SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER SPIDER (CHAPTER 32)
Note: The story has passed 10,000 views. Thank you to those who are reading. Also, I'm going to try to distinguish the persona of Peter and Spider-Man better even when in costume.
5:45 pm Parker residence…
Peter opened up his bedroom window and let Gwen into his room while she was still in costume. Slipping right through the window, Peter noticed that Gwen was acting as if she was guilty by standing with her head down and not looking at him directly in the face.
"You wanted to talk, right?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, I do. It's…It's going not to be easy however." Gwen answered while tilting her head a little.
"Hey, let it out." Peter said putting his hands on both of her shoulders.
Gwen moved back a little before speaking her mind. She carefully showed Peter her blood-stained palm causing him to question her.
"Was it a fight or something?" Peter asked examining her palm.
"Yeah. But it's much worse. Peter…. I just like to confess…" Gwen said.
"Uh, that you love me? Didn't we exchange those vows?" Peter asked sarcastically.
Gwen then lifted her mask up before glaring at Peter.
"No. Peter…I killed someone." Gwen confessed before her hands trembled.
Peter stood there in silence before he could utter out a word.
"I don't understand. Can you give me some context?" Peter asked.
"You remember Anton? The guy who I went to ESU with? The guy who turned into a spider monster?" Gwen asked, "That's right. He's dead."
Peter tried to remember who Gwen was talking about but only remembered the details regarding the monster spider.
"Oh, that guy." Peter said, "Is there anything else? Take it easy, I got you."
Peter then hugged Gwen to ease her guilt before saying anything else. In his mind, Peter wanted to keep his shock in check as he took in the idea of Gwen killing someone.
"Why don't you just tell me the story on how this happened?" Peter asked.
Before anything more could be said, May knocked on Peter's door before telling him that dinner is ready.
"Peter, dinner's ready. Also, a word?" May said.
Peter then motioned Gwen to leave the room out of sight before opening the door to greet May.
"Yes?" Peter asked.
"I left dinner on the table. Plus, I need some rest. So, can you do me a favour and take out the trash?" May requested.
"No problem." Peter said.
"Thank you. Oh and…" May spoke before stopping.
May then looked over Peter's shoulder and saw the window was open.
"I told you to not open windows during winter season." May grumbled before shutting the window that Peter let Gwen through, "I know it's fresh air. But you'll regret catching a cold."
Peter watched as May left the room before realising that he left his unfinished mask on his desk. However, May did not seem to take any notice before she left.
"Good night, Peter." May said as she left.
Peter breathed a sigh of relief at the thought May did not catch him working on a new Spider-suit. He looked at his window and saw Gwen waiting in front.
"I wish I was tired too." Peter said to himself.
6:00 pm local park, Queens…
Together, Peter and Gwen ventured off to their destination before Peter stopped to catch his breath on a tree. His old costume also smelled and was a little itchy to bear.
"Peter?" Gwen asked as she stopped to check on him on the same tree.
"I just want to catch my breath." Peter said sitting down while putting his hands together to brace the cold.
Gwen then accepted the break and perched alongside him.
"Been through a lot yourself lately?" Gwen asked.
"Yep. It's been pretty shitty as of late." Peter said.
"Tell me about it." Gwen wondered, "Is Ned doing okay?"
"Ned's in jail. Fisk is playing games with me and he's using leverage from the Bugle to put me in a dangerous spotlight." Peter said frustratingly.
"What?" Gwen asked again.
"Yeah, you heard me. That bastard Fisk is putting him behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Worse, he's probably surrounded by some of the worst cops Fisk has paid off." Peter started to rant.
"Oh man…Are you sure this isn't urgent?" Gwen asked feeling like she is dragging Peter to her own problems.
Peter instantly shook his head before giving Gwen an assuring look.
"No. Ned's a survivor, he can last long. Right now, we've got another problem. Right?" Peter said.
Gwen was a little surprised by Peter's will to go along with her but accepted it.
"Yeah, let's go." Gwen said.
6:35 pm Warren residence…
"This house?" Spider-Man asked noting the yellow crime scene tape plastered around the area.
"Yep. There's no police by the way. Ever since he went 'missing', the house just got taped up." Gwen explained, "It's not much of an investigation going on so far."
"You sure? Maybe the cops have taken stuff out of the house already." Spider-Man said.
"I'll just take you somewhere. Come on." Gwen said instructing Spider-Man to follow her.
Spider-Man then followed Gwen to the top of the chimney and climbed down with her. Landing on the ashes of Miller's fireplace. Gwen then pointed to the grim setting that she wanted to show him.
