"NO time to waste," Felicia says, already making moves toward the door. "We should go now. And with you here, our job just got ten times easier."
"Go where?" I ask, confused. Gwen's hand finds mine, her grip tightening like she's afraid I'll disappear if she lets go.
"To a safe place," Felicia reassures me. "Don't worry—they have everything we need to take care of your aunt. Trust me."
A little bit of the weight pressing down on my chest lifts. I run a hand through my hair, exhaling. "Alright, fine. Let's go. But once we get there, and I know she's safe—"
"I'm sorry," Connor cuts in, his voice skeptical. "I don't mean to, uh... pry or anything, but how exactly is our situation any easier just because this guy showed up?" He gestures at me with an unimpressed look. "Getting out of here is still a nightmare. And taking that lady with us? Even harder."
Felicia lets out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes. "Just shut up and let the grown-ups talk."
Connor blinks at her, clearly taken aback. Which, honestly, isn't surprising. Felicia still isn't the best at people.
"Okay, look," he says, throwing up his hands. "I get that he's your long-lost buddy and all, but those things out there? They're seriously dangerous. We don't even know what we're walking into. Unless we find another crazy hunter guy willing to do all the hard work, I don't wanna step outside just to get killed."
Felicia steps toward him, her stare sharp enough to cut through steel. "If you'd rather stay here and keep the goblins company, be my guest. But I'm going with Peter."
"So am I," Gwen adds, her voice steady. She looks at Connor like he's the one who's crazy, not her. "You can trust Pete."
Connor looks between the two of them, as if waiting for someone else in the room to have common sense. When no one speaks up, he lets out a frustrated groan. "Yeah, okay. Whatever."
I feel a little bad. But, I mean... does he not remember me punching Kraven through a wall? That did happen, right?
I shake the thought away. "Alright, like I was saying—once we get to this safe place, we're gonna have to split up."
That earns immediate protests.
"What?" Gwen blurts out, her grip on my hand tightening even more.
Felicia scoffs, folding her arms. "You've got another thing coming, Sp—Parker, if you think you're just gonna—" She pauses, suddenly catching herself. Her eyes flick to Gwen, and I see something shift in her expression. Her face softens just a little. "Uh... you tell him, Gwen."
Gwen doesn't hesitate. She turns to me, eyes locked onto mine, and I already know she's not backing down. "She's right. You just got back to me, and there is no way I'm letting you out of my sight again."
I sigh, holding up my hands in surrender. "I get it, okay? I do. But I'm responsible for what happened to this city. And if I'm gonna fix it, I have to do things—dangerous things. Things I don't want any of you anywhere near."
"That's not your decision to make," Gwen shoots back. Her voice isn't angry—it's pleading. "I can't let you run off again. I just... I can't."
I step a little closer to her, ignoring the death glare Felicia's drilling into the side of my head. "I know it's not fair, and—"
"Not this time, Peter," Gwen interrupts, shaking her head. "Every time you give me some speech, and every time I give into you and I let you go. But not this time. I can't. I really can't."
Her lip trembles slightly, and I can tell she's fighting to keep it together.
I let out a deep breath. "Okay. You win."
Gwen's face lights up instantly, and the sudden shift makes me chuckle.
"But only if you promise to do what I say," I add, raising a warning eyebrow. "If there's danger, you run. No arguing, no hesitating. You get out of there."
"Yes, of course. Don't worry—I'll have your back."
"No, you won't," I correct. "I'll be watching your back... as you run away."
Gwen nods quickly, the grin never leaving her face. "Sure. Definitely. That's what I meant."
Felicia coughs dramatically, reminding everyone she's still here. "Yeah, okay, well, you're not leaving me behind either."
Gwen turns to her, and something passes between them—some kind of silent exchange I don't quite understand. But Felicia keeps her eyes trained on me, like she doesn't notice. Or maybe like she's pretending not to.
"Wouldn't you rather stay somewhere safe—"
Felicia raises a hand, cutting me off. "Do we really have to do this?"
I sigh. Again. "Fine."
I turn to Connor, who looks at Felicia, then back at me. There's a flicker of hesitation before he shrugs. "Well... if she's going, then I guess I'm going too."
I glance at Felicia, confused. She just shrugs again.
