Chapter 3
The city felt alive beneath him as Peter swung through the streets for the first time. His webbing held, his arms strong as they propelled him forward. It was exhilarating, terrifying, and strangely liberating. He landed on a rooftop overlooking the jewelry store, crouching low to stay hidden.
Inside, two men were stuffing diamond necklaces into bags. Peter’s senses prickled as he surveyed the scene. His heart pounded in his chest. *You can do this,* he told himself.
He leapt through the skylight, landing awkwardly on the floor. The robbers turned, startled.
“Uh, hi,” Peter said, his voice muffled by the mask. “You guys should really consider a different career path. I hear security’s hiring.”
The fight that followed was messy. Peter's movements were clumsy, his punches awkward. One of the men swung a crowbar at him, and Peter barely dodged in time. But his reflexes kicked in, and with a mix of raw power and sheer luck, he managed to web both men to the wall before the police arrived.
As he swung away, adrenaline coursing through him, Peter realized the fight wasn’t just with them. It was with himself—with his fear, his guilt, and the weight of the masks he wore.
---
The next day, Peter was called into the principal’s office. He sat nervously, the scratches on his arms hidden under a long-sleeved hoodie.
“Peter,” the principal began, adjusting her glasses. “I’ve been reviewing your academic record, and I think you know you’re…extraordinary.”
Peter blinked. “Uh, thank you?”
“You’ve already completed all the credits required to graduate high school. With your scores and achievements, you could be done by the end of the week.” She smiled. “Colleges would be lucky to have you.”
Peter should have felt relief, or pride, but instead, he felt hollow. Graduation meant leaving behind another mask—Peter Parker the high schooler. Could he keep up his other identities without it?
“That’s…great,” Peter said, his voice small. “Thank you.”
As he walked out of the office, the weight of everything pressed down on him. The city was a web of responsibilities pulling him in different directions, and Peter was caught at the center of it all. But he wasn’t ready to stop fighting.
Not yet.
—-
Peter’s inbox pinged later that night, the glow of his laptop illuminating his tired face. Dr. Cho had replied to one of his emails, as had Dr. Banner. Normally, this exchange brought Peter a sense of normalcy—proof that in one corner of his fractured life, he could exist as someone important, someone equal. But tonight was different.
Both replies held the same sentiment: *We’d like to meet you.*
Peter’s heart raced as he reread their messages. Dr. Cho mentioned a conference in the city where she was scheduled to speak. Dr. Banner added a location and time for coffee, casually dropping that it was “safe for curious minds like yours.” They had no idea who he really was—just a kid juggling a web of secrets.
Could he meet them? Should he? What if they found out? Peter couldn’t shake the weight of their faith in him, but the thought of letting them down was paralyzing.