ANTE BELLUM: XXII -IF YOU WANT PEACE, PREPARE FOR WAR

PETER PARKER

MY MIND IS FIXATED ON ONE THING: OSCORP. The site where it all boils down.

The sky is tainted black and starless, the only thing illuminating my path was the streetlights as I swung by, attaching my webs from building to building as fast as I could. I feared the worst, there was an imaginary weight pressing down on my chest and I recognized it as anxiety. I was responsible if anything happened to Gwen or Ramsey, it doesn't matter if they complied, it was me who put them in harm's way.

A sudden illumination on my right caught my attention, followed by a loud yet familiar voice booming through the megaphone. "Stand down now, or we will open fire. You are surrounded."

Shit, I mentally cursed.

I cut through the air like a bullet, webs attaching and reattaching on the edge of the building's roof as I passed, my movements were sharp and precise as I performed an evasive maneuver. The police chopper was hot on my tail, their threats falling on deaf ears as I focused on losing them, my main concern was making it on time to OsCorp and thwarting Dr. Curtis plans. If only the police knew what was really at stake here they would be aiding me instead of trying to arrest me, but this is the irony of life, you can only do justice if you're wearing a badge.

I took a sharp turn, the streets looked familiar, meaning I was on the main street that led to OsCorp. The building stood at the end of the street like a tall menacing beacon, the light at that end of the tunnel sort of thing, but the view towards it was intercepted by a chopper. Most precisely, a police chopper.

"There is... NO escape."

Their spotlight glared directly at me. For a fraction of a second, I lost focus, turning my head to the side and shielding my face with my hand was enough of an advantage for them to have a clear shot at me. And they took it. The next thing was a blur, I remember running out of air as my body plummeted to the ground, a current of electricity spread all over my body, immobilizing my body in pure pain. Hotness sizzled in my blood, despite the burning feeling surging through my body. I was sweating cold, my body was facing down against the pavement and would occasionally spasm.

"Go. Go!" Police officers hastily made their way towards me, I could hear their loud footsteps and feel the vibration of their stomps as they neared me. "All clear here, sir!"

"Cuff him. We wouldn't want him running away from us." Captain Stacey ordered a nearby police officer, I felt someone approach me. A pair of hands grabbed my wrists and handcuffed them. I was rolled over onto my butt by a police officer, forcing me to sit up.

The pain was slowly subsiding, but I still found myself feeling slightly dizzy, so I took deep calculated breaths. Footsteps neared me, short and cautious, as if afraid I would snap and attack them. My body might've shut down, but my mind was racing with worried thoughts, precious time was running out, and all because the police failed to see me as an ally instead of a criminal. The only thing that differentiates us is that they talked their way to justice, whereas I take action. Instead of giving the criminal a chance to willingly turn himself in, I just capture him and leave him on their doorstep. But I don't kill, I don't look around for a fight just because I want to... I'm not a criminal and I wish they could see that, but they won't, not unless I prove it to them, and I will, by saving the entire city. Tonight.

Lost in thoughts, I failed to prevent what had already happened, the feeling of the mask texture, as it was being yanked from my head, brought me back to reality. In one swift move, I slid my leg under the cop's legs causing his fall, I jumped and swung my handcuffed wrists underneath me, I landed on my feet, and broke free from the cuffs. I fought the rest of the cops that attacked me, all while being careful they didn't get a good glimpse of my face.

"Freeze!" My whole body froze, I remained in a half-crouch position, my arms extended to the sides as I dropped the guns I took from the officers. My heart was hammering against my chest, I could hear the pounding of my heart in my ears as I realized one thing: I'll have to reveal my identity to the Captain.

"Down on the ground." I pursed my lips, exhaling through my nose as I slowly turned around. Eyes wide with fear, for I, had no idea if what I was doing was wise or not, but time was ticking, and it was either my safety or the whole city's. "Your hands behind your head. NOW!"

A soft wind came from the chopper hovering above, the spotlight was directed towards me as I slowly turned around and made contact with Captain Stacey. His was stern but once he saw my face his expression quickly dropped into one of shock, his gun lowered a little, but it was still aimed at me. In his eyes, I could see the hesitation, the conflict he was facing between assimilating who was the masked vigilante and doing what needed to be done.

