New York — Stacy Apartment — Living Room — Late Afternoon
In the living room of the Stacy apartment, Spider-Man and Yuri Watanabe were staring attentively at the screen of the tracking device. Sitting on a chair, Yuri rapidly typed on her device, completely focused on the data scrolling before her eyes. Beside her, Spider-Man watched the scene with curiosity.
— The police have a tracking system on George's phone...? he asked, surprised.
Without taking her eyes off the screen, Yuri replied:
— No... it's not the police's. It's mine.
Spider-Man slightly raised an eyebrow.
— You created it yourself? Impressive...
A few seconds later, Yuri's fingers suddenly stopped.
— Ah, got it!
Spider-Man immediately moved closer.
— Seriously?! So, where is he?
Yuri analyzed the information displayed in front of her.
— According to the coordinates... he's almost exactly in the center of New York.
Spider-Man frowned.
— In the center of New York? And do you know anything else?
— I have no idea! Yuri snapped in annoyance. My system doesn't allow me to see what's happening on his end!
A frustrated growl escaped Spider-Man. He immediately began pacing around the living room.
— Okay, okay... and what about Gwen? What do we do? Do you think she's with him? Imagine we go there and she's not with him! Then what do we do?!
— Hey, are you going to calm down or what?! Yuri shouted, raising her voice to bring him back to his senses. If we start panicking and doing stupid things, we're going to screw everything up!
Spider-Man took a deep breath and tried to regain control of his emotions.
Yuri watched him for a few seconds before continuing in a calmer voice:
— I want to find Gwen too. I want to find both of them. But something really strange is going on, and I think both cases are connected. Which means that if we find George, we'll probably find Gwen too.
Spider-Man lowered his head slightly.
— You... you're right. Sorry.
Yuri let out a sigh.
Then, in a surge of determination, she extended her hand toward him.
— It annoys me but... let's work together. One more time.
Spider-Man shook her hand without the slightest hesitation.
New York — Tombstone Headquarters — Top Floor — Late Afternoon
At the same time, at the top of a massive New York skyscraper, Tombstone's headquarters overlooked the city.
In his luxurious office with its cold and oppressive atmosphere, Tombstone stood surrounded by Hammerhead, several henchmen, as well as George and Gwen Stacy.
Gwen was tied to a chair. Her expression remained firm despite the anxiety twisting her stomach.
As for George, he stared at Tombstone with anger.
— Fine! I'm standing right here in front of you and I'm unarmed. I can't do anything, so let my daughter go!
Hammerhead stepped forward.
— Hey! That's no way to talk to the boss!
He raised his hand, ready to strike.
But Tombstone immediately stopped him with a simple gesture.
The giant remained perfectly calm.
— Listen, Mr. Stacy. I'm going to be honest: I have nothing against you. But I understand why you might think otherwise. I did have your daughter kidnapped, after all. But I'll repeat myself: you are not the one I'm interested in. Spider-Man is.
He began slowly walking around the room.
Like a predator circling its prey.
— Why target a cop? You're just doing your job. Something I respect, by the way. Sincerely. Besides, the police have never managed to catch me, so really... you can relax. But... when it comes to that human spider... that's a different story.
His voice became heavier.
Darker.
A barely restrained anger vibrated in every word.
— In just a few months, he ruined everything. I had a thriving business, henchmen everywhere... everything was working perfectly. Then came the moment when that little bastard showed up, disrespected me, and ever since then he's done nothing but try to destroy everything I built.
Tombstone closed his eyes for a few seconds.
He took a deep breath.
Then he regained his usual calm.
When he opened his eyes again, he walked up to George Stacy and locked his icy gaze onto his.
— The reason I brought you here is to lure Spider-Man. So I can kill him myself.
Gwen flinched.
— He... he wants to kill Peter?!
Her heart instantly tightened.
George, however, did not look away.
— And what makes you think he'll come?
A slight smile appeared on Tombstone's face.
— I have a feeling you know each other, and that he'll come. It may take him some time, but he'll come to save you. He's a superhero, isn't he? And from what I know... a superhero always does his best to save people in need.
His sadistic smile left no doubt about his intentions.
George clenched his teeth.
Powerless.
His daughter was being held captive right before his eyes.
