My name is Peter Parker.

And I was having such a good day.

A perfect day.

But as you'll soon see.

That day just got ruined.

And it might just be my last.

*

"May! May! I need help!" I shout, stumbling down the stairs, clutching a tie that I've been wrestling with for the past hour and a half. Seriously, at this point, it feels like I'm trying to defuse a bomb.

Aunt May glances up from her book with a smile. "Peter, you remind me so much of Ben. He used to come rushing down those stairs in the same frantic way whenever he couldn't tie his tie."

"Great, glad I'm keeping family traditions alive," I say, handing over the tie like I'm surrendering a hostage. "Honestly, why would they invent something like this? It's like a puzzle nobody asked for. I bet even Aristotle would have a time with this thing."

May chuckles as she effortlessly ties it for me. "That's why you need a good woman in your life, Peter—someone to help when you're in a bind. Speaking of which, I still can't believe you finally asked Gwendolyn Maxine Stacy to homecoming. You've been head over heels for that girl since, oh, before you were born."

I feel my face heat up. "May, come on. It's not like that. I mean, she might just see it as a... friend thing, you know?"

May cups my face in her hands, her eyes twinkling. "Peter, any girl would be lucky to have you as a date. And if Gwen can't see that, well, that's her loss, not yours, my beautiful boy."

I can't help but smile at that. "Thanks, May. You're the best."

"Now, listen to me," she says, handing me my jacket and a bouquet of flowers. "You're going to go to Gwen's house, give her these flowers, tell her how beautiful she looks, and you're going to show her the best time."

I nod, suddenly feeling like I'm about to go into battle. "Right. Best time. Got it."

Then the doorbell rings, and I practically jump out of my skin. "Uh... who's that?" I ask, heading for the door, heart pounding. I open it and—oh. It's Felicia Hardy.

Felicia stands there, arms crossed, looking as uninterested as ever. Her eyes lazily meet mine but...but...did her cheeks just go red?

Nah. No way. Just because Gwen asked me to homecoming doesn't mean every girl in New York is suddenly interested in Peter Parker.

"You look... nice," she says, her face still unreadable.

"Thanks. You look... not ready at all?" I blurt out, realizing Felicia Hardy is standing in my house. "Wait... what are you doing here?"

Aunt May appears beside me. "Felicia asked if I could take her to work today, Peter. The diner's going to be packed tonight."

Felicia nods, her usual confidence softening a bit. "Yeah. Dances aren't really my thing. Not to sound all emo or anything."

"Just give me a second, dear, I'll grab my bag," May says, heading to the kitchen.

Felicia looks back at me. "So... you finally asked blondie to the dance, huh?"

I can't resist grinning. "Actually, she asked me."

Felicia's smile flickers—just for a second, like she's debating something, but it's gone so fast, I might've imagined it. Girls are confusing. But hey, I'm the one swinging around the city in red-and-blue spandex, so who am I to judge?

"That's... nice," she says, sounding more genuine than I expected. "I'm happy for you."

"Happy? For me?" I glance around, half-expecting a hidden camera crew to pop out and tell me I've been punked. "Are you okay?"

Felicia rolls her eyes but with a faint smile. "Yes, Parker. Is it so hard to believe I could be happy for my frie—"

She stops herself, and I raise an eyebrow. "You were totally gonna say 'friend.'"

"No, I wasn't."

"Uh, yeah, you were. But hey, I'll definitely take your friendship application into consideration. I'll get back to you with my final decision," I say with a smug grin.

Felicia shakes her head, fighting back a smile. "Just shut up. Shouldn't you be leaving by now?"

"Oh yeah, right!" I call over my shoulder, "May! I'm heading out! I'll see you later!"

"Okay, love! Sorry I can't be there to see the big moment! Take lots of pictures! And remember—hands on her hips!" May shouts from the kitchen.

I blush so hard, I'm surprised my face doesn't melt. "Right. See ya!" I wave to Felicia and quickly make my escape.

As I head toward Gwen's house, I can't help but think Felicia seemed... different. No, no. Focus, Parker. You're going to homecoming with Gwen Stacy.

Nothing else matters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I approach Gwen's house, and somehow, these steps feel steeper than usual. My heart's doing that annoying thump-thump thing, and my palms? Yeah, they're sweating.

Okay, Pete. You've got this. Just... knock on the door. Knock, greet her, hand her the flowers. Simple, right?

