Bitten by a radioactive spider, high school student Peter Parker gained the proportionate strength, speed, agility, equilibrium, and early warning danger sense of that irradiated arachnid. Hoping to use his powers for personal gain, Peter sought to make money as pro wrestler and a TV sensation, but with the death of his beloved Uncle Ben, a grief stricken Peter learned an invaluable lesson. With great power there must also come great responsibility. Armed with his wondrous web shooters Peter struggles with this lesson. Trying to balance an ordinary life with a day job and still divide time to be with his wife and to protect his fellow man. Due to the events regarding his personal life, Peter has given up the role to the one true Peter Parker whom goes by the moniker of Ben Reilly. This is the story of The Amazing Spider-Man!
"Seven Ways To Hell Part III Of IV"
A fire, bright and red cast an eerie light in the streets of Hell's Kitchen. This fire had only one source and that source was the disturbing visage of the Ghost Rider. Vagrants that rummaged through the garbage took sight of the ghastly biker and scampered away afraid that it would cast some unspeakable harm upon them. For what only the devil knew. But its flaming iris' never took sight of them for they were not its prey. Its aims were of other worldly beings. As it drove by a decrypted old building its head swiveled to gaze upon the building for it sensed the presence of hell bound energies emanating from inside. The Ghost Rider got off of its bike and went inside alone keeping its chain close at hand and its shot gun slung in the holster. Striding purposely up the steps the dark rider turned to a door on the far right of the hallway which was blanketed by a black slime-like substance. For every step toward the door the bounty hunter from hell took it could feel something creep up its leg and when it looked down it found more of the black slime oozing from the cracks in the floor and crawling up its legs. Incensed, the demon drew its hellfire powered shot gun only for the slime to expand and bind its hand to its side with such force that it caused the Spirit of Vengeance to blow a hole in the floor. The dark rider struggled with its bonds writhing to get free, but it was no use. Resorting to other methods the ghastly biker used its mental command of the long length of chain wrapped about its fist, and sent it straight through the center of the black slime that covered the door way and what followed was a geyser of ooze and a fierce howl of pain.
Vengeance shall be mine!
Pulling the shot gun up and aiming it dead center the Spirt of Vengeance blasted the slime from hell into oblivion.
Now know forever torment...
The words of the Ghost Rider were filled with a tinge of sorrow, but there was no turning away from the path he walked. Lilith must die and that the Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze would see it done.
--
Spider-Man and Daredevil made their way through the darkened city streets looking for the Punisher. For what reason they needed him Doctor Strange would not reveal. Neither the Scarlet Swashbuckler or the Web-Slinger believed that Castle's help was necessary. Yet, both of their experiences with the Sorcerer Supreme had taught them that when dealing with matters of the metaphysical that he would not lead them astray.
"So what's going through your mind horn head?" said Spider-Man as he kept at a pace that Daredevil could keep up with.
"I don't know. Stephan has never lied to me before. But, I can't condone working with a nutcase like Castle."
"Which makes me wonder why we even bother chasing him down?"
The two landed on a roof top and Daredevil turned to Spidey almost as if he was looking at him with eyes that could see.
"I may not condone Castle, but I'm not going to let him run loose in the city with a bomb attached to his van. What if he gets hurt bad and decides innocent lives are just collateral damage? What then?"
"I...hadn't thought of that."
"Well I have. Let's get going."
Following Daredevil's lead the two heroes resumed their chase.
--
Danny Ketch found himself in a back alley in Hell's Kitchen disoriented and vaguely aware of his surroundings. As he walked toward the street where the cars passed by he noticed a motorcycle where some foolish pedestrian had left the keys in the ignition. Rubbing his hands together at the lucky break Dan hopped on the bike, turned it on, and peeled out to look for his half-brother Johnny.
--
Vida soared through the nightly skies using his ability to commune with the vermin to help try and locate the Ghost Rider. Oh how he seethed in rage when he thought of his dear brother dying at the hands of the rider. It was a loss that everyone in the brood felt even his mother. And for every pain the rider delivered to his mother he would deliver seven-fold to the rider and its human host.
--
The Punisher pulled up to a warehouse in his unmarked grey van and pressed a button on the dash, which caused the garage door to raise. Once it was high enough he drove in and depressed the button causing the door to close. Inside of the warehouse was the Punisher's current outfitter who replaced the deceased Microchip. A man called Straight Flush who was an army veteran with a lame leg. He was working on a setting up a new weapon that he had gotten his hands on when Castle got out of the van and walked over.
"What's this?" asked Castle.
"It's called the Corner Shot, Frank. This weapon here will make your days a whole lot easier. Care to hear why?"
