On the wrist of a gloved hand stood an eight-legged jet black spider, motionless. Its eight eyes gazed upwards at the human who peered down upon it. The center of the arachnid's round abdomen bore the inscription of two zeroes. Anticipating the ideal opportunity to strike at anything it perceived as a threat, its dagger-like fangs twitched with eagerness.
In the palm of their hand, the founder and CEO of Oscorp, a man by the name of Norman Osborn, held the radioactive arachnid. With a smirk, he regarded it as perhaps his greatest creation.
When Norman was a kid, he exhibited exceptional academic performance, which was recognized by his educators who observed his brilliance surpassing that of his peers. Leading to his advancement through several grades. However, his personal life was not as fulfilling. His father, an unsuccessful entrepreneur and inventor, subjected his wife and son to regular abuse, which may have contributed to Norman's increased focus on his academic pursuits.
Norman enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he graduated at the age of 18, setting a new record as the institution's youngest graduate. His academic achievements instilled in him a sense of destiny, and he subsequently established Oscorp Technologies. Initially, his endeavors were successful, and he relocated to New York City, where he acquired a grand residence with his early profits. Additionally, he entered into matrimony with a woman named Emily.
Norman was destined to follow in his father's footsteps, as evidenced by certain indicators. Last year, the company experienced a downturn, and Norman was compelled to mortgage his residence and exhaust all available lines of credit to maintain the company's solvency. It didn't take long for the scientists employed at Oscorp to privately expressed doubts regarding Norman's capacity to manage his own company. Some were apprehensive that their own careers were in jeopardy as the company's future remained uncertain. Norman devoted two entire workdays to persuading board members against staging a boardroom coup.
Sometime later, Norman met a fellow scientist in Otto Octavius and befriended him. Norman helped fund Otto's work through Oscorp. In June of 1984, Harry was born but his wife died later on. Leading up to where he is now.
"You a fan of Greek, mythology, Justin?" Norman inquired, his smirk unwavering.
"Can't say I have, Mr. Osborn." Justin replied.
"Ever hear the myth, Arachne?" Norman added. "The story goes that Athena—you know Athena, right? Seems she heard there was this woman on earth, a mere mortal, like you and me - who happened to be a better spinstress than she was."
"Spinstress?" Justin repeated with bewilderment.
"Athena wasn't happy to hear this," he continued. "And she came down to earth to destroy the woman's creations."
"Sounds like a woman." Justin commented.
"When this mortal girl saw what had happened - that she had insulted the Gods and that her life's work had been destroyed - she hanged herself."
Norman rubbed his finger above the spider's head.
"Athena took pity on the poor girl, and touched her on the forehead with magic liquid and said: 'You shall not die, Arachne. Instead you shall be transformed and weave your own web forever.' At Athena's words, Arachne shrank and blackened. First her nose and ears fell off. Then her fingers turned into legs. What was left of her became her body, out of which she spins and was left to spin her own web."
Norman graciously handed the radioactive spider to an employee who was donning a hazmat suit. With utmost care, the hazmat individual delicately returned the spider to its enclosure and securely sealed the lid. As Norman and Justin proceeded deeper into the laboratory, the observant spider remained vigilant.
Just as the duo departed, the arachnid swiftly detected that the lid had not been completely closed and began to ascend slowly. Its legs trembled as it sensed the electrifying presence of its own venom coursing through its body. The arachnid comprehended that in order to liberate itself from this altered, radioactive venom, it required a host. Emitting a faint hiss, the arachnid gracefully leapt off.
The heart of New York City is a bustling metropolis, teeming with life and energy. The great city is home to a staggering 8,804,190 people, spread out over an impressive 300.46 square miles. Skyscrapers and towers rise up from every corner of the city, creating a stunning skyline that is truly awe-inspiring. Cruise ships sailed through the waters that stretch out for miles, passing by the iconic Statue of Liberty. The sidewalks are flanked by a wide variety of establishments, including fast-food restaurants, malls, museums, restaurants, cafés, and bookstores, all lined up like dominoes.
