Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Spider-Man. I'm running out of sarcastic quips and clever one liners.
Chapter II
Living Shadows
Peter Parker had to hand it to himself. Of all the spots he could choose to spend his first honeymoon with Mary Jane, Peter picked a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty. A reasonably interesting choice, except for the fact that it was the just the start of winter and the middle of December. Mary Jane did voice her opinion, reasoning that a slightly, warmer place would be better. If Peter had the cash, he'd take his new wife down to Florida. Speaking of Mary Jane, she was sound asleep in the passenger side seat in of all things, a run down beater of a news van. Old flattop, AKA, j. Jonah Jameson, stuck it to Peter that time. At least Peter didn't have to use that slightly older scooter anymore. Mary Jane was heard muttering something in her slumber, too low for Peter to actually make it out. Peter thought it was kind of cute and then Mary Jane stirred herself awake.
"Hey," Peter greeted MJ. "Welcome back to real world."
Mary Jane rubbed the back of her head and stretched her arms. "How long was I asleep?"
"About 5 or 6 hours." Peter answered.
"I had this weird dream," MJ said. "I think I was a werewolf-like creature with red fur all over."
"Wow," Peter laughed. "That sounds… interesting."
"You don't believe me?" MJ suspected.
"I didn't say that."
"You dress up in red and blue tights and swing from webs," Mary Jane added. "Don't tell me you don't believe me about a simple dream."
"No listen," Peter laughed while trying to defend himself. "No, I do believe you, MJ. After everything we've gone through, I'll believe anything."
"I'm sure you will," MJ said, and then she pointed straight out the windshield. "Look, there's the ferry to Liberty Island.
The van slowed to stop and Peter said in triumph. "You see? I told you Old Ben would get us here in time."
MP stared at Peter like he'd grown an extra head. "You named this beater "Old Ben?"
"Hey, I had to come up with something." Peter said in defense.
"I'm just saying, I would've given this thing a better name," MJ said. "Like maybe… CRAP!"
Peter stared at MJ in confusion. "Say what?"
"The ferry's pulling out." MJ shouted.
Peter looked out the windshield and saw the ferry slowly departing from the dock. "Not without us, it isn't."
Peter and MJ quickly exited the van, grabbed their belongings and both made a beeline for the ferry. This wasn't exactly what either of them planned, to get to the dock and just miss the ferry. Peter picked up the pace with Mary Jane holding his hand with for dear life until they reached the very end of the dock. The ferry was already halfway from the dock.
"No," MJ said, distressed. "So much for this gig."
Peter shook his head and defiantly declared, "We aren't beaten yet."
MJ looked at Peter and her green eyes widened. "No! You wouldn't! There's no way we can make that."
"We've got to at least try, Mary Jane." Peter said.
"Peter!!!"
Mary Jane's pleas fell on deaf ears by that point. Peter hoisted his wife up in his arms and took a mighty leap into the air. The air is question happened to be very cold. But that was far cry compared to how cold the water would be if the couple failed to reach the boat. Thankfully, they couple made the jump and landed on the deck of the boat. Unfortunately, they landed in front of the other passengers that had already boarded. For a moment, Peter thought his civilian cover was blown, but then the passenger began applauding. One passenger, a young girl of about 10 years, approached the Peter and Mary Jane, her jaw agape.
"That was cool," she said. "How did you do that?"
Peter stammered on finding a good excuse until Mary Jane said, "We were All-American in the long jump."
Peter again looked at MJ with the same confused look and decided to run with that little fib. "If you want to jump like that, you should eat your vitamins and say your prayers."
Peter and Mary Jane left, and the young girl simply whispered, "Cool!"
"Eat your vitamins and say your prayers?" Mary Jane wondered aloud.
Peter just shrugged and put his arm around Mary Jane. It would be a while before they reach Liberty Island. It'd be the most appropriate duration for some alone time. That was time Peter had wanted for so long. No crime fighting. No super villains. Just Peter and Mary Jane alone. Nothing would ever, ever get in the way of this moment. As Peter held Mary Jane close, as they smiled, Peter suddenly noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Something, make that someone had just barely caught Peter's attention. Just as quickly as this figure appeared, he disappeared from view. Peter couldn't get a good enough look at the figure, but something in the very pit of his stomach told him that something was very… familiar. Ultimately, Peter wrote it off as slight paranoia and decided to continue on with Mary Jane. Nothing could dare ruin this day.
-----------------------------------------------
Even since she was a little girl, Ashley Kafka had dreamed of being a doctor. Well, not so much a doctor, but rather a psychiatrist. So in a way, she was living her dream as renowned psychiatrist at the Ravencroft Rehabilitation Center. There were a lot of, let's call them head cases placed in the care of Dr. Kafka. Many of them were released back into society with a clean bill of health. Others on the other hand were far more than a handful for the young doctor. Some even developed an unhealthy fixation on Dr. Kafka. She was beautiful, no doubt, and very patient with the loons that came and went from time to time.
