How did we get here [2]

Flashback

The cellar sank into darkness, broken only by Mary Jane's soft sobbing. Faint footsteps echoed in the distance, growing closer with every step. At the door to her metal cell, a small window opened, revealing the tense face of a young man.

In a hushed tone, he whispered, "Mary Jane? Are you okay?"

Mary Jane slowly raised her head, her weary eyes fixing on the source of the voice. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Who... who are you? What do you want?"

The young man swallowed hard, glancing nervously behind him before returning his gaze to her. "My name is John. I... I work with Paul, but I'm here to help you. We have to get you out of here now."

Mary Jane shrank back, her face a mixture of fear and defiance. "Why should I trust you? How do I know this isn't another one of his sick games?"

John placed his hand on the small window, his voice laden with sincerity and desperation.

"You have every reason to doubt me. But please, believe me. I can't stand by and watch you suffer like this. Please, just give me a chance."

Mary Jane hesitated, her eyes searching his face for any trace of deceit. Finally, she spoke in a low voice, "If you're telling the truth... prove it. Get me out of here."

John nodded quickly, unlocking the door with painstaking care to avoid making noise. He helped her to her feet, her body trembling with weakness. "There's a back exit that leads to the forest. We have to move quickly; we don't have much time before they notice."

The two moved cautiously through the cellar's dark corridors. Distant, muffled noises kept them on edge. Suddenly, a man emerged at the end of the hallway—a henchman of Paul's.

"John? What are you doing here, you idiot?"

John pushed Mary Jane behind him, his hands shaking but his stance firm. "You're not taking her back. I won't let Paul get his way. This ends now."

The man drew his gun, but John lunged at him, grappling fiercely. The fight was desperate and clumsy, but John managed to knock the man out by slamming his head against the wall. Turning to Mary Jane, he shouted, "Run! Go now! Don't look back!"

Mary Jane hesitated, her eyes filled with worry as she watched John fight. But she forced herself to flee, her weak legs dragging her through the corridors.

At last, she reached a small wooden door. She pushed it with all her strength, and it creaked open. Cold night air filled her lungs as she whispered hoarsely, "Peter... I'll come back to you. No matter what it takes."

Before she could step outside, heavy footsteps approached from behind. She turned, her face frozen in shock as a group of men surrounded her.

"Not so fast," one of them growled. They seized her, her struggles feeble against their strength.

One man sneered, "You're not escaping that easily."

The men parted to reveal a man stepping into the dim light, his blond hair glinting maliciously.

"Norman Osborn," Mary Jane gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief and fear.

Norman smirked. "What a delightful surprise. Mary Jane Watson, attempting an escape? Bold, but utterly futile."

Her eyes burned with defiance despite her terror. "What do you want from me, Norman?"

He leaned closer, his smile wicked. "What I want is simple. I want to break Peter Parker. I want to see him shattered, to prove that the city loves nothing more than to watch its hero fall. And you, my dear, are the key."

Mary Jane glared at him, gritting her teeth. "Peter's stronger than you think. He won't fall for this."

Norman laughed, signaling the men to take her away. "We'll see, my dear. We'll see."

As Mary Jane was dragged back into the cellar, her screams faded into the darkness.

---

In the cellar's depths, Mary Jane was thrown into a larger, more oppressive room. Bare walls echoed with emptiness, and a dim, swaying bulb cast flickering shadows.

Before her knelt John, his face bruised and bloodied.

Paul stepped forward, his voice cold and mocking. "Well, Mary Jane, did you really think you could just leave? This story doesn't end so easily."

He grabbed her face, his grip harsh. She tried to resist, but her strength was gone. Her gaze flickered to John, who whispered weakly, "I'm sorry... Mary... I tried."

Mary Jane's voice broke with emotion. "Don't apologize! This isn't your fault—it's theirs!"

Paul smirked, pulling a gun from his pocket and toying with it. "John here wanted to play the hero. But in our world, heroes don't get happy endings. Consider this a lesson for both of you."

Mary Jane's voice cracked with desperation. "No! Please! He's just a kid—he didn't know what he was doing!"

Paul sneered, aiming the gun at John's head. "Too late for negotiations."

The gunshot rang out, and John slumped lifelessly to the ground.

Mary Jane's scream tore through the cellar as she collapsed, trying to crawl toward John's body. The men dragged her away while Paul casually holstered the gun.

"Remember this moment, Mary Jane," he said coldly. "Because you'll be next if you try anything again."

From the shadows, Norman Osborn emerged, his grin as sharp as a knife.

"Well done, Paul," he said smoothly. "She won't cause us any more trouble now. The real fun begins when Peter finds out... the woman who betrayed him was never Mary Jane at all."

Paul smirked darkly. "I'll have my revenge, Parker. Just wait and see."

.

.

When some men were dragging John's body, the two of them didn't notice that the phone in John's pocket was vibrating and lighting up.

______________________________

For more stories and more chapters visit my Patreon 

Just scan the plus code.

htt+ps://w+ww.patre+on.com/c/caesar20/pos+ts