Part Five

            Peter landed on the exterior of Beck's studio. The cold wind of the night brushed against his thin costume sharply. He crawled along the wall, his spider-sense emitting a gentle buzzing sensation. Peter made his way towards an open window through which he entered.

            Once inside the studio, Peter realized why his senses were tingling. The studio was pitch black, he could see the faint outline of make-shift walls situated randomly across the room.

            "Hey, Beck you and I have business to discuss." He said calling out loudly walking across the room.

            "Hello, forgive me if I don't greet you in person." A voice said as if its owner was all around Peter; "However, I prefer never to be seen." It was Beck alright.

            Spider-Man grimaced, "Why me?"

            The voice laughed, "You know why, I think you've known everything all along."

            "Osborn?" Peter asked, "He set you up to this."

            "Undoubtedly you are correct. In this world we, I would venture to say, share the title of God."

            Peter grimaced, "What do you mean?"

            Beck laughed, "You know, for instance I bet you know what's coming next."

            The walls began to slide down into the floor and Peter suddenly realized they weren't random; in fact they had carefully been placed to hide automatic machine guns being held up by tri-pods. Beck, via a remote control opened fire with the guns.

            With the same seamless skill he had always shown in such situations he dodged the bullets as they came and then covered their muzzles with a few burst of webbing from his shooters.

            "You see? You're spider-sense did not warn you about those guns specifically, only the general threat, because I wished it so. Yet, you knew they were coming. This is because your subconscious shares a measure of control. For some time it has been trying to reveal the truth to you."

            Peter frowned, "What are you talking about." And as if magically, Beck played an audio recording:

            "Man, everyone is losing trust in me."

            "You'd think they'd believe in me after everything I've done." He said dismayed.

            "So, let's figure this out, someone with my costume is running around out there."

            "That in itself is pretty scary because that means whoever is responsible has…"

            "Eek." He said trying to stay jovial, "That means they've got my powers."

            "Really, the only person I've ever run into like that was Venom."

            "If I remember correctly, the Lizard had a hold of old ugly last time we met."

            "Okay, so it's probably not Venom, but who?"

            "Do you not see it, Spider-Man, my name, written in the lines? Beck laughed, "Look, let your mind take control, do not look at this from the perspective of the audience but instead the artist himself, bring the images together!"

            Peter closed his fist, "How about you show your face and I pound your head in and then I call it a day?"

            "Still trying to act as if the rules apply here?" Beck appeared before him in a cloud of smoke as if nowhere. He was dressed in a green suit, a purple cape and perhaps the most distinguishing feature, a dome covered his mask. "Feast your eyes on Mysterio!"

            "Whatever." Peter leapt forward and was immediately thrown back with a flick of Beck's fingers. He crashed against the wall, "What the hell?"

            Beck laughed, "You can't hurt me; I on the other hand may do as I please." He waved his hand and Peter felt as if his head was being snapped off. "It's useless to resist, especially when you're view is so limited."

            Peter managed to fire his web-shooters but could only watch in shock when the webbing simply evaporated, "How?"

            "As I said we share the role of God, I simply realize my control; now let's take a trip, shall we?" Mysterio wriggled his fingers and Peter was literally thrown halfway across Manhattan.

            He crashed against the side of the Empire State building, "Do you wish to meet your double, Spider-Man, well there he is." Beck commented cockily.

            Peter could see the imposter staring back at him. Both Spider-Man's charged at one another flying through the air like missiles, their collision brought Peter's world to a halt.

            "Give this up, there's no point." Beck said triumphantly.

            He was no longer in the sky, but now on tracks with a train bearing down at him, "I've got to move." He said failing to even flex a muscle. The train hit him throwing him onto the floor of a funhouse filled with mirrors.

            "I've delved into your mind, Spider-Man; I've seen what horrors you hide." Beck commented.

            Peter could see the burglar gunning down May, "No. No!" He rushed forward hopelessly smashing into a mirror.

            "It was your fault! You killed her and can never atone." Beck remarked, "There is only one thing to do, one thing you can do."

            He was now in a dark realm, there was only a gun facing him, "Do it, Peter, do it for her."

            Peter reached out and grabbed the pistol in his hands, "I didn't want her to die."

            "Your entire life since that fateful bite has been dominated by your responsibility in her murder. You try and erase the crime but your hands will always be drenched in blood. You fight and tell yourself you're past her death but that is not true."

            "The story of your life is the hope of redemption, the fulfillment of a debt that never can be repaid." Beck laughed, "You're doomed to failure, I don't envy you, but I pity you, here destroy Peter Parker; erase Spider-Man." He motioned towards the gun, "Do it!"

            Peter grabbed the gun and placed it against his temple, "I-I wasn't responsible."

            "Yes you were; you killed them all!" Beck yelled into Peter's very mind, "How many have died because of you! This was all designed to show you the truth of your ways, the destiny of your tainted legacy."

            Peter began to pull the trigger, "I'm sorry, I never wanted this." One more centimeter and he'd be gone. "I love you Mary Jane." His eyes opened widely, "Mary Jane, I love her." He was fighting for his identity, he latched onto the only constant left, it held strong even as the rest of him began to slip away.

            "She is doomed to death if you live! Save her!"

            "No, I love her." Peter's hand shook, "I love her; I love her!" He clenched his teeth, "May's death wasn't my fault! I've redeemed myself."

            Beck screamed through his mask, "Impossible, she is dead; nothing can bring her back."

            Peter began to pull on the trigger again, "No, I know she'd have forgiven me if she could, she loved me. This isn't about her forgiveness, it never has been, I haven't redeemed myself for her; I did it for me." He pulled the gun away from his head, "This ends now!" With this defiance the universe as he knew it crumbled.