Spider-Man : The Story of a Hero

New York — New York Central Bank — Outside

— Your colleague? Uh... and who exactly are we talking about? You’re the only police officer I know, you know.

George Stacy smiled.

— Oh yes, that’s right. Her name is Yuri Watanabe. She’s a very close colleague... and a very capable one!

Spider-Man nodded slightly.

— Ah, got it. Alright then, go ahead. I’m heading out. I’ll leave the other two to you, and keep me updated about Tombstone.

— No problem, you can leave with peace of mind. For now, I’ll see what this lead is worth. We’ll talk about it again when the time is right.

Peter simply nodded.

Then turned around.

Leaving George Stacy and the other officers to handle the rest of the operation.

— Is Gwen still there...? Maybe she’s still waiting for me?

Without wasting a second, he headed back toward the terrace where he had left her.

Hope was still burning somewhere deep inside him.

Maybe she had stayed.

Maybe it wasn’t too late.

But when he arrived, he immediately understood.

The table was empty.

Of course it was.

— Yeah... how could I have thought she’d wait for me after I ditched her like that? I’m really the king of idiots.

He stood still for a few seconds.

His eyes fixed on the chair she had occupied only a little while ago.

Then he looked away.

And continued on his way.

New York — The Parker House — End of the Day

— Aunt May?

Peter stepped into the house.

But no sound answered him.

The living room was empty.

The television was off.

Silence filled the house.

— Looks like Aunt May isn’t home yet...

He slowly made his way upstairs to his bedroom.

Threw his backpack into a corner.

Then sat heavily on his bed.

A long sigh escaped him.

— Honestly... I’ve looked at this from every angle, and I still don’t know what to do. Gwen asked me if I was Spider-Man... and she seemed serious. The look in her eyes... it was almost like she already knew.

He lay back.

His eyes fixed on the ceiling.

— No matter what I say, I feel like she’ll keep believing whatever she wants. On one hand... I want to tell her the truth. Tell her everything. The spider bite... the fights... and why I do all of this.

He remained still for a few moments.

Lost in thought.

Then he slowly turned his head.

His gaze settled on a small frame resting on his nightstand.

A photograph.

Him.

And Uncle Ben.

Peter slowly sat up.

Picked up the frame.

And stared at it for a long moment.

— Uncle Ben... I’m lost. Gwen is my best friend and... and I think I really love her. What should I do...?

The photograph remained silent.

As always.

Yet Peter kept looking at it.

Almost hoping for an answer.

Any answer.

A few seconds passed.

Then an even heavier sigh escaped his lips.

A small, sad laugh followed.

— ...Why am I waiting for an answer? How could he possibly give me one?

He lowered his eyes slightly.

Then looked once more at his uncle’s face.

— Ever since I was little, I always turned to him. And he always had the right words to help me whenever I was lost.

The memory slowly resurfaced.

The sun warmly bathed the Parker backyard.

The air was pleasant.

The laughter of a child echoed between the trees.

Peter held a baseball bat in his hands.

A few yards away, Uncle Ben watched the scene with amusement.

The ball had just flown across the yard.

— YEAH! Did you see that, Uncle Ben?!

Ben crossed his arms with a smile.

— Nice job, kiddo!

Then his gaze shifted toward the broken window of the house.

His smile turned into a slightly embarrassed expression.

— But... you still broke a window and needed twenty-seven attempts before pulling it off...

— Uh... yeah, but that’s because I wasn’t focused!

— Sure... of course.

— But it’s true!

Ben’s smile widened.

— Hang on, I’ll show you how it’s done.

He walked over to Peter.

Then positioned himself behind him.

Patiently, he adjusted his stance.

— This is how you’re supposed to hold a bat... and position yourself.

Peter listened carefully.

Ben showed him where to place his feet.

How to use the weight of his body.

How to follow through with the swing.

Calmly.

Never rushing.

— Alright. Did you understand?

— Uh... yeah! Well, I think so...

— Okay! Then 3... 2... 1... pitch!

The ball flew through the air.

Peter immediately shut his eyes.

Expecting another disaster.

Then a sharp sound rang out.

CRACK!

His eyes flew open.

The ball was already soaring into the distance.

Very far away.

