A/N: THE END IS NIGH! After three years of on and off again progress with this story, it is finally coming to a close. Only a few chapters left. In the words of Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson) from Jurassic Park..."Hold onto your butts." Enjoy!

20 minutes Earlier, Parker Residence, Forest Hills, Queens

"Do you know what you're doing over there?" Aunt Mae called into the kitchen. Mary Jane looked up from the chicken she was cleaning and turned her head towards the living room.

"Yes, ma'am. I've got it." Mary Jane said. The pretty red and black haired girl had been patiently waiting for Peter to come back home ever since he sent her to watch after his aunt. It was definitely nothing that Mary Jane minded doing. She loved Aunt Mae even more than she loved her blood aunt, Anna. She just missed seeing Peter. And she was afraid for him.

Ever since Peter's first fight with the Lizard that landed him in the hospital, Mary Jane had always feared for Peter's life whenever he would go out on patrol as Spider-Man. She couldn't remember if she had ever brought her fears to him. She was sure he would do what he normally did when she was concerned; try to fix it instead of simply listening to her. Mary Jane found that Peter suffered from the normal male issue of wanting to solve everything and combined with his uncontrollable hero syndrome, it made actually talking to Peter about her problems, simply for him to listen, hard. He'd do anything to appease her and make her happy. Maybe that's why she was so in love with that boy.

Maybe that's why she also had other fears regarding Peter...

"Aunt Mae?" Mary Jane called from the kitchen.

"Yes, dear?" Aunt Mae replied.

"I have a question." Mary Jane said. There was a pause and MJ heard Aunt Mae walk from the living room and into the kitchen, gazing over her shoulder.

"Mary, you're doing fine. Just don't forget to throw that skin you've washed off out." Aunt Mae said. Mary Jane laughed.

"No, it's not about the chicken. It's about Peter...or well, Parker men in general." Mary Jane said. Aunt Mae smiled and sat down at the kitchen table as MJ continued to wash the chicken and prepare it for seasoning.

"What is it that you want to know?" Aunt Mae asked. Mary Jane shrugged. She had so many questions, mostly related to Peter's Spider-Man activities. Peter hadn't told her if he'd told his aunt about it so she kept her tongue and attempted to rephrase her initial question by broadening its range.

"Are they always so...complicated? Or driven? Peter's stubborn. Once he's set his mind to do something, there's nothing that will stop him from getting it done. He goes above and beyond for you and for me just because he loves us." Mary Jane said. Aunt Mae nodded.

"Do you think that's a bad thing?" Aunt Mae asked. Mary Jane quickly shook her head and then moved her bright red bangs from in front of her face.

"No, ma'am. I really like it, actually. It's just..." Mary said. Aunt Mae nodded knowingly.

"You worry that perhaps one day, he'll go too far for you?" she said. Mary Jane shook her head in a agreement. Aunt Mae had practically drawn the words directly from Mary's mouth. Aunt Mae stood up from the table and came to Mary's side, observing her work. She then went to the cabinet to draw a few plastic canisters filled with different seasonings. She set them to the side and started to pour one individual seasoning into the bowl where the chicken was until all of it was seasoned. Then, she picked another seasoning and did the same.

"I sometimes worried about Ben. Believe it or not, that kind old man you knew had a real temper when we were your age. He always chose the aggressive response when it came time to deal with problems. God forbid I even imply that someone did something to me. He'd find them and threaten to beat them until they couldn't stand. Peter's father was the same way when he was young. The aggressive nature runs in the family." Aunt Mae said as she put a top on the bowl of chicken and handed it to Mary Jane.

MJ shook the bowl until she was positive that all the pieces inside were evenly covered. Aunt Mae smiled and nodded approvingly after she had opened the bowl and observed every piece.

"There's also something else that all Parker men possess that's been passed down through the generations. The motto 'With great power, comes great responsibility'. To them, it isn't some half-baked saying. It is a way of life. It reminds them that although they may have the power to do something, they are held responsible for their use of that power." Aunt Mae took Mary Jane's hand. "Honey, if you ever think that Peter is close to crossing the line, just know that you are the responsibility that'll bring him back."

Mary Jane smiled and blushed, turned her french vanilla cheeks red. She was Peter's responsibility...his guiding light. The one that reminded him of his morality. Mary Jane felt her worries slowly wash away. As long as she was there for him, Peter wouldn't stray from his heroic path. MJ breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Aunt Mae." she said. Aunt Mae hugged her and smiled.