"Right. Then grab whatever you need. We're moving out."
Everyone starts gathering supplies, but before they can fully relax, I clear my throat. "Oh, and one more thing."
They all turn their attention back to me, and I make sure to meet every single one of their eyes before speaking again.
"When it comes time to finding Norman... none of you are coming with me."
Gwen's brows furrow instantly. "Peter—"
"None of you," I repeat, this time a little sharper than I intended.
She flinches slightly at the edge in my voice. I regret it, but I don't take it back.
Felicia's lips part like she wants to say something. But, for once, she doesn't.
And I appreciate that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With everything I need—extra web cartridges, a spare suit, and a few masks of my own design—I follow Gwen and Felicia through the ruined city. The entire time, I hold May in my arms, cradling her close.
A sense of relief washes over me. She's here, with me, and nothing will happen to her as long as I'm breathing. As I glance at Gwen and Felicia leading the way, I realize I feel the same way about them.
Oh, and... Connor too, I guess.
The journey isn't easy. We have close calls—too many. Blocks burn as we pass, the city around us a skeleton of what it once was. Every shadow feels like a threat, every sound an omen. But after pushing through the wreckage, dodging dangers lurking in the dark, we finally reach the safe house—hidden beneath an old subway station.
Before we even have a chance to breathe, a group of makeshift guards approaches. My fists clench on instinct, but I force myself to let them take May from me. I follow them in silence as they lead me to the medical bay, watching as they carefully place her in a cot.
Then, I sit. Hours pass as I stay by her side, holding her hand, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest. She looks so peaceful. Like she's just taking a nap, like she'll wake up at any moment and tell me to quit worrying.
An ugly thought creeps in.
What if she never wakes up?
I squeeze her hand tighter.
No. I can't think like that.
Parkers don't give up.
Ben didn't. I won't. And neither will May.
The road ahead is going to be brutal—when isn't it? Every battle, every moment I've fought for this city... The Lizard, Scorpion, that weird shock-glove guy—what was his name? Doesn't matter. Every fight has taught me something that Ben always knew I had in me.
Spider-Man never gives up.
A hand touches my shoulder, warm and grounding.
I turn to see Gwen, smiling that soft, reassuring smile—the one that never fails to make my chest feel lighter. "Hey," she whispers. "Everything will be okay. We're together again."
Before I can respond, a familiar voice calls out from the entrance of the medical tent.
"Peter? Oh my, I can't believe you're here."
I look up to see Helen Stacy stepping inside, her expression wavering between disbelief and relief. Before I can even think, she wraps me in a tight hug.
"How are you?" she asks, pulling back to look me over. "Are you okay?"
I manage a small smile, touched by her concern—like she hasn't lost so much already, and still has room in her heart to care for me. "I'm okay, ma'am."
Her face softens, but when I look into her eyes, I see it—the sadness lingering just beneath the surface. I want to apologize. For everything. But then I remember Gwen's words from yesterday.
"I'm really glad you're—"
Before I can finish, Helen pulls me into another hug—one that reminds me of May, of warmth, of safety. And I feel my chest tighten, a sting in my eyes that I fight to suppress.
"It's okay, dear," she murmurs. "I'm not sure what you've been doing to survive out there... Lord knows what you must have seen. But you're here now. And you're safe."
I swallow hard, nodding.
Helen pulls back, glancing at May, then at Gwen. And then, her face changes.
"I won't say I'm not pissed, Gwen," she says, her voice firmer now. "You left without a word. I had to hear about it from Mavis. Even if it was for Peter, how could you? After..."
She trails off, but Gwen and I both know what she means. After George Stacy.
"Mom, I'm sorry," Gwen says quietly, stepping in front of her mother. "But if it were you out there... I just know Peter would've done the same thing for me. I know it was—"
"Stupid!" Helen's voice cracks, more worried than angry. "You're not some superhero, Gwen! And I won't lose another member of this family. Not again."
Gwen lowers her head, guilt written all over her face.
I hesitate before slipping my fingers between hers, gripping her hand tightly.
"Ma'am," I start, my voice steady, "I know this might not be my place to say. But your daughter... she takes a lot after her dad." Helen's breath hitches slightly, and I continue. "She may not have superpowers, but given what she was willing to do for my family—she's certainly my hero. And I'm thankful."