— WOOOW! Did you see that?!

Ben burst out laughing.

— Of course I saw that, kiddo!

The two of them exchanged a high five.

Proud of their success.

Then a voice called out from inside the house.

— Honey? Peter? Come to the table!

Peter immediately turned his head.

— Oh! Looks like dinner’s ready!

— That’s right! Come on, let’s go. I can’t wait to see what your aunt made.

Without warning, Ben lifted Peter onto his back.

The boy burst out laughing.

And the two of them headed inside.

A few minutes later, they were sitting around the table.

The atmosphere was light.

Comfortable.

Warm.

— So, Peter, how was the baseball game?

— Good! At first I was struggling... but now I think I’ve got it.

May gave him an amused smile.

— Let’s just hope that next time you don’t break the living room window, hahaha...

Peter immediately stiffened.

As if he had just escaped a death sentence.

To be safe, he decided to change the subject.

His eyes shifted toward Ben.

— Uncle Ben... how do you always know the right thing to say? For sports, school... and everything else. What’s your secret?

May smiled softly.

— Oh, Peter... there’s nothing secret or magical about it.

Confusion immediately appeared on the boy’s face.

Ben spoke up again.

— Your aunt is right, Peter. It’s not as incredible as you think. If I’ve been able to give you good advice, it’s because most of the things you’ve asked me about are things I’ve already lived through. Not all of them, but almost.

Peter slightly frowned.

Still confused.

Ben immediately noticed the expression on his face.

— What I mean is that experience and the things we go through help us develop understanding. They help us guess what the best choice is for us. But it all depends on the situation. Sometimes it’s easy to know what to do. Other times, it’s difficult... or even impossible. And do you know what you’re supposed to do in those moments?

— Uh... no...?

Ben took a few seconds before answering.

— Well... you make the choice you believe is best, and you hope you won’t regret it.

Peter froze.

He had been expecting an incredible answer.

A magic formula.

Something spectacular.

Instead...

This was what he got.

His face fell.

— That’s... that’s a terrible answer.

Ben burst out laughing.

— Yep, Peter. Life isn’t simple. Sometimes you’ll know exactly what to do. Other times, you’ll be lost, you’ll overthink it for hours, days, or even months... and you’ll still be uncertain. I know you don’t like it, but that’s how it is.

Peter remained silent.

Staring off into space.

Thinking about what he had just heard.

Ben watched him for a few moments.

Then his tone became softer.

More fatherly.

— Listen. It’s normal not to understand right away. These are things you’ll understand as you grow up and experience them yourself. We’re not omniscient, Peter. All we can do is our best. So try not to overthink it too much, alright?

Peter let out a sigh.

— ...That sucks.

Ben laughed.

— Hahaha! I know, kiddo. Now eat before it gets cold.

May crossed her arms, pretending to be offended.

— Yes, eat! I spent time making all of this!

Back in the present, the memory slowly faded away.

Leaving Peter alone in his room.

The frame still in his hands.

For a few seconds, he remained silent.

Then a sigh escaped him.

— ...That sucks.

A nostalgic smile briefly crossed his face.

Even after all these years, his uncle still found a way to give him advice.

Or at least... remind him that some decisions simply didn’t have a right answer.

New York — Midtown High — The Next Day — Day

The bell rang throughout the school.

As if perfectly synchronized, the students immediately began packing up their belongings.

Backpacks zipped shut.

Chairs scraped against the floor.

Conversations resumed all around the classroom.

— Don’t forget to study the chapters in your textbook! There might be a test, so keep that in mind if you don’t want to get a zero.

Most of the students immediately headed for the door.

But just as they were about to leave the classroom, the teacher’s voice stopped them.

— Parker! Stacy! Stay for a moment, please. I need to tell you something.

The other students gradually left the room.

Until only Peter and Gwen remained with their teacher.

— Yes? What did you want to talk to us about, sir?

— Do you remember the visit to researcher Curtis Connors less than a year ago?

— Yes, of course I remember.

Peter let out a small laugh.

— Same here. It’s the kind of field trip you don’t exactly forget.

The teacher smiled.

— That’s good to hear. Then I have some news you’re probably going to like.

Gwen slightly raised her head.

— Really? What is it?

