Spider-Man: A New Spiral

200 stones = bonus chapter

3 Subscribe to Patreon and I'm posting 10 bonus chapters

Support and early access to stories on:

patreon.com/FanFictionPremium

***

15 April 2013.

New York, an apartment near Central Park.

Sergei Kravinov.

His ancestors came from an ancient noble family and Sergei was always proud of his lineage, but he was not an aristocrat. His family, like himself, were hunters to the core. This manifested itself in everything, from blood feuds with neighbours over land, to the organisation of their own business across the ocean. The Kravinovs never backed down and never lost.

Until the Revolution.

Escape from the homeland as a boy had a very serious effect on Sergei's grandfather, in honour of him the last of the Kravinovs was named, "They could take my land, but they couldn't break me", that's what my grandfather said, according to my father. The Kravinovs didn't take much out of Mother Russia, but enough to buy a few parcels of land and establish a lucrative resource extraction business in the United States.

The Kravinovs were able to win even in total defeat.

His father was strict with Sergei, it seemed since the boy learnt to walk, but it was for this strictness Kravinov worshipped his father, only thanks to him the man became what he was destined to be, a hunter - Kraven.

He received this title after a conversation with his father-in-law, Chief Lant, driven by fate and having killed the king of beasts with his bare hands, he became the king of hunters, Kraven.

With his wife and a few loyal guards and apprentices allotted by the chief, he travelled to America. To meet his destiny.

Flying into New York, he saw it while travelling in a private limousine to his place of residence.

The spider flashed across the sky for only a few seconds, swinging on its web, it flew onwards, completely oblivious to the ants below. A true predator at the top of the food chain.

That day, Sergei began to put his grand plan into action.

What is a hunter's ultimate weapon? No, it's not a spear or a gun or magic potions.

Patience.

Patience is the hunter's greatest weapon.

And the king of hunters had plenty of it.

At first, he scrupulously studied every place where the Spider had been spotted, and thanks to the photographs of one Ben Reilly, it was terribly easy.

When he arrived, he would meticulously sniff the air, trying to memorise what his victim smelt like. Once he managed to find a piece of the very same web, but before he could properly study the find, it had dissolved.

Kraven studied every wall the Spider came in contact with, examining every bullet hole or indentation from the perpetrators' bodies. And each time, he became more and more convinced that his dearest Calypso was not mistaken.

This hunt would be his greatest test, his greatest triumph.

The victim could not be called that. The spider was strong, no creature should be so strong. Some gawkers, who were undoubtedly fortunate enough to witness his feats, claimed that the hero could hold a car on his outstretched arms, not without difficulty, but still.

But it was the agility, speed and reflexes of spiders that were their chief virtue, and the Spider spirit bearer was not lagging behind here either. Kraven himself had witnessed how the "prey" dodged a pistol shot at point-blank range. He also had no trouble dodging bursts from the PP-MAS 10.

He had a knack for sticking to walls and Kraven realised that magic was involved.

He knew the victim was capable of releasing claws, but did so strikingly rarely.

"He has criminally few worthy opponents." Sergei realised that day. "He craves a challenge as much as I do."

Kravinoff seemed to have learnt everything about his victim except one thing.

"Who is hiding under the mask?"

Not to say Sergei was interested, after all, he was hunting the Spider and only the Spider. But to know everything about his enemy was to completely outsmart him.

But his prey hid that knowledge from him. When the hunter came too close, the Spider lost all carelessness, became terribly attentive, and only calmed down when Kraven moved away to a distance from which he missed his prey. Otherwise they could circle the stone jungle of New York for hours and, to his shame, Kravinov admitted that he was exhausted faster than his victim.

Based on all observations, Sergei made two conclusions: in a direct confrontation, he has no chance to win. And the enemy has the ability to anticipate the danger. A kind of instinct that tells him where the danger is coming from.

The threat of the Spider has grown to unprecedented heights with this discovery.

That's why Cravan was in no hurry.

Patience is the hunter's virtue.

He prepared, considered every possible option, and carefully chose everything from the place of attack to the choice of weapons and traps.

