NOWHERE LEFT • Peter Parker

five •

"Oh now he wants to do something!"

February 2025

Cecilia felt both angry and relieved with the news that Yelena had told her, relieved because it meant Oscorp wasn't responsible for a potential genocide, but it also angered her because it meant they had to do more investigating.

Oscorp wasn't funding the Devil's Breath, an unknown beneficiary was, and now it was their job to find out who. And to do that Yelena and Cecilia had decided to tail the good doctor from the rooftops as he ran around the city to complete his errands.

Yelena had wanted to kill him then and there as she believed with him gone the problem would be also. Cecilia knew that wasn't the case though as Connor's wasn't the problem, it was who he was working for. And Cecilia wanted to tug on that thread until she unraveled the entire plan and exposed those that were hiding in the dark like rats.

"This is boring, so far all we've seen is that he gets rejected by all of the women he hits on," Yelena complained as they followed Connors through a grocery store. They were both in their suits but could thankfully pull long coats over them since it was winter and nobody would question it. All anyone could see was Cecilia's heavy black combat boots and her head as she had her hands stuffed deep into her coat pockets.

"He seems to get rejected in most areas of his life," Cecilia agreed in a soft hum causing Yelena to chuckle at the jab at the man. They knew that his project had been rejected several times, and now knowing what it had the ability to do they understood why. Besides, Curtis Connors gave them the creeps.

The two young women continued to follow him until the sun started to set, and just as they were about to head home because they had thought he retired home for the night they watched in slight annoyance as he exited his apartment and stepped out into the night.

"Oh. Now he wants to do something! Right after I've talked you into takeout!" Yelena groaned before she slipped her mask back on and turned to the younger woman who had ignored her friend's words and instead had her eyes trained on the doctor.

Cecilia pulled her mask up to cover the bottom half of her face and threw Yelena her motorcycle keys. Together the pair made it down into the alleyway and with Cecilia's heightened senses guiding them they managed to tail the man's cab from far enough away he wouldn't notice.

They passed under streetlights and weaved in between a few cars, which Cecilia knew was illegal but who was going to stop them? The brunette had her eyes squeezed shut as she held Yelena's waist loosely and focused on Dr. Connor's nervous breathing and his erratic heart rate.

When the pair finally pulled to a stop a street away Cecilia looked at the building in confusion. There were no lights on, or cars in the parking lot sans the taxi and a lone town car. Her eyes drifted up to the side of the building, a side she hadn't seen the first time she had been there.

KPG.INC

Was written on the side of the building in solid black letters, the images that Kate had showed her several months ago coming to the surface of her memory.

"What is this place?" Yelena questioned as she glanced to the brunette on the back of her bike. Cecilia swallowed the lump in her throat once she realized just where they were exactly.

"Kings Palace Gallery, Connor's' bank statements showed he was getting money from KPGinc," Cecilia explained as she gestured towards the large Art Deco building in front of them.

Yet before either of them could get off the bike Cecilia's phone vibrating caught both of their attention. The brunette fished it out of her pocket and answered it quickly as Kate's name flashed across her screen.

"Hey is—"

"Where are you?" Kate demanded instantly, her voice was strained with worry.

"We're following Connors, is everything okay?" Cecilia asked as she and Yelena shared a worried look.

"No! This guy—he just, well he just jumped me outside of class. Actually not really outside more like after in a dark alleyway, but still! I can't believe—"

"Kate! Are you okay! What do you mean some guy jumped you?!" At Cecilia's words Yelena perked up even further as they leaned closer together so they could both hear.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I beat his ass, but he had a gun, and a thumb drive," Kate explained as she stared at the unconscious man crumpled at her feet.

Cecilia let out a deep sigh. She was thankful that Kate was okay but she was also infuriated that someone had tried to hurt her.

"Smash it and meet us at home, make sure you don't have a tail," She instructed listening for her friend to agree. Kate hummed to herself before dropping the thumb drive in her hands and stomping on it with her boot. And just for good measure she kicked the man who had attacked her in the ribs once more.

"See you at home."

Cecilia and Yelena rushed into the loft and were happily greeted by Lucky who didn't seem to pick up their worry and fear about their friend.

"Kate!" Cecilia yelled out as she started heading for the bathroom where she could hear Kate's heartbeat and smell the alcohol from the first aid kit.

"In here! Damnit," She cursed as she continued to clean the cut on her arm. Thankfully it was the only injury she received but it still hurt like a bitch.

"Oh good, it's just a paper cut," Yelena sighed once she saw the small amount of damage to Kate's body, of course that didn't ease Cecilia's guilty conscience.

This is exactly what Cecilia had been afraid of, although they didn't know who was behind this they at least had some what of a lead.

"Yeah, it wasn't too bad. The guy, he kind of sucked actually. Like he had never done it before, which is odd to me. Why would you pick up assassinating people as a new hobby right after the holidays?"

"Wait, he wasn't a professional?" Cecilia asked causing the other two to share a look of confusion.

"Not that I could tell, wasn't anything like that first guy they sent after you," Kate answered as she set down the red stained cloth and allowed Yelena to grab a roll of gauze.

The youngest ran a hand down her face and let out a frustrated groan. This was a bad sign, a really bad sign if Cecilia was being completely honest.

"What are you thinking?" Yelena asked as she glanced up from Kate's arm.

"That they've lowered their standards. The first guy that came after me almost succeeded in killing me. Then a few nights ago this guy shows up and threatened to kill me, but he was scared and conflicted. He gave me the thumb drive with little to no persuasion. And now this," Cecilia explained as she gestured to her friend once again.

"If they've made this list accessible to just about anyone with connection to the dark web...well we're utterly fucked."

—

AN
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