A/N: Please read and review?
Gwen's role in this one is small, so sorry.
Shoutouts:
TheSpider: I've already said, I don't like giving out spoilers, so I can't answer. You'll just have to wait and see.
In Central Park, on Thursday 24th, Liz and her brother Mark were both sitting by the lake, watching ducks swimming in the pond nearby.
"I'm glad we got to spend time like this, Mark." Liz said.
"I know, Liz." Mark said. "We are siblings, so we should do this often."
"Guess Peter would do the same when he meets his long-lost sibling." Liz teased. "I'm still surprised to learn that, you know."
"I think everyone at school is." Mark said. "For days, it was the big talk among those in my year."
"Same with the Cheerleaders." Liz said. "Even Sally was shocked. I'm just glad we've started to repair our friendship."
"Hey, how's Flash?" Mark asked, changing the subject.
"Well, he's on the mend." Liz assured. "Still feels gutted about not being able to play though."
"Anybody would." Mark said. "I saw someone upset about not being about to race at the racetrack earlier 'cause his horse was sick."
"Racetrack?" Liz inquired, turning to him. "Mark, what were you doing there?"
"Um, just...looking around, you know." Mark blushed, scratching the back of his head.
"Mark, you're not gambling again, are you?" Liz asked.
"Uh..." Mark stuttered.
"Mark, please tell me you're not?" Liz asked, getting up. "You know the trouble you got into last time!"
"But, Liz, I-" Mark began, getting up.
"Mark, you'll wind up in juvie again!" Liz argued. "I don't want that!"
"But I've got a debt to pay off!" Mark argued.
"Then find another way to help pay it!" Liz argued. "I don't want you to steal like last time to pay it off."
"Liz, I'm not gambling." Mark said. "I was just passing by there after helping clean a place up for extra money."
Liz didn't look convinced.
"Look, I gotta go. I need to meet someone." Mark said. "I'll see you, sis."
Mark turned and ran off, leaving Liz worried for her big brother.
"I need to know what's going on?" she thought, thinking he might be lying. "And I know just who to ask."
The next day at school, Peter was going through his locker, when Liz approached him.
"Hey, Peter, can I talk to you?" Liz asked.
"Sure." Peter said, closing his locker.
"I need your help." Liz explained.
"My help?" Peter asked. "Liz, our next tutoring session's not for a couple of days."
"Petey, I know, but it's not that." Liz assured. "It's Mark."
Peter looked confused as he folded his arms.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"I... Do you know how he got into juvie last time?" Liz asked.
"Uh, no." Peter said.
"Well, he's got a huge gambling problem." Liz explained. "I thought he got over it, but I think he's starting to go back. Last time, he had to steal a car to pay off his debts. That's how he ended up in juvie."
"Oh... I'm sorry, Liz." Peter said, touching her shoulder. "So, what'd you want me to do?"
"Well, I'd like you to investigate this?" Liz explained. "I'd ask Flash or Randy, but due to Flash's leg, I doubt he'd be able to do much. And since you work at the Daily Bugle, you understand an investigator's goal better than them."
"Hmm? I guess I do." Peter said. "But I can't be the only one, since Gwen's Dad's a Cop, and Anya's Dad's a reporter. But I promised I'll do what I can."
"Thanks, Petey. I really apricate this." Liz assured.
She kissed his cheek, before she turned and walked off, just as Gwen came over, slightly jealous.
"What was that about?" Gwen asked.
"Liz wants me to keep an eye on her brother." Peter explained. "Turns out he's got a gambling problem."
"Oh..." Gwen said.
"Yeah. She trusts me due to my work at the Bugle." Peter explained. "It's nothing, Gwen. You know you're the only one for me."
"I know, Pete. I'm sorry. So, I guess I portal by myself for a while today?" Gwen inquired.
"Yeah. Sorry, Gwen." Peter said.
"It's okay, Pete." Gwen assured. "I understand."
Meanwhile, Mark was walking down a hallway, when Professor Warren came over to him.
"Mr. Allen, can I have a word with you?" he asked.
"Uh, sure, Prof. Warren." Mark said.
They both walked into an empty classroom, then Mark closed the door behind him.
"So, what is it, Professor?" Mark asked.
"I've noticed your grades have been slipping lately, Mr. Allan." Prof. Warren explained.
"Well, I've been bit busy trying to get money, Prof." Mark explained. "It's made me a bit stressed."
"Is it? I've heard rumours that you've been gambling again." the Prof. said.
Mark gasped and covered his hand with his mouth.
"I figured, given your history." the Prof. said.
"You knew?" Mark gasped. "Professor Warren-"
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone." Prof. Warren promised.
"You... You won't?" Mark asked, surprised.
"Yes. But I have a condition." the Prof. explained.
