The Ghost-Spider & The Queen Of The Newspaper

The spider has escaped. I tried chasing it to the woods, but it was too late. I have lost it. I surrender. I am on my way home, hurt, bloody, and tired

All my wounds have started healing pretty good by the time I got here. At least I don’t have any more burns, the last one still hurts. I think besides the enemy escaping, my fight was quite successful. My web-shooters worked perfectly. I was swinging in the mall!

As I enter my house, I know it’s empty. I go to the living room and turn on the tv. I let myself be comfortable laying on the couch in my dirty clothes. I see the news, most of them are about the attack at Starcourt. Most of them are also about me.

I see a woman who is at the mall. I see myself and the spider running away in the frame so I know it’s a replay. “We do not know who the man dressed in black is,” The woman starts. I lay with a frown on my face. “But some people have starting to refer to him as ‘Spider-man’”

What the actual fuck?

HIM? Spider-MAN? The MAN in black? How sexist this stupid town can be?

I’m not a spider, and I’m definitely not a man! How? The man in black?
Is this people not gonna realize they were saved by a woman? What are they? Blind?

I’m done with the news. I turn off the tv and decide that the best for me would be to take a shower and to attend all my wounds.

When I’m in the shower I see the water taking away my blood. My cuts and bruises are being healed at a scary speed. The only thing that stays the same is the burn.

My wrist is somewhat tolerable if I don’t touch it, I will consider this as a good sign of my body slowly healing. I was afraid it would be worse after using the shooters.

I see my black outfit on the floor. It has holes and scratches. I don’t think can be fixed. I grab everything but the ski mask and throw it away.

I go to sleep. I’ll deal with everything in the morning.

When I wake up, I sit on my bed. I think about all the money I’ve saved since I started working on scoops ahoy. My dream is to travel the world, I even have a made up mission named ‘operation croissant’, which is basically me saving money and leaving to go to Europe.

I’ve always wanted that. I know my parents were some kind of hippies or something, and that they had their own adventures, and I want to leave this old boring town myself, but I don’t think it would be as fun if I go alone.

I like being alone, don’t get me wrong, but as I see my parents in their youth, I don’t think I want to travel the world with no one else to share it with. I’ve been wanting to go to Europe for as long as I can remember. All it’s going great. I have been saving money, I have started learning some languages myself, everything is great. Except that I don’t have someone to go with. Well that and that I now have become some kind of protector for the people of Hawkins.

There is still a spider monster on the loose and I don’t think my dream is going to come true anymore. I still need a new monster-fighting fit.

I have an idea. I sigh.

I really think I’m gonna regret this.

I grab all my money and go to look for a new fit. I think maybe I want a superhero costume, maybe it could help. Modify it a bit, make sure I’m comfortable.

New mission. Find a superhero suit.

I grab my bike and start my way downtown. I hope maybe I’ll see some early Halloween shop or something. What else could I buy? I’m not a superhero expert but I know they wear that weird tight suits. Is it obligatory? I hope it’s not.

I need to wear something resistant. Something unique, something that will mark me as somebody.

I need a name! A superhero name! Not Spider-Man, not the man in black. Something mine and that is really me.

I need a suit and a name. That’s my mission for today.

I see a kid’s store. Maybe there? I go in and look around everywhere. I got strange looks from people, obviously I am way older than what this store is supposed too. A teen in a costume? How weird is that? But they have no idea what I’m up to.

I found nothing so I decide to take the hardest option. Make my suit from nothing. Damn, I’ve never made anything. I mean, I know how to sew, when my clothes don’t fit, unpick or break I have to fix them myself. It’s not like I can afford buying new clothes anytime something happens.

I only can do it the old-fashioned way, with a needle and thread. I guess it’ll take long, this isn’t something small like what I’ve done before. I finally decide to buy a white hoodie, black leggings and some colored fabrics. What seems tricky is the mask, maybe I can measure the ski mask and do something like it.
I bike through town at a speed that if someone crossed path with me I would knock them out.

When I arrive home, the first think I do is lock myself in my room and start working. First I grab a notebook and start sketching what my suit will look. After a few tries I stop drawing. I am worse than I expected. I will improvise. What can go wrong? No one will know who did the suit right? I have a secret identity for a reason.

I know it was a mistake the moment I cut the fabric. I can’t go back now, I spent almost all my money in this. I have to do this or, how else I will fight the monstrous spider and help the missing kids? I have to do this.

