Chapter 47: The Slums (1)

The AI system's urgent call startled me awake; my senses suddenly alert. "Host, host, host!" it repeated, its digital voice echoing in my mind.

I groaned as I woke up, still feeling a bit groggy. The urgency of the AI's message snapped me out of my daze. "What is it?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes as I tried to wake up fully.

"Shit," I muttered, realizing the urgency of the situation. "No, no, no, I saw some footsteps before I was knocked unconscious," I continued, a sense of urgency creeping into my voice. "It means there are people here who want something."

The AI system's response eased my concern. "Don't worry, host, it's still only 20 minutes," it assured me.

Focusing my energy, I tapped into my chi sense, hoping to identify any lingering presence nearby. "Come on, come on, I hope you're still here," I whispered, my senses reaching out in search of any sign of the mysterious intruders.

As I located the intruders, I watched them as they moved towards the exit, their intentions still unclear.

With a determined resolve, I whispered, "Hero on."

Quickly and smoothly, I transformed into Spider-Man, showing my iconic black suit. It felt natural, like it was always meant to happen. Now as Spider-Man, I was ready to face the intruders. My goal: to uncover why they were there.

I saw the gangsters I had defeated lying unconscious on the ground. Although I wanted to deal with them, my gut told me the real danger was elsewhere. With a sense of dread, I turned my attention to the other people I sense using my chi sense. My instincts screamed that they were up to no good.

Meanwhile

Boss Jon looked really frustrated as he complained about how hard it was to find the Vibranium. "This is so annoying," he grumbled angrily. "We almost didn't find the Vibranium because of this secret room."

Anton, one of Boss Jon's henchmen, joined in with a laugh. "Yeah, boss, we got lucky when I stumbled upon something in the library," he said casually, his tone light-hearted even though the situation was serious.

Boss Jon nodded, showing he appreciated Anton's help. "Nice job, Anton," he said, sounding pleased. "Now, let's make sure we keep the vibranium safe before anyone finds out about it."

The henchmen quickly got to work, loading the vibranium into their cars. They worked well together, making sure everything was done smoothly. Each person had a job to do, and they did it fast to avoid attracting any attention.

Boss Jon oversaw the operation with a watchful eye, ensuring that every detail was attended to meticulously. "Be careful with that crate," he instructed, his voice firm but composed. "We can't afford any mishaps."

Anton and the others nodded, knowing they had to be careful. They handled the Vibranium with care, loading it into the vehicles smoothly. Their movements showed they knew what they were doing. "We can't make any mistakes," Boss Jon warned, making sure everyone understood the importance of their task.

With the final crate safely loaded, Boss Jon looked around, pleased with their work. "Great job, everyone," he praised, his tone showing he was happy. "Now, let's leave before anyone finds out."

Then Boss Jon's brow furrowed in concern as he addressed his henchmen. "Where's Chris Hilton? You said he's here. I assumed he's in one of the cars, right?" he inquired.

One of the henchmen nodded in response. "Yes, boss, he's there sleeping. We were lucky. After we used the sleeping gas on the gangsters, we found out Chris Hilton was among them."

Boss Jon nodded, and the henchmen hurried into their cars, wasting no time in leaving. The engines started, and the convoy drove away quietly and quickly, making sure no one noticed their illegal actions.

Unknown to the henchmen, Spider-Man was secretly following them, using his chi sense to stay aware of their actions. He swung from tree to tree and moved through the neighborhood, keeping a careful eye on them, determined to figure out what they were up to and stop their bad plans.

Meanwhile

"I sense Chris's chi," I muttered to myself, recognizing the familiar energy signature. "Damn it, where are they taking him?" With determination, I continued to trail them from behind, my senses on high alert as I sought to uncover their destination and rescue Chris.

As I followed them, they arrived at their destination. Taking in the surroundings, I whispered to myself, "Where are we?" The area resembled a slum, prompting me to quietly ask again, "Are we in the slums?"

Turning to the AI system in my mind, I inquired, "System, are we in the slums?"

The AI system promptly responded, "Yes, host, we are in the slums."