What if I look awkward? What if she regrets asking me? What do I say to her parents? What if these flowers are terrible? Oh man—

The door swings open, and I'm face to face with George Stacy.

"Peter! Thought I heard someone out here."

"Oh... I, uh—"

"Come on in," he says, stepping aside with a smile.

I step into the house, immediately greeted by the warmth of the place. The smell of something cooking lingers faintly in the air, and then Helen Stacy appears, drying her hands on a dish towel. Her younger son, Arthur, is sitting on the couch, eyes glued to a video game.

"Peter!" Helen smiles warmly, her eyes soft as she takes me in. "My goodness, don't you look handsome. I'm so glad Gwen decided to go with you and not... what's his name? Flash?"

I chuckle nervously, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah, uh... I'm really glad too."

Arthur barely glances up from his game but gives a quick, "Hey, Pete," before his eyes are back on the screen.

Before I can say anything else, I hear the soft click of heels descending the stairs, and when I turn, there she is. Gwen.

For a second, I forget how to breathe. She's absolutely stunning. Her blonde hair frames her face perfectly, and she's wearing this elegant dress that makes me feel even more out of my league. But then, I see it—her cheeks are pink, her hands fidgeting slightly.

She's nervous too.

"Hi," she says, her voice soft, and I realize I'm still standing there, staring like a doofus.

"Oh, uh—hi!" I say quickly, shoving the bouquet of flowers toward her. "These are...for you."

Her eyes light up as she takes the flowers, blushing even more. "Thanks, Peter. They're beautiful."

I smile, feeling my chest lighten a bit. "Thanks, so...so am I—You! I mean so are...you..."

Nice Parker.

Gwen giggles, but then she smiles, and I can't help but do the same.

Helen pulls out her phone. "Okay, you two. Stand together, we need pictures!"

I glance at Gwen, and she gives me a shy smile before we stand next to each other for the photos. Captain Stacy lines up a few more shots with his camera, and before long, it's time to head out.

"All set?" Captain Stacy asks, grabbing his keys.

"Yeah," I nod, walking with him toward the door as Gwen follows behind.

In the car, I quickly pull out my phone, texting Harry one more time. Hey man, heading to homecoming with Gwen. You good? But still, no reply. That familiar knot tightens in my stomach.

The car pulls up outside the school, the lights from the dance flickering in the windows.

Captain Stacy cuts the engine and turns to me, his expression more serious now.

"Alright, Peter." He looks me straight in the eye. "I'm trusting you with my daughter tonight. I expect you to treat her right, keep her safe, and show her a good time. You understand? Oh, and remember, hands on the hips."

I gulp, nodding quickly. "Yes, sir. I... I promise."

But before I can step out, something slips out of my mouth without thinking. "Long live and serve, right, Mr. Stacy?"

Captain Stacy's eyes widen, and for a moment, there's a strange, heavy silence in the car. His gaze sharpens as he looks at me, like something is clicking in his mind.

I feel my own stomach drop—why did I say that? That's something Spider-Man said to him, not Peter Parker.

But before he can say anything, Gwen grabs my arm. "Come on, Peter! We're going to miss the first song."

She pulls me out of the car, leaving Captain Stacy in stunned silence as we walk toward the entrance of the dance.

As we walk away from the car, my mind's racing. Did I seriously just say that? What if Captain Stacy remembers? He looked at me like he recognized it.

But... maybe he doesn't. Maybe I'm overthinking this. Yeah, it's fine. He'll probably just brush it off as a weird coincidence.

Before I can dig myself deeper into that spiral, we walk straight into Flash Thompson. Of course, he's got Liz Allen on his arm, looking every bit the smug quarterback I've always known.

"Well, well, if it isn't Parker," Flash says, his usual smirk tugging at his lips. But tonight, there's something different in his tone. He looks me up and down, then glances at Gwen beside me.

For a second, I brace myself for the usual barrage of insults. But then he surprises me.

"Looking good, Parker," Flash says, giving me a small nod.

What? Did....Flash Thompson just give me a compliment?

I blink, completely thrown off. "Uh, thanks, Flash... you too."

Without another word, Flash and Liz make their way into the crowded gym, disappearing into the throng of people. I stand there, still trying to process what just happened.

Gwen nudges me with a smile. "That was sweet of him."

"Yeah... yeah, it was." I shake my head in disbelief. "Weird night."