"No problem. I'm just not used to seeing tough Brooklyn girls ready to break down in tears over a boy." Aunt Mae laughed.

Mary Jane blushed even more. She wanted to hide her face now. It was true. Peter brought out something different in her. Her parents were both strung out on crack cocaine and in rehab or locked up. Her own aunt barely cared for or about her. She had developed such a tough persona, drawing from her experiences in Brooklyn before she moved to Queens. She had even used her aggression to protect Peter when they had first met in 7th grade. Now, things had reversed. She felt so safe with Peter, regardless of him being Spider-Man or not. She loved him.

I love you, Peter Benjamin Parker. she thought.

There was a knock at the front door of the house and Aunt Mae walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. Mary Jane turned the water in the sink on to wash out the bowl after she transferred the seasoned chicken onto a tray. There was another knock and Aunt Mae sighed.

"Who is it?" she called to the other side. Apparently, there was no answer because Aunt Mae came walking back across the living room. Abruptly, the front door was banged open with three men armed with assault rifles rushed in. In the kitchen, two men rushed in through the back door and reached to grab Mary. Instinctively, MJ reached for the largest knife she could find and grabbed a plate. The first man that approached had his face smashed by a glass plate and shouted as he chased Mary Jane into the living room. The three men inside already had Aunt Mae down on the couch and she kicked violently trying to get them off.

Mary Jane blacked out. Adrenaline rushed through her as she did the only thing she could think to do with the knife in her hand. She jumped onto the back of one of the men and stabbed at the exposed skin on his arm, ripping through his flesh. The red-haired man yelled in pain and one of his partners ripped MJ from his back and through her into the television. The knife fell in front of her. MJ desperately tried to crawl for it, but one of the man grabbed her foot and pulled her back.

"Fucking little bitch!" he yelled as he kicked her in the ribs. The air leapt from her body and MJ felt tears run down her face. She saw the man above her begin to aim for another kick, his crazed green eyes causing her to stiffen her body fear, but one of the others pulled him back.

"Bag 'em up. Let's get this shit over with." he said. MJ's hands were tied to her back and she was lifted to her feet. The man that grabbed her went to her ear.

"If you scream or say anything, I'll shoot the old lady. Be fucking quiet." he said. Mary Jane glanced over at Aunt Mae and the two locked eyes. They had probably told Aunt Mae that they'd kill Mary if Mae spoke. The two of them were locked down. Mary Jane looked around the neighborhood and saw nothing. No one was outside. Everyone either saw them and were holed into their houses or the break-in was so quiet that nobody had heard anything. Even her aunt hadn't come to the door.

Figures. MJ thought bitterly.

Mary Jane was pushed to a black truck and a bag was thrown over her head and she was pushed into the seat. The door slammed next to her ear and MJ took in a deep breath as she prepared for the ride ahead of them.

Peter...please find us...she thought.

Manhattan, New York

"911. What's your emergency?"

"Yes, uh, I'd like to report a kidnapping." Peter said.

"Ok sir. Is this a missing child?"

"Uh...no, it's my aunt and my girlfriend. I know where they're being held. It's W 54th Street. The Tower." Peter said.

"Then it isn't a kidnapping."

"Yeah...well, ok. Uh, it's an abduction. Bottom line is, somebody took my family from my house and I need the police to come and help get them back." Peter replied frantically.

"Sir, the NYPD does respond to prank phone calls. You do realize that this could result in a misdemeanor or felony charge."

"You have got to be shitting me right now..." Peter groaned.

"Sir, I-" Peter hung his phone up and sighed angrily. No wonder crime ran so rampant in this damn city if the police response was like that. No, he couldn't blame the police. He could. But he wouldn't. He was absolutely panicked and frantic. His head was pounding against his skull, made no better by the sounds of angry drivers honking on the streets below.. His heart hadn't stopped trying to climb through his mouth since he read the letter on his kitchen table. Peter was panicked and afraid, but most of all he was angry. This wasn't petty hormone induced teenaged anger. This was legitimate rage he felt.

Someone had broken into his home and had snatched up his girlfriend and his aunt. Someone had violated his family's safety. Whoever they were, Peter was not inclined to go easy on them. His hands ached as he squeezed his fist tightly. He was only a block away from the Tower on 54th and he'd go in quickly and quietly. But he needed backup in case things got ugly. He couldn't count on the NYPD showing up and assisting him. He had only one other option. He'd have to call his godfather. After three attempts, Peter squeezed his phone until he cracked the screen. Even the Director of fucking S.H.I.E.L.D wouldn't answer his phone.

