Chapter 68: As the Web Burns Part II

Chapter 68: As the Web Burns Part II

Spider-Man was on his back in the hole he made, seeing nothing but bright light for a few seconds, before he shook the cobwebs out of his head. He pulled himself up, dazed, as he found himself step forward.

“Like stepping into a sauna,” thought Spider-Man as he felt the intense heat as he tried to pull himself up to the top level, as he found that the various tables and walls around the lab area were slightly born.

Spider-Man turned around, before he saw Raxton slumped right over to the table, sweat pulling down his face.

“You, we need to get you out of here!” shouted Spider-Man as he stepped over, frantic, as Raxton steadily pulled himself up to a mostly standing position and Spider-Man took a step back, eyes widening underneath his mask in absolute horror.

“What happened to me?” managed Raxton, but he felt as if every nerve in his body had been on fire, but he looked down, to see a small glowing area that was emitting heat around his chest. “Spider-Man…I…”

“Just stay calm,” said Spider-Man in a shaky voice. “We’ll be able to get you some help…get you out of here…”

“No, I’m beyond help!” shouted Raxton but the heat inside his body had flared up, burning the inside of his throat raw as he staggered forward. “KILL ME NOW!”

“What?” asked Spider-Man, taken aback by this request.

“Kill me!” ordered Raxton. “Before it’s too late…I can’t really, hurts to breath…JUST KILL ME!”

“I can’t do that,” said Spider-Man panicking, as he walked right towards the window, but the immense heat had welded that, along with the doors shot. Putting his feet into the door and he tugged with all of his might, before he busted open the doors.

“Okay stay calm Spidey, he needs help, I don’t know if he’s beyond it or not but I got to try,” thought Spider-Man. “That blast should have killed him but…stay focused, there will be plenty of time to worry about scientific inconsistences when Raxton gets medical attention.”

The sirens blared, as an ambulance pulled up and two paramedics.

“Spider-Man there was an explosion did you…” started one of the paramedics.

“I saw it, I was in there when it happened…someone got hurt, no time to explain…medical attention, I don’t need to tell you what to do!” managed Spider-Man and there were no further questions, but a crowd had gathered.

“Spider-Man, what happened in there?”

“Did anyone get killed?”

The press had descended upon the area and there was a loud scream of agony, but the police had arrived, and another ambulance to investigate the situation.

“WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS TO ME, SPIDER-MAN?”

Spider-Man stiffened, as more than a few people turned around, as an agonized young man was being rolled from the building, his face completely red, badly burned, as his eyes oozed fluid, and people could feel the warmth.

“Spider-Man…did that…he did!”

“Keep him away from us!”

“He’s nothing but no good mutant trash, just like that Creed guy said!”

“Crowd’s getting rough,” thought Spider-Man, as they started yelling, but a line of webbing was shot up as Spider-Man ascended right, watching Mark Raxton being hauled right into ambulance, his agonized screams being the things of nightmares. “This looks really bad me running away from this but I don’t want anyone to get hurt trying to go after me!”

Spider-Man swung away, to regroup, as he slowly became haunted by what had just occurred but he felt rather fatigued and flushed, the more he swung it across the city, but he shook his head.

“Must have been the fight,” thought Spider-Man in a daze, as he swung off.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Police were swarming around the lab when I returned,” said Carolyn Trainer, as she stood across the street from the former lab.

“Most unfortunate as that will no longer be a viable base for our research. It is only a small favor that the explosion has likely to have erased much of any evidence that would have been left there. But was anything of note damaged.”

“The only thing that was there were some faulty prototype weaponry and…the enhanced power source,” supplied Trainer.

“A temporary setback I would admit perhaps the cost of locating another element potent enough to stabilize for infinite power for my plan. But no matter, there are ways to work around it. Everything must remain on schedule. Now what of causalities?”

“Raxton, one of the scientists, he was caught in the blast, taken to the emergency room,” said Trainer, as if reciting a simple scientific fact and not the news that a young man was severely injured.

“A pity, especially considering that the hospital will be unable to save him.”

“What will happen?” asked Trainer.

“It is mostly uncertain, although I do have theories and all of them will not end well with young Mr. Raxton if they prove to be true. Do keep me posted on any strange news regarding our unfortunate victim.”