Helen exhales, rubbing her temples. "Gosh, you kids..." She shakes her head, then sighs. "This isn't the time for this. Get some rest. We'll talk later. But for now, I'm just... glad you're all safe."
With that, she turns and leaves.
Gwen still looks guilty, staring at the ground.
"I was stupid to think she wouldn't find out," she mutters. "But Peter, you have to know... I don't regret a single thing."
I look at her then, into her bright blue eyes, and see how much she means it.
"I'd follow you anywhere."
I pull her closer, our lips nearly touching. "You sure about that? My life... it's not always easy."
Gwen doesn't hesitate. She looks at me like I'm the only thing in the world that matters. "What's your favorite color?"
I blink, thrown off by the sudden change. "...Uh. Red?"
She smiles. "How about your favorite food?"
I narrow my eyes. "That's a tough one. Gotta go with cheeseburgers. Oh, but can I pick a favorite dessert, too? Because then it's cherry pie."
She giggles. "Okay. And your favorite movie?"
"Back to the Future. Obviously." I give her a curious look. "Okay, what's with all the questions?"
Gwen takes my hand, pressing it against her chest. I feel the warmth of her skin, the steady, rhythmic beating of her heart.
"There are so many parts of your life I don't know," she whispers. "Parts you kept from me. Parts I haven't seen yet. You tell me it's not always easy to be a part of your life, but..."
She steps even closer. My breath catches.
"Do you feel that?" she asks, voice barely above a whisper. "It's what happens every time I see you. Every time you touch me. Every time you kiss me. Peter, every time I'm with you... all I can think about is how I want more."
I stare into her eyes, and I know exactly what she means.
Because it's everything I have felt for her since we were kids.
"And even though I'll be out there risking my life every night... even though I might bring danger..." I murmur. "You still—"
She kisses me.
Soft, slow, lingering.
And I know it isn't just a kiss.
It's a promise.
When she pulls back, she smiles. "Peter, you and I will be stuck together like glue."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I take a breath, glancing between Gwen and Felicia as I try to gather my thoughts. "Okay, so... I don't have all the details figured out yet, but here's what I got." I lean forward, lowering my voice. "I need to find Doctor Octavius and Doctor Connors. They know the most about cross-species DNA and whatever twisted science Norman was cooking up. But they're not the only ones. Back at that facility—there was a guy, some scientist, who was trying to use my blood to create a cure."
Felicia raises an eyebrow, her arms crossed as she leans against the wall, unimpressed. Gwen sits beside me, fingers curled tightly in her lap.
"If I can find them—Octavius, Connors, and they can help with the research that Virgil was doing—the scientist guy by the way—maybe we have a shot at fixing this," I continue. "That's assuming they're still alive and haven't gone completely off the deep end."
Gwen nods, but Felicia just stares at me. Then she bursts into laughter. "Oh my God, you're serious."
I frown. "What?"
Felicia gestures vaguely. "You want help from two guys who made it their life's mission to murder you? This is your genius idea? How can we even trust them?"
I shrug. "We don't have to trust them. But I'm willing to bet they hate Norman a whole lot more than they hate me. So trust that."
Felicia gives me a long, skeptical look. Then she sighs. "You're an idiot."
"But it's a good plan, right?" I ask.
Felicia smirks. "No, it's a terrible plan. But it's the best one we've got, so sure."
I roll my eyes, but Gwen smiles at me, and that makes me feel at least a little better.
Felicia pushes off the wall. "Alright, then. We should leave tonight."
"Wait," I say, looking at Gwen. "What about your mom? I mean... she's going to kill us."
Gwen sighs, rubbing her temple. "Yeah. Let me deal with that." Her voice is tight, and I don't miss the flicker of guilt in her eyes. "She's not gonna like it, but I have to do this. I can't just sit around while you do all of this alone."
I hesitate. "Okay. But... I don't think we should bring Connor." I turn to Felicia, hoping that she'll understand.
Felicia frowns. "Uh, why are you saying that to me?"
I blink. "I mean... aren't you two, you know..." I gesture vaguely.
Felicia recoils like I just spit in her drink. "What the fuck? Obviously not you moron. I just met him."
I glance at Gwen, who just shakes her head, clearly amused.
