Jaws of Death

Chapter 20

Spiderman staggered up to the terrace of the building, bloody and battered. The night view of Queens, New York with subdued activity did nothing to ease the pain he felt physically and emotionally. Something told him there was little hope of him defeating Alex Toomes and rescuing May Parker.

Although he had battled Adrian Toomes before, there was one thing Alex had that his father Adrian never did. Smartness. He was cleverer than his father. Cleverness and Vanity, when put together, gave rise to a narcissism that was far more dangerous than any quality a man can possess. The mere idea of a man with the desire to see himself above everyone and the mind to make it happen was menacing.

Plus, Alex had skill. Spiderman remembered how so efficiently he had operated the wings and talons. There was a certain grace about his movements that his father rarely had. It was going to be hard matching him with little to no powers.

This may very well be the last night I spend, brooding over the city.

He took off his gloves and compulsively checked the cut on his wrist. His mind was still elsewhere thinking of strategies to save Aunt May.

His eyes noticed something.

The gash on his wrist looked better than it had before. What?! Just as he looked, the cut was slowly, deliberately resealing itself. The process was so slow that Peter had to look keenly to observe it. It was healing. He was healing. Just as the revelation hit his brain, he could feel a force crunch through his veins and suddenly, his body felt better than it had in months, with a sense of balance and strength. His bleeding were reduced and he could almost feel the cuts on his abdomen and chest begin to re-seal themselves too.

Could it be?

He wasn't sure. But he had to check. At once, without a second thought, Spiderman ran forward took a giant leap from the building's terrace to the one opposite situated twenty yards away. His body was streamlined and balanced. Spiderman soared through the air, feeling the chilly night wind slap at his face. The terrace was rushing up to his face but Peter knew he couldn't catch it. He couldn't reach it. Connors's treatment hadn't worked. He had no powe-

His hand slapped on the stone brick and Spiderman grabbed it with every bit of power he had, swinging himself up onto the terrace. Adrenaline shot through his body as he realised what that meant.

Connors's vials had worked.

Mentally, he screamed to himself. My powers are back!

Spiderman roared out into the night for the whole world to hear. "I LOVE YOU, DR.CONNORS!"

He whipped out his GPS machine. The star had stopped moving. It was blinking, stationary. At the docks. As Peter Parker, he had been able to pry on the Warehouse near the docks, occasionally. He knew that's where the kidnapped women were. They were his wildcard. He had been planning to rescue them when he got arrested. The evidence he had thought of submitting to the court to get Wilson Fisk convicted, were the official statements from the victims, the kidnapped women.

And now, Alex had taken Aunt May there. Why?

He could think of only one reason. It was enough to boil his insides. He felt a rage unlike any he had felt recently. Rage, it seemed, could sometimes clear your mind of clutter and help you focus. Spiderman felt a plan forming in his mind. He was going to rescue Aunt May and all the women. As per his earlier plan, he was going to get their evidences and clear his name, convicting Wilson Fisk in the process. The end.

Shooting out a web strand, Spiderman sprung into the air.

I'm coming to get you, you son of a bitch!