Was he really one of them?

Sirens pulverized the air in rhythms. But it wasn't the usual. Hearing those sirens, especially now, would provide comfort to the discomfort someone felt. It was different now. It meant that he was in there.

He risked a glance at the door.

Was he plotting something? How careful were the cops going to be? How prepared were they?

A figure his height was approaching him, an officer padded in grey armor that locked around his knees, forearms, and an entire block of armor around his chest with baggy dark clothing that sprouted through the armor gaps. Shoes clattered against the concrete, and Zach already retreated away from his locked gaze. He was hoping to heaven that he wasn't about to speak a word to him.

"I'm going to ask you a question, sir,"

Of course...

He was trapped by blue eyes, analyzing him. "Did you have anything to do with what occurred here?"

Zach rushed to move his hands slightly behind his back just so the knuckles weren't visible.

"No sir," The lie was easy.

"Well make sure to clear the area after we're done,"

"Right, thank you."

As the officer walked away, Zach couldn't help but form a grimace. He doubted that the only way this area would be clear is after the abnormal made his attack. This could have been his plan all along. Waiting for everyone to gather around outside the restaurant. Hide, then attack, attack, attack! Many people stopped to witness the event. They tried to peak through the windows but now the blinds were closed to deny. Just as vulnerable, and clueless. It would be perfect.

Two police cars were stationed next to the sidewalk, blue and red sirens dancing on top of their hoods. The crowd that stood near the door was filled with numerous working men. Two men with bright orange construction vests stood perched like eagles with tall stature. Their countenance poked hard through the dirt on their face, and on their thick beards. Watching intently with arms crossed along demanding chests. Like Josh, they stood proud without fear. There, in his own spot, Zach felt small again, and a hand climbed down his face.

Why, why, why am I here?

As time went on, there was the thought that the police could have been killed silently, and they were all waiting for someone that was already gone. That idea alone would make someone push inside to look. But nobody would go alone, not even the bravest person. That's what also allowed the tension to evaporate from his body.

Sarah goes missing. And now this! Why of all places would an abnormal be here? This shitty restaurant- Thought for sure that those assholes would be retired or arrested in some unknown place.

Zach's hand balled into hard fury. The government put out restrictions against them. Yet they still plagued the city, evidently.

How many promises...

Zach looked to the opposing sidewalk arm. There were some that stood in the evening light, some with phones cupped up to their ears. The majority passing, rushing in their steps.

The world would be much better without them. Think they can just waltz around here with no consequences for others. For themselves too.

But his thoughts were again combusted by his lungs that flared like an old, traveling engine. He threw a hand up to his mouth to shield, and his breath bounced off his palm, bits of saliva hitting it. A pause for a moment to drop his hand but another burst shook him to cover again, the sting in his lungs worsening tenfold. Fear from the eyes around him made him, this time, turn his head to look at the ground. Another pause.

Still very embarrassing too.

"Youuuu alright, man?"

Zach jumped to the voice, quickly waving his hand dismissively without looking, "Yeah, yeah, fine," He straightened himself, rubbing his hand in rushed undulation on his left thigh, pants wrinkling from his anxious scramble, and he hoped that the man- or rather, the boy next to him wouldn't start to pester. Risking a glance, the two stood at the same height. His slim jacket was a body of dark that ran up to the hood on his head. Something Zach would of wore when was younger. Something someone would wear if they didn't want to be seen. Or rather, wanted to be seen in the light with appealing darkness. Yet, a face was hidden from his judging gaze by the overhead of the jacket.

The loud, punching blasts of vehicles clogged the area. It made his instincts jump to pursue.

He asked the new stranger, "Do you uh- know what's happening?" Just for conversation, he would play dumb.

He chuckled incredulously, "I guess so... I'm sorta new around here but looks like a break-in?" His left arm, closest to Zach, slipped out of his pocket, and his eye followed immediately. No hair on the soft, brown complexion of his knuckles. No bruises either. From Zach's experience, you could get a clue about someone by the damage of their hands. He had to be a kid. But of course...

No letting my guard anymore.

"Uh huh," Zach confirmed, "Though, I guess this is a special case," He looked at the boy again. "Well, maybe not."

"Have they started bringing out the stretchers?"

"You see any paramedics around?"

"Yeah, guess no one has gotten hurt.

Zach scoffed, still cautious, "Not yet at least,"

"Well, at least they aren't eating donuts, right?"