“I will,” replied Trainer crisply as she watched closely. Another one of her mentor’s plans, set back by Spider-Man and his meddling. It was only a small satisfaction that protesters were calling for the head of Spider-Man and would distract the media from pointing any fingers towards her.

XXXXX-XXXXX

With a deep breath, Peter, now back in his civilian identity staggered a few steps and shook his head, back home.

“Getting out of shape, aren’t you, Pete old boy?” thought Peter as he took a few more steps but then his cell phone rang. “How much you want to bet that’s not good news.”

“Talk to me,” said Peter.

“Peter, where are you?” asked the frantic voice of Harry.

“I could have asked you that question earlier,” said Peter.

“Yeah I know, no show but listen..something bad has happened!” said Harry. “Liz’s brother, well step brother technically, doesn’t matter…but still, there was something involving Spider-Man…you wouldn’t happen to know anything?”

“Why would I know anything?” asked Peter, a feeling of impending dread coming on.

“Well you always seem to be around where he is, you know taking pictures for the Bugle, so you might have a better idea what happened, they’re saying that Spider-Man attacked Liz’s brother and infected him with some kind of spider virus or something,” said Harry.

“Some kind of…Harry, don’t be ridiculous,” said Peter in an exasperated and winded voice. “I didn’t see what happened, but I did see Spider-Man chase a goon, there was a robbery, I couldn’t get close enough, but there was some kind of explosion, it was hot.”

“The way Raxton was going on was that Spider-Man was the one who did this,” said Harry seriously. “Liz and her parents, well they’re kinda freaking out at what happened.”

Peter’s knees buckled as he stood slumped against a railing, catching his breath, but he gave his head shook.

“Pete?” asked Harry. “Are you still there?”

“Yes, Harry, I’m still there, listen, I didn’t…well I can’t really tell you what happened but all I know is there is an explosion,” said Peter slowly, as he held onto the railing for support and he felt a bit flushed.

“That’s all you know?” asked Harry.

“Yes, Harry, I would tell you if I knew more,” said Peter tensely.

“It doesn’t look good,” said Harry.

“I’ll be over there in a little bit, just tell me which hospital,” said Peter in a calm manner.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Do you know what it’s like to wake up as a handsome young man with scientific aspirations and a bright future? But later that afternoon, to have your future to be taken by mutant cruelty. On this day, another victim has been claimed by Spider-Man, that being ESU Graduate Student Mark Raxton, who worked to help better the human race. But a greater human race does not fit into the mutant agenda. The super powered monsters who will one day have us in chains, to do their bidding, to serve us. It is the first of many and many who chalk this up to be a tragic accident are unwilling to face the truth. This attack as premeditated and if it happened to Mark Raxton, it can happen to you, it can happen to your children. Allow us to extend a helping human hand and eliminate the mutant disease. Support the Friends of Humanity.

The Following Message Has Been Brought to You By Graydon Creed and Funded By Humans Like You.

XXXXX-XXXXX

Mark Raxton rested in a containment chamber, unmoving, his screams of pain having ceased so long ago, as Peter walked up, as Gwen and Harry turned their attention towards him.

“Peter,” said Gwen as she looked nervously around, as Harry seemed preoccupied.

“Fine,” muttered Peter. “Just a bit tired.”

“Just tired?” muttered Gwen careful not to make Harry suspect anything.

“Fine,” replied Peter in a more forceful whisper.

“Well fine,” said Gwen, but she looked at Peter, who looked slightly flushed.

“You must have been closer Pete, you look a bit shaken up,” replied Harry suddenly. “Your skin, you’re not normally this red, are you?”

“Just a bad sun burn, I didn’t get that close,” said Peter and Harry just nodded, letting the matter drop.

“I was right under the explosion but really Raxton got the worst of it,” thought Peter. “That isn’t that close…well not as close as Raxton was.”

Peter’s attention was diverted as Mr. and Mrs. Allan walked with a doctor, Liz following slightly behind, looking at Raxton with an agonized look. He might have been her step brother, but still it appeared to hurt no less.

“I’m afraid there is not much more we can do,” said the doctor. “Just sign the papers and your son…he’ll get the help that he needs. Ravencroft has facilities that will help, I know it’s not the best option, but…Mark will have a small chance.”