"And...what's that?" Mark inquired.
"You help me with an experiment after school." the Prof. explained. "Think of it as extra credit to make up for your grades and history."
"I, uh..." Mark said, scratching the back of his head. "Okay."
"Good. Meet me outside my classroom when school's over." Prof. Warren said. "I'll be waiting."
Mark nodded and walked off, hoping the Prof. could help him out with his problem.
After school, Mark met with Professor Warren outside his classroom, who turned to him.
"So, this experiment you want me for; where are we doing it?" Mark asked.
"We'll be doing it at my house, in the basement." Prof. Warren explained. "Just follow me to my car for now?"
"Okay." Mark said.
They both walked off down the hallway, as Peter spotted them both.
"He's going with Prof. Warren? Maybe he's helping the Prof. out with something?" Peter thought. "Still, better follow him like I promised Liz?"
He followed them both down the hallway, then out of the school, before he saw the Prof.'s car riding away, spotting Mark in the back seat.
"Guess I'll have more luck following them as Spider-Man." Peter thought.
Later, the car pulled up in front of Prof. Warren's house, then the Prof. and Mark both got out of it. They both walked towards the door, then the Prof. unlocked it with his key. They both stepped into the house, then the Prof. closed the door behind him, before he turned to Mark.
"Just follow me, Mr. Allen." Prof. Warren said, walking past Mark.
Mark turned around and followed him towards a door.
Across the street, Spider-Man landed on a rooftop and perched on it.
"Prof. Warren's house?" he thought. "Why would he bring Mark here?"
He jumped off the roof and gilded down towards the Prof.'s house, then landed in front of it. He then began to check the windows, first on the ground floor, then the second floor, but saw no sign of either person in them.
"They must be in the basement." he deduced. "I'll have to wait till Mark leaves."
In the basement, Mark stared at Prof. Warren, who stood by a lab table.
"Just wait a minute until I'm ready." the Prof. instructed.
As Mark looked at the lab in the basement, Prof. Warren slipped a vial of orange liquid into the glass of water. He looked at it carefully, checking to see if it was right, as he'd been working on this for weeks.
"Take off your shirt?" the Prof. asked.
Mark took his shirt off, leaving him shirtless, as Prof. Warren poured the liquid into a syringe.
"Exactly what are you gonna do, Doc?" Mark asked.
"I've been working on a new experiment and I need someone to test it on." Prof. Warren explained, turning to him. "That's where you come in."
"I'm your guinea pig?" Mark inquired.
"Yes." Prof. Warren answered. "Do this and I'll keep my mouth shut about your gambling problem. I might even help you square it with the man you owe money too, but not for some time unfortunately."
"Thanks, Prof. Warren." Mark said.
"Now, hold still?" Prof. Warren asked. "This might sting a little."
Mark looked at the syringe and gulped, but then nodded, understandingly.
The Prof. put the syringe into his arm, making him bite his lip slightly as it did sting, before Prof. Warren pulled it out.
"Oh! That did sting." Mark noted. "More than a flu shot."
"I told it would." Prof. Warren said.
"So, is that it?" Mark asked. "By doing this for you, I've made up some of the grades I've slipped, and you won't tell Principal Davis what I've been doing."
"My mouth's sealed." Prof. Warren assured. "I'll explain how you've helped me out. You may go now."
"Thanks." Mark said.
He turned and walked up the stairs, as the Prof. put an evil smirk on his face.
"Now, all I have to do is wait." Prof. Warren smirked. "It should be happen in about an hour at least."
Mark walked out of the house and sighed.
"Well, at least the Prof. won't rat me out and get me kicked out of Midtown." he said. "Well, better get going."
He began to walk down the street, being watched by Spider-Man, who was on the side of a building.
"I wonder what he was doing in there with Prof. Warren?" Spider-Man thought.
Mark kept walking down the street, until a Taxi came by.
"Taxi!" he called.
The Taxi pulled over, then Mark got into the back.
"Where to?" Mousie asked, who was driving.
"Daily Racing Forms." Mark answered.
"Okay." Mousie said.
She drove her Taxi down the road, as Spider-Man stared at it.
"Guess I better follow them." he thought.
He jumped off the wall he was on, then began to swing after the Taxi, knowing he had to keep an eye on Mark for Liz's sake.
Later, Mark was at the horse track, standing in a line for the betters.
"Right. I need money to help pay off my debts until the Prof. can square it away." he said. "So I gotta pick a winner."
Once he made it to the front, he looked at the odds and bets. The eight horses were called Red Rum, odds 4-1, Wayne and Spain, 6-1, Golden Chance, 30-1, Rampy Man, 11-1, Andy Can't Cook, 9-1, Hops-to-it, 5-1, Nicole and Diamonds, 15-1, and Twenty Grand, 10-1.
