Harry was in danger. It was the first thought that popped into my mind. If I remembered the hours he worked, and the location of his office, he was in imminent danger. When he'd been in the hospital, Max’s presence had simply been dangerous for bystanders. And that had been before he’d become whatever it was that floated through the sky. Even ignoring all the clouds, I could feel it from here. Could feel how the air had changed, the atmosphere shifted. He was dangerous. Seriously dangerous.

I went to leap forward and paused.

If I went to fight Electro, then everyone else I cared about might die. But if I didn’t, almost everyone in the Tower might die, including Harry. Hell, with that storm, he might cause enough of a mess to do serious damage to the whole city. What did I do? Save Oscorp tower or my family? Could I let my personal bias affect the choices I made as Spider-Man? But didn’t I already let my life as Spider-Man affect my life as Peter? Was it wrong to want to care more about my loved ones than everyone? It wasn’t. It couldn’t be. But I didn’t know if letting that affect me right here, right now would compromise the standard I strived for in heroism. Couldn't I save everyone? Or would trying just make things a hundred times worse? I didn't know the answer. All I knew was that thinking about it didn’t matter. I needed to act. Lightning flashed through the air, lighting up the sky and drawing me to action.

I leapt forwards, and fired a web, ignoring the pains of my body as I swung towards Oscorp tower. Thunder thrummed through the air, the low rattle shaking the window-panes below, as the rain throttled down. The sound carried with it the reverberating hum of electricity that seemed to sing, it's melody more than beautiful. My hairs stood on end, my spider sense warning me now, of the danger that stood ahead.

I ignored it, barrelling forwards.

If I got to Harry fast enough, I could save everyone. I’d borrow someone’s phone on the way, call everyone and tell them to hide, pick up my Electro battery collar, and deal with Electro. Then right back to the clones. There couldn’t be that many of them, and they couldn’t get about anywhere near as quickly as I could. Yeah. Plus, they’d probably only been released recently. All the ones I’d found had been decently close to my base, here in Manhattan. My bots would've picked up any activity back in Brooklyn.

Ok. Liz was at work, Aunt May back home, MJ probably at her and Kevin's place. They were all in Brooklyn and Queens. If any of the clones were heading for them, it’d take them a while. I’d call the others in more immediate danger first. I knew their numbers by heart. I could do it. Still, feeling as though I was putting them in the back of my mind, making them a second priority felt like a twisting knife in my gut. But Harry’s just as important to me. And he was in a lot more danger. Electro was attacking where he worked, and if I knew where Harry was, then any clone of me probably would too. If they'd sent one after him that was twice as much trouble.

I just hoped I was doing the right thing. If anyone died, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. I’d already lost enough. Not again. Never again.

I pushed forward harder as the rain grew heavier, beating down against my hole ridden costume. I spared a glance down below, looking to the streets as people rushed for shelter, some staring up at the sky as they watched the sudden storm. I swooped down quickly, landing near some civilians.

“Phone! Can I borrow someone’s phone?” I shouted. They all looked at me wide eyed. “Please!”

Someone stepped forwards, pulling a phone out of their pocket and handed it to me.

“Thank you!” I shouted, leaping into the air and swinging away. I felt a swirl of guilt shoot through my stomach. Considering where I was going, the person probably wasn't getting their phone back. Once all this was done, I'd try and find them and give them a new one. Not that it would make up for any of the stuff lost. Hopefully they had I Cloud. I fumbled with the phone as I swung towards my apartment, putting in Harry’s number and dialling quickly.

“The person you are trying to call is not currently available. Please try again later”

Shit. This was bad. This was really bad. I called again just to make sure. Nothing. Dammit. Thunder boomed in the background as I didn’t have time for this. I needed to move on. Who was it next? Bella. I’d call Bella. I typed away at the keypad and dialled again. We weren’t technically allowed our phones in the lab, but I let everyone put theirs on the desk by the entrance in case they got a call. Hopefully Sajani hadn’t been too strict on enforcing rules in my absence. I got the dial tone this time. Thank god. I waited, praying silently she answered.

The wait felt uncomfortably long, as the rain began thundering down in harsher torrents. Then the call picked up.

“H-hello?” Bella said uncertainly.

“Bella! It’s Pete! You need to get out of the office now!” I shouted.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Pete?! Are you okay? We saw on tv that bombs were going off around the- Wait what’s happening? Are you outside? Where are you?” she said. the sound of voices, growing louder in the background.

“I- there’s no time to explain. Just please get out of the building. Stay off the streets and go somewhere I wouldn’t think to look for you” I shouted over the sound of lightning.

“What? Pete this isn’t funny, I-“

“I’m serious!” I shouted. “If you don’t you’ll die! One of those things is hunting you. One of the green cl- robots from tv” I said. Bella went silent.

“Bella? Bella?!” I shouted.

“Pete I- what’s going on?” she said.

“There’s no time! Just please, get out of the office! Get everyone out if you can!” I shouted.

“O-okay” she said, meekly, frightened by my uncharacteristic shouting.

“I’m sorry” I said, then hung up. I leapt off a building and swung through the air through and into my apartment window. I crashed to the ground, and slid across the floor, slamming into my far wall. I scrambled up and webbed the collar towards me. It wasn’t finished, but it’d have to do.