As befits a king of hunters, Kravinov knew one immutable truth, he has only one shot. If Spider or Kraven himself survived, Sergei would never again have the luxury he had now.

The unexpected.

Only now, his prey does not expect an attack, only now, the Spider has no idea who Kravinoff is and what he is capable of, only now he is truly vulnerable.

- I have only one chance, - Sergey spoke into the void, looking at the dawn from the window of his estate.

- My favourite? - His wife stretched with a light yawn.

- Sleep, my love," the hunter said, continuing to look out the window.

But Calypso had already thrown her shawl over her shoulders and came to her husband, hugging him from behind.

- Was something wrong?

The African woman knew, however, that for many months now her man had only one thing on his mind: hunting.

- I have waited almost two years and I can wait as long if it will guarantee my success, - Sergey sighed, turning to his wife, - but I feel that if I don't strike now, there will be no other chance.

Calypso took her husband's face with both palms.

- You've been preparing for this. You've trained your fighters, set traps all over New York like a true king of hunters so your prey wouldn't notice, tempered your already perfect body into a weapon," the woman took the man's palm and placed it on her stomach, "the child I carry inside me is true proof that his father is ready. Your skills are all you need.

Sergei kisses his wife silently, lightly stroking her newly beginning to round her belly.

- Touto, Murs! - Kravinoff called out to his personal guards and best students.

The heavy wooden doors opened and two large members of the Yutu tribe came in, broad-shouldered and tall, their hair gathered in ceremonial coiffures.

- Is everything ready? - The hunter asked his most skilful recruits.

- The mechanisms have been double-checked and adjusted, Master," bowed Touto.

- The beasts have arrived. Gita, Gor, Gost and Gala have been fed and are also ready, master - continued Murs, also bowing.

- The workshop? -continued Kravinoff without turning round.

- The ingredients are inside and waiting for you.

- As are the weapons.

- Great," Sergei nodded contentedly, running his finger over Calypso's lips, "wish me luck.

- You don't need it," the woman kissed the back of her husband's palm, "my hunter.

***

Meanwhile.

Peter and Mary's bedroom.

The sun's rays made their way further into the room, pulling the brown-eyed brown-haired man out of the realm of Morpheus.

- Mmphh," he mumbled unintelligibly, trying to turn away from the pesky rays, but when he felt a slight obstruction on his left side, he opened his eyes.

MJ was still sleeping peacefully on Peter's shoulder, which made Parker smile stupidly.

The spider gently ran his fingers through the red curls of his favourite woman. Which woke her up.

- You again? - Mary Jane mumbled sleepily.

- I'm sorry, my love, I can't help it," the boy replied, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.

- Your obsession with my hair is not healthy, you know that? - The girl said, trying to embarrass her lover even more.

- I know it and I don't regret it," Pete smiled, hugging Carrot-top from behind and squeezing her breasts lightly.

- OH! Mr Parker, you didn't get enough of yesterday," the green-eyed girl asked excitedly.

- Are you kidding? It was just a warm-up," the web thrower replied lewdly as he continued to knead the girl's breasts, moving on to her nipples.

However, Mary gently but insistently pushed her lover away.

- I'm sorry, Tiger, but I have an important business, - having disentangled herself from the hands of the guy who didn't expect such a turn of events, Mary went to the shower.

- I don't get it.

Fifteen minutes later.

- And what is your urgent business, beautiful? - Peter asked, walking into the kitchen.

Mary, standing in her dressing gown after her shower, was already preparing breakfast.

- I have to go to school soon. And I'm not coming home tonight. Gail's scared to be alone tonight, so I have to go to her, you know," the redhead said a little sadly.

- And Jason? - Parker asked in a serious tone.

- He's gone to Chicago for a few days for work. Of course, they're staying at Anna's house, but...

The boy interrupted the heavy sighing girl by putting his arm around her.

- I understand, Carrot-top.

The memory.

Thanksgiving.

November.

2012.

A contented New York City superhero in a spider web patterned suit, flying, clinging to the skyscrapers, and smiling. Though you couldn't see it behind the mask.

