Will be updating from Mon to Fri from now on. I want to give myself some time to work on an original novel on the weekends.
Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
The cool night air hits us as we burst out of the warehouse. I don't slow down, dragging Peter along with me. "Come on, we need to get out of here before the cops arrive," I say as I push him into a narrow alleyway, a short distance from the warehouse.
It stinks of stale garbage and damp concrete, but it's secluded enough. I lean against the brick wall, catching my breath, and finally turn to face Peter.
He stares back at me, his expression a mix of confusion and suspicion. "What the hell, Ethan? What were you doing there? How did you know?" he demands.
I try to deflect. "That's not important right now. What the hell was that, Peter? You were about to..."
"I don't know what came over me!" he explodes, his voice cracking. "I just... I was angry. So angry."
"Angry enough to kill someone?" I press, trying to keep my tone even, though I'm anything but calm inside.
He flinches, his eyes widening. "No! I…I don't know. Maybe. I just wanted him to pay."
"Pay for what, Peter?"
He looks down, his shoulders slumping. "It was him, Ethan. He shot Uncle Ben. I saw him running away. I could have stopped him earlier, robbing a convenience store, but I let him go."
His voice breaks, and tears well up in his eyes. "I let him go, Ethan. And now Ben is dead. I caused this. All of this is my fault!"
He slides down the wall, burying his face in his hands. The sobs wrack his body, and I realize that he's completely broken. He is consumed by guilt and grief. "He was my responsibility, Ethan. I could have saved him. I should have saved him."
I kneel beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. I'm not good with emotions, but I know that I need to say something, anything, to pull him back from the edge.
"Peter," I say quietly, "Ben is not dead."
He looks up at me, his eyes red and swollen. "What? What are you talking about?"
"He's alive, Peter. I gave him a Guardian Amulet. It protected him."
The effect is immediate. The tension drains from Peter's body. His shoulders slump. The shock and disbelief are etched on his face. The guilt that had been twisting his features seems to melt away, replaced by a glimmer of hope.
"He's...he's alive?" he stutters, his voice barely a whisper. "You're sure? You saw him?"
I nod, my heart lightening with the relief that washes over me. "I saw him, Peter. He was unconscious, but he was breathing. Remember the amulet I gave him before? It saved him. Uncle Ben is currently in the hospital. So don't worry, Peter, he is alive."
Peter's body is limp, and he sags against me. I tighten my grip, supporting his weight.
"Thank god… Thank god…" he repeats, a mantra of pure relief.
"Want to go see him?" I ask, my voice gentle. I need to get him out of here, away from the scene.
He lifts his head, his eyes still wet with tears, but the fear has receded, replaced by hope.
"…Yeah, let's go see him."
I help Peter stand, his legs still shaky. We stumble out of the alley and I hail a cab, giving the driver the name of the hospital.
The hospital is a stark contrast to the dark alleyway. It is filled with harsh fluorescent lights and the constant beeping of machines. The air smells of antiseptic and fear.
We find Ben's room and stand outside the door. I glance through the small window. Ben is resting in bed, seemingly fine. He is reading a newspaper, his brow furrowed in concentration. The Guardian Amulet is faintly glowing under his shirt.
"I know you have a lot of questions about me. But go see Uncle Ben first." I say.
Peter offers me a watery smile. "Thanks, Ethan."
He pushes open the door and steps inside. I watch him, my heart aching with a mix of relief and sadness. I know that this is a moment he needs to have alone.
Inside the room, I see Peter rushing to Ben's bedside. I can't hear what they're saying, but I see Ben's face light up with surprise, then relief, as he takes Peter's hand. The old man pulls Peter close, examining him carefully.
Ben looks relieved, saying something to Peter that makes him nod. I could see Peter, even from here, start tearing up again.
The kid begins apologizing, his voice thick with emotion, but Ben shakes his head, his expression soft and forgiving. I see him reach out, squeezing Peter's hand reassuringly.
Ben is a good man.
The two of them kept talking for a long time, and Ben started nodding as Peter rambled on, but the old man seemed like he was doing better.
As I saw Peter and Ben, I heard a lot of talk of forgiveness, so that was good.
So, they seemed to be doing well. It's nice to know that I helped out.
I step back from the door, giving them the space they need. The sound of their voices, filled with love and relief, fills the sterile hospital room. It's a beautiful moment, and I know that I don't belong there. I need to think, and I need to be alone.
I leave the hospital and walk out into the night. The city is still buzzing with activity, but I barely notice it. My mind is racing, trying to process everything that has happened.
I saved Uncle Ben. I changed Peter's path, preventing him from making a mistake that would have haunted him for the rest of his life.
Damn, I'm good.
A grin spreads across my face. Who knows what the timeline implications are, but honestly? I don't give a damn. This reality had given me a chance to actually make a difference, and not just be a passive observer like before. I wasn't going to waste it.
Though, it does make you think… what if Miguel O'Hara shows up?
I chuckle, picturing the brooding Spider-Man from another dimension popping in to yell at me about preserving the "sacred timeline." The image is kind of hilarious.
"Alright, if that emo vampire shows up, I'm going to have to send him and his team of timeline police spider people packing, I mean, who is he to tell me what I can and cannot do?"
With a whistle, I summon Behemoth. The bike roars to life. The city streets blur as I speed back to my apartment.
***
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