Through The Eyes Of The Guilty.

Note: Spider-man and the main Characters associated are owned by Marvel Comics.

I did not want to go home after my death sentence. For all I know, Sharon and the kids are dead. Fisk allowed me to leave, but as soon as I left the building, I found out the hard way: what the Kingpin says is the law, and there is nothing anyone can do. As I stepped out into the open, I heard a gunshot. Everyone panicked. The shot came from the car parked at the curb right in front of the building. The shot almost got me. Fortunately, the gunman wasn't a good shot. I looked at the car. It was Blake, he apparently lost his glasses. He was squinting. I jumped the steps leading down to the sidewalk. I ran toward Times Square. I figured I could get lost in the crowd and give the Kingpin's goons a challenge to find me.

As I ran, thoughts filled my mind. At first, I was concerned about my family. According to the reputation of the Kingpin, it was only a matter of time till they get killed. Then my thoughts focused on what Fisk said: "The Kingpin always cuts his loose ends." Wilson Fisk is the Kingpin, who would have known. It slowly made sense. Him picking me out when I was desperate, the meeting with his associates including Hammerhead, my job at the lab and the convenience of the robbery, the set up and my fall. It all added up. Why didn't I see it earlier?

I ran straight to the bank to get my check cashed I picked up earlier. I didn't drive to the bank in fear that a bomb was attached underneath. When I picked my check up earlier at the University, it was very quick; no conversation, no good bye. I guess, they thought I was to blame for the robbery, well, they were right. Now I'm running into the bank doors, looking over my shoulders. For a minute, I thought I saw Mr. Kagimoto, only he was smaller and in street clothes, he also was wearing glasses. If it wasn't for the fact that he kept watching me, I would have mistaken him for a local or a tourist, but I came to the conclusion, that he wasn't Kagimoto. I got my cash and decided the best thing to do is to go buy some new clothes and get a hair cut.

I ran into Macy's and bought myself an army green hooded sweatshirt, and a pair of khaki cargo pants. I also bought a new pair of Nikes, that left me with enough to get a haircut and to go into hiding. I still had the feeling I was being watched. This time it was a woman. She was short like the man at the bank, only she was American. She wore a suit that made her look like she worked there. When she thought I wasn't looking, I saw her speaking on a cell phone. Now that I think of it, the man in the bank had the same phone model. I changed my clothes in the restroom and walked out of the store. I flipped up my hood and head toward across the street towards a barbershop.

As I walked, I noticed Hammerhead. No doubt about it, he was here to kill me. I started to run just I was noticed. He started to chase me, keeping his gun concealed to avoid unwanted attention. When I cut through an alley was when he drew his gun. He gave out a few shots as I turned through a corner. At this point my adrenalin was pumping so hard, all I could think about was survival. I finally made it to a barbershop and I ran in. I picked up a magazine and tried to blend into the crowd when Hammerhead passed the building. I alluded the Kingpin again, but I knew my luck wouldn't hold up forever; I needed to change my look.

I hopped into a vacant barber chair, waiting for my haircut. I decided shave my beard and my head. It would have worked, if it wasn't for the fact that I was still being watched. This time by the huge guy next to me. He was negro, tall, big, tough looking, like was a club bouncer or something. He wore a sleeve less shirt which exposed his many tattoos, one of which was a black dragon with bright red eyes.

"What are you looking at, punk?" he demanded once he saw me look at his tattoos. "You got a problem?"

"Uh, n n n no," I stuttered. I then left, I would have stayed if I didn't feel intimidated. I went to a pay phone at Central Park, I figured it was a public place, and I would be safe. When I arrived I took out some change and called home. I had to tell Sharon to take the kids and go far away, for their own safety. I just hoped I was just in time. I put the change in the phone and dialed home.

"Hello?" asked a man's voice.

"Who is this?" I asked.

"This is the Johnson residence," said the man. "Lieutenant Smith speaking."

"Is Sharon there?" I asked, hoping she called for protection.

"I'm sorry, but she was shot, along with her children."

"Shot? But how?"

"We got a call thirty minutes ago. Witnesses identified the murderer to be an thin old man, in his 60's, thinning hair and a scar on his left cheek. They said that he was wearing a cable company uniform. He entered the premises, four shots fired out, and he left."

"Any idea who was behind this?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

"We believe it was Frank Johnson who arranged for the murder, trying to cover any leads to his whereabouts. Of course this is one theory."

I thanked the officer and hung up. I was a suspect? I can't get over that thought. Kingpin's played this game too well. I have no hope to survive. It was either be killed, or rot in jail. I was getting ready to leave, when suddenly the pay phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered.

"They think you killed them, don't they?" asked a strange voice.

"Excuse me?"

"The police, they thought you killed your own family. I can help you escape the Kingpin." I started to look around, trying to see who I was talking to. "Don't bother looking around. I can guarantee you can't find me. Walk to the other end of the park. There you will see a black car. Tap on the front passenger window three times. Do it in the next five minutes. Don't worry about unanswered questions, I promise you, they will be answered."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"The car in five minutes."

I followed those instructions to the T. When I tapped the car window the third time, the back seat door opened.

"Get in," said the voice. I got in to discover the voice was coming from one Iwo Kagimoto. There were three other people there; surprisingly enough, they were all from today: the tourist from the bank, the woman from Macy's, and the bouncer from the barber shop. They were all out to get me. I started to get out of the car when Iwo told me to sit down.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"See that man right there, in the sweats, on the bench?" asked the tourist. He was in the driver seat. "That is the Cobra, but you know him as Robert Jones: Wilson Fisk's second. He was about to kill you." I looked out of the window to see Mr. Jones, in a trench coat, holding something that looked like a gun in his left pocket. He looked agitated, like he has missed his chance, and as far as I know, he did miss his chance to kill me. I looked at Kagimoto.

"I save your life," Iwo said. "Now you owe me."

"How do I owe you?" I asked.

"How naive," laughed the saleswoman. She was sitting on the other side of Iwo.

"Now, now Barb," said Mr. Kagimoto, "let's show our accomplice some respect."

I didn't like how he used the work "accomplice". "because I saved your life, you owe your life to me. Kind of like that movie, The Shadow. Everyone in this car owes me their lives, including you."

"So what," I asked. "Am I going to steal for you? Is that it? Well what if I refused."

"Then we drop you off and leave you to fend for yourself," said the bouncer, who started to drive away.

"I'll testify, and enter into the Witness Protection Program."

Iwo just laughed. "What makes you think they would believe you? They think you're a suspect, remember? Besides, if they do believe you, and that's a big if, by the way, they can't protect you. If I can find you, then so can the Kingpin, and he has easier ways of finding you. Your best bet is to work with us."

"So, what do I do?" I asked as a broken man.

"We go to a wrestling match tonight," said Kagimoto.