I guess is a habit now, not knowing what time it is. The only thing I know is that now is late. The moment I yawn I go to the kitchen make a coffee, pour almost all the milk and sugar, and go back to work. I throw the coffee away after the first sip, I know I don’t like it but I always end up wasting a cup with hope.

It doesn’t look so bad now. The hoodie has some pink and blue fabric decorating, and the leggings have some pieces of color there and there. Who would have ever thought I was such an artist? Now I only have left to do the thing that scared me the most.

The mask.

I start cutting fabric in ways I have know idea how it will become a mask but I don’t stop.

It looks like a mess. I don’t know what to do. I keep sewing things. But it doesn’t have a shape. It’s too much. It’s late, I already finished the suit, —which is basically clothes with decorations but you know what I mean— which took the most time, I only need a little mask. I’ll take a little nap.

When I wake up I check a clock and notice I’m half an hour late for work. Shit. I don’t even know when was the last time I showed up to scoops ahoy in time. This has started to happen, I am so busy doing spider stuff I forget to do things I’m supposed to.

I grab a backpack and put all I need to continue do finish my mask. I’ll try to finish it between breaks.

I bike to Starcourt Mall with my backpack. This feels so mundane yet so different. Before I got bit working in Scoops Ahoy was just a money source, my life was easier. Now I think I mostly work here to keep myself close and keep an eye to the Secret Labs.

I see Harrington but before he can say something about me being late I run to the back.

“I’m back dingus! I’m gonna be in the back!” I say with my bag in hand. I’m almost entering but before I turn to warn him, “Don’t interrupt me if it’s not necessary!”

I get in and sit ready to resume my sewing, but against all my warnings he follows me, leaving some confused and angry costumers outside. “Wait! Robin stop!” He says with his usual annoyance.

“Agh! What have I just told you? What are you doing anyway? There are costumers waiting.” I complain hiding my mask.

“There are people here who want to talk to you.” But as he says that my face turns white. No. What did I did wrong? I should’ve quit. I never should’ve been this close. Obviously they were gonna find me!

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

I’m so fucked. I’m gonna die. I’m dead. I didn’t even finished my mask. My mask! If they weren’t sure I have powers, now I just exposed myself. Shit.

“They are gonna ask you some questions,” Harrington explains calmed. He must’ve seen my reaction and even if we’re not friends he tries to assure me. “They already asked me,” he turns to look outside and in a hushed tone he says. “They are my friends, there’s nothing to worry about. Stop looking at me like that, Robin.”

Oh no. I just got Steve killed. His friends? Poor guy is so alone that the Russians have manipulated him into believing that. We’re both so dead. I’m gonna die with Steve —the hair— Harrington in sailor costumes.

Maybe I can fight this guys and save us both. There will be some explaining to do, but better that than dead.

Steve turns to open the door, but I get up to stop him. “Steve, don’t! We still have time.” I whisper. “If we go to the back we can leave and they won’t find us.” He stares at me in confusion.

“Wait! What have you told them?” I ask him. Maybe he hasn’t told them so much. Maybe we can make some lie up.

Steve looks beyond confused. He opens the door as I try to stop him. He lets the people enter as he goes back to work.

I don’t know what am I more surprised of. That there are no Russians on their way to kill me or that Nancy Wheeler, who I saved in the attack and I had a huge crush years ago, along with Jonathan Byers, Will Byers’ older brother, came in here.

I look at Jonathan and the reminder of Will being tortured comes to my mind. I feel useless. I did nothing to protect him, and now suddenly his brother comes here with Perfect Wheeler? They definitely know something. What do they know? Do they hate me? They probably do, I do.

“Hey, Robin. I’m Nancy, we have some classes together” She smiles. Oh right. Spanish, Algebra and Physics, but who cares. “Oh, yeah I think so.” I mumble.

“This is Jonathan.” She points at him and he waves his hand awkwardly. “We are here to ask you some questions. We are making an article for the newspaper we work for about the mall and we have some serious accusations that maybe with your help we can prove right.” She says everything with a smile, but what she said brings me back to reality.

“Wait, what accusations?” I ask serious and paying more attention than before. They know something. I knew it.

“Well,” Nancy looks at Jonathan for help. They don’t want to tell me. Obviously. Seriously, why did I even ask?

I was about to take back my question but Nancy doesn’t give me a chance to. “We believe they have been doing some experiments that aren’t legal.” She says. She looks quite pleased with her answer, but I know there’s more of this story and I know they do too. I simply nod. Pretending to know nothing about the local scientists working with the Russian guys.