And somewhere in the city, Peter Parker was probably heading straight into a deadly trap.
New York — Manhattan Rooftops — Facing Tombstone Headquarters — Evening
On the rooftops of Manhattan, the wind blew between the buildings as Spider-Man and Yuri Watanabe observed a massive skyscraper towering over part of the city.
The building stood before them like a fortress.
Spider-Man kept his eyes fixed on the structure.
— So... this is it?
Yuri checked her phone before answering:
— According to my tracker... yes. George is inside. We just need to figure out exactly where.
— My bet is on the top floor.
Yuri immediately turned her head toward him.
— The top floor? Based on what? The building is huge. Why up there instead of down below?
Spider-Man took a few seconds to think before answering.
— If you kidnap someone, your goal is to make sure they're not found right away, right? So you don't hide them in some creepy basement, a remote location, or any of those clichés. No. You choose an unlikely place. A place nobody would think to search. And honestly... there's only one guy twisted enough to do that.
— And who are you talking about?
— Tombstone.
Yuri sighed in annoyance.
— Tombstone? Seriously? And you couldn't have told me earlier? And how can you be so sure? As far as I know, after George saved you, that guy disappeared off the radar.
Spider-Man briefly looked away toward the city.
— I thought about it on the way here. I considered every possibility, and he's the only one that fits. I'm convinced of it. The captain and I were tracking him... and he was probably aware of it. So maybe all of this is just a plan to lure me in and trap me. But it doesn't matter. If Gwen and her father are in danger, I'm going to charge in and tear everything apart.
— You really think you're the center of the world, huh? Yuri said sarcastically.
Spider-Man remained silent for a few seconds.
When he spoke again, his voice was heavier.
— No... I just think all of this is my fault.
Yuri frowned, not understanding.
Spider-Man continued:
— Lately, I can't stop thinking about it. If I hadn't stuck my nose into his business... maybe he never would have targeted Gwen and her father. All those super-criminals... they exist because of me.
He walked to the edge of the rooftop.
Below him stretched a wounded city.
Destroyed cars.
Buildings scarred by battles.
Fires still burning.
And everywhere, the scars left by the chaos.
— The prison breaks... the chaos in the city... the injured... Gwen and George being kidnapped... maybe all of this is because of me. And I'm starting to wonder if, by trying to help... I only made things worse...
A painful ache tightened in his chest.
Yuri looked at him for a long moment.
But she said nothing.
Instead, she turned her attention back to the building.
— In any case, considering how things look... I have a feeling George is in serious trouble.
She crossed her arms and thought for a few seconds.
— I'm not sure going straight to the top is the best way to handle this...
— Trust me, Spider-Man replied calmly. If they're up there, we save time. And if they're not, we'll search the rest. But it's better to face the boss directly than to give him time to prepare.
Yuri hesitated.
— I...
— Trust me. Please.
Spider-Man extended his hand.
After a resigned sigh, she finally took it.
— Alright... from the top then?
— Yeah.
Without giving her time to add anything else, Spider-Man suddenly scooped her into his arms.
They leapt into the void.
A web shot through the air and propelled them toward the top of the skyscraper.
New York — Tombstone Headquarters — Top Floor — Evening
At the same time, on the top floor of Tombstone's headquarters, the tension was palpable.
George Stacy and Gwen Stacy were still being held captive.
Both of them were tied up.
Hammerhead and the henchmen had left the room, leaving only Tombstone with his two hostages.
The criminal calmly observed New York through the massive bay window of his office.
His gaze wandered across the city.
— I'm going to miss this city... But this is only a goodbye.
He eventually turned toward George Stacy.
— By the way, tell me something... do you know Spider-Man's identity?
George immediately frowned.
— What?
A slight smile appeared on Tombstone's face.
— You work together... so maybe you know who's hiding behind that mask. Like I told you, Spider-Man has really annoyed me. So knowing who he is would be really... amusing.
— I don't know.
— Really? Are you sure about that?
George didn't look away.
— I'm a cop and he arrests criminals. We have something in common, so we work together from time to time. But that's all. He never told me who he was.
Tombstone remained silent.
Then he walked over to Gwen.
Without the slightest warning, he slapped her hard across the face.
— HEY!