"Come on," Gwen says, her eyes bright with excitement as she takes my hand. "Let's go have fun before anything else weird happens."

She pulls me toward the gym, and just as we enter, the lights dim, and the music shifts to something slow. Gwen gives me a mischievous grin.

"Looks like perfect timing."

Before I can protest or make some awkward joke about my lack of dance skills, she's already leading me to the dance floor.

My heart's pounding, but this time, it's not from nerves.

It's because I'm here, with Gwen Stacy, and she looks amazing.

We find a spot among the crowd as the music starts to drift through the speakers.

Gwen places her hands gently on my shoulders, and I remember Captain Stacy's words, along with my Aunt's and rest mine on her waist. For a moment, everything else fades away—the awkwardness, the stress, the thoughts about Captain Stacy—and it's just me and her.

The first slow dance of the night.

As we dance, I'm terrified she can hear my heartbeat—it feels like it's about to burst out of my chest.

"Hey, Gwen... Can I ask you something?" My voice comes out a little shaky.

Gwen smiles up at me. "Anything."

"Why me?" I blurt out.

She raises an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Why you what?"

I take a deep breath. "You're... well, you're amazing. You're smart, funny, bold, and... beautiful. And I'm, well, just me."

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Her expression shifts, becoming impossible to read. "I'm not hearing a question, Mr. Parker."

I swallow hard. "Why did you ask me to the dance? I mean, you could've asked anyone. Why not, like... Flash or someone else?"

Gwen tilts my chin up with her finger so I have no choice but to look into her eyes. "When are you going to realize how great you are, Peter Parker? I asked you because you're the one I wanted to be here with. There isn't anyone else I'd rather have asked."

For a second, I'm speechless. Then, I can't help but smile. She smiles back, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I don't feel so awkward or out of place.

The music sways around us, and we continue dancing, lost in our own world.

Gwen Stacy really is the best.

The dance was perfect, but the night wasn't over. Afterward, we ended up at the place most teenagers do when they want to hang out a little longer: a diner. And, of course, we chose The Maple.

"Look at you two," May said as she approached our table. "I remember when you'd run around our backyard playing princess and pirates with Harry and that other one... Mary Jane? Yes, she was a sweet girl."

"Oh, May, please don't bring that up," Gwen said, her face flushing. "Those days I'd rather forget."

"Yeah, she'd much rather dress up as the Terminator these days," I teased, earning a laugh from Gwen as she sipped her water.

May gave me a proud smile, the kind that made me feel like I was doing something right. "I'll be right back with your usual orders," she said, disappearing into the back, where I spotted Felicia working—avoiding eye contact.

As soon as May left, Gwen leaned forward. "Did you hear about Spider-Man taking down that guy who caused the blackout last weekend? Can you even imagine?"

I could. More than she knew.

"These guys keep popping up all over," Gwen went on. "Let's just hope they stay far away from our school for a while."

"I hear you," I sighed. "I could use a break from psychos trying to blow everything up."

"You know, I saw him up close once. Spider-Man, I mean," Gwen said. "During that whole thing with Dr. Octavius. He looks taller in person."

I smiled a little too quickly. "Yeah, I get that a lot—" I froze. "Too! I also get that, uh... about myself... a lot." I was digging myself into a hole, but Gwen didn't seem to notice. "Spidey's pretty great, right? Cool costume. Super dude."

Gwen shrugged. "He's all right, I guess. His costume could use a little work."

"Really? I thought it was iconic—"

"Plus," she cut me off, smirking. "He's no Peter Parker."

My eyes went wide. Yep. She just said that. Gwen Stacy called me better than Spider-Man.

But then, everything shifted.

On one of the TV screens behind the counter, I saw something that made my heart drop. It was Times Square—engulfed in chaos. Buildings were burning, and people were running in every direction.

And then I saw him.

Norman Osborn, bloody and barely conscious, trapped in the metal claws of Dr. Octavius. And he wasn't alone. Surrounding him were five other familiar faces.

As if the universe was mocking me, sirens screamed outside as police cars raced past the diner. Everyone turned to look, and Gwen's hand tightened around her phone.

"What's going—" Gwen began, but she stopped as she spotted the screen. "Oh my God. Is that... is that Harry's dad?"

May, wide-eyed, grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

"—It's been an hour since these individuals have taken control of Times Square. The area has been evacuated and sealed off by police. But the question on everyone's mind is: What do these men want?"

