Peter Parker, that’s me.

Loving nephew, loyal friend, amazing superhero, kick ass science teacher, and apparently, newly appointed social worker. You see, this morning, Flash Thompson found out that someone’s been beating the daylights out of one of our students. So, rather than have Flash investigate and put the guy who did this in the hospital, yours truly volunteered to get to the bottom of things.

But that’s just the first chore on my list tonight. I’ve also got a new Hobgoblin gunning for me, plus the Vulture’s back in town, committing some pretty odd crimes. And then there’s the biggest task of all, grading the rest of the class’ papers before tomorrow morning…

SACRIFICES

Part II

By Tobias Christopher

A.J. Michaels was sitting on his bed, strumming his guitar as he tried writing a new song. Since he was feeling stronger, he could feel his creative juices flowing again. If he had truly beaten his cancer, he could pour his heart and soul fully into music again. Just one more treatment, then he could possibly be done with cancer for good.

As he sat there, A.J. thought he heard a thump on the roof. After a second, he went to writing his new song for his band, wondering if he could find a word that rhymed with ‘disembowel.’

Up on the roof, where the young man thought he’d heard the noise come from, Spider-Man was looking down at the yard below.

“No spider-sense going off,” said the wall crawler to himself as he looked around to make sure no one had spotted him. “Either the kids are safe for the time being or-”

“Burglar!” shouted the next door neighbor, an overweight woman in a pink bathrobe. In her hands was a shotgun, which she wasted no time firing upon the wallcrawler.

“Lady, don’t you watch the news? I’m the Amazing-” Spider-Man found himself cut off by another shotgun blast as he swung off the roof. “Tell Gilbert Grape I said hello!”

Drew checked his cell phone messages again to see if Maggie had called. He’s gone to her house only to find out she’d left in a hurry. Currently Drew was walking to the usual places he took his girl, hoping he’d find her.

Normally Drew was the one to break their dates, accidentally, of course. He just hoped that Maggie was alright. Drew really cared about her, almost as much as he cared about his brother. Drew thought for a moment and realized he’d missed the most obvious place to look.

The ‘Extra’ opening credits came on as Mario Lopez came onto the stage.

“Tonight on ‘Extra’, we take a look at Tyler Perry’s Madea Gone Wild in 3D; we have the trailer for Rob Zombies My Little Pony; and we go behind the scenes of Michael Bay’sThe Family Circus.”

May Parker was watching the show at home when she saw Mary Jane on the set of her new movie, and immediately hit the DVR button to record it in case Peter wasn’t watching.

Peter knocked on the door of the Michaels home, hoping to not get shot at this time. After a few minutes, A.J. answered the door.

“Mr. Parker, what are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to your father,” replied Peter as he looked at the young man, looking for any signs of abuse. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, why do you ask?” asked A.J. as he took a quick glance at the living room. “Now’s not a real good time. Dad’s… not here now.”

Peter’s eyes shifted, knowing A.J. was lying. The car was still in the driveway and he knew the boy’s father was currently unemployed.

“Is Drew here?”

“He’s out, too,” said A.J. as he stood at eye level with Peter. You almost couldn’t tell that the boy was only 16. “Out on a date.”

“A.J., if you or Drew were in trouble, you know that you could come to me or someone you trust, right?” asked Peter, wanting A.J. to trust in him.

“Yeah, I guess,” replied A.J, wondering what was really going on with Peter’s visit. “You think Drew’s in trouble?”

Drew arrived at Madame Borstein’s modeling agency looking for Maggie, but since it was getting late, only the security guards were in the lobby, though they told him where the model meet and greet party was being held. Drew debated crashing the party as he headed toward the hotel. He didn’t want to jeopardize his girlfriend’s career before it even started. This was her dream and he wanted her to be happy.

Then again, there would probably be guys at this party who’d like nothing more than to steal his girl. Drew wasted no time in running towards the hotel.

Flash was reading on his couch when a knock came at the door. He got up and opened the door, finding a six pack of beer sitting on his door step. Looking around the hallway, an angered Flash slammed the door. He wanted to know who kept leaving alcohol on his doorstep.

Pouring five of the six cans down the drain, he held the sixth in his hand, just staring at it, every urge screaming to open the can and drink. He closed his eyes and poured the can down the drain, not knowing how much longer he could hold out. Luckily he had another AA meeting coming up soon; he just had to make it until then.

The party was winding down as Drew arrived at the hotel, but was stopped at the front door.

“Come on, my girlfriend’s at this party,” said Drew as he stood there.

“Sorry, kid, no one gets in without an invite,” said the guard as they were being watched on the security monitor.

“Just call up there and get a message to Maggie that Drew’s here,” said the young man, getting more impatient by the minute.

“It’s the boyfriend,” said Madame Borstein as she pushed the button to talk to the guard. “Get rid of him. I insist you use force.”

Borstein watched as the guards started to manhandle Drew. The woman went back to the party and found Maggie, who was going to be her next big star.