George suddenly straightened up in his chair.
A second slap followed.
Gwen let out a groan of pain.
— WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!
Tombstone raised his hand once more.
— STOP! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!
But Tombstone remained perfectly calm.
— I'll stop when you tell me who Spider-Man is. It's simple: you give me his first and last name, and I stop damaging your daughter's pretty face.
Despite the pain, Gwen lifted her head.
— It's okay, Dad. I'll be fine.
George stared at her in astonishment.
She wasn't trembling.
She didn't even seem afraid.
Tombstone noticed her attitude as well.
— That's strange... How come you're so calm? Aren't you afraid of this situation... or of me...?
Gwen held his gaze.
— Me, afraid of you? I've already lived through far more terrifying things. Enjoy this while you can.
A spark of curiosity crossed Tombstone's eyes.
— And why is that?
Gwen's expression hardened.
— Because I know he's going to come here soon, kick your ass, and send you to prison.
A small amused smile appeared on Tombstone's face.
— Oh... you're confident because you think your hero is going to come save you?
He calmly returned to his desk.
Then he sat down in his chair, visibly amused by the situation.
Tombstone stared at Gwen for a few seconds before smiling.
— Believe whatever you want. But in my opinion, he won't get here right away. Which means we still have time to talk, your father... you... and me.
He had barely finished speaking when an explosion of glass echoed through the room.
The bay window shattered under the impact of a high-speed kick.
Spider-Man burst into the office.
At the same time, several gunshots rang out behind him.
Yuri Watanabe had opened fire from outside to cover their entrance.
Tombstone flinched.
— Son of a...!
George's eyes widened.
— Spider-Man?! Yuri?!
Tied to her chair, Gwen felt her heart leap in her chest.
— Peter... you're here...!
Without wasting a second, Yuri rushed toward the prisoners.
She started by cutting George's restraints.
— But how did you find us?! he asked, stunned.
— Too long to explain! she replied while continuing her work.
As soon as he was free, George rushed to Gwen and untied her as well.
— Are you okay, sweetheart? I'm so sorry about all this...
— It's okay, Dad! It's okay!
They briefly embraced.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man faced Tombstone.
His gaze was icy.
— The games are over, Tombstone.
The criminal flashed a sadistic smile.
— Oh no... this is only the beginning!
Discreetly, his hand slid beneath his desk.
A click echoed.
A red button.
Immediately, the doors to the top floor exploded open as a veritable army of heavily armed mercenaries stormed in.
Tombstone pointed at George and Yuri.
— Neutralize the two cops.
Then he turned his attention back to Spider-Man.
— As for me... I'll deal with the spider.
Chaos erupted instantly.
Yuri opened fire.
Two mercenaries went down almost immediately.
A third tried to attack her hand-to-hand, but she knocked him out with a perfectly placed kick.
She stayed close to Gwen, refusing to leave her exposed.
— Hey, George! she shouted. Just like in training! Take them all down! And don't worry about Gwen, I've got her covered!
George nodded without wasting time.
— Understood!
Gwen, meanwhile, watched the scene with concern.
— But Yuri, my dad! There are too many of them!
— Don't worry about him, she replied. Your father is an absolute machine in hand-to-hand combat. I'll protect you and cover him!
In the center of the office, Tombstone and Spider-Man faced each other.
Like two predators ready to tear each other apart.
Tombstone smiled.
— Here we are at last... Mr. Vigilante. This is our true confrontation!
Spider-Man clenched his teeth.
— Shut up.
Tombstone burst into amused laughter.
— What? Not in the mood for jokes?
Spider-Man charged.
Tombstone immediately grabbed a chair and tried to smash it over him.
Spider-Man blocked the strike with one arm.
The chair exploded on impact.
A web instantly shot out and stuck to Tombstone's face.
Spider-Man followed up with a kick.
But the giant dodged with a surprisingly fast movement.
He ripped the web off his face while laughing.
Around them, the battle raged on.
George fought like a possessed man.
He disarmed one mercenary.
Broke the nose of a second.
Then drove the knife he had taken into the shoulder of a third.
Yuri covered every angle with terrifying precision.
Not a single bullet was wasted.
From her position, Gwen watched her father.
— I didn't know Dad was this strong... he's incredible!
