CHAPTER FIVE; SPIDERMAN

❝ people see what they want, not what is truly there ❞

[ songs to listen to during this chapter ]

❝ pity party by melanie martinez / I'm a mess by bebe rexha / rat by penelope scott / play with fire by sam tinnesz ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ knightsbridge, london 2015 ❞

"I TOLD YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHO BOUGHT IT. I JUST KNOW WHERE I DROPPED IT OFF," a man tied to a chair beaten a bloody said in a panic. He would try screaming again but it didn't work out well for him or his daughter when he did that last.

Alina rolled her eyes looking around the apartment he and his daughter called home. It was furnished with academic accomplishments, books, and furniture someone should've talked him out of buying Alina thought. "And I told you that I was sent here looking for who you gave it to, not where you left it silly," she remarked sitting across from him.

Looking in his eyes she could tell how afraid he was, his heart was racing so fast she thought he might die before she got what she needed. His nose was already broken and his eye was completely swollen due to repeated blows. "And you coming here doesn't change the fact that I DON'T KNOW," he shouted back at her.

"Fine! No need to shout," she remarked sarcastically getting up from the couch. As she walked away she reminded, "Or do, not like anyone is gonna hear you, but do remember had you just been honest with me, I wouldn't be doing this."

The man starred confused as Alina fell from his sight for a moment only for him to her shouting coming down the hall. His daughters voice protesting for help as Alina dragged her by her arm into the room. Forcefully the brunette threw her into the chair brandishing a knife as she said, "Now, who did you sell the information to or I will start killing her, painfully."

Up until that moment Alina was fairly sure the man knew nothing, until she saw the truthfully horror filled look. A wicked grin grew across her face, Alina made her way behind the girl. "Anything you'd like to share before I begin," she offered.

"Dad," the teenager no older than Alina herself pleaded.

The older man starred into his daughters eyes seeing only fear, "Promise me if I tell you she'll be okay?"

"I promise, you two will be together when you leave here," Alina offered pulling her knife back into its holster.

His head hung low for a moment, he knew he was taking a risk telling her anything, but it was his only choice. "I don't know who exactly hired me, but I know what they wanted and who they wanted it for," he offered.

Alina widened her eyes saying, "Well, I'm waiting?"

"They wanted information on a project called Hex, said it was technology they helped create and they wanted it back. No more of the project being in HYDRA's hands, they're too messy, too in the spotlight for what Hex is and it's capabilities." Instantly his words made her straighten her stance, "And from what I gathered from the file, I'm pretty sure Hex is you." Alina said nothing only allowing him to continue, "Blue mist, superhuman strength, it's you. The Red Room is looking for you, and they won't stop until they get their project back."

Alina smirked kneeling before him, "I think we both know, if they come looking it won't be my funeral we'll be attending." Standing up straighter Alina looked at the terrified girl before looking back to her father. "And as for my promise, I'm keeping it, but I'm keeping it the only way they'll allow me to," Alina said pulling her knife back out.

"No, no, no wait! Please don't, you don't have to do this," he screamed as his daughter tried to move. Before she could Alina grabbed her shoulder forcing her back down to sit.

"Actually I do, everyone got a boss and mine? Well, mine likes to electrocute me when I get things wrong so sorry guys. It's you or me," the brunette answered before she took her knife jamming it into the teenagers neck the splatter coating Alina's face with a thin layer of blood. The father screamed as his daughter did her best to cover the wound and survive. But it wasn't enough, Alina knew exactly where she was stabbing and in seconds the blood lost was too much.

As her body fell lifelessly to the floor, Alina turned towards the father. "You're turn," she mused with a hidden joy in her words. Stepping over the body Alina stood before the broken man saying, "For what it's worth, I would have let you guys live." Before he knew it, Alina had pushed her hand through his chest gripping his heart. She savored the look in his eyes seeing and accepting his death before she ripped out his heart. As soon as she did and was left in the blood covered room Alina dropped his heart in shock. The second his heart hit the floor Alina's eyes opened revealing it was a dream of a memory and she was in her apartment.

There was a thin layer of sweat over her skin as she let out shaky sharp breaths putting her hand over her chest. Trying to calm her heartbeat she shut her eyes, but she only ended up seeing flashes of what she had dreamt of. Having no other choice Alina pulled back her blankets making her way towards her bathroom to get ready.

As she made her way pass the bathroom threshold her eyes caught a glimpse of her calendar by the wall. Walking backwards out of the bathroom she made her way back towards the calendar her heart sinking. How could she not have noticed? How could she be so careless?