A vast multitude of individuals of varying genders were milling about the bustling sidewalks. The jovial sounds of children's laughter and giggles filled the air as they spent their leisure time frolicking in the park. Adults dressed in business attire navigated their way through the crowds. The streets were abuzz with the sounds of cars traversing from different directions, while trucks rumbled along the roads, each headed towards their respective destinations.
Despite the undeniable beauty, there is one issue that has troubled the hearts of every man, woman, and child.
New York’s natural splendor is marred by the presence of crime. On some otherwise peaceful days, the tranquility is shattered by the alarming sirens of law enforcement officials pursuing robbers in speeding cars. Fear and paranoia fill the hearts of concerned parents, who worry about the safety of their loved ones. Crimes are committed on a daily basis, ranging from robberies and burglaries to car thefts. This unfortunate reality is a source of great concern for all who call New York home.
Located a mile away from the ongoing conflict, beyond the bustling city that divides crime and New York, is a grand edifice known as the Midtown High School. The lengthy corridors are adorned with numerous lockers, while the classrooms are equipped with several desks where students attend their daily lessons. The janitors diligently sweep the hallway floors, ensuring that no anomalies such as crumbs or dust are left behind.
A pale yellow car journeyed its way through town.
An elderly man named Ben Parker, smiled warmly and whistled cheerfully as he drove his new car through the town. He wore a brown coat over a white button down shirt. His brown jeans hugged his shapely legs perfectly. His shoes were brown leather loafers that had seen better days, but still looked like they had been recently polished. Wrinkles framed his chocolate eyes and his thinning gray hair was combed back, just like it always had been when he was thirty.
It was a beautiful morning in April, and the road before him was nice: smooth concrete and clear. Not a single pothole was to be found. The sun shone brightly, and there were no clouds in the sky. Ben Parker was a forty-two year old operation manager of the non-profit organization called F.E.A.S.T. Yesterday he had come to Queens with his wife and nephew to move into their apartment—as a beginning to their new lives together. Moving into the new neighborhood had actually been his wife's idea; for weeks May had filled his ear about the wonderful Canterlot High-school, and how good it would be for Peter to go there.
Seated beside him, Peter Parker adjusted his glasses as he gazed out the window at the apartments lining the street. He turned to glance towards the driver. Ben Parker was driving the car with ease and skill. His face, despite being mostly gray hair, was animated. As he drove, he hummed to himself, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
"So Peter, are you excited to start your first day in your new school?" Ben asked, turning his head to regard his nephew in the passenger seat. Peter glanced over at him.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, I am Uncle Ben." Peter replied, nodding in agreement. "It might be a little nerve wracking, though."
"Oh, really? Well you shouldn’t worry too much, Peter. You’ll be fine." Ben smiled at his nephew once again. "Now, I know it must be hard having to leave our old home. But I can assure you that once you spend more time here, everything will become very familiar. We will get used to living here," he chuckled slightly. "After all, you can't deny that New York is quite a sight to behold!"
Peter nodded and hummed in response before redirecting his gaze back out the window. They continued driving in silence. After a few minutes they reached their destination. Ben parked the car outside of the school building.
"Alright! We're here!" Ben announced, looking out the front windshield and smiling brightly at Peter. "You ready Peter?"
Peter nodded with a smile.
Peter opened the door and hopped out of the car, stretching his legs. His backpack strapped to his right shoulder blade. He closed the door behind him before turning to meet his uncle's gaze.
"Have fun Peter, I'll pick you up after school." Ben said, giving his nephew a thumbs up before putting the car in reverse and driving away. Peter watched the vehicle get smaller until it disappeared from view.
Peter sighed softly then turned to face the school and started towards the main entrance. Once he stepped inside, he looked around. He stood in the center of a corridor with two long pathways on each side. The hallway walls and ceiling were painted white, with large windows on both sides of said walls.