— George! Yuri shouted. This never ends! I'm almost out!
Spider-Man heard her words.
He briefly looked away.
Mistake.
Tombstone immediately tried to take advantage of the opening.
But Spider-Man reacted in time.
Dodge.
Right hook.
Left hook.
Uppercut.
The final blow made the criminal stagger.
Tombstone crashed heavily to the ground.
Spider-Man pointed a finger at him.
— Don't move.
Then he turned his head toward the rest of the room.
— I'll be back in two seconds.
He immediately leapt toward the mercenaries.
With him in the fight, the balance completely shifted.
George.
Yuri.
Spider-Man.
The three fought as if they had known each other for years.
Every movement seemed synchronized.
Every opening was exploited.
A few minutes later...
Silence fell.
Dozens of unconscious bodies littered the floor.
Gwen looked around her, trembling.
— Is... is it over?
Yuri was struggling to catch her breath.
— Looks like it...
Gwen immediately threw herself into her father's arms.
Spider-Man, however, remained motionless.
His eyes fixed on Tombstone.
— No... not yet.
His voice was cold.
— The biggest fish is still left.
He approached the criminal.
— Now it's truly over. Isn't that right, my dear Tombst—
BOOM.
An explosion shook the building.
Then a second.
Then a third.
The entire building began to tremble.
Everyone lost their balance.
— What the hell is this?! Yuri shouted. Why is it shaking?!
Spider-Man's blood ran cold.
— No... no way...!
He rushed toward Tombstone.
Too late.
The criminal had just knocked his desk over onto him before running toward the shattered window.
— We'll meet again... Spider-Man!
— NO! WAIT!
Without hesitation, Tombstone jumped into the void.
A parachute deployed behind him.
George immediately understood.
His face turned pale.
— He planned everything! He wants to bury us alive!
— Oh my God... Gwen whispered.
— We need to get out of here! Yuri shouted.
— But how?!
Another explosion blew apart the office door.
The shockwave tore through the room.
Everything flew.
Everything exploded.
Everything collapsed.
Spider-Man was hurled across the room.
Time seemed to slow down.
Instinctively, he grabbed Gwen.
Then Yuri.
He slammed them against a wall that was still standing and secured them with several layers of webbing.
Gwen had lost consciousness.
Yuri, however, was still awake.
Her panicked eyes scanned the room.
— W-Where's George?!
Spider-Man suddenly turned his head.
And saw him.
George Stacy was falling.
Into the void.
Without thinking for even a second, Spider-Man dove after him.
— No! No! Come on Peter, you can do this! You HAVE to do this! Catch him! COME ON!
Webs shot out.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
He tried to catch him... without success.
It was too late.
Their eyes met one last time.
George seemed strangely calm.
As if he had already accepted his fate.
— Peter... take good care of Gwen.
Then the ground came.
With a monstrous crash.
George Stacy's body hit the pavement.
Spider-Man cushioned his own fall as best he could.
When he looked up...
He understood.
George Stacy was dead.
His body was nothing more than a mangled mass of flesh and bone.
Breathless, Peter tore off his mask.
Then he fell to his knees.
And vomited.
The shock was too great.
New York — Tombstone Headquarters — At the Foot of the Building — Night
At the foot of Tombstone's headquarters, Spider-Man remained motionless.
On his knees.
Short of breath.
His gaze empty.
His mind still refused to comprehend what he was looking at.
Police sirens were rapidly approaching.
A few seconds later, several patrol cars sped into the street.
Police officers rushed out.
One of them stepped forward, flashlight in hand.
— Spider-Man? What's going on...?
She directed the beam toward the body.
Then screamed.
A scream so violent it echoed throughout the entire street.
She stumbled backward and fell.
Her colleagues immediately rushed over.
— Hey, what's wrong with you?! Why are you screaming like that?!
Then they saw the body too.
Silence fell.
They all froze.
— Oh my... Oh my God...! one of them whispered.
The smell.
The sight.
It was unbearable.
One officer covered his mouth before collapsing to his knees.
He vomited.
Another slowly looked up at Spider-Man.
His expression changed.
Horror gave way to anger.
— Was it... you?!
He drew his weapon.
— WAS IT YOU WHO DID THIS?!