There was a full moon tonight, the same day as the party. No one, not even Peter knew of what her struggle could be and she didn't want them to. She could control it right? Just one day of impulsively succumbing to her intrusive thoughts. She could control it she had to.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ streets of nyc ❞

Something about Alina felt...different to Peter. His first feeling came when he opened the door to his apartment and she was already outside. Usually he had to get her, and the next clue came when she happily greeted Ned. It was like she was trying, trying really hard to seem normal. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with her trying to be normal but it just seemed, different. Alina could tell he noticed her as well, but she still tried to keep up her act. Almost every sound she heard was loud enough to make her start wanting to bash peoples heads together. New York was beautiful, but it was no where near quiet.

Hit them, grab that jack hammer and use it on them, that'll shut them up.

The dude chewing disgustingly on his hot dog, I could use my claws to tear his mouth apart so he'd just stop chewing it so loud. He has it coming.

That baby crying, stuff her and its mother in a closet, then I wouldn't hear it.

God, maybe if I grab Ned by the throat and throw him maybe he'd stop asking so many questions.

Yeah, and toss Peter with him too. Then I won't have to see that pitied look in his eyes.

No, I should just scream, scream so loud the whole city gets quiet. They'd all look to me and know I could make them stay that way forever. Quiet.

Over and over, thoughts plagued her mind and in attempt to ignore it Alina was smiling through the horror of her mind. She was doing her best to be patient as Ned asked without pause, " You got bit by a spider? Can it bite me? Well, it probably would've hurt, right?" She could see Peter doing his best to listen while he carried all his books because of losing his backpack, "You know what? Whatever. Even if it did hurt, I'd let it bite me. Maybe. How much did it hurt?"

Even in her state she noticed Peter staring ahead and his quick way of answering, "The spider's dead, Ned."

He was cutting the conversation short, allowing no room for further discussion on the subject. Ned shrugged and stared ahead his eyes going wide, "Whoa."

Looking ahead to the same thing he was Alina haunted all the same beside the two boys.

Mr Delmar's shop, it was almost burnt down, the store name almost illegible. She. had done that, it was just another thing in her path she'd destroyed. Police tape and barricades surrounded the shop while various police officers and crime scene investigators worked around it. They were completely unaware the cause. of the explosion was standing right behind them on her way to school.

"You were here," Ned confirmed in shock.

Peter warily eyed the agents standing near the scene admitting, "Yeah."

"You could've died," reasoned Ned.

This time Alina spoke up saying, "I couldn't of, I'm the one who caused this."

While Peter and Alina stood there thinking of the severity of what they were doing Ned was thinking about the implications of the two of them. "Do you lay eggs, Peter? And if you can never die could I stab you in the heart 'Lina?"

Peter immediately chuckled at the absurdness of the anticlimactic question, "What? No."

Teasing him, Alina looked at Ned tilting her head to the right as she offered, "I don't know, why don't you try?" Ned gulped making her giggle as she started to walk ahead continuing their path to school.

"She's intense...that's so cool," Ned said to his friend before following after her. Honestly having one superhero friend was more than enough for him but having two? Even though it was a new friendship he did consider her a friend, Alina didn't consider anyone a friend. Peter followed behind doing the same as his friends.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown high [ hallways ] ❞

There was a brief relief when Alina first walked in, it lasted all of three seconds before her thoughts resurfaced. It was only slightly quieter, and at some point in her speed she had lost Ned and Peter. So she just went forward going straight for her locker knowing she'd probably see Peter there. As she arrived at her locker she saw Gwen already there with two coffees in hand.

"Morning, I wanted to ask if on Saturday if you would want to go out to eat and shopping with Liz and I," she offered. Gwen hated when new students would get to school and she'd see them sitting alone or getting picked on. She didn't like having people feel left out and though it left her spread pretty thin, Gwen wanted to help everyone.

Maybe it was the full moon tonight, maybe it was just paranoid mindsets refusing to die, or even experience believing something didn't come from nothing. No matter the reason she found herself questioning, "You want to hang out? Why you barely even know me?"

"That's exactly why, I want to know you and kinda need you there for that process. I got this, stayed on the sweeter side just to be safe," Gwen answered offering her the cup almost laughing at how silly she thought the idea is.

Alina stared at it for a moment before accepting the cup taking a sip. It was good, and was definitely sweet, "Thank you," she said her voice becoming softer. Part of her did want to go out with her but knowing how hard today was already Friday and a full moon, she answered, "I would go but I promised Peter I'd help him with something."

