black treacle - matt sturniolo

Chapter Nineteen, Poor Bug Boy

Matt's recurring nightmare happened like clockwork.

The minute his head hit the pillow he was Spider-Man swinging through the city in a race against time before a blurred figure released someone he loved to plummet off the Empire State Building. It was mostly his mom and the occasional rotation between the men in his family.

Lately, it had been Robyn.

Whenever he shut his eyes he could imagine her jet-black hair flying in the air, tears welling in her eyes and her arms stretched out to reach him. He was always too late. It ends with people crowding around him as he holds her body close to him, screaming at him for killing an innocent girl as if it didn't hurt him the most.

Right now, he was awake. He's not in the city. But with her in his arms after a brush with death, all Matt could prioritise was keeping her safe. It was eerie how realistic it felt, like it was almost inevitable and all these nightmares could do was desensitise him.

Matt took a blow to his stomach while checking Robyn was away from harm. He deserved it though. Imagine this girl knocking out your boyfriend with a chair nonetheless.

The Queen's eyes behind the makeup were blazed with fury and it was expressed through every strike he dodged. The web he aimed at her ankles was cut off by a flick of her wrist, sending cards trailing from his feet to his head.

"He was just trying to help you." She grunted as she dodged his web and sent another card cutting Matt's arm.

"Have you ever tried, I don't know, reaching out normally?" Matt's shot was successful. The web wrapped around her ankle. "Like hey Spidey! Remember the freak incident at the lab last year?" Tugging the string, the Queen tripped and Matt sent her flying back with a kick in the stomach.

"We went through the same thing, let's talk sometime over coffee." Before she could get up, another web was shot at her abdomen and she was pulled towards him. "Even though I prefer root beer," Matt right hooked her in the face, "I wouldn't have objected if we could figure out what the fuck was wrong with us."

The Queen whipped her head back and looked at Matt who still had her dress bunched up in his fist. "Poor bug boy stuck in his own trap." Before Matt realised his grave mistake of leaving her hands free, a flurry of cards sliced his back like claw marks. He let her go out of shock and the Queen took this opportunity to punch his face.

"That's for the King."

A jab to his stomach.

"That was for me. I'm guessing it's too late to get a coffee with you? Shame. I'll get a cup for your funeral though."

He caught her next punch and stared at her dead in the eyes.

Twisting her arm and webbing her hands, Matt sighed, thinking this fight was finally over. But she broke through the webs as easily as he made them. Before his spidey senses could rescue him, a card was sent to his wrist.

Another across his cheek.

The last near his heart.

Matt stumbled as his body made him aware of how much blood he had lost. The pain had finally struck him. He was paralysed in his spot, left to brace for whatever attack was next before he could regain his power.

He felt a liquid trickle from the cut off his face: unsure if it was blood or drizzle. Oh God, if he had to fight in the rain. Much to his surprise, the Queen lowered her fists and let them rest beside her body.

"I've had enough with you."

"You fold?" Matt was fortunate that his body's cries for help didn't restrict the oxygen from his brain because what was Spider-Man without his witty quips? Some loser in a costume.

"But I'm not done with her." Matt's eyes widened. Although they were facing each other, he knew she was referring to Robyn.

"Fight me, she's harmless. Don't tell me you're betting I'll win."

The Queen lifted her hand, ready to attack. "She knocked him out. It's time you get a taste of your own medicine."

With his final might, he aimed a web at her hand. She dodged it easily.

"You're as predictable as ever. Makes ending her just that much better."

What she didn't predict was the web he aimed at her legs while she prepared to strike. As any young boy would, Matt had dabbled in magic. His dad got him one of those starter kits with the top hat and the bunny puppet and he would perform shows in the living room.

The only trick he remembered (other than how to pull a never-ending stream of handkerchiefs from his coat) was that magic was pure misdirection.

He needed her focus to be away from his left hand that entwined her legs together. Another web and a hard pull brought her to her knees. Thud! Her head fell hit the ground and she lay there motionless.

Rain poured over them and Matt let the raindrops hit him against the face. It was over.

"You can come out now, Robyn."

"How did you know I was here?" She questioned, stepping out from behind the pillar to stand next to him.

"When have you ever listened to my advice?"

The makeup streamed down the Queen's face, revealing her identity as Ashley Simmons, the Ace of the drama club. Matt chose to ignore his confusion about the villains' identities to the extent of accusing his closest friends as his attackers. Come on, Matt. It was literally circled in the newspaper.

Robyn crouched down and snapped photos of Ashley's face and her identity as the Queen of Spades. Grabbing her hair, she pulled the barely conscious girl, bringing her ear near her lips.

"Return and I send these to Julliard." After dropping her head, she showed him the photos she had taken, checking if they were sufficient enough to be used as blackmail.

"Figured it was her. Did you happen to see where she dragged Frankie to?"

Matt cocked his head, "How did you know who they were if you weren't the one who sent me the clues?"

"I was watching the play with a friend and I heard thudding from behind the stage right when Ashley and Frankie's characters were replaced. It's amazing what your brain can do when you think, don't you agree, webhead?"

Matt cleared his throat and lowered his voice, forgetting about how he abandoned her in the theatre. "So your friend, what happened to him?"

Robyn looked back at the school and shrugged. "Think he left out of boredom because after I woke up, he was gone. I'm actually glad he's not here."

"Why?" He tried his best to conceal the shatter in his heart.

"Because he'd start nagging me at how I need to be an idiot and start being safer, like how you do. Your voice gets annoying after a while so imagine the torture when it's you two nagging in my ear."

"I'm ignoring how you called me annoying because I'm glad you're safe. Take the picture of Frankie and I'll walk you home before you get sick from the rain. Who else am I gonna rescue if you're grounded?"