Cracking the Code
After the life-altering events of her first date with Karina Yu—and the fact that Karina had actually kissed her—Winter’s life seemed to have taken a wild turn, and she wasn’t sure if it was for better or worse. On one hand, she was still riding the high of her newfound relationship with Karina, but on the other hand, there was a deeper, more pressing matter gnawing at her.
Her father.
Richard Parker’s mysterious past had always been a part of Winter’s life that she had never fully understood. She had spent years wondering what had happened to him, and after discovering the suitcase filled with cryptic files from Oscorp, the questions only multiplied. The more she dug into Oscorp’s history, the more she realized her father had been involved in something huge. Something potentially dangerous.
One name had come up repeatedly in her research: Dr. Curt Connors, her father’s former colleague at Oscorp. Winter had decided that if she was ever going to get to the bottom of her father’s disappearance, Connors was her best shot.
---
After some persistence and snooping, Winter finally managed to track down Dr. Connors. He was a kind man with a warm smile, though Winter couldn’t help but notice a deep sadness in his eyes. His office was cluttered with scientific papers, old lab equipment, and photos of his days at Oscorp. It was clear that his glory days were behind him, but Connors was still passionate about the research he and Winter’s father had once worked on.
At first, Dr. Connors had been hesitant to talk about her father. “Richard was a brilliant man,” he’d said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “But the project we were working on… it was dangerous. Too dangerous.”
Winter, however, was persistent, and after a few visits, Connors began to open up. They bonded over their shared curiosity about Oscorp’s old project—an attempt to create a groundbreaking formula that would revolutionize biology and genetics. Winter, being the genius she was, quickly absorbed the information Connors provided and spent countless nights pouring over her father’s notes.
Days turned into weeks as Winter and Connors worked together, trying to crack the code that Richard Parker had left behind. Winter found herself fascinated by the intricacies of the formula, losing herself in the puzzle-like nature of the project. It was complex, but Winter’s determination and intellect pushed her through.
And finally, after what felt like an eternity, Winter did it.
One late night in Connors’ lab, her fingers flew over the keyboard, inputting a sequence of numbers and calculations. The computer beeped as the final piece of the puzzle fell into place, and the formula appeared on the screen—complete.
“We did it,” Winter whispered, staring at the screen in disbelief. “We actually did it.”
Connors leaned over her shoulder, his eyes wide with awe. “My god… Richard would’ve been so proud.”
Winter’s heart swelled with pride. She had done it—she had cracked her father’s code. But there was one more thing she needed in return for her help.
“Dr. Connors,” Winter began hesitantly, “I need a favor.”
“Of course,” Connors said, still dazed from their breakthrough. “Anything.”
Winter explained how she had been using Oscorp’s tech to create her web fluid, though she left out the part about her spider abilities. Connors didn’t need to know everything. She asked if he could help her acquire more of the product Oscorp was developing—the same one she had snagged during her first visit.
Connors agreed without hesitation, grateful for Winter’s help in perfecting the formula. With her stock of web fluid materials replenished, Winter knew she was one step closer to mastering her newfound powers.
---
It had been a long and exhausting week, but Winter felt like she was finally making progress. Between her father’s research, her new abilities, and her budding relationship with Karina, things were moving fast. And now… now she needed a change. A new start.
That’s how Winter found herself standing in the bathroom of her small apartment with Ningning, holding a pair of scissors and a box of blonde hair dye.
“Are you sure about this?” Ningning asked, raising an eyebrow. “I mean, I’ve never seen you with anything but that floppy brown mop.”
Winter looked at her reflection in the mirror, her chestnut hair hanging loosely around her face. She had been so used to blending into the background her whole life, but now everything was different. She was different.
“I’m sure,” Winter said firmly. “I need a change.”
Ningning shrugged. “Alright, but don’t blame me if you end up looking like a wannabe K-pop idol.”
An hour later, Winter stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Her once messy, dark hair was now a sharp, sleek blonde bob that framed her face perfectly. It was edgy, it was bold, and for the first time in her life, Winter felt… confident.
“Holy shit,” Ningning breathed, standing behind her. “You look *hot.”
Winter blinked. “Do I?”
Ningning smacked her on the shoulder. “Duh! You’re gonna turn heads tomorrow. Hell, you’re turning my head right now.”
Winter smiled, feeling a sense of pride she wasn’t used to. She had always been the awkward, nerdy girl that no one noticed, but now? Now she felt powerful. And she wasn’t just talking about her superhuman abilities.
---
The next day at school was exactly what Ningning had predicted.
Winter walked into the campus, her new look drawing the attention of everyone she passed. Whispers followed her down the hall, people stealing glances as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.
Winter Parker, the girl who used to be invisible, was suddenly the center of attention. And it wasn’t just because of her new haircut. Her posture had changed. She walked with confidence, her head held high, her steps purposeful. It was a stark contrast to the shy, clumsy Winter of a few weeks ago.
Even Karina noticed.
Winter had barely stepped into the classroom when Karina’s eyes locked onto her. For a brief moment, Winter saw a flash of something in Karina’s expression—surprise, followed by… jealousy?
Karina quickly made her way over to Winter, her usual calm and collected demeanor replaced by something more intense.
“You cut your hair,” Karina said, her tone flat but her eyes sharp as she scanned Winter from head to toe.
“Uh, yeah,” Winter replied, nervously scratching the back of her neck. “Needed a change.”
Karina’s gaze lingered on Winter’s new look, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You look… different.”
Winter swallowed. “Is that… bad?”
Karina’s eyes narrowed for a second before her expression softened, her lips curling into a smile. “No. You look amazing.”
Before Winter could react, Karina looped her arm through Winter’s, pulling her closer. The gesture was subtle, but Winter could feel the possessiveness behind it. It was almost as if Karina was silently declaring to everyone around them that Winter was hers.
Winter’s heart raced as Karina leaned in, her voice soft but firm. “Just remember, you’re mine, Winter Parker.”
Winter didn’t know whether to be thrilled or terrified. But one thing was for sure—she liked the way Karina’s claim made her feel. And as Karina led her away, Winter couldn’t help but smile, a mixture of nerves and excitement bubbling in her chest.