I knew exactly what they wanted. They had only one thing in common besides Norman Osborn.

And that was me.

"Gwen," May said, her voice tense. "Until this is over, you're staying right here."

Gwen nodded, already reaching for her phone probably to text her dad.

But I knew I couldn't stay. I had to go. They were looking for me.

"May, I—I need to go find Harry," I said, grabbing my jacket. "Make sure he's okay."

Gwen grabbed my arm. "Are you crazy? You can't go out there," she pleaded, her eyes searching mine for some kind of answer.

"Peter, sit down until this blows over," May added. "Harry's fine. The police will handle it."

I hesitated, looking between Gwen and May. Then, from the back, Felicia's voice cut through the tension. "Uh, Mrs. Parker? There's a... fire back here."

May bolted toward the kitchen, and Felicia gave me a quick nod before disappearing.

I turned to Gwen, knowing I was about to let her down. "I know you're gonna totally hate me for bailing on you, but—"

Before I could finish, Gwen pulled me into a hug. "I know. For some reason, you always have to run off. And I get that you want to find Harry, so I won't stop you. Just... please be careful."

I squeezed her back, guilt gnawing at me. "I will. I promise."

Because as much as I hate leaving her, there was only one person who could stop what was happening in Times Square.

I have no other choice.

Before I leave, I turn to her, "Thanks. For a perfect homecoming, Gwen Stacy."

She smiles, stepping a little closer. "And thank you, Peter Parker. For the perfect kiss."

I blink, squinting in confusion. "What?"

And then her lips are on mine, quicker than I can even process. For a moment, everything else disappears—no bad guys, no Spider-Man, no secret identity, no school, no bullies.

Just me and Gwen.

She pulls back, and I'm left standing there, stunned, a goofy smile creeping across my face. "I uh..."

She laughs softly. "Just get going already. But promise you'll come back as soon as you know he's okay."

I nod, still dazed. "Promise." With that, I head off, making sure she can't see when I slip into an alley and start climbing up the side of a building. I need to stop by my house first, grab the suit... then pay a visit to some old friends.

So yeah, amazing perfect day.

Then...I just had to go and ruin it.

'Cause I'm well...y'know...me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I swing through the city, feeling the heat from the burning wreckage below. Cars are overturned, smoke rises from shattered windows, and debris is scattered across the streets like something massive barreled through.

I try not to look at the bodies. It's not easy.

Before long, I reach Times Square. The lights from police cars reflect off every surface.

A wall of blue surrounds the perimeter, but none of the officers dare to get close to the chaos at the center.

I land softly on the hood of a police car. "Captain," I say as Captain Stacy steps away from his team. He looks at me, and I can still feel the weight of our earlier conversation hanging between us.

"Spider-Man—" he starts.

"If you're going to tell me to leave, forget it. You know you can't handle them all together. You've seen what just one of them can do." My voice is firm, and his face softens slightly.

"Actually," he says, "we need you."

I blink. Didn't expect that.

"How did they even get out?" I ask.

Captain Stacy glances over his shoulder at the chaos unfolding beyond the police lines. "No idea. We're working on that, the real problem right now is figuring out how to get them back in."

I nod, but his eyes shift back to me. "Where's Gwen?" he asks suddenly, his tone sharp.

I freeze. My heart skips a beat. "Wha—"

"Look. We can go over how I know later," he says, his eyes burning into mine. "I just need to know if my daughter is safe."

For a second, I can't think of a single thing to say. My mind races, but all I can do is nod. "She's safe."

His shoulders relax, but only slightly. "Good. Now, first thing's first—taking these guys down. We don't know what they want yet, but we'll support you any way we can. We've got snipers—"

"No." I cut him off. "Call off your men. They want me. I'll handle this. No one else needs to get hurt tonight."

He watches me, concern in his eyes. "Spider-Man, they'll kill you. You've faced these guys before, and it's never been pretty."

I know. I know.

"But if I don't stop them," I say, webbing up, "who will?"

Without waiting for a response, I launch myself into the air. My web shoots out, and I swing toward the center of Times Square.

Police helicopters buzz overhead, their spotlights trailing me as I land in the heart of it all.

The streets are a battlefield of chaos, and standing before me are six of the most dangerous men I've ever faced.

Dr. Connors—the Lizard—eyes me with that cold, reptilian gaze. He knows who I am. He's seen my face. I hoped he'd forgotten while in his lizard form... but now I'm not so sure.