The barrel pointed directly at Spider-Man.
— ANSWER ME! WAS IT YOU?!
Spider-Man didn't respond.
Still in shock.
Still unable to think properly.
Instinctively, he fired a web.
It stuck to the officer's face.
The gun fell to the ground.
A second web.
Then a third.
Within seconds, several officers had been disarmed.
Spider-Man didn't even try to explain.
He put his mask back on and immediately swung away.
Moments later, he reached the place where he had left Yuri and Gwen.
He pulled both women free from the wall and quickly moved them away from the building.
Behind them, Tombstone Headquarters continued to tremble.
Yuri was slowly regaining her senses.
— We've got a problem. Tombstone disappeared.
She looked back at the skyscraper.
— After all the chaos he caused, he's probably far away by now... so I guess, for now, that's a dead end.
No response.
Spider-Man remained silent.
Holding Gwen in his arms.
His gaze distant.
— Hey.
Still nothing.
— Are you listening to me?
No reaction.
Yuri frowned.
— Anyway, hand Gwen over. I'm taking her to her father.
She held out her arms.
But the moment she tried to take Gwen, Spider-Man stepped back.
He held her tighter.
As if he refused to let her go.
As if he was afraid.
As if he was trembling.
— No.
His voice was weak.
Broken.
— I-It's better if she stays with me.
Yuri blinked.
— No? What do you mean "no"?!
Her confusion quickly turned into irritation.
— After everything that's happened, I think they deserve some quiet time together. Father and daughter.
Suddenly, several more police cars arrived as backup.
Officers immediately got out.
And aimed their weapons at Spider-Man.
— SPIDER-MAN!
The officer shouting seemed completely enraged.
— YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!
He stepped forward.
— DON'T MOVE OR I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL PUT A FUCKING BULLET IN YOU, YOU HEAR ME?!
Beside him, a female officer was crying.
— YOU SON OF A BITCH!
Her voice cracked.
— HOW... HOW COULD YOU...?!
Yuri abruptly turned toward them.
— WHOA, STOP!
She immediately stepped between them.
— LOWER YOUR WEAPONS!
Her gaze moved from one officer to another.
— CAN'T YOU SEE HE'S HOLDING A CHILD?!
She pointed at Gwen.
— THAT'S GWEN STACY, GEORGE'S DAUGHTER!
The officer's face immediately changed.
— That's... that's his daughter...?
He went pale.
— Oh my God...
Yuri looked from officer to officer.
Their tears.
Their anger.
Their despair.
Something was wrong.
— Okay... can someone tell me what the hell is going on?!
She pointed at the officers.
— Why are you aiming guns at him and why are you crying?!
The female officer burst into tears.
— It's George...
Her voice trembled.
— He...
She completely broke down.
— HE'S DEAD!
The world seemed to stop around Yuri.
— SPIDER-MAN KILLED HIM!
Yuri froze.
Unable to understand.
— What the hell are you talking about?!
She turned toward Spider-Man.
— He didn't kill him, he—
She stopped.
Too late.
Spider-Man had already swung away.
Still carrying Gwen in his arms.
The officers immediately opened fire.
Bullets tore through the air.
But they hit nothing.
Spider-Man had already disappeared into the night.
Yuri stood motionless for several seconds.
Then she walked over to her fellow officers.
They showed her George's lifeless body.
She stared at it for several long moments.
Her face turned pale.
Her legs gave out.
The shock was too much.
She collapsed.
Her fellow officers caught her before she hit the ground.
But even supported by them, she couldn't look away.
George Stacy was dead.
New York — Parker House — Night
Night had long since fallen over New York.
Peter had just returned home.
Still wearing his Spider-Man suit, he cautiously glanced around the house to make sure no neighbors were lingering nearby.
Once certain he was alone, he quietly stepped inside.
Gwen was still resting in his arms.
Unconscious.
Peaceful.
As if her mind still refused to understand what had happened.
Peter climbed the stairs to his room and gently laid her down on his bed.
She didn't move.
He stood there for a few seconds, looking at her.
Then he left the room, leaving the door slightly open.
Slowly.
Mechanically.
Like a man drained of all energy.
He walked downstairs.
Crossed the hallway.
Then entered the living room.
His mind was empty.