"Oh," I say. "Sorry, I just thought—"
Felicia throws up her hands. "You're so oblivious, Parker." She mutters, so low that I almost couldn't hear it.
What's she mean by that?
I open my mouth to ask, but before I can, Gwen nudges me with her elbow. "Focus, dork."
Right. The plan.
Before once again I can say anything else, a voice cuts through the conversation.
"Hey, guys!"
Connor walks in, balancing a few trays of food like he's proud of himself. "So... ready to discuss the plan?"
Felicia, Gwen, and I exchange glances.
Oh, boy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Night falls fast, and somehow, Gwen manages to sneak out whatever gear she needs without her mom catching her and strangling her on sight. Felicia stuck by my side the entire night until it was time to meet up with Gwen.
Connor, thankfully, is more than happy to stay behind—probably because he has no idea what's actually going on. But that just leaves us with one problem.
The guards.
There are two of them, standing at the only exit of the underground shelter, looking way more alert than I'd like. Big guys, too. One's absently spinning a baton in his hand like he wants an excuse to use it, while the other keeps scanning the tunnels like a paranoid meerkat.
Felicia leans against the wall, unimpressed. "Alright, what's the play here, fearless leader?"
"Uh," I say, rubbing the back of my neck. "We could try sneaking past them?"
Felicia snorts. "Yeah, sure. Maybe they'll be legally blind and deaf."
Gwen hums, tapping her chin. "We could bribe them?"
I stare at her. "With what? Do you have a secret stash of gold bars I don't know about?"
"I have gum?" she offers with a smile, and I smile back at her.
"Good one."
Felicia sighs. "You two seriously piss me off."
"Okay, okay," I whisper. "How about... a distraction?"
Gwen grins. "Ooooh, I like that."
Felicia eyes her warily. "I don't."
"Oh, come on," Gwen says. "I'll just—oh! I know exactly what to do."
Before I can stop her, Gwen casually strides right up to the guards, her hands behind her back, smiling like she just ran into some old friends.
Felicia and I exchange a glance.
"Be ready to just go knock their asses out," Felicia mutters.
"Yup."
We listen in as Gwen stops in front of the guards, tilting her head in mock curiosity.
"Hey, guys," she says, resting a hand on her hip. "Quick question—have either of you seen a huge, huge rat running around? Like, mutant-level huge?"
The guards blink. "Uh... what? What are you doing out here? It's—"
Gwen leans in. "I swear I just saw something scurry past that tunnel. Big. Red eyes. Definitely demonic."
The baton-spinning guy stiffens. "Wait, you mean that tunnel?"
"Yup," Gwen says. "I think it's watching us."
The guards immediately turn their heads, squinting into the dimly lit tunnel, muttering about how they knew something was off about this place.
And that's my cue.
I drop down behind them silently, crouching low. Felicia watches from the shadows, arms folded, nodding in approval. I move quickly, striking the first guy with a gentle thwip of webbing, yanking him back into a sleeper hold. He barely has time to react before his knees buckle and he slumps into unconsciousness.
The other guy starts to turn—so I do the same thing, webbing his mouth before he can yell, grabbing him in a firm, but completely painless hold until he goes limp.
Gwen, meanwhile, is still pointing dramatically at the tunnel. "Okay, so it's either a giant rat or an extremely angry chihuahua—"
I clear my throat. She turns and sees both guards slumped against the wall, peacefully unconscious.
She grins. "Oh, nice work, Pete. You're seriously awesome, that was straight out of a comic."
Felicia shakes her head. "I hate how well that worked."
Gwen winks. "I told you I'd make a great girl in the chair. Although I wasn't really sitting in a chair. You get what I mean."
"Uh-huh." Felicia gestures toward the now-clear exit. "Let's go."
I nod, giving Gwen a little nudge. "Come on, Rat Whisperer. Let's get out of here."
Gwen rolls her eyes, but as we slip out into the city, I catch the hint of a proud smirk on her face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once we're safely away from the shelter, I pull out my tattered old map of New York, spreading it out over a rusted dumpster lid under the dim glow of a broken streetlight. The city's almost unrecognizable now, torn apart by the chaos Norman unleashed. It's like looking at the ruins of something that used to be home but isn't anymore.