He did it! Having completely forgotten about Mei's grocery list, Peter instantly put on the suit and flew to Wollmart on the other side of New York, (as the customers were surprised when the hero in spandex ran around the shop and frantically collected different products).

But it was worth it.

A hastily constructed rucksack made of cobwebs behind his back confirmed it.

Having flown to the borders of Forest Hills, Pete landed in one of the familiar back alleys, which had become like home to the native Queens resident. Having changed into civilian clothes and sprayed his spider web "backpack" with a special solution that accelerates the decay of the spider web, instead of Spider-Man, Peter Parker came out of the alley, carrying groceries to the holiday table.

Pete made it to his house, but a heavy, coiled feeling in his stomach warned him that he was fucked.

- Peter Benjamin Parker! - Mae Parker greeted her nephew in a tone ten times more menacing than even J.J. could have been in his prime, fists at her sides, "What do you mean?! The table should be ready in an hour and all we have is turkey!

- I'm sorry, Auntie, but I've brought everything," Peter excused himself and made puppy dog eyes, "please don't hit....

- Don't worry, Mrs Parker, we'll have everything ready in no time," Gwen OWLs was Pete's unexpected saviour, taking the food, "and you'd better hide on the first floor, out of harm's way," the blonde whispered her friendly advice.

- Yes, Gwen, you're right," the former Miss Raleigh glared at her nephew and disappeared into the kitchen.

- Phew, it's gone, thank you, Gwendy," the brown-haired man thanked her.

- 'Saved your life again,' Miss Stacey replied teasingly.

- Yep. Do you know where Mary is?

- In your room,' the blonde replied, motioning with the groceries to the kitchen.

How come Gwen is meeting Thanksgiving at their place? Well actually, Mr Stacey is supposed to join too, but he was reinstated as captain a month ago and is rapidly regaining his reputation guarding the town's main parade.

Since her father would be back late at best, the daughter said she wasn't likely to celebrate much. Mary decided that wasn't an option, and after telling Aunt May and Anna the situation, she asked Gwen to celebrate with them. It didn't take much begging.

Walking the distance to his room, Peter was about to enter the room when he heard a soft cry outside the door.

Instincts kicked in and with a rumble the boy ran inside.

MJ, who was sitting on the bed looking at something, flinched sharply.

- What's wrong? - Pete asked worriedly, running up to the girl.

- Nothing, Tiger," but the unshed tears made it clear that wasn't true.

- Mary," Pete looked at her with all the love in the world, "tell me.

In response, the redhead merely handed Parker a small open pendant that held a neatly cut photograph.

MJ with her mother and sister.

The edge is ragged.

Her family.

- 'Carrot, I'm sorry,' Spider pulled his beloved to him, 'I completely forgot it was such a holiday today...'

- It's okay, Tiger, really," Mary tried to push away the apathetic feeling.

- No, it's not okay," Parker said firmly, "we need to deal with the past a long time ago. Mary, tomorrow we pack our bags and fly to Boston.

His answer was only a shocked look in her green eyes.

*

A few days later.

The plane landed at Boston Central Airport.

A young guy and a girl walked out to the taxi in a stream of people.

- MJ, are you serious, why so much stuff?!

Passing by and hearing the guy's indignation, the male faces only nodded sympathetically and understandingly in the direction of the brown man carrying two suitcases and laden with bags.

- Don't be indignant, Tiger," said the redhead, laughing, "besides, not all of those bags are mine," the girl parried.

Parker had nothing to say. After all, he'd brought his uniform on purpose. If things went badly, a word or two with Mary Jane's father would be vital.

Approaching the few remaining taxi cars, the young men negotiated with the chauffeur and, getting into the car, drove to the address given by Watson.

Pete looked around curiously. He had never been in Boston, even though it looked like a big village after New York. Mary, on the other hand, sat still and just stared mindlessly upwards. That the girl was nervous, only an idiot would not have realised. The spider extended his hand to his chosen one, which she gratefully squeezed.

The taxi reached its destination. Having paid for the trip, the guy and the girl got out of the car.

Passing through the street, Peter saw a small two-storey house with an adjoining garage, from the porch to the white-washed fence there was a stony path, on both sides backed by a green lawn.