— Dr. Connors is looking for students to help him and assist with his work. He wants passionate and curious students, and I recommended the two best students in the school. That is, the two of you. And he agreed.

Peter’s eyes instantly widened.

— What?! Are you serious?

— Very serious, Parker. In fact, you start today.

— Huh? Today? Like... right now??

— Exactly!

Gwen broke into a wide smile.

— Wow... that’s amazing! Thank you so much for thinking of us.

— Don’t thank me. You’ve always been exemplary students. You’ve earned it. Well, even if one of you is often late...

Peter let out an awkward laugh.

— One point for the teacher, zero for you, Peter...

— Alright, hurry up so you don’t end up late. Enjoy yourselves and learn everything you can from Professor Connors.

— You can count on us!

They quickly left the classroom.

Then the building.

And headed toward the bus stop.

At first, the excitement of the news seemed to lighten the atmosphere.

But the more they walked...

The heavier the silence became.

The awkwardness quickly returned between them.

— It’s been a week since our argument. She’s still not talking to me, and every time I try to say something, I freeze up.

Peter discreetly sighed.

— I need to fix this. I have to apologize for letting her down.

He took a breath.

Then turned toward her.

— Uh, Gwen, I...

But at that exact moment, the bus arrived with a screech of brakes.

The doors opened.

Without even glancing at him, Gwen immediately stepped aboard.

Peter froze for a second.

Then followed her.

In silence.

The two of them walked through the bus.

And sat all the way in the back.

Where nobody would bother them.

New York — Bus — On the Way to Connors’ Laboratory — Day

The atmosphere inside the bus was tense.

Sitting side by side in the back, Peter and Gwen both stared ahead. The vibrations of the engine accompanied the silence that had settled between them for several minutes.

Peter finally gathered his courage.

— Gwen... can we talk?

She slightly turned her head toward him.

— I’m listening.

Her tone was cold. Neutral.

Peter immediately felt his stomach tighten.

— Oh my God... she’s being incredibly cold!

— Last week when we went out... do you... do you remember...?

— Yes. I remember.

The answer came immediately.

Without emotion.

Without hesitation.

Peter felt even worse.

— I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have left you like that and run off. I’m sorry. It’s just that I really had to go and—

— And where exactly did you have to go?

She locked eyes with him.

— I’m asking, but I’m not expecting an answer. We were out together, and you left to do who-knows-what. Although... I think I have a pretty good idea.

Peter sighed.

— Gwen... I’ve already told you: I’m not Spider-Man. I still don’t understand how you can think that.

— Don’t pretend you don’t understand, Peter.

Her voice hardened.

— I explained my reasons to you, and you... left. Leaving is all you’ve done.

Peter lowered his eyes.

— I know... and I’m sorry. Really... sorry. Could you... forgive me?

Gwen hesitated.

Silence settled between them.

Then she finally answered:

— I... I don’t know.

The response hit him like a punch.

Peter quickly searched for something to say.

— Listen, I... We could go out again. This weekend! And no interruptions this time! What do you think?

Gwen gently shook her head.

— Peter... it’s not so much the fact that you left that hurt me.

She paused.

— Well, okay, it made me angry. But what really hurt me was that you’re lying to me.

Her eyes never left his.

— Do you remember our promise? The one where we swore we’d always tell each other the truth, no matter what?

Peter’s heart tightened.

The way she had just said those words made him immediately realize that this was far more important to her than he had imagined.

— ...Yes. I remember.

— I don’t know about you, but that promise means a lot to me.

Her eyes began to glisten slightly.

— Do you know why?

Peter slowly shook his head.

Gwen took a deep breath before continuing.

— When we were ten years old, I was being bullied.

Her voice remained calm.

But Peter could hear all the pain hidden behind those words.

— I was terrified. I didn’t dare tell my teachers or my father. I tried to endure it, but it just kept getting worse.

She briefly looked out the window.

— You’re the one who kept insisting, over and over, until I finally broke down. That day, you hugged me and told me I could tell you anything, and that you’d be there for me. So I told you everything.

Peter remained silent.

He remembered that time perfectly.

— After that, you told the teachers, then my dad, and everything became a huge mess. I was afraid it would get worse, but you promised you’d be there and protect me if you had to.

