Spidey and the Iron Girl: Vol. 2

#3: Under Cover of Darkness

Collin dropped off Peter at his dorm with strict instructions to drink lots of water before she headed back out onto campus. She had a few more parties to check out, though not necessarily as a guest. Her dad had insisted on not giving her assignments until she was done with college, but that didn't mean she couldn't give herself a few little projects here and there.

ESU's campus at night was rife with crime. The cover of darkness and the influence of alcohol tended to bring out the worst in people. Call it a gift, but Collin could sniff that shit out like no one's business. The clearest sign of trouble waiting to happen was usually someone walking by themselves too late at night.

Dressed to party, Collin didn't stick out as she wandered around tonight outside of Peter's dorm. She figured she'd drop in on a couple of other frat parties to check out the vibe, but she didn't spot anything suspicious until she made her way around the back of the library heading towards the Greek houses. Three girls were walking, arms linked and tripping over themselves with laughter as they sang Sweet Caroline at the top of their lungs.

Collin stayed back and close to the building's shadow so they wouldn't see her. The sidewalk split two ways back here, one leading to Bettany Hall and the other to Olsen Tower, where Peter's dorm was. Two of the girls headed back that way, calling goodbyes and I love you's to the friend that was breaking off from the group to head to Bettany.

Collin's footsteps were silent as she followed the girl, who was careening from one side of the sidewalk to the other. Collin sped up a little, just in case she decided to topple over face first into the pavement. Lamps illuminated the walkway, but there was a long section just next to the dorm hall shaded by trees on both sides that was plunged in darkness. Collin had quickly learned it was one of the most dangerous parts of campus.

As the girl walked into this tunnel of trees, Collin heard her call a greeting and the sound of someone else's voice talking to her. She walked even faster to catch up, cursing the fact that she hadn't been allowed to bring her suit on campus. She would have been able to turn the volume up on her headset and pinpoint exactly who the girl was talking to, but, as it was, she could barely hear this other person or make out their silhouette in the dark before she heard a scream.

Collin ran to the sound of struggling and snapped on her flashlight just as she felt that she was going to crash into them. The girl had her arms pinned behind her back, a larger, familiar looking man holding them there as he twisted painfully. The sudden light had blinded him so he lifted one of his hands to shade his face.

"Hey, asshole," Collin growled. "Let the girl go."

Usually just this was enough to send these cowards running, but not this one. This one, it seemed, was feeling tough tonight.

"Oh, I know that voice. Why don't you come here and make me?" He started walking backwards, dragging the girl with him.

"Happily," Collin smiled in the dark.

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Peter hadn't necessarily been faking his drunkenness-- just exaggerating it a tad so Collin would take him to his dorm. It had taken all of his will-power to drag himself away just when he was starting to have a good time, but it was getting late and he had a job to do. So, as soon as Collin had disappeared from his dorm room, he changed into his suit and climbed out the window. Olsen Towers was a tall building, but he climbed down the side easily and then leapt to the nearest tree as quietly as he could.

His senses were on fire at night, the city teeming with danger. When he closed his eyes, he could almost see what his senses were telling him, threats lighting up like road flares in the dark. A strong chill ran down his spine as he got closer to Bettany Hall, a tingle he couldn't ignore. He'd been planning to head straight to Queens but he wasn't about to ignore someone in trouble, either.