"What's your name?" I inquire, sensing something familiar about her.
"A-Anya, Anya Corazon … from Mexico," she replies, her voice quivering.
Recognition dawns on me. Anya Corazon, who in my past world's comics, became Spider-Girl or Arana.
Her method of gaining powers was a bit different then Peter but she had almost the same power set as him.
She is on a very low priority on my Index, still she must have been captured recently or else I would have definitely been notified.
"Do you know this girl?" Matt asks, joining me.
"Something like that," I murmur, then address Anya, "Come with us."
I lead the way out of the warehouse, Matt leaning on me for support, still reeling from his injuries. Anya follows cautiously, eyeing the bodies scattered around with visible fear.
"D.A.I.S.Y. inform Uncle George about this discreetly" I whisper as soon as I come out of the warehouse.
"Already done, Luke," D.A.I.S.Y. responds.
Well I am glad, at least now those girls won't be mishandled. I notice that Matt has some questions, as he must have heard D.A.I.S.Y.'s voice.
I am about to explain to Matt when D.A.I.S.Y. interrupts with another urgent update.
"Luke, Karen has just left the building and is heading towards her house" D.A.I.S.Y.'s voice is heard from my earpiece
"Fuck" "Shit", I and Matt curse in unison.
"She must still have those files with her. They will definitely be waiting for her at her apartment. We have to get there first," Matt states, trying to steady himself against a wall.
Anya looks at us both, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.
"I will go. You are in no shape to handle this," I tell Matt firmly.
"Ugh, no, I am still fine," he insists, blood staining his teeth.
I am left speechless by his stubbornness.
"You need to see a doctor—don't worry, I have got plenty more tricks up my sleeve," I say with a smile, activating my Power: Earth Creation Portal on the ground in front of me.
"What the hell?" Anya exclaims, jumping back in surprise.
Even Matt's body flinches when the portal appears.
I can't help but smirk at their reactions... this makes me even more eager to test out one of my newer Powers tonight!
"This is a portal. We can go anywhere in the city through this," I explain with a proud look, although it is concealed by my mask.
"Are you serious?" Matt's expression show disbelief.
"Who are you people?" Anya asks, clearly scared. I glance towards her and clear my throat.
"I am Batman"
She just looks at me blankly, and even Matt seems puzzled.
Sometimes, I felt a twinge of sadness that no one could understand my jokes. "Anyway, let me drop you off at a medical facility of mine. They will treat you there," I suggest to Matt, trying to move on from the awkward silence.
"I am coming with you. You are also injured; you will need help," Matt asserts, taking a deep breath and standing up straight.
"I think it's better if I go alone. There will be one or two thugs at most after Karen, I will be able to handle them just fine. With your injuries you will be of no help," I honestly convey to him.
"Alright," Matt sighs, begrudgingly acknowledging my words.
"Okay, let me take you to that facility," I offer, extending my hand.
"No, I know someone... she will be able to treat me just fine," Matt says, shaking his head at my proposal.
"Are you sure?" I inquire again, looking at the serious wound on his side.
"Yes," Matt nods firmly.
"Alright, tell me the general area where you want me to send you," I ask with a sigh, as it looks like he won't budge on this. I knew he was referring to Claire Temple, a kind-hearted nurse who has previously stitched him up when he was injured.
Matt provides the location, looking puzzled.
I bring out my mobile phone, and the screen lights up, showing an empty alley in the area he just mentioned. D.A.I.S.Y. is always quick on the update.
As I look at the alley through my phone and activate my power, I can see through the screen that a portal opens up on the ground there.
"Alright, you just walk through this portal, and you will reach your destination. Do you want me to come with you?" I offer.
"No... I can tell that you are speaking the truth," Matt says and then fearlessly walks into the portal.
"Woah!" Anya exclaims as Matt vanish inside the hole, only to reappear through another portal in my video feed.
"Are you a magician?" Anya asks me, clearly shocked.
I wanted to reply to her again with an 'I am Batman' line in my perfect Christian Bale voice, but maybe that joke has now gotten old really quick.
"Let's go, I will take you to a friend's place," I tell her as I grab her arm and head towards the portal.
"N-no, I d-" Anya protests, but before she could finish her sentence, we both have already entered the portal and emerge in the backyard of a house.
"I thought I would meet you today in my backyard," speaks a feminine voice.
"Thought or saw?" I speak with a smile as I gaze at Cassandra Webb in front of me.
She smiles back and then grabs my face, giving me a passionate kiss while holding my mask. I kiss her back, my hands moving to her ass and grabbing it tightly.