Zach shot daggers, "Have a little respect for our city's protectors," He had to resist adding sarcasm to "protectors", "They're the only ones we have, and they're here to save our sorry asses."

"Even then, do you think they're doing their job most of the time?"

He had Zach thinking for a moment, the words wouldn't brew as easily for the question. But he couldn't let the boy take over.

"Doesn't matter..." Zach tried, "It's all we've got," It was a weak answer, Zach knew.

There was a fear that he could also be one of the abnormals, makings his hands freeze in alert, expectation. Aggressive wait, that was how he would survive. He would calculate his strike for sure this time. Zach kept his eyes on the head. He would at least like to salvage the satisfaction of the panicked look on the guy's face, he had to see him. But then, Zach saw a right arm move swiftly to a left arm. There was something strapped on his wrist, and then he realized.

Zach was urged to pressure, "That a custom watch? Never seen that brand before," He watched the boy adjust and then give a twist with his index and thumb. Its figure hugged around his wrist with bright pink arms up to its white center. Zach managed to steal a peak, and digital white numbers stretched on the surface of the screen. Zach noted it.

00300...

"Thanks," He chuckled awkwardly, "My friend forced me to wear this though. I'm not sure pink goes with this outfit,"

Zach returned a dry laugh, "Got careless," He examined the boy up and down. A white, skinny streak traced straight down along slightly baggy black pants until it stopped at the beginning of his ankle where the pants stopped. Black socks covered up the ankle - where the pants didn't show - and were strapped by high-top sneakers that mimicked the color of his pants, embedded with a trail of turquoise padding on their sides. However, his shoestrings were untied. Careless for an abnormal, Zach thought.

"Honestly, it doesn't. But at least you're not about to be in an orange jumpsuit,"

"Still, I'm grateful though,"

Zach was genuinely curious now, "About what?"

The boy stopped messing with his watch, and looked ahead, "Her. I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for her,"

"No idea what you mean,"

The boy didn't retort.

Zach felt compelled to move him, "But this watch... must mean a lot."

The boy, as if catching himself, cleared his throat, "Y-yeah, right. Well..."

Zach looked ahead of him. "I guess I can understand," Regret stabbed him with a painful recall.

Josh was crazy. Acting like Mr. Cool all the time. Evidently, he wasn't. And it's on him now. But I shouldn't have involved Vanessa... what the hell is wrong with me?

After Harry had shown whatever sprawled on his neck, the room sunk into a lingering stillness. Vanessa didn't move, not even Josh, and even himself as all the feelings that boiled in his heart were sucked away. Yet, Harry didn't plod along the floor with bloodthirst in his eyes. Eventually, Vanessa made the next move in the tension. Yet, Harry didn't threaten. Now, the officers were here. The only question that bothered Zach was why he helped himself to their food. Why hesitate to introduce himself? Why enter that way?

Zach pushed himself out of his head, focusing on the potential abnormal next to him. Every word could be a lie to get him to let down his guard. "What girl?"

"Huh?"

"You said 'her'. What. Girl." Zach spat slowly with venom.

"We've been paying attention to what happens here. It's sort of a team-up between us now. But..."

Is he trying to distract me? Is he lying?

"But I don't feel like..."

"Yeah?"

The boy shook his head underneath the hood then another sigh.

He kicked at himself inwardly. Zach couldn't let him slip away. "You got some kind of crush on a girl is that it?" A curious appetite leveled in his question, which made him sound too desperate.

"No, no, nothing like that!" Zach slightly flinched at the hinting rise in his tone.

Zach for a moment thought, after his answer, he would let it go. He considered that the boy, if he was an abnormal, would be trying to read him. Trying to dig out any descriptions about himself that he could utilize. But this guy was an idiot. He answered like a coward, talked like one, and he could see through his act.

Zach glared at him. Waiting for the reveal that he was lying this entire time, and he was just stalling time for his abnormal friend. That's the answer he was waiting for as the sting in his knuckles tried to prevent the formation of a fist. He couldn't let it stop him. It would be over quickly this time, unlike Josh. Because this person was frail seemingly which would presumably make him weak. Though it might make him quicker with his skinny figure. Furthermore, if he is abnormal, he'd be expecting a punch.

Of course... I'm a threat to him. Anyone would be if you're on the run right, you piece of garbage?

"You ever feel like you're always behind someone?"

What?

