The journey to Oscorp was filled with chatter and laughter. Everyone was discussing what they hoped to see and speculating about the latest inventions and breakthroughs the company might have made. By some twist of fate, I found myself seated next to the redhead, Mary Jane Watson, who seemed unusually quiet and lost in thought.
"Hey, MJ, why are you so quiet today?" I asked genuine curiosity in my voice.
She slowly looked at me, her eyes tinged with sadness. "It's just some personal stuff. Don't worry about it," she replied softly.
I felt a bit awkward but said, "Okay, sorry for bringing it up."
We both sat quietly for a while, just looking out of the window. The city scenes passed by, and after some time, MJ seemed to want to talk.
"You know," she began, "I didn't mean to be short with you. It's just one of those days where everything's going downhill for me without any control."
I turned to face her, surprised by her sudden change in demeanor. "It's okay, MJ. Everyone has their off days. If you ever want to talk about it, I'm here."
She gave a small smile, her green eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Thanks. It's just… my dad quit his job a few months ago. And things have changed since then."
"Why did he quit his job?" I asked with curiosity.
"He wants to be a writer. That's why he quit and tried many kinds of jobs to find some kind of inspiration. But he hasn't found anything. And he becomes very…" She trailed off.
She continued, "I've been trying to find part-time work to help out, but it's not easy. And it's become very tough recently—you know how hard it is to live in New York without a job."
I felt a pang of sympathy for her. "I'm sorry to hear that, MJ. That's really tough."
She sighed, brushing a strand of her fiery red hair behind her ear. "Yeah, it is. But I'm trying to stay positive. I just wish I could do more to help."
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of her words hanging in the air. I wanted to say something comforting, but words failed me.
Finally, she broke the silence. "Thanks for listening, by the way. It feels good to talk to someone about it."
I nodded, "Anytime, MJ."
The rest of the journey to Oscorp was filled with light conversation and laughter. As we approached the Oscorp building, its towering structure loomed above us, casting a shadow over the bus. The sleek glass exterior reflected the city's skyline, and the Oscorp logo shone brightly at the top.
"Hello everyone, I am Dr. Curtis Connors, and I'll be your guide today at Oscorp," a tall figure in a lab coat greeted us warmly.
Dr. Connors escorted us through the grand main entrance. After receiving our visitor badges, we stepped into the vast expanse of the Oscorp interior. The inside was a magnificent sprawl of state-of-the-art labs and the latest research equipment, making it feel as if we'd stepped into the future.
As we delved deeper into the facilities, Dr. Connors proudly showcased the primary research areas. We witnessed scientists engrossed in cutting-edge projects, everything from genetic engineering to advanced robotics. However, the pinnacle of our tour was undeniably the biogenetics lab, where cross-species genetics was the primary focus.
Amid the myriad of lab equipment and specimens, a particular chamber caught my eye. Inside was a spider, unlike any I'd ever seen, adorned with a striking blue and red pattern.
Curiosity piqued, I turned to Dr. Connors, "What species is this spider?"
"That's an Araneus Oscorpeus. We developed it right here at Oscorp. However, we decided to halt the project recently," he explained, his tone a mix of pride and reservation.
As our group meandered through the labs, I spotted Peter and Gwen sneaking photos of the spider. Ned seemed eager to join them, but I grabbed his arm, whispering, "Don't be a third wheel, Ned. Stick with me."
Suddenly, Peter's voice pierced the room, "Ouch!"
Rushing over with Ned in tow, I asked, "What happened, Peter?"
"It's weird. I felt something bite my hand," Peter mumbled, examining his palm.
My eyes quickly located a familiar blue and red spider, lifeless on the floor. Using my handkerchief, I gingerly picked it up, showcasing it to the group.
Gwen's face was etched with worry. "Do you think it's dangerous, Peter? Should we find a doctor?"
"I'm fine, Gwen, honestly. Just a bit shaken. Let's not make a fuss and continue the tour," he reassured, albeit looking a tad pale.
I pulled him aside, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Peter forced a smile, "Yeah, probably just fatigue catching up."
We wrapped up our Oscorp adventure without further incident. As we boarded our bus, I turned to Peter one last time. "If you feel off, promise you'll see a doctor?"
He clapped my shoulder, his grin more genuine this time. "I promise. And hey, I'll call you if anything's up."
As the bus engine rumbled to life, signaling our return to school, an overwhelming sense of unease gripped me. The bite, the spider—none of it added up. The average person panics at the sight of even the most common spider, so how were we all so nonchalant about Peter being bitten by one bred in a high-tech lab? How could such a confined specimen even break free? The logical gaps gnawed at me.
When the bus finally pulled up at the school, I intended to corner Peter and address my concerns. But as I approached him, an oddly reassuring thought intruded: "Everything will be fine." The suddenness of this sentiment surprised me. How could I brush off something so significant? Why hadn't I pushed Peter to discuss the incident further?
Returning home, my mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. What was happening to me? This newfound complacency, where did it stem from?
It was 7 p.m. when I got home, and my parents were already there. My mother, with her usual tender curiosity, asked, "How was your trip to Oscorp, Lucas?"
"It was good, Mom. I'm feeling quite tired, though. I think I'll head to bed," I replied, trying to sound casual.
A hint of concern colored her voice as she inquired, "Oh, aren't you having dinner tonight?"
"I'm not really hungry, Mom," I said, hoping to escape to the sanctuary of my room.
Just then, my grandma chimed in, her tone firm yet loving, "Lucas, come eat with us. We've all been waiting for you, and you know the family rule—no one goes to bed on an empty stomach."
Sighing, I yielded, "Alright, grandma."
Dinner was a blur of tastes and sounds. As soon as it was polite to excuse myself, I retreated to the sanctuary of my room. I carefully unraveled the handkerchief, placing the lifeless spider on my study table. It felt heavier than it looked. Pushing away the nagging questions swirling in my mind, I surrendered to sleep's embrace.
In the dead of night, I couldn't tell the exact time, but I was suddenly wide awake. Hovering in the air, catching the moonlight, was a golden key. Without really thinking, driven by pure curiosity, I reached out to touch it.
The second my fingers brushed the key, a torrent of energy, unlike anything I'd felt before, coursed through me. The sensation was overwhelming. "What's going on?" I tried to process, but the thoughts quickly vanished as the energy continued to flood in.
It wasn't painful, but it was intense, like a rush from a roller coaster but a thousand times stronger. I could feel every bit of me changing. Each cell in my body seemed to pop, and dissolve, almost like I was breaking down to my very atoms. And as the transformation peaked, everything went black.