I run a gloved finger along the map, outlining the path to our destination. "Alright," I say, tapping a section circled in red. "This is where we need to go—the prison."
Gwen and Felicia peer over my shoulder. The prison looks far.
Felicia whistles. "That's a hike."
"Yeah, no kidding," I say. "I think Dr. Octavius, Vulture, and the others were being held here before everything went sideways. If they're alive, that's where we'll find them."
Gwen crosses her arms. "And if they're not?"
I sigh. "Then we're back to square one. But I'm willing to bet Norman wouldn't just let them out of the city without a fight."
Felicia smirks. "So what, he keeps them around because they're useful? "
I shake my head. "I'm not sure, it's not like he would trust them." I fold the map and shove it into my suit. "Either way, it's a bit of a journey."
Felicia cracks her knuckles. "Then let's get moving."
And so we do.
⸻
The city's a graveyard. What used to be New York—the heartbeat of the world—is now a wasteland filled with flickering fires, broken buildings. We move carefully, sticking to alleyways, rooftops, and underground tunnels when we can.
We leap across rooftops, the wind whipping against our faces. I land first, crouching low as I turn to help Gwen across. She reaches out, and I pull her up effortlessly, but she stumbles just a little—enough that she practically falls into me.
Her hands rest against my chest. My arms instinctively go around her waist.
We just... stay there for a second.
Gwen looks up at me, her bright blue eyes filled with something warm. "Guess I need to work on my superhero landings," she says, her voice light, teasing.
I chuckle. "Nah, you're doing great."
Behind us, Felicia clears her throat. Loudly.
We both jump apart. Gwen laughs softly. I rub the back of my neck, turning away.
⸻
At some point, we have to take a tunnel through the sewers. It's dark, disgusting, and I swear I see something moving in the water.
Gwen gags. "Oh my God, this was a terrible idea."
"Agreed," Felicia mutters.
"I'd like to remind everyone that this was the fastest route," I say, grimacing as my foot squelches into something I definitely don't want to think about.
Gwen pinches her nose. "Fastest doesn't mean best, Peter."
"Hey, it could be worse," I say. "At least we're not being hunted down by a guy with a lion vest and a very concerning obsession with spears."
Felicia raises an eyebrow. "Kraven?"
"Yeah. That was a fun day," I say sarcastically, stepping over a pipe. "After I took that arrow to the leg I had to limp my way through a place exactly like this."
Gwen stops mid-step. "Wait. You got shot? In the leg?"
I wince. Maybe I shouldn't have said that.
"I got better?" I offer weakly.
Gwen's eyes narrow. "Peter—"
"Look, it was a long time ago! I was fine! Mostly." I shrug. "Lost a lot of blood, though. And wow, when Felicia pulled that thing out—"
"Peter."
I pause, finally noticing the worry in her voice. She's standing there, arms crossed, looking at me like I just told her I casually walked through fire for fun.
Felicia chuckles. "Your stupidity is kind of amazing to watch."
I hold up my hands. "Okay, okay, I maybe should've mentioned that story sooner, but in my defense—"
"No defense," Gwen cuts me off. "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at—at—" She looks around like she's looking for someone to blame. "—Oh whatever. I just can't believe there's been so many times you've nearly died and I would've been completely in the dark."
I sigh. "Gwen, I'm fine. I'm always fine."
She doesn't look convinced, but she lets out a breath and keeps walking. "Of course you will. Because I'm here now."
Felicia nudges me, a sly smile on her face. "You're good at making pretty girls worry."
I sigh. "Yeah. I know." Then I take a moment to think about what she just said. "Wait huh?"
⸻
After a few close calls and way too much running, we take refuge in an old bookstore that somehow survived the destruction. Dust coats the shelves, but it's quiet, safe.
I sit against the wall, stretching out my legs. Gwen sits beside me, resting her head against my shoulder. "I totally feel like we're in a comic right now." she murmurs.
I nod. "Yeah. A real horror story."
She's silent for a moment. Then, "Peter?"
"Yeah?"
"...Do you think we'll ever get the city back? Like, really get it back?"
I want to tell her yes, but the truth is—I don't know.
Instead, I squeeze her hand. "We're gonna do everything we can."
She smiles. "I know."
Across the room, Felicia watches us from where she's perched on a bookshelf. Her expression is unreadable, but there's something in her eyes—something almost... sad.