Dr. Kafka stopped in front of a closed door, one of many in a long hallway. "Sandra? Sandra, it's Dr. Kafka, Ashley? You remember me, right?
There wasn't any sort of communication from inside the padded room. Then a seemingly disturbed female voice said, "I… I remember… Doctor Ashley."
"How are you doing today, Sandra," Ashley asked. "Are you being a good girl?"
"No… Sandra here," said the woman known as Sandra. "I don't… know this Sandra."
"But that is your real name, right? Sandra Deel?" Ashley wondered.
Again there was no answer from the padded room, and Ashley leaned in just a little bit closer. By that point, Ashley had her forehead pressed against the only window peering into the room. Without warning, the woman called Sandra Deel appeared in the window directly opposite from Ashley, startling the more restrained woman. That was actually about the 8th time Sandra had scared Ashley like she did. It never got any easier from there. Physically, the two women couldn't have appeared more opposite. Ashley had a slightly darkened skin complexion, shoulder length brunette hair and she wore a doctor's jacket. Sandra on the other hand was another story. Her skin was pale except for a tattoo over her left eye that resembled a lightning bolt. He long jet black hair ran passed her shoulders and she was wearing a strait jacket. On top of that, Sandra was literally screaming, shrieking at the top of her lungs. Hence the name the other inmates gave to her: Shriek. It most certainly fit.
"NOT SANDRA! JUST SHRIEK! MOMMY HATES SHRIEK! SHRIEK HATES MOMMY." Sandra, or rather Shriek went back to the screaming that earned her that nickname.
Ashley sighed at this latest failed attempted to get through to Shriek. "Well, that could've gone a bit better."
"Sounds like you're aren't making much progress," came the familiar voice of Jean DeWolff. "But what can be done with a girl with mommy issues?"
"Nice to see you too, captain," Ashley said in a slightly sarcastic tone. Ashley looked passed Jean and noticed an upright gurney with a single figure wrapped up. "I'm guessing that's a new arrival, correct?"
"Yep," Jean said. "Be careful with this one. He's a few ornaments short of a whole Christmas tree."
The new arrival was none other than Cletus Kasady, all wrapped in a strait jacket and a muzzle over his mouth. His crazed eyes were locked directly on Ashley, who felt a shiver run down her spine. This guy made Hannibal Lecter look docile. Most insane people in Kasady's position would probably attempt to break their bonds and try to escape. Or kill someone! Or both! Kasady remained eerily calm and cool, but his gaze seemed to pierce right through Ashley. Then, Kasady broke into a sick cackling.
"What the hell is this dump? It's nowhere near first class," Kasady cackled. "There ain't any swimming pools or stereos. Just weirdoes every which way you look."
"You do know who this guy is, don't you?" Jean asked. She knew Ashley knew, yet she asked anyway.
"Cletus Kasady, a former inmate at Riker's serving 11 consecutive life sentences," Ashley said, "He was originally slated to transferred to Ravencroft for psychiatric rehabilitation when he broke out of prison."
"Did I mention that he killed seven security guards during his escape, beating one of them with his own baton?" Jean asked.
"No," Ashley said with added sarcasm. "You kind of failed to mention that."
"Hey, pretty lady," Kasady mockingly said to Ashley. "You wanna feel good tonight? Or would you rather I just gut you right here? Show you what your insides look like?"
Jean and Ashley, to their credit, ignored Kasady as he was rolled into a padded room. "Good luck with this guy, doctor."
"Gee, thanks captain!" Ashley said with even more sarcasm.
Jean and Ashley started walking on of the hallway, and Kasady could be heard shouting, "Aw, where're you going, ladies? Don't I get a little goodbye kiss, or are you scared that I'm gonna bite?"
The ladies just kept going. Ashley in particular was slightly unnerved by Kasady's seemingly maniacal verbal gestures. She didn't dare show it since she reasoned it was exactly what Kasady wanted. There was yet another woman that was giving Cletus Kasady her undivided attention. Shriek was watching the new arrival and she liked what she saw in him. She really, really liked it. Kasady looked out through the window of his room and saw Shriek staring right at him. Shriek cocked her head to one side, and Kasady seemed to mimic her movement. It was seemingly love at first sight; twisted, disturbed and thoroughly psychopathic sight.