Her voice trembled slightly.

— It took weeks, but eventually everything worked out. From that moment on, I thought, ”That’s it? All I had to do was talk about it?”

A faint nostalgic smile appeared on her face.

— And then you told me, ”No more lies. Always tell the truth, okay?”

Peter felt his throat tighten.

— And I meant it.

Gwen’s eyes returned to his.

— We told each other everything. Whenever I saw you, my eyes would light up and... and I think that’s when I fell in love with you.

Peter suddenly looked up.

His heart skipped a beat.

Yet Gwen continued.

— So yes, the way you left me hurt.

A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

— But the worst part is that I feel like that promise doesn’t mean the same thing to you as it does to me.

Her voice cracked slightly.

— And that... that really hurts.

Peter remained frozen.

Completely shaken.

— Gwen... I didn’t know that... I... I’m really—

The bus suddenly braked.

The doors opened.

Their stop.

Gwen quickly wiped away her tears.

— We’re here. We need to get off.

Without giving him time to finish his sentence, she stood up and stepped off the bus.

Peter immediately followed her.

Once outside, Gwen quickened her pace toward the laboratory.

— Gwen! Wait!

But she kept walking.

Peter stood still for a few seconds.

— Damn... I really screwed up.

He nervously ran a hand through his hair.

— I remembered that promise, but I never realized how much it meant to Gwen. And now she’s telling me she’s been in love with me since that day? I should be happy, but... I think I’m completely lost right now.

He took a deep breath.

Then forced himself to regain control.

— Alright... I’ll think about it later. Right now, I need to catch up to her. And meet Professor Connors.

New York — Professor Connors’ Laboratory — Day

A few minutes later, Peter entered the laboratory.

His eyes immediately scanned the room.

Gwen was talking with three people: a man, a woman, and a young boy.

— Hello!

The man turned toward him with a warm smile.

— Hello! You must be Peter Parker?

— Yes. That’s me, sir.

— Perfect!

Professor Connors gave him an amused smile.

— You’re on time. That’s already a good sign. Your teacher told me you’re often late... I hope you’ll work on that.

Peter smiled politely.

Even though, deep down, the comment annoyed him a little.

— Your name sounds familiar... Wouldn’t you be the one who got bitten by our spider during that school visit?

Peter let out an awkward laugh.

— Yep, that’s me.

Connors chuckled.

— Incredible. You seem to be doing much better. That day, it looked like you were about to throw up your guts.

— To be fair, I wasn’t far from it.

— Anyway...

Connors gestured toward the two people beside him.

— Welcome to my laboratory. This is my wife, Martha, who is also my assistant. And our son Billy, who sometimes joins us during our research.

Peter politely stepped forward.

— It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.

Martha gave him a kind smile.

— No need to be so formal, Peter. But it’s sweet. It shows that you’re polite.

Peter returned her smile before turning toward Billy.

— Same goes for you. Nice to meet you, Billy.

— Likewise! I hope you’ll like our lab.

Peter looked around with amazement.

— Don’t worry... I already do!

A few laughs echoed through the room.

Everyone except Gwen.

She remained silent.

And Peter noticed immediately.

The guilt returned, tightening around his chest.

Connors softly clapped his hands.

— Alright, now that introductions are out of the way, I’ll have to leave you.

He pointed toward his office.

— I’m going back to finish something. Honey, I’ll let you show them around... or rather, show them around again, since a few things have changed.

He smiled.

— There’s nothing planned for today, so there’s no need to keep them too long.

— Alright, honey.

— Billy, you can keep playing your game, but not for too long.

— Yes, Mom!

The young boy sat down on a chair, put on his headset, and started his handheld console.

Martha turned toward Peter and Gwen.

— Well then... let’s start over here. Follow me.

Meanwhile, Curtis Connors entered his office and locked the door behind him.

His smile disappeared.

He slowly opened a drawer.

Then pulled out a syringe filled with a strange green liquid.

Without hesitation, he plunged it into his arm.

The substance spread through his body.

A few seconds later, a violent wave of dizziness hit him.

He grabbed onto his desk.

Then his eyes changed.

For a brief moment, his pupils took on the unsettling appearance of a lizard’s.

TO BE CONTINUED.