By Moonlight (P.P + M.J)

22. Upping The Ante

*Werewolf pov*

"I know you're in there," The hostile said, holding his hands up, "that thing on your head, it's messing with you."

Kid, run, a voice echoed inside Jack's head, before a blinding light streaked in front of his eyes.

Werewolf was sloshing his way through the sewers, dragging the machine Connors had ordered him to steal. The machine, called the Tech-1 Disperser, was as highly-volatile piece of equipment. If loaded with a toxin or gas, it could expand the substance to a 20-mile range. It was the first of its kind made by Oscorp, and Connors had demanded it so he could further his plan.

But Jack was teetering on the precipice of his sanity, and his brain throbbed from inside his head. His whole body was numb, and pain was a fleeting thought. Even as he carried the machine, he felt that what he was doing was wrong, and the faces of the terrified officers flashed before his eyes. He stopped to lean on the drain wall, setting the machine down. He pressed his hands on the wall and clawed down the stone, leaving a reddened trail. He didn't know why he was doing what he was doing, just that he had to do it. He sat down, letting the heaviness in his heart swallow him for a moment as he stared blankly at his bloodied claws, his ears lying flat as he remembered the injuries he had inflicted.

No amount of voltage could take away those memories.

Eventually, he picked himself up along with the instrument and returned to the lab, where he found his boss distributing green liquid into vials. The first time he'd transformed hadn't gone well, so he was hoping to make the effects last longer. He had taken on a form of a lizard, huge and powerful, like Jack himself. But the transformation lasted only an hour, and Connors was working to lengthen its time.

Jack set the machine down on the side of the wall, and leaned against it, pressing his head against the cement. He glanced once again at his paws, seeing the red painted on his metal claws, and grimaced at the sight.

Jolt!

The electricity did little to help him forget. He was simply doing as he was ordered to, but it took a certain effort not to kill whoever he saw as the voltage ran its course. The man that Connors had hired to steal the bus had no idea that his partner would be a lycan. But Jack did his job, and he did it well. To Connors, that's all that would matter.

"Splendid, you've retrieved it!" Connors suddenly exclaimed, and Jack pushed himself off the wall as the scientist approached. His glasses were gone, and his eyes were a sickly green, faint scales growing on either side of his face. "Looks like the police found you."

"It doesn't matter," Jack replied gruffly, flattening his ears.

"No, it doesn't. Not anymore," Connors said, and he went over to a table where a new, small wooden box was. The scientist saw him spying it and he patted the box.

"This is just something I picked up today," Connors explained, "just as a contingency."

"For what?"

"Nothing you need worry about," Connors replied, running his one hand over the smooth mahogany surface, "did you get rid of that tracker?"

Jack nodded, "I planted it on the hostile. He wasn't a problem."

"No, but he's becoming one. Which brings us to your next mission."

Jack pricked his ears at the words.

"I need you to kill Spiderman."

I would never kill you.

Jolt!

"Kill him," Jack echoed as the electricity ran through his body, "I thought we weren't going to do that."

"The Avengers, or what's left of them, can't stop us now," Connors said with a dismissive wave of his hand, "Spiderman is the only one blocking our direct path, so he must be removed."

A heavy feeling came over Jack's heart, and he shook his head, growling, "but I can't."

The scientist gave him a peculiar look, and Jack gazed at him pleadingly, "I can't kill him."

"Must I up the power on that thing?" Connors asked, and he went up to Jack, ordering him to lower his head. Instinctively, Jack did so, and the scientist tweaked the helmet, cranking up its voltage output.

"Tonight, you will end Spiderman's life," Connors commanded, and Jack flattened his ears, "Are you ready to obey?"

Jolt!

The electricity was so painful it almost knocked Jack backward. His ears rung, and all he could think of was what Connors had just said. He grimaced at his throbbing head, but he felt anger in his heart, aimed at his enemy. Nothing would stop him from killing him. This time, he wouldn't hold back.

"Ready to comply."

Because I'm super appreciative of you guys getting me to 70 votes, I'm releasing another update, as a thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the reads and the votes. You're all awesome. <3 :D

~Fargone5