❛ chasing you ❜ | peter parker

Chapter 12

Her face looked almost mutated. She could feel the hot tinge of her plastic suit that had melted to her skin. Parts of the suit were also missing, with so much heat applied the plastic vanished altogether, it was bound to happen. The smell of B.O and scolded flesh wafted around and woke up Licia abruptly, suddenly getting a strong whiff of both combined.

As the girl's eyes parted open light came flushing in, she quickly grabbed the wall and a near by rail to haul herself up. All of her surroundings were painted in a thick, glossy coat of white, which made it look like she were in an asylum of sorts. Her eyes slowly adjusted as she sat there trying to scan the room. Three walls and a few bars, she nonchalantly thought. Three walls.. and a few bars? She had to do a double take, slightly questioning herself. "No!" She whisper-shouted. Three walls and a few bars! Licia hung her head loosely in her hands, groaning in frustration. How could she have been so stupid? Jail? The girl was now seriously doubting her abilities. How did I get caught?

She face palmed again. The explosion! Even when she threw the grenade she should have known the short distance away from it could have well been life-threatening. And now, thanks to her foolishness, she was in a prison cell, finally captured.

"Ya lucky" Someone with a very thick jersey accent remarked, "They don't know who ya'r, even when they took dat mask owf" Licia snapped her head in the direction of the speaker, obviously startled.

"Huh?" She asked, eyebrows furrowed.

The man laughed to himself; "Ya mug is so beat, they don't know who you are." He said comically. The girl brought her hands up to her cheek and nose, and immediately winced. Her face felt lumpy and numb, pain shooting through all her nerves whenever she made contact with it; her mask had also vanished.

Thank god!

Licia felt and unbelievable amount of relief wash over her, at least something worked out tonight. As long as the cops didn't know it was her, everything is fine and dandy, and she's got nothing to worry about.. except for when they take her for questioning, there was no way she would allow them to bring her in for questioning.

A flurry of emptiness bounded through her head as she sat in silence for a few seconds, pondering her thoughts and assessing the situation, until she pushed her almost limp body up and began to pace around the cell. She was prepared to do almost anything to avoid an interrogation, even if it meant possibly breaking her own nose, knocking herself out or even dragging those claw things in her hands, down her face! It was a bit extreme but she couldn't risk her identity being exposed.

"What's the time?" Licia leant forward as she held onto the cold, steel bars preventing her from leaving.

The homeless man in the cell next to her nodded, then glanced at his bare wrist, shaking his head. Then at one of the officers at the front desk; "Oi! Fella!" His voice gravely echoed through the concrete palace. A couple officers spun around on their chairs and frowned at him, slowing getting up from their comfy-looking leather seats and cautiously sauntering over like two lazy cowboys.

"What, Malone?" One of them sighed whilst scratching his behind carelessly.

"This young lady over here" The man in the cell next to her pointed with both of his cuffed hands in her direction; "Would like to know the time"

Both cops averted their gaze to the mess in the next chamber, then looked at each other seeming as if they were giving each other the 'all-clear' then proceeding to check their wrist watches.

"Almost 6am" they replied dryly, and, almost in unison. A radio suddenly buzzed and cracked, and the two sped off back through the doors, leaving Licia with Malone, the homeless guy.