"A typical home from the American Dream." Only if you don't know the background of what's going on. A tyrant father and a mother afraid of him.

Pete clenched his fists and Mary swiftly crossed the threshold of his former home and knocked on the door. Dragging his things, the boy caught up with her at the door.

A moment later the lock clicked and the door swung open.

A young-looking blonde stood on the doorstep, though her face was slightly affected by wrinkles. She and MJ were a bit alike, and after she spoke, it was clear why.

- Mary? - Mary?" the woman asked disbelievingly, tears welling up in her eyes, "Daughter, is it really you? - Touching the girl's face, the blonde persistently continued.

- Yes, mum, - now the redhead couldn't hold back her tears, - it's me.

The women stood silent for a while. - This is Peter, Peter Parker," MJ said, wiping away her tears, "my boyfriend.

- Nice to meet you, Mrs Watson," Pete waved, smiling sweetly.

- Nice to meet you, too, young man," the woman's smile faded a little, but she said hello kindly enough. - Come on in.

Letting the couple inside the house, the woman closed the door.

The furnishings inside the house were cosy enough: wallpaper the colour of the sky, various knick-knacks, like sets or crocheted napkins, copper plates hung on the walls. The general décor reminded one of what one might find in the home of a creative person, but not without the hand of a good mistress.

- It's very pretty, Mrs Watson," said Pete.

- It's a credit to Philip," the woman seemed to answer that way too often.

- Don't be puffed up, Mum, it's entirely your own doing," Mary said.

Parker thought she was going to start a fight, but Mrs Watson smiled tiredly.

- Whatever you say, darling.

There was a stifling silence, interrupted only by the slight murmur of tea being poured into cups.

- Where's Gail? - MJ asked after a while.

Parker saw his girlfriend's mother twitch at the question.

- 'Your sister will be here soon.

- How...how are you guys doing? - The redhead asked uncertainly.

- Clearly not as well as a metropolis dweller, already become a famous actress as you dreamed? - Suddenly the woman replied with obvious reproach.

"You've abandoned us," she said.

For Mary Jane, the answer was like a slap in the face, but she knew she deserved it.

- Mary has often spoken of you, and missed you very much," Peter could not bear it; "you must not speak to her so cruelly.

- I will decide for myself how I should speak to my daughter, Mr Parker," the woman replied coolly.

'Mr Parker, not even a young man anymore,' Pete thought sardonically.

MJ was about to reply, but the keys rustled in the lock.

- Madeline! Why the hell are you locking yourself in?! - A rather tall, stout man with a small moustache and grey hair walked into the living room, pulling off his tie as he went.

Mary Jane's father.

Pete didn't like him at once.

- I'm sorry, Philip, it was a slip of the tongue," the woman said, jumping up from her chair.

The man, who was about to start a tirade, stopped talking when he saw the young people sitting on the sofa.

- Well, well, well, the prodigal daughter has returned," Philip said mockingly, folding his arms across his chest.

He paid no attention to Peter.

- Hello, father," the girl said, "This is Peter Parker, my boyfriend.

- Mr Watson, - rising from the sofa Peter approached Mary instinctively speaking slightly forward.

At first the man looked haughty and mocking.

- "Well hello, 'Peter Boy,'" MJ's father extends his hand.

Trying not to show disgust, Parker shook the outstretched limb.

Watson immediately, with a predatory grin, tried to squeeze the guy's palm as tightly as he could, but not a muscle in Pete's face wavered, and then he responded by squeezing the man's hand so tightly that the man, after a second, pulled his limb out with a violent hiss.

- Sorry, tight grip," Parker said in an unrepentant tone.

Watson gave him a fierce glare and jerked his hand away from his wife, who tried to examine his palm.

- I came to lunch, but I've lost my appetite," Mary's father said, glaring menacingly at the couple again, "I'm going to be late at work," and Philip left the house, throwing an explanation to his wife.

- You've made him angry," the blonde said unhappily.

"Let him be thankful I didn't knock his teeth out right here," Peter thought, but before he could say anything, Mary beat him to it.

