A/N: I forgot to address this a few chapters ago. The reason why Ronnie Anne will be shooting organic webs from her wrists is because... Well, she's no Peter Parker. She's not that smart and won't be able to make the gadgets from the PS4 Spider-Man game.

The school bell had hit the mark at 3 pm, and everyone was stepping out of Great Lake City Elementary. Even Ronnie Anne was walking down the steps.

"Okay," she affirmed, giving the readers with a nod, "I've got plenty of time to practice until Lincoln shows up. So maybe I can work on my swing. Better make sure I don't run into Pam Myers..."

"Hey, Ronnie Anne."

Ronnie Anne jolted in fear, screaming like the dickens. She looked behind her to see a familiar boy on the right side of the stairway. But he looked different. He was wearing a black T-shirt, gray pants, black-and-white platform boots and long striped fingerless gloves. His hair was died all black and black eye shadow served to make him look.

"Lincoln?" Ronnie Anne questioned. "Since when did you became goth?"

"Just something I wanted to prank you with," said Lincoln in an emotionless tone. "And you're probably wondering why I'm so early."

"Yeah...?"

"Teacher's conference in Royal Woods. Every school's got them today, so Lori and I took this opportunity to surprise you and Bobby. Neat, huh?"

"I guess, but..." Ronnie Anne scrutinized Lincoln's new outfit from top to bottom. "Why are you dressed up like a guy version of Lucy? Halloween's not until two weeks."

"I figured I'd surprise you, give you a good scare."

And you sure gave me that, thought Ronnie Anne bitterly. Don't tell me my new sixth sense just went phut on me.

"One time," continued Lincoln, "I had this costume just so I could get Lynn out of my room. It's a long story."

"I can imagine."

"And it is." Lincoln kept up this gloomy face for one or two seconds before he fell on his back, laughing. "But these memories help give you ideas! Just like this one! Oh, the look on your face!"

At this point, Ronnie Anne could feel her cheeks burning up. "Well, knock it off! I thought you were Pam Myers!"

Lincoln regained control of himself almost immediately. "Who's Pam Myers?"

"She's related to Big Foot and a yeti, with a bit of troll mixed in." Now it was Ronnie Anne's turn to chuckle. "She's sure got the strength of one, and a brain to match..."

Lincoln brought up a nervous index finger. "Um, Ronnie Anne..."

"Not now, Lincoln!" interrupted Ronnie Anne. "I think you'll agree that she's got ogre's breath, once you've spent much time at this school as I have..."

"Aw, surely my breath's not all that bad."

Ronnie Anne's eyes widened. Slowly, she turned about face. There, standing in front of her, stood a leering Pam Myers.

Come on, Spider-Sense. Not to cut your vacation short, but I'm still in 5th grade here. And I've still got this meathead problem to deal with.

"Oh! Uh... Hey, Pam," greeted Ronnie Anne, chuckling nervously.

"Talking behind my back, eh Santiago? I bet you must think that you're all brave."

Normally, Ronnie Anne wasn't one to beg or run away. Especially not with Lincoln around. And especially when she had these new powers now.

But one must maintain cover and protect those they care about from being collateral damage.

"Look, Pam," reasoned Ronnie Anne, retreating at a measured pace behind Lincoln, "if you're gonna pound me, can it be another day? I have a friend visiting me."

Pam smirked. "No worries, Santiago. I've got no interest in teachin' you or your boyfriend a lesson."

"He's/She's not my boyfriend/girlfriend!" Lincoln and Ronnie Anne shouted simultaneously.

"Whatever," said Pam, rolling her eyes. "You're lucky I'm in a really good mood today. There's this huge bash I gotta prepare for tonight, and everyone's invited except you and the Trio of Losers."

And with that, she strutted away.

Good mood? thought Ronnie Anne. That must be why the sense hadn't gone off.

"Phew," sighed Lincoln. "She kinda reminds me of Hank and Hawk, only smarter."

Ronnie Anne groaned, remembering. "I hate those guys. Well, come on. Much as I wanna head back home right away, we know Bobby and Lori are giving each other nicknames by now. Any ideas?"

"You're in luck," answered Lincoln with a smug grin. "Luna told me about this show called The Demonic Barber that's playing in theaters here. Starts at 3:50."

"That sounds cool. Let's check it out." Ronnie Anne paused, giving another at Lincoln's present outfit. "But first, you may wanna change."

Almost instantly, Lincoln went to a bush adjacent to the school and brought his usual red backpack. "Way ahead of you. Got my regular clothes and the tickets right here. Better wait till we're at the theater, though."

Even as she rolled her eyes, Ronnie Anne couldn't hide a smile. "They don't call you the Man with a Plan for nothing..."

Meanwhile, at the Bodega, Lori and Bobby had just finished all the hugging and kissing before the latter resumed work. Now it was just a regular chat among each other.

"So where's Lincoln?" asked Bobby. "I thought he was gonna be here."

"I dropped him off at Ronnie Anne's school on the way here. He told me they were going to see a show, maybe play a bit at the arcade after that." Lori took a deep and affectionate breath, hands clasped against her chest. "Isn't that romantic?"

"Yeah, my little sister hanging with her best bud could be what the doctor ordered." Bobby's manner grew more pensive. "Speaking of which, she's been acting a bit weird these last two days. I tried asking her what was up, and I can't remember what she said, but it was something along the lines of 'none of your beeswax' or 'chill out.'"

A playful, careless snort escaped Lori's nostrils. "Probably just puberty. I think your mom or Carlota should talk to her about it."

"Puberty?" A slight red formed on Bobby's face as he went about scratching the back of his head. "Don't you girls usually keep that kind of stuff... private with each other or something?"

