Web of Deception: The Webbed Avenger

Chapter Thirty-eight: The Calm before the Storm

EPISODE FIVE: WITH GREAT POWER

September 1st was the day that people would end up celebrating for a while. How the Identity Thief was caught after his "month" of killing innocent women. Their reaction to how many people Harris had really killed over the years made it worse. They acted like things were going to be the fabled happy ending in a movie. The hero stopped the bad guy, recovery, and then bam, just a happy ending.

I was caught up in that belief too, after the past few weeks I had gone through, things were actually looking up. How was I supposed to know at the time that whenever one darkness ends, another is right on the horizon? That night I spent with Lydia, watching the Notebook, that would be the last night I felt peace... at least until today, that is. Funny how one simple object can ruin a person's life, huh?

Too many people were going to be hurt because of what was coming, and even with my Spider Sense, I couldn't tell it was coming, not until it was too late.

Hell, I think the morning after was when I should have had the first glimpse into the nightmare of what was coming.

I eventually figured out that happy endings aren't how things work. There is no happy ending. It may have a moment of happiness, but that never lasts. Not for as long as we'd like.

I'd like to say that Harris went to Ryker's Island and stayed there the rest of his life being tortured by Kasady, like he deserved. I'd like to say that after that night I went on to live my life as Stiles Stilinski, just with some improvements, that my father was proud of me and I got to feel how proud he was every morning, that we wouldn't fight ever again over my impulsive actions. I'd like to say that I had my happy ending. I stopped Harris, but I didn't get the girl... I didn't end up with Lydia, or Erica for that matter. I would be content if my story ended there, having been the one to save Erica, I really would.

However, as you all probably know, that's not an ending, it's just the beginning.

God, I wish I had seen what was coming...

Stiles opened his eyes that morning sore and exhausted. He wasn't sure how long he had slept last night, but he did know that it was light outside meaning it was probably safe to go home. He went to move but found that Lydia was laying against him for warmth, and he couldn't help but feel like a human pillow.

He smiled lightly at this, this smile being replaced with a frown as he realized they were in the same position that they had been in the freezer. Sweat ran down his face, remembering how lifeless she looked in those moments. The frost hanging off of her hair, the pale white skin she had. It was his nightmare, and Stiles thought he might end up having a panic attack.

In that moment as he shook at the thought of her nearly dying, Lydia unconsciously grabbed a part of his shirt squeezing tightly around him tighter, nuzzling her head into his neck. It was something that broke his trance and he instinctively brought her closer, holding her like she was the important object in the world. He closed his eyes once more, laying his head against hers.