much fun" he said with a quick squeal. He didn't need to feel the urge to be good. His mind had often wondered what it would be like to be the other guy committing the crimes and just plain being the bad guy. He wanted the control and power that came with it...all of his former ways of thinking were now a joke to him, a joke of which he laughed heartily at.

Kristi shook her head slowly. "You don't mean any of this."

"Open your eyes sweetheart." He inched closer to her fallen face. With a menacing tone he added, "Babe, you gotta learn, life's a bitch and so is the truth, so just accept it and move on." He sucked his teeth at her. "Poor thing…you believed in that love crap huh?" He laughed loudly. "Oh that's precious It's something called testosterone dear. Read a book about it." He turned his head so he would directly under hers. "Oh, what's the matter? Are you gonna cry now?"

There were tears rimming her eyes."Pete, I love you…" One tear escaped and fell on his face.

Something in him cause him to shutter but he blinked it away quickly. Covering his mistake, he stood up quickly, her gaze following his form. Nonchalantly, he said, "So…fucking… what?"

She could have died right there. This wasn't him…she felt it wasn't him. "I'll leave you alone to shed your little pathetic ugly tears. Remember...tears are ugly things, are you sure really want them?" She sniffled quickly and turned her head away from him. He sneered at her face and wiped the moisture that had fallen from her eyes from his face. He walked away.

Kristi turned her head to watch him saunter away. This couldn't be happening...this could not be happening. If they had gotten Peter...what could she do now? "Now, now dear Kristina...tear stained faces aren't very pretty ones."

She restrained her tears long enough to glance evilly toward the shadows. "You, what have you done to him?"

Klefton walked toward her slowly. "Nothing, we just gave him something that makes him see things differently. Not from his old goody two shoes manner, but from an egotistical, maniacal, deceiving, heartless manner. It just worked its way into his system." Klefton rocked on his heels with a wide grin. "I'm quite proud of myself really. He must have been wound up pretty tight to let loose on you like that."

Kristi tightened her jaw. "That wasn't him at all. I know it wasn't."

"Well," he buffed his nails on his shirt. "I think it was. We read some of his thoughts with a nice little handy dandy device. It told us some nice things…Once he stopped struggling, he told us some pretty tasty tidbits about himself." His green eyes found their way back to Kristi's wide ones. "Wow, you look surprised. Honestly," he sighed dramatically, "it was a spiritual thing. We really bonded." He laughed loudly. "Parker's a character! Probably the best part he recalled was when you two were sharing a bed…" Kristi felt herself shrink in her bonds. That was something special for them...just to have Klefton even mention it dirtied the entire thing. Klefton began to walk closer to her. With a snide grin he said in a whisper,"What really got him was seeing how long it would take for him to get into your pants…he really shocked himself." He placed his hand on his chest. "Hell...he shocked me! I know he was probably the dorkiest kid in town, but I gotta give it to him, he's a deceiving little bastard."

Kristi narrowed her eyes into slits. "Liar."

"Darling when are you going to learn that I mean everything I say? Do you know how much pleasure he got from you being under him? Hell…any man would I think so. The sheer thought of him being in control was enough to throw him into overdrive. I'm sure that's what caused you to feel your...soreness. My God, I didn't think the boy had it in him to be so damn rough!" Kristi was cringing from every word that came out of Klefton's mouth. This wasn't supposed to be for him to know...this was supposed to be between her and Peter...

"I'm sure it was a great experience for him…to finally be in control and have a conquest of his own to put under his belt."

Kristi took a deep breath before breathing out, "Stop it…"

"Admit it, you were a true whore. Let's stroll down memory lane. As Peter so eloquently put it, 'She moaned my name like a whore and gripped my body like a real slut would.' Don't you remember? I'm sure you have fond memories of that night."

"Stop…"

"Stop what? Stop telling the truth…"

She was about to break down. She felt violated and exploited. With all the shady looks Klefton was throwing her way, she could only imagine that he had gotten images of himself with her..."Stop…"

"Well actually, if you must know, I'm a little jealous of the Spider Prick. He got to have you and I didn't…" He stepped even closer and looked her up and down. "God only knows how many times I've wanted to get a taste of little Miss Sweet Magnolias." He eyed her carefully, noting the fear he saw in her eyes. He almost felt bad for it..."Do you really think I'd take you right now? Oh no…Inconnu would have a fit…but at least I have my thoughts, that is, until you cross."

"You've just given me newfound resistance to fight with."

He scoffed at her comeback. "Oh I bet. You won't be able to resist it."