His guard was trampled for a moment. But he recovered, "I'm sure a lotta people do,"

If it's sympathy he's trying to get, it's not happening.

He told him, attempting to sound sympathetic, "I guess it's somethin' we gotta deal with."

"How would you deal with it?"

His mouth became trapped by the question. Zach moved to catch a glimpse, quickly, and cowardly, as if he thought the boy would finally reveal himself. Intensity lingering in his eyes. But no eyes were there to feed his fear. Sensing the wait for an answer, Zach told him, after a rough clearing of his throat, "I'm not sure," But the aching bruise spoke otherwise, and he moved and looked down at his right hand. "Well, not entirely."

Three officers had come through the door to control the crowd a distance ahead of them. Concrete became overwhelmed with more people presumably looking for a story. The officers walked toward them, gesturing with a hand to fall back. Some did, but the tall, and seemingly strong men that were attired with construction wear, hesitated in their step, and barely backed away. Though, the officers offered no resistance to it. As if they weren't there, or as if they were scared.

He went to pressure him again. "Why ask a stranger? You think I would know?"

"Just wanted to take the chance. I'm still looking for answers. I arrived in this city just... maybe a few hours ago,"

"Tourist then?"

"Yeah! Both of us are. We go around saving people. Sometimes, it doesn't even have to be involved with crime. It could be changing an entire city by helping the hungry, helping people clean up the mess, helping the people that can't help themselves. It's just what I was made to do, I'm sure of that."

"Sounds like community service to me," Zach shook his head, scoffing, "What do you think that makes you? Do you think that makes you a superhero? Some sort of messiah? You... you're working on an idea that many people promised to satisfy," Zach pointed to the front door building, "Change, peace, protection. Those people are in there, trying. But the next abnormal could pop up on the radar at any moment. He could walk out right now, and slaughter this entire block, don't you understand?" He spat. "I'm sorry but... that doesn't make you special. I..." He relented for a moment, "It doesn't really make you anything."

Something prevented Zach from making eye contact, and there, he felt pressured by the possibility that the boy was staring at him through his long silence. No words of optimism were spoken although he expected it. Instead, his eyes focused back on the seeming police car. Bold letters were painted across the car in white.

A.R.E... A group as useless as any normal person.

But Zach started to feel that regret once more. He wondered if he went too far.

"Hey man, I'm sorry. I just-"

"I get it," He started, the enthusiasm in his tone melted away, "And you're right,"

Zach couldn't create another lie. Not to benefit the boy. He had to keep up the act anyway.

Conflicting outcries erupted between people lingering in the crowd, and the officers - the protectors - of the city. The herd had gotten more resistant though, and some demanded to see the abnormal. He still couldn't even accept the fact that one of them was in the building. Why was he so complacent? Why hadn't he lunged to kill? But Zach remembered, his power was revealed right before him on his neck. That was the threat. Threatening to destroy everyone in the room. He had never seen one up close before. Only on the news was an abnormal being cast in some type of villainy. And for good reason. Serial killers with such power reached a surge. Even a criminal on a smaller scale was too dangerous to walk again. That alone made Zach sick to his stomach.

"There used to be someone that could counter those abnormal assholes,"

"Used to be?"

Motivation inspired Zach to continue, he had him hooked again. Zach snorted, "Let's just say that he isn't so friendly anymore,"

"Could he fly through the air? Climb up things?"

He noted that interest peaking in his tone, and got skeptical. "Kind've an oddly specific guess," Zach replied, giving him a glare, then returned forward, "But yeah. You could consider him the first abnormal that wasn't an abnormal at the time," Zach looked to his left. The small group of people next to him weren't listening at all, no evidence showed of it. Eyes stuck on the scene like they were under hypnosis.

A sigh left him.

"There was a man... he could fly through the sky with a whip that would stick on the buildings. When we saw that first jump, anyone would think this was just some stunt devil trying something stupid again. I mean, who wouldn't expect that right? Some insecure prick decides to get all high-and-mighty then does something stupid. Either to satisfy some urge or... anyway, there was a body that shot through the sky, and when it started coming down, we thought there'd be a mess of red and pink on the floor. Paramedics to follow."

"This happened a lot?"

"Not that way. Everyone tries to be the hero differently in this city. His might have just been the most... extreme, though."

"It doesn't have to be stupid."

