Marvel: The Spider-Grind

Peter and Harry stepped out of the car, greeted by the usual bustle of Midtown High. The sun shone brightly, and the familiar sounds of morning chatter and laughter filled the air. Harry tossed his bag over his shoulder and nudged Peter with a grin.

"Ready to see Oscorp? Don't fall asleep during the tour," Harry joked.

Peter chuckled but couldn't shake the tension building inside him. Oscorp wasn't just a field trip. It was a monumental moment in the Marvel universe, and he needed to make sure everything stayed on track or as close to it as possible.

As they boarded the bus with their classmates, Peter scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces. Gwen Stacy was already seated near the front, her nose buried in a book. Peter gave her a small wave, and she glanced up with a smile before returning to her reading.

He took a seat next to Harry and stared out the window, his thoughts racing.

The radioactive spider. It's supposed to bite me today. But what if it doesn't? What if things have already changed?

The idea sent a shiver down his spine. The butterfly effect could ruin everything, and without Spider-Man, the future could spiral into chaos.

"I need to find that spider," Peter muttered under his breath, determined.

The Oscorp building loomed ahead, its glass exterior shining under the sun. As the students filed inside, they were greeted by a guide who welcomed them warmly and began the tour.

Peter stayed alert, his eyes searching around for any sign of the spider. He couldn't afford to miss it.

Their first stop was Dr. Curt Connors' lab. The man himself stood in front of them, explaining his research on regeneration with a nervous energy that immediately caught Peter's attention.

Dr. Connors gestured toward a tank filled with lizards, his voice wavering slightly. "These creatures have incredible regenerative abilities. Imagine being able to regrow lost limbs or repair damaged tissue."

Peter narrowed his eyes, studying Connors closely. There was something off about him. He was a little impatient and desperate.

Harry leaned over and whispered, "He's in his mad scientist phase. My dad says he's too obsessed with his research."

Peter nodded but kept his suspicions to himself. He's already started the experiments. It won't be long before he becomes the Lizard.

As the tour continued, the group was led to a section dedicated to animal trials. The guide explained the ethical considerations of their work, but Peter's attention was elsewhere.

His heart skipped a beat when he saw the spider containment unit. The glass case that was supposed to hold the radioactive spider was empty.

It's already escaped, Peter thought, panic rising.

He looked around, scanning the room for any sign of the spider. It could be anywhere. What if it bit someone else? What if it was lost forever?

"Excuse me," Peter said, raising his hand. "Can we take pictures here?"

The guide hesitated before nodding. "Just make sure not to touch anything."

Peter pulled out his phone, using it as an excuse to move through the crowd. His eyes darted across the room, searching for any hint of movement.

He spotted MJ standing near the edge of the group, her back to him as she posed for a picture with her friends. Something small and dark scuttled across her shoulder.

There it is.

Peter's breath caught. The spider was crawling down MJ's arm, and she didn't even notice.

Keeping his composure, Peter moved closer. "Hey, MJ, let me take a picture of you," he said casually, holding up his phone.

MJ turned to face him, a playful smile on her lips. "Really, Parker? Didn't know you cared."

She struck a pose, oblivious to the spider. Peter stepped closer, pretending to adjust the angle. His hand darted out, and he grabbed the spider, cupping it carefully in his palm.

MJ blushed, mistaking his awkward movements for nervousness. "Well, don't keep me waiting, Parker. Take the picture."

Peter snapped a quick photo, his mind racing. He had the spider. Now what?

Peter slipped to the back of the group, his heart pounding as he stared at the creature in his hand. It was small, unassuming, yet it held the power to change his life forever.

He hesitated.

What if this doesn't work? What if it's just a regular spider? What if something goes wrong and I don't get the powers?

Doubt crept in, but he forced himself to take a deep breath. He had come too far to back out now.

Before Peter could steel his resolve, Harry threw an arm around his shoulders.

"There you are, Pete! What's with the sneaking around?" Harry asked, laughing.

The sudden movement made Peter stumble, and he instinctively shoved the spider into his pocket. The creature, agitated by the sudden shift, bit down on his skin.

Peter winced, shaking his arm. The bite stung, but he managed to keep his reaction subtle.

"Nothing, Harry," Peter said, forcing a smile. "Just trying to get some good photos."

Before he could check the spider, a classmate nearby let out a yelp. "Ew, a spider!"

Peter turned in time to see the girl crush the spider under her shoe.

His heart sank. The radioactive spider was gone, its remains smeared on the floor.

Nobody can know about the bite, Peter thought, hiding his discomfort as the group moved on.

By the time Peter got home, he was utterly exhausted. His body felt heavy, and his thoughts were muddled. Aunt May greeted him with concern.

"You look tired, Peter. Did you have a long day?" she asked.

"Yeah, just the usual field trip stuff," Peter replied, trying to sound normal.

He helped her set the table for dinner, but his mind was elsewhere. The bite was starting to itch, and he couldn't stop wondering if it had worked.

After dinner, Peter went up to his room, closing the door behind him. He checked the spot where the spider had bitten him, but there was no obvious change.

Maybe it's too early, he thought. Or maybe it didn't work at all.

Frustration gnawed at him as the hours dragged on. He kept waiting for something.. anything, to happen. But there was no surge of power, no sudden transformation.

Eventually, Peter gave up and climbed into bed. His eyes felt heavy, and the events of the day played through his mind like a broken record.

If it worked, I'll know soon enough, he thought as he drifted off to sleep.

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