Peter was done. It was his family that was threatened and it was up to him to save them. Peter pulled down his mask and took in a deep exhale before leaping forward to the Tower.

-/-

Midtown North Precinct, Manhattan

Lieutenant George Stacy drank a small sip of coffee after he finished nodding off at his desk. Christmas Eve was one of the busiest times of the year for the NYPD. People were out getting presents for their family members and no one seemed to want to pay attention to their surroundings. Every year, people were robbed on the way from their holiday shopping sprees and then continuously called the police for assistance. Every year for the last fifteen, it had been the same. Well, except for now.

For the first time since she'd been born, George's baby girl, Gwen was out on her own on a Christmas Eve. It came with the territory. Gwen was a college freshman now and stayed on campus. She drove herself everywhere and anywhere she wanted, but never before she called her father and told him. Stacy hadn't even asked her to do it. Gwen did it of her own accord. The father-daughter relationship that the two of them had made them extremely close. It was just the two of them now.

Gwen's mother, Helen, had died a few years after she was born and ever since, George had been extremely protective of his daughter. In turn, Gwen had been equally protective of her father. George couldn't remember the last time he had seriously dated. No woman seemed to be able to develop a bond with his daughter and that ruined any chance for relationships to form between him and other women. In all honesty, he didn't mind it. His daughter was the most important thing to him.

Lieutenant Stacy's personal phone vibrated in his desk drawer and the grizzled officer yawned and pulled it out. A smile formed on his face when he saw it was Gwen. However, his happiness immediately shifted to worry when his fatherly instincts kicked in. He answered his phone and calmed himself.

"Hey, sweetheart. How are you?" Lieutenant Stacy asked.

"Hey, daddy. I'm fine. As a matter of fact, I'm a little ways down the street from your job, by the old Tower." Gwen said. Lieutenant Stacy breathed a sigh of relief. Gwen was basically within arm's reach.

"That's good. Are you coming here?" the man asked.

"Yes...but there's something you should know. I saw Spider-Man going into the Tower." Gwen said.

"Okay...are you worried about something?" the Lieutenant asked.

"Just a little...I don't know. I've just got a bad feeling. I don't know. I'm on my way to you...if I can get through this traffic. There's like a blockade or something." Gwen said. Lieutenant Stacy nodded. Who authorized a blockade on a busy street on Christmas Eve?

"Alright, sweetie. I'll look into it and I'll see you soon. I love you." he said.

"I love you too, daddy." Gwen said, hanging up. Lieutenant Stacy yawned and stood up as he felt his work mode activating. He entered the dispatcher office and tapped the shoulder of the woman working communications. She turned and dipped her head.

"Lieutenant." she said.

"Kessler. I was tipped off about a little situation on 54th Street with a blockade near the Tower. Were there any officers dispatched to that area?" Lieutenant Stacy asked. Jackie Kessler shook her head.

"No, sir. Not while I've been working the dispatch...although, I did receive a call about an abduction. Some kid saying his aunt and girlfriend had been kidnapped and were being held in the Tower on 54th. I thought it was a prank call, but..." she said. Lieutenant Stacy shook his head.

"It wasn't. Spider-Man was seen going into the Tower. I think it'd be safe to assume that whoever called you probably reached out to him." Lieutenant Stacy rested his hand on his chin and sighed. "I need to get any police officers available down there with me. I'm going to see about this street blockade and if need be, help Spider-Man." he said as he turned to walk away. Kessler gawked.

"Sir..." Lieutenant Stacy turned on her and scowled.

"My little girl is down there. You get any available officers down on 54th. Now."

The Tower, W 54th Street, Manhattan

Peter crept through the vents, watching his every move to make sure he was as silent as possible. It was eerily quiet inside this cramped space, aside from the sounds of his quieted but hastening breaths. Peter's stress and adrenaline levels were reaching an all-time high. He felt jittery and anxious. Even his skin felt like something was crawling on it. He shook his head. His fear for his family's safety was making him delusional.

He didn't know what he'd do if any harm had come to Aunt Mae. Uncle Ben had been taken from them both. They were all each other had. She was his only connection to who he truly was and the only mother he had ever known. He couldn't bear to lose her now or ever. And Mary Jane... Peter felt sick to his stomach with anxiety wondering what had happened while he was gone. Why there had been a bloody knife on the floor and why his home was trashed. How his family had been targeted and how his identity had been discovered. He desperately needed to answers. To do that, he needed to find this N.O.G.G. Whoever the hell Nogg was, Peter's body ached to fight him. To teach him to never touch his family ever again.