“You made a big impression here tonight, darling,” Borstein smiled at the young girl. “You have so much potential, but we have a lot of work to do with you, first.”

Drew found himself face down in a mud puddle after the guards forced him from the hotel lobby. Picking himself up, he realized being roughed up by the guards didn’t help with his already sore body. Thinking he’d been humiliated enough for one night, Drew started walking home to wait for Maggie to contact him.

“A.J.”, Peter started to say. “Your brother’s covered in bruises and Flash Thompson thinks it’s not just a recent thing.”

“You think our dad’s beating us?” asked A.J. as Peter nodded.

It was then that Drew returned to the house, covered in mud and limping.

“What happened to you?” asked Peter as A.J. put an arm around Drew and helped him through the door.

“Tried to crash a party I wasn’t invited to so I could talk to my girlfriend, who’s probably going to dump me,” replied Drew as he looked at Peter. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Mr. Parker thinks that—”

Peter saw the fresh bruises on Drew’s wrist and stopped A.J. mid sentence.

“Who made those?”

“Some overzealous apes in the lobby of the Parkview Hotel,” replied Drew. “My girl’s at a modeling party. I tried to get in, but someone told the guards to rough me up and toss me out.”

“Take care of your brother,” said Peter as he stood up. He wanted to talk to the guys who’d so willingly beat up a teenager. “I’ll see you both in school tomorrow.”

As Peter left the house, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Flash’s number. He knew Flash wanted a release from his anger and aiming it at those security guards was probably the best place to do it.

“Come on, Pete,” said Flash as the two headed toward the Parkview Hotel. “How many parties did we get bounced from in high school and college?”

“You didn’t see what they did to him,” said Pete as he looked at Flash, “and what parties did the ultra popular Flash Thompson get bounced from?”

“I got kicked out of plenty of parties,” replied Flash, looking somewhat embarrassed. “Every party Gwen Stacy or Mary Jane ever threw, pretty much. Managed to sneak in once or twice, but those two were pretty protective of you. I think even Harry blacklisted me after a while.”

“You were a different guy, then,” said Peter. “All of us were different people. We all had our…secrets and pains we kept hidden.”

An awkward silence filled the air until they reached the hotel entrance, ready to get to the bottom of the situation.

“You have to tell them the truth!” demanded A.J. as he helped Drew to his bed. “They think Dad’s beating us.”

“I can’t tell them,” replied Drew as A.J. pulled off his sneakers. “When you’re one hundred percent cancer free, this will all be over.”

“I don’t want you getting killed for me,” A.J. told him. “I’m stronger now. I can try to hold an after school job and—”

“No,” replied Drew as he laid back in his bed. “I promised our mom I’d take care of you. I’m the older brother, I’m supposed to protect you, keep you safe.”

Drew closed his eyes as A.J. covered him with the blanket, hating the things Drew was having to do to help him.

“I take it your party went well, my dear?” asked the Vulture, having just flown in through the window. He walked over and kissed his lover.

“Very well, indeed,” replied Madame Borstein. “Soon I’ll have enough girls to replenish my beauty for years to come.”

“We’re going to own this town, you and I,” said the Vulture with a laugh as he held her in his arms. “Our combined power and wealth will be unstoppable.”

The two went to kiss again when Borstein’s eye caught the monitor, where the security guards were being beaten up by two men.

“Of course, darling, there could be obstacles I’ll need you to take care of,” Borstein said, giving her man a deeply passionate kiss before turning his attention to the monitor.

“Who are they?” asked the Vulture.

“I suspect they’re here about one of my newest acquisition’s boyfriends,” replied Borstein. “He tried to get in here earlier and I had him… removed. I want no distractions for my newest star if you know what I’m getting at. Maggie will be what puts me back on top of the modeling world. Removing her boyfriend and whoever else can cause trouble early will require your special skills.”

“Understood, my love,” said the Vulture as he kissed her hand before heading toward the window, ready to do her bidding.

In the lobby, Peter and Flash were finishing with the security guards who’d beaten up Drew. Peter didn’t like the idea of taking revenge, but he hated the idea of two grown men beating up a defenseless kid even more. Peter pulled all of his punches so he wouldn’t really hurt the men so much as just teach them to not mess with his students. One final punch landed the guards in the fountain in the middle of the lobby.

“That was kind of fun,” said Peter as he looked over at Flash. “Not that I want this to be an everyday thing.”

“These guys beat up an innocent kid, it’s not like we’re costumed vigilantes,” replied Flash.

Peter ignored the comment as his spider-sense went off. Something definitely wasn’t right about this place.

“Pete, you okay?”

“Yeah,” replied Peter. Something was setting off his sixth sense. Spider-Man would have to come back once he got Flash home.

Drew made sure A.J. was asleep as he got dressed. His body ached, but he had somewhere to go. He had the money for his little brother’s final chemo session, but now he needed money for a real camera. If he could get a real job at the Bugle, he could give up doing what he left the house for late every night. Sneaking past his passed out father on the couch, Drew headed uptown.