There’s a silence but Nancy breaks it. “Well, we are going to start the questions. First, do you know why the mall was closed two weeks ago or have any theories why?” She has transformed, the nice girl whose eyes spark when she knows the right answer and the girl who is scared of heights that clings to your neck so hard it hurts but you don’t mind, has become a serious person who is done with the bullshit, will ask meticulously the questions and will not take no for an answer.

I couldn’t do anything but tell them everything I could without exposing myself too much. “Um. I think something happened so they closed the mall to everyone.” I said carefully.

Nancy seemed pleased with that answer, she nodded. “They closed it to everyone you say?” She asks, with a knowing look on her face as she writes down something in her notebook. “Yeah,” I say slowly but then I remember. “Well, I saw some scientists who weren’t there before. They showed up, said something and then they could get in.”

That was true. Only authorized people could go. I now know they were probably part of the scientific crew from Hawkins, trying to go to the lab in the secret base.

Nancy procedes to write something more. That makes me nervous. Why can’t she act normal so I can TRY to act normal in return?

Jonathan is the one asking questions now. Nancy only keeps writing stuff down. I wish she would just do anything else that didn’t make me feel like a criminal under the supervision of evil cops.

“In your perspective, what would you think they were doing?” Jonathan asks. What do they care about my ‘perspective’. I already told them what I saw.

I sigh “Well, they obviously screwed up and they’re trying to cover it up, there was something we weren’t supposed to see. Why else would they care so much who was there? They don’t really care about our safety.” I say shrugging.

Nancy and Jonathan exchange a look. Was this going to be a thing know? They act as if they know everything. If someone has secrets and know about the secret base is me. I’m the one who knows more.

Right?

We are all analyzing each other, trying to figure who knows what. Maybe they do know something. But what exactly?

“Is this all you know?” Jonathan asked with a raised eyebrow.

I hesitated, but then I nodded.

“Robin,” Nancy gets in the conversation. She has stopped writing, and she looks at me in my eyes. She says my name in a soft tone I almost forget she is on detective mode. “If you know something you have to tell us. If the accusations are right these people might be causing a lot of pain to innocents.” She tells me. Even if she said it in a nice way, I couldn’t help get a little angry.

Does she actually think I’m that stupid? This may have worked with other people, but I’m not getting manipulated into spilling the soup. I shake my head. Finding myself unable to lie. Maybe I cannot tell them everything I know, but maybe if I find a way, my masked self can.

I still need to find a name tho.

Nancy looks at me waiting for me to say something. I say nothing. Maybe she realized I know more than I say, but anyway she looks defeated and shakes her head.

“What do you know about the mutant spider?” Jonathan asks as if he’s asking the weather. How does he manage to look so indifferent to this whole thing?

“What?” I feel my tongue in my mouth, it’s hard to speak. What do they know about the spider? Why are they asking me this?

“The spider attack? You weren’t here, but you have seen it on the news right? It’s a big thing.” He says suspicious.

“Of course. I know. I wasn’t there. No.” I start rambling. “I know nothing more than everyone already knows about it.” I keep explaining. I laugh nervously. “You know, I just know what I heard from the news. No one I know has said anything about it.” I hide the fact that I have no one who could’ve told me due to my lack of friends and disinterested parents. “I just know it was attacking people until there was someone who supposedly had spider abilities or something. That one Spider-guy I think.” I say with fake lack of knowledge.

“Spider-man.” Nancy corrects me.

“Yup. That guy. Just one guy. Just one Spider-Man.” I say trying to stop my nervous laugh. “Or woman. We don’t know… for sure.” I say shrugging. They look at me weirdly. And I hope I just didn’t make things stranger. I mentally slap myself.

Before they can ask me anymore questions I stand up. “Guys. Guys! As much as I love this questions, I guess I must help poor little Stevie who has been working all day.” I say with fake empathy and a dramatic sad face. “Yeah, poor him.” I say nodding. “Robin wait!” Nancy says. “We still have more questions.” Jonathan says at the same time.

I am already at the counter and push Steve out as I say ‘Move’.

I’d rather work than have another round of questions that may expose me.

There are no costumers left, Nancy, Jonathan and Steve stand in front of the counter with their arms crossed. “What can I get for you?” I ask with a fake smile rolling my eyes.

“Robin, stop. If you do know something it’s time for you to say so.” Nancy says exasperated.

