Part 2

Peter Parker knew he was dreaming.

First clue; he was still in high school. Second of all, he was wearing a green sweater which he had gotten rid of a few years back. Green was never his color! Blue and red, those are his favorite. . .

So, this was a dream, where he was actually aware he was merely dreaming. But as he wondered around in the dream, unknown fear gripped him.

"Hey freak!" Someone called him.

"It's Peter Parker! Freak! Freak! Freak!" The chanting grew louder.

Looking around, Peter found himself standing at the center of the school cafeteria, surrounded by unfriendly faces of his schoolmates.

"Nerd!" A few of the big guys approached him.

Peter recognized the leader of these bulky bullies; it's Flash.

"Hey nerd, I don't like the way you kept checking out my girl!" Flash snarled, poking Peter in the chest with his finger.

"Freak!" Another fellow growled, shoving Peter on the shoulder.

"Get out of my way!" Peter wanted to scream but no sound ever came out of him. He was back in those miserable days at high school. A weak, nerdy creature that everyone made fun off and laughed at.

Without warning, one of the guys pinioned his arms.

"You will not look at Marry Jane Watson again, understood? She's my girl!" Flash grabbed his collar with one hand.

Before Peter could even answer, Flash punched him in the face and spat out, "Understood?"

"Let him go." A cold voice intervened just before another fist flied down. Flash paused. All heads turned towards the source of interruption. "

Oh, look who's here?" Flash grinned, "It's the nerd's friend; pretty rich boy. What're you going to do, Harry Osborn? Have your father fire me?"

Harry walked in front of Flash, effectively blocking the big guy from Peter. "Stop this. I won't let you hurt my friend."

To Peter's surprised, Flash actually backed down a step. "Thanks Harry!" Peter smiled despite the pain in his jaw, "You saved me again! What would I do without you?"

"Harry, why are you helping this freak? He is Spider Man, he killed your father!" Flash pointed an accusing finger at Peter.

Harry slowly turned over. His face contorted in anger and madness. "Is this true? Peter, you're spider man? You stole my father from me?" The iciness in the tone frosted Peter on the spot.

"I hate you!" Harry slapped him hard across the cheeks.

The crowd started cheering again.

Flash stepped forward and punched him in the stomach.

Gasping for breath, Peter doubled over as they knocked him down onto the floor.

Someone kicked him in the head and he thought he saw stars. Then he realized that's Harry's cold, unemotional eyes staring down at him.

"Let go of me!" Peter tried to fight back. He raised both hands, wanting to generate spider webs to keep them from him, but nothing came out of his wrists. He turned towards the wall, trying to climb or jump to the ceiling. Again, finding himself unable to do so... Unable to defend himself. . . helpless and powerless...

"Let me go. . ." Peter shouted, "or just ... just let me wake up." He struggled as hard as he could against the guy that was holding him down. "Let me wake up now!"

Slowly, the beating he was feeling drifted away. He sighed as he knew he was finally waking up from the bad dream.

Clang!

Peter drifted somewhere between dreaming and wakefulness.

Clang!

The strange metal clinging sound alerted him. Forcing himself to listen more carefully as he started to wake up... he moved his hand slightly and ...

Cling!

Hm...

Peter realized in his dazzled mind that sound had came from above his head and was caused by him trying to move his hands.

Oh this is bad...

Finally back to consciousness, Peter realized with a start that despite waking up from the nightmare, he was still unable to move his hands. Not because it was hold down by some faceless high school bullies, but because he was cuffed to the headboard, on a bed.

X X X

Peter opened his eyes reluctantly.

He was in a room. His hands were cuffed; that he was already aware.

A small motion of his legs and he discovered in dismay that his feet were cuffed to the other end of the bed. In other words, he was effectively immobilized.

Looking around somewhat disoriented, Peter found that he was in a room with only one very small window. There was barely any lights coming through the tinted window.

How depressing... well at least the room is spacious. It's definitely bigger than my small apartment. But it's so dark... Not that I mind dark spaces...

"Hello Peter...Deciding to join us for the fun finally?" A cold voice that seemed to came from afar held startling similarities with the one in his dream.

Shocked, Peter turned his head and saw a figure clad in expensive black suit standing next to the wall. He had almost blended into the shadow as the wall was painted black as well.

"Harry...?" Peter muttered.

"Looks like the salesperson lied. The "spider solution" wasn't that effective, was it?" Harry remarked.

Peter simply stared dumb folded.

Harry walked towards him. Grabbing his face Harry turned his head from side to side roughly. "You look well enough. I had rather hoped the poison wouldn't have killed you." Harry smiled in a humorless way, "I must admit, you had me worried there for a minute. What if I had killed you with this simple poison?" Stroking Peter's chin in an almost gentle way, Harry continued, "That would be such a waste... if you just died like that..."

"What do you want, Harry?" Finding his courage, Peter asked.

"Revenge, what else?" Harry answered darkly, "You took everything from me. My father, my girl friend, my chance at fame & glory... It's time for you to pay ..."

To be continued ...