"It's headed to OsCorp!" I shouted over the noise of the helicopter above. Captain Stacey readjust his aim, I raised my hands letting him know I wasn't looking for a fight, and that we were on the same side. "The girls— Gwen and Ramsey! They're at OsCorp, right where the lizard is heading."

At the mention of Gwen, Captain Stacey lowered his gun, slowly. He stared at me with worried yet hesitant eyes, he was a cop, and he had a jump to do, but he was also a father and his daughter was in grave danger. Slowly I approached my mask that lay on the ground, the chopper's spotlight followed my every move, awaiting Captain Stacey's orders, and yet they never came.

"You have to let me go." I pleaded, my heart thudded against my sternum as I grabbed the mask and slowly put it on. I only moved once I saw Captain Stacey's gun drop to his side, I breathed out a sigh of relief before sharply turning around and shooting a web at the building in front. Furthermore, I propelled myself upward, the gravitational pull made my stomach churn with nerves, and each web I shot was the equivalent of time. Was I going fast enough? Will I make it on time? Are Gwen and Ramsey-?

I gasped loudly, my body crashed on the building's window, and shards of glass rained down as I struggled to get a grip and prevent my fall. I pulled myself up all the way to the building's roof before making a run, my breathing came out in loud pants, and there was severe pain in my right thigh, but I kept going. My feet struggled underneath me, but I knew I needed to get away from the police, or otherwise, they will electrocute me again and arrest me for sure this time. I couldn't afford that. I couldn't afford any more setbacks.

Once I was sure the police were left behind, I took a moment to breathe. I glance down at the wound, I checked to see if the bullet had made it out, and it did, it was a clear shot, but it still hurt like hell. I groaned loudly, squeezing my eyes shot while crouching a little, my body was begging for some rest, but now was not the time for that. Furthermore, I gasped, my eyes flew open, and I straightened up, ignoring the pulsing pain in my thigh.

"Come on, Peter Parker." I encourage myself in a strained voice as I tried to put some weight on the injured leg. A pained gasp left my lips, my leg wanted to give in, but I endured the pain, the girls needed me. She needed me. "Come on, Spider-Man. Come on."

And with one deep breath, I took off. Limping and struggling, but I was moving, the adrenaline pumping through my veins numbed the pain, though it didn't make it less difficult. I tried swinging, but I needed my legs to gain momentum, each time I tried using them a sharp pain would immobilize my whole right leg like some sort of cramp. For the second time, I crashed against a window, I grunted as I pulled my knee towards my chest while suspending myself with one hand against the brick wall. I turn to the left and noticed OsCorp, it stood there like an impossible prize, its lights taunting me that I will never make it in time at the pace I was going, and perhaps it was right.

But just when all hope was lost, someone had my back. Tower cranes started to line up simultaneously, creating an approachable path toward OsCorp. Upon seeing that I felt a surge of hope and determination flare up in my chest, I can't tell whether it was the adrenaline kicking in or I just got stronger all of a sudden. I started to climb up the building until I reached the roof, I took in several deep breaths, psyching myself that I still had time and that I could do this. I shot a web at my wound and pushed aside the pain. A media chopper hovers above me, shining its spotlight down on me before sliding forward until it reached the tower cranes before me.

"This is it, Peter," I whispered to myself, I moved my shoulders back in a circular motion before getting ready to run. "You gotta save them. You gotta save her. You got this, Spider-Man." I started to advance, struts soon turned into a run. "You got this!"

I leaped off the building with only my heart as the propeller. A wise man, I don't know who, to be honest, once said: if you want peace, prepare for war.

🅷🅾🅻🅰

Honestly it took some time for
me to get back to this book. I
just wasn't feeling it and also I
was more focused on my Starborn
and Karma book. So getting back to
this book was a bit of a challenge but
I did it and I managed to complete Act 1.

All I'm missing is to rewrite Act 2 🙃

Since this is a Spider-Man book, I gotta ask:
Which spiderman is your favorite one?

Stay safe!🤍