---------------------------------------------------
Peter remembered once upon a time touring Liberty Island with Uncle Ben and Aunt May when he was young. He also remembered, much to his chagrin, getting seasick on the ferry trip to and from the island. Oh, how times have changed. Now, Peter was touring Liberty Island hand in hand with Mary Jane and, now being officially husband and wife, neither could be any happier. So why was Peter so quiet? This was the million dollar question that rented some space in Mary Jane's mind. Okay, granted, Peter's been quiet from time to time and it usually meant that something big had happened or was going to happen.
"You're unusually quiet today."
"Huh," Peter must've been daydreaming a little bit when MJ spoke. "Oh, sorry. I guess I was spacing out a bit."
"This coming from Spider-Man," MJ wondered. "I kind of doubt that. Now, you said you something important to tell me back on the ferry."
"I did, didn't I?" Peter wondered. There was something he wanted to tell Mary Jane. As if proposing to her wasn't enough.
"Well, we're alone at the moment," Mary Jane assured. "So, what did you want to tell me?"
"This," Peter let go of Mary Jane's hand and approach the guardrail, leaning on it. "Ever since we got married, the passed few weeks have been the happiest of my life. I mean, the city is safe, and not a single super villain has ever shown up. I know it's been discussed before, but maybe this time, finally, I can stop being Spider-Man. I can finally lead a normal life, you know. Maybe even raise a family."
Mary Jane shook her head at the notion of Peter finally hanging up the costume for good. She would've been all for it in the past, but it was easier said than done. There were plenty of times. Peter even lost his powers for a time, before he leaped back into action when MJ was kidnapped by Dr. Octopus. Peter contemplated quitting when he felt he'd be unable to cure Dr. Connors of his Lizard problem. He even considered revealing his identity when New York was gravely threatened by the Hobgoblin. Just when Peter thought he was out, something somewhere would always pull him back in. Mary Jane knew exactly what had to be said here and now.
"No way, tiger! After all we've been through I doubt you'll ever stop being a hero."
"MJ, c'mon," Peter protested. "You know I can't keep doing this forever."
"Maybe one day, we can leave it all behind. Until then, I'm okay with sharing Spider-Man with the world," Mary Jane wrapped her arms around Peter's neck and gave him light kiss. "But for right now, I want Peter Parker all to myself."
Peter finally produced a smile. "I couldn't ask for anything more, Mrs. Parker."
Peter drew Mary Jane in close and they shared a deep kiss. Interestingly enough, Mary Jane wished that Peter was kissing the same way he had that night in the alley, in the pouring rain. But this would do nicely. Peter was so inwardly grateful that Mary Jane would stay with him through thick and thin. Maybe someday, when the city no longer needed Spider-Man, then Peter and MJ could finally settle down and start their own family. Peter opened one eye for a brief second and the blood seemed to drain from his face. The shadowy figure that first appeared on the ferry had reappeared and Peter managed to get a slightly better glimpse. This figure appeared to be wearing a black hooded sweater and jeans. The face was obscured from view because of the hood. Most other couples would think it was just some strapped for cash mugger. Peter thought otherwise. He was getting a very disturbing vibe from this guy, and yet also a vibe that was disturbingly familiar.
No! Please don't let that be who I think it is…
Peter broke off the kiss with a stunned Mary Jane and gave chase after the shadow stalker. Confused, Mary Jane chased after Peter, who was sprinting at near breakneck speed. As Peter reached the area where the stalker was standing and rounded the corner. The stalker was gone as quickly as he appeared. But who the hell was he? Was he even real to begin with? Mary Jane finally caught to Peter and saw the confusion in his face.
"Peter, are you okay," she asked. Peter didn't answer right away. He was still looking in about every direction available. "Peter?"
Peter was finally brought out of his trance. "Huh? Sorry, MJ. I could've sworn I just saw…"
"Saw what," Mary Jane demanded. When Peter again failed to answer, MJ said, "Please tell me, Peter. You're scaring me."
"I don't you," Peter finally said, shaking his head. "I guess I'm getting a little paranoid."
Mary Jane was defeated by that point. "So much for our first honeymoon, huh?"
"No," Peter announced, feeling a little more determined. "It's probably all in my head. C'mon, let's go. We've got the whole day ahead of us."
Peter threw his arm over MJ and the couple just kept walking. Maybe Peter was being simply being paranoid. Then again, maybe he and Mary Jane were being followed. The latter notion was the truer one, for the mysterious stalker was watching them. He was watching intently with envious eyes. He could've made a move at took out the couple right then and there but instead bided his time. He would get to Peter. He would get to Spider-Man. He would take his time in making him suffer. Nothing would dare stand in his way.
Author's note: I have no idea what compelled me to introduce Shriek in a cameo appearance, outside of the fact that she's been rarely seen in any media of any kind. Can you guess the identity of our mysterious stalker?