As Peter continued to traverse the vents, he heard chatter below him. He paused and listened, waiting to see if Nogg was down below him.

"What the hell are we waiting for?" one voice asked. "We should just kill them now and be done. Our message will be clear."

"No." another voice interjected. "Boss told us to do what this Nogg cat said and he wants them alive. Spider-Man's on his way."

"Really? And why the hell are waiting for him to show up?" the first voice asked.

"Orders." Peter heard spit hit the ground.

"Fuck the orders." he said. "This bitch stabbed me earlier. I'd be glad to put a bullet in her."

"Keep your shit together, Kasady. We wait for the bug." the first voice said, more sternly. The second voice, Kasady, mumbled softly to himself but was otherwise silent. Questions plagued his mind. Who was this other boss that the two men were talking about? Who had the pull to get grunts together for a kidnapping on Christmas Eve. It didn't take long for the two points to meet. It had to be Fisk. Had Fisk figured out his identity and then given it to Nogg?

Peter was seething. Every part of him was burning up. He couldn't wait any longer. He was going down.

Peter opened the vent as quietly and quickly as he could, shooting up a web line and lowering himself down to the ground. The room was filled with crates and boxes and what appeared to be old science equipment. The added some much needed cover for Peter. From the shadows, he counted the number of men inside the room. Despite hearing only two voices, there were seven men inside this large room. It looked like a very large office, similar to Richard Fisk's. It seemed like evil men loved giant glass windows in their private study areas.

Peter sifted through the shadows with a mixture of acrobatics and light footwork. He had virtually no experience being stealthy besides creeping into the house without waking his aunt and changing in and out of his costume. Only those times, he could be allowed a few errors. Now, the lives of his family rested in the balance. He could not screw up. He would not screw up.

Peter had crossed to the far side of the room where one stood, just on the edge of the shadows. No on was close enough to him to notice him missing, at least Peter hoped. Peter shot a thin web line that grab the armed man by the back of his head and snatched him back into the darkness. Peter clamped his hand over the man's mouth to keep him from alerting his companions and then swiftly punched him in the face and webbed him against the wall in a cocoon-like structure. Peter thought he had been stealthy enough but within moments, someone was calling out for the missing man.

"Hey, where'd Bench go?" one unfamiliar voice called. Peter heard the cocking and loading of weapons.

"He's here." another voice said. Peter leapt to the wall and crawled to the ceiling to get a better vantage point. The men seemed to be installing flashlights on their rifles and fanning out. Two men went to the left, another two to the right and two more stayed in the center. Peter could Aunt Mae and Mary Jane sitting on the ground near the window with their hands tied behind their back. Peter frowned under his mask. These weren't average thugs. They were prepared and not nearly absent-minded enough to get tricked by a teenaged hero only a couple of months into his career. But what they lacked was Peter's determination. No matter how prepared they were to fight in the darkness, they were not prepared to overpower him. If he couldn't stealthily save his family, he'd do it through brute force.

As the pair from the left came closer to him, Peter sprayed both of them with webs and yanked them up towards him. They kept their cool and pointed their flashlights into Peter's face. Peter's head began to vibrate violently and he knew immediately what was coming. Bullets ricocheted around the young hero and he dropped the two men pointing the lights to the ground. They landed with a thud and Peter followed straight after, punching them both with enough force to keep them down before his head buzzed again.

Peter weaved past the bullets and swung back up into the darkness, crawling quickly to avoid the searching flashlights of the pair of men tracking him. He crawled to one corner of the wall and dropped down softly to the floor. From this distance, he was sure he could web at least one of them up...

Peter felt an immense pain rip through his shoulder and he let out a cry of agony and he fell flat onto the ground. His Spider-Sense kicked in belatedly and Peter cursed as he writhed in pain. I've been shot! He screamed inside of his head. I've been shot! He heard a muffled shriek that sounded like Mary Jane and a loud gasp that sounded like it came from Aunt Mae. If he could hear them, he wasn't dead.

"I got him." one of the armed men said as he approached Peter's body. Underneath his mask, Peter realized that they couldn't tell if he was dead or alive. But they were smart. Whoever was coming now approached from behind Peter. He couldn't tell who or how many people were with him, but he'd definitely strike. "On my way to confirm." the same man said. Peter's fingers felt the tremors of the man approaching. It was an amazing experience. Like a spider, he could gauge how far away someone was simply by touching the ground and feeling for vibrations. Peter then realized, he didn't even have to do that. If he focused enough, he could the changes in the airflow of the room as the man approached. No wonder swinging around and through skyscrapers was so easy...