He turned to his right and began walking down the hall. He looked at a sign at the end of the corridor reading 'Room 7 – Classroom 4' and headed in the direction it indicated. He passed by three doors along the way, which he assumed were classrooms. One of the doors was open, but a woman's voice could be heard coming from within. Curious, Peter peeked into the room.
Inside was a classroom packed with students. Most of them were sitting on desks while they conversed or discussed whatever subjects caught their attention in class time. One girl student sat alone near the front, writing on a notebook furiously. Three girls giggled with one another nearby, laughing as they talked and joked with each other. An older lady with glasses stood next to her desk watching over all of them. She could be the teacher, as far as Peter could tell.
Her long brunette hair was tied in a ponytail. She wore glasses, an emerald long sleeved shirt, and blue jeans. There were bags under her eyes that suggested she had stayed up late doing paperwork. She turned her head and her eyes met Peters. In return, she gave Peter a slight smile.
"Peter Parker, I presume?" Stated the teacher matter of factly. Her accent was strong, but not thick enough for Peter to be able to make out any words beyond that. She seemed to have expected Peter's response and waited expectantly.
After a moment, Peter responded, "Yes ma'am." He said politely. The woman's lips widened to a slight small smile.
Peter moved on into the classroom and stood next to her. The teacher cleared her throat, grabbing every student's attention. Everyone turned their heads to stare at Peter and the teacher.
"Hello class. Please, take note of my name. I am Ms. Jane Foster, your new teacher today. Now before we begin we have a new student joining us. This young man has recently moved into Queens." Ms. Foster gestured to Peter. "Go ahead Parker - introduce yourself."
Peter glanced around the room. Every student was staring at him with curious gazes. He cleared his throat and introduced himself once again in a polite tone.
"Uh, Hello. I'm Peter—Peter Parker." He smiled awkwardly and waved. Some of the girls giggled and others frowned slightly while shaking their heads disapprovingly.
"Go ahead and take your seat, Parker." Ms. Foster motioned toward the empty desk in the back corner of the classroom. Peter nodded his thanks and made his way over towards his designated seat. He quickly took off his backpack and placed it next to his feet.
As Peter settled into his assigned seat, he looked from the corner of his eye and saw a hand stretched out in his direction. Turning his head, he faced a tall boy with orange hair and a wide grin.
The boy extended his hand. "Hi. I'm Harry Osborn, but my friends called me Harry. At least they would if I had any." He chuckled. "It's nice to meet you."
Peter's eyes darted from his hand—to Harry's face before he shook his hand briefly.
"Nice to meet you too." He answered.
Harry grinned again, and his hand returned to his lap. "Let's talk after class, alright?"
Peter nodded. "Sure. Sounds good."
Class proceeded with great speed. Peter listened attentively as Mrs. Foster spoke, providing explanations for the various subjects that would be covered in the textbooks and books of varying sizes. History, chemistry, physics, and some biology were among the subjects listed. Throughout the class, Peter dedicated most of his time to meticulously transcribing the details of each topic into his notes.
As the bell rang, Peter closed his notebook and rose from his seat. He carefully placed the aforementioned notebook into his backpack and grasped the strap, proceeding to exit the classroom. It did not take him long to locate the cafeteria. Upon arrival, he surveyed the crowd, observing that all the students had gathered there. They were clustered together in groups, engaging in conversations that resonated throughout the room. The students conversed, laughed, and partook in their meals.
"Yo, Peter!"
Peter's head snapped in the direction of the shout. He spotted his fellow classmate, Harry Osborn. Sitting on an empty mobile table with two trays full of food in front of him and a large smile plastered across his features. The same smile that Peter had seen earlier. Harry motioned to a spot next to him on the table.
Peter walked over and took a seat beside the curly haired boy.
