Chapter 49: Beyond the Rift
The escape from Oscorp felt like a blur. Peter and Harry had managed to avoid being caught in the crumbling building, the alien creature they had just faced now nothing more than a smoldering pile of rubble. But even though they were out, the feeling of being pursued lingered in the air.
Peter's heart still pounded in his chest as he swung Harry out of the danger zone, the two of them soaring above the wreckage of Oscorp's headquarters. Harry winced in pain, his side still bleeding from the creature's claws, but he managed to stay conscious.
"We need to get you patched up," Peter said, gritting his teeth as he swung through the night. "Hang in there, Harry."
"I'm good," Harry replied through clenched teeth, though his voice was strained. "But we need to figure out what just happened. What the hell was that thing?"
Peter didn't have an answer, not a good one at least. The rift had opened, and now the things that had been kept behind it were pouring out. The idea of alien forces flooding their world felt like a nightmare—one that Peter wasn't sure he could stop. Oscorp's experiments, Norman Osborn's obsession, and that creature were all pieces of a puzzle that seemed to be fitting together in a way that left Peter with more questions than answers.
But there was one thing he knew for sure: whatever was coming through the rift was only the beginning.
They reached a rooftop on the outskirts of the city, far enough away from Oscorp's destruction to catch their breath. Peter landed with Harry in tow, gently placing his friend on the ground.
"Alright," Peter said, crouching down to inspect Harry's wound. "This is going to sting, but we don't have time for hospital visits."
"Don't remind me," Harry groaned, rolling up his shirt to reveal the claw marks, deep and angry. "I'll be fine, Pete. Just make it quick."
Peter's fingers worked quickly, applying pressure to the wound and webbing it up temporarily to stop the bleeding. As he finished, he glanced over at his friend, his mind racing.
"We need to figure out who or what's behind this," Peter said, the frustration in his voice betraying the growing worry he was trying to suppress. "Oscorp's not just playing with fire anymore—they're fanning it."
Harry shifted uncomfortably, trying to sit up. "And the rift? What do we do about that? I'm sure Norman's going to try and get it under control, but now—"
Peter held up a hand. "Norman's not the only problem. That thing we fought earlier? It was just one of the many that could come through. If we don't find a way to close the rift or stop the influx, this city—hell, this whole world—is done."
Harry looked over at Peter, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "So what do we do? We can't just wait around for another disaster to hit."
Peter took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "We need to find out more about what Oscorp has been doing with the rift. If they have more devices like the one we saw in Norman's office, they could be planning to open it even wider. We need to stop that."
Harry's gaze hardened. "You want to go back into the lion's den?"
Peter hesitated. "I don't see a choice. Norman's got the answers—and the resources. If we don't stop him, we're all in trouble."
Harry ran a hand through his hair, clearly shaken. "I can't go back there. Not yet. I need to… sort myself out. But I'll help however I can."
Peter nodded, knowing that Harry needed time to recover—physically and emotionally. The last thing he wanted was to drag his friend back into danger before he was ready. But Peter also knew that time was running out.
"I'll head back to Oscorp," Peter said quietly. "I'll do it on my own."
As Peter turned to leave, Harry's voice stopped him. "Be careful, Pete."
Peter smiled faintly. "When am I ever not?"
The next day, Peter was back on the streets of New York, but this time, it felt different. The city was still recovering from the chaos of the night before. News reports were flooding in about an unexplained disaster at Oscorp, and rumors were starting to spread about strange creatures sighted near the site. Peter knew that the public was only seeing the tip of the iceberg. He had a much darker picture in his head, and it was growing clearer by the hour.
As he swung through the city, Peter's mind kept drifting back to the creature they'd fought—its glowing red eyes, its unnatural strength, the way it seemed to flicker in and out of existence. It wasn't from this world, that much was certain. But what was it? And why was it here?
He landed on a rooftop overlooking Oscorp's wreckage. The building was still smoldering, the scars of the battle from the previous night obvious in the remains. Police, fire trucks, and emergency responders crowded around the area, trying to keep the chaos under control. But Peter knew better than anyone that whatever had been unleashed was far from over.
He turned to leave when something caught his eye—an unusual figure standing just beyond the debris. A person, or rather, a shadowy figure clad in dark armor, its form indistinct, shifting like it was part of the surrounding darkness.
Peter's spider-sense tingled, sending an immediate warning to his brain. This wasn't just a random observer—it was something more. Someone watching.
Peter crouched low, his instincts urging him to stay hidden. Whoever it was, they weren't just passing through. They were waiting. Watching him.
As the figure stepped closer to the wreckage, Peter's thoughts raced. Was this another threat from the rift? Another creature from beyond the world? Or was it something else entirely? Whatever it was, Peter knew he couldn't afford to ignore it.
He swung closer, staying out of sight, trying to get a better look. The figure reached the edge of the wreckage, seemingly inspecting the ruins, its movements slow and deliberate. It wasn't attacking, but there was something ominous about it.
Peter needed answers, and fast.
End of Chapter 49