Chapter 18 A Birthday Warning:

Marcy shivered as she walked to school. It was colder than it was last week. Not the best way to start the morning of her birthday. She walked into the building and to her locker. As she was putting her locker combination in, an arm wrapped around Marcy's neck. The black haired girl yelped as she was pulled into a headlock and a pair of knuckles messed up her hair.

"Happy 15th birthday sis," Sasha said,laughing
"Sasha! Thanks but cut it out!" she screeched even though she can break out of her grip more easily.

The older girl laughed as she released her grip on Marcy. The younger girl gave her a glare as her hair stood up at angles.

"Was that necessary?" she asked.

She grunted as another hand smoothed her hair down. Anne snickered lightly at Marcy's complaints.

"Happy Birthday Mar-Mar," Anne said.

Marcy fixed her hair as she smiled.

"Thanks Anne," she said.

Marcy put her stuff in her locker and the three girls walked to class. Marcy blinked when she saw a different teacher in front of the class.

"When did we get a new teacher?" she asked Anne, sitting down at her desk.

"Mrs. Brown quit a few weeks ago. Something about "this city is too dangerous" or whatever," Sasha said.

Marcy nodded as the bell rang. The new teacher stood up in front of the class.

"Okay, my name is Mr. Owens but you can call me Mr. O if you want. I will be your history teacher for the rest of the year. I will call out your names and please say here so I can mark you all present. Anne Boonchuy," he said.

"Present," she said.

Mr. Owens kept calling names as Marcy waited for him to call her name. She fiddled with the bandages around her left remembered the doctor said the explosion burnt her left arm, the lower part of her back and a bit of her right shoulder. Luckily, she's still able to use her web shooters.

"Marcy Wu," he said.

No answer.

"Is there a Marcy Wu in here?" he asked.

Sasha reached over and smacked Marcy's head. The black haired girl blinked as she was brought back to reality.

"Sorry. Here," she said.

Mr. Owens nodded and continued with the class. Marcy huffed and laid her head on her desk. This was probably going to be the longest school day ever.

Timeskip:)

"That had to be the longest day at school ever!" Sasha complained.

The two younger girls laughed as they walked home. Marcy's phone beeped, gaining the youngest of the group's attention. She grabbed it and saw a text from Terri.

"There's something going on at the museum," Marcy said.

Sasha and Anne looked at her confused.

"A crime on your birthday? That sucks," Anne said.

Marcy shrugged.

"A hero's work is never done, ya know," she said.

She looked around to make sure no one was looking and shot a web. She took off towards the city.

"Tell my moms I'll be home late!" she shouted over her shoulder.

Sasha shook her head as they kept walking.

"At least this gives us more time to get her party ready," Sasha said.

Anne nodded as they walked to Marcy's house. Hopefully, they can get everything ready before Marcy could get home. As for Marcy, she was jumping from building to building as she headed towards the museum. She landed on the ground and looked up at the building. Marcy could see smoke pouring out of the windows. She sighed as she shot a web.

'Does Andrias have a fire obsession or somethin' she thought to herself.

Marcy ran inside the building, intending to finish this fight quickly.

A few minutes later:

Marcy huffed as she ran home. She was late but she was here. Marcy found it a bit odd that all the house lights were out even though it was barely 8. She saw Anne sitting at the doorstep. The older girl smiled as Marcy walked towards her.

"Hey, how was the thing at the museum?" she asked.

Marcy rubbed her neck.

"Tiring. Where's Sasha?" she asked.

Anne stood up.

"She's in the back," she said.

Marcy nodded and was about to head there but was stopped by hands over her eyes.

"Um…Anne?" she asked.

"Sorry but this is necessary. Just keep walking and keep your eyes closed," she said.

Marcy raised an eyebrow but allowed Anne to lead her to the backyard. Anne tried her best to keep Marcy from bumping into anything.

"Anne, what's going on?" she asked.

"You'll see. Keep your eyes closed!" she said.

Marcy's hands flew up.

"They are closed!" she said.

Anne stepped in front of her.

"I can feel you opening your eyes. Keep them closed," she said.