"So you're the new guy." Harry stated with a smirk. "Thought I do you a favor and start off your day with a sandwich and some milk. My mom always says you gotta get your energy out somehow, right?"
Peter stared down at his tray of food and took in its appearance. The sandwich had been cut into triangles and placed next to a slice of bread. Right hand grabbed the first sandwich and bit into it. The bread tasted delicious and the cheese inside melted on Peter's tongue. The sandwich was followed by pieces of pickles, mustard and ham. He took a second bite before speaking to Harry.
"Thanks." Said Peter.
"No problemo." He gives Peter a thumbs up before he too begins eating his own meal. For a few moments, the pair ate in silence before Hary broke it.
The pair were silent as they ate until Harry cleared his throat.
"So, do you do any stuff outside of school?" He asked Peter.
"No." Peter replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "Not really. What about you?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Same thing. Just hanging out here, mostly."
"You like playing video games?"
"Yeah, sure. Tons." Harry replied with a laugh. "I even have Grimm showdown Redux back at home."
Peter grinned. "Cool." He said simply.
Harry chews down on another piece of sandwich. After swallowing, he speaks again, "Not much of a talker, eh Pete?"
"Sorry?" Peter said, confused by the question.
Harry chuckles lightly, "Well, I couldn't help but notice how quiet you are. And don't worry, I'm not trying to make fun of you or anything. I mean, if someone who isn't very sociable talks to a total stranger, it would probably seem awkward as well." He smiles softly. "But hey, baby-steps, right? That's what my mom used to say."
Peter glanced to the ground. Rubbing his hand to the back of his nape. "I uh…guess I don't have much to say."
Harry gave him a reassuring smile.
"It's okay, that's fair. Not everyone finds it easy making friends." He takes a sip of his milk. "But I like to be your friend, you know?"
Peter glanced at Harry. "Really?"
Harry laughed brightly.
"Of course!" He leaned back in his chair and rested his hands behind his head. "And plus, we've already shared our names so there's that as well. So let's just call each other friends, yeah?"
Before Peter could reply, his world turned yellow followed by a wet splat. He opened his eyes and flexed his nostrils to catch the scent of eggs and bacon. Looking down, he saw that he was covered in eggs. Slowly, he brought a tentative finger to his fingers. The tips were stained with a mixture of both white and yolk. He frowned when he heard laughter around him. He looked up only to catch sight of several laughing boys sitting on the nearby benches.
"You must've gotten your egg mixed with your plate mate." One of them said with a chuckle.
Peter glared at him. The boys laughed harder.
"What, did you just look for a fork to try and get it off yourself?" Another one snickered.
"Ignore them Peter," Harry said. "They aren't worth it."
Peter glanced at him in surprise. Harry was watching him with kind eyes. "You know them?"
"Oh yeah." He replied with a nod. "Everyone in this school knows them."
He pointed at a tall balding chubby young man who wore a black t-shirt, short blue jeans, and converse sneakers. A big smirk played on his lips as he watched the scene before him unfold, leaning back in his chair.
"Let me introduce you to the two wolves of this school: Kenny McFarlane, the popular jock, but everyone here calls him Kong, and his childhood friend Flash Thompson, he's another jock and the popular player of the basketball team." Harry explained. "I highly recommend that you steer clear from them though. They have a history of picking on new students like us—and most importantly—you."
Peter raised a brow. "Have they picked on you?"
Harry nodded his head.
"Yup. But I don't let their insults deter me. At the end of the day though," he continued. "They're just that: noise. I can easily ignore and tune them out whenever we walk past each other. Or when we are walking through the hallways." He adds, smiling proudly. "They don't bother me."
"Are you sure?" Peter asks doubtfully.
Harry shrugs his shoulders. "Positive."
