"Can we help you with something?"
The guy next to me spoke like he could handle anything, and honestly, I didn't doubt it. Probably could.
Watching Jack's ashes being buried beside my father's gave me a strange sense of relief. There was no real benefit to it, no action to take, but still… it felt right.
I hadn't used the travel card. There was no point in wasting it. Going now would've been a waste anyway I could've spent time gathering tech and resources too, but that could always be done later.
If I was being honest, the real reason I wanted to leave was because I felt insecure here. It wasn't a rational decision, just an instinct.
I almost acted on it.
Then I pushed it down, forced myself to stay still, and controlled my emotions.
No running. Not yet.
"Yes, I don't want to leave."
I turned to him, deciding to try my luck. Worst case scenario? It didn't work out, and I'd just wait a few months until I could summon a guardian when needed. No big deal.
"You're not allowed to."
Dude started arguing like I didn't already know where this was going.
"But you're the one who said anything."
"Not about living alone."
Ah, there it was. The excuse. Like I hadn't seen that coming from a mile away.
"I wasn't staying with anyone. No chance. In just six months, I lost the only family I had. I wasn't about to start getting attached to people now."
"Stephen, you have a whole life—"
"I'll run if you try to make me," I cut him off. That got his attention. He stared, like he was trying to figure out if I was serious.
I was.
"I can handle myself. Housework, cooking, all that boring shit." I shrugged. "Paying bills ain't hard either."
"You're not 18 yet."
"That's why I'm asking."
"It'll affect you psychologically—"
"I'm still going to school, man, relax. I'm not about to turn into some basement goblin."
Silence.
He just stared at me.
Good. Maybe he was finally getting it.
"I'll try," he finally said.
That's all I wanted to hear.
From a SHIELD agent, no less.
Yeah, you heard that right.
Who would've guessed my uncle was working for them?
That's why they couldn't tell me the reason for his death.
Since I've decided to be active, I'll take the first step tonight.
...
Dinner was supposed to be peaceful.
Keyword: supposed to be.
Instead, the usual weekly interrogation was in full swing.
"How many times have I told you to stop wasting your time with those useless girls?!" The woman's hand slammed against the table, rattling the plates.
Across from her, the girl barely flinched. She'd heard this speech too many times to count.
"Your gift is too precious to be wasted on such petty things."
The man sitting beside them sighed, clearly used to this routine. "Honey, she's still a child. Don't be so hard on her."
That earned him a sharp glare. "All of this is your fault," the woman snapped, shifting her attention to her new target.
Ah, classic blame deflection.
The man wisely chose to cut his losses. "Alright, alright. You should go," he said, waving the girl off before the conversation spiraled further.
She didn't need to be told twice. Without a word, she stood and walked out, leaving her parents to their usual debate.
"She needs to understand," the woman continued once the girl was gone. "I'm doing this for her own good."
The man rubbed his temples. "She's not a weapon, you know. You can't just shape her into something convenient."
"We live in a dangerous world," the woman countered. "The more society values someone, the better their chances of survival."
He exhaled slowly, trying to keep his voice calm. "And if you push too hard, she won't know whether we're with her or against her."
That made her pause.
"She's been acting strange the past two days," the woman admitted. "I asked her about it, but she wouldn't tell me."
"Teenage rebellion," the man said with a small, knowing smile.
The woman huffed. "You." She pointed an accusatory finger at him, but there was no real heat in it this time.
He just raised his hands in surrender. "Give her space. Some lessons can't be taught, only experienced. She'll make mistakes, but she's smart enough to learn from them."
The woman sighed, then, after a moment, smiled. "She is smart."
The man nodded. "She is."
And just like that, the argument ended.
But Cindy's mood? Absolutely wrecked.
Because as soon as she stepped into her room, she realised she wasn't alone.
Her body tensed, instincts screaming as she took a slow step back, already calculating how fast she could slam the door shut.
"Who are you?" she demanded, eyes locked on the figure inside.
The stranger didn't move, didn't seem startled in the slightest. Instead, they spoke, voice calm.
"Do you feel different?" he ask. "Like something's changed? Your senses sharper, your strength greater than before? Maybe you're faster, more aware?"
She froze.
Her breath hitched as she fully processed the words.
Because the answer the undeniable, terrifying, thrilling answer was yes.
How did you..
She didn't even get to finish her sentence.
The voice cut in, sharp and cold.
"Anyone else know?"
"No, but how—"
"Good." No hesitation. "Keep it that way. And don't get any bright ideas about playing hero. You know what happens if someone finds out about you?"
He didn't wait for an answer.
"They take you. Lock you up. Cut you open."
Cindy's stomach twisted.
"They'll run tests. Then grab your parents. Run tests on them, too. Maybe they'll decide to make you a sibling. Or half-siblings."
Her mouth went dry.
"They'll cut them open, too." A pause. Just long enough for it to sink in. "Or maybe they'll make you a mother, just to see if it passes down."
Silence.
Thick. Heavy. Drowning her.
"And that's just the stuff you can think of."
Cindy swallowed hard. "Have I… become a mutant?"
"No."
"Then what happened to me?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "You know, don't you? That's why you're here."
A pause. Then
"Remember that trip to Oscorp? A radioactive spider bit two people."
Her breath hitched. "So I'm one of them…" she muttered, before another thought hit her. "Wait who's the second one?"
"You'll see soon enough."
That didn't sound ominous at all.
"Just remember if you decide to use your powers, know what you're getting into." The voice was steady, firm. "Out there? Countless organisations hunting for people like you. Some might want you to work for them. Others?"
A beat.
"They'll want to work on you."
"You ...what about you?" Cindy asked again, narrowing her eyes. "Who are you?"
She was grasping at straws now, trying to make sense of it. "Are you here to recruit me or something?" That's the only reason she can think of.
The figure chuckled. "While the answer I want to give is yes… for now, it's a no."
She frowned. "Then why are you even here?"
"I don't want you thinking you don't have a choice. You can pretend to be normal. You can work for someone. You can go solo. But before any of that? You need to actually know what you can do."
Her stomach twisted. "And you're just… letting me decide?"
"Should I not?"
"N-no!" She shook her head so fast she almost gave herself whiplash.
The person just hummed, stepping toward the window. Cindy's gut twisted again. "Wait you're leaving?"
The figure crouched on the windowsill. "Till next week, Cindy Moon."
And then they were gone.
"Hey !" She rushed to the window, but there was no one. Not even a shadow.
Just empty night.
With a sigh, she turned back toward her desk. That's when she noticed the page lying there.
Super strength.
Super stamina.
Super agility.
Super speed.
Super durability.
Super reflexes.
Superhuman equilibrium.
Wall-crawling.
Super senses.
Organic webbing.
Cindy stared at the list, then flopped onto her bed, eyes locked on the ceiling.
"…Am I really a spider now?"