Next to him is Mac Gargan, the Scorpion. He tried to take Harry before. Then there's the Rhino—the toughest guy I've ever fought. The memory of him throwing me around like a ragdoll still haunts me.

Perched on a lamppost, I see Vulture, his wings outstretched like a predator sizing up his prey. He doesn't move, just watches with sharp, calculating eyes. The last time I saw him he was throwing me through buildings, and I can only imagine what he's thinking right now.

Max Dillon—Electro—is there too, glaring at me. His body crackles with blue energy, and he doesn't say a word. Just watches, waiting.

And then there's Dr. Octavius. He places Norman Osborn, bloody and broken, on the ground and steps toward me, those mechanical arms shifting menacingly behind him.

"Welcome, Spider-Man," Doc Ock says, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Welcome to the final chapter of our little game."

I grit my teeth. "You think this is a game? People are dying out here. This—this is insanity."

"Quite the opposite, actually." Octavius's voice drips with arrogance. "You see, our combined power is greater than anything this city—or the world—has ever seen. We no longer need to hide or take anything from anyone. And once we kill you, Spider-Man, and this vermin, nothing will stand in our way."

He presses his foot down on Norman's back, and Osborn groans in pain. I can't help but feel a pang of sympathy. I know Norman's involved in some of the things that's happened to these guys, but this... this is more than he deserves.

"Let him go," I say, my fists clenched. "Whatever he's done, he deserves justice. Not this."

"Justice?!" Rhino roars, stomping the ground so hard that the pavement cracks. "Your justice won't help us! No, the only thing that will help is squashing you both like bugs!"

Scorpion's tail flicks dangerously behind him. "You don't get it, Spider. You can't stop us. No one can. We'll kill you, then him, and then we'll take whatever we want."

I turn to Electro. "And you? Is this what you want? Didn't you once want to help people? What happened to that?"

Electro's eyes flare with sparks, and his voice is cold. "You take from others before they can take from you. That's what I've learned from you."

"No... more... talking...!" The Lizard's voice hisses, snapping me back to the moment. His speech is more coherent than before. Is he gaining more control in this form? Smarter, more dangerous... but there's no time to dwell on that.

Because I'm out of time.

The moment Dr. Octavius's mechanical arms start moving, I know I'm in trouble. They lash out, and I leap backward, barely dodging them.

I can't let them surround me. I have to keep moving, think fast.

Rhino charges next, his massive frame barreling toward me like a freight train. I dive into a forward roll, his heavy feet stomping down where I stood just a second before. I web his back, swinging around a nearby lamppost, using my momentum to sling a kick into his face. His head snaps to the side, but it doesn't slow him down.

I flip back just in time for Electro's blast of energy to crackle past me, lighting up the street with a blinding flash.

I duck behind a burning car, the heat almost unbearable, and web a piece of the door, hurling it toward Vulture. He's quick—too quick—and dodges it with ease.

"Come on, Spider-Kid! Is that all you got?" Scorpion taunts, his tail smashing the ground with brutal force, sending debris flying.

I dart between them, using the chaos to my advantage. I can't overpower them. I have to outthink them. I web to the top of a traffic light, hanging above them.

Dr. Octavius's arms reach up to grab me, but I swing wide, looping around a building to break their line of sight.

But then Electro. His lightning arcs across the square, catching my foot mid-swing. Pain explodes through my body, my muscles convulsing as I crash to the ground.

My ears ring.

I scramble to my feet just in time to dodge Rhino's massive fist, but I'm too slow—Scorpion's tail sweeps my legs out from under me.

I hit the ground hard, and before I can move, Dr. Octavius's arm slams down on my chest, pinning me to the pavement. His metal claws dig into me, squeezing the air from my lungs.

"Is this how the great Spider-Man goes out?" Octavius sneers above me. "Not very heroic."

I'm gasping for breath, my ribs burning, but I refuse to give in. "Not... done... yet!" I grunt, shooting a web to a nearby ledge and yanking myself free from his grip.

I swing into the side of a building, my body aching with every movement. I try to get higher, to lead them away from the square.

They follow behind me, aside from Rhino, who I assume is meant to watch Norman.

I manage to dive through the window of a nearby building, glass shattering around me as I land in a dark hallway.

My legs give out for a second, and I lean against the wall, breathing hard, every breath jagged and painful. My suit's torn, my body battered, and my mind racing.