“You don’t mean Ravencroft…that place,” said Mr. Allan, slightly angered. “That nuthouse…”

“Now, Mr. Allan, Ravencroft is a highly respected institution with the most trained professional staff, who are able to help people like your son,” said the doctor sternly. “To help him cope with what he’s become…and maybe one day…with time…he’ll be normal.”

“Yeah, or drive me even more around the bend,” grumbled Mr. Allan. “If you ask me, Spider-Man should be thrown in there. This is all his fault.”

“It would be in your son’s best interest to sign the papers and have him sent to Ravencroft where he might have hope,” replied the doctor crisply.

“My poor baby!” wailed Mrs. Allan who seemed beyond all words.

“Papers, I don’t want to do this, but if I want Mark to live…” stated Mr. Allan before he shook his head. “I have no choice.”

“Sadly yes,” agreed the doctor as he waved over Mr. and Mrs. Allan as Liz turned over, looking rather despondent.

“I can’t believe this, I can’t believe this would happen, just this morning…he was normal,” muttered Liz. “This is…I can’t believe it, why did this have to happen?”

“Liz, it was an accident…we’re all very sorry about this,” said Peter.

“Well Spider-Man should be the one who is the most sorry about this, Dad was right, he’s caused nothing but problems for anyone!” shouted Liz suddenly, losing her composure completely.

“Spider-Man did save my life once or twice,” muttered Harry, but he seemed oddly thoughtful and conflicted.

“Yes he did,” answered Gwen firmly. “I’m sure no one feels worse about it that Spider-Man but…”

“Well he should feel bad, but him feeling bad isn’t going to make Mark normal,” said Liz angrily. “I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS! He’s not a hero, he’s just some attention whore wearing a mask and now…someone’s paid for it!”

“Liz, you’re just upset,” replied Gwen in forced calmness.

“Damn right I’m upset, it should have been him about ready to be thrown in the nuthouse, not Mark! I hope he kills himself!” snapped Liz and then she stormed off, sobbing and Peter watched her leave, racked with guilt.

“That was a bit much,” offered Harry to break the tension in the room.

“Really?” asked Gwen sharply as she looked at Peter.

“Gwen, I need to get some fresh air and I think you do too, it would do both of us good,” replied Peter, as he gripped his girlfriend’s hand and lead her from the room, as they walked to the down.

“Peter, it was an accident, and…you’re feeling guilty about this, aren’t you?” asked Gwen.

“Do you even need to ask?” asked Peter quietly.

“No, no I don’t,” responded Gwen with a resigned sigh, and Peter’s knees buckled. “PETER!”

“Gwen, fine, really,” said Peter.

“You were right in the blast radius when it went off,” said Gwen sternly as she looked at Peter.

“No, I was right underneath it,” said Peter, but he gave his head a shake.

“Same difference,” responded Gwen.

“No it isn’t,” said Peter and Gwen just sighed.

“You’re still saying you’re fine, aren’t you?” asked Gwen. “Despite the fact you’re sweating in a building that has the air conditioning cranked to almost Artic levels.”

“Well it’s not like I could see a doctor, as it would raise too many questions,” said Peter.

“Yeah, well so would an autopsy,” countered Gwen but before this discussion could move any further, a loud anguished scream echoed from the floor up where they had left.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Calm down, Mr. Raxton, it is for your own good.”

“NO!” yelled Raxton as the case he was in began to heat up and the glass began to crack. “You’re not taking me and locking me away with the other super powered psychos. I’m not a criminal, I’m a victim!”

“Not everyone in there are criminals Mark, they’re just…very sick,” muttered Liz.

“DON’T PATRONIZE ME LIZ!” screamed Mark, as his eyes flared with fire. “They’re psychopaths that would hurt everyone who looks at them wrong. I’m a victim but if I’m going to be locked up, I’ll make sure…”

He paused, as the glass burst into flames and allowed him to rise out the straps busting off of him, as molten metal dripped from the sheets, burning them.

“I’ll make sure it counts,” whispered Raxton. “I’ll make sure I go down with a good reason to be thrown in the loony bin!”

“It’s a mental institution for the troubled, Mr. Raxton, it’s to give the sick help, to make sure they can return to society,” said the doctor but security moved right in but two well thrown balls of lava had melted their nightsticks.

“Mark, don’t do something that you’re going to regret!” called Mr. Allan but Mark turned right at him, immense heat coming from him causing a few people to take a step back and grabbed onto the window, ripping it open and he jumped right out the window, to the screams of many.