"Well even if I do, which I won't, I'll certainly remember to come after with a knife and pull a Lorena Bobbit. Or maybe I'll use my mind and RIP it off. When I don't cross over, get out of here, and kick your ass, I'll still remember to do so. Either way, you'll lose a certain appendage."

He furrowed in his eyebrows. "Feisty little cobra, aren't you? Even the less tamable creatures can be beautiful, intoxicating ones hmm?"

"Let me have a little talking with the girl…" someone else said from the background.

"Why are you doing this to Peter, he's done nothing to you."

DeMarquise folded his arms. "Oh but he has. Web head has done plenty to me. Foiling my plans…hell, I'm just an entrepreneur in the world of crime and he had to go and step all over my business. My beef is with Spider boy…not you. Don't worry…I won't hurt him too much. You two will still have each other when this is all done with. He might not be in perfect functioning order as, I'm sure you've seen, but he'll still be functioning." She noted the bruises on the side of Peter's face but was in too much shock of his words to say anything about them.

"Not if I have something to do with it..." Klefton said in a mumble.

"I will join none of you."

DeMarquise chuckled at her child like innocence. "Oh but you see…you don't have much of a choice in the matter. That serum that will convert you…is a nice little concoction of mind control and mind alternation. It's so potent…nothing can stop it once its in your system except for the occasional force of lightening or something similar to it, but even then, if you get near a rain cloud, it will have been in your system for so long, it will become a part of you…so you see, it's inevitable."

"No."

Klefton rolled his eyes at her furiously. "Damn fool. Stop being so noble and look at what's in front of you. You are a pointless waste of space whose only contributions to the world would be what's between your legs, your powers, and your soon to be easily manipulated mind. But I must hand it to you, you do come in a nicely wrapped package. I wasn't lying when I said you were a beautiful creature…but you would be an art form in motion if you joined us."

Kristi growled out slowly, "I'm not looking to be anyone's Mona Lisa."

Klefton smiled at her. "My dear child, you would surpass Mona with the speed of light."

"That will be all Klefton and good doctor…leave me with her."

Klefton nodded his head toward the dark figure. "Yes sire."

As soon as the two figures left, then did the dark figure began to talk. "Well hello dear."

Kristi felt a chill up her spine...it was the man from the warehouse. "Who are you?"

"The one who has brought you so much joy these past few weeks."

"What do you want?"

Inconnu rolled his eyes. "Dear child, must we go through this YET again?" He held up his hands as he went towards a chair. "Fine then, I'll dispense with the pleasantries and jump straight to the point." Pulling it up to her, he sat down and began to explain. "I want you…" Kristi's head shrunk back in disgust. The figure's mouth curled into a smile and then made a loud laugh. "Don't look at me like that…I'm not a testosterone driven man like dear Klefton, but don't worry." He leaned his head in closely and whispered to her. "You'll soon be rid of him permanently. He over stepped his boundaries when he had his first sexual thought of you." Kristi relaxed some, but she knew she should be on her guard. There was something very protecting of this man...

Scooting back, he cleared his throat. "Poor thing…you are left in the dark about a few things. Klefton and the Doctor's crude way of explaining things wasn't quite the right road to take with you. So, here's what I'll do, I'll allow you three questions with complete straight up answers. You have my word."

What good would his word be? She thought only for an instant before the first question came to her mind. "Why did you kill my mother?"

"I didn't kill your mother," he said coolly.

"You were involved. Her blood is on your hands."

"No" he barked. He calm down a moment before beginning again. "No…I did not carry out the order. My colleague, the good doctor, did. I did not want your mother harmed."

"Why me and Spider Man?"

"You mean that Peter boy? Well, my colleague wanted him as a vendetta of some sort. I thought it might be nice for you to have a playmate when you cross."

Kristi shook her head at him. "I won't do it."

He shook his finger at her. "You say that now…As for you, I've watched you your entire life. I wanted to make sure you were with me…"

Watched her her entire life? "Who are you?"

"I am Inconnu. If you remember your French verbs that you learned in 6th grade, you would remember that Inconnu means unknown. I am a man of my word and a businessman to a fault. I'm an under lord, I guess you could say. I own more than half of this country's shady dealings and am renown in Europe."

