Jaws of Death

Chapter 18

Spiderman swung through the air, watching the world around him swirl as he kept catapulting himself forward with the help of the web. He had only one place on mind, The Toomes Corporation HQ. Yet, his mind was buzzing. New York City suddenly felt like an abyss trying to swallow him. His life felt very vulnerable, exposed by his recent choices. Maybe he shouldn't have become Spiderman. Or maybe once he lost his powers, he should have remained as Peter Parker, a college kid. Letting Photojournalism consume him had been his big mistake.

A wave of nausea took over him. His head was spinning but he kept pushing through. After everything that had happened, he was sure he could handle a bit of nausea. The moonlight and the chilly night air seemed to reflect how cold and dark he felt at heart.

The Kingpin was right! Every action of ours has a personal motive. Perhaps he was just a nineteen year old trying to prove to the world that he was worthy.

Not everyone can prove that by lifting a bloody hammer.

He had thought he could make a change in this world, without being Spiderman. He had thought maybe he could be a human being instead of a superhero. Yet, he had been careless and reckless. In his impulse to make an impact, he had put the only human who loved him, in danger.

I wonder if The Avengers go through things like this. I wonder if they ever make mistakes that tears their entire lives apart. Or worse, I wonder if they keep mutating their way towards death!

The Toomes corporation tower was visible near the horizon. Spiderman picked up speed and swung harder, longer with each web. But he was feeling less confident with each passing second. Especially after what Dr. Connors had told him. He felt like death was following him, gaining on him each and every minute. It might take weeks, months or years but there's a good chance he would die a painful death by mutation. Is he going to spend the rest of his life, looking over his shoulder for death? Is this the end of Spiderman?

As Peter Parker, I'm this weird, reckless kid who put his family in danger. As Spiderman, I'm just a guy dying a slow death. But life expects me to be both Peter Parker and Spiderman at the same time!

He was nearing Toomes Corporation when it happened.

A large portion of the steel reinforced roof slid open. And from inside, launched into the air, was a man with metallic wings. On his shoulder, slumped an old woman, spiritless.

Aunt May!

The sheer desperation and emotion on seeing her overcame Spiderman. He swung towards The Vulture, gaining up on him as fast as his web shooters allowed. He shot a web to both sides of a building and catapulted himself onto him.

"Hey there, birdie!"

Alexander turned to look at him and manoeuvred the wings with precision, floating mid-air, carrying Aunt May on his shoulders. "Spiderman!" His tone was unmistakeably full of disdain.

Spiderman caught himself on a water tank, holding steady with his limbs. "Yep! If you could just let go of the old woman, I'm sure we can try to be the best of chums."

Alexander's eyes shone with vanity. "She's my prize, Spiderman. You'll be better off helping some elderly man cross the street than fighting me for her."

Touché. Spiderman shot out into the air, his legs connecting with The Vulture's midsection. As expected, he buckled and dropped Aunt May. Fumbling with the web-shooter with his fingers, he shot a wave of web that entangled her completely with the trailing end sticking with a pole. It looked like a giant spider cocoon hanging above the streets of New-York with a human inside it.

Alex roared, recovering. "Try again, asshole! I dare you!"

Now that's an angry bird!

Spiderman dangled on his web, trying to hit him again but The Vulture was too efficient and sly in his movements. The first hit had probably been a fluke, because no matter how much Spiderman weaved around him, it was really hard to land another blow. Without his usual strength and agility, he looked like an amateur fighter trying to throw punches and kicks at a professional kick boxer.

The Vulture got better of him, slashing at his body with his metallic talons. They were as sharp as knives and made deep cuts on Spiderman's abdomen. Blood gushed out of those cuts. It stung heavily and he swore in pain.

Fucking ch- OWW!

A snide kick to his back sent Spiderman crashing into a building window, through the glass. His head hit a table. He lay on the cement floor, breathing like he had run a marathon. Glass had showered on him like talc. Brushing them off his body, he tried to get up and felt a blinding pain at his back. Admonishing himself for trying to take on a stronger foe with no powers, Spiderman crawled up to a sitting position and dragged himself to the broken window.

The Vulture was nowhere to be seen.

So was Aunt May. His web strand dangled alone from the pole... with the cocoon ripped open.

Spiderman slumped, defeated on the floor. Praying he had done it without error, he switched on the GPS machine in his wrist. It took a minute to boot and then showed the GPS location with a star. The star was moving fast. It had taken him enormous struggle to get it on without him noticing it.

At least, I got the Spider tracer on him. I'll know where Aunt May is.

Relief broke out in his heart. The way he was carrying her and calling her his prize, meant she was alive! Maybe there was still a chance that he could fix this, once and for all!