Inside every pillar glass tube, thousands of spiders crawled around their webs. Each thread was attached to a branch that was connected to the ceiling, floor and walls of a massive underground structure. Spider silk was woven between the trees and branches, weaving them together. Each of the arachnids crawled along their web until they reached a certain section of the ceiling and began pulling themselves onto it. Some spiders crawled towards specific places, searching for prey that resided within.
Other enclosures have different spiders living in different habitats, searching for their particular target to eat. Many spiders in the enclosures were small while others were unsettlingly big—the size of a man's palm. Some of them sat patiently in their webs, waiting for a snack that was going to come soon enough.
A group of students stared at the view from one of the observation windows. While they were understandably creeped out by how many spiders they can see from a single window, Peter on the other hand was enthralled. He found his place within the room: his back pressed against the wall with a book held in his hands. He listened attentively to their guide as she explained to them all.
"There are over 32,000 known species of spider in the world. They're in the order Araneae, divided into three suborders." She gestured to the display before her. "Arachnids from all three groups possess varying strengths which help them in their constant search for food. For example, the Delena spider, family Sparassidae, has the ability to jump to catch its prey."
Peter brought his camera up and snapped a picture of the Delena spider in question before continuing to follow what the guide said. It didn't take long for her to move away and allow the class to move to different sections of the building.
Before Peter could snap a picture at one of the spiders, the female guide raised a brow at him.
"For the school paper?" He offered sheepishly. The woman merely nodded her head and continued.
"Next, we have the net web spider, family Filistatidae genus Kukulcania. It spins an intricate funnel shaped web whose strands have a tensile strength proportionately equal to the type of high tension wire."
Camera raised, Peter quickly snapped the photo of one of the nets in front of him. Before he could take another picture, something flicked his ear and he whirled around to find Flash Thompson smirking at him.
A striped hair girl with glasses saw this and frowned at Flash disapprovingly. "Leave him alone." She told him sternly, giving him a sharp glare.
Flash rolled his eyes, unfazed by the girl. "Or what?" He says with a cocky grin. "You gonna give me a good telling off, nerd Sparkle? Because I don't care. I don't need to listen to some girl who lives off reading books anyway."
"What is going on here?"
Three of them turned to see their teacher standing behind him. His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms. He was a black man who wore a brown buttoned shirt, dark gray pants, black loafers, and a red tie. His chocolate eyes bore angrily at Flash and Kong.
"The next person who talks will fail this course; I kid you not." He adds menacingly.
"Yes sir. Sorry Sir." Flash apologized quickly.
Mr. Harrington gave them all a once over then sighed in annoyance. "Let's go."
The female guide proceeded along the glass enclosures with Peter and the students following closely after her. A young man with pale yellow skin and spiky blue hair walked beside Peter and Harry. He glanced at Peter and Harry.
“You know what’s strange.” He said, raising a brow. Peter and Harry shifted their gaze to him.
“What is?” Harry asked, looking at the young man curiously.
“That jerk’s name is Flash. But my name is also Flash,” Flash pointed out, glancing at the pair. “That’s gonna cause a lot of confusion.”
The female guide cleared her throat for the trio’s attention.
"This grass spider hunts using reflexes with nerve-conduction velocity so fast that some researchers believe it almost borders on precognition; an imminent awareness of danger a spider-sense." She explained. The students listened carefully and kept their attention forward.
Peter and Harry followed close behind the group. Peter turned to Harry and leaned in.
"Those guys are jerks." Peter commented in a hushed tone.
Harry nodded his head.
"Tell me something I don't know." He pointed to a spider in the glass. "Hey, look at that spider."
Peter looked at said spider.
"Some spiders change colors to blend into their environment. It's a defense mechanism." He stated matter of factly. Harry chuckled at Peter's explanation, causing him to raise a brow at him.
"What's so funny?"
"Peter, what makes you think I'd want to know that?"
Peter blinked. "Who wouldn't?"
The class moved along, the pair trailing after them. As Peter continued to observe his surroundings, his eyes landed on a blond hair girl.