I leapt back out my window as thunder boomed in the sky. I held my phone tightly, and then thought about who to dial. Lucas. He was in danger as well, and he was closer than Aunt May. Sure, we hadn’t talked that much since he’d reached out, but he clearly meant more to me than I realised if one of my clones had been after him. Did I remember his number? Crap, I think I did, but I might not. I pressed in what I remembered and dialled. The ring tone last a few seconds. Crap he might be in class. What time even was it? Then the call was picked up.

“Who’s this?” a teen’s voice said on the other end of the line. It was him. Thank God.

“Lucas!” I shouted over the thunder.

“P-Peter?” he said surprised. “Why’re you calling?”

“You’re not safe. There are clones of me after you and you need to get out of the school” I shouted.

“O-ok…” he said surprised. I heard him move across the room, and the sound of blinds, then cursing in Spanish.

“That electricity in the sky… it’s Electro right?” he said.

“Yeah”

“D-do… do you need help?” he said, his voice trembling.

“No” I lied. I didn’t want to drag him into this mess, and get him hurt, or worse killed. He was still a kid.

“Ok” he said, the relief in his voice palpable.

“So, you can get out the school?”

“Yeah. I’ll just pull the fire alarm then slip away”

“Good” I responded. I hung up, readjusting the phone in my rain covered hands, then quickly dialled Aunt May.

The call picked up quickly.

“Sorry but I’m not buying whatever you’re s-“

“Aunt May it’s me!” I shouted.

“Peter? Where are you?” she said, confusion.

“You need to get away from the house! Far away!” I shouted. “Go somewhere I’ve never heard of!”

“Peter, what’s going on?” Aunt May said, her tone serious.

“You’re in danger! There’s people coming after you and-”

“Peter, slow down”

“I can’t! There’s not enough time!” I shouted. I heard muffled voices coming slightly away from the phone.

“May?! Aunt May?!” I shouted.

“Peter, where are you? MJ and Kevin are here. We can come to you” she said.

“NO! No! I- keep MJ far away from Manhattan! You need to go somewhere I’ve never been to! Please!”

“Peter…”

“Aunt May please” I said, on the verge of tears. “Please just… tell me you’ll do it. If you don’t everyone’s gonna die and it’ll be my fault”

“I- Peter I’ll do it but-“

“I’m sorry Aunt May” I said, cutting her off. “I can explain later, there’s not enough time”

I hung up, the bars of signal dropping as I neared Oscorp Tower. I leapt up onto one of the skyscrapers, sprinting up the side as I dialled my final number. The call was answered quickly.

“Hello?” Liz said.

“Liz! Where are you? At work? Home?” I said, frantically.

“Petey?!” she responded, in surprise.

“Liz wherever you are, I need you to get the hell out of there! Please!”

“Woah, calm down”

“Liz I’m serious!”

“Why are you shouting? What’s going on? Where are you?” she said.

“Liz just, listen to me, please”

“Petey slow down a sec! You can’t just call me out of nowhe-“

“Liz, there’s no time you have to get the hell out of there”

“What’s wrong with you?! I can’t just leave work” she said angrily.

“Liz I- you’ll die. Please. I don’t want you to die”

She went silent.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes”

“What the hell? What is even happening right now?” she said, disbelief filling her voice.

“I’ll explain later I promise. Just get somewhere safe. Somewhere I’ve never been and don’t know about” I said.

“I will”

“Good” I said, relief flooding through me. “I have to g-“

“Petey don’t you dare hang up. Just, please, tell me what’s happening” she said. I hesitated. Crap. This was probably a lot to dump on her, but I’d told myself I wouldn’t avoid it anymore. That I’d tell her.

“I’m Spider-Man” I whispered, my heart beating out of my chest. There. I’d said it. I waited for a response, uncertain what was about to happen. I was met with silence for a moment before she spoke.

“Oh” Liz said. There was another second of silence, then she spoke again. “Oh my god Petey!”

“I- I should’ve told you sooner, I was just scared and-“

“It’s---I just---- you---” she said, breaking up.

“Liz!? Liz?” I shouted. I looked up. Dammit. Max wasn’t visible anymore, obstructed by the obscene amount of electricity that circled around him, glowing a vibrant blue. Whatever he was doing must’ve been messing with the signal. Shit.

“---y--Petey?” Liz said.

“I have to go. I’m sorry. I love you Liz. Like a lot” I said. The response was a crackled mess of static that I couldn’t understand. Dammit. I hung up. I’d talk to her as soon as this was finished.

I clenched my fists tightly with a new determination. Now, everyone was accounted for. They were still in danger, but I’d brought myself time. Hopefully enough time to deal with the monster above me. I looked up and stared. The crackling swirl of vibrant blue so blinding it was almost white. Where the hell were the Vanguard when you needed them? Hell, I’d even take the junior Vanguard at this point. Electro was way above my paygrade. I shook my head, dispelling the thoughts. Harry was in danger. It didn’t matter whether I wasn’t the best equipped to deal with this, I had to. Right now, there was no one else. I gripped the collar tighter as I leapt from a building onto a skyscraper neighbouring Oscorp tower. It was time to do this.