Momento Mori

Mick's mind raced as he flew across the interstate, recklessly weaving through traffic. He wished he had his bike, but the flashing light in the SHIELD car kept the cops at bay, as well as forced slower cars out of his way. The car skid hard as he slammed on the breaks once he reached the barricade. He ignored every officer who tried to speak to him, instead using his webs to go over them. His mind was narrowed, he had only one mission now. He was going to do what he should've done months ago, he was going to kill Jake Carson. 

He weaved his way through the trees, seeing the fires from the skirmish's from the attempted rescues from police and military. He then noticed the downed helicopter from the camera crew. So many people died at their hands, all because of their blood lust for him. Their blood was on his hands. He heard Alice and Andi crying. He heard James trying to pray, and Lina trying to sooth the girls. He set himself up webs acting like a slingshot, launching himself through the trees, then used webs to catch himself on the top of the stage with a loud clang. 

"It's about time you showed up," Jake scoffed, slowly turning to see Mick crouched on the beam, poised like a gargoyle ready to leap down and strike. "I like the new suit, black suits you. You always were a copycat." 

"That's not Recluse, that's some wanna be hero!" Solar belted out, not recognizing Mick's new suit. "Kinda got a similar spider thing going on though." 

"Never were the brightest, were you King?" Grant Reigns walked onto the platform, popping his blood covered face as he looked up at Mick. "The boy just has a very nice costume designer. I'm sure the funeral home will appreciate that." 

"You can't have him until I'm done with him Reigns," Jake growled as Grant shook his head and laughed softly. 

"Then why bring these two if they just have to sit back and watch?" Mick jumped down, drawing his blades watching his three foes carefully. 

"I spent the last six months dreaming of how I'd make you suffer like you made me," Jake said, pointing out the burns on his face and arms. "I begged, I pleaded, and my wish finally came true. My powers finally came back, and now watch!" Jake threw out his arm, and a blast of black and green energy shot Mick across the stage slamming into the metal framing. 

Mick shook the injury off, scurrying to his feet. "Well, now that you have me, you can let them go!" Mick growled as Jake laughed. "You said you wanted this between us, you don't get to change the game now." 

"That's where your wrong," Jake hissed as a demonic looking sword appeared in his right hand. "I make the rules. Go make sure he wasn't followed, I'd hate to see him breaking the rules of our little game. And while they do that, you and I will have a little warm up match. Don't go dying on me now, Mick!"

The two met in the center of the stage, sparks flying as Mick's two escrima smashed into Jake's sword. They danced around each other, blocking every attack like a choreographed dance, no one gaining any ground. Jake matching every move Mick made, his taunting laugh only making Mick's erratic slashes more hectic and unfocused. Jake jumped back, just out of reach of Mick, slashing his sword, a wave of dark energy knocked Mick backwards. 

"You were lucky last time, that isn't going to happen now," Jake teased as he vanished into a cloud of smoke. He reappeared behind Mick, slashing down, barely missing Mick as his blade crashed through the stage. Mick seized the opportunity to tear into Jake countering by uppercutting Jake and using his webs to rip him from the air as he slammed into Mick's knee. Jake staggered backwards, blood dripping from his mouth, laughing. He vanished into smoke. 

"Get back here you coward!" Mick growled. "You wanted me, you've got me." 

"I'm getting exactly what I want," Jake sneered. "You're showing me the monster really is inside you after all. Come on, let it out, play with me." 

Mick looked around trying to find where Jake's voice was coming from, then he saw him, leaning on the post that were Mick mom was tied. "You sick freak! Let them go!" Mick screamed as he ran at Jake, shooting webs, only for Jake to block them with his dark powers. "I'll kill you!" Mick lunged at Jake vanishing just before Mick made impact, leaving him to crash into the ground. 

"See how the mighty Recluse has fallen? Look upon your son, see his bloodlust? He really has become the monster you feared," Jake taunted as James Bellouve refused to look at him. 

"I'm sorry Mick, I never should've called you that," James called out, his sisters begging to be freed. 

"Don't apologize for speaking truth!" Jake slapped James, infuriating Mick. This time the webs didn't miss, Mick jerked Jake across the ground to him. Mick began swinging, each swing drawing out blood from Jake's face, and another laugh from his twisted mind. 

"Looks like someone broke the rules Boss!" Solar's voice echoed through the fairgrounds. He emerged into the clearing holding Davis a scorched Davis by the throat. 

Mick was blasted off Jake while he was distracted. Jake then wiped his face, casting a look of disgust at Mick. "And we were having so much fun. Guess you know what happens next, don't you?" A slender blade appeared in Jake's hand, piercing through Mick's left shoulder, pinning him to the ground. "Say goodbye now." The switch appeared in Jake's hand, he pressed the button. 