“What happened?” asked Peter as he showed back up, Gwen following closely.

“Raxton’s gone nuts,” summarized Harry as he watched from the corner, as everyone seemed too awestruck to move. “He burned through that containment thing and ripped through the window like it was nothing.”

“And he’s out in the city,” groaned Peter, alarmed.

“Well I don’t know if he quite made the drop, we’re pretty high up,” said Harry as he walked over to take a look and Peter looked around.

“I’ll be right back,” muttered Peter to Gwen, as she understood immediately, before he slipped right out into the hallway, past security, as he made his way right towards an empty room.

Seconds later, Spider-Man swung into the city, ready for action.

XXXXX-XXXXX

Raxton was right on the ground right below the hospital, surprised that despite his powers, that high drop did not kill him. It was his intention, to throw himself right out the window, right to the pavement below.

“Look at the freak!”

“Freak, we’ll see how nice you look with no skin!” shouted Raxton as he raised an arm, but a line of webbing shot out, wrapping around his arms and both of Spider-Man’s feet impacted him right in the face, knocking him down. “You!”

“Yeah me,” said Spider-Man in a subdued voice, as he tried to fight through the haze. “Raxton, just please come quietly, it doesn’t have to come to this, you can get help.”

“In Ravencroft?” asked Raxton in disbelief. “You of all people should know that place makes people worse, not better.”

“Well we tried to do this the nice way,” said Spider-Man as he weaved around, dodging the attacks of his enemy, before he whipped a line of webbing around a fire hydrant and wretched it open, dousing Raxton but Raxton was staggered, before he flared up once again, evaporating the water and melting the hydrant back shut.

“Did you really think that would work?” asked Raxton. “If I’m going to Ravencroft, I’m going there as the man who took down Spider-Man!”

Raxton began recklessly blasting Spider-Man with molten liquid.

“Look I’m all for some kind of solid career direction but really, not when it involves trying to turn me into a melted pile of goo,” said Spider-Man as he felt a bit fatigued, the quips were not coming off as well.

“Too hot for you Spider-Man?” taunted Raxton.

“You know for a victim, you got all of the super villain clichés down right off the bat,” observed Spider-Man as Spider-Man used his own webbing to launch himself right at Raxton, but Raxton dodged, as Spider-Man tried to herd Raxton right around.

“The heat is causing his brain to be screwed up, not letting him think, I can use that,” thought Spider-Man as he continued to try his best to avoid his opponent’s attempts.

Raxton suddenly paused, a sharp stabbing burning pain erupted right from where his abdomen area used to be and dazed.

“My powers, they’re…hurting…me,” grimaced Raxton, as he staggered up as the crowd tried to move in for a better look, much to his anger and indignation. “GET AWAY! BACK! AWAY!”

Raxton shook his head blasting at the crowd who scattered, and Spider-Man tried to follow him, but he staggered, before slumping right to one knee, shaking his head.

“This can’t be your normal heat exhaustion and Raxton’s getting away,” thought Spider-Man, as he pulled himself up. “Scratch that, he’s gotten away, to who knows where and this crowd…they’re fit to riot.”

For the second time, Spider-Man really had no choice but to flee, rather dazed. He was forced to concede that perhaps he was more affected by the blast than he would have liked to admit.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Everything is here, and not a moment too soon, the police are likely to be drawn to this place, with Raxton having escaped from his room, they’re want to investigate,” muttered Trainer as she watched as the remaining salvageable items from the expulsion but she felt an immense burst of heat and suddenly, a rather deranged looking Raxton.

“You’ve got to help me, you owe me!” shouted Raxton.

“We don’t owe you anything, you were the one who was careless, I warned you,” stated Trainer. “And I wouldn’t think about hurting me or telling the police about anything, as it is not too late for your family to be paid a little house call by Doctor Octavius.”

“Please, do something, I don’t want to go to Ravencroft!” begged Raxton. “You can cure me, can’t you?”

“Well, obviously, given that I work for the greatest scientific mind of his generation,” said Trainer almost insulted. “Of course, you don’t deserve to be cured, but perhaps we can work out a deal.”

“What?” managed Raxton, his throat burning.

“Take care Spider-Man,” answered Trainer abruptly. “He’s gotten in the way of Doctor Octaavius one time too many.”

“Done, but I’ll be after my cure when it’s done,” said Raxton.

