SPIDER-MAN: DARK WOUNDS

IN COLD BLOOD:

Police cars were always a sign or fear, corruption, and death as a kid. I never knew how to react when I saw them. Should I be scared that something bad happened, or happy that the police showed up to stop it. Now, police cars are a sign of memories best left alone.

xXx

I walked home feeling played. I did what was asked and yet I got half the money. Half! I knew showbiz was bullshit, but I fell for it anyway. I was asked to do 5 shows, and in return: 10 thousand dollars. Apparently, the producer of the program wasn't impressed and I was left with 5 thousand. Cheap bastard got what he deserved when I let a man holding a bag of money escape, a bag of the producer's money. Karma's a bitch. My worries were heightened as I reached the house.

"Police cars?" I stammered under my breath as I quickened my pace towards the house.

The officers were chatting; some taking notes, others questioning neighbors. One officer saw me and caught the attention of another who started a chain reaction. Soon, none of the officers wanted to talk anymore. They all just stared. I knew something was wrong, something horrible had happened, I just didn't know what. Before I could open my mouth, an officer with combed brown hair and a tan trench coat walked over and placed his hand on my shoulder. It was Captain Stacy. His daughter, Gwen and I are good friends in school. I recognized him instantly.

"Can we talk?" he asked almost unsure of himself.

"Yea-yeah, I guess." I spit out, scared.

We walked around the corner of the house, away from the commotion. I knew what he was going to say, I just needed him to confirm it.

"There…there was a burglary. A man, walked into your house, asking your uncle for money. He must have said…something and…well, he didn't like it…" He stated, regret in his eyes. "He shot your aunt and uncle instantly and ran. I'm-I'm sorry, son…they didn't make it." He said, head titled towards the ground.

The words hit me like a wall. My head was spinning and my brain tensed up. I felt like I was about to fall over in my own self-pity.

"Peter…" He started before I booked it.

I took off down the street and made a left. Knowing he would follow me, I climbed up the building and onto the roof. I stood there letting it all sink in and without warning, fell against the wall and cried. The tears flowed down my cheeks and onto the roof. My life was already crappy enough without being an orphan.

Suddenly, I heard sirens. At first, I thought they were more cops coming to my house, but then I realized that they were speeding away from the house. I knew what was going on. They found the bastard who killed my aunt and uncle. They found "him." I ripped open my backpack and threw my hand in. There was no time to change into my whole outfit. I strapped on my web-shooters and concealed my face in my shadowy mask.

xXx

The cars stopped at an abandoned toy factory in the West Side. My arms were killing me from the long swing over, but my hate pushed me forward. I landed on the adjacent building and scouted out the area. The cops unloaded from the cars and were headed into the factory when a gunshot rang out and hit one of the cop cars, shattering the windshield. The police took cover and drew out their pistols.

The guy had proven he was dangerous and was making a point of it. I needed to sneak up on him if I was to take him out and make him pay. I made my way to the back of the warehouse using the other buildings. I swung my way to the building and quietly opened a window. My anger was building up as I realized how close I was to getting this guy, the guy who ruined my life.

My spider-sense kicked in immediately, allowing me to see in the dark. That was a feature that had scared me shitless the first time I turned off the lights one night. That's when I saw him. A direct approach would do it, but I wanted him to suffer, feel the pain I'm feeling. I picked up a piece of wood and chucked it across the room. It landed with a loud "Wack!" and knocked over a group of bottles, each one clanging and rolling along the floor.

"Shit! What was…shit. Oh my god! Gotta get outta here…" he sputtered, spinning in a circle.

I was already on the ceiling by the time he had caught his breath. I yanked out a ceiling tile and threw it at the window behind him. It hit the window with full-force and shattered it. Pieces of glass flew everywhere.

"Shit, man. This place is freakin' haunted." He said turning around instantly and running towards the door.

I webbed up the door quickly and crawled along the ceiling, making my way towards him. My anger was growing, and I could feel my teeth bearing. He wasn't getting away.

"What the hell? My God…"

"He isn't gonna save you now!" I yelled, jumping at him full force.

My hands grasped onto his shirt and plowed him into the floor with all my weight, his gun slid along the floor. I let loose, crushing his face with all my might, blow after blow.

Whap!

Aunt May!

Crack!

Uncle Ben!

Snap!

Murder!

I ripped off my mask.

"Do you have any idea what you did to me, you son of a bitch!" I screamed, picking his bloody face off the floor.

"Wha-no, no, no. Not you! I didn't know-I mean, I wouldn't have-Ohmygod!" He stammered quickly, eyes widening.

How did he know who I was? I took off his mask, my eyes widening and my heart stopping. It was the burglar, the same burglar who I let go at the TV studio. I let him go, and he killed Aunt May and Uncle Ben. No…I killed Aunt May and Uncle Ben. I was selfish, and I killed them.

I backed off, realizing there was no need to continue. He also got up, scrambling over to the pistol. I welcomed death, and closed my eyes.

BAM!

I opened my eyes. I wasn't dead, but I couldn't say the same about him. The police obviously heard the commotion and were there seconds after the gunshot.

"Freeze!" one of them yelled as they barraged through the door, pointing their guns ahead.

I was long gone by then. Sitting on top of the adjacent building, I wept, realizing I messed up my life. If I had stopped him earlier, none of this would have happened. I stood up and looked over the edge of the building. It was a long drop, enough to kill anyone…including Spider-man. I took one step…and fell. The drop seemed like forever, memories racing by. The ground was nearing, as was my end.

Crack!

I awoke in a cold sweat, screaming. I cradled myself in my arms for what seemed like an eternity, my inner demons were still there every night. The dream never got any easier…