I can't win. Not like this. Not against all of them.

Outside, I hear the chaos continuing—the police, the crowd, everyone's watching.

I know the cameras are on me. I can feel the weight of the world watching me get torn apart.

I slide down the wall, my body screaming in pain. I've never felt this helpless before.

My vision blurs as blood drips down my forehead, and I wipe it away, trying to clear my head. I can't let them see me like this.

Not the world. Not Aunt May. Not Gwen.

But I don't know if I'm getting out of here. Not this time.

I look out the shattered window, seeing the shadows of my enemies moving closer. The Lizard's growls echo through the night.

They're coming. They won't stop.

Not until I'm dead.

I close my eyes for a second, my heart racing, and for the first time... I feel real fear. Fear that I won't make it back. Fear that I'll fail everyone I've ever cared about.

Before I can fully catch my breath, I feel the cold, metal claw of Dr. Octavius's arm latch onto my leg, yanking me through the window.

My body crashes into the street below, skidding across the pavement as the world spins around me.

I barely have time to react before Vulture swoops in, talons digging into my shoulders, lifting me high into the air.

"Remind you of old times, bug?" he taunts, pulling me higher above the street, making me an easy target.

Then I see the crackle of electricity. Electro's blast hits me dead center, sending an excruciating jolt of pain through every nerve in my body.

My scream is lost in the air as I'm launched from Vulture's grasp, tumbling uncontrollably through the sky before crashing into the street below.

I can barely lift my head, my vision blurring as I spot the Lizard barreling toward me, his claws tearing into my suit, ripping across my chest.

I try to roll away, but his grip is too strong, pinning me down as he snarls, saliva dripping from his fangs.

I twist my, barely dodging Scorpion's tail as it slams into the ground beside my head, the blade embedding deep into the pavement.

I kick out with everything I've got sending the Lizard flying backwards into a car, then knocking Scorpion off balance as he attempts to rip his tail free from the concrete, but it's not enough.

It's never enough.

Another crackle, another blast of electricity surges toward me.

I throw myself to the side at the last second, and the bolt hits Scorpion instead. His scream of pain is drowned out by the chaos around me, but the shockwave sends me flying again, crashing me through the side of a nearby building.

I hit the floor, glass and debris scattering around me as I land in a heap, my body completely wrecked.

Blood drips from my nose, my chest burns where Lizard tore into me, and every breath feels like knives in my lungs.

As I lie there, staring up at the flickering lights of the destroyed ceiling, something clicks in my mind.

Electro just hit Scorpion. They're strong, but they're not coordinated. They're reckless. If I can get them close enough together, I can use that against them.

I push myself up, groaning through the pain, my legs barely holding me. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up, but I have to try. I have to lure them in.

I stumble toward the deeper part of the building, dragging myself through the rubble, glancing back to see the shadows of the five approaching.

They're hunting me, closing in fast.

I bite back the pain, adrenaline kicking in.

"Come on, Spider-Man. Come on, Spider-Man," I whisper to myself, the words rattling through my head as I push through the pain.

Their footsteps echo closer—heavy, deliberate. The sound of the Lizard's claws scraping the concrete sends shivers down my spine.

Come on.

I press my back against the wall, my chest heaving as I listen to them getting closer.

The shadows of the group stretch through the broken windows, their silhouettes twisted and monstrous.

My pulse quickens, my hands are trembling.

I hear the Lizard snarl, hear the crackle of electricity from Electro.

They're right on top of me now. This is it.

With a deep breath, I leap from the shadows, webs shooting from my wrists.

I yank down a support beam, sending a shower of debris onto the Lizard and Scorpion, momentarily knocking them off balance.

I flip backward as Electro fires off a blast, dodging just in time, and the beam he hits explodes into a cloud of dust and sparks.

I use the distraction to my advantage, swinging low and fast.

I aim for Vulture, shooting a web to yank him from the air, slamming him into the side of the building.

The concrete cracks as he hits the wall, and before he can recover, I web his wings, tangling them up.

But I'm not fast enough.

Dr.Octavius slams me into the ground. The impact knocks the wind from my lungs, and I barely manage to roll out of the way as another of his metal arms crash down where my head just was.

My body aches, but I can't stop moving.

I scramble to my feet, launching myself off the side of the wall and landing behind Scorpion.

His tail whips toward me, but I'm faster.

