The city lights flickered against the wet pavement as Ben Reilly walked home from his shift at the gas station. It was late, the streets quieter than usual. His headphones blared music, but the rhythmic beat couldn't drown out the strange noise coming from a nearby alleyway. Ben hesitated for a moment before curiosity got the better of him.
Pulling out one earbud, he turned toward the alley. The sound was faint, almost like a distorted hum mixed with faint clicking. Cautiously, he stepped into the dimly lit space. His eyes scanned the area until they landed on something bizarre: a spider, but not like any he'd ever seen.
It flickered in and out of existence, its body glitching as if it were a broken hologram. The creature skittered erratically across the wall before disappearing entirely. Ben stared, confused, until he felt a sudden, sharp pain in his neck.
"Ah!" he yelped, slapping the back of his neck. He pulled his hand away and saw the spider, now dead, resting in his palm. Its legs curled inward, its body still flickering faintly.
"What the hell…" Ben muttered, but before he could inspect it further, the spider dissolved into thin air, vanishing without a trace.
He stood there for a moment, shaken but ultimately shrugging it off. "Weird," he muttered, deciding it was just another oddity in a city full of them. He turned and continued his walk home, his thoughts already shifting back to dinner.
Once home, Ben threw his bag onto the couch and headed to the kitchen. He wasn't in the mood for anything complicated, so he settled on grilled chicken and rice. The aroma filled the small apartment, a comforting reminder of the few simple pleasures in his life.
As he sat down to eat, a strange sensation began to creep over him. His limbs felt heavy, his head started to pound, and a searing heat spread through his body. He pushed his plate aside, struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Man… what's happening to me?" he mumbled, stumbling toward his bedroom. His vision blurred, and every step felt like a monumental effort.
By the time he reached his bed, his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed onto the mattress, his consciousness slipping away almost instantly.
When Ben finally woke, the sun was already streaming through the windows. His head felt clearer, but his body ached as though he'd run a marathon. Groaning, he forced himself out of bed and dragged his feet to the bathroom.
The hot water of the shower helped ease some of the soreness, but as he stepped out and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he froze.
"Whoa…"
His reflection was unrecognizable. Gone was the lanky, skinny frame he'd always known. In its place was a muscular, toned body, with defined abs—ten of them, to be exact. His arms were thicker, his shoulders broader. He leaned closer, touching his face. Even his skin looked clearer.
"What… is this?" he whispered, half in awe and half in terror.
He gripped the edge of the sink for support, but when he tried to move his hands, they wouldn't budge. It felt as though his palms were glued to the ceramic.
"Come on… let go!" he grunted, pulling with all his strength.
With a loud crack, the sink ripped away from the wall, water spraying everywhere. Ben stumbled backward, the sink still in his hands.
"Crap!" he shouted, setting the broken fixture on the floor. Panic set in as he stared at the damage. He needed answers, and fast.
"I need to call Johnny," he said, grabbing his phone.
An hour later, a loud knock echoed through the apartment. Ben cautiously opened the door to see Johnny Storm standing there, a curious expression on his face.
Ben yanked the door open with ease, unintentionally pulling it too hard. Johnny stepped inside, raising an eyebrow.
"What's going on, man? You sounded freaked out on the phone," Johnny said, his usual smirk replaced with genuine concern.
Ben sighed, pulling the blanket tighter around his body. "Just… promise you won't freak out, okay?"
Johnny crossed his arms. "No promises."
Ben took a deep breath and dropped the blanket, revealing his newly transformed physique. Johnny's eyes widened, but he quickly composed himself.
"Okay… I mean, good for you? Looks like you've been hitting the gym hard. What's the big deal?"
Ben shook his head. "Watch this."
He jumped toward the ceiling, landing effortlessly and sticking there. He hung upside down, arms crossed, as if gravity no longer applied to him.
Johnny staggered back, his mouth falling open. "Holy shi—"
"Language!" Ben shouted, jumping down with ease.
Johnny grabbed Ben by the shoulders, his expression serious. "Explain. Now."
Ben nodded and told him everything: the strange noise in the alley, the glitching spider, the bite, and how he passed out after feeling sick. By the time he finished, Johnny was sitting on the couch, his mind racing.
For a moment, the room was silent. Then, Johnny's face lit up with excitement.
"Dude! You have superpowers now! This is insane! You could be a hero like the guys in the Justice League!"
Ben hesitated, the weight of Johnny's words sinking in. "A hero…"
Johnny jumped to his feet. "Think about it! You've got crazy strength, you can stick to walls, who knows what else you can do? This is your chance to do something big!"
Ben thought about it for a moment, a smile creeping onto his face. "You're right. But if I'm gonna do this, I need to train first. I need to learn how to control these powers."
Johnny nodded, already brainstorming. "I know just the place. There's an old warehouse a few blocks from here. We can set up there and train."
Ben extended his hand, and Johnny grinned, clasping it. They performed their signature handshake, a relic from their childhood.
"Let's do this," Ben said, determination shining in his eyes.
Johnny smirked. "This is gonna be awesome."