⸻
The prison looms in the distance, barely visible through the thick smog choking the city.
Felicia cracks her neck. "Alright, lovebirds, time to get moving."
Gwen rolls her eyes but nudges me to stand up. I stretch, my muscles aching.
We exchange a look.
We've made it this far.
No turning back now.
We stand in front of the ruined prison, its once-imposing structure now cracked and broken, like the city around it. The place is eerily silent, the usual hum of security systems long dead. Wind howls through shattered windows, carrying the distant sounds of goblins shrieking in the city.
I turn to Gwen and Felicia, adjusting the strap of my bag. "Alright, I go in alone. You two stay put until I give the all-clear."
Gwen crosses her arms, already looking ready to argue. "Peter, come on. We're right here. You need backup."
I shake my head. "No, Gwen. We talked about this. You agreed—when things get serious, you do what I say."
Her expression shifts, torn between frustration and understanding. I can see the fight in her eyes, the urge to stand beside me no matter what.
Felicia exhales sharply. "He's right. If things go south, you and I will only be in the way."
Gwen sighs, clearly hating this but knowing she can't back out now. "Fine. But you better not take forever."
I smirk. "Trust me I plan to get out as soon as possible." I reach into my bag, pulling out two spare masks. "Here. Just in case."
Gwen's eyes light up as she takes hers. "Oh, this is awesome. I feel like a real superhero." She slips it on, striking a playful pose before quickly remembering the situation and standing straight again.
Felicia, on the other hand, looks down at hers like I just handed her a tax form. "You've gotta be kidding me," she mutters. "Do I have to?"
"Yes." I give her a pointed look. "If I manage to work something out with Doc Ock, I don't want him recognizing you guys later. Just put it on."
She groans but pulls it over her face. "This'll be the one and only time."
Gwen grins under her mask. "You actually look kinda cool."
Felicia glares. "Shut up."
I chuckle, rolling my shoulders before stepping toward the broken entrance. "Stay put. If anything happens—"
"I know, I know," Gwen interrupts. "We run and let you handle it." Her voice is laced with reluctance, but she means it.
I rummage through my bag and pull out my suit. "Alright, give me a sec. Gotta change," I say, nodding toward a cluster of dead trees a few feet away.
Gwen gives me a smile. "Cool, this is the first time I get to see your suit up scene."
Felicia snorts, crossing her arms. "Why bother hiding to change? It's not anything I haven't seen before." She smirks.
Gwen blushes, looking at me with a cute frown. "She's kidding right?"
I shoot Felicia a look. "Yes! Yes, she's kidding."
"Whatever, just hurry up. Not like I wanna sit here and watch you fumble into an embarrassing suit." Felicia teases, smirking.
I roll my eyes and slip behind the trees. As I start changing, Gwen calls out, "Don't listen to her! It's all part of the superhero experience!"
Felicia chuckles. "Uh-huh. Sure. Meanwhile, I'm just picturing him hopping on one leg, trying not to fall over."
"For the record, that's not happening," I call back, right before my foot catches on the fabric and I stumble into the tree. The bark scrapes my shoulder, and I bite back a curse.
Felicia clicks her tongue. "Real graceful, Spidey."
Gwen, ever the optimist, claps her hands. "Ignore her! You're doing great!"
This is so embarrassing.
Sighing, I finish zipping up and pull my mask over my head, stepping back out with as much dignity as I can manage. "Okay, I'm ready."
Felicia smirks. "Yeah, yeah, real heroic. Now go do your thing before I start calling you Tree-Hugger-Man."
Gwen elbows her. "I think he looks great." Then she turns to me, eyes bright. "Be careful, okay?"
"Always." Then, I give her one last look before swinging over the trees and in front of the entrance of the prison. My senses are on high alert. If Octavius is in here, I need to find him fast. And if he's not alone... well, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I land lightly inside the prison, crouched low as my eyes adjust to the dim emergency lighting. The air is thick with dust, metal, and something stale—like sweat and desperation soaked into the walls. It's eerily silent, the only sounds the occasional flicker and buzz of dying overhead lights.
Straightening up, I scan the area. The upper levels are abandoned—open cell doors, overturned chairs, rusted meal trays scattered across the floor. Whatever happened here, it wasn't a slow evacuation. It was chaos.