"Hmm?" he muttered, looking at them. "100 on Golden Chance."
He put 100 dollars in front of the steward, who handed him his ticket, then Mark picked it up. He turned around and made his way into the track stands, just as Spider-Man landed on a horse statue.
"Easy there, boy." he said, patting its head. "Just here to check something out for a friend."
He looked around, seeing Mark enter the stands, which he then web-zipped towards.
Once in the stands, Mark raced to the edge, just as the fanfare bell rang, then the horses began to race off.
"And they're off!" the announcer said.
Mark watched as the horses raced along the track with the others.
"Andy Can't Cook takes an early lead, with Golden Chance right behind him." the announcer said.
"Come on, Golden Chance!" Mark cheered. "Don't let me down here, baby!"
Other people in the crowd whooped.
"Nicole and Diamonds catches up with the leaders as they move around the inside trail."
Spider-Man landed on the roof of the opposite stand Mark was on, looking at the race.
"He has gone back to gambling." he thought. "I hope he doesn't lose for his sake. Better take some pictures though to show Liz."
He took it out from his belt, then stuck it beneath the stand roof, before he sat up and looked at Mark.
"Wayne and Spain and Red Rum are at the back, catching up the others. Golden Chance overtakes Andy Can't Cook and races ahead."
"Yes!" Mark whooped. "Come on!"
"20 Grand comes up behind Rampy Man, then overtakes Rampy Man, just as Red Rum falls behind Wayne and Spain."
Everyone kept racing as Golden Chance began to fall behind, with Nicole and Diamonds overtaking him, followed by Andy Can't Cook.
"Golden Chance now overtaking by Nicole and Diamonds and Andy Can't Cook."
"No! Come on!" Mark called. "GO!"
"Hops-to-it coming up fast! Overtaking 20 Grand, followed by Golden Chance. Wayne and Spain now catching up on the inside trail, overtaking Red Rum and Rampy Man. Nicole and Diamonds still in the lead, as Golden Chance begins to fall behind, coming up in sixth."
"NOO!" Mark gasped. "Come on!"
"And we near the finish line, with Nicole and Diamonds taking first place."
Mark gasped, as the other horses began crossing the finish line.
"Coming in second is Andy Can't Cook, followed by Hops-to-it and Wayne and Spain. And Golden Chance comes in at last place."
"NOOO!" Mark cried, clutching his ticket. "I almost had it!"
He threw his ticket away.
"Now how do I pay it off! HOW?!" Mark cried, hitting his fists on the railing.
Just then, his hands suddenly turned bright orange, bending it, as the hour from when he was injected was up.
"Huh?" several people gasped.
Mark looked at his hands in horror, as Spider-Man stared at him
"Did he just...turn into molten lava?" Spider-Man gasped, as his camera kept shooting, as it had done for the whole race. "Oh, Liz is gonna freak!"
"What?" Mark gasped. "What... What happened?"
Several people in the crowd began to back away scared, as two guards came towards him.
"Hold it right there, buddy!" one said.
Mark turned to the guards, who brought out their nightsticks.
"NO! No! Stay away!" he cried.
He ran towards the end of the stands, then jumped over the railing and landed in the field, then he began to run along the track. As he did, the horses all neighed and raised up their back legs, causing Wayne and Spain's and Andy Can't Cook's riders to fall off them.
"Ah!" they moaned.
They both got up and ran off, as Spider-Man got up and stared at Mark.
"I better get down there be he hurts something." he thought.
He began swinging towards the area, as fireballs came out of Mark's hands and started a few fires on the track.
"What the?" he gasped, stopping and turning around. "How'd I do that?"
"Oh, boy. JJ will flip if I don't get some photos of this, but I'll show Liz them first." he thought.
He landed on the lawn as Mark turned to him.
"Alright, is this an Oscar or something with my name on?" Spider-Man joked, putting his hands together like he was holding a camera. "Or is this more like an Emmy? Either way, you can't choose here."
He shot webs from both his hands at Mark, which hit his left wrist, then he pulled on them, before they melted away, making him fall onto his back.
"Oh!" he moaned. "Didn't see that coming!"
He looked up at Mark, who glared at him.
"Just stay away from me, Spider-Man!" he roared.
"And let you harm all the people here?" Spider-Man inquired. "No way, hothead!"
He shot a bunch of webs from his hands, which wrapped around his legs, arms and chest, but then Mark grabbed the ends of the ones on his right arm.
"Oh, man! This isn't good." he gulped.
Mark pulled on the webs and began dragging Spider-Man around on the ground, as the webs slowly melted, then he threw Spider-Man up into the air, then into the ground.
"OH!" Spider-Man moaned. "Now that really hurt!"