- He was being rude," the redhead interceded for her boyfriend.

- Mary Jane Watson, don't forget, he's still your father.

- And that still makes me sick," Mary replied frustrated.

Before her mother could reply, the door opened again.

- Mum, I saw Father, are you all right?

A young brunette woman, Gail, MJ's sister, walked into the living room.

The sisters met her gaze and were dumbfounded

But Mary, like Peter, was struck by something else.

The girl was pregnant.

- Gail," the redhead whispered.

Twitching and snapping out of her daze, the brunette ran to the first floor.

- Gail stop! - Mary ran after her sister.

- Good tea, Mrs Watson," Peter mumbled, coming up behind his girlfriend.

The woman, however, was left alone in the living room.

Pete went up to the first floor and saw MJ sitting at the door.

- 'Gail, please let me in.

There was no response.

Parker was about to say something, but the redhead gave him a warning look.

- Sis," she began again, "remember when we were kids, we both went to rhythmic gymnastics, we were so good," Mary continued with a little laugh, "but Dad made a big deal about not being able to pay for both of us. And you refused," there were some sounds outside the door, "you refused and said, 'you're better than me, ponytail,'" Watson's eyes were filled with tears, "you called me ponytail because when I was a little girl I used to follow you around like a glue stick.

The door opened and a crying brunette stepped out of the doorway.

- It's me, sis," the redhead said, and Gail threw her arms around her and cried again.

Peter, on the other hand, just stared at the girls. Different emotions were rising in him. Parker himself was the only child in the family and did not know how brothers and sisters who were bound by similar ties felt. Even with his cousins he had no contact. The part of Pete that belonged to a universalist from another world was also an only child in the family, and he was in close contact with his cousins and siblings, but he didn't know what it was like to be directly connected to a person like that. 

But the reunited sisters had awakened in him warm memories of long lost family left behind in that life.

And also anger.

Anger at their bastard of a father.

Meanwhile, the girls made their way to Gail's room. Peter stayed against the wall, before closing the door so as not to embarrass his sisters.

The girls spent some time reminiscing about their childhood.

- Mary, who's that? - The brunette nodded slightly towards Parker.

- Peter, my boyfriend, but it doesn't matter now," Watson sighed slightly, "Gail, when were you going to tell me I was going to be an aunt? - The green-eyed girl tried to smile.

The brunette also smiled slightly.

- 'I guess when the time would be right.

The smile flew off Mary Jane's face.

- 'Gail,' the girl took her sister's hand, 'the baby's father isn't...him, is he?

MJ couldn't say it out loud, and Pete tensed up against the wall, his hands clenched into fists.

The brunette's eyes bulged, staring at her sister in shock.

- What? Absolutely not! Jesus, Mary, where did that come from?! - But when she came to her senses, Gail gave Parker a frightened look.

- I told him," the redhead admitted.

Peter was expecting an angry tirade, but instead there was a look of total relief on her face, as if a stone had fallen from her shoulders.

- Oh," the brunette rested her head on her sister's shoulder.

- Is everything okay? - Pete asked, noting the girl's pale face.

- Yeah, just a lot of upheaval for one day.

There was silence in the room for a while.

- Who's the father? - Still, in the fiery temperament of the green-eyed beauty, there was no room for long silence or inaction.

- My boyfriend, Jason," Gail lovingly stroked her not-so-rounded belly, "I met him a couple of days after you...moved in. He became my rock.

- How did your parents react?

- I live with Jason. I couldn't stay here after..." The brunette squeezed her eyes shut painfully, and Mary hugged her sister in a gesture of support, "it's like he was an angel sent to me by fate. Mum's sorry. And I don't think Dad cares. He's been promoted at university and he doesn't care about the family at all. I think that was his goal, to get rid of us.

Mary pressed her lips together. And Peter was filled with rage.

No, Philip's not a bastard, he's a real bastard.

- Carrot-top, I think Gail could do with some sleep.

- Ha, Carrot-top," the brunette laughed, rubbing her sleepy eyes, "I like him, sister.

The girl only snorted in response and helped her sister settle down.

The couple was about to leave.

- He beats Mum," Gail said quietly.