I duck, and as his tail swings over me, I web it to a nearby pillar. He yanks it, trying to free himself, but I leap onto his back, using the momentum to slam him into the ground.

But then—zap!—another surge of electricity hits me square in the back, sending my body into convulsions. I drop to my knees, my head spinning, pain ripping through my muscles.

"Just die," Electro sneers, his eyes glowing with menace.

No. I can't. I won't.

I push myself up, teeth gritted against the pain, and lunge toward the nearest wall.

I use the momentum to wall-run along the side of the building, avoiding another barrage of lightning.

As I run, I see my opening. I kick off the wall, webbing the ceiling above me and yanking down more debris. The rubble crashes down onto Electro and Scorpion, slowing them down just enough.

I swing through the chaos, adrenaline keeping me moving. I catch Vulture trying to untangle his wings and web him again, this time pulling him into the Lizard, the two of them crashing into each other like bowling pins.

Dr. Octavius, though—he's smarter than the rest.

He watches me, calculating. His arms extend, striking faster than I can dodge.

One hits me in the ribs, another in the back, sending me sprawling across the floor.

I cough, blood pooling in my mouth. I don't know how much more I can take. Every hit feels like a hammer, every breath like fire.

But I keep going.

I leap onto the scaffolding, using the tight space to my advantage. They can't surround me here. Scorpion charges, and I leap just in time, letting him plow into the support beams, the structure collapsing under his weight. He roars in frustration as he gets tangled in the debris.

I swing back to the floor, landing in a crouch just as Scorpion lunges at me again.

I grab his tail mid-strike, using his own momentum to flip him over my shoulder and into Electro, whose lightning surges through Scorpion, frying them both for a moment.

I can hear my heartbeat in my ears, each thud slower, weaker.

This fight is tearing me apart.

I glance at Dr. Octavius, his mechanical arms twitching in anticipation, knowing he's next.

Come on, Spider-Man. Just a little longer.

I barely have time to catch my breath before the ground shakes beneath me, heavy footsteps making the walls tremble.

I look up, and there he is: Rhino, hulking into the building with Norman Osborn slumped over his shoulder like a ragdoll. His gray skin, slick with sweat and blood, glistens under the dim light.

Dr. Octavius turns toward him, eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay behind with, Osborn."

Rhino shrugs, tossing Norman's unconscious body to the ground like he's nothing. "Didn't wanna miss the fun," he says, cracking his knuckles. "Took care of pigs out there—made my way inside when I hear the ruckus." He grins, the wicked glint in his eyes making my stomach churn.

I glance at Norman's crumpled form, his chest barely rising and falling.

Then I see the blood on Rhino's skin. Fresh. Bright red. Cops. He killed them. My blood boils, and something snaps inside me.

"You...you killed them," I say, my voice trembling with fury.

Rhino's grin widens. "And?"

My fists clench so hard I can feel my nails digging into my palms. "You didn't have to do that," I say, my voice low, trying to keep control of the anger surging through me. But it's no use. He murdered innocent people just for fun.

Rhino snorts. "They were in way. I remove them."

Before I can react, Rhino charges. His massive frame crashes through the debris, faster than I expect.

I leap into the air, barely dodging as he barrels past me, his shoulder slamming into the wall, leaving a crater in the concrete. The building shakes, and dust rains down from the ceiling.

I land in a crouch, but the moment I steady myself, Rhino is already turning around, his eyes locked on me. "Now you die!" He charges again, and this time I don't have room to dodge.

His fist collides with my chest like a wrecking ball, sending me flying across the room.

I crash into a pile of metal beams, my body screaming in pain. Every muscle burns, my ribs feel like they're broken, but I force myself to stand.

I can't let this end here. Not like this.

Please, not like this.

Rhino stomps toward me, grinning like a predator that's cornered its prey. "What's wrong, bug? No more tricks?"

I glance around the room, my brain working faster than my body. I can't win in a straight-up fight.

Rhino's too strong. But I've got to even the odds. My eyes fall on a set of exposed water pipes on the wall, and a plan starts to form.

I flip backward, webbing onto the pipes and ripping them open. Water sprays out, flooding the floor in a matter of seconds, creating shallow puddles across the room.

Rhino doesn't seem to notice, his heavy boots sloshing through the water as he comes at me again.

"Gonna crush you like a bug!" he roars, his fists swinging wildly.

I dodge, barely avoiding his blows, but I'm not aiming for Rhino anymore.

