Silence… deafening Silence.
Peter saw the officers talk amongst themselves but all he could hear was silence. The wave of guilty overtook him time and again.
My uncle died in my arms… it's my fault. I should've been here. Instead I was off trying to make a quick buck while my uncle was killed by a common thug.
The boy held on tight to the foil blanket the officers gave him. The chill in the air bite into him like a nagging pain as he swallowed a lump in his throat.
An officer patted the boy's shoulder, clicking off his flashlight and taking a seat on the steps of the ambulance next to peter.
He spoke a few more words that peter couldn't hear before the felt his danger sense go ballistic. Peter's head pounded with the shockwaves warning him to the point of overstimulation. The boy couldn't take it.
"...Son… can you hear me!" the officers voice broke through and slowly the sounds of the world returned. The flashing lights of the police cars hit harder in the dark parking lot, the echo of police radio's asking for status reports in the distant.
"Son? Are you okay? Have you been drinking tonight?" the officer took a concerned tone.
Peter shook his head. "no, i'm sorry. This is a lot, just need to get my bearings."
"I completely understand, may I ask you some questions?"
peter nodded his head.
"How did you know the victim?"
A flash of anger showed when peter bared his teeth for just a second. His name was ben… his fucking name was ben!
Taking in a long breath Peter calmed.
"He was my uncle."
The tapping of pencil scratching on sketchpad snapped into peter's head. His senses picking up every motion of the pen and with each letter felt a piece of his heart die as they marked the death of the man whom loved him like a son.
The officer shifted uncomfortably next to Peter then cleared his throat loud enough for everyone to hear. "i'm sorry for your loss, mister parker."
"How did this happen?" tinged with obvious anger, Peter's hands shook and he swallowed another lump in his throat.
"we got a silent alarm from the arena. Apparently someone shot up the place and made off with 10 grand."
Peter froze, his whole body still.
"We tried to catch up to him but he had already gotten to the library where your uncle was along with a mother and her son going for a late night walk." the officer continued oblivious to the storm that brewed inside the boy next to him. "the robber tried to take the pair hostage but your uncle stopped him and then the bastard shot at him. Luckily we were tracking him and he had to flee but I can't help but wonder what would happen if someone got to that thug sooner."
Peter could hear it all again.
You could have stopped him. You just let him get away! The managers voice echoed in his head.
I miss the part where that's my problem, Peter felt his own words stab himself as he jumped up and screamed.
The officer shook his and also rose then put his notebook inside his vest pocket. The man placed a hand on the boys shoulder. "I understand how you feel. I've lost several friends to that damn vulture gang. Their guns can't be traced and that's assuming we can take out anyone using them. Each shot is like a grenade, tore several police cars apart."
Peter choked on his sobs the tears freely flowing down his face.
"Son, I want you to know. That thanks to your uncles bravery that woman and her child are safe and sound. He's a real hero and you should be proud of him." the officer then felt his radio.
"calling all units, calling. All units. Perpatrator cornered in the chemical factory near downtown, armed and dangerous requesting back up asap." the operator voice echoed loud enough for peter's ears to pick up.
"son I promise you we aren't gonna let the man who did this escape. Do you need a ride home?" the officer asked.
"No," Peter responded coldly.
The officer frowned then clicked his tongue. The man hustled to his police car, his fellow officers already ready to go.
In but a few moments the bright lights gave way to the singular street lamp and the sounds of the police entourage returned control to the silence. Peter looked back at the spot where his uncle died and the spot where the guns explosive round hit.
Those guns can take out squad cars. Tightening his fists peter threw the blanket down then grabbed his backpack.
Damn vulture gang, the police mans voice echoed in his ears.
The thought of uncle ben lying down on the ground flashed in peters mind as he opened the bag and donned his ski mask.
Tell may i'm sorry. Ben's blood called for vengeance and spiderman would enact it.
Peter fastened his web slingers.
A man uses whatever he can in pursuit for personal comfort. Ben's words filled peter with doubt. Was he doing this for the right reason? Is he letting the anger take control? Is this what ben would want?
No, this is what I want! He assured himself finishing the final touches of his costume. Peter shot his web at the street lamp and swung full force.
He rushed through the air with reckless abandon. He knew where the man who killed his uncle Ben was and he knew he was cornered.
Like a bug in a web, waiting for the spider to take what it desires. The cold monologue in his head peter shot through going past the police caravan overhead and outpacing them.
He didn't see the many officers point up at him like he was a flying demon. An executioner of justice that god himself would not be able to do.
The boy wouldn't have cared for all he could see was the need for revenge and he would have it.
The boys mind flashed all the memories of him and his uncle ben.
When they went fly fishing and Peter caught a big trout.
Good job petey.
Another strand of web shot out of anger.
Wow, you did all this schoolwork by yourself and you got straight a's on your report card. You're a chip off the old parker block.
Petey, look over there isn't your aunt beautiful, her friend in the sundress ain't too bad looking either.
I want you to be a man who is better then me Petey and I know you can be.
Your parents would be proud to hear you say that.
I love you peter.
I love too uncle ben, see you in three hours.
Peter shot well past the police officers he had reached the factory in a haze of memories, his mask wet from his sobbing as he stood overhead from the building next to it.
Peter saw the officers in the front of the building and those at the back waiting to breach. The boy angled his vision and saw the man hiding in the shadows moving with the darkness.
There you are you son of a bitch. Peter thought aiming his web shooter only for it to let out a hiss.
Empty. Doesn't matter… I will bring you down you bastard. Peter leapt between the rooftops and his feet scraped the roof of the factory, he slipped and almost fell down but the boy grabbed onto the wall just in time and continued to scale the walls, heading toward the nearest window, blissfully unaware of the bricks crashing down below, nearly hitting a couple officers whom patrolled the area around the factory.
Entering the warehouse window Peter climbed the walls overhead of the main production line. The entire building enraptured in darkness and the only sound being the stammering of a criminal cornered.
"Damn it, I knew that score was a hoax." his teeth chittered and Peter could see even in the shadow that his hands were shaking.
He snuck overhead, using his heightened position and the shadows to conceal him as he crept closer.
"Vulture's gonna tear me apart when he finds out. Why did I let louis convince me to do this without his approval?"
"The vulture's the least of your problems buddy." Peter's voice called from above the rafters.
The thug jumped aiming his gun upwards.
Leaping down and letting the momentum carry his punch peter strike the thugs hand with a satisfying snap.
"My hand!" he screamed, back pedaled.
Peter leapt doing a circle in the air and using his legs to knock the thug down.
"Oh god, please, please don't kill me."
Patience wearing thin, Peter aimed another punch at the man whom fell on his back with a groan.
"That old man you murdered! Did he beg for mercy!" Peter yelled ready to strike a finishing blow.
"Wait, I know what you are. Your a super hero… that means you don't kill… please take me to jail… be. a. Hero." the man choked on what peter assumed was his blood.
Super powers don't make you a hero. Ben's voice echoed in Peter's head.
Be a hero peter, like your parents. Peter backed away from the man below him and then dashed off jumping onto the wall.
"CCPD! Get down!" Peter heard the cops yell behind him though he knew they didn't see him as he exited the window.
Peter returned to the perch overlooking the chemical factory and watched as his uncle's murderer was brought to justice. Peter saw that man's arm bone protruded from where Peter had hit him.
The boy shook his head.
I. I almost killed someone. Peter thought. Never again. I was given these great powers and with them comes a responibility to use them for the betterment of others.
Peter watched them bring in the gun in a ziplock baggy.
Starting with taking down the man who supplied the guns to these street crooks.