At the end of the corridor, I spot a large, reinforced door, its security locks long since disabled. That's where I need to go.
The lower levels.
Where they kept the worst of the worst.
Then the lights begin to flicker. Slowly at first, like a hesitant heartbeat, then more erratically, pulsing with increasing intensity. My Spider-Sense flares like an alarm in my skull.
"Don't remember any ghosts getting locked up here," I mutter, shifting my stance.
Electricity converges in a single point in front of me, crackling and surging, growing brighter and brighter until I have to turn away. Then the shape starts to form—humanoid, searing with blue-white energy.
And just like that, I know exactly who I'm dealing with.
"Long time, Spider-Man." Electro grins as he fully materializes, arcs of electricity dancing along his arms.
"Max," I say, taking a few careful steps back. "Look, buddy, I know the last time we met, I kinda sprayed you down with a fire hydrant, then punched you in the face, but—"
"You're right. You did." His grin sharpens. "And I never got to return the favor."
He thrusts a hand forward, sending a jagged bolt of lightning right at me. I twist out of the way, launching myself into a shattered window of a nearby office.
"Max! Come on, man," I call, flipping onto the ceiling as another bolt obliterates the desk below me. "Is this really the kind of reunion you had in mind? No 'Hey, Spidey! Good job on not dying!' Or—" I dodge again as another bolt explodes against the wall. "—Or here's a good one! 'Hey Spidey! I turned over a new leaf, let's call a truce?'"
Another growl, another charge. I web the far wall and launch myself forward, twisting midair. At the last second, I kick off a hanging light fixture and shoot straight toward him, slamming both feet into his chest.
Electro crashes into the far wall with a grunt, debris raining down around him.
With Max, speed is the key. He's powerful, sure—but he's not great at—
A wild arc of electricity forces me into a backward flip, barely dodging the strike.
"Jeez, Max, you're getting predictable," I taunt, landing on a broken railing. "I mean, did you even try aiming that one?"
He snarls, sending another bolt straight at me. Instead of dodging, I leap forward, webbing the floor behind him and yanking myself toward him at full speed. He barely has time to react before I spin in the air and kick the ceiling above him—hard.
A massive chunk of concrete collapses, burying him beneath rubble. The whole room trembles from the impact, dust and smoke clouding the air. Only his hand sticks out from the wreckage, fingers twitching with residual sparks.
I land lightly a few feet away, brushing off my suit. "So, Maxy. We gonna talk calmly now?"
A deep growl echoes from under the debris.
"What was that, buddy?" I take a step closer.
The rubble suddenly glows with blue light, and before I can react, a surge of electricity explodes outward, sending debris flying and knocking me off my feet. I slam into a wall, pain flaring through my back as sparks dance around the room.
Electro stands, his body fully charged, eyes glowing with pure energy.
"I said you're dead!"
I groan, pushing myself up, rolling my shoulders. "Dude, do you have any idea how expensive this suit is? You're wrecking my whole aesthetic."
"You ruined my life!" he roars, arcs of electricity crackling around him, distorting the air. "The whole world turned against me because of you!"
I hold up a hand, taking a careful step forward. "You're wrong, Max. It wasn't me. It was Norman Osborn who ruined your life."
His eyes flicker. He hesitates. Just for a second.
"Norman... is the Goblin?"
"That's right." I nod. "He's the one who turned this place into a nightmare. And I know how to fix it."
Electro's energy wavers slightly, the crackling around his body losing intensity.
"Why would I want things to go back?" he mutters. "I'm free now."
"Are you?" I take another step forward. "You remember the first day you got your powers? What we talked about on that rooftop?"
Silence.
"You wanted to help people, Max. To be someone. You can't erase what you've done. And maybe you'll never make up for it. But it's never too late to try."
His expression darkens, but the storm around him calms.
"What do you want?"
I exhale slowly. "I'm guessing if you're here, the rest of the gang is, too. If I have any shot at reversing what Norman did, I need to see Doc Ock. And Connors."
Electro stares at me for a long moment.
Then, finally, he turns, motioning for me to follow. "I'll take you to them. But if they decide to kill you? I won't stop them."
I grin under my mask.
I think that means he's warming up to me.