Closing the door on the other side, the boy and the girl were left standing in the silence of the corridor.

- Let's go," Taking the boy's hand, Mary pulled him towards her old room.

Once inside, MJ noted the bright pink wallpaper, the abundance of posters on the walls, and the scattered belongings. A teenage girl's room, all left completely untouched. Back here, Mary realised how much she had morally grown when she ran away from here.

The brooding girl was lovingly embraced by strong arms.

- Are you all right?

That voice. Mary remembered well enough playing with a boy named Peter Parker as a child, his hair always dishevelled, his milk teeth falling out. He still wore glasses then.

But after she moved away, she didn't revisit those memories often, she had a new life, but she never forgot the quietly modest and so brave boy.

And eventually she returned to the home of Aunt Anna, the wife of her father's brother. The fact that they hardly ever spoke to each other, and that the uncle she had never known had quarrelled with her father to death, was a sign-this was the last place they would look for her.

The woman listened to her story and welcomed her home as her own.

And then she saw it. The boy had turned into a teenager, Peter looked like a typical nerd, but there was still the same tenacity in his eyes. The same strength that had awakened dormant feelings. Maybe it could be called falling in love then, but you couldn't call that feeling, that longing, anything else. Sometimes words are not enough to express all the storm of emotions, frolicking inside.

And now the teenager had become a stately young man. She would confidently call him a man, but her Tiger was still young for such treatment. But in Watson's eyes, he was more than just a man. Now she was sure that she truly loved this foolishly joking, and often disjointed fellow.

Only with each other did they feel real and secure.

Mary, at least.

The redhead leaned on the boy's chest and, running her palm over his cheek, looked into his eyes.

There was such fierce concern and support in the brown pools that MJ simply kissed Peter.

Stroking his beloved's head, the boy pressed her against his shoulder, seeking to protect her from the world.

For a while they each sat immersed in their own thoughts until Parker spoke.

- He won't stop, MJ, we both know that," the redhead shuddered.

Mary understood.

- I know, Tiger, but...

- He's still your father, I understand," the boy mouthed, clamming up.

- And he doesn't deserve this," Watson growled.

- I took the suit for a reason," Pete said, lifting his girlfriend's face by the chin.

- He said he was staying late at the university," MJ elaborated.

- Can I? - The boy left the request hanging in the air.

- I love you, Tiger.

That was enough for him.

- We need to book a hotel room,' Peter changed the subject.

He got everything he wanted.

- Maybe we should stay here. - Mary asks hesitantly.

- Do you think we should?

- I want to talk to Mum.

Sighing, Peter realises it's better to leave the women of the Watson family alone.

- All right, then. I'll stop by the hotel just in case and check out the city while I have time.

- Be careful.

In response, Pete only kisses the redhead.

*

Same night.

3 December 2012.

Boston University.

Phillip Watson's office.

The man was fidgeting with his students' tests. He was terribly angry. His youngest daughter, the little girl, had dared to come back after running away. Just when things were starting to get better in his life! He got the regalia of the head of the department, he was finally recognised!

Philip's hand ached from the long writing.

And she brought that troglodyte with her. How could there even be so much power in such a squishy fellow!

The man's musings were interrupted by the sound of a window opening. Except his office was on the sixth floor, and there was no fire escape near the frame.

Leaning on the window frame into the room, someone in a monotone black suit literally jumped in.

Only the mask was remotely reminiscent of something.

- Hello, Phillip," the stranger addressed Watson.

He was a stranger to the man, but many of the New York gangsters knew exactly who he was. And shuddered at the mere memory.

- Who are you?! I'll call security! - Phillip grabbed the phone, but Rukt stepped closer and crushed the landline with a small punch.

- Don't bother.

The man looked shocked at the actions of the man in black.

Meanwhile, the vigilante himself looked behind the back of his girlfriend's father.

- Interesting, so many pictures from various university events," Pete took down one of the frames, "Boston University's Man of the Year award," the boy said with a snicker, "but we both know it's not so rosy, don't we, Philip?

Watson may have been startled by the unknown man's actions, but the condescending and contemptuous tone of the man appealed to the man's naturally fierce temperament.