Her electric blue eyes were trained on the spiders surrounding her, her expression unreadable to Peter. She seemed to be studying the creatures intently, her gaze never wavering as she took in everything she could see. Mascara rimmed her eyes, making her appear more mature yet still childish. She wore a black square neck shirt with dark red jeans, and black leather boots. Golden bracelets wrapped around both wrists. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail with two purple butterfly clips keeping her hair in place.
The girl was looking at the spider that Peter had snapped a picture at. It dawned on Peter when he realized he's been staring at her for longer than usual. Peter blushed slightly and quickly averted his gaze. Harry noticed this too, noticing Peter's reddening face immediately.
He grinned at him.
"She's gorgeous, isn't she?" Harry commented casually, not taking his eyes off her.
Peter glanced at him nervously then returned to observing the girl.
"Yeah… Yeah, she is." Peter agreed softly. "Who is she?"
"Gwen Stacy." Harry answered simply. "She goes to our class. She's a smart cookie, I tell ya. You should go talk to her."
Peter whirled around again, now facing Harry completely.
"What? No way!" Peter denied vehemently. "Why would I do that? I mean, why would she want to speak to someone like me?"
"Come on man. Stop with your self deprecating crap, you'll be fine." Harry assured him. Peter opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by the female guide's voice.
"Transfer RNA to encode an entirely new genome combining the genetic information from all three into these fifteen genetically designed super-spiders." The lady stated as she displayed images of spiders crawling around various different structures.
Gwen blinked rapidly and pointed at one particular glass.
"There's fourteen." She noted.
The female guide turned her head at Gwen. Her brow arched up.
"I beg your pardon? One's missing." She said in confusion.
"Yeah." Gwen nodded.
The female guide peered close into the glass enclosures where the spiders lived. Did a head count to confirm the girl's observation; and sure enough, there were indeed only fourteen spiders present in the enclosure. Her heart dropped slightly. That couldn't be right; that shouldn't be possible. She searched around the glass cases and looked for any sign that would reveal where the fifteenth spider could have gone; even looking up into the ceiling if it were there. It wasn't there.
"Oh no." She whispered, her eyes widening in horror. "No, no, no, no! No, no!"
"Is everything alright?" Gwen asked suddenly.
The lady paused, startled by her sudden presence, a knee jerk reaction but she immediately caught herself and calmed down. She shook her head slowly, forcing a smile onto her face.
"Everything's fine," She replied calmly. Gwen furrowed her brow as she studied the lady's face; searching for any signs of deception. "I guess the researchers are working on that one. If you'll excuse me I need to take care of something, I promise I'll be back. In the meantime you can take a look around if you want."
The female guide hurriedly started past Gwen and the students towards a corner of the room. She hid within the shadows, out of sight of everyone else while reaching into the pocket of her lab coat. Pulling out her phone, she scrolled through various messages until she reached the right number then pressed call. After a few rings, an unfamiliar male voice came out over the line.
"Hello?" He questioned, sounding confused.
"Hi. This is Doctor Elizabeth Taylor. I called because….we have a situation."
"What kind of situation?" He inquired warily.
Elizabeth closed her eyes momentarily before answering:
"Specimen double-zero is missing."
The line went silent for a moment until the male's reply sounded; clear shock evident in his voice.
"Double-zero?"
Elizabeth nodded grimly. "Yes."
"Our specimen?" He inquired.
"…yes."
"This is amazing Harry. This is absolutely amazing!"
Peter was amazed with the diversity of Oscorp's advanced technology, the development of new products and tech displaying before him. His jaw hung slack as he stared at an employee wielding two electric whips and whipped them acrobatically.
"Wow," breathed Peter.
Harry chuckled at Peter while shaking his head; He didn't share Peter's love and wonder for high tech.
"Easy, Pete. They're not that amazing." Harry said, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
Peter turned at Harry, his mouth agape.