‘Of course,” said Trainer swiftly, thinking that she would deal with two headaches in one stroke. Her mentor’s obsession with dealing with Spider-Man himself was causing him to lose sight of his aims, but she’d fix that.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Well I’m really no expert, as this is way beyond high school science,” said Gwen slowly. “But I’ve got a good enough idea to know that there is good news, bad news, and worse news.”

“Of course there is…wait good news, are you serious?” asked Peter, surprised and Gwen nodded. “What is it?”

“You’re just suffering from a really bad form of heat exhaustion,” said Gwen.

“That’s good news?” asked Peter.

“Considering that your skin could be burning off and your organs could be spontaneously combusting within you right about now, what do you think?” asked Gwen, grimacing at the very thought. “Bad news, Raxton might not be so lucky. What we managed to get from that material that he left on his suit, his powers could be burning up and it would consume him.”

“That would explain a lot of things, give his sudden burst of power,” said Peter, thoughtfully as he took a long swig of water, feeling a bit better, but still feeling rather sore. “But that’s the bad news, what can be worse than that?”

“Oh…a lot,” said Gwen slowly as she slid out a computer print out in front of Peter. “Read the latest weather report.”

“One hundred and twelve degrees, and rapidly rising?” asked Peter. “But it was only in the eighties just a couple hours ago….his powers…anywhere he is, it’s just going to get hotter.”

“And it’s just going to get even worse…” thought Peter before he mentally trailed off. “Oh crap.”

“I’ve got to find a way to stock Raxton before he turns New York into New Pompei,” said Peter. “Look, if his powers are any indication, he’s going to heat up until he blows his top and then…”

“I know,” said Gwen as Peter’s words hung in the air. “But what can we do?”

“Maybe whip up some kind of antidote or something,” said Peter, which caused Gwen to shake her head, in frustration.

“What part of, this is far beyond high school science didn’t you hear?” asked Gwen. “Maybe if we found out what Raxton was doused with we might have a small chance.”

“But if I don’t do anything, they’re be no chance,” said Peter in frustration and Gwen looked at him. “I told him to get out, why didn’t he listen to me? He had to save something, it was more important than his life, I should have made him listen.”

Gwen frowned before she quickly spun around in her chair and began to type furiously.

“I’m trying to figure out what it might be that was so important, because you know, it might be…something that might be stolen, something that he’d be ordered to protect,” said Gwen.

“Of course, and he is working for Carolyn Trainer and given who she’s worked for, she doesn’t have the best record,” muttered Peter.

“Well that’s interesting, this could be it, take a look at this,” said Gwen, as she slid to the side to allow Peter to take a look.

“Experimental metallic alloy, potential everlasting power source, highly dangerous and potential unstable,” muttered Peter. “Stolen just early this morning and Raxton must have absorbed the power of it.”

“That much is obvious but how would he be able to maintain that much heat, without going to pieces?” asked Gwen and Peter shrugged.

“That’s one that I don’t know either,” said Peter. “It just doesn’t make sense how he didn’t just drop dead, even the chemicals would have caused him to die.”

“By all rights Raxton should be dead, he would have to have something to regulate a body temperature to live,” thought Peter.

“Let’s see if we can make anything of this, it’s the only chance we have,” said Peter, as Gwen nodded, biting her lip but piercing together an antidote was easier said than done.

“This is hopeless,” muttered Gwen after a time. “That might work, if it didn’t kill him. That wouldn’t be potent enough to get close enough before his powers evaporated it.”

“And that one would cause his powers to flare up faster,” muttered Peter as they continued to work.

XXXXX-XXXXX

Raxton dropped down, his head arched, as he felt the ground melt beneath his feet. He looked up, at the temperature, which was over one hundred and twenty six degrees at this moment and it just served to get hotter.

“It shouldn’t be this hard, to find one man with blue and red tights,” muttered Raxton as he looked around as he coughed, causing ash to fly everywhere in the air. Raxton advanced forward where an entire group had stepped right to the streets. “Let’s see what these powers can really do.”

A huge fire cage erupted right around the crowd, causing them to scream in horror and Raxton to turn, an orange glow around his body. He caught sight of himself in the mirror, surprised considering it was yellow mere moments ago.

