After handing little Jack back to his father, Peter vaulted over the side of the bridge.
He wanted to track the giant lizard that had vanished into the river.
But after waiting a long time near the pylons, he came up empty.
The vast waters had swallowed every trace.
With no choice, Peter flipped back up onto the bridge.
By now, Captain Stacy — stuck in the traffic jam — had jogged over from the far end with a squad of officers.
Fire trucks had also arrived outside the bridge, but gridlock kept them from getting in.
When Peter returned, the rescuers were facing a problem: several cars had been thrown halfway off the bridge, their passengers trapped.
A few firefighters were clipping on safety lines, clearly planning to climb down.
Peter's eyes lit up.
Wasn't this exactly what he'd had in mind earlier?
But the firefighters were moving painfully slowly, every step deliberate.
They had no choice — without the fire trucks close, they had to make do, and nobody knew how long those thin strands of web could hold.
After all, they'd just seen one webbed-up car plunge into the water.
Some bystanders even started yelling that the masked "Spider-guy" was the one who caused this mess in the first place.
A few officers were actually taking "statements," as if preparing to pin the blame on Peter.
Peter thought, Good thing I came back, or I'd be wearing that crime like a brand-new winter coat.
He could already imagine tomorrow's headlines:
> Moral Collapse or Twisted Human Nature? Last Night, Masked Menace Spider-Man Strikes at Innocent New Yorkers — Daily Bugle
The Terror on Our Streets, the Shadow Over Our City — Who Is Spider-Man? — Daily Bugle
How Safe Are Your Possessions? Your Life? — New York Business Times
Shocking! Beloved Spider-Man Attacks Civilians on Bridge — UC News "Shock Dept." NYC Branch
Peter shook his head hard, clearing away the nightmare visions.
No more hesitation — he jogged along the bridge railing, waving at the firefighters.
"Hey! Let me help — I can get them up!"
"Spider-Man!" Captain Stacy and his officers drew their sidearms instantly.
Peter froze, raising his hands. "Hey, I'm just here to help! No weapons, I swear!"
"Help? Those webs on the cars — your handiwork?" Stacy barked.
"Yeah, but—" Peter started.
"You throw them over, then 'rescue' them? You think we're clowns?" Stacy snapped.
If you weren't Gwen's dad, Peter thought, I'd plant my spider-boot right on your backside and make it bloom.
But he knew if he tried that, Gwen would probably stomp him in return — wearing those killer little boots of hers.
Peter sighed. "Look, Captain, ask around. Check the claw marks on some of the cars."
He held up his hands. "You think these delicate fingers could make gouges like that?"
Stacy stayed cautious — he didn't trust masked vigilantes, especially ones with a record of interfering with police work and using force.
He tilted his head. "Omar, check the cars. See if he's telling the truth."
"Yes, sir." One officer holstered his weapon and ran off.
Peter cupped his hands and called, "Don't forget the ground! You'll see marks there too!"
Omar glanced back at Stacy, who gave a curt nod.
The standoff continued.
Meanwhile, the rescue below hit a snag.
Each car was dangling by a single strand of web. The firefighters were also hanging from ropes.
Out over the water, the wind buffeted them — car and rescuer swaying together, making the approach almost impossible.
After all their effort, no one had been brought up yet. The fastest progress was from one team that had just pulled a man from inside a car.
That man was Niles.
Then a stronger gust hit.
The safety rope, already taut under the weight of two adults, began rubbing hard against the sharp edge of the bridge. A horrible scrrrrkkk echoed — the kind of sound that made your stomach drop.
"Ahhh!" Niles screamed, clinging even tighter to the firefighter.
But that only made things worse — their violent swaying put even more strain on the rope.
"Don't move!" the firefighter barked, furious. He'd been about to get hauled up once things steadied, but now? Not a chance.
The scraping grew louder.
The rope was strong, but even the best gear has limits.
For a panicked man, though, warnings meant nothing.
"I'm Niles, head of Bio Research at Oscorp!" he shouted. "You'd better get me up safely or I'll sue you!"
The firefighter rolled his eyes. If it wasn't for this 80K-a-year job, I'd let you swim.
But he gritted his teeth, trying to keep Niles calm until help came.
Help didn't come.
The wind picked up again — and with a sickening RRRIP, the rope tore.
Two screams echoed up from below.
On the bridge, Peter's spider-sense spiked at the sound.
Without a moment's thought, he leapt over the edge.
"Spider-Man!" Stacy thought he was fleeing and rushed to the railing — just in time to see Spidey fire twin webs, snag the two men, and yank them to safety.
Every officer froze.
He really was… saving people.
—End of chapter—
Author's Note:
Enjoying the story and want to read ahead?
Join my Patreon.com/TenaciousHare and unlock 15-20+ chapters in advance, plus faster updates! ❤️🙏
Also check out my Webnovel Account Tenacious_Hare (4502713104) 🥕
Your support keeps this story alive I truly appreciate it! ❤️🔥🥕
Thank you, everyone! 🗿👍
~ Tenacious Hare 🥕❤️