Gwen stood on the roof of a high-rise building in Brooklyn, looking down at the endless flow of cars and people below.
A light drizzle fell as cars sped past on the wet streets. Through the misty rain, she could see a cluster of electronics stores not far away. Beyond them, the uniform high-rise buildings formed a jagged skyline, like a dim fence.
She felt a deep sense of insecurity, as if she were walking on thin ice, fearing that the ground beneath her could give way at any moment, plunging her into an abyss.
In the drizzle, she held her phone in front of her, waiting for Peter's response.
Peter's reply came quickly: *"There's a monster inside all of us, Gwen. You're not alone."*
Gwen wiped the raindrops from her phone screen as she read the message.
"Are you saying there's a monster of death in your heart too?" she asked, remembering something Peter had once told her: "Death is not lonely."
Peter responded soon after: *"Yes, there's a grand theater of death in my heart. The stage curtain is always open, and a play of death is always unfolding. The actors are white skeletons."*
Gwen assumed he was referring to his battle with cancer, and her heart ached as she read the words.
"I'm sorry, Peter. I shouldn't have brought that up," she replied.
"It's okay," Peter texted back.
Gwen held her phone in silence, unsure of how to confide in Peter. Should she tell him she'd been bitten by a spider and might turn into a monster, like Frank? Even if Peter believed her, what good would it do?
Peter was already suffering from cancer and undergoing treatment. Burdening him with her troubles would only add to his worries and might even harm his health further.
After a moment of hesitation, she typed a message: *"I didn't go home this morning because I took the day off. Sometimes, I act so stubbornly that even I don't understand myself."*
*"You have your reasons, Gwen. I understand,"* Peter replied.
*"Thank you, Peter. Thanks for listening. Maybe I'll find the right time to tell you everything. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the future."*
Gwen put away her phone and shoved her hands into her pockets, feeling the cold raindrops against her skin.
She hadn't thought about the future in a long time. Her life had drifted like a lazy river, but recently, the future felt like an annoying fly buzzing around her, keeping her on edge.
She recalled an experiment she'd once read about: if laboratory mice or monkeys were given the illusion of choice, they often remained healthy, even if those choices were between mild or severe electric shocks. The ability to perceive a difference gave them some sense of control and happiness. But if those animals weren't given any choice—only subjected to shocks—they grew increasingly anxious, gnawing away at their fur until they succumbed to illnesses like cancer or heart disease.
After a while, Gwen stretched out her hands and stared at them, wondering how long it would take for her to reach the point of "chewing off her own fur."
Taking a deep breath, she looked towards the roof of another building across from the clock tower and pulled up her white hood. She wanted to try jumping again.
The last time she attempted this leap, she had been fleeing from the Hand. If Peter hadn't pulled her back then, she might have fallen to her death. She remembered the feeling of leaping up to catch Spider-Man as he fell through the air.
"I can do it. It felt like this back then," she murmured to herself before sprinting forward.
With a *thud*, Gwen pushed off the edge of the roof and leaped into the air.
"Ugh!"
Her feet landed securely on the edge of the opposite building. But just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief, her footing slipped. The rain had made the roof slick, and she lost her balance, falling backward.
As she tumbled through the air, panic surged through her. She desperately tried to stay calm, remembering how Spider-Man had shot out his web. In a frantic attempt, she mimicked the gesture, thrusting out her right hand.
"Swoosh!"
A ball of sticky white substance shot out and splattered onto the nearby wall. The force of it pulled her toward the wall.
With her hands clinging to the surface, Gwen realized she could support her weight. Shocked, she clambered up the wall, eventually reaching the roof.
Standing there, she pulled off her hood and stared at her hands in disbelief.
Just now, she had shot out something like Spider-Man's web!
"Can I really become like Spider-Man?!"
---
Meanwhile, at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Peter stood in the drizzle, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He had told Gwen about the "theater of death" inside him.
Aside from the specter of death that loomed in his chest, it was a metaphor for the many deaths and killings he had witnessed during his time as a mercenary for Weyland Company in his previous life. The piles of bones were just a common sight back then.
Lost in these memories, he headed into the hospital.
Dr. Lane was waiting for him in the office, as Peter had made an appointment earlier.
"Long time no see, Mr. Parker," Dr. Lane greeted him warmly as he stood to shake hands.
"It shouldn't take too long this time," Peter replied as he took a seat. "Do you secretly hope that each time I come here, it'll be my last?"
Dr. Lane chuckled at Peter's joking tone. "Of course not. I'm a professional. I'd never wish for that kind of outcome."
"Sure, your professionalism might be good," Peter said with a casual tone, "but I've heard some say otherwise about you."
"But let's discuss that later. Right now, I need to get down to business."
"Of course," Dr. Lane agreed and began Peter's examination.
Half an hour later, as they reviewed the CT scans, Peter asked, "How does it look?"
Dr. Lane took a deep breath before cautiously asking, "Have you noticed any changes in your body recently?"
"Changes?" Peter inquired.
"Yes, any noticeable changes in your physical abilities or appearance."
Peter nodded. "My strength has increased significantly."
Dr. Lane showed him the CT scans. "It appears that there's been some sort of mutation, and there are changes in your body's structure."
The image of the embryo on the scan was dramatically different from before.
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