"I don't have time for this!" Mark snarled. "I need to find out what happened to me!"
He turned and ran off, seeing the stands now deserted, leaving a small trail of fire behind him.
Smoke came up from the ground where Spider-Man was, who then sat up and shook his head.
"Oh! That guy sure packed a wallop!" he moaned, touching the back of it.
He looked around and saw Mark had vanished.
"Oh, great! I lost him." he moaned.
He turned right and saw his camera intact on its place.
"Once I make the pictures, I better show some to Liz to prove what I saw." he thought, getting to his feet. "I just hope she's not too shocked."
Later, Peter was outside the Allen house, on the phone to Gwen, who he was telling about Molten Man.
"Wait? So, you're saying he just turned into molten lava?" Gwen gasped.
"Yes. I don't know how though?" Peter assured. "I need to tell Liz this."
"Okay. I'll let you know if I see him." Gwen promised.
"Thanks. Man, first Sandman, then Hydro-Man, then Molten Man?" Peter sighed. "What's next; a Wind-Man?"
"Very funny, Peter." Gwen laughed. "But seriously, I wonder how Liz is gonna react when you tell her what's happened."
"I can only imagine, Gwen. See you." Peter said, before hanging up.
He walked towards the front door, then knocked on it. He stepped back slightly, before the door opened, showing Mr. Wilson Allan had answered.
"Yes?" he said.
"Um, Mr. Allan, is Liz home?" Peter asked.
"She's up in her room." Mr. Allan said. "Why?"
"I need to tell her something." Peter explained. "I'm her tutor from school."
"Oh, yeah. Peter Parker? I remember you." Mr. Allan said. "You and your girlfriend were at Silver Spoon Café on Valentines Day, at the same time as Liz and Flash."
"Uh, yeah." Peter blushed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, go on up." Mr. Allan said, moving away. "I'm sure Liz was expecting you."
Peter smiled and walked past him, then up the stairs, before he stopped and stared at four doors. He looked carefully, wondering which door was Liz's room.
"It's the second on the left!" Mr. Allan called.
"Thanks." Peter called.
He walked towards the door and knocked on it, wanting to be polite.
"Come in?" Liz said.
Peter opened the door, and saw Liz lying on her bed, reading a magazine, while dressed in a mixture of red and blue.
"Petey?" she said, lowering her magazine.
"Hi, Liz. You okay?" Peter asked.
"Yeah." Liz said, sitting up. "Did you find something out?"
"I... I did." Peter sighed. "But I had to come to tell you in person."
Liz moved over slightly so Peter could sit down beside her on the bed, as he put his bag down behind them.
"So, what it is?" Liz asked, nervously.
"I... I found him to the racetrack..." Peter began.
"He's back to gambling?" Liz gasped, crying.
"Yeah, but there's more." Peter sighed. "After losing his bet, he slammed his fist down in anger, and well...he changed into this man made of molten lava."
"What?" Liz gasped. "You mean...someone's experimented on my brother?"
"Looks like it. Who though, I don't know." Peter sighed. "I got some pictures to prove it."
He opened up his bag and took out his camera, then began to show the pictures he'd taken from it earlier. Liz looked at them, and saw her brother in his molten form, which reminded her when she saw Iceman helping the Spider-Duo before Christmas.
"My brother's become a Mutant?" Liz cried.
"Not a Mutant." Peter assured.
Liz looked at him.
"At least not... Well, I wouldn't say a monstrous one." Peter said, touching her shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Liz inquired, weeping.
"You remember what happened last month, about Bolivar Trask?" Peter asked.
"The man who killed your parents?" Liz inquired.
Peter nodded.
"Well, yeah, we saw the news." Liz said. "It said the Spider-Duo, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and this other group called the X-Men all worked together to stop those robots of his from rampaging through the city. But what does this have to do with Mark?"
"Because the X-Men are all Mutants." Peter explained. "Spider-Man told me. But unlike your brother, they were born that way. They just didn't get their powers until they hit puberty."
"I... Oh..." Liz said. "While Mark has been turned into this thing against his will. I see what you mean."
"I'm sorry to tell you this, but I'm sure Spidey and Ghost Spider will do what they can to help him." Peter assured.
He touched her shoulder, promising to help her brother out.
"Thanks for telling me, Petey." Liz wept. "I... I need some time alone."
"Okay." Peter said, getting up, taking his camera back. "I'll see you tomorrow for our session."
He walked out of the room, leaving Liz alone as she wept.
Meanwhile, Mark was in an alley, wearing a trench coat he'd stolen from a clothesline to cover himself up.
"What happened to me?" he thought. "How'd I turn like that? And how do I turn it off?!"
His phone then rang, making him take it out of his pocket, then he looked at it, as it said 'Unknown'.
