CHAPTER 5 : History Of Bad Omen

Last chapter was badly written. Actually something had happened. I don't know , I had written more than half of the chapter and it just vanished. And you can guess that I had to rewrite it again . Kind of frustrating. I'll try paying more attention on spellings.

About Court of Owls . There will be some differences in the original Batman villains and here. a big change , the entire night wing stuff is removed . Their history will only be slightly different too. Now then, let's see get started.

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It had been a week since May was admitted to the hospital. Peter was able to bring back the serum and it had worked miracle . The small traces of radioactivity had been removed completely but the doctor wanted to make sure it was all really removed. So they had to spend another two days at hospital.

Today she had been discharged and was currently sitting at home talking with Mary Jane and her aunt Anna while Peter was on his second-hand laptop that he had been able to buy by saving some money.

Although Peter was happy and relieved that Aunt May had recovered from the disease , he still didn't have the time to cherish the happiness. The Owls were still out there and hurting innocents. The press had gotten an idea of what's happening too. New news had been coming out every day. The city was in terror and the Police were being drowned with questions from press. The information about ' Court of Owls ' being the one behind all these was still hidden and people believed the murders were done by either an animal or serial killer. God knows what would happen if they knew there were a group Canibals using the city as their hunting ground.

'I need to stop them but how?'Peter thought as he continued searching on the internet about anything that might be related to this 'Court of Owl.' But it only showed some pics of owls in the dark or their mythological reference about how Owls were a symbol of ' Bad Omen'.

"Peter why are you sitting there all alone with that brooding face. Don't take too much stress. It will all be fine. And if you have any problem please tell me about it." May was looking at her nephew, concerned she knew what he had to do to get the money for her treatment. It saddened her to think that she was becoming a burden on her lovely child. Peter definitely won't think like that he was too good. But looking at him all stressed out her heart ached at how much he had go through at such young age.

" Yeah Tiger come here and join us.We are talking about how Spider-man helped saving aunt May."Mary Jane said as she came to drag him to the table.

There was his other matter of concern. Mary Jane. He was still not used to the idea of her knowing his secret identity. Peter knew he could trust her she was a great person. But still he couldn't help but think about all the negative things that could happen because of this new development.

Peter sighed as he sat on the table and he saw that they were eating oranges.

" What the matter Peter ? You don't look well . You aren't sick are you?".

" Ah , no no. Nothing like that just thinking about all the catching up I have to do at school . And they have giving us some assignments too that I haven't been able to complete."

" Assignments?" Anna raised an eyebrow as she turned to look at MJ who in turn looked at him with an expression that said 'Why don't you think before you talk?'

' Ah shit. Need to lie more.' peter mentally smacked himself as he opened his mouth," Yeah , you know it's an interesting topic about... about

writing a story with the topic 'Court of Owls'." Please believe it and don't ask more.

May put a hand on her mouth. "Court of Owls . Now that's a thing I haven't heard in a very long time ."

Peter turned serious' She had heard of them? how?' " Where did you hear about it Aunt May."

" It was an old nursery rhyme. My mother used to sing that to me when I was very young. It was something about Owls watching over us and taking away those that sleep early."

' Nursery rhymes? Doesn't matter. This the only lead I have for now. I'll have to talk with the police and see what they have been able to find out.'

" Can you tell me what the rhyme is?"

" I'm trying but I can't remember. It wasn't very popular and I was very young."

Peter's shoulder slumped down again 'such an uncertain lead. I'll have to make do with it . Tonight I'll talk to captain Stacy his team can help me out.'

MJ, watching as the secret hero was going back into his brooding state again stood up. " I'm going out for some ice cream. You are coming with me Tiger." She said as she went to grab her purse.

" Huh? why me?" Peter looked confused.

" Oh come on Peter you can't be serious. How can dear MJ go out alone , especially right now . Don't you see the situation of the city right now. People are getting kidnapped. You kids shouldn't go anywhere alone."May stressed out.

" Ok .sigh yeah, let's go." Peter finally agreed.

As they were on their way MJ asked." What was that about?".

"huh?"

"That . Court of owls ?"

Peter hesitated before deciding to tell her half truth. "A group of villains who I'm trying to track down. Till now I haven't been able to find anything aside from this nursery rhyme connection."

" I ask you to please don't go out at night. I don't want you to get hurt MJ. They are dangerous people."

"Cool name. Anyway, when are you going to tell me about your exciting adventures. Or better yet make me your partner in crime?"

"There's no such thing as exciting adventures. Maybe a little but it's mostly dangerous and you should stay away from such things as much as possible. I have powers you don't. And finally, I don't do any crimes I stop them."

" Calm down Hothead. I'm just...you know... excited. I'm friends with a real super hero . Hey , by the way ,why do you still tolerate flash if you. have your powers?"

" Because if I don't tolerate him and lash out there won't be any flash left to tolerate. And ... I just don't want to hurt people you know."

"What about the crooks you beat up daily in the alleys?"

"They can take some punches and they deserve it. I don't want to cause suspicions in school either. And anyway it's just one more year. "

As they continued talking they reached their Destination, Basket's and went in.

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Spider-Man was swinging through the city as he made his way towards the police station. There had been a big case. They had found body of a police officer half eaten near the port. This matter was becoming much more dangerous than it already was. The Owls didn't care about who you were common people or a police officer.

He landed outside the window of Stacy's office and knocked.

The window was promptly opened by Gordon himself. "Welcome Spider man.Captain Stacy was sitting in his chair looking at him. Spider-Man went straight to the point.

