Web of Deception: The Webbed Avenger

Chapter Sixty-six: The Spider's Symbol

What was he supposed to think after reading all that? Was the letter supposed to be his father's last chance to say goodbye if everything had gone wrong that day, as a way to shine light in the darkness? How could it shine light on the situation when he was faced by the glaring fact Stilinski believed that Stiles would come to save him that day... and he failed.

Stiles didn't save his father. If he had, Stilinski would be home right now. Tears ran freely as he covered his mouth, uncontrollably trembling at the thought Stilinski waited for him. Knowing that now, the smile Stilinski had when Stiles first showed up... that was because he knew.

"I should have been there," he whispered to himself as he laid the letter down. It wasn't his fault. This entire time he had been putting the blame on himself, but how could it? Stiles didn't know what was going to happen. He didn't know how involved Derek was going to be, or that Brad had gone to Stilinski looking for a way out. How was he supposed to know that? Stiles couldn't punish himself for what happened, not anymore.

He only gave his father the information on the hard drive. The plan didn't work because Cassandra somehow knew that Brad and Stilinski had met up. Just when he thought things were getting clearer, somehow it became more complicated. If he was going to find out where Mesmero was, he would have to find Cassandra.

Stiles would have gone after Cassandra no matter what, but now... now it was his top priority.

"What are you going to do now?" he could practically hear his father's voice asking him. Rightfully, he knew this wasn't right. He shouldn't be talking to someone that wasn't there, but it felt like he was actually talking to his dad.

"Brad's with Murdock for the time being. Derek's being watched by S.H.I.E.L.D. where hopefully Mesmero can't influence him, and the next step in Mesmero's plans revolve around the Ganali Device. If Mesmero wants to use it to spread the Lycan Serum across the city, he has to steal it when it's being transported from Stark Tower."

"Okay, so you'll intervene in the middle of the robbery?"

"It's about the only choice I got. If Mesmero gets his hands on the Ganali Device, he'd control the city."

"Is there any way you can prepare yourself?"

"My web fluid is stocked, my suit's fine... the only issue I have is that if I've got to fight in the middle of the air, I won't be able to save myself if I fall."

"Turbulence won't allow you to shoot a web onto the plane..."

"Yeah."

"If anyone could figure out a way to work around that, Stiles, it'd be you."

With a nod, Stiles stood up and took one last look at the photo of his family. Even if they weren't here, they'd always be in the back of his mind, pushing him forward.

Stepping into his lab, his phone began ringing. He had a feeling he knew who it was, considering he was supposed to go with Lydia to see Harry.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey. Is everything alright? I thought we were going to go see Harry," Lydia asked.

"Y-yeah, everything's okay. Had to look into something Michaels told Spider-Man."

"What'd he say?"

"Well, let me start with this. In my haste, I assumed that Brad was the one who shot my Dad. It was in the heat of the moment, and it looked like he did. According to Brad though, he didn't shoot him, his sister Cassandra did."