"Huh?" he muttered, before putting it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Hello, Mr. Allan." came an unknown male voice, as it was deep.
"Who are you?" Mark asked. "How do you know my name?"
"I have my ways." the man replied.
"Well, what do you want?" Mark asked.
"Well, I've heard about your little problem." the man said.
"You have?" Mark questioned.
"Yes, because I was the one who did that to you." the man said.
"You... You made me into this?" Mark panicked.
"Yes." the man replied. "But I can also cure you."
"Well, do it?" Mark begged. "Please?"
"Oh, don't worry, I will." the man assured. "After you've done something for me?"
"And what's that?" Mark asked.
"Kill Peter Parker!" the man snarled.
"Peter? But he's my sister's tutor!" Mark argued. "He's also a friend of hers."
"Really?" the man smirked. "Well, then, you should easily know where to look for him then?"
"But... I'm no killer!" Mark argued. "It's not in me!"
"Well, then, I guess you'll just have to stay that way for the rest of your life." the man snarled. "Think about it, Molten Man!"
He hung up, making Mark lower his phone, which he noticed hadn't melted with his new powers.
"Must not work on my phone." he thought. "Oh, what do I do?"
He turned to the end of the alley, then sighed.
"Guess I have no choice." he sighed. "If anyone asks, I'll say I was blackmailed and then turn the guy in who did this to me."
He ran down the alley and into the street, seeing no one was around, then he ran to his left, hoping to find Peter so he could get back to normal.
A little later, in the city, Peter was walking down a street in Midtown East, feeling sorry for Liz while thinking about who could've done that to her brother.
"Just who could've done that to Mark?" he wondered. "It couldn't have been Prof. Warren due to his reputation. Something must've happened to him after he left the house. He must've stopped somewhere on the way to the tracks when I wasn't looking."
He sighed as he walked on, wanting to know what happened to Mark. He'd emailed the photos via his phone to the Bugle earlier as he felt he wouldn't have time to deliver them in person today, or even develop them, and he'd left a message from Robbie to help explain that.
"Good thing I sent the pictures via email." he thought. "No way would I be able to go in person in case I run into Mark on the way."
He turned right around a corner on the street, looking around, before he saw Molten Man standing in front of him.
"Mark? Is that you?" he asked, pretending to be shocked. "What happened?"
"I'm surprised your friend Spider-Man didn't tell you?" Molten Man inquired, approaching him.
"Uh, he said something, but not this." Peter lied.
"I wish I didn't have to do this." Molten Man said, regretfully.
"Mark, what are you saying?" Peter asked nervously, backing away slightly.
"I'm sorry about this Parker, but you must die." Molten Man said.
"What?!" Peter gasped.
He turned and ran off as Molten Man started chasing him.
"Well, this is new! The supervillain wants to kill Peter Parker instead of Spider-Man?" Peter thought. "Better lose him and change quickly."
He turned left down the street as Molten Man kept chasing after him, who then stopped and roared. He kept on running, before he dived into an alley, then began to jump from wall to wall towards the rooftop. Molten Man turned into the alley just as he made it, who couldn't see him.
"Where'd he go?" he thought. "Parker, come out now!"
On the roof, Peter was wearing his costume, apart from his mask, which he picked up from his bag. He put it on, then pulled out his phone.
"Better text Gwen for help." he thought. "I just hope she gets here quick in case Mark decides to burn down the city."
He brought out his phone and quickly texted Gwen, then he put the phone in his bag, before he jumped off the rooftop.
In the street, Mark was looking around, standing near a nightclub called Retroclubnyc.
"You can't hide forever, Parker." he snarled. "I will find you!"
"Well, tough luck, hothead!" came a voice.
Molten Man turned as Spider-Man dived down and kicked him with both feet, knocking him away.
"AH!" he moaned.
Spider-Man landed on the road and stared at him.
"You found me instead." he smirked.
"Spider-Man, stay out of this!" Molten Man snapped. "It's Parker I want?"
"May I ask why?" Spider-Man asked.
"It's the only way I'll get my life back!" Molten Man snapped.
"By killing Parker?" Spider-Man questioned, shocked. "Why?"
"If I kill him, the man who turned me into this will change me back!" Molten Man snapped. "Now get out of my way!"
"Sorry, but I can't let you do that." Spider-Man said.
"Then I'll go through you if I have too to get to Parker!" Molten Man warned.
He shot a small fireball at Spider-Man, who jumped up to avoid it, then he charged forward as Spider-Man jumped over him. He turned around as Spider-Man turned around and shot two webs at him, hitting his arms, but then he touched and melted them.
"Oh, man! I forget about that!" Spider-Man moaned, feeling stupid. "Better hold him off until Gwen gets here, otherwise I'm toast and Mark will end up killing both Peter and Spider-Man."