" where are we currently? Did you guys get any lead on this case."

It was Gordon who said,"Nothing much , exept that there had been a similar case around 15 years ago. A few bodies were found in similar condition.No one was caught. Except that an informer talked abut this Court of Owls . He was found dead a few days later. I remember now cause i was there when his body was found. It was bizarre case."

" You mean to tell me those Owls have been around for more than a decade?"

"That or there is no such thing as this Court of Owls. Did you find anything?"

"Other than a vague connection to some old nursery rhyme. None " The masked hero said as he sat down feeling tired just from this talk.

Stacy continued to look at Spider-Man before speaking. " Someone , like to speak with you Spider-Man.

Peter looked at the police chief and asked him " who ?"

"The Mayor."

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Jacqueline Morse.

The Mayor of New York city. A rich beautiful, Knowledgeable ,strong and independent woman, born in a respected family, Someone who commanded respect of everyone because of her deeds. Leader of many humanitarian Organisations in New York. Who had a dream to make the city a better place. A True model citizen. At least that's how Spider-man would describe her.

Currently he was at her home , A penthouse much like Harry's. They were sitting in her Office in front of her with Captain George Stacy. Why had she called them ? Especially him, the menace of city, to meet personaly and talk about what? Only she knew.

" It's really nice to finally be able to meet the hero of New York. Spider-Man. I'm Jacqueline Morse, newly elected Mayor of New York."

"It's.. It's nice to meet you to ma'am. But i have to ask, do you truly think of me as a hero or was that sarcasm.?"

Morse smiled a little," Not everyone believes whatever Jameson says. Especially me who is in a position to know everything that happens in the City. I know that you have done nothing but try to help.For that I wish to thank You."

The web warrior was shocked by her words. Here was a government official. thanking him for his work. " I ... It—This means a lot to me. Really. But there's still some questions unanswered. If you wanted to do just this why now? Why like this?."

Morse adopted a somber expression as she continued," Because... Something Bad has come to New York. Something powerful and Evil. I have been getting warnings , whispers from people to not pass the NYC initiative at the upcoming conference and resign from my position."

She took a glass water and drank some before starting to speak again,"Then three days ago I awoke to find an owl in my Veranda. Just perched there in a nest with a small pile of bones beneath it. I don't know if it's them behind it but they could be." There was some shakiness in her voice.

" It scared me enough that I contacted my friend , Captain Stacy here to keep an ear out for anything related. So, when I leaned about the recent events and how you had met these Court of Owls.I asked him to arrange a meeting. I don't intend to give up so easily due to some threats. That's why I have decided to continue with the initiative. Now I wish to know what you are doing to capture them."

" Why do you think they are the same? what I met were cannibals what you are describing looks like assassination attempt."

" Because of the Owls. Heh, there's an old rhyme that talks about these 'Court of Owls'. My grandfather used to sing me that whenever I didn't want to sleep as a kid."

Then she took out a piece of paper and handed it to Spider-man. He opened it curiously and in it written was the rhyme his Aunt May had talked about. It went like —

Beware The Court Of Owls,

that watches all the time,

ruling from a shadow perch ,

Behind granite and lime.

They watch you at your hearth,

They watch you in your bed,

Speak not a whispered word of them,

Or they will send The Talons for your head.

' Well it was spooky to say the least.' Spider-Man thought a few seconds after reading the rhyme many times. Then he looked up at the mayor agian ," So you really believe it? That they will be sending 'Talons for your Head' ?"

When she didn't say anything he continued again ,"This is a nursery rhyme , a superstition."

'Now there was a chance that some knuckleheads were trying to enact a myth into reality. But to think a super smart group of cannibals was contolling the city from the shadows. Now that's a bit too much.' But even then he couldn't simply deny it. He knew what he had seen that night when he first encountered those monsters.

Morse sighed and out a hand on her head to massage her temples. Then she said ," Supersitions aren't always wrong. Do you know about my great grandfather Allan Morse ? He was a very superstitious person. During his later years , he suffered from Agressive senility ."

Captain Stacy nodded at that ," I've heard if him. He was the man who built many of the high rise building of this city."

" Yes , But my grandfather told me that he supposedly developed a particular obsession with Owls. Some obsession with the idea that the birds were conspiring against him. He boarded up all the windows in his home for the paranoia that one day the Owls would come for him. But even that didn't help. He soon became gripped with the notion that the Owls were roosting in his home—In the walls."

" Though his death was not a big thing. He died due to drowning . Having fallen into a open manhole in the sewer at night. No foul play detected. But now that think about it . It's not so simple. What was he doing at out there in the middle of the night. Grandpa said It was because of his disease. But i have my suspicions.

They were all silent for a while after this story. Jacqueline then stood up " It was nice meeting you Spider-Man but now i must go as there's wirk to do. I wish you will keep me safe."

Spider-Man looked at her before he stood up too. "Of course , I will".

Then she walked out of the office leaving the two men alone.

Spider-Man decided it was time for him to go too. He should go home before going back out to patrol the city and search for owls. "Alright officer , this is where I take my leave.See ya."

"Wait." Stacy said in a commanding tone. " Come with me to the car first."

Then they arrived at his police car he opened the drawer to pick something out before handing it to The masked Man.

" This is a Specialised radio for us to be able to communicate each other. It's necessary .Whenever you find any clue you will tell us . There's one with me and one with Gordon. This will be easier than waiting for you to appear." After that he sat on the driver seat and drove away.

Spider-Man looked at the radio and thought 'At last they aren't just trying to shoot me down on sight.'

....EnD