Peter didn't have time to revel in his revelation. The man was mere inches away before his Spider-Sense caused his head to vibrate. Peter then sprung into action, leaping into the air and webbing the man in the face with his good arm and then picking him up and slamming against the wall so hard that it cracked. The other two from the original search party turned the corner and shined their lights on Peter.

"Kasady, he cannot take those hostages. You make sure of that." one voice yelled. The red-haired man known as Kasady smiled, one so evil it gave Peter chills.

"Don't worry, I will." he said as he grabbed Mary Jane and put a long knife to her throat. Peter wanted to leap immediately to her aid, but the gunfire prevented him from doing anything. Bullets flew in Peter's direction and he shot a web line up, abandoning it as soon as the flashlights shined on him again. He dropped down behind several crates and waited. There was no doubt on his mind that the men knew where he was. In fact, he was counting on. Whatever was in the crates was heavy, heavy enough to push on the two assholes and get to his family. He just needed to wait until they were close enough for it to work.

The two armed men worked their way around either sides of the crates, attempting to flank Peter. All they did was put themselves directly below two towers of crates and boxes. Peter worked quickly and shot to web lines to his side, grabbing the crate in the middle of the individual columns. As the men moved into position, Peter pulled, gritting his teeth at the pain in his right shoulder. The rest was easy. Peter jumped into the air and over the falling boxes. The two men yelled as the crates crashed on top of them. Peter flipped and landed amongst the rubble and turned towards Kasady.

The ginger man grinned widely and held pushed the knife further under MJ's chin. "Come on, Spidey-Boy...make a move." he said, grinning. Peter slowly walked forward, analyzing and looking at everything in front of him. There had to be a way to get close to Kasady...or to bring Kasady closer to him. Peter watched Kasady's knife hand. He had an idea, but if it didn't work...he just prayed to God that it did.

"I'll give you one chance, psycho. Let. Her. Go." Peter said. He watched Kasady's hand. It stiffened and then loosened and lowered. He waited for the pattern to repeat once more.

"Oh, I'll let her go!" Kasady said. "Right to an early grave!" Kasady's hand lowered and Peter seized his chance. His web hit Kasady's hand, pulling the knife away from MJ's neck and it flying across the room. Peter's next web line grabbed Kasady by the face and ripped him towards the angry young boy. When Kasady closed in, Peter punched him. Then he threw him to the ground by his leg and punched him once more.

"Where's Nogg!?" Peter shouted as he picked Kasady off the ground. The man's entire body was limp and for a second, Peter froze. Had he killed him? No...no, he was still breathing. Peter sighed and dropped the ginger man to the ground and webbed his hands and feet down with as thick a coating of webbing as he could muster.

Then he ran to his family and dropped to his knees in front of them. He had almost forgotten that his aunt had no idea who he was, but he didn't care. He squeezed both Mary Jane and Aunt Mae in his arms as he cried. To her credit, Aunt Mae didn't seemed phased. Peter took the duct tape from both of their mouths and looked them over. Mary Jane had a cut over her right eye that was bleeding and dried blood around her mouth. Aunt Mae had a few bruises on her face. Peter glowered and shook his head, calming himself down.

"Are you two ok?" Peter asked, adopting his deeper Spider-Man voice.

"Yeah." Mary Jane said. Aunt Mae looked at his mask and for a moment, Peter could see the concern of a mother on her face. He saw her hand go up and he thought she was going to touch his cheek. Instead, she pointed at his shoulder.

"We'll be alright. But you've been shot. You need to get that checked out, quickly." she said. Peter smiled solemnly under his mask.

"I will, but first, I'm getting you out of here." Peter said. Mary Jane and Aunt Mae smiled, but they shifted to frightened expressions as Peter's head started to buzz.

"No, you're not." a voice said. Peter turned and giant, clawed hand grabbed him by his face and threw him. Peter crashed through what felt like a few crates and then a wall before he rolled and skidded to a halt in another room. He grabbed his right shoulder and bit his lip to endure the pain. He didn't have time to worry about it. Whatever grabbed him was coming.

The giant figure burst through the hole Peter had created as he flew through the rooms and stood tall, scowling down at Peter. He was cloaked in dark purple and under that hood, Peter saw the glowing golden eyes that Lily had told him about in the hospital. It was him. It was Nogg. The giant man hulked over Peter by almost a foot. He was nearly seven feet tall and a mass of muscle. But something about him seemed familiar. Behind his crazed and slightly deformed face, his somewhat pointed ears and golden eyes, Peter saw someone that he knew. He just couldn't place it. The man looked too messed up.

