The Bronx

Angela Sáez had been a normal girl for most of her life. Her parents had mundane jobs, her father being an auto-mechanic and her mother a waitress, and she went to school where she had her own friends… and enemies. Then that day happened, where everything changed. Now, ‘normal’ isn’t what most people would use to describe her life.

It had been another day. The sun was setting, with the dark cloud above the red-orange sunlight. Now would be the time for her to simply get around the city, and clear her head. There was a lot to worry about right now, as ever since she entered the life, that life, things have been different. She’s able to support her family with her new career, but that career involves dressing in costume and fighting criminals for a reward.

Angela changed into her costume, taking the flexible suit outside her backpack and changing in an alleyway. It was a skin-tight dark blue outfit, with white highlights on the sides of her arms and legs, and a bright red spider symbol in the middle. The lower half of her face was covered by a white half-mask, leaving her eyes visible from the top. She made this costume herself, using silk from the webbing she could create. It was something that made her proud.

Her hair tied into a ponytail, Angela completed the process of transitioning into her costumed attire. She was now Scarlet Web. She took the backpack and stuck it to the wall with a single blast of webbing. It was near where she lived, an apartment on the south end of the borough.

Like it was nothing, Scarlet Web jumped from one wall to another in the alley as she made it to the rooftop. A feat impossible for most people, she could get to the top of a building in a matter of seconds. Once she got to the top of the brick wall, she put a little force into the next jump and leaped onto the rooftop of the opposite end. On her descent she did a flip and landing on all fours.

She nodded at herself with approval. It had only been a year since she acquired those powers, and honestly, she’s still amazed. Scarlet Web then did another flip in the air, before landing on her left hand, holding herself up with a one-handed handstand. This was another thing she liked, the strength she got from this mutation.

With that, she lunged herself in the air with her left hand pushing against the rooftop, landing straight on her two feet. She smiled beneath her mask, and then look across the city from where she stood. It was like a place of adventure.

“I see my powers are still working.” Scarlet Web said to herself.

That exercise was over, it was time to see what there was to offer. She cast a web from her wrist, and made a swing across the streets. The wind felt really good in her hair. Her destination was set, she was going to Manhattan. The view from atop the Empire State Building was always a good place for her to think.

She swung from building to building, then she saw the subway the runs from The Bronx to Manhattan. I suppose they won’t mind if I hitch a ride. Scarlet Web shot a web that zipped her straight to a subway car from the air. The rush she gets from moves like those hasn’t gone away yet.

As the subway moved, she sat back and relaxed while looking at the sky, the evening turning into night with each passing minute. The subway was riding towards Manhattan, and it got closer to view until the train crossed the water and she was officially in the borough. Before anyone realized she was even there, Scarlet Web slung across to another building. Swinging in Manhattan was always the funnest part, there being plenty of buildings to swing off of.

Soon enough, she was at the Empire State Building, crawling her way to the top. It took five minutes, but there she was, standing on the edge of the skyscraper. Scarlet Web took her seat, putting down her mask so she can breathe the fresh air a little easier. These times when she can just be by herself were the best times.

And someone was there.

“Still haven’t joined the Protectors yet?” A voice said.

“My affiliation is me, myself and I.” Scarlet Web said.

It was Night Spider. The man in the flexible black armored suit walked up to her, and then took his seat down on her right.

“You know, back when I put on the suit I wasn’t expecting another spider-themed crimefighter to show up, certainly not one in New York.”

“I wasn’t expecting to be one either, but that’s how it is.”

“I’m not the biggest fan of the Protectors myself, but I can’t argue with the money. I know what it’s like not having any.”

“Join the club.” Scarlet Web said. “But the money I make is good, and being an independent is what it’s all about. Not everyone wants to be a Protector, chico.”

“I can understand that.” Night Spider said.

“Any reason you’re here other than to remind me about an organization I’ll never join?”

“I figured I’d talk to you about something I’ve had in mind.”

“And what is that?”

“I’m not offering you to join any team, but the boss says I should form a ‘web’ or a connection. You look like a good choice for that.”

Scarlet Web turned around, just enough so her eye was visible to Night Spider. She wanted to be at peace, not be troubled by someone else. Whatever he’s saying, it better be worth her time.

“People who fight criminals and villains and whatever else have to look out for each other, Protector or not.” Night Spider said. “This shit’s been going on since before the Protectors, before the war, where crimefighters had partnerships to help each other out. I don’t think it’s the best idea to be a complete lone wolf out there.”

“Why are you telling me all this, exactly?”

“I’m just a kid who’s done some things I’m not proud of in the past, but I’m hoping to change that now.” Night Spider said.

He walked up to her and handed her a device. It was small, able to fit in one hand, and had a button on it. This is what people like her use to contact others.

“If you ever need me, just press the button.”

“I appreciate it, but don’t think I’ll be pressing the button soon.”

“Only when you need it.”

Night Spider waved goodbye before jumping off the building. He activated his web gliders and practically flew through the air in the distance. Scarlet Web sat down again, looking at the device. Even if she wants to be independent, forming a connection with others isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There she remained for the next ten minutes, kicking back and thinking to herself. Her career was just getting started, and there were so many things ahead of her she didn’t even know at this point. At least I’m making a name for myself out in the world, this crazy world.

