Chapter 51: Fraying Threads
The city never slept, but Peter Parker felt like he hadn't either. After his run-in with Wraith, the adrenaline rush that had carried him through the night was long gone, replaced by a dull exhaustion. His body ached from the fight, and his mind wouldn't stop spinning with questions.
The sun was rising by the time Peter finally changed out of his suit and collapsed onto his bed. But sleep didn't come easily. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the shadows, felt the cold, and heard Wraith's voice.
The rift is a beacon…
Peter was jolted awake by the sound of his alarm. He groaned, slapping at the clock until it stopped its shrill ringing. His head pounded, and his body felt like it had been put through a blender. He glanced at his phone: three missed calls from Aunt May, a text from Ned asking about homework, and a reminder that he had a biology quiz in second period.
"Great," Peter muttered, dragging himself out of bed. He shuffled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. As he stared at his reflection, he barely recognized the person looking back at him. Dark circles framed his eyes, and his usual boyish energy was nowhere to be found.
"You're falling apart, Parker," he said to himself.
At Midtown High
By the time Peter made it to school, the hallways were already packed with students. He slipped through the crowd, trying to blend in. His plan to lay low was immediately derailed when MJ appeared at his locker, her arms crossed and an expression that told him he wasn't off the hook.
"Peter," she said, her voice a mix of concern and frustration. "You've been dodging my calls."
Peter winced. "I wasn't dodging. I've just been… busy."
MJ raised an eyebrow. "Busy? You mean like last night when Oscorp exploded? You were there, weren't you?"
"I—" Peter hesitated, searching for the right words. "I wasn't there there. I just… got caught up in everything."
MJ sighed. "Pete, you don't have to keep doing this alone. Whatever's going on, you can talk to me."
Peter's heart ached at her words, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the full truth. Not yet. "I'll be fine, MJ. Promise."
She didn't look convinced, but the bell rang before she could press further. "We're not done talking about this," she said as she walked away.
Peter leaned against his locker, rubbing his temples. His personal life was slipping through his fingers, and he wasn't sure how to hold it together.
After School: A Trip to Oscorp
Peter knew he couldn't ignore the rift or Wraith's warning. After school, he changed into his suit and swung back to Oscorp. The building was still cordoned off, with police and Oscorp officials swarming the area.
Peter stayed out of sight, slipping into the shadows as he searched for any clues Wraith might have left behind. The site was eerily quiet, the aftermath of the previous night's battle still evident in the shattered windows and scorched ground.
As he crept through the ruins, something caught his eye: a small, metallic device half-buried in the debris. It was sleek and black, its surface etched with strange, glowing symbols that Peter didn't recognize.
What is this?
He picked it up carefully, turning it over in his hands. The device hummed faintly, and as Peter examined it, a wave of dizziness washed over him. He stumbled back, his spider-sense flaring wildly.
The hum grew louder, and Peter dropped the device, watching as it began to pulse with light. Before he could react, the air around it distorted, and a faint, ghostly image appeared above it—a recording.
Norman Osborn's face flickered into view, his expression cold and calculating.
"This is Project Nexus," Norman's voice said. "The culmination of Oscorp's research into the rift. The power contained within the rift is unlike anything we've encountered, and it will be the key to humanity's evolution—or its destruction. The choice is ours."
The recording ended abruptly, leaving Peter staring at the device in disbelief.
Project Nexus? Peter's mind raced. If Oscorp had been experimenting with the rift, how much did Norman know about the dangers? And what did Wraith mean when they said the rift was a beacon?
Before he could process any further, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I told you not to interfere, Spider-Man."
Peter whirled around, his heart leaping into his throat. Wraith was standing on a nearby ledge, their red eyes glowing in the dim light.
"Do you ever take a day off?" Peter quipped, though his voice was tight.
Wraith stepped closer, their movements deliberate. "You don't understand what you're dealing with. The rift is not just a portal—it's a door. And the things on the other side… they're already coming."
Peter squared his shoulders. "Then maybe you should help me stop them instead of playing cryptic messenger."
Wraith tilted their head. "You're too late. The rift's power is beyond your control. You can't save this world."
Peter's fists clenched. "Watch me."
Before Wraith could respond, Peter fired a web at the device and pulled it toward him, tucking it into his bag. Wraith moved to stop him, but Peter was faster, swinging away before they could attack.
Back at Peter's Apartment
Safe in his room, Peter placed the device on his desk, staring at it like it might explode. He replayed Norman's recording in his head, trying to piece together the puzzle.
Norman had called the rift the key to humanity's evolution. But Wraith had called it a beacon, a warning of something much darker. The two narratives didn't add up, and Peter had a sinking feeling that the truth was worse than either of them had admitted.
His phone buzzed again, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was Aunt May this time.
"Peter," she said when he answered, her voice warm but concerned. "I haven't heard from you all day. Are you alright?"
Peter sighed, his exhaustion creeping into his voice. "Yeah, I'm fine, Aunt May. Just… school stuff."
"Well, don't forget to take care of yourself," she said gently. "You've been working so hard lately. You need to rest."
Peter smiled faintly. "I will. Thanks, Aunt May."
As he hung up, Peter felt a pang of guilt. He wasn't just keeping the truth from MJ—he was keeping it from everyone who cared about him. But he couldn't stop now. The rift, Wraith, and Oscorp's experiments were all connected, and if he didn't figure it out, no one else would.
Peter turned back to the device on his desk. "Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what you're hiding."
End of Chapter 51