Chapter Seven

A black gloved hand extends, the second and third fingers pressing into the center of the palm causing a thin strand of white cord to erupt from the wrist streaking towards the nearest building. Once it connects with the wall it sticks fast allowing the figure to swing in that direction, his other hand repeating the motion to similar effect. The figure is clad from head to toe in tight black material with the exception of the stark white eyes and the huge white spider adorning both the front and back at chest level, the legs meeting at the his sides.

He continues to swing from building to building, releasing each strand to allow him to create a new one. He is not worried about them, after all the strands will dissolve after about an hour anyway. He comes to a stop on the side of a building, his feet and hands clinging easily to the wall as he spies an older woman being followed by two men. The men are steadily gaining on her, pulling out knives to threaten her with so she will give them her money. He shakes his head and sighs, some things never change. He thinks to himself as he sends another strand out following them.

The two men catch up to the woman grabbing hr by the arm and shoving her into an alley just out of the street lamp's gaze. " Give us yer money, poppet, an' we won' 'urt ya, promise. " The grimier of the two says in a thick English accent.

"Make a sound luv, and we'll slit your throat, " says the second man, his accent revealing that he is both English and educated.

The figure swings to a stop six feet above them and on the opposite building. " Didn't your mother teach you to respect your elders? " He says lightly as he sends out two strands towards their knives wrapping them both tightly along with the hands that held them. " You should be more careful with knives, or someone could get hurt. " He drops the twelve feet to the ground without even a grunt as he lands.

The first thief growls in irritation and recognition, " Spiderman! What are ya doin' 'ere? " Not waiting for an answer, the both charge forward, swinging their web covered hands like clubs at him.

He leaps over them and lashes out with both feet, connecting squarely with their faces sending both men stumbling back. The first thief fell unconscious, and the smaller man shakes his head vigorously them charges at him again.

This time Spiderman sidesteps and punches him in the face, this time knocking him out as well. Even as the man falls he turns to the older woman and asks softly, " are you all right ma'am? "

The woman nods, then smiles warmly at him. " Thank you, Spiderman, you saved my life. " She reaches into her purse and pulls out a small cell phone calling the police.

He nods and turns webbing both men's hands behind their backs. He then climbs up the wall disappearing into the night.

In another portion of London, something was coming, times were changing and no one had any idea what was happening. The city was growing darker each day, there were things in this world that did not belong. Things were not as black and white as people desired to believe it is, the world is full of shades of gray that none of them are prepared to accept or face. So one girl is left to face these things, some of which are not of this world. A young girl stands before some unearthly creature with piercing eyes of fire, skin a sickly green hue, and standing three times the size of the girl or nearly so. The creature growls moving slowly as if trying to circle her and intimidate her. After all she is nothing more than a mere snip of a girl.

The girl stands almost entirely hidden by a shroud of black fabric adorning her slender form, a hood pulled down over her features to shield them from sight and prevent her identity from being revealed to those who pass by or get mixed up in this situation and of course by those who challenge her. Her hands are raised in front of her with a short sword held within them, the silver blade catching the moonlight while the handle is in the shape of a crescent moon made of pure ivory. She advances towards the creature swinging the blade suddenly low to cut the beast across it's midsection.

A loud cry erupts from the beast as the blade slices into it's flesh, a clawed hand flies out slashing downward, claws like razor blades slicing into the flesh of her arm and chest. She winces but stands her ground a moment before stepping forward lunging with the sword. The beast however saw this action coming his clawed hand swipes upward this time knocking the blade out of her hands, the claws catching the back of her right hand slicing into her flesh beneath the black leather gloves she wears.

The girl cries out even as the blade clatters to the ground. Still she advances on the creature not taking the time to retrieve the blade. Unseen lips move whispering words as a faint glow forms at the palms of her hands her right hand extending out palm up as a gold cord flies from her palm looping as it leaves her hand into chain links linked together even as the chain weaves it's way around the beast's feet. Once wrapped she grasps the chain cutting off more from being created and pulls on it pulling the beast to the ground with a loud thud. She reaches into the black cloth adorning her form and pulls out an ivory handled dagger stepping towards the creature even as it reaches out for her clawing at her, the dagger like claws catching on her legs leaving four long cuts there beneath the cloth that hides her. Words are whispered once more by unseen lips and the beast cries out in pain even as what seems like weeds sprout up from the cobble stone beneath him gripping the creature's wrists holding him down. She approaches now leaning forth to pierce the beast through the head with the dagger in her hand. The blow is quick as she steps back the bloodied blade still in her hand, though the blood is a sick forest green colour rather than red. The moment it dies the ground seems to shake, she steps back around a foot away from the beast as the ground beneath it literally opens up swallowing the beast leaving no evidence of what had just happened.

The girl looks up glancing around to make sure no one had witnessed this battle as short lived as it was. She goes back to her sword grabbing it and sheathing it after putting the dagger back into it's sheath as well. She winces surveying the gashes across her left arm and chest as well as the ones on her right hand and right leg. She was going to be sore in the morning but she'd live. The poison that disperses from the creature's claws dies in her system as it tries to enter her blood stream.

She gives one more quick glance around the area catching sight of no one she wraps the black fabric around her tighter to conceal her gloved hands now and heads for her next destination, calling it a night at least in terms of wandering. She needed now to find out what that creature had been and what it wanted to make sure nothing else would follow it.