As I looked around, I felt a growing sense of worry. The henchmen's reasons for being in the slums weren't clear, but it didn't feel right. Why did they bring Chris here? I had so many questions and no answers. The situation seemed serious, and I needed to find out what was going on and save Chris before it was too late.

Meanwhile

"Where's Chris?" Thomas Halloway muttered to himself, his concern evident in his voice. "Someone took him, but where?" Determined to find answers, he resolved to investigate further.

As he walked around, searching for clues, he suddenly heard someone calling out to him. The voice sounded familiar.

"Old man," the buzz-cut young man called out to Thomas Halloway.

Thomas Halloway's eyes narrowed as he recognized the voice. "You're that young one who nearly harmed my students," he remarked, his tone stern. "How did you wake up?"

Thomas Halloway was even more surprised now. He is accustomed to such substances like these sleeping gas from his days as a vigilante, but he couldn't understand how this young man, who seemed like just a kid, had managed to resist the effects of the sleeping gas. It left him puzzled, making him wonder about the boy's background and skills.

"How did you manage to wake up?" Thomas Halloway asked the boy named Loe.

Loe hesitated before responding, "Well, it's because of my immunity. I've been exposed to poison since I was a child, so I think that's why I was able to resist this substance."

"Anyway, we have to kill those fuckers," Loe, the 15-year-old, declared with determination. His voice trembled with emotion as he continued, "They killed Boss Albert. Those bastards have to pay!" Tears streamed down his face as he spoke. "(Hick) (hick)... I know their locations. I recognized those pieces of shit when I was still in the slums."

"Who are they, and what slums?" Thomas Halloway inquired, his tone both concerned and curious.

The buzz-cut boy, Loe, dismissed Thomas Halloway's question with a sharp retort. "You don't need to know, old man," he snapped before continuing, "What you have to know is that they are from the slums." 

"They took that young man," Loe added with a grimace, his eyes clouded with anger and sorrow.

"We have to make them pay," Loe declared with fierce determination.

Thomas Halloway listened carefully to the boy's words, his face serious as he understood the seriousness of the situation. "I hear you, kid," he said seriously. "We'll make sure those guys pay for what they did."

"You don't have to be blinded by revenge," Thomas added, his tone gentle but firm, reflecting years of wisdom and understanding.

Loe's eyes flashed with anger, his youthful fervor evident in his response. "I don't care about your preached, old man," he replied firmly, sounding frustrated and grief. "If you won't help, I'll go alone."

Thomas sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. He understood the gravity of the situation and knew he had to handle it delicately. Despite his concerns, this boy was the only one who knew the locations and leaving him to act alone could lead to disaster. "Fine," Thomas conceded, his voice carrying a mixture of resignation and determination. "But you have to stick with me so that you can be safe."

Loe's face relaxed a bit, but he still seemed unsure and stubborn. "Whatever," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Before we go any further, what's your name, kid?" Thomas Halloway inquired.

"Loe," the boy replied shortly, still cautious in his manner.

"No last name?" Thomas questioned.

"I don't have one, old man. I'm an orphan," Loe replied with a hint of bitterness.

"This mansion has a car, right? And keys?" Thomas Halloway asked.

"Don't worry about that, old man. I have it covered," Loe replied, frustration evident in his tone. "And don't ask too many questions!"

"Alright, alright. No need to be so hostile, young man. Kids these days, always so hot-headed," Thomas Halloway remarked with a sigh.

Meanwhile

As Mark opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by a mix of children and adults, all handcuffed to metal bars. Confusion and fear filled the air as everyone tried to make sense of their surroundings. Mark's heart sank when he spotted Emily and her family among the captives. The Hawkins family looked just as bewildered and frightened as the rest.

Mark looked around the room, seeing rich families looking scared and worried, just like him. He felt different from them, like he didn't belong there. Everyone seemed confused and scared, some crying and others shaking with fear.

He heard a woman's voice nearby, choked with emotion. "Where are we?" she whispered, her eyes wide with panic.

Her husband's voice, filled with uncertainty, responded, "I don't know, dear. But we need to stay calm and figure out what's happening."

Mark whispered to himself, echoing the questions of those around him. "Where am I?"

To be continued