“Good a camera crew, in fact, I want all of you to spread the word, through the media, if Spider-Man doesn’t not get here soon, all of these people are going to be ashes right on the sidewalk for the road department to sweep up,” said Raxton. “I didn’t want to do this, is it a crime to want to be normal? But I can only be normal if I destroy Spider-Man. So Spidey, if you have any sense of decency, I don’t want to kill all of these nice people, men, women, and children, I’m not the monster, you’re the monster if you don’t face me. I’ll either kill you or you’ll put me out of my misery. TAKE YOUR PICK!”

Raxton’s eyes flared dangerously, splattering hot ash and molten metal as he continued to rage about Spider-Man.

XXXXX-XXXXX

Harry sat in his bedroom, slightly slumped over, tired. With Raxton out in the city, doing untold damage and raging, there was really no point to stick around at the hospital. He needed a pill. Just one more and he would swear them off forever, but it had been a rough day and the fact that Liz was in a quite the mood because of what happened with her brother, it was wearing on him.

“Hello?” asked Harry, answering his cell phone.

“Mark’s really lost it…oh Harry, why did this have to happen?” sobbed Liz who appeared to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Mom’s in shock and Dad’s…he wants to hunt down Spider-Man himself, but he managed to calm down and now Mark…it’s on the news…I can’t believe it…”

“Liz, calm down, take deep breaths,” said Harry, thinking that he might need another dosage as that one was not stroke enough.

“He’s going to hurt people unless Spider-Man fights him,” said Liz.

“Spider-Man wouldn’t let that go without a fight, without saving them,” reasoned Harry, his voice slightly slurred, even if he tried to do it differently, as he took a fourth pain pill, feeling much better. Normally two would do it but he couldn’t cope.

“Well he didn’t save Mark and now he’s that, why aren’t the police doing anything, to bring Spider-Man in?” yelled Liz.

“It was an accident, it happens,” managed Harry in a shaky voice.

“Don’t take his side, Harry!” shouted Liz.

“I’m not, but Spider-Man seemed like a stand up guy, the times he’s saved people, me and Gwen too and a lot of other people…” started Harry.

“I don’t care what he did before!” yelled Liz. “I don’t know…he’s mad with power and your voice, you’re slurring. You’re still taking them, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not,” said Harry as he held the pain pill bottle in his free hand.

“Harry, I can’t handle this anymore, what happens to Mark, both of my parents are freaking out, Spider-Man is still out there, and you’re still taking pills after you got arrested!” yelled Liz. “I can’t handle this anymore, all of it, everyone wants to defend Spider-Man and call my brother a criminal!”

“Liz calm down,” said Harry. “You’re freaking out, it will be alright.”

But there was no answer on the other line. Harry bent forward, sighing. Liz didn’t seem to handle pressure too well and she did have a bad day, but she didn’t need to be flying off the handle. He only took four pills, it wasn’t a big deal, he could quit anytime he wanted.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Nothing,” muttered Gwen. “And really, we were stupid for trying….”

“Well I guess that makes me stupid for wanting saving innocent lives,” said Peter, stress at unable to find anything to help counteract Raxton’s powers was weighing on them and he didn’t have much time left.

“That’s not what I meant, but…we just don’t know enough,” said Gwen in a despondent and depressed voice.

“We know more than most our age,” supplied Peter, but he frowned. “And it’s not enough.”

Peter had to resist punching right into the side of the table and he sank down, sighing before he lifted up his cell phone.

“Text…Raxton’s held a bunch of people hostage, he’s threatening to kill them if I don’t stop them,” said Peter. “I got to go and fight Raxton!”

“With what, Peter?” asked Gwen. “We don’t have anything and…you still don’t look good. How are you going to defeat him when we haven’t even figured out anything?”

“With my last breath,” thought Peter but he was not going to say that out loud.

“I’ll have to manage, if I don’t, lives will be lost,” said Peter, as he changed. “Wish me luck.”

“You’re going to need more than luck,” muttered Gwen before she kissed Peter good bye. “But I’m sure you’re think of something.”

“I hope you’re right,” thought Spider-Man as he moved out. “Feeling better, but not at my best and I’m going to have to fight in temperatures well over one hundred degrees after suffering heat exhaustion.”

XXXXX-XXXXX

“Please stop this, some people need help, they might be dehydrated,” said one of the woman in the fire cage, who could barely stand right on her own right. “You’re killing us.”