His heart, however, felt ready to explode.
He grabbed a glass.
Filled it with water.
Then emptied it in a single gulp.
A few seconds later, he violently hurled the glass against the floor.
The crash echoed throughout the house.
Then Peter fell to his knees.
And collapsed.
Still in costume.
His mask hung from one hand.
Tears streamed down his face.
He wasn't even trying to hold them back anymore.
He was crying.
Really crying.
Like he hadn't cried in a very long time.
— I'm... so sorry, George...
His voice broke.
— It's my fault. It's all my fault!
The images kept replaying.
George.
The fall.
The blood.
The body.
The accusations.
The screams.
And above all, his own doubts.
— You died because of me.
His shoulders trembled.
— I couldn't save you, and now...
He ran a shaking hand through his hair.
— What am I supposed to do? How do I tell Gwen? Where is she supposed to go? Will she be able to handle this? Will she hate me?
His breathing quickened.
Then anger took over.
— And Tombstone...
He clenched his fists.
— That son of a—
His voice exploded.
— FUCK!
He abruptly got to his feet.
— DAMN IT!
Rage was now devouring his grief.
— All of this...
He shouted.
— ALL OF THIS BECAUSE OF THESE STUPID FUCKING POWERS!
In an uncontrollable burst of fury, he grabbed the refrigerator.
Lifted it.
Then hurled it across the room.
The appliance crashed down with a deafening roar.
The entire house shook.
Upstairs, Gwen's eyes suddenly opened.
Her heart was racing.
It took her a few seconds to understand where she was.
— Peter...?
She looked around the room.
— I'm in his bedroom? But... weren't we in the—
A sharp pain immediately shot through her head.
— Ow...
She brought a hand to her forehead.
— My head...
Still disoriented, she slowly got up.
Then she heard voices.
Shouting.
Downstairs.
Worried, she left the room.
Walked down the stairs.
One step after another.
Guided by an anxiety she couldn't explain.
— Peter...?
She reached the living room.
Just behind the wall.
Only a few feet away.
Then she heard his voice.
Broken.
Destroyed.
— Gwen's father...
Silence.
Then:
— H-He died because of me.
The world seemed to stop.
Gwen froze.
Every instinct screamed at her not to move forward.
Not to listen.
But the moment she heard the words father and died in the same sentence...
She stepped out from the shadows.
— What?!
Her voice was already trembling.
— What are you talking about, Peter?!
Her heart pounded wildly.
— Are you out of your mind?!
Her eyes desperately searched for a mistake.
— My father... dead?!
Peter turned around.
The color drained from his face.
— Gwen... I...
But no words came.
He couldn't speak.
Couldn't tell her.
Couldn't do this to her.
— Tell me I heard that wrong...
Peter lowered his eyes.
And that simple gesture was enough.
Panic instantly exploded across Gwen's face.
— PETER!
She stepped toward him.
— ANSWER ME!
Her voice cracked.
— Where is my father?!
Peter took a few steps toward her.
Then pulled her into his arms.
Without answering.
Without making excuses.
Without lying.
— I'm sorry, Gwen...
His voice trembled.
— So, so sorry...
— No...
She tried to push him away.
— Peter...!
Her hands trembled.
— No...!
But Peter held her too tightly.
As if he were afraid she would disappear.
As if he were trying to hold the entire world together with his arms.
— I managed to save...
Tears streamed endlessly down his face.
— You and Yuri, but...
He closed his eyes.
— Your father...
His voice completely gave out.
— It was too late.
Gwen felt her stomach twist.
— I couldn't save him...
Peter broke down into sobs again.
— I... I'm sorry...
Silence fell.
For several seconds.
Several seconds that felt like an eternity.
Then Gwen understood.
Truly understood.
— No...
Her voice was barely a whisper.
— That's... that's not true.
Tears began to fall.
— It can't be true...
Peter held her even tighter.
Not knowing what to do.
Not knowing what to say.
Because there were no words capable of fixing this.
None.
At last, Gwen broke into sobs.
And Peter cried with her.
The two of them collapsed onto the living room floor.
And stayed there.
Crying.
Screaming inwardly.
Trying to accept the unacceptable.
Mourning the death of George Stacy.
TO BE CONTINUED.