Miles Morales: New Spider Chapter 15.

---

I barely managed to dodge his charge, but the sudden movement sent a sharp pain through my already injured ankle, causing me to land awkwardly. Hammerhead came at me again with a powerful right swing. I ducked, but his knee came up fast, catching me square in the jaw. The impact made me bite down hard on my tongue, filling my mouth with the metallic taste of blood.

Using the momentum, I flipped backward and activated my camo mode, disappearing from his sight just long enough to regain my bearings.

"Coward! You better run back to your mommy!" he taunted, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of me.

I dropped silently onto his shoulders from above, locking my thighs around his neck and gripping his head with both hands. I unleashed a venom strike directly into his skull.

"Arghhh!" he screamed, collapsing to the floor as I leapt off him. My ankle was feeling a little better, enough that I could maintain my balance. Hammerhead got back to his feet, swaying slightly, and glared at me with murderous intent.

"Was that supposed to be a dad joke?" I quipped, trying to keep him off balance. He roared and charged again, but I webbed his face, blinding him. His charge went wild, and he crashed headfirst into the wall.

I seized the opening and delivered a brutal monkey kick between his legs. "Grhh!" he grunted, doubling over in pain. With his defenses down, I grabbed the web still attached to his face and yanked him forward, driving my knuckle blade deep into his eye.

"Aaaaarrgghh!" His screams filled the room as he dropped to the floor, clutching his ruined eye, blood streaming between his fingers.

"Didn't see that coming, did you?" I muttered, more to myself than to him. He was too busy writhing in agony to pay attention. I tossed an explosive pellet onto his arms, which were still covering his face. The explosion ripped through his limbs, mangling them beyond recognition and leaving his face a bloodied mess.

Hammerhead’s blood poured out of his wounds, pooling on the floor. His body convulsed in shock, teetering on the edge of consciousness. I pulled out another explosive pellet and pressed it onto what was left of his face. When it detonated, brain matter splattered across the room, his headless body collapsing in a spasmodic heap.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the lifeless corpse. Hammerhead was a monster, a man who had forfeited any right to mercy the moment he treated human life as expendable. The evidence I’d collected showed just how depraved he was, especially when it came to the children. The thought of what he’d done to them twisted my stomach.

No, I wasn’t Batman. I wasn’t bound by a code of honor that kept monsters like him alive. He had to be put down, and I made sure he stayed dead.

I turned my attention to the vault in the corner, smashing it open with a well-placed punch. Inside, I found more incriminating evidence linking Hammerhead’s operations to Oscorp. He must have kept this dirt on them as leverage, but now it would serve a different purpose. I grabbed the cash I needed, stuffing it into a duffle bag.

I walked back to Hammerhead’s body, resisting the urge to spit on it—no need to leave behind DNA evidence. This wasn’t a comic book world where people came back from the dead. In the MCU, when you kill someone, you make sure it’s permanent.

Leaving his corpse behind, I made my way to the cell where the prisoners were held. The door crumpled under my fist, and I stepped inside. The people huddled together, flinching at every noise I made. They were broken, likely traumatized beyond repair.

"It’s alright now," I said softly, trying to reassure them. "I took care of them. You’re safe. You can come out."

A woman, trembling, looked up at me. I extended a hand, and she took it, pulling herself up before collapsing into my arms, sobbing. "It’s okay," I murmured, trying to comfort her. "The cops are on their way. You don’t have to be afraid anymore."

One by one, the others began to rise, cautiously following me out of the cell. Some hugged each other, tears of relief streaming down their faces as they thanked me for their freedom. I gently handed the woman over to an older lady who started to comfort her.

A man approached me, desperation etched on his face. "Excuse me, uh...hero guy, have you seen my daughter? She’s eight years old, has big blue eyes and red hair. They took her when they got me..."

I could hear the sirens now, getting closer. My heart sank. I had seen her, but not alive. Her body had been brutalized beyond recognition.

"Sir, the police will handle it all," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

"But did you see her?" he pressed, his voice breaking.

I steeled myself. "The police will answer all your questions. Just know that the people responsible for this are going down. I promise you."

Turning to the group, I said, "I’m Black Spider. The Arachnid."

The first police cars were pulling up as I handed the woman from before a USB drive. "Give this to the police," I instructed her before launching a web and swinging away.

I had another location to hit.

The cash was essential. I only took what I could carry, leaving the rest. I had contacted Jennifer Susan Walters earlier, the only person who could take on Oscorp and win. If anyone could bring them down, it was She-Hulk, a lawyer so good she went on to become a space lawyer. I wasn’t sure if she’d take the case for free, hence the money. Being a hero wasn’t cheap.

When I arrived at the rendezvous, she was already there, waiting. She looked stunning in her office wear, her curves accentuated by her high heels. I jumped down from the building, deactivating my camo mode, and she started slightly. I removed my mask, leaving only the half-face mask on.

"Miss Walters?" I called out.

"In the flesh," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Mr. Arc, I thought you’d be... older."

"Old enough to do what’s right," I answered. "I have a proposition for you. How would you like to take down Oscorp?"

"You have my attention...for the next five minutes," she said, crossing her arms.

"I’ve got evidence—solid proof of their illegal activities with gangs, including human trafficking, assassinations, assault, and human experimentation. And if that’s not enough, I’ll soon have more." I handed her another USB and the record books.

Her expression darkened as she skimmed through the files. "I knew Oscorp was dirty, but this...this is worse than I imagined," she muttered, creasing her brow.

"So, are you supposed to be a hero?" she asked, looking at me closely.

"I’m trying to be one," I replied.

"Well, with what we’re about to do, I guess it makes no difference," she shrugged.

"Are you in?" I asked, needing confirmation.

"Let’s get started."

"Great, name a price."

"No charge," she said with a grin. "I just love seeing giants fall."

'She’s so sexy when she’s serious,' I thought, my gaze slipping slightly.

"Hey, eyes up here," she snapped her fingers, breaking my trance.

"Right... I think you have something on your shirt," I mumbled, quickly looking away. 'Don’t judge me—these people were comic book characters until they weren’t. They look even better in real life.'

"See you around, Miss Walters," I said, quickly activating my camo mode and disappearing from sight.

Some of the money I’d taken was sent to the parents of John, the guy who had become the monster. He had been their only child, trying to graduate college so he could get a good job and take care of them. Oscorp had destroyed that. They were devastated, and while the money couldn’t bring him back, at least it would ensure they were taken care of for a long time.

The weight of what I had done didn’t fully hit me until I got home. My legs went weak, and my hands shook so badly that I could barely take off my suit. I didn’t even make it to the toilet before I vomited on the floor.

"I took a life. It’s all on me."

I had made the choice. I had pulled the trigger. Was it good? No. But it was right. Those children would never get their lives back, but no other kids would ever suffer at Hammerhead’s hands again.

The only thing keeping me somewhat calm was the chi energy flowing through me, its coolness soothing my mind, helping me relax. But it wasn’t enough. The tremors continued, even if they lessened.

I stepped into the shower, still half in my suit, letting the cold water wash away the dried blood on my lips. I couldn’t afford to dwell on this. There were still important things to be done.

Oscorp had to be stopped before they could disappear and hide.