“So, did you get to the bottom of who’s beating up Drew?” asked Flash as he and Peter left the hotel.

“A.J. was about to talk before Drew showed up,” replied Peter as they walked down the sidewalk. “I think there’s something else going on.”

“Like what?’ asked Flash.

“A.J. didn’t react to me accusing his dad like someone who’s being beaten,” Peter told him. “It’s like he knows who’s beating Drew up, but didn’t implicate his father. I think someone else is doing this to Drew. Look, it’s getting late, maybe we should call it a night and discuss this in the—”

Peter was cut off as his spider-sense kicked in, just in time to grab Flash and pull him to the ground, just as a series of sharp blades shot into the wall behind them. Peter looked up from the ground to see the Vulture circling around for another strike.

What the hell’s going on? Peter asked himself. Why does the Vulture want to take Peter Parker out?

Flash moaned as he rubbed his head, having hit it on the pavement when he was pushed to the ground. Peter took advantage of Flash being dazed and pulled him into the alley before the Vulture could strike again.

“Stay down,” Peter told his friend as he tossed a trash can at the Vulture, hoping to slow him down long enough to change into the costume under his clothes. The trash can hit the Vulture, causing him to hit the car behind him, giving Peter the distraction he needed.

The Vulture flew into the alley after getting his bearings, but only saw Flash lying on the ground. He aimed and prepared to fire on the nearly unconscious Flash when Spider-Man uppercut him, knocking him backwards.

“Don’t you know better than to hit a man when he’s down?” asked Spider-Man as he flip kicked the Vulture, knocking him into the wall.

“This is the second time you’ve messed with things that don’t concern you!” shouted the villain as he fired his blades at Spider-Man, who easily dodged them before shooting his own web balls at the Vulture.

This has something to do with that hotel and those security guards, Spider-Man told himself as he clung to the wall and fired more webs. No wonder those guys were rough on Drew, and why my spider-sense went off.

The Vulture shielded himself from the web balls, but when he lowered his metallic wings that he was using as a barricade, he saw Spider-Man swing towards him, knocking the villain into the wall. Getting to his feet, he coated the Vulture in webbing to hold him for the police. As he was finishing, he heard Flash moan as he started to realize where he was.

“Pete?” asked Flash as he opened his eyes and rubbed the back of his head.

“Right here,” replied Peter as he buttoned up his dress shirt before helping Flash to his feet. “Let’s get out of here.”

“The Vulture got away before the police arrived,” sighed Peter as he read the paper the next morning. He was sitting at Aunt May’s breakfast table, eating a stack of healthy wheat cakes. “I should have stayed to make sure he didn’t escape.”

“You did the right thing,” assured Aunt May as she drank her tea. “Flash could have had a serious concussion. You were right in seeing he got home safely.”

“Thanks,” sighed Peter as he took another bite of his breakfast. “But I still need to check out that hotel if it already hasn’t been cleared out yet. The Vulture’s connected to it, and I’m afraid of how many more of my students might be in danger.”

“Oh, before I forget, I saw something on TV last night you might want to see,” said Aunt May as she led Peter into the living room. Aunt May turned on the television and played the recording of the previous night.

Peter took a seat on the couch and saw his estranged wife, Mary Jane, on the set of her new movie. She was dressed in tight black leather and looked more beautiful than ever. He wanted so badly to be with her but there were too many factors pulling them apart.

“I love working in such a great environment,” said Mary Jane as she talked to the interviewer. “It’s like we’re quickly becoming our own little family.”

“This role was one of the most sought after in Hollywood, and could be the first of many big roles for you,” the interviewer said off camera. “Is there anyone special in your life that you can share this newfound fame with?”

“Not currently,” said Mary Jane, looking a little saddened. “But there is one person I wish was here with me, but unfortunately it’s not possible.”

“I miss you, too,” said Peter softly as Aunt May took his hand.

Drew sat at the computer before school, looking up information about the modeling company his girlfriend was about to sign onto. He needed to make sure she knew what she was doing.

“Hey,” said Maggie as she kissed Drew’s cheek just before he could read the article he’d set out to find. “A.J. said you were here. Sorry about our date last night, I—”

“Forget it,” said Drew, smiling at her. “Just don’t forget me when you’re famous.”

“Deal,” replied Maggie as she saw the computer. “What’s that?”

“Nothing,” quickly replied Drew as he shut the monitor off. “Come on, let’s go to class.”

“Maggie will be my new star,” said Borstein as she lay in bed with Adrian Toomes, the man who currently held the title of the villainous Vulture. “She’ll make me millions, then when I have no more use for her, she’ll give her life for my beauty.”

“And what about the boyfriend and the guys who got away last night?” asked Adrian.

“The boyfriend could be trouble, but I know how to get rid of him without too much trouble,” said Borstein, kissing her lover. “As for his friends, we’ll take care of them soon enough as well. After all, New York is a dangerous city. Accidents happen to those who stick their noses where they don’t belong.”

TO BE CONTINUED