My eyes dart toward Electro, who's still recovering from when I threw Scorpion into him.

This has to work.

"Hey, Sparky!" I shout, goading him. "You tired already? What happened to not letting anyone take from you anymore?"

Electro's eyes narrow, the electricity around him intensifying.

From behind me, I hear Dr. Octavius yell, "Wait! Don't—"

But it's too late.

Electro releases a massive bolt of electricity, aiming right for me.

I leap into the air, webbing Norman to me just as the electricity hits the water-soaked floor. The room lights up in a blinding flash as the current surges through the puddles.

Rhino screams as he's fried by the electricity, his massive body convulsing before collapsing to the ground. Scorpion, Lizard, and Vulture drop like stones, the electricity tearing through them, too.

I land hard, placing Norman down somewhere safe, as my vision swims from the smell of ozone and burnt flesh.

Dr. Octavius manages to shield himself with his metal arms, but the others? They're down. For now.

I stumble to my feet, my body aching, but I can't stop now. Electro's weakened from his own attack, staggering as he tries to recover. I see my chance.

I web the busted pipe, using the water like a fire hose, blasting it directly at Electro. He screams as the water slams into him, shorting out the last of his power. His body twitches uncontrollably as I lunge forward, delivering a hard punch to his gut.

I keep hitting him, again and again, my fists moving on pure adrenaline. He tries to spark up one last bolt, but he's done.

The fight's draining out of him, and before long, he's lying there, unconscious.

I stand over him, gasping for air, every inch of me throbbing with pain. The others are still down, groaning in agony from the electric shock. I've taken out five of them.

Suddenly I'm slammed into a wall, the force rattling through my bones like a car crash. Everything hurts—my body, my mind—everything.

It would be so easy to just....

Dr. Octavius approaches slowly, his metallic arms clicking and whirring with each step. He's smiling, though there's exhaustion in his eyes. "Fitting, isn't it?" he says, his voice almost gentle. "You, at my feet. This is the end, Spider-Man."

So...this is the end?

I don't see my life flashing before my eyes, just moments from today.

A perfect day.

Homecoming. Gwen's smile. Her kiss.

Every perfect second that I got to be just Peter Parker.

Gwen.

"You asked me why you?" Her voice echoes in my head, the memory of her soft smile lingering. "Sure, you're smart and talented and sweet. But what really stands out is how, no matter what you go through, you stay you. You keep moving forward... usually with a dumb joke. And I love that."

Always move forward?

Dumb jokes?

Yeah...

Sounds like me.

I fire a web at Dr. Octavius's face, the sticky strand catching him by surprise.

Before he can react, I lunge at him, driving my shoulder into his chest, knocking him to the ground.

His metal arms thrash, trying to find me, but I dodge, quick as I can, slamming one of them into his own face. His glasses shatter, and blood streams from his nose.

"End of the line, Doc," I mutter, my voice shaking with the effort it takes to stay upright. "But not for me. It is however, the end of this suit." I deliver a final jab, knocking him cold as his head hits the ground with a thud. "Where should I send the bill? Oh, yeah, prison."

I stand there for a moment, looking down at him, the remnants of the group scattered around.

I should feel victorious.

I should feel something.

But all I feel is exhaustion.

I collapse with my back against the floor, arms spread wide.

The blood is seeping out of me faster than I can stop it, staining what's left of my torn-up suit. I can barely breathe, every inhale feels like a dagger to my ribs.

I could move.

Maybe.

But I'm not sure if I want to.

I see Norman Osborn, still lying there, unconscious and battered. A wave of dread slams into me.

Oh god.

Harry.

In the chaos of everything, I'd forgotten. What if something happened to Harry? My mind spins. No. He's safe. He has to be. Norman was probably at work when they grabbed him. Harry's at home—he's got to be.

But then, the piercing sound of sirens fills the air, getting louder, closing in on us. They're almost here.

I try to push myself up, but the pain is unbearable, each movement agony. My legs tremble under the weight, and I stagger forward, one step, two... then my body gives out, and I collapse onto the cold concrete.

I gasp for air, my vision blurring, my muscles seizing. No... I can't stop here. If I black out, if the police find me like this... they'll take off my mask. They'll see who I am. I'll lose everything.

But my mind is slipping, thoughts dissolving into the black void creeping in.

I fight it—God, I fight it—but there's nothing left in me.

Everything fades.