It was time to get going back home. Scarlet Web swung back through the city until she reached her apartment. Landing on the side, she crawled up and through her window, squeezing in through the entrance. Scarlet Web looked back outside from where she stood, closing the window to make sure no one sees her.

“This was an alright night, I guess.”

Then she sensed someone was in her apartment, and swung the door open to see it was her mother. Jesusita “Susie” Sáez, cooking up some roasted pork on her oven. She turned around, not even surprised to see her there in her costume.

“Out there ‘hero-ing’, right?”

“Mama, I was just exploring the city and having fun.”

“Yeah, but don’t think I don’t get worried about you out there.”

“I know, but I’m a big girl now and I can take care of myself.”

The pork was done. Susie scooped it on two plates, handing one to her daughter. They took their seats on the wooden table nearby. After having a few bites, it being as delicious as her mama’s cooking always is, Angela spoke to her mother again.

“I’m not complaining, but any reason you decided to show up without telling me?”

“Other than to see my own daughter?”

“Good point, I was just worried there was an intruder in my home. Really don’t need anyone knowing my secret identity.”

“Are you that paranoid?”

“When you’re living a double life, you got to be.”

Susie exhaled. Angela didn’t like the sound of that. Ever since her ‘job’ began, where she did special deeds for a fee, her parents always worried about her safety. But she wasn’t going to stop. The job pays well, it takes care of her and her family, and rent in New York isn’t exactly cheap.

“Do you have any friends doing… what it is that you do?”

“I’m not going to be a Protector if that’s what you’re going to say, but I have made a ‘friend’ with Night Spider. Figures another spider person would be out there.”

“You should make friends in the business. I don’t want you to be alone, sweetie.”

“That’s what he told me.” Angela said. “He gave me this.”

Angela placed the circular device on the table, which her mother looked at with curiosity. It was small, made of steel, and had a red button on the center. Susie’s eyes widened, then she looked at Angela again.

“So you’re not going to be all alone out there in the scary world of crimefighting?”

“Well, I mean I prefer to work alone but I guess I can contact him if I need to.”

“You should.”

“Alright, I get the point.”

They finished the meal quietly for the rest of the dinner. Her mother didn’t stay much longer after that. She waved goodbye as she returned home to her husband, and Angela was left to her own devices. It was nighttime out now, so she decided to do what she always did in her free time. Check the internet.

Angela hopped to her computer and explored. There was one site she was going to. Right now, she wanted more information, and want to know what the pubic knows about her. That website was Heroes and Villains Online, the unofficial database on all things super in the world.

The website opened up. It had a clean layout, with a blue and red layout. The top left displayed the font in a comic book style, complete with a bubble. Heroes and Villains Online served as the go-to website about costumes. There are many things it was useful for. A news site for recent events, a wiki for heroes, villains, organizations, paraphernalia, and other such things related to the matter. It was also a forum, and a chatroom.

Angela expects that she built up some reputation as the Scarlet Web. This was the time to see what the public knew of her and how she presented herself. She entered Scarlet Web into the wiki’s search engine, and soon enough her page came up. It was somewhat flattering to know she had a page of her own. Now she really made it.

The picture of her was decent. It was an aerial shot of her swinging, nothing too special. She wasn’t the type of person who poses for the cameras, certainly not in-costume. What she read made her feel alright, nothing about her personal life was known to the public, which was fine because she didn’t need that that kind of attention invading her personal life. The infobox was promising enough.

Name: Scarlet Web

Alter Ego: Unknown

Age: ~20

Sex: Female

Species: Biohuman

Place of Birth: United States (presumed)

Base of Operations: New York City, New York, United States

Nationality: American (presumed)

Alignment: Hero

Affiliation: Independent

Identity: Secret

Marital Status: Unknown

Occupation: Unknown

Education: Unknown

Abilities:

Spider physiology Natural web creation Enhanced strength Enhanced agility, speed and reflexes Heightened senses

Scarlet Web is a an independent costumed crimefighter who has emerged since roughly July 2034. Little is known about the Scarlet Web, as she has remained reclusive to most. Reports indicate that she’s a young hero that hasn’t become an affiliate to any particular organization, and does work for money. It’s believed she is of Hispanic descent, and is from (or at least based in) New York City.

Scarlet Web is based on spiders, having spider-like powers and being themed around the arachnid. Unlike others, such as the Night Spider, Scarlet Web has her powers naturally. The exact means she acquired her abilities isn’t known.

There wasn’t much more to her bio than that. Compared to others on the website, which could get pretty extensive, her bio was rather short. This was mainly due to a combination of her only showing up recently, and her rather secretive nature to the public.

That was how she preferred it.

Angela spent the rest of the night watching TV. There was plenty of good dramas on the air, which she enjoyed. Once it got late, she went to bed. Angela knew she had to be well-rested before the next day, if she was going to continue the life that she was living. There was an entire world out there for her to explore, but right now she was content to live in her own.