“No, I’m not killing you, Spider-Man is the one killing you, by not showing up!” yelled Raxton, who was beyond all reason.

Spider-Man swung down right in front of Raxton at this instant.

“Raxton, I’m here, let them go,” said Spider-Man in a desperate voice.

“No, I think they’re going to stay in that nice toasty cage a little longer, as insurance to make sure you don’t run away this time from me,” said Raxton.

“They’ll die!” yelled Spider-Man desperately.

“That’s not my problem, that’s yours, but you won’t have much of a problem longer,” said Raxton as he raised his hands, blasting glowing orange lava balls right at Spider-Man who dodged them. “You see, I’m not some bad guy, I’m just some normal guy, doing his job, but you just had to play the hero and now I have to be this, a victim.”

“Trying to kill people is not what a victim does!” shouted Spider-Man as he tried to move in, but he found it hard to concentrate in the immense heat.

“Stop trying to confuse the issue, Spider-Man!” raged Raxton, causing flames to shoot around the air. “Once you’re gone, I’ll be normal again.”

Raxton took a step forward, but he remained immobile, his ankles sinking into the pavement, the sticky tar around it melting.

“Lucky break for sure,” thought Spider-Man but then he looked, as Raxton gave off a bright orange glow that was slowly turning brighter. “Wait that’s not lucky, he’s sinking into the ground…if Raxton with the heat he gives off melts right into the earth…”

“Raxton, you need to calm down, the more upset you get, the hotter is going to get, until you sink into the earth and destroy the city!” shouted Spider-Man.

“No, I don’t believe you, you’re trying to lie to me!” said Raxton, as all grass was a brownish color. “Trying to trick me, but…I have to kill you…there’s no other way!”

Spider-Man spiraled down on his webbing and gritted his teeth, as he grabbed right onto Raxton’s arms, with all of his spider strength and propelled him right into the air. Raxton landed right on the top of a building and Spider-Man followed suit, dropping down.

“Raxton, listen to me, this heat, it’s going to kill everyone in the city, everyone’s dying, you can’t control it anymore!” yelled Spider-Man.

“NO!” shouted Raxton, as he stepped forward, but with each step, he caused a fire to spread on the roof. “I’m just doing what I have to do, I’m not a monster!”

“Not until you started using your powers to kill people,” said Spider-Man. “There are times where my powers gave me trouble, where I was tempted to use them, but I learned that…”

“SHUT UP!” yelled Raxton completely manic, as he blasted Spider-Man right off the roof, with the web head just managing to tuck and roll and land on his feet on a lower roof, before Raxton joined him, but he felt a stabbing pain right through his chest, every step, he felt immense pain. “What’s happening?”

“Your powers are reaching the danger level, you need to stop attacking and listen to me for once,” said Spider-Man slowly but Raxton paused for a brief moment.

“No…no, if I can’t kill you, then…I’ll never know the taste of anything other than hot ash,” muttered Raxton as he seemed to be rather conflicted and he began to shake his head from side to side, as he felt an intense burning.

“Raxton, you don’t have to be the monster you think you are, if you just give up, if you keep using your powers, you’re going to kill everyone in the city,” said Spider-Man and Raxton paused for a moment and for a brief second he appeared to listen to reason.

“I can’t, I’m sorry,” said Raxton, as suddenly, his body flared up, this time with a blinding white light, and Spider-Man was surrounded by a cyclone of fire, with no way out. “I’ve come too far to stop now!”

“You’re wrong Raxton, you can, you can give up,” said Spider-Man, as he dropped to his knees.

“After all of that, I’m toast, I fought him, but it was all for nothing, I tried to reason to him, I nearly got through,” thought Spider-Man through a haze.

Raxton hesitated for a brief moment, and he withdrew his hand, causing the flames to retract from around Spider-Man and then the fire cage disappeared from around the hostages.

Then everything heated up more.

“I’ve done it, I stopped but it’s too late Spider-Man,” managed Raxton weakly, as the roof began to bubble and lava began to flow right around Spider-Man. The web slinger rolled over, as he was going to melt straight down anywhere and there was nothing he could do about it.

A loud explosion echoed, as Spider-Man braced himself for the end, but Raxton was down, splashed in a white and blue liquid. As he looked from side to side, the web slinger saw that the lave flow at stopped and Raxton collapsed, his skin now just metallic, surrounded in a blue fabric.