"Not that amazing?" Peter was appalled by what his best friend said. "I feel like I'm in heaven! I mean, look at that guy with the electric whips. Oh, oh, or that guy with the hoverboard, or…"
Peter trailed off when he caught something from the corner of his eye. In the distance, he saw a man conversing with one of the Oscorp employees. He donned a white business suit with a black buttoned attire underneath, and a properly tied red tie. Said man was african-american with dark chocolate eyes, and a deep wave haircut.
It was then that Peter realized who he was staring at. He's seen this man before.
"Roderick Kingsley." Breathed Peter.
Harry turned his gaze at Peter. "You know him?"
Peter nodded. "Yeah, my father was good friends with him back when I was like, what, five years old. What's he doing here?"
"Meh, beats me." Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Probably another business meeting with my dad; something that would benefit the company, my dad always says."
Peter and Harry were filled with concern upon hearing a cracking sound. They raised their heads and observed a spider-web crack on the ceiling. The duo's hearts sank as the ceiling started to bulge, ultimately leading to its explosion. Dust descended upon everyone, and fragments of concrete fell. One large piece of concrete was descending directly towards Roderick Kingsley.
"Mr. Kingsley!" Peter shouted, and sprinted towards him.
Before Roderick had time to turn his head, Peter leapt and pounced him to the ground. His world faded into gray, followed by a powerful thump. It was as though a giant mallet had struck the earth. Particles of dust filled his lungs, causing him and those nearby to cough. Everyone remained mute until the dust had passed. There was silence.
After a few minutes the doors swung open. The air was broken by a looping siren. Oscorp's security packed the room, checking on everyone for any signs of fatal wounds or injuries.
Peter stood up with Roderick as they both coughed dust out of their lungs. The duo trotted out of the room with Harry trailing after them. Peter led them out of the room until they were back at the first section of the laboratory.
Roderick placed his hands on his hips. His chest rose and fell while shaking his head, turning his gaze towards Peter.
"Thanks, kid. You saved my life back there." Roderick said, patting Peter's shoulder.
"No problem." Peter said, breathing heavily.
Roderick nodded then walked past him and Harry. Descending down the stairs towards the exit. Peter turned to face his best friend.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Peter asked, his tone laced with genuine concern. Harry waved him off with a reassuring smile.
"Yeah I'm fine, just covered in dust is all." Harry reassured him. Peter sighed in relief.
"Okay, that's good. I'm really gla—"
Peter let out a cry as he felt a sudden surge of pain throughout his body. He instinctively raised his right hand to inspect the source of the discomfort, only to discover a jet black spider that had sunk its fangs into the center of his hand. A cold sensation coursed through his veins, as he gazed into the eight lifeless orbs of the arachnid.
The spider pulled its fangs out and leapt off his hand. Peter's eyes shut whilst rubbing his hand. He was repulsed by the furnace heat seeping through his arm.
"Woah, Pete. What's wrong?" Harry asked, stepping to his friend's side.
"Ow… some freaking spider bit me." Peter responded.
"A spider?" Harry repeated.
Peter groaned. "Man, that thing bit me like a darn cougar."
Harry laughed and patted his shoulder.
"Walk it off, champ. Just think of it as a bite from a house spider." Harry said reassuringly.
Peter nodded, even though he was still trembling. He could feel the spider's venom flowing from his hand and spreading to his entire body. Peter only hoped that it wasn't venomous.
It didn't take long for the duo to regroup with the students, who were situated outside near the bus. After being scolded by their teacher for wandering off from the group, everyone embarked back into the bus. Only Gwen, her friend Liz, the main seven, Peter, and Harry were last to go.
They gracefully boarded the bus and settled into their designated seats. As the powerful engines of the vehicle roared to life, it began its journey forward. Throughout the lengthy voyage, Peter was acutely aware of a frigid sensation that gradually permeated his entire being.
Peter's eyes flickered, his vision began to blur and she promptly fell to the floor, unconscious. . .