Molten Man charged at him, as he got up, then he sent a kick at Molten Man, who ducked to avoid it.
As the fight began, a small group of people began to watch the fight, including a Newswoman and her cameraman - most of them coming out of the Nightclub.
"Jimmy, start rolling!" she said, getting in front of him.
In the Allan House, Liz was watching the TV in the sitting room, hoping to hear something about whatever Mark had become.
"If there's anything about Mark, it's bound to be on the News." she said.
She turned the channel, bringing up a News bulletin from NY1 News.
"We interrupt this program for a urgent News bulletin." the Newsman reported, sitting behind his desk. "We're about to go live at the Retroclubnyc nightclub in the East side of Midtown."
The screen changed, showing the Newswoman.
"Pat, we're live at Retroclubnyc, where Spider-Man is fighting against this man made of lava." she explained.
Her cameraman - Jimmy - moved slightly, showing the fight, as Spider-Man back flipped away to avoid a punch from Molten Man.
"Mark?" Liz gasped, getting up.
"I don't know Ghost Spider is, but if she's seeing this, we all hope she gets here to help her partner." the Newswoman explained, as Molten Man punched Spider-Man's chest, sending him flying away, leaving a burn mark on his suit. "This man is a danger to the entire city, and could easily burn it down if he's not stopped quickly."
Spider-Man hit the ground on his chest.
"OH!" he moaned.
"Thank you, Lucy." Pat said. "Now..."
"I've gotta try and stop him." Liz realized. "I might be able to make him stop!"
She turned the TV off, then ran out of the sitting room and grabbed her coat, before she stormed out of the house, hoping to get there in time.
In the street, Spider-Man got up slightly and stared at Molten Man, who approached him slowly.
"I wish I didn't have to do this." he said honestly. "It's Parker I need dead to get my life back!"
"Mark, it doesn't have to be like this!" Spider-Man said, getting up. "I know someone who might be able to help!"
"Ha! I betcha you!" Molten Man scoffed.
He shot two fireballs from his hands, but missed as Spider-Man jumped up and stuck to a lamppost, as the fires hit the road, starting a small fire.
"Whoa! Talk about a hot foot." Spider-Man joked.
He jumped off the lamppost and dived towards Molten Man, punching him slightly with both fists, knocking him back as he landed.
"Mark, I'm giving you one last chance." Spider-Man said, holding a finger up. "Either you let me take you to my friend to help, or I will have to restrain you."
Molten Man glared at him, not answering.
"Then I'm sorry about this." Spider-Man said.
He jumped up and dived towards Molten Man, seeing he had to bring him in. He somersaulted forward to kick Molten Man with both feet, but when he did, Molten Man grabbed hold of his ankles as he stumbled back.
"AH!" Spider-Man yelped.
Molten Man spun around and threw him away, ripping off part of his leggings as he did.
"OH!" Spider-Man moaned, hitting the road.
He bounced along it slightly, before stopping on his chest.
"Oh!" he moaned.
"AH!" some of the crowd gasped.
"Not good." Jimmy gulped.
Molten Man approached Spider-Man, who turned around and looked up at him, clutching his chest.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't want to do this, Spider-Man." Molten Man said. "Like I said, you're not the person I'm after."
"Mark, please don't do this?" Spider-Man begged.
"Sorry. You shouldn't have interfered, Spider-Man." Molten Man said.
He raised his his right arm, when a web hit the back of if.
"Huh?" he gasped.
He turned around and saw Ghost Spider on top of a lamppost, holding the other end of the web.
"You need some help, Spidey?" she asked.
"Sure could use it!" Spider-Man moaned.
"Ghost Spider!" Molten Man gasped. "Just what I don't need! I haven't got the time!"
"Well, you're gonna have to make time!" Ghost Spider joked, jumping down.
She shot webs from both her web-shooters, but they melted upon touching him, as he grabbed them both.
"Oh, webs!" she gasped. "Didn't think that through!"
She landed in a three-point stance, then Molten Man shot a fireball at her, which she dodged just barely as she jumped up.
"Whoa!" she yelped.
She stuck to the wall behind her, then jumped off it and dived down towards Spider-Man, who jumped towards her.
"Nice timing, Ghost." Spider-Man said. "I don't know what's come over Mark."
"You weren't kidding when you said he was monstrous." Ghost Spider noted. "I just wish there was a way to snap him out of this."
"Well, I've tried, but he won't listen." Spider-Man assured.
Molten Man shot two fireballs at them as their Spider-Senses tingled, making them both jump out of the way.
"Mark, stop!" Ghost Spider called, landing on a car. "You don't have to do this!"