I can’t believe this. I scoff. I’m about to say something but my mind turns black as I see behind them there is a man. Not just any man. Is the man with white hair and some guys I know are Russian. Shit. Now they have found me.

“I gotta go.” I say before running to get my backpack. I hear Nancy screaming my name but I don’t care.
I go find the exit door in the back and leave as fast as I can. I think of going for my bike but it’s way too crowded. I decide to run in through the town.

I can’t believe I actually got home. I’m not an athlete. I can barely walk without tripping but apparently I’m quite good at running for my life.

As I sit on my bed I think it could be a good idea to finish my mask. I start sewing. After a while it looks good enough. I try everything on. I look in the mirror and I think I do look heroic. I painted some webs to give it a spider vibe. I think I look quite cool.

Even with my suit on I don’t feel any more relief after seeing the men in the mall. What were they doing there? Were they looking for me?

Now that I think about it better I don’t think they were. If they wanted to find me they would have done that already. The thought makes me calm down a little bit.

I want to go practice in an abandoned place I found almost 30 minutes away walking. I think it’s perfect to train. I take off the suit and put it inside my bag. Ready to go.

It took me less than 30 minutes to get here. The place kind of stinks and looks incredibly creepy. It doesn’t have a complete roof or some walls, but it’s really hidden so I doubt I will find someone.

I put on my suit and start doing everything I can. I don’t really know what I’m doing but it’s better than wait for the spider to reappear.

After a few hours it starts raining, and the poor safety the broken roof provides I leave. I decide that before I got home I can take a look at the city to make sure everything is going fine. I take little care of the rain, I’m already soaked.

Everything seems pretty chill around Hawkins, I think. But for my luck as I think that, I just hear screams. That is a sure sign everything is NOT ok.

I swing into the direction of the screams.

As I got closer I see all the chaos comes from the Hawking public library. Weird place to attack.

I see people running out of there.

I don’t expect anything else but the spider appearing for a second round but what surprises me is that instead of that I see a little girl scaring everyone. That’s not even the weirdest thing of it all. The little harmless girl is completely dangerous and in attack mode. Apparently she has now the same spider abilities our fellow monster has.

She webs a man, and by the sound of his screams I can think that it causes burns too. I get into action and web the little girls hands together to stop her from hurting more people. I feel awful. Attacking a little kid. But the man and the people who got hurt make me keep fighting.

She tries to break the web but it’s strong enough.

I get really close to the girl. She looks blankly at the space but keeps moving. I think she looks creepy enough but what makes me almost pass out is that I look at her stare and realize she has her eyes fully black. Well shit. That’s a complete new level of scary. What happened to her? Could I fix her? Could someone do?

I try to come up with a theory but nothing comes right. All I know is this is part of whatever the scientists and Russians are doing.

I look at the girl, the more I look at her makes me feel like I know her from somewhere. Then I know what it is. I recognize that girl, but I do not know her. She is one of the missing kids. I web her to the ground and start helping the people who got burned and attacked.

I know people is thanking me, but the only thing I can think of is about I just did. I attacked a little girl. She is still on the floor. Maybe she can get fixed. There is an evil voice at the back of my head that keeps making questions.

What if she can’t? What can I do to help? What can she do? Why did this happen? Nobody deserves this.

Why? Why? Why?

What brings me back to reality is the voice of a reporter screaming. “Spider-Man!” She tries to get my attention. “Spider-Man! Could you answer some questions?! Look at the camera!”

I turn to her direction. Before she can speak I interrupt her. “I’m a woman.” I scream hopefully I sound calm and not too angry or tired.

I’m about to get closer but the sounds of gunshots make me turn back to the chaos. I see the body of the girl. No. She is not a little girl anymore. She is now half a spider. Her little body is now bigger, stronger and completely black. Her skin has turned tough.

Almost everything has turn into a monster. Everything except half her face. If I didn’t see her face I could almost pretend to be seeing the last spider I fought. She is now lying on the floor, half her face looking at the ceiling, all her body is now irreconcilable. She is lying on the floor, dead.

I need to leave. I can’t see this.

I swing home. I ignore all the reporters.

I only feel pain. The only thing I hear are the gunshots and the man’s screams. The only thing I see is the poor little girl on the floor.

I can’t think of anything else.

I can’t sleep. I have my eyes closed trying to ignore everything. I try to think of everything I could’ve done to save the girl.

I fell asleep holding my burned wrist, tears streaming down my face and trying to keep my sobs quiet.