"Damn, that sucks well I guess I'll see you later at lunch and the party tonight, okay? Let me know if plans change too, last minute updates are something I can always adapt to," the blonde offered with a smile. Alina simply nodded watching as she walked away going to her own locker. She found herself wanting to trust Gwen, she seemed nice but she just couldn't.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown high [ chemistry lab ] ❞

Alina liked being inside classrooms, they were really quiet. Even being in the middle of a chemistry lecture it was sitting better. And watching the torch boiling the dark-colored liquid on the desk proved to be a fun outlet. Though Peter had to remind her to put on goggles, that wasn't her fault. Wasn't like she needed them so it wasn't a first thought.

Working at the next table over Ned rolled over in his chair toward them, "Can you spit venom," he asked Peter in a low voice.

"No," Peter answered lowly.

Ned looked to Alina wondering, "Can you summon an army of demons?" Alina opened her mouth to answer but as she did she realized she didn't know. In truth, without her collar telling her all the time which powers she was allowed to use it was hard to know the extent. They always told her they were working up towards their final test, she found out that would be them killing her. They thought doing that would give her even more power so she really didn't know if she could do something like that. After that would be her graduation, the ceremony all widows, suffered, once they were fully trained.

Seeing the puzzled look on her face he asked, "Are you not sure cause it's not possible or because you. think you actually might be able to but you haven't tried it?"

"It's not possible," Peter insisted looking to her seeing the same look, "Is it?"

Changing the conversation she said, "We should be listening." The boys looked to each other each with an increasing level of impression and fear.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown high [ history classroom ] ❞

Chemistry had proven easy, but history was another thing all together for Alina. Mainly because she had to many opinions and information it seemed to odd for her to know. Making matter worse, when they walked in she saw on the board in cursive writing, The Sokovia Accords. She clenched her jaw made sure to shield her eyes as she made her way to her desk. Peter and Ned were talking but she didn't listen at all. All she could focus on was Mrs. Collins as she began, "Okay, so who can tell me what the Sokovian Accords are?"

No one said anything so she sighed explaining to them herself, "Alright well they are a set of legal documents designed to control and regulate the activities of enhanced individuals, including members of government agencies such as SHIELD or private organizations such as the Avengers. My question for you guys, should it be, or should it not?"

Flash was the first to speak not even bothering to raise his hand, "Of course, they can't just have a license to do what they want."

"Then what about Spider Man," questioned Michelle making him turn in his chair, "You love him but would you want him to sign those."

Flash grinned saying, "Yeah, then we'd finally know who he was." Peter looked up from his conversation hearing this his eyes glancing towards Alina who was tapping her foot.

"The Accords aren't about knowing who has the powers. That's the most naive understanding of it," Alina spoke up before she could stop herself. Her breathing was heavy as she did her best to tame her rage at the topic and his agreeing. Not even just him agreeing, but the other kids around nodding their heads mumbling agreements.

"What do you mean Alina," asked Mrs. Collins happy to have her finally speaking up.

Alina hesitated before taking a deep breath and saying, "I mean that think about the actual wording of the document. They frame it as monitoring them but they don't care about that, not really. They can already track em all now, think about it. How did the avengers form if not for someone finding them all and bringing them together? Nick Fury did that, we all know that. The document says Avengers would operate as the United Nations decides."

Michelle and Gwen leaned forward loving how she spoke so well known about things. Alina carried on telling them all clearly disgusted, "I mean think about one thing they do that isn't dictated by politics. Avengers messed up, but the UN would use them as their weapons. You get that right? No one wants America with the most powerful weapons on the planet so they make you all think they own them. They choose who lives and who dies, do you all think politics should dictate that? Avengers aren't perfect, they've messed up before but think about those enhanced people trying to live normal lives. Spider man might have a normal life out of costume, should they give that up just because they decided to start saving people? If that's the case, if freedom to choose is the price you pay, why even sign it? Sounds like it will be a bunch of old men with their own agendas decided with humanitarian needs people deserve. They can't do it well now, what makes anyone think they would do it any better with people like the avengers and spider man under their control."

As she spoke Peter could see the pain in her eyes thinking about how the accords had ruined the only family she'd ever had. "The UN could make it so they have to report for experiments to see just 'how far' their abilities could take them," Alina reminded them all.

"They should, we need to know the image and how bad it could be," Flash said making her scoff.

"You need to see how bad they could get," she said clenching her fist making Peter sit up in his seat knowingly. "Their experiments could be something like tearing their fingernails off to see how fast they can heal. Drowning them to see how life or death influences them. You would never know about it, we think politicians just hide things like murder and and rape; you never think to look deep at the real horrors they will commit to keep their power. They would use those people as weapons, and you're an idiot if you think differently."