Molten Man shot another fireball at her, which hit the car as she jumped up, melting the hood.
As Spider-Man crawled along the side of a building to get behind Molten Man, a the crowd all kept watching in horror.
"Just keep him busy, Gwen." he thought. "I have an idea."
Ghost Spider dived across the street and shot web balls from her hands at Molten Man, but he shot small fireballs which melted them.
"You really need to stop this, Mark!" Ghost Spider yelled, as she landed on the road. "Innocent people could get hurt!"
Molten Man growled and shot fireballs at her, just as Spider-Man dived and kicked him in the back, knocking him forward, making him shoot his fireballs at the sky.
"AH!" he moaned.
He turned around as Spider-Man back flipped away.
"Ghost, together!" Spider-Man yelled.
"Got it!" Ghost Spider called.
They both shot webs from their hands, which hit and trapped Molten Man slightly, before he burned though the webs, then he grabbed Spider-Man's and pulled him towards him.
"AH!" Spider-Man yelped.
Molten Man grabbed him by the neck and held him up.
"SPIDEY!" Ghost Spider cried, running towards him. "Let him go!"
"Have it your way!" Moltan Man snarled.
He threw Spider-Man towards Ghost Spider, who then hit her and knocked them both way.
"AH!" they moaned.
They both hit the road and rolled over onto their backs, then Molten Man approached them both.
"I'm sorry, you two." he said. "You shouldn't have interfered."
He raised his arms up to finish them, as the crowd gasped.
"Mark, no!" a voice cried.
Everyone turned, seeing Liz pushing her way through the crowd, before she stopped near him.
"Liz?" he gasped, looking at her.
The Spider Duo turn around onto their bellies and looked at her, before Spider-Man spotted a fire hydrant nearby.
"I have an idea." he whispered.
"It's worth a shot." Ghost Spider whispered, seeing it already.
"Mark, stop?" Liz begged, crying. "Please don't do this?"
"Liz, what are you-" Molten Man began.
"What has happened to you?" Liz asked.
Molten Man approached her slowly, allowing the Spider Duo to turn to each other.
"Now." Spider-Man whispered.
Ghost Spider nodded and got up.
"Liz, I don't what happened. But I do know I have no choice!" Mark snapped. "It's the only way to get my life back!"
"How? By killing the Spider Duo?" Liz cried, holding her fists up.
"No, they just need to stay out of the way." Molten Man said. "It's Parker I'm after."
"Petey?" Liz gasped. "Why?"
"'Cause I have too!" Molten Man snapped. "The man who did this said he'll only turn me back if I do that!"
"But that can't be the only way!" Liz argued. "Please, Mark, don't do this?"
"I'm sorry, Liz." Molten Man said.
"Well, we're sorry too!" Ghost Spider spat.
Molten Man turned around as she dived towards him and kicked him in the chest, knocking him away onto his back near the fire hydrant.
"We're sorry, Mark." Ghost Spider said, shooting a web at the fire hydrant. "It's the only way."
Molten Man looked up as she pulled on her web, opening up the fire hydrant, spraying him with its water.
"AH!" he cried.
Spider-Man umped up and landed near him, then shot a web at his right leg, before he jumped up and hung him upside down from a lamppost next to the fire hydrant.
"Hopefully that should cool you off." Spider-Man said.
Molten Man kept moaned as the water kept hitting him, before he finally returned to normal.
"AH!" he moaned.
Liz cried as the Spider Duo came towards each other.
"I hope there's a way to cure him." Ghost Spider said.
"So do I, Ghost." Spider-Man said. "So do I."
Later, several police had arrived - including Lt. DeWolff - who stared at Mark, along with the Spider-Duo and some of the Civilians, as the rest had left. Mark got loaded into the back of a van by two Cops, wrapped up in a blanket due to all but his boxers having been burned off, as Liz stood with Lt. DeWolff.
"What's gonna happen to him?" Liz asked, tears in her eyes.
"He'll be taken to Ravencroft." Lt. DeWolff explained. "He's mentally unstable right now. He might be able to get help there."
Spider-Man and Ghost Spider stared at them, as the two Cops closed the van's back doors. Liz wept as the van raced off with him in the back, as Lt. DeWolff approached the two Spiders.
"Do you have any idea what happened to him?" she asked.
"No. I just got here when Spidey was fighting him." Ghost Spider explained.
"Spider-Man?" the Lt. asked.
"Well, he seemed to be going after Peter Parker." Spider-Man explained. "Said he didn't have a choice. Don't know why though."
"We'll find out why." Lt. DeWolff promised. "I just hope he has a good reason."
"So do I." Spider-Man agreed.
The Lt. turned and walked off.
"After Sandman, he's the most sympathetic villain we've met." Ghost Spider sighed.
