The torture was being broadcast live, both on television and the internet. Citizens of New York trembled as they watched the Green Goblin beating Spider-Man with a crowbar.
— HAHAHA! Which one hurts more? A... or B? The right arm... or the left?! — he screamed, laughing maniacally.
The camera zoomed in on Spider-Man, bound hand and foot, with his mask torn, revealing half his face. The entire city was in shock. Fear was tangible.
Baxter Building – Living Room
Three adults entered the room, looking for the kids.
— Kids? — called Susan Storm, with a gentle smile.
On the couch, Franklin and Valeria sat frozen, completely silent.
— Franklin, Valeria... are you okay? — Johnny asked, concerned.
— Mommy... — they both replied in unison, their voices fragile.
Franklin and Valeria looked up — in tears.
— U-Uncle Peter... — Franklin stammered — he's going to be okay, right?
The adults exchanged glances, confused. Valeria clutched the remote with trembling hands and unmuted the television.
Screams of pain filled the room.
Johnny frowned. Ben turned away. Susan brought her hands to her mouth, horrified.
— For an adult, you sure act like a child... — mocked the Goblin, wiping away the spit he'd received.
The iron bar came crashing down again.
Susan turned off the TV and hugged her kids tightly. Johnny clenched his fists so hard his arms shook.
Suddenly, he bolted toward the balcony.
— Johnny! Wait! — yelled Ben.
Johnny burst into flames and took off toward Avengers Tower.
Avengers Tower
— OPEN THAT DAMN DOOR! — shouted Captain America.
— Cap, not yet... — Natasha tried to say.
Steve pushed her aside and slammed the emergency button. The door opened, revealing a heavy, gray sky.
He jumped onto his bike, revved the engine, and launched off the tower.
— He's going to be okay... right? — Natasha whispered.
Madame Web lowered her head.
— I won't lie to you, Widow... but I won't say anything either.
Aboard the Blackbird
Logan, Emma Frost, Jean Grey, and Hope Summers were onboard the aircraft, flying at top speed. They had seen the broadcast.
They had asked Professor Xavier to use Cerebro to locate Peter. At first, he refused — the device was meant to track mutants. But Hank quickly made a modification, and the location was found.
Jean was silent, eyes fixed in the void. Her emotions poured through her mind, no matter how hard she tried to contain them.
— What if... — Hope began.
— Don't you dare finish that sentence — Emma cut her off coldly.
Jean slowly turned, her eyes flashing red for a moment.
— Peter's not going to die — she said firmly. — I won't let him.
— Buckle up. — ordered Logan.
Peter's vision was blurry. He could barely make out the Goblin's face. One question echoed in his mind: How did it come to this?
His entire body ached. The iron bar struck again. The villain grabbed him by the hair and forced him to face the camera.
— Your pathetic hero... nothing but a failure. Poor Spider-Man. No friends. No family. — he kicked him hard — And no one coming to save him!
The camera revealed a bomb, its countdown already active.
— All yours, Spider. — he crouched down beside him — The camera will be your only company now.
Peter tried to speak, but only coughed up blood.
— It was a pleasure dragging you to the brink of madness — the Goblin whispered before leaving.
Peter was alone. He stared at the camera.
— S-sorry... for not being... agh... a hero... — he spat blood — I tried... I swear I tried... I'm sorry... but this time, I... I can't come back...
His face dropped sideways, collapsing to the floor.
Captain America – Full speed
Steve drove like a maniac.
— Status? — he asked over the comms.
— Five minutes out... Cap, the Goblin activated a bomb!
Steve's brows furrowed. He pushed the throttle even harder.
Meanwhile, Peter dragged himself across the floor, leaving a trail of blood. The camera had fallen sideways, filming the door... and part of the bomb.
— J-just a bit more... — he whispered.
His spider-sense went off.
— Oh no...
Steve skidded to a stop as the factory came into view. Tears streamed down his face. He leaped off the bike and ran.
Minutes later...
The Blackbird landed. Logan, Emma, Jean, and Hope disembarked and found Steve, kneeling, holding Peter's body in his arms.
Hope collapsed to her knees. Emma rushed to support her. Jean... froze. The pain hit her like a brutal wave.
She didn't scream. She just cried in silence. Walked to his body and knelt.
— Peter... — her voice barely came out.
Emma stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. Jean turned to her. The two locked eyes for a long moment. Without a word, Emma held her hand tightly.
Logan looked at the now-useless bomb's countdown.
— We were too late... — he murmured.
Reactions across the city
At the Baxter Building, Ben Grimm punched the table, breaking it. Susan sobbed while holding her children.
Jessica Drew, Spider-Woman, sat atop the Empire State Building. She hugged her knees.
— Peter... — she cried.
Carol Danvers returned from a mission with the Guardians. Upon entering Avengers Tower, she sensed something was off.
She found Janet, Jennifer, and Johnny in full mourning.
— Who died? — she joked. — Why's Johnny crying?
Silence.
Manhattan – Dark apartment
On the TV, static. The broadcast had ended.
A woman cried.
— Peter... — whispered Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat.
For the first time, she called him by his real name.
Days later – The Funeral
The hero community attended in full. Peter's identity was kept secret. S.H.I.E.L.D. announced he had left the country.
— What a shame... — someone murmured behind Steve.
— I don't know what you're doing here, Stark — Cap growled.
— Paying my respects — Tony replied.
— You reek of booze.
— It's a funeral. And not just anyone's...
— Behave — Steve said.
— You should drink too. You're wound up tight.
Tony touched Steve's shoulder. Steve shoved his hand away.
— Where were you that day?
— I... was busy...
— You were drunk, weren't you?
Steve grabbed Tony by the collar.
— That's enough.
— Cap...
— I resign. — he turned — I'm done with the Avengers.
He looked over his shoulder.
— It's time to act like the hero Spider-Man was.