"My dealings spanned for almost six years and yet my mind stayed focused on who would take over when I was gone. I acquired so much in so little time, because my life was stripped from me." He paused for a moment as if he was thinking of how best to say them. "Vengeance is a strong emotion… I had a family, well paying, honest job, and the respect of my friends. Over a course of weeks, I discovered that I was linked with an under lord, but not by my own volition. It was all false of course. One of the people I worked with needed a fall guy, and I fit the mold. There was a crime war going on that I knew nothing about, yet it was centered around the 'fact' of my false association with certain criminals. A plot was set for me to be murdered…a nice planned accidental death. I was passed off as dead…little did they know, I escaped. I was made an ally with criminals alike because of my vast intelligence and information thrown at me because of my previous problem. As a result of joining into crime ventures, I acquired a mass of wealth, power, and respect in the underworld. Some refer to me as the Godfather because of this."

"Not a day went by that I hadn't thought about what I left…I couldn't go back and reconcile. The damage was done and too many people would be in danger, since I have a face that most can't forget… I was ashamed of what I had become: a monster to some, God to others. I immersed myself in this and the product is my massive empire. So who am I: Inconnu, the unknown, good guy gone bad, Godfather, God, businessman, or monster? You can take you pick, but I'll leave you with something to ponder about: I'm a family man…your mother, beautiful, darling Nina, was not suppose to fall victim to this." He paused yet again. His dark eyes fell toward the ground once he began to talk again. "That was why…I stayed away. Kristina Marie Devun, protection is not only a concern, mio Bebe, it is an issue. Your intelligence, cunning, quick headedness, and even your mother's boldness is also a factor. I need you here…I want you here. Why not make this a…family business?"

Kristi's eyes widened as she shook her head slowly. "No…this…this isn't true." She wouldn't believe it. "We...your body was burned. No one survived that." She couldn't believe it.

Inconnu shrugged his shoulders as he stood up. "It's amazing what some people can live through."

Something tingled in the back of her head..."I don't believe you."

He narrowed his eyes as he exclaimed quickly, "Oh but you do! Your eyes deceive you child. Eighteen days before your birthday, your father walked away and never looked back-"

Kristi shook her head while swallowing hard. "You're just an imposter trying to sway me. It won't work."

"I, your father, did not want to face you and your mother like this. Your lives would have been in danger and I didn't want you and your mother to go through living with a monster."

Kristi tightened her jaw. "My father would have never thought like that. He knew he could never be seen as such."

"Oh but I did…"

"He's not a monster. He never would have been. I could always look him in the eyes and see everything good that was there. No matter what, he wouldn't have been a monster. You're a bastard to even pose as him because just from talking with you, you could never amount to the man he was. You…are… a… liar."

"Oh really? LOOK!" He flipped a small switch and stood only a few inches away from her face. "Look very hard. Look familiar Bebe?" Her face turned white. "What? Do ghosts scare you? You want to see daddy's bad side? Take a good look!" he yelled as he grabbed her turned face so she could see the burned deformities on his face, the deformities that the many surgical procedures could not fix. "Hideous isn't it? Did that scare daddy's little girl?" he said as he roughly let go of her cheek. "Huh? Did it? Answer me Kristina."

The air seemed to be thining out all around her. How could something like this happen? "I-I-"

His dark eyebrow rose."You what? Hmm…you should think twice before calling father a liar. Look at what the past has brought you: a dead mother, and the walking dead. Look hard my dear. Look at my eyes with your own, the same ones that you inherited from me. Look at me, if you can bear it, and tell me that you don't think it's me. Tell me that you don't think that I am Kenneth Desmond Devun. Call me a liar to my face…now. Do it Kristina." As much as she opened her mouth, she couldn't do it... "I knew you couldn't…"

"Why would you leave us? We could have come with you…cleared your name…"

"It wouldn't have mattered. I believed you wouldn't be able to live with a monster."

"We wouldn't have cared-"

He slammed his fist against the wall. "But I would have. I didn't trust myself around you…I didn't trust myself around your mother. That chemical spill and fire left me scarred mentally and physically…I can accept that, but I refused to expose you to it…Part of me was untamable."

"We would have stayed-"

"This beast can't be exorcized nor tamed. I've said enough for one meeting. I'll call on you later, but now, I have some business to attend to with Klefton. Feel free to be an audience." His tall stature strode confidently to another chamber that stood in front of her. She stayed there, too stunned to move...too shaken to do anything. That night in the hotel at her mother's funeral....it had to have been him. He had been there to comfort her.

The man at the hospital...it had to have been him.

Why was he doing this now!

She looked up quickly to shout something to him when she saw him in the chamber with Klefton. It reminded her of a glass cage. There was a rising pain in her stomach that left her nervous and in a dreading state.

Klefton stood inside of the corridor looking Mr. Inconnu. Bowing slightly, he said quickly, "Hello sire. Is she more willing?"