Nogg grinned. "Finally. After sixteen fucking years, I have you...in front of me, Parker." Nogg said. He walked towards Peter and the young boy backed away.

"Sixteen years? Who in the hell are you? How do you know who I am?" Peter demanded. Nogg cackled and continued to walk towards him. Peter began to circle the room, sizing his opponent up. Nogg followed suit and circled him as well.

"Who am I? I created you. What you are is because of me. A freak accident. A failed attempt at murder and some meddling by your father gave birth to you, my greatest creation. I engineered the spider that bit your mother. I made you what you are, Peter Parker. The first super soldier in decades. An unprecedented secret, one which you gave back to me. Through your blood, I am that I am." Nogg said. Peter balled up his fist. He was both disgusted and angered. He wanted this creep to stop talking but he had so many questions...

"My blood...but how did you...?" Peter said, continuing to circle the towering monster. Nogg's face twisted further with his grin.

"Do you remember September 26th, three months ago? The day your poor, sorry Uncle Ben died?" Peter's eyes widened under his mask and his mouth dropped.

"You..."

"Yes. I meant to kill you and scrap up whatever was left after the accident. I severely underestimated the power of the serum running through your veins and the additional power the spider venom gave you. Thus, you walked away from it. However, my agent Connors got me exactly what I needed." Nogg said. Peter frowned. He knew it. Connors...

"So you made him what he was. That Lizard creature was your doing." Peter spat. Nogg cackled again.

"And more...poor Harry had to be hurt to put you on notice. To get you out there searching for some mystery monster while I had men swoop in and take care of your family. Sacrificing my son to get to you." Nogg growled before narrowing his eyes. Peter stared in shock. Everything was clear now. He knew exactly who this was.

"You're Norman Osborn..." Peter whispered and lowered his head. He couldn't believe what he had just monster. This crazed psychopath... Peter's head slowly rose as the hate-filled words started to pour from his mouth. "You mutated Connors into a monster. You hospitalized your own son. You broke into my home to kidnap my girlfriend and aunt." Peter locked eyes with Osborn. "And you killed my parents and my uncle..." Peter felt something click and snap in his head.

Before he knew it, he flung himself on top of Osborn and threw punches. Osborn cackled as the two of them crashed through the room and threw his own strikes. When they hit Peter, he felt them. They didn't hurt but he felt them. Osborn was weaker than he was. Whatever bits of the super soldier serum he had extracted from Peter's body hadn't equated to the added strength the spider venom gave. Peter's rage was slowly replaced confidence. He could win.

Peter fell on top of Osborn and grabbed the big man by his head, smashing it against the wall and then punching him. Osborn spat out blood but continued to cackle. He was truly insane. The pain only seemed to give him pleasure. Peter didn't care. Osborn's suffering was enough for him. He'd beat this monster until he couldn't move and then he'd take his family back home. He was sure of it. Osborn rushed toward Peter, but the boy flipped over his head and yanked him back over with a web. Osborn received a kick as he got closer and was sent barreling through the wall. Peter cracked his knuckles and followed him.

Underneath the rubble, Osborn was still cackling and he reared his head up to stare at Peter. Peter twisted his face in disgust.

"Can't you see? Your serum didn't work. You can't win. I'm stronger than you. Give yourself up." Peter said. He felt like he was fishing for heroic things to say now. Norman cackled once again and rose to his feet.

"Of course you are. The prototype serum barely gave me half of your overall physical abilities. But this..." Osborn said, pulling something from his back. Peter saw that it was a syringe and bad thoughts automatically filled his head. He jumped forward in an attempt to take it, but Osborn rolled to the side and dodged. Before Peter could react again, the needle was plunged into Osborn's veins.

Peter stood back and watched in horror as Osborn grew larger, his muscles pulsating and then bulging underneath his skin. His ears grew pointier and his canine teeth sharpened as he grit them. The elongated nails on his hands turned into sharp, black claws. Finally, small horns sprouted on the top of his head and his skin turned a deep green. Peter looked up as Norman stood his full height of nine feet, his purple cloak falling to his side. What stood before Peter wasn't human. It was definitely a monster, one hellbent on destroying Peter's life and his world.

A green goblin.

Next, He Who Fights Monsters: Beyond Evil