Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 66: The Abandoned Building

The wind howled as Peter swung across the dark skyline, his mind focused on the mission ahead. The streets below were quieter than usual, almost unnervingly so. Even the usual bustle of the city seemed to have been dampened by the growing sense of unease. Peter could feel it in the air—something was wrong. The Harbinger, or whatever it was, had begun to make its presence known.

The building Fury had directed him to loomed in the distance—an old industrial complex on the edge of the city, long abandoned and now home to little more than rats and debris. But something about it felt off. The energy readings they had tracked to this location didn't match anything Peter had ever encountered. And that made his spider-sense buzz with an unsettling warning.

He landed silently on the roof of the building, crouching low as he surveyed the area. The place was eerily quiet, save for the distant sound of sirens echoing through the streets below. Peter reached up to adjust his mask, steadying himself. The wind had picked up, but he couldn't afford to waste any more time. His mission was clear: infiltrate the building, gather any intel on the creature, and report back.

Peter took a deep breath, centering himself. He wasn't just dealing with another criminal—this was something far more dangerous. Something that had the potential to destroy everything.

With a flick of his wrist, Peter fired a web and swung down into the open air vent on the side of the building, quickly and silently entering the complex. His spider-sense tingled as he descended into the darkness. The atmosphere inside the building was thick with a strange energy, making his skin crawl. The lights were dim, flickering on and off, and the shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally.

Keep it together, Parker, he reminded himself. Just stay focused.

He moved swiftly through the corridors, sticking to the walls and using his agility to avoid any unnecessary noise. His senses were on high alert, but as he reached the central part of the building, he couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone.

Suddenly, his spider-sense flared.

Before he could react, a shape emerged from the shadows. Peter barely had time to brace himself as a tendril shot toward him, wrapping around his wrist and pulling him into the darkness.

"Damn it!" Peter grunted, struggling against the dark energy that coiled around him. The tendril tightened, but with a twist of his body, Peter managed to break free, flipping backwards and landing on his feet. He looked up quickly, searching for the source of the attack.

From the depths of the shadows, a voice echoed, chilling and dark. "You're far too curious for your own good, Spider-Man."

Peter's blood ran cold as a figure emerged from the darkness. It wasn't the Harbinger, but the power emanating from this being was undeniable. The creature was humanoid but wrapped in a cloak of black tendrils and shadow, its eyes glowing an ominous red. The air around it seemed to warp, as if reality itself was bending under its influence.

The figure stepped forward, the tendrils trailing behind it like a dark veil. Peter's spider-sense was on full alert, but this time, he wasn't sure how to fight it. The being exuded power—power that felt like it was from another world entirely.

"I was hoping to catch you unaware," the figure said, its voice low and gravelly. "But it seems you're more resourceful than I thought. Pity. This world doesn't need your kind."

Peter's muscles tensed. He couldn't make out the full details of the creature's form—it was like it was made of shadows themselves, but one thing was clear: this wasn't a typical villain. This was something far more dangerous. Something connected to the Harbinger.

"What do you want from me?" Peter demanded, trying to keep his voice steady despite the gnawing fear at the back of his mind.

The figure chuckled darkly. "I don't want anything from you, Spider-Man. I'm simply the messenger. The Harbinger has already claimed this world. It will make no difference in the end whether you fight or not."

The creature raised its hand, and the air seemed to distort further. Tendrils shot out from all sides, cutting off any escape routes Peter had. He spun quickly, firing webs to deflect the tendrils, but they were too strong. The darkness enveloped him, closing in.

Peter's heart raced. This wasn't just an enemy to fight. This was something he didn't understand, something that seemed beyond his control.

"You won't stop the inevitable," the creature hissed. "Soon, the darkness will consume you all."

Peter narrowed his eyes, determination flashing through him. "Not if I can help it."

With a surge of adrenaline, he activated his web-shooters and fired a web directly at the creature's chest, trying to pull it closer to him. The creature hissed in fury, but before it could retaliate, Peter followed up with a series of quick, acrobatic moves, landing kicks and punches. However, each time he struck, the creature's form seemed to shift, becoming intangible, as if it weren't really there at all.

Peter's mind raced. He had to find its weakness—something to stop this creature from moving so fluidly through the darkness. But every move he made, it was like fighting smoke.

Suddenly, a flash of light exploded from the shadows, cutting through the dark like a blade. Peter staggered backward, his eyes stinging from the sudden brightness.

A new figure stepped into the light, and Peter's jaw nearly dropped in surprise.

It was Doctor Strange—his red cloak swirling around him, his hands raised in a defensive stance, glowing with mystical energy.

"Get away from him!" Doctor Strange commanded, his voice commanding and full of power. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of magic swept through the room, pushing back the tendrils that had ensnared Peter. The creature screeched in rage, but the magic kept it at bay.

"Strange?" Peter blinked, trying to process the sudden change in events. "What the heck are you doing here?"

Doctor Strange didn't take his eyes off the creature, his voice calm but urgent. "I felt the disturbance. This creature is a manifestation of something far older than even the Harbinger. Its presence here is no accident. We need to leave. Now."

Before Peter could protest, the creature let out an otherworldly screech, the sound reverberating through the building. The shadows in the room began to swirl more violently, as if the very fabric of reality was being torn apart.

Doctor Strange raised his hands once more, conjuring a portal. "We can't fight it here, Spider-Man. Come with me if you want to survive."

Peter didn't hesitate. With a single, quick movement, he followed Doctor Strange into the portal, leaving the building—and the dark creature—behind.

End of Chapter 66