Scarlet Spider #6

Chakra burst through the door of Ben Reilly's apartment, collapsing to her feet while clutching her head. The woman named Desiree Winthrop quickly and instinctively jumped off the sofa and ran over to the door with Ben Reilly and the semi-conscious Chakra. Ben Reilly grabbed Chakra and propped her up against the wall. "Chakra, what are you doing here?" he asked looking like he had seen a ghost. Chakra with all her strength looked up at him and uttered the words "He's betrayed us, both of us." Chakra looked at Ben seeing his confused expression, she expected as much and would have said more but she could not find the strength. "Who's betrayed us? Traveller?" Ben asked, gently shaking her by her shoulders. She tried to place her hands on the floor to give her support in standing up but it was no use, she was too exhausted. "Her," Chakra exclaimed pointing to Desiree, "Don't trust her, she's not here." Chakra then stopped as her eyes shut and she quickly lost consciousness. Desiree looked at Ben with a confused expression spread over her face, "Who was she? What was she on about?" "I'm not sure." He looked at Chakra; "We should lay her down."

Two hours later, on Ben Reilly's sofa Chakra's eyes begin to widen, she looked to see that Ben Reilly and Desiree Winthrop were sitting on some other chairs in front of the television, quietly talking to themselves. Chakra made a quiet attempt to sit up but was stopped by the pulsating throbs going on inside her head; instead all she did was repeat her message from earlier, "He's betrayed us." At first she thought she said it too quiet but that fear was put to one side when she noticed as both Ben and Desiree simultaneously turned around and looked at her, Ben got up and walked over to the sofa. "Who's betrayed us? Traveller?" Chakra looked worried almost afraid to reply but she did - "Yes, he betrayed us." "How? Why?" Ben was confused, he never did fully understand Traveller and his customs and this was not making things any clearer. "The Host never really joined Norman Osborn, it was nothing but a ploy to trick him. They've been working for Judas all along." Chakra's eyes glazed over in fear. "Nacht. Mr. Nacht, he's been spying on you since your return to New York. Reporting back to Traveller." "That's worse than before." Ben Reilly replied, as Desiree walked up behind him with a concerned look on her face. "Has this Mr. Nacht been following me as well?" Desiree queried. "You." Chakra exclaimed. "You're psychic powers. They're fake. You're fake." "What do you mean?" Ben asked holding her shoulders. "A plant. She's nothing but a plant." Desiree gasped and put her hands over her mouth in shock as she sat back down. "What's she talking about Ben?" Before Ben could reply he was stopped by Chakra once again going unconscious and falling back down. Ben looked up at Desiree, a comforting yet confused look was spread across his face, "I don't know."

Meanwhile in the warehouse where Judas Traveller and his disciples the Host have been basing themselves recently while they were studying Ben Reilly. "Chakra has done as expected. She has fled to Reilly. In fact she's there right now. No doubt telling him of my plans." Traveller informed to his Host consisting of Mr. Nacht, Medea and Boone. "It is safe to say she has done everything as planned." "What about Desiree?" Medea inquired. "Given half a chance Ben will now know of her too, again though it fits into my little plan." "Do you want me to kill Chakra then?" Medea asked impatiently. Traveller looked at her. His eyes glowing a red haze. "As much as your thirst for blood is appreciated she can wait." Medea pouted and placed both her hands on her hips. Traveller turned to look at the bounty hunter in the group called Boone. Boone was wearing a thicker jacket, and sunglasses that hid his eyes, he also was sporting a short, brown ponytail. "However, I do have a small assignment for you two." And with that a sadistic smile formed across Medea's face. "She's awakening, Ben." Desiree, who was still deeply confused regarding Chakra's comments, informed while pointing at Chakra. Chakra's eyes opened and she looked at Ben - "They're coming." "Who's coming?" Ben asked, then without warning a window shattered in his apartment accompanied by a loud bang. "They're here." Chakra commented briskly, as she quickly sat up so to give her a chance to move.

At that very moment out side Ben Reilly's apartment climbed Boone, who was making his way up a rope so he could get into the broken window, while Medea made it up the fire escape. Unlucky for Boone though he would not make it up the rope because as soon as he got to the window he was met with Scarlet Spider's fist. But before Boone could hit the hard concrete pavement below him he was caught in a net of webbing. Boone waited helplessly as the Scarlet Spider began tugging him up but before he could he was met with a blast behind him knocking him out of the window and landing atop Boone. Boone tried to recollect his thoughts as he knocked the Scarlet Spider off him, and doing so he looked at the apartment window he had just fallen from where he saw his colleague Medea smiling pleased with herself.

Meanwhile, back in the apartment Desiree looked on with a scared face not knowing what to do as she looked on at Medea watching what happened outside. Then it hit her. Summoning all her courage she ran to Medea and tried to push her out the window but was met with another stun blast from Medea's gun. Desiree could feel a sweat droplet dribble down her forehead due to nervousness, as Medea began walking towards her. "This time it won't be set to stun." Medea warned. Desiree was still on the floor trying to, make it to her feet as she fought off the pain from the blast, she knew she was hopeless and that she could do nothing. And then out of nowhere she unconsciously began whimpering - "Please." But luckily she was saved by a voice she hadn't heard before, but one that Medea obviously had and it was coming from out side - "Medea, remember Traveller doesn't want her dead - yet." "Damn," Medea exclaimed - she continued advancing towards Desiree, who could see the anger in Medea's eyes and in one swift motion Desiree was once again lying on the floor, clutching her ribs after a swift kick from Medea. And before Desiree completely lost consciousness the last thing she saw was Medea beginning to turn on Chakra who had just caught her attention.

Coincidentally, as Desiree was lapsing into unconsciousness Ben Reilly was beginning to regain his consciousness as he saw Boone looking at him like he was prey through his black glasses. But before he was able to attack Ben Reilly, Ben managed to gather his thoughts in time to give Boone a quick spin kick to his jaw, and before he could do anything else he heard a scream coming from his apartment. So without a second thought he squeezed his middle two fingers towards his palm and released some of his custom designed impact webbing, which began wrapping itself up Boone's body. Ben then left Boone and shot a web-line up to his apartment, to see Medea lying unconscious as Chakra's astral form wafted above the ground. "What happened?" Ben asked. Chakra looked at him, her eyes were watery with fear, "I couldn't help it - it's Traveller he's taken my body. He must have known of my betrayal and this is my punishment." Chakra began to lift into the air even higher. "If I'm right I don't have much more ti." And with that in a sudden burst of light she disappeared, leaving Ben and Desiree to look on in shock and disbelief.

The Scarlet Spider's return should make one hell of a headline, Ken Ellis thought to himself as he sat by one of the Daily Bugle's many computers typing up his latest story. He'd been waiting for a brake like this for ages, and he knew this Scarlet Spider story was the one as soon as he heard about it. He even thought so much of this headline that he was willing to stay up all night to get his article out for the morning. After all he did believe himself to be the journalist to make the Scarlet Spider famous, and he was going to capitalize on that factor in every way he knew how to. This should be pay dirt. Before Ellis could tap on another key though he was interrupted by a familiar voice although one he hadn't heard for ages - "Hey, Kenny!"

To be continued.