"Of course it was stupid!" He looked at him in disbelief, "Why would you throw yourself off a building for a little, temporary praise?"

Saw a little bit of the boy's chin turn his way, "Maybe he was doing it for-"

"No!" Zach spat. "No... It's never that. I was in high school two years ago, around the time he was at his peak." Zach had to force himself to remember. "Television... shows... movies, comics, women." He spat with disdain. "He was the best among us, and that was the worst part. Some were brave enough to hate him but most just gave in." Zach thought he could feel more ears peering in but he didn't care. Then, he felt another ache that shot through his knuckles, and he looked at the crimson flesh that was molded on his right.

"Tell me," he started, "A man shows up to your doorstep with the ability to fly, demanding to worship him or die. What would you do?"

"I guess I'd try my best to make sure he doesn't-"

"Ah! Exactly, y-you're preventing!" Intensity loosened, "And that's because-"

"Because I'm scared of him, right?"

Zach looked at him. Predicted like a fool, he was dumbfounded for a moment. So dumbfounded he couldn't even chastise the boy for interrupting him.

He could finally utter, "Yeah... fear."

There was a silence between them now, and the crowd at the other side in front of them still stood, waiting, and murmuring. Zach thought he might have told the boy too much, and again, kicked himself. A sigh left him as his shoulders dropped with defeat.

"But... I guess he wasn't all bad. He saved people here, and there. But one day when he just snapped. He got angry at civilians for... I guess, not being grateful. It was so random. As time went on it seemed he got more irritable with us. Even sometimes, more than the criminals. Rumor went around he even hurt an innocent. Intentionally."

Zach could finally sense eyes on him. Lusting for an answer, finally. But his words were hesitant to spill

A finger jabbed at the sky. Aimed at a building where the sun peered around its sharp corner, "Although he always flew up there, always watching over, always saving. He never walked with us. Don't you get that? Someone that flew above us never thought to reach down. Not in my eyes, anyway. And that's what it'll always be."

Zach felt a victory through the boy's silence. Surely, he could understand that.

"All the luxuries he was given- that was why he did things. And the things he said, they cannot be forgiven, and they won't be. Now that's he gone. And even now, these abnormals... Bullets can't stop a guy who can just jump six hundred feet in the air. Or a guy who can turn into some piece of shit monster." Zach pressed on, "Even when he's gone, he's still motivating these... evil heroes."

Horns once again filled the air between them, words Zach hoped would fill the boy's ears or whoever was listening around them. The city was truly beyond anyone's grasp. Zach felt that he was doing the boy a favor. He wouldn't be motivated by a stupid sense of justice and then fall into doing something stupid. He was the real hero. But not by the muscle in his arms, or the power in his step.

"Sorry, but to me, it sounds like you made a mistake."

Zach glared at him, "And what mistake would that be?"

"There's a chance, isn't there?"

What is this asshole saying?

"I've barely gotten started- that alone it kinda... it excites me."

"Excites you?" Zach worded with disgust.

"I've been going after a goal of mine for a while now, and I've only met a few along the way. I've fought with them and trained with them. They're all good people. Special, too," Finally, the boy turned to peer into Zach's eyes, catching him by surprise. Light brown eyes locked onto him. He truly was a kid, even innocent, and kind-looking in the face. But from a single look, Zach could see through that determined countenance, and notice a tiredness rest under his eyes. "The girl... friend I told you about..."

"Y-yeah?"

"I have to keep her close."

Zach watched the twist of his jacket as brown eyes broke away. He watched skinny fingers reveal themselves, and stretch from their pockets. He watched his body drop in one deep breath, like a diver before he shoots into the deep waters before him. And what made his lip quiver was the disdain that leveled in shoulders.

"Who do you think you are?" Zach faced him, and the anger in his heart triumphed over the pain in his hands. "I already TOLD you. You can't do anything! You're just as small as the next naive, wide-eyed idiot, or abnormal, or WHATEVER the shit!"

Murmuring began behind them. But Zach didn't care until out of the corner of his eye, the same figure from before. An A.R.E. officer was frozen to the ground like a grand statue. Lingering but unlike before, an icy stare penetrated Zach's words and made them fall back to the pit of his stomach.

A hand on a gun, Zach saw when he turned to face him.

"Is everything okay, sir?" There was curious venom in his addressing.

He can't honestly think that I would be the-

"Everything is fine, officer." The boy spoke up!

Is he...