"Alright, that's enough," Mrs. Collins said not soon enough in Peter's opinion. Alina shifted uneasy, something changing in her mind as she leaned back in her chair. She had to fight her tears so she just looked down the rest of class

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown high [ gym ] ❞

There was a small, old television set up beside Coach Wilson, the PE teacher, who was standing with a bored expression. Peter didn't leave her side the whole way down to class, this was his attempt at making sure she and Flash didn't meet again until they had to. He didn't know what was wrong but he did know that Flash was unknowingly out of line. So he was still next to her as they sat watching Captain America's Fitness Challenge playing on the screen.

This time she didn't look angry, she seemed sad seeing Steve even if he was in his full uniform, smiling annoyingly pleasantly, standing in a locker room, she missed him. There was a small smile across her face watching him. It had been so long since she'd last seen him, and she didn't realize how hard it was without him until now. "Hi. I'm Captain America. Whether you're in the classroom or on the battlefield..."

"Do you know him too," Ned asked each of them.

Alina nodded not saying anything as the other boy answered, "Yeah, we met." Ned's eyes widened in awe and his jaw went slack while he added, "I stole his shield."

She could tell he was only feigning nonchalance while he was secretly boasting it made her laugh. Ned's jaw dropped even more, "What?" They watched in silence until the video finished, she wasn't really listening to what he was saying. More just taking in the image of him along with the sound of his voice.

As it finished Coach Wilson said, "Thank you, Captain. I'm pretty sure this guy's a war criminal now, but whatever. I have to show these videos. It's required by the state. Let's do it."

He blew the whistle and they all move to sit on their own mats some people pairing up or some doing it solo like Alina. She sat beside the boys tying the weights to her ankles they had before she began. Some other kids did things like rope climbing, chin-ups, push-ups, et cetera. Michelle was lying on a mat by herself and wielding her book like a weight, still immersed in its contents.

"Do Avengers have to pay taxes," Ned asked another question making her role her eyes as she pulled her self up. Peter hushed him, "What does Hulk smell like," he continued ignoring his friends hush again, "I bet he smells nice."

This time it was Alina who spoke up her voice firmly telling him, "You have to shut up." Looking at Peter she begged, "Please, please make him stop before I do and I literally won't give him the choice."

Ned still couldn't help but ask, "Is Captain America cool, or is he like a mean, old grandpa??

Looking to Peter she warned again desperate to get the questions to cease, "Shut him up or I swear I will make him believe he wants to be quiet all week."

Peter nodded looking to his friend warning, "Ned, just, shh, okay? Neither of us are trying to have our identities exposed right now." After what she said it class it got him thinking about a few things. One sadly being that those experiments had been done to Aline and two he didn't want to end up on the wrong end of one.

Still unable to help himself he wondered, "Hey, can I be your guy in the chair?"

"Our what," Alina asked him pulling herself up again.

Excitedly he explained it to her offering, "Yeah. You know how there's a guy with a headset telling the other guy where to go?"

Both her and Peter's face contorted into a weird expression which each of them having returned to doing sit-ups each of them moving faster than any other student without noticing they were. Still keeping his hold on Peter he said, "Like, like if you're stuck in a burning building, I could tell you where to go. Because there'd be screens around me, and I could, you know, swivel around, and... 'Cause I could be your guy in the chair."

Both of them said in unison, "We don't need a guy in the chair."

"Also the last guy in the chair I had, shot electricity into my entire body when I disagreed with them," Alina had to remind making Ned shrink at the implications.

Walking up beside them seeing the pair working at a speed at the fastest paste in the class coach said, "Looking good, Parker. You too Draganov."

Peter glanced at him, swiftly frowning and taking a huffing breath, trying to look as if the exercise was really taking a toll on him. She didn't even bother to try, she did however pick up Betty saying, "Now, see, for me, it would be F Thor, marry Iron Man, and kill Hulk."

"Well, what about the Spider-Man," someone else asked making Alina come to a slow
stop as she came back up again.

Betty instantly corrected, "It's just Spider-Man."

When the word 'Spider-Man' reached Peter and Ned's ears, they stopped and turned at the same time to see Liz and her friends talking. "Did you guys see the bank security cam on YouTube? He fought off four guys. And what was that outside? The girl who harnessed the explosion! That was insane."

"I think it was some kind of witch, like Wanda," Gwen offered believing the blue mist look only similar to her powers.