Anya, on the side, blushes, looking at these shameless people making out in front of her.
As my hand starts rubbing her pussy through her jeans, Cassandra breaks the kiss. "Ha... Alright, you have somewhere to be, and I have a guest to entertain. Go now, and next time, try to be more careful," she says with concern, gently hovering her hand above the bullet wound.
"I will try my best," I reply with a wry smile.
"Come now, my child. Let's get you inside," Cassandra says gently, pulling Anya's hand.
Anya glances in my direction, and I give her a nod.
She hesitantly follows the lady. "Umm, who are you?" she asks as she was led inside the big house.
"You can call me Madame Web," Cassandra says with a smirk.
I shake my head at her antics and then look towards another portal that I have just opened.
"This will be interesting"
-----
"Shit," Karen curses as she reaches underneath her apartment.
She hadn't anticipated the rain, and now she was soaked to the bone.
Maybe this was a bad idea, she thinks as she starts climbing the stairs of her building.
Karen understood why she had survived the first attempt on her life and why her colleague had been killed instead. It was clear to her that the perpetrators knew she had obtained the files containing all their transactions.
Their intention wasn't to eliminate her but to intimidate her, hence they stopped the police, who were likely under their influence, in filing a case against her.
Reflecting on the incident where they framed her for the murder of the person she sought help from, she realised they wanted to instill fear in her, using the leverage of her being a suspect in a murder case.
They could have killed her the first time but they opted to maintain the psychological pressure, hoping she would succumb and surrender the incriminating files.
She didn't know why their plan changed and they decided to murder her inside police custody. Maybe it was because Matt and Foggy showed up as her attorneys, making them realise that the situation might spin out of control.
Well, she wasn't that easily scared, and she wouldn't let an innocent man's murder be in vain.
As she climbs the stairs, she had to admit, she was still a tiny bit scared. Maybe she should have asked for help from someone. Matt and Foggy were just ordinary people, but Lucas was a billionaire. He would definitely be able to help her.
But how could she ask him to get entangled in such a dangerous mess? She sighs aloud, especially when he had already helped her so much. He was rich, handsome, and so hot! If she weren't being targeted by someone, she would have accepted his offer to date in a heartbeat.
As she entertains these thoughts, she reaches her apartment. Retrieving her keys, she unlocks her door and enters.
Locking the door behind her, she opted not to turn on the lights and headed straight to her bathroom. Climbing onto the toilet seat, she reaches for the vent and removes the panel. Her hand delve inside until she finds what she sought.
With a sigh of relief, she retrieves a USB containing all the files, including the emails she had copied as evidence.
Exiting the bathroom, she was startled by a male voice.
"Did you get what you came for?"
Whirling around in shock, she sees Lucas seated on her couch, looking at her with amusement.
"Lucas? What are you doing here?" she asks, panic rising in her voice.
"Waiting for you, of course. Ouch," Lucas winces as he stands up, blood staining his sleeves.
"What happened?" Karen asks in concern, moving closer to inspect him. "Is that blood? Are you injured?" she exclaims at the sight.
"Oh, it's nothing," Lucas dismisses her concern with a wry smile.
Before Karen could press further, a metallic rattling sound interrupts them, drawing their attention to the door.
"Who's there?" Karen asks, her anxiety mounting as she edges closer to Lucas.
There was no response, but the door creaks open slowly, revealing a figure entering through the threshold.
The man appears menacing, locking the door behind him and wielding a large knife.
"Wh-who are you?... This is my house, please get out!" Karen demands, grabbing a nearby stool as a makeshift weapon.
However, the man ignores her, not even acknowledging her presence. Karen glances at Lucas, who seemed oddly amused. "Just enjoy the show," he remarks cryptically, prompting Karen to turn her attention back to the intruder.
The man moves to a dark corner of the apartment, assuming a crouched position with his knife poised and a chilling smile on his face. Karen felt a shiver run down her spine at the sight.
Before she could voice her questions, the man vanished before her eyes, leaving her bewildered. "Wh-where did that man go?" she asks Lucas in shock.
"Don't worry, he will be back in 15 minutes," Lucas reassures her with a smile.
"H-how did he vanish? Who is he? And why are you at my place?" Karen bombards him with questions, her confusion mounting.
"Well, he is Rance, a hitman hired to kill you when you return back home," Lucas explains calmly, his smile never faltering.
"What?!" Karen exclaims, stunned by the revelation.
***
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striker james
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