"This isn't romantic." Spider-Man said seeing the corpse of Anton Rodríguez through his own eye-lens laying down near the kitchen counter with all the recent injuries he had sustained from his fight against Gwen.
Spider-Man noted that Anton had recently died and noted that much of his appearance was human before noticing the spider-like appendages near him.
"Are you sure this guy wasn't a furry monster when you fought him?" Spider-Man asked.
"Nope. He was acting… Zombie-like. If that's a good way to describe him." Gwen answered.
Spider-Man then took the time to process. Clearly, Anton was supposed to be locked up in the Raft with the rest after his own fight with him. The revelation of his death eventually made him question more than his fight against Wilson and question Gwen and her superpowers.
"I can't remember if I asked. But how did you get your powers?" Spider-Man asked looking at Gwen.
"I…Can't remember. I remember waking up with them one day." Gwen answered.
"Come on, Gwen. Are you sure you're not a by-product of some science experiment?" Spider-Man asked.
Before Gwen could answer, the sound of a door opening upstairs was heard prompting the two to search for a hiding spot. The place was dark and the best they could do was hang up on the ceiling. Listening to the creaking footsteps, Spider-Man and Gwen observed the mysterious person in the dark carrying a flashlight.
Despite the silence, the person's footsteps grew louder before they stopped near both of them. Shining the flashlight in an instant to the ceiling, Spider-Man and Gwen were caught red-handed despite trying to move away from the light.
"Well, well, well. Two little spider monkeys just so happen to walk into my nest." The person said, "No point in hiding. Come on down."
Spider-Man dropped down first followed by Gwen. Thanks to the glaring light, Gwen had a good look at the person. It was Miller Warren whose hair was greasier than how she remembered alongside thicker beard hairs and such. A lack of hygiene was of key difference in distinguished how he looked.
"Hi there. Uh… We came here because we wanted to investigate a person who has died on scene here." Spider-Man said.
"Oh yes. Funny." Miller said, "Just so you know… I didn't kill him."
"I know which is why…Uh." Spider-Man then tried hard to think of his next words, "Do you have any lights you want to switch on?"
"No thanks… I like the dark. And I like putting you two in the spotlight." Miller answered with a grin whilst pointing the flashlight at them.
"Heliophobia? Okay then. You're the famous Professor Miller Warren, right?" Spider-Man asked pretending this is the first he met him.
"Indeed. That was once my title. I'm so glad you know me just as I know you." Miller said.
"What am I to you then?" Spider-Man asked, "I'm asking because you seem to be linked with making people into spiders."
"Just so you know. You have been a very interesting individual to me. The way you can swing; climb. Your super strength. As a geneticist, I am so eager to learn about you." Miller said while circling both him and Gwen with the flashlight.
While Spider-Man and Miller conversed, Gwen felt uncomfortable. The Miller she knew may have been weird in personality but she remembered him more as a respected scientist with a strong scientific vision. The Miller she was confronting was giving off serial killer vibes.
"Thanks. I'm glad there's people who admire me for… Scientific reasons." Spider-Man joked.
"Although I expected a better costume close up." Miller said in a bit of disappointment, "You were my aspiring model when I studied human genetics back at Empire. I always wanted to ask in person if you would volunteer for my experiments. What a shame to lose my privileges…"
"You were fired, right? I'm sorry to hear." Spider-Man said while part of him wanted to relate with him being fired from the Daily Bugle.
"No matter. I am a free man. A wanted one, to be fair. I want to continue my dreams and passions but the world is too afraid of it." Miller said, "Let's just say I'm a scavenger for parts."
"This house is a crime scene right now. And if I remember… You were reported missing or something among the lines. Care to elaborate?" Spider-Man asked.
Miller laughed before answering.
"Well, no cops have crashed in here recently. Let's just say I had to cut a bit of corners to get around life with the help of some people. For you, that may be the crooks you catch." Miller explained.
"Crooks? Are you talking about regular people who rob a shop or bank? Or is there someone in my rogue's gallery?" Spider-Man asked.
"Let's see… The mobster with a tin plate and a really fat man. Just to name a few." Miller said.
"Hammerhead? Wilson Fisk?!" Spider-Man answered back.
"Don't worry. I hated those guys just as much as you do. They are beneath me. But… You." Miller said staring at Spider-Man with intent, "You and I can achieve things for the benefit of mankind. If we have more in common…"
"You're sketchy and seeing how one of your subjects has ended up. I doubt it." Spider-Man said seriously while eyeing Anton's corpse.
"You're thinking too small, Spider-Man. Say, we haven't heard a word from your… Female companion." Miller said turning his attention to Gwen, "Is she the opposite to your talkative nature?"