Peter's eyes went wide as Betty realized, "Oh my God, she's crushing on Spider-Man."

"No way," Gwen laugh surprised by her friend.

Liz shrugged admitting, "Kind of?"

Getting an idea as she looked out in front of her, Gwen called out, "How about you Alina? F, marry, or kill avengers style, what's your answer."

If it was possible, Peters eyes went even wider. Both both looked at her as she smugly decided to answer, "Kill Iron Man, Marry Thor, and fuck Spider Man." Instantly Peter's cheeks went red making her smirk grow, she liked seeing him get flustered. Plus, it wasn't necessarily wrong, he was the only one her age. And she would be blind if she said she didn't think he was hot.

"My oh my," Gwen said waving her hand over, "Come sit over here."

She waved goodbye to him walking over as Betty said, "He's probably like, thirty."

Alina shrugged reminding her sarcastically, "Yeah well he only 'might' be and we know Thor is a god and is older than like most of our civilization."

Thinking he was making a fair point he told both Alina and Liz, "You guys don't even know what he looks like. Like, what if he's, like, seriously burned?"

Liz looked to Lina both shrugging as the older girl replied, "I wouldn't care. I would still love him for the person he is on the inside."

In a loud voice before he could be stopped Ned shouted, "Peter knows Spider-Man!" She turned seeing Peter already glaring at at Ned, shocked his mouth comically agape. Everyone in the gym simultaneously dropped their assignments and stares at Peter. Peter hurriedly stood up and walked to the bleachers, Alina stood covering her mouth shocked watching.

He was stuttering to say, "No, I don't. No. I... I mean..."

Flash, who had been climbing up a rope, slid down to the ground moving towards everyone and their conversation.  Ned, who had scrambled over to follow said, "They're friends. Him and that g-girl. Hex." This time it was Alina who starred at him wide eye and had he not been a friend of Peters she might've grabbed him by his throat.

Flash came walking over with a laugh, "Yeah, like Coach Wilson and Captain America are friends."

Stuttering Peter said, "I've met him, a-and H-hex. Yeah. A couple times. But it's, um... through the Stark internship. Mm-hmm." Slowly he watched as Alina moved to stand behind him pinching the back of his arm. He tried subtly swatting her hand, "Yeah, well. I'm not really supposed to talk about it. They kinda just run through...doing their own things."

Making a joke of it Flash offered, "Well, that's awesome. Hey, you know what? Maybe you should invite him to Liz's party. Right?"

Liz, being hopeful agreed, "Yeah, I'm having people over tonight. You're more than welcome to come."

"H-Having a party," Peter said in shock.

"Yeah, it's gonna be dope. You should totally invite your personal friend Spider-Man. And Hex, you guys know why she's called that right," Flash asked instantly leaving Alina standing there her heart racing with the current topic. When everyone else appeared clueless he began,  "That freaky little hydra witch!" Flash had clearly seen the reports take came out from Natasha exposing everything. He carried on telling them all, "You guys remember that part of that info Black Widow released said that both SHIELD and the Avengers had hydra defector in their midst."

"She wasn't a defector she was kidnapped and was escaping," Alina defended, "Defector implies she ever had a choice."

Flash rolled his eyes saying, "Of course you would think that, I know her kill count was in the hundreds and for someone with all that power I don't see them making her do anything. They called her Hex cause apparently she liked to curse people,  a few of them she would leave with their insides liquefied and their bodies all bent like they fell out of a plane."

"Oh my god, you met her Peter," Liz said sounding horrified. Alina could feel her mouth pout slightly as she and the others kids agreed that what she did sounded horrific. The worse of it, when she looked in Peters eyes, she could see fear too. She didn't want him to know that, she didn't want anyone to know what she'd done.

"She's not like that," Peter insisted not sounding as convinced as he would've wanted himself to.

Flash turned around saying something about the party, she didn't hear him. There was a ring in her in ear, there he was again talking about her and her power. He wanted to see something to be afraid of? Fine, she'd let him be afraid. She'd let them all be afraid of he.r

With his back turned an no one the wiser she looked up towards the lights dangling above their heads. With a twist of her hand she waited for her hex to take place. Seconds later falling close enough to them all to make them jump but not harm them a light fixture came crashing down. She barely moved as Peter swift pulled Ned to safety and the others jumped back. Flash screamed his voice sounding like it was autotune, she smirked amused. She didn't notice or even care when each and the other kids came rushing over. In all the chaos he watched as she walked off back into the locker room to change.

'

Alina's outfit next chapter