"I believe so, but there is another matter at hand that I need to deal with. Were you aware that I could hear everything you said to her…were you?"

Klefton's eyes showed confusement. "Well yes sir."

"Did you have a sudden memory loss of my orders? What was my stance on you and your all too wondering mind?"

Klefton held up his hands in defense. "Mr. Inconnu, I swear, I never touched her."

"Oh but your eyes did. I believe those to be far worse than your bare hands. How could you not heed my warning you insignificant man"

His eyes widened in fear. Breathing quickly, he sputtered, "I've done nothing wrong I've done all of your orders-"

Inconnu shook his head at the man..."Except one of the most important ones…"

"Those things I said, I said them to get her upset, angry."

Inconnu chuckled at the pitiful man. "The serum wasn't in her…and you knew it. Her being angry wouldn't have converted her because the hormone and the serum weren't present Oh no…there was something else between the lines…"

"I didn't mean them."

"You were the first to try out the equipment we used on Peter Parker. Take a good look at your thoughts…" Inconnu took out a disk and inserted it into the computer that was connected to the wall. Typing in a few codes, brainwaves were soon displayed on the monitor.

Klefton turned a shade whiter. "I-I thought it wasn't being recorded."

"Someone must have slipped and hit the switch."

"Mr. Inconnu please-"

"That equipment is formatted to show what has happened and shows intentions by looking at the waves in your brain. So strong were the waves from your brain that they went off the scale What do you have to say to that?"

"I-I never-"

"Don't stand there and lie to me. The fact is, you planned and plotted to do the thing that I gave specific orders for you not to do."

"But I've done nothing," Klefton reasoned.

"And you aren't going to have a chance to. So, I'll stop this little quest of yours before it starts. So…you are going to pay…dearly." Taking a deep breath, he said quickly, "You leave…right now. You get nothing, you will have nothing. You ....are....gone. Be thankful I'm this merciful…"

Klefton opened his mouth to respond but soon closed it. Just that quickly...everything was gone..."Thank you sir." Klefton turned his back to the man and clenched his fists tightly. Inconnu walked out with a grin implanted on his lips. Smiling slyly, he pressed a few buttons and the doors slid shut…locked.

Klefton looked up when he heard the doors bolting shut and felt a small build up in pressure. He walked to one door and typed in a few codes. The doors didn't open. He ran to the other door that was nearly closed. He slid to the door only to have it shut in his face with locks clicking in unison. His forehead began to sweat in beads as he looked around nervously. When he looked out the room, he saw Inconnu standing with his arms folded, lips pursed, and eyes hooded by lashes with his hand on a switch. Klefton began to shake his head quickly in silent protest…slowly mouthing no…

"I told you you would be leaving…"

Klefton put his hands on the window quickly in a plea. "Stop, please…I'm like a son to you!" He felt dread in the pit of his stomach as tears began to spring to his emerald eyes.

Inconnu sneered happily. It made him feel wonderful inside to know that he could bring a grown man to tears. "You aren't worthy enough to bear the Devun name."

His now glassy, red eyes faltered slightly in confusion as a name from the past was thrown to him. "Devun?"

Inconnu widened his opaque eyes in a challenge. With a sneer that would rival the Grinch's, he yelled to him, "Think quickly son! Do you remember Kenneth Devun? He was a man in Louisiana who was a regular guy, doing his job, when someone concocted a plan to have him murdered as a fall guy in a crime war? Do you remember?" Klefton's tanned face went white. Inconnu's lips curled into an even wider smile. He knew…oh how sweet this was! Placing a hand on his cheek, Inconnu said surprised, "Oh you do remember." His shocked face turned back in a smile. "Take a good look at your benefactor of four years…Ever felt like you've known someone, but never met them? Meet the dead."

Klefton shook his head in protest. "Wait please, it was my job!" His breathing became harsh as reality hit him that the biggest blow to him was about to be dealt. "Even you as a businessman could understand that Please…some pity, it was a job..." his voice quivered in a beg.

Inconnu shook his head slowly, all the while chuckling at Klefton's desperate facial expressions. "No…too late for penance. After all…it is only awarded to the truly penitent." Inconnu's dark eyes wondered onto the control board, his hands flexing in and out of a fist. He shrugged his shoulders the argument given to him. "And besides boy, don't come to me with it being just a job. I don't kill unless it's a threat or a score to settle." He slammed his fists down on the control board. "Damn it You didn't know me!"

"Stop please!" Klefton locked his shattered jade eyes on Inconnu's storming brown ones. Concentrating every once of strength he had, he held Inconnu's gaze. "No…you will let me out of here…" he droned on.