He rose from his chair and, towering more than a head above his interlocutor, said:

- I don't intend to listen to any of this.

Philip thought of taking a swing.

But the man in black responded by pushing Watson back into the chair.

He felt as if he had been hit at full speed by a car, for he not only fell back into the chair, but crashed heavily into the wall.

Philip had fought often in his youth, sometimes over his wife-to-be, but if all his rivals in his life had joined forces and pushed him, the effect would have been half as bad as a light poke from this man.

Now Watson was really scared.

- Sometimes I wonder," Peter began to say, looking down at his girlfriend's father, "why I put on a costume and go out on the streets. I could use my talents in other areas, I could be so busy with my various studies that I wouldn't even remember these abilities.

Rukt squeezed his hand and the glove squeaked with a satisfying sound.

- Of course, at first I just liked it, then it seemed I had no choice but to do it, and the lessons of someone very important to me determined a lot of things.

Parker was silent, and Philip, meanwhile, was wondering if he could escape if he jumped up sharply.

- But recently I've realised why I'm doing this," Pete said, picking up the screaming Watson by the collar of his jacket, "I'm doing it because I couldn't sleep at night knowing how much evil was going on around me, knowing that I had the power to turn the tide of the situation at least a little in the direction of something better. Knowing that scum like you don't get what they deserve.

- Please, mister, I'm a professor, not a criminal, please," Phillip finally realised that he was a madman and that it would be better to try and force pity.

- Oh no, Philip, we both know that's not true," Peter pressed the man harder against the wall so that he would stop moaning, "I've been watching you for a long time. You look like a respected professor, your students admire you, your colleagues acknowledge you, your neighbours praise you, but in reality? - the vigilante's grip is getting firmer. - An oppressive bastard who beat his wife and raped his own daughter.

Watson turned sharply pale.

"How, how, how?!", these were the exact thoughts that were swirling through the man's mind.

- 'No, it's not true...' the professor tried to guffaw to the last.

- Stop lying! - Parker's loud shout and increased pressure had an effect.

The mask cracked.

- I never wanted a family! As a young idiot, I thought I'd be happy. But as it was, they always slowed me down, were ballast! That bitch couldn't even give me an heir! I hate her and I hate these leeches who think they are my daughters too!

The grip loosened abruptly and Watson fell to his knees.

And Peter felt unbearably sick.

Sick of the bastard's words. Sick of the fact that his favourite girl, his red-haired sunshine, had only been born because this degenerate had passed his genes on to her.

And now he was kneeling in front of him and daring to yell that he hated her.

Her.

The kindest, most compassionate, funny and beautiful girl in all the land.

His Mary.

Peter was consumed with anger.

He grabbed the wheezing Watson by the throat and lifted him up to the ceiling with one hand, pinning his trembling carcass against the wall. Philip couldn't even reach the floor with his toes.

- Now listen to me, and listen very carefully, - the professor tried with all his might to tear off the steel arm, but the grip did not weaken. - Today you will come home, before buying flowers, and apologise for what an asshole you are. Then you'll file for divorce and leave all your assets to your wife and daughters, your house, your car, everything, and then you'll disappear from their lives forever. You'll tell the university about your crimes and turn yourself in to the police.

- N-no! - the prospect of the intruder's voice had reawakened Philip's rage and he protested with a desperate wheeze.

- Oh, yes, you will, or else," the grip on the man's throat tightened, and Watson became desperately short of breath, "I will come for you again, but this time I will break your legs, then methodically maim you, breaking every bone in your body, starting with your fingers. After that I'll lift your carcass to the roof and drop you from the tenth floor, enjoying the sight of your broken shell splattered in a bloody stain on the pavement," Peter described everything in a serious and cold tone.

The smell of urine from the pissed-up Watson signalled that the message had reached its destination.

Or maybe he was just starting to pass out.

Peter loosened his grip and released Philip, who slumped to the floor, gulping for air in an attempt to normalise his breathing.

Rukt went to the window.

- I advise you not to tempt fate," Parker said and jumped out the window.

The end of the flashback.