"I know what you mean." Spider-Man said. "Being turned into that thing against his will, then blackmailed. It's just like Sandy all over again."
They both approached Liz, who turned to them as she kept crying.
"We're sorry for what we did." Spider-Man said.
"You both did what you had to." Liz assured. "Mark could've bunted down the city. I just wish I knew who did that to him!"
"Don't worry, we'll find out." Ghost Spider assured. "We promise."
Spider-Man nodded, before they both jumped up and swung away, as Liz stared at them both, still crying over what Mark had become.
Meanwhile, Professor Warren was in his house, watching the news in the sitting room, which reported Molten-Man's arrest. The screen showed a Newsman behind a desk, with a picture of Molten Man in the top left corner.
"With the arrest of this Molten Man as the media's calling him - AKA Mark Allan - the people of New York should be safe from any accidently fires which he may cause in the city." the Newsman reported.
The screen showed Mark - unpowered - being taken away by two Cops, with Lt. DeWolff watching, as Liz stood with other people watching, tears in her eyes.
"He has openly stated that he does not know who turned him into this monstrosity..." the Newsman explained.
The Cops loaded Mark into the back of the van, then closed the door behind him.
"...he has said that the man promised to only turn him back if he killed Peter Parker; a High School Jr. student at Midtown High." the Newsman said. "But, thanks to the Spider Duo, he has been restrained."
Prof. Warren clutched his fists angrily, as the Newsman came back onto the screen.
"As for Parker, we've heard that he is currently safe and sound, and we hope he is watching this." he said.
Professor Warren picked up the remote and turned the TV off, then he got up from his couch.
"The fool." he snarled. "At least Allan doesn't know it was I who did that to him."
He walked out of the sitting room, turning the light off as he did, then he approached the stairs. He walked up them, then approached a door to a room.
"This is the whole reason I created him." he said, before opening the door. "To get what I truly desire."
He walked into the room, then turned on the light, before he turned to a wall. On it, was over 40 pictures of Gwen, for he'd developed an obsession with his best girl student, like how Hydro-Man had one on her best friend, despite being over twice her age. Most of the pictures were torn, as she hadn't been alone when they were taken, as she'd been with Peter mostly, but also with Mary Jane, Harry, Anya or any of their other friends, including a recent one with her, Peter and Miles.
"My precious." he said.
He picked up a new picture of Gwen, which had Peter beside her, with their arms around each other. His obsession with her was the reason he wanted Parker dead, so he could have her for himself.
"What can you see in Parker, my beautiful? I'm more of a man he'll ever be, and once he's out of the way, you'll be mine!" he declared.
He laughed evilly as he ripped the picture in half, then put Gwen's half on the wall with the others, while crumbling Peter's up.
"Besides, Raymond and Gwen sound much better than Peter and Gwen!" he laughed, throwing it away.
The next day, Peter sat with Liz at the Coffee Bean, who looked upset, as it was one of their tutoring sessions.
"You're thinking about Mark, aren't you?" Peter inquired.
"Yeah." Liz wept, as tears came down her eyes. "Just who would do that to him?"
"I don't know, Liz. I honestly don't know." Peter said. "Only someone really evil could've done that."
"Like that Trask guy who killed your parents?" Liz inquired, wiping tears away.
"Yeah." Peter nodded, sighing. "It's also thanks to him I never got to meet my sibling."
"I hope the Spider-Duo find out who did this and bring him to justice." Liz hoped. "I am upset Mark got arrested, but until he's cured of...whatever's happened to him, I guess he's safer at Ravencroft."
She sighed and began to cry, making Peter touch her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Petey, I-" Liz began.
"It's okay, Liz. Let it out." Peter said.
Liz wept softly while wiping her eyes.
"Did you know he was-" she began.
"Sent to kill me?" Peter finished. "Yeah. He practically chased me into an alley before I lost him. That's when I told Spider-Man to find him."
"I wonder who would want you dead?" Liz said. "You've done nothing wrong ever. You're the brightest student in our year, expect for maybe Gwen that is."
"I wish I knew." Peter said.
Liz wiped away some more tears, still upset about what happened.
"If you want, we can postpone this tutoring session until you're more comfortable?" Peter offered.
"No. I need this one, due to that test in a few days." Liz wept.
Peter looked at her, knowing that test was important, then sighed and lowered his hand.
"Okay. Let's get started then." he said.
Liz nodded, then Peter began to tutoring session for the test.
A/N: If you're wondering why it's Raymond Warren who's got that obsession with Gwen, is because Miles Warren doesn't exist in my world. The reason for that, is because having two Miles' in the main cast might confuse you all, which is why I think that did that on Marvel's Spider-Man 2017. That's probably the same reason they didn't use Max Dillon's Electro.