Caught Between the Lines
The streets of the city were in chaos. Sirens blared, and the police radio crackled with panic as reports of the Lizard spread throughout the area. Winter swung from building to building, her heart racing, the weight of the situation heavy on her shoulders. The Lizard wasn’t just a threat anymore—he was actively trying to turn the entire city into creatures like him.
As Winter swung closer to Oscorp Tower, she saw the flashing lights of police cars blocking the roads ahead. A barricade was set up, and officers were pouring out, rifles trained at the streets.
“Not good,” she muttered to herself, her spider-senses tingling. She knew the police didn’t trust her, especially Karina’s father. It didn’t help that they had no idea how bad the situation really was.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the city. Winter stopped mid-swing, perching on the ledge of a nearby building as her eyes scanned the horizon. There, in the distance, she saw him—Dr. Conners in his monstrous Lizard form, tearing through the streets toward Oscorp.
The police below opened fire, bullets bouncing off the Lizard’s thick, scaled skin. But it didn’t stop him. He snarled, swinging his massive tail at a group of officers, sending them crashing into nearby cars. Before anyone could react, the Lizard released a thick green gas from a small canister, spreading it through the air like a sickening fog.
Winter’s heart sank as she watched the police struggle, coughing and writhing in pain as their bodies began to change. Their skin turned scaly, their limbs elongating as they transformed into grotesque versions of themselves. The Lizard’s plan was already in motion.
“I have to stop this,” she whispered to herself.
Without wasting any more time, Winter launched herself into the air, swinging as fast as she could toward Oscorp Tower. But as she soared over the police barricade, a burst of gunfire rang out below. She felt a sharp sting in her side—a taser round hit her square in the back.
Electricity coursed through her body, her muscles seizing up as her vision blurred. The world tilted, and before she knew it, Winter crashed into the pavement with a sickening thud. Everything went dark for a moment.
She was barely conscious when she felt someone grab her by the shoulders, rough hands yanking her mask halfway off. A familiar voice called out over the ringing in her ears.
“Hold your fire! She’s down!”
It was Karina’s father.
Winter’s head spun, her limbs heavy and numb from the electric shock. She blinked, trying to shake off the haze. Through her blurry vision, she saw Karina’s father standing above her, staring down at her exposed face.
“No… not like this…” Winter thought, panic surging through her. She tried to move, but her body refused to cooperate.
“Spidermin?” Karina’s father muttered in disbelief, looking down at her face. “You’re just a kid…”
He reached for her mask, pulling it down further to reveal more of her face. Winter’s mind screamed for her to move, to stop him, but her body was slow to react.
But then, something snapped inside her.
Her spider-senses flared, and adrenaline surged through her veins. With a sudden burst of strength, she yanked her hands free from the cuffs, shattering the metal restraints with ease. Before Karina’s father could react, Winter shot webs at the other officers surrounding her, covering their faces in sticky webs to prevent them from seeing her fully.
“What the hell—!” one officer shouted, struggling against the webbing.
Winter flipped onto her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly yanked her mask back into place, covering her face once again. She could feel the gazes of the police officers all around her, but none of them could see her properly through the webs.
Karina’s father stood frozen in front of her, his gun raised. He looked conflicted, his eyes filled with both shock and uncertainty. Winter knew she was cornered, but she couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
“Please…” Winter said, her voice trembling with desperation. “You have to let me go. Karina’s at Oscorp. The Lizard is heading there, and if I don’t stop him… she could die.”
Karina’s father hesitated, his grip on his gun tightening. “You’re telling me my daughter’s in danger?”
“Yes,” Winter pleaded, taking a step forward. “I swear I’m trying to save her, and everyone else. But I can’t do it if you don’t let me go.”
For a long moment, Karina’s father stared at her, his jaw clenched. Winter could see the conflict in his eyes—he didn’t trust her, but he couldn’t ignore the urgency in her voice. He slowly lowered his gun, though his expression remained hard.
“If anything happens to her…” he began, his voice laced with warning.
“It won’t,” Winter promised. “I’ll keep her safe.”
Without wasting another second, Winter shot a webline and launched herself into the air, swinging toward Oscorp. Her heart was pounding, her mind racing with thoughts of Karina. She had to get there before the Lizard did.
Just as she was gaining speed, a sharp pain shot through her leg. Winter gasped in pain, her grip faltering as she nearly lost her balance. Looking down, she saw blood seeping through her suit—a bullet had grazed her leg.
“Damn it…” she muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth against the pain.
But there was no time to stop. She pushed through the pain, forcing herself to swing faster, higher. Oscorp Tower loomed in the distance, the glowing lights of the city blurring beneath her.
She couldn’t let the Lizard win.