Frank nodded.
"See this pistol on the front end can bend horizontally in mid shot sixty degree angle. While there is a digital camera that is connected to this camera screen on the butt end, which will show everything it sees to you. So let's say you want to see if some piece of shit is stalking around the corner waiting for you to show your face. You just bend this and use your camera and BOOM! There goes one sack of shit. This beauty also comes with a flashlight, a trigger on the butt end, and a series of interchangeable attachments such as grenade launcher and assault rifle. Plus, I can even get an anti-tank attachment. Cool, hunh?"
"Good."
"W-what? That's all you gotta say?"
Frank just looked at him apathetically and walked away.
"I figured you'd be thrilled. I guess I was wrong."
Frank went to his private room and there on a desk beside a flat screen monitor was a picture of Frank's family. He walked over and sat it face down while he checked over his list for his next batch of prey.
--
"Seven high profile thefts in a week!" yelled J. Jonah Jameson. "And we don't have a single picture. Damn that Parker! If he hadn't quit on me and this paper in this time of crisis we wouldn't be getting our butts handed to us by the Brooklyn Herald."
"Now, now Jonah. Even you have to respect Peter's wishes."
"Fah!"
The ever, but jolly publisher sat back down in his chair to mull over his streak of bad luck.
--
After a tiring three hour wait for her date to get out of the bathroom. Jessica had finally decided enough was enough and returned to her apartment where she kicked off her shoes and plopped down on the couch. She picked up the remote and turned on the television only paying a little attention to what was on, but mostly wondering what had happened to Ben and why he skipped out on her.
--
The sounds of pipes being locked into place caused the woman known as Lady Octopus to get up from her couch and go to the chamber in which all of her hopes and anticipations lie.
"All of this I do for you my dear."
"I know and when I am made flesh again. We shall be together."
"As one baby."
"As one," replied the hollow voice.
--
"Is it ever enough?" asked the caretaker as he looked at Johnny who was lying on the grass in Central Park.
"No."
"One way ticket. That's all you get in this life amigo. Don't go down this road. You'll only live to regret it."
"I already made my choice, Caretaker."
"If it's of any concern. I think you did all you could do for him."
Johnny turned his head the other way as he got up. "I can't believe that. I won't."
Caretaker shook his head and left to wherever it was he came from. Johnny stood up and dusted himself off then got on his bike. Nightfall would be coming soon and if he was going to get his personal affairs done away with it needed be when the hell-spawn evil slept.
--
Spider-Man opened up the window to his temporary apartment and went inside casting off his mask to reveal the weary face of Benjamin Jay Reilly, the former Peter Parker. During the three years that have passed Ben had managed to fully transition into a life of his own and never did he imagine that his life would be more than what it was prior to the events that left him a journeyman. All he had was a time for a shower, a shave, and a quick change of clothes. He was lucky that he had today off, but he knew that Jessica was going to kill him when he goes to work tomorrow. For right now he had to worry about finding Castle while Daredevil searched for the Ghost Rider and its host. If the Man Without Fear could find tall, dark, and spooky then could they could wrap this case up a lot quicker.
--
Lilith watched as the newest members of her brood started taking shape as they fed on the victims that Vida had collected prior to his searches for their hated nemesis. It wouldn't be much longer before Vida would have to find newer victims as their supply was running low. However, that was not the only thought on her mind. For Lilith's eyes narrowed as she thought of dear Lavic who was resting in the netherworld. It would take much to return him to mortal realm and right now she had not the power to do so. She would need to come up with a way to bring back all of her children who the Ghost Rider had killed once if not twice before.
--
Daredevil performed a triple spin as he let go of the cable wire that stretched between the two towering buildings on either side of his brownstone and dropped the last four feet to his roof. After making sure that no one was watching via his hyper senses he pressed the secret stud that opened his hidden entrance to his brownstone and once inside he took of his mask. The hours that he had spent searching for Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider had so far had proven fruitless so he had returned to shower and change before heading out again. As he discarded the top of his uniform he finally noticed the scent of his intruder.
"What are you doing here Castle?" asked Matt as he kept his back to the Punisher.
"I really don't want to be here, but obviously your people won't stop pestering me. You see I checked my itinerary tonight and to my surprise I found an entry from Doctor Strange which explained what would happen if I didn't help you two. It's the damnedest thing too since no one should be able to hack into my computer systems."
"Doctor Strange is obviously the exception," said Matt whose every instinct was primed for a fight.
"Look. After this you and that arachnid clad freak leave me alone. Or else."
"After this isn't negotiable Castle. You deserve to be locked up."
"We'll see Murdock. We'll see."
To Be Continued...