FAITH IN HUMANITY
THE BATTLE ROYALE

June 19th, 2004:

Before racing home after seeing what and who was on the television screens, Peter made one more stop. His aunt's apartment. Just to check. A feeling of horrible dread came to him as he raced up the stairs and banged on the door, but his aunt opened it, and ushered him in.

"It's MJ," she said with a sigh. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah," Peter said wretchedly. "She's in trouble, Aunt May."

The television was on in a corner of the room. Both of them turned their eyes to that direction.

"I'm scared," Peter said, but so quietly that May didn't hear him. Or possibly she did, but she didn't show it. She walked towards the television and turned the volume down. "You know," she said. "MJ will be doing okay up there at the moment. I'm not saying she'll be unafraid, of course not, but she's strong. Even if she doesn't know it."

Peter nodded. Anxiety was pulsing through him.

"And Spider-Man will save her," May said. "Don't you think so?" she added in a rather pointed tone, when Peter said nothing in reply.

"Yeah," Peter said. "Yeah." He glanced at the television, and MJ's frightened face looked back at him. He couldn't take it anymore. "I'd...I'd better go. Sorry, Aunt May."

"You sounded a bit doubtful," May said, sounding slightly anxious herself, as Peter headed for the door. "He will save her, Peter. I know it. Even if he's been going through a bad patch recently."

Peter stopped and looked back at her, and nodded. "Uh-huh." he said. He couldn't think of anything better. "He will."

"I have faith in him. Don't you?" she asked, and gave him a look he couldn't read. Silence hung in the air for a couple of seconds. "Now run along, Peter. Do what you can." She opened the front door, and Peter stared out into the dark lobby. He blinked, took a deep breath, and tried to force away the fear he felt.

"Yeah," he said, not knowing what else to say, and looking for something in the madness to hold onto, "I do have faith in him."

"Good," May said. "Now go and save her."

She closed the door.

Peter ran.

Nothing could save you like a loved one's faith-