Everything seemed so slow, as if he were watching a movie. One by one, each pillar exploded, starting with his father, working its way down to the Alice, everyone lost to a ball of flames. Hatred, incredible rage, overwhelming power coursed throughout his body. He tore the blade in his shoulder out, slinging it at Solar, cutting through his arm forcing him to drop Davis. He then lunged at Jake like a feral beast, grabbing the closest escrima with one hand and Jake's head with the other, squeezing the trigger and jamming the blade into Jake's temple holding him tightly so he couldn't escape. 

Jake screamed as his flesh burned, flailing about, until the blade ran out of battery. Mick then flipped his body over him, slamming him into the ground. Jake gasped in pain as Mick stood over him, nostrils flaring. "You just thought you suffered in prison. Now You're going to beg me to kill you," Mick growled, scoffing at the blisters and burns on the left side of Jake's face. 

Mick reached down to attack Jake, when he heard Sam scream. He spun around to see her encased in Arachnid's webs. Mick kicked Jake, breaking his jaw, then began running at Arachnid with everything he had. Mick was clearly what Arachnid wanted, tossing Sam to the ground, bracing for Mick's assault. He tried to catch the incoming punch, only for his wrist right wrist to snap under the force. Mick moved to swing again, now Arachnid was on the defensive, avoiding rather than blocking. Arachnid then tried to use his webs to deter Mick. Mick took a heavy punch as he ripped the goggles from his face, then used his own webs to land a few hits on Arachnid in retaliation. 

Sam freed herself from the webs by freezing them, then blasted Arachnid with an ice pulse. Mick used the opening to slam the beast of a man into the ground. "Go find everyone and get out of here, I've got this," Mick growled. 

"Please let us help you!" Sam pleaded. 

"No!" Mick barked, taking his eye off Arachnid. "I've lost enough today! I'm not losing anything else. Get the hell out of here now. That's an order." 

"I'm sorry," Sam said somberly, then Arachnid lunged at her. 

Mick tackled him mid air, the two wrestling on the ground as Mick fought for dominance. They rolled across the ground, exchanging blows, over several hot coals, before Mick finally overpowered Arachnid, slamming his head into the ground.

"I used to be scared of you. You were the monster of all of my nightmares, but look at you, now you're nothing!" Mick grabbed his throat, squeezing it as tight as he could. 

"Nothing?" Arachnid choked out. "I'll always be that black mark on your soul." He coughed our a laugh as Mick squeezed harder before his chest stopped moving. 

"One more," Mick panted as he stood up, his body starting to feel the fatigue. Davis and Sam were fighting against Solar, Sam deflecting his fire with her ice, as Davis was trying to get in close to take him down. Mick was sure they could handle it, until he saw black smoke appear by Sam. "No!" He started running, pushing his legs muscles beyond their breaking point. 

Jake was kneeling behind her, reared back, slamming his demonic blade through her back and out her stomach. Sam arched around the blade, then fell to the ground as Jake ripped the blade from her. He panted and laughed before dropping to the ground unconcious. Solar didn't seem to know how to react, giving Davis the easy knock out punch, Mick sliding to the ground kneeling beside Sam. 

"Sam!" Mick cried out. "Oh God please no! Sam! Look at me!" 

Mick pulled her into his arms, clutching her tightly, tears streaming down his face. "Why? This can't be happening right now! You're supposed to be with me forever! We were going to get married!" Mick choked out. "Sam don't leave me please! Not you too!" 

"Mick," Davis placed his arm on Mick's shoulder as Mick cried. 

Thunder crashed over head, rain began pouring down, dousing the fires. Yet, he wasn't moving. He couldn't move. The world had ended, what was there left to do? How could he really go on? He had no parents, his little sisters future was cut short, his own future destroyed, all because he thought he could be a hero. He held her in his arms even as the stretchers came, Coulson, Sharon, Davis, Patten, and Jerren and to pry him away from her. All he could think as they drug him into that helicopter was how he failed. His arrogance cost her life. 

The official story was the Bellouve Family and Samantha Lane died by a serial killer, Mick orphaned due to being on vacation with his friends. The entire town of Denham Springs gathered in the largest church in town to mourn them. Mick stood on a balcony, away from everyone up in a sectioned off area. He didn't have the wherewithal to face anyone in his extended family, much less the Lane's. 

"I'm so sorry you're going through this," Agent Coulson walked up, placing his arm around Mick. "I wouldn't wish this on my enemies." 

"You know we're here for you, and you don't have to do this alone," Sharon stated as she joined him. 

"You should really be down there with them," Coulson pointed at Jerren, Davis, and Patten with their families. 

"No," Mick said hoarsely. "I don't deserve that. I should be alone. That's what I deserve. That's what a Recluse is. Alone." 

"So you're going to continue being Recluse then?" Sharon asked. 

"I'm going to fight to make this world a better place, to make sure that no one ever has to suffer like I am," Mick said solemnly. "These powers my be a curse in some ways, but at least I can help people."

"You could always come to the Academy," Coulson suggested. "I'm not saying make a decision today, but, the offer is on the table for whenever you want it." 

"It's not like I have anything here," Mick looked over at Coulson.