Inconnu laughed at his feeble attempts. "Mind games won't work on me, son. My mind is far more stronger than you anticipated, huh?"

Klefton's face went a shade whiter. Banging a hand on the glass, he shouted a "Wait-" Inconnu turned the intercom off. Klefton looked around the room and saw the speakers closing up… He shook his head quickly screaming for mercy, all not heard. Inconnu flipped another switch. All of the intercoms and speakers were covered in metal instantly. Four seconds passed by…it was the longest four seconds of Klefton's life. All his mind could concentrate on was what would happen to him. He knew how Inconnu worked. His methods were painful…only for the people he had true hatred for. He vowed to himself to never be on that list…little did he know, the damage had already been done those fateful six years ago…

A quick sloshing was heard. When Klefton's head perked up, he saw water splashing through the vents, falling at his feet. His brown Armani pants began to become soaked from the flowing water. Looking around helplessly, he ran to one of the glass walls and threw himself against it, trying desperately to break it. He knew the room's design…he designed it. It was futile to assert his energy trying to break through the three foot thick glass. When he designed the room…it was for research…not a death chamber

He never had water pipes installed into the ventilation system…

His eyes flew up at Inconnu. That was why he had picked him to go work at the firm; he would be out the way, never to know the changes Inconnu had made to room. He looked up at Inconnu as the water began to pour in faster and faster from his knees…to his waist…to his chest… his neck…to his head….

He kept his arms moving, desperately trying to keep his head above the rushing water. His defined arms did there job only to soon be beaten by the flowing water. He was completely submersed, now. He looked to the vents quickly. He started for the closest one only to see it shut quickly in his face. The others soon followed the same suit, shutting out the only means of escaping…

Kristi watched the whole ordeal in awestruck and scared. She looked at Klefton's submersed form and then back to her father. "Inconnu what are you doing You're killing him!"

"That's the point dear."

She let out an exasperated sigh. Kristi struggled with her mind to turn the locks. Hearing her cry out in pain, Inconnu sneered in delight. "Why in the world would you want this man to be saved? He ruined our lives and basically had plans for you to become his bondage slave I don't understand!"

Opening her eyes, she argued with him. "He's a person H-he…this is torture!"

"It's not torture if you plan on killing."

Kristi winced in more pain…that damn serum. She wouldn't be able to free him and she knew it. Sadly, she looked to Klefton's struggling form. He had made so many moves on her, his evil and snide remarks made her want to wretch…she would have loved to see him squirm, but not die…

Klefton eyed her carefully through the crystal water. It was his karma coming back to him. How ironic the situation is that the one person he helped capture, and forced their powers to be suppressed, would try to help him with the same powers he succeeded in restraining. He said a quick a prayer for her and then himself. It was a shame that now he realized how wrong everything was…too late.

Klefton's face began to change colors as his eyes began to wander around aimlessly.

This was his life…

His lungs were burning now, and his vision was fading. With his body slowly filling with water and the spasmodic movements of his insides, the last thought that entered into his head was how the hell Devun survived and how did he find him?

His mouth leaking what looked like blood, John Klefton met his death. Kristi's breathing sped up quickly as his figure began to sink slowly, his now bluish skin contrasting with the now light pinkish water. "How could you-"

"He disobeyed me. Besides, the boy was a bad apple."

"But you aren't God You have no right you act-"

"YOU are in no position to tell me how or how not to act!" Inconnu's voice thundered. "Has daddy fallen from his angel's pedestal? When are you going to learn: Kenneth Desmond Devun has changed....Get…over it. Just think of it as your favorite book character…The Count of Monte Cristo, making his début into the real world."

"You really are a monster…"

He chuckled at her. "Maybe next time you'll listen to daddy…"

She shook her head at him. "You aren't my father….Inconnu."

He sighed dramatically once more. "My God, must this pointless bickering ensue? Same facial features, hell, same bloodline! What is it about this that is so hard to believe?"

"There's my father and then there's you. This is not my father. This is also the same person who kept MY father away from us."

"It was my choice, just as this was."

"Why didn't you come back? Your name could have been cleared."

"You couldn't have lived with me."

She couldn't understand this. "We wouldn't have cared."

"But I would have! Don't you get that? Perhaps it may have been a mistake. After all, as you so eloquently put, I am not God.," he said with his voice full of sarcasm. "Why not claim and accept you now?"

She turned her head from his. "I don't want your acceptance."

"Soon, you'll want exactly what I tell you to want. So get over it. Don't cling to the past Kristina; it will eat you alive." And with that, he walked away.