Lori giggled sheepishly. "Sorry. Look, something like Ronnie Anne's situation literally requires a women's touch, okay?"

"I understand, babe. My shift for today will be over at 7:30. Maybe we can go out for a bite?"

"Aw, Boo-Boo Bear," cooed Lori, giving Bobby a peck on the cheek.

Almost three hours had past before Lincoln—back in his normal attire—and Ronnie Anne left the theater.

"Well," started Lincoln, "that sure was... something, seeing people turned into meat pies."

"I didn't know barbers could also act as dentists in those days," Ronnie Anne commented.

Lincoln shuddered. "After seeing that Italian guy try to pull a tooth out, I'm glad my mom works for a more modern dentist."

"Who talks to a fish," Ronnie Anne chuckled.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that part..."

"Anyway, what do you say hit the arcade? We should be back in time for dinner."

"When's that?"

"Eight-ish."

Bobby heard the door open and spun around to find, instead of a costumer, his mother entering the Bodega. She could not help but register a sigh of relief.

"Mom?" Bobby inquired, eyes blinking. "What are you doing back so early?"

"You may not believe it, Bobby," explained Maria, "but I got the rest of my shift covered. And I figured since I have a rematch with your Aunt Frida..." She paused before giving a half-shrug. "Well, you know how it is."

"Okay, then," said Bobby. "Hope you two have fun."

"Does she means chess?" Lori asked quietly, once Maria left for the bathroom.

Not unlike the recent manner of his mother, Bobby answered with a half-shrug before he registered the door opening once more and prepared to greet the next customer.

It was about a quarter to eight when Lincoln and Ronnie Anne left the arcade. Night had fallen, and cars, establishments and street lights had their bulbs put on display. Alleyways appeared darker at every corner.

Not that it mattered too much, since the kids were now just a block away from their destination.

"Man!" exclaimed Lincoln. "Those were some sick moves you had at Dance Party!"

"Oh, I've had plenty of practice," shrugged Ronnie Anne with a smirk.

"Practice, huh? Guess I'd better start doing some myself when I'm back in Royal Woods."

"You still won't be able to beat me."

"Oh, we'll see..."

But as the kids turned the corner, they spotted an ambulance van and two police cars parked outside the Bodega. They rushed to the scene, where they saw Bobby and Lori with some blankets around them. Both wore tear stains on their faces, Lori's made more evident by her leaking mascara.

"H-h-h-he had red hair," stuttered Bobby amidst his anguish to a police officer. "And there was that... crazy look in his eye."

Lincoln walked up to his eldest sister. "Lori, what happened?"

"Oh, Lincoln!" wept Lori, pulling her only brother into a hug. "Thank goodness you're safe! Some psychopath came in! Laughed while waving a gun at us! He took all the cash and then—"

Lori was interrupted by the interviewing officer. "His name is Cletus Kasady. He's a lunatic who's been on the lamb for years. Think of him as a combo of Michael Myers the Cheshire Cat. He was last seen in a red muscle car."

"Is this your sister?" the officer asked, noticing Ronnie Anne.

"Y-y-y-yes, sir," answered Bobby, whilst choking on a sob.

Ronnie Anne looked up at her brother, full of angst. "Bobby? Is everyone else alright? Where are—"

"Th-th-they're fine, Nie-Nie." Bobby knelt down before her, struggling to keep his remaining emotional faculties in check. "They're all inside the apartment. But—"

"But what?"

Bobby could say no more. He wrapped his arms around Ronnie Anne, crying onto her shoulder.

Ronnie Anne than noticed a gurney with the sheet covering the whole thing. Against her better judgment, she broke away from Bobby's embrace and walked towards it. She got close enough and, ignoring the paramedics' protests, pulled away the sheet to see—

The sight caused Ronnie Anne to lurch back, uttering a sharp, strangled cry. "Mom?!"

The face of Maria Santiago lay as still as if it were a statue. Not a muscle moved. Not the slightest sound of breath escaped from either lips or nose.

From behind, Ronnie Anne could hear Lincoln gasp in terror. "Oh my God...!"

"Don't look, Linky!" came the urging, pleading voice of Lori. "Don't look! Close your eyes!"

Ronnie Anne turned away to run before the paramedics put the sheet back on her mother's face, only to bump into another police officer.

"Look, I know this can't be good right now," consoled the female officer, "but don't worry, kid. We'll catch him."

Ronnie Anne shut her eyes tightly while tears streamed down her face. And then her legs took over.

"Ronnie Anne!" Bobby cried out.

"Wait!" called Lincoln.

But their pleas went unanswered.

Ronnie Anne ran as far as she could from the Bodega. She didn't care how far she went. Or about the traffic or any passersby she might run into. Or which street alley she entered.

She just wanted to get away and be alone, so that no one could see her cry.

Why, Mom? Why did you leave early? And why did you have to be... there?! You should've gone straight home, watched The Dream Boat or whatever! Gone to your room! Relaxed on your bed! Anywhere to keep you away from that—

Maniac. Her mother was gone, all because by some homicidal maniac. A maniac who was still at large and still in town.

That was when Ronnie Anne looked up. She knew what she had to do.

"Cletus Kasady," she growled while dropping her backpack, "you're... dead."

A/N: Okay, first off, I was going to have Lori be one of Cletus Kasady's victims. Heck, DarthWill3 wanted to have her dead or in a wheelchair. But he went for Mr. Santiago being murdered by Kasady when Ronnie Anne was six. To be honest, I didn't want to repeat Loud Heroes. So I had no choice but to kill off Maria due to the fact Mr. Santiago is alive in the canon.

Every Spider-Man and Woman has to lose someone. Like Spider-Ham said, "You can't save everyone."

Anyway please review.