"He was just getting a little moody 'cause of his hands, nothing serious."

"Hands?"

Thought I hid them well enough... when the hell did he-

"He got bruises from falling. Kind've a rough scene," Zach saw his face again, and he asked, "Right?"

His pride wouldn't let him admit it out loud. Especially right after he told him he was wrong about how his city was. But the A.R.E officer was scanning him and waiting to take him for questioning. That could not happen. He didn't want to be caught in the crossfire with Harry, the abnormal.

"Right." He bit down on the word like he was being held hostage.

The officer bought it. He kept his eyes on Zach longer than he felt comfortable with, and then looked at the crowd behind them. He pointed an astute, and commanding finger to the path that waited behind them.

"THIS IS NOW AN INVESTIGATION! CLEAR THE SIDEWALK! ANYBODY LINGERING ON THE PREMISES WILL FACE HEAVY CONSEQUENCES!"

"This is bullshit, where's the abnormal!" A man yelled in the crowd.

"WE WANT TO SEE HIS HEAD OFF!" Another.

"DO YOUR JOBS!"

The crowd burst into a vicious uproar. Harry stepped out of the way, scurrying off the sidewalk, and stepping down backward on the road. He could feel the vibration of a car bouncing off his back, and he made sure not to move too far into the road. However, his fear of that was trampled by his worries of the commanding audience. Back, and forth the officers and civilians resisted each other.

They were fools. Why would they want to see him stretch his powers on them?

But among the crowd... where did he go?

He walked inches down the road trying to peer into the rib of the crowd. Various people were contrasting colors and standing at different heights but no black hoodie nor untied sneakers shifted. He could still chase him, that thought was relished by the anger he still felt residing in him. Zach waited for a hole to open. Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting.

Now!

Jumping on the sidewalk with his left, he pushed through a tiny gap between two people as he launched off. Bodies collided with him, hands pushed against his shoulders but he slipped through the crowd messily, and quickly like a snake in sticky mud. He would ignore the remarks thrown at him as his feet were once again pushed again by previous, taunting words.

I'm wrong? ME? He doesn't know this city like I do!

Finally, he erupted from the crowd. He peered to his left. An alley, of course. That's where he would go to escape.

Zach began his sprint. Puddles of dirt-infested water splashed onto his pants. His legs nearly submitted to the thought of stopping to clean himself but he was possessed once again by his words. The pummeling of his shoes sped like a drummer to his instrument, and the bottom of his pants stuck to his calves but he would not stop. The alley reeked of such dampness that would make a gas mask melt. But he would not stop. Ahead, he could see dumpsters, dark, and bathed in mold. Positioned like an impenetrable wall, they challenged any attempt to keep a color true.

But Zach reared to the left, and in one hard plant of his right foot behind him, he catapulted himself through the air that pushed against his speed, firing through his hair. Left foot touched the brick then he quickly moved his right foot in front to follow suit, using his left hand to slide across. As he sped past the most left dumpster he finally threw himself off, and gracefully landed on-

WEBS?

His body immediately recoiled and twisted but he foolishly let his knees hammer into the ground. He grunted to the violent impact, and roll of his body on the ground that littered him with dirt. Now, water stuck uncomfortably to his entire body. Squirming in pain, he pushed himself on his back, and was forced to squeeze out an agonizing groan. As the pain slowly melted away in his body, he felt an even thicker stick to his flesh. It wasn't water.

He leveled his hand over his eyes and spread out his fingers. Zach could barely see it! But there was a silver essence between them, and it glistened with the water that it connected with.

"That was a pretty nice move, man,"

That voice.

He flipped himself on his stomach. The same arrogance in his posture, still hiding his face except with his back with not even a speck of mud stained on his figure. His anger grew anew.

"How do you know?"

Zach propped himself up on a forearm.

His breaths entered and exited heavy, and dry but the words wouldn't leave. "Do you think you can just become some... ultimate Spider-Man?"

He didn't turn around to meet him this time. But Zach knew his face for sure. Even the boy knew this but why wouldn't he face him? Did he want to continue to cower? His hands were hidden he noticed.

"One tip," He started.

"Don't watch the mouth. Watch the hands."

And the fallen sound that gracefully threaded the air with swift precision many years ago returned to pierce through his world.

Once the figure before him disappeared into the air, flying... just like that day, he knew.

A fist slammed on the concrete, and teeth grit.

Spider-Man is back.