Spider-Man pulled himself up, as things were mostly revering right back to normal, slowly, even though there were several citizens loaded into ambulances below for heat exhaustion and dehydration. Raxton gave a shudder.

“Whoever saved me, they came at the right time,” thought Spider-Man as he swung around but then he saw two uniformed men, one with a rocket launcher, and standing next to them was Norman Osborn.

“What is going on?” asked Spider-Man as he looked at Osborn.

“I managed to formulate a measure to counteract Mr. Raxton’s unfortunate condition,” remarked Osborn calmly. “No need to thank me of course, Spider-Man, I’m a concerned citizen doing his civic duty. I do thank you however for acting as a diversion so my men could get the shot.”

Norman Osborn turned over, as the press assembled, giving him praise, as Spider-Man clutched his fist.

“Osborn saved everything, I need a shower, I feel so dirty,” said Spider-Man. “But why did he bother? He has to be up to something. And I go out here, going toe to toe with that guy, trying to stop him from totally the city and Osborn gets one good shot in and it’s all over. I know, it is not about the glory, but it just stings really bad. Oh well. At least everything is back to normal.”

Spider-Man looked over his shoulder, as he watched the immobile form of Raxton be strapped, for transport.

XXXXX-XXXXX

“He’ll be given the best treatment that your money can buy,” remarked Doctor Hamilton crisply as he observed Raxton through the glass, turning to Mr. and Mrs. Allan. “Such a pity, such a young brilliant mind, but perhaps one day it can be rebuilt. It is rather interesting to see that always when great power is introduced, there seems to be a great abuse of it. It does make you wonder even more about Spider-Man, and if he is truly the hero that he claims to be.”

“Spider-Man isn’t a hero,” muttered Mr. Allan. “It’s his fault that Mark is like this.”

“That seems to be a rather common sentiment among my patients, if it were not for Spider-Man, many of them would not be residents, but rest assure that I will contact you soon within a matter of a days with your payment options,” remarked Hamilton. “The very best I’m sure, perhaps we can rebuild a broken, shattered mind. But once power is introduced, most are beyond hope.”

“We’re going away for a while, until we figure out what we do, this city is too dangerous, with all the crime and vigilantes running around in suits, pretending to be heroes,” said Mr. Allan. “It just makes things worse.”

“It can be very stressful,” agreed Hamilton. “But now I must have you leave, as young Mark will require treatment, to repair his shattered mind and perhaps once the mind is repaired, then the body as well.”

“Thank you doctor,” managed Mrs. Allan. “Do what’s best for him.”

“I shall,” commented Hamilton, as he stepped into the shadows, as he eyed Raxton with interest, as he remained immobilized in the specially created cell.

XXXXX-XXXXX

Harry sat right on the edge of his bed, looking rather dazed. He had tried to call Liz back twice and even texted her once but nothing. She must have been upset at his attempts to defend Spider-Man but it was an accident, wasn’t it?

Harry looked having gotten a text.

I think it’s over

Can’t handle it.

Get some help, please

Liz.

Harry looked at the text message, struck senseless before he let the cell phone drop and reached over his desk drawer, pulling out the bottle and unscrewing it. He would need something strong to deal with this.

XXXXX-XXXXX

Norman Osborn sat in front of a large monitor display, watching the sample he swiped from Raxton being analyzed.

“Good,” muttered Osborn, as the data was printed off. He would be able to use it to enhance and stabilize his new and improved formula and then he could move forward to the next step in his plan.

XXXXX-XXXXX

On this day, eighteen people were confirmed to have died of severe dehydration with dozens more being hospitalized. All of the fault of Spider-Man. Spider-Man and other super powered beings, mutants, are the cause of the downfall of society. They must be eliminated, before more fall to their whims. We must not allow our children to be corrupted. All mutants must be dealt with. Do not fall into lies, do not be stirred up with rhetoric, they are not misunderstood because they are different, they would strip away everything if given the chance. Do not give them the chance. Show your support for humanity. If you don’t support our aims to eliminate the mutant menace, then you’re an enemy of humanity as well. The Mutant Registration Act and the Friends of Humanity are not against human expression and freedom. We are here to help all humans. We are out for your best interests and the interests of the innovation of humans.

The Following Message Has Been Brought to You By Graydon Creed and Funded By Humans Like You.

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