Marcy huffed. Anne walked through the gate door. She moved one hand away from Marcy's eyes as she stood in front of her.

"Okay just stay here and keep your eyes closed until I say so. Got it?" she asked.

The younger girl nodded and Anne moved her hand away as she stepped back. What is she up to?

"Okay you can open them," she heard Anne say.

Marcy opened her eyes and immediately widened them at what she saw. Her friends and family stood in front of her with decorations all around the backyard.

"SURPRISE!" they shouted.

Marcy blinked before grunting as Sprig and Polly hugged her around the waist.

"Happy Birthday, Marcy!" they cried.

Sasha ruffled her hair.

"Happy Birthday nerd," she said.

Marcy looked at her.

"Did you do this?" she asked.

Sasha shook her head.

"This was all Anne's idea," she said, nodding towards the brown haired girl.

Marcy looked at her.

"You did all of this?" she asked.

Anne rubbed her neck.

"Yeah…Do you like it?" she asked.

Marcy stared at her with an unreadable expression. Anne began to feel nervous.

"Mar-EEP!" Anne exclaimed.

Marcy had lifted her off her feet as she hugged her and spun around.

"You're the best Anne!" she exclaimed.

Anne laughed as she hugged her back. Marcy set her back down as they broke the hug. Olivia and Yunnan walked towards Marcy holding a cake with the candles lit.

"Make a wish kiddo," Yunan said.

Marcy took a breath and blew the candles out. Sasha wrapped an arm around Marcy and Anne.

"Let's get this party started!" Sasha said.

"Ohay,Ohay, Hey!" Marcy and Anne cheered.

A few hours later:

After the party, Grime and the Plantars headed home and Yunan and Olivia cleaned up the decorations. Marcy, Anne and Sasha were in the living room when Terri burst into the door looking like she saw a ghost

"Woah,Terri what's the problem?" Marcy asked.

Terri sat down on the couch as she tried to calm down. The three younger girls looked at her with a worried look.

"Terri, what's going on?" Anne asked.

Terri turned to them.

"Someone ransacked my house. They went through my closet,drawers and the only thing I found was this envelope," Terri said.

Marcy grabbed the envelope and looked over it. She felt like her heart stopped when she saw that it was signed "To the Calamity Spider". Marcy opened the envelope and saw a VHS tape.

"Who even uses those anymore?" Sasha asked.

Anne nudged her in the ribs. Marcy stood up and put the tape into the VHS player. She sat down next to Anne as the tape played. On the television screen, Andrias appeared. Marcy's jaw clenched as Anne gasped.

"Hello Calamity Spider or should I say Marcy Wu? Yes that's right, I know your identity. You're in quite a predicament, don't ya think? I'm sure you know about my discovery of symbiote. Of course you do but let's make this clear, I am not a merciful man and will not stop until I achieve my goal. I know how to get what I want and will eliminate anyone who gets in my way. So unless you want something to happen to your friends and family, I suggest you stay out of my way. This is your first and last warning," Andrias said.

The tape cut off leaving the group in silence. Marcy clenched her fists. Anne placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Marce?" she asked.

Marcy stood up and ran up the stairs, closing her room door.

"Marcy!" Anne shouted.

She and Sasha stood up and ran after her. Anne grabbed the door knob only to find it locked.

"Marcy, open the door," she said.

No answer.

"Come on Mar-Mar, I know this seems bad but you can take that giant jackass out. You've got a group of friends who are willing to help you," Sasha said.

"Guys…just go away…please" Marcy's voice sounded from inside.

Sasha sighed and turned to Anne.

"We should go. She needs some time alone," she said, walking away.

Anne watched as she walked away before placing a hand on Marcy's door.

"Marce, I know this is getting hard for you but I'm here if you're ready to talk," she said softly.

No answer. Anne sighed and walked away. Marcy could hear their footsteps and the sound of the front door closing. She leaned back against the door as she sat down on the ground with her head buried into her knees.

'What am I supposed to do? Mark, what do I do?' she thought to herself.

She could feel tears filling her eyes as she buried her head into her arms. What was she going to do?