Gwen gulped nervously beneath the mask as she noted a bit of change in Miller's eyes. There was a hint of a yellow glint which made Gwen believe something was wrong with Miller.
"She has quite the figure…" Miller admired, "And…"
Miller stopped to sniff the air and picked up on Anton's scent based on the blood on Gwen's palm.
"Oh…I believe you made contact with Anton beforehand. I can tell." Miller said, "Perhaps, he made you what you are in terms of your abilities, I presume?"
"You're being really gross right now." Gwen said in discomfort.
"Young lady. It's scientific. Get used to it…" Miller grinned.
"Alright, do you mind if you come with us to police headquarters? There's so much to clear." Spider-Man said defending Gwen from the gross remarks.
"I could ask again if you want to support my marvellous work. But I'm guessing neither of you will comply. And now you're cornering me like a wild animal. Just so you know…" Miller said before switching off the flashlight, "Never corner one at all."
After the flashlight turned off, Spider-Man and Gwen stood their ground to wait for the horrors Miller was about to unleash. They heard strange sounds in the dark but from what could be made out, Miller was about to change.
At first, the two glimpsed as Miller clung to the wall and grew large. The shadowy silhouette then changed to give him enlarged bat-like ears and claws from head to toe.
"Uh, An American Werewolf in New York?" Spider-Man asked.
Miller reached the windows and pulled the curtains letting the night light to reveal his form. To Spider-Man and Gwen's shock, they were confronted by a man-beast covered in green fur and yellow cat-like eyes. Its jaw was also quite real.
"Dead or alive. You're meat for my grinder." Miller said in his monstrous voice.
"Get the lights on!" Spider-Man said looking at Gwen before confronting Miller.
Miller pounced forward like a wild big cat and attempted to hold Spider-Man down. The saliva from his jaws dripped as Spider-Man struggled against Miller's own super strength.
"What did this guy do to himself?" Spider-Man wondered as Miller's jaw was about to maul him.
Finding the light switch, Gwen flipped the switch and got clear vision of Spider-Man being pinned down. Immediately, Miller's attention was diverted and sprinted towards her while knocking the household items around him.
Gwen fired some webs at Miller causing some trouble but not enough for him to pin her down too.
"I think I'm going to enjoy you more!" Miller professed while dribbling.
"You're the worst dog I ever met." Gwen said back while struggling.
Miller pressed his face forward against Gwen's mask before Spider-Man swung a chair hitting him on the back. In anger, Miller tried swiping at Spider-Man which gave Gwen an upper hand to punch Miller in the face. Miller growled and swiped in retaliation causing a cheek scratch onto Gwen's face which broke the mask a little.
Standing up, Miller clutched his face while Spider-Man and Gwen stood ready to face him again. Laughing, Miller was able to get over the pain quickly.
"You two really are a pair, aren't you?" Miller said.
"Are you a mutant or something?" Spider-Man asked.
Miller then started attacked again before answering.
"I'm the result of the great work I dedicated myself to!" Miller said as Spider-Man and Gwen jumped all over the place.
As the fight raged on, Spider-Man and Gwen both started to feel tired. All they could do is think of a way to escape from their equally super-strengthened foe.
"Where's the super energy I'm expecting?" Miller wondered as Spider-Man and Gwen continued to dodge.
Spider-Man then spotted the dining room chandelier and immediately thought of an idea.
"Spider-Woman! Shut the lights again." Spider-Man proclaimed while almost saying Gwen's name out loud in habit.
Gwen followed with the plan before Spider-Man accessed his thermal vision that he installed behind his eye-lens. Using his webs, he shot a web at one of Miller's legs and attached the web to the chandelier. He then sprayed a massive amount of web to hold Miller down in place.
"Come on!" Spider-Man said guiding Gwen to the chimney.
"You can't hide!" Miller shouted, "I'll smell either of you out."
As Miller freed himself carefully, the two made their escape. However, Miller found himself in a sticky situation and more complicated one as he dangled from the dining room ceiling.
7:40 pm Somewhere near Forest Hills…
Spider-Man and Gwen zipped their way back to their home neighbourhood away from Miller's house. For Peter, the sight of a werewolf-like creature was something to behold and another matter he needed to think about.
"You think he can follow us?" Peter asked.
"I hope not." Gwen said in return as they found a bench.
"It's out of nowhere that someone like him was furry." Peter said.
"Well, I am more creeped out than you are since he was one of my mentors." Gwen said.
Somewhere in the distance, it felt like Miller was howling in laughter waiting for his next chance to strike.
TO BE CONTINUED…