EVER feel like the universe has a twisted sense of humor?
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyE0zFmCldB
Yeah, that's pretty much my life.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7PslhSatr
I'm Peter Parker. Six months ago, a radioactive spider decided to make me its personal science experiment. Overnight, I went from awkward teen to... well, awkward teen with superpowers.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6Nnx5mQnp
At first, I thought that bite was the moment everything changed.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt07xUCH7WX
I was wrong.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ2I63IvHT
See, that spider gave me strength, speed, and sixth sense that puts seeing dead people to shame—it's a movie reference—Anyways, I used them to make money, thought I was helping out at home.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhuFcYKeAf
Thought that was the reason I got these powers.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKaPhXIAtq
Wrong again.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNGeeVmqU0
The real moment that changed my life was the day I lost Uncle Ben. That's when I realized something he used to always tell me, something I didn't quite get until it was too late...
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIHQpqy0QT
With great power comes great responsibility.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr5Z9r26V4
So now, I'm the "Amazing Spider-Man." Okay, amazing might be pushing it. How about the "Spectacular Spider-Man"? ...No? Alright, we'll stick with Spider-Man for now.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzFElO5zg1
And what does that job entail? Usually keeping the city safe from your everyday criminals like...
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWFKbA6JWm
"The Easter Bunny?" I mutter, swinging onto the scene. A girl in a rabbit suit is sprinting out of a bank with a bag of cash.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Ht1RThKe
No way. The Easter Bunny robs banks?
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0pKflFQeE
I fire a web at the money bag, stopping her in her tracks. "What's up, doc?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8qlofnbJl
She turns to me, unimpressed. "Wrong rabbit, genius." Then she yanks me in by my own web and clocks me across the face.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tYyTc1Eui
I just got punched by a rabbit.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGEeBcuYKl
Awesome.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VrPpNSher
I flip backwards, dodging her next swing, and start webbing her up from all angles. She's fast, but I'm faster. Before she can finish her next insult, I have her cocooned in webbing. "Hey, what are you mmmrrfffff—"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtlACjJ5nw
"Silly rabbit," I grin, pulling out a scrap of paper from my backpack, "bank robberies are for felons." I say with a smile, scribbling "busted" on the scrap of paper, slapping it on her forehead, and taking out my phone for a quick selfie. "Look, I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm late for class. Say cheese!"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV9ul9S7eO
She glares through the webbing, muttering angrily.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExBJgDjQ5n
"Good enough," I say, snapping the picture just as the cops roll up. "Finally! This Spider's got a tight schedule, y'know?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelnpeBeup6
Captain Stacy steps out of his squad car. He looks at me, hand hovering near his gun. Used to be friends with his daughter, Gwen, back when things were simpler. But these days, we're not exactly in the same social circles.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIXOhFSF47
"You know we're going to have to bring you in for—"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVASpsV3VZ
"Yeah, yeah, paperwork's not really my thing," I say, firing a webline to the nearest rooftop. "You guys got this, right? Cool! See ya!"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4i6lygbJW
I swing off, bouncing between rooftops.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjPDjaqjY6
Losing Uncle Ben taught me something I'll never forget. I hung up the wrestling suit and built myself these web-shooters. I promised to never let these powers go to waste again.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvc2hu2tvn
Because now, I know better.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH49tXZFG60
I've got a responsibility.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43MV519xoQ
And right now, that's making it to school.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLs0WYdYJy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn2JqKWt7P
"Peter? Peter, you there?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2gM9v4G1z
I snap out of my daze and look up from my desk. "Yeah, sorry. You were saying something about... lizards?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaQCrsvT9C
"Lizards? What?" Harry raises an eyebrow. "No, dude. I was asking if I should ask out Felicia. Good idea or bad idea? And just so you know, even if you say no, I'm still doing it."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNpJU0gX1K
I shrug, trying to keep my face neutral. "I don't know, man. She's... strange."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkTkZF9LTH
"Strange? By strange do you mean hot? 'Cause in that case, she's super strange. Mega strange." Harry glances over to where Felicia's sitting at the back of the class, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah, definitely strange."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiyavEzZHi
I glance over at her too. Felicia Hardy, all black leather and a permanent "don't talk to me" vibe. She's like the human version of a locked door—mysterious, with "stay out" written all over her. "No, I mean regular strange. Like, why does she always wear black? Why does she hide cats in her locker? And where did she even come from?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2g9zNIbJJ
Harry shrugs, already standing up. "Don't know. Don't care." He flashes me a grin. "Watch and learn, Parker."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCeAIDPyNC
I laugh under my breath. "Yeah, sure. Don't say I didn't warn you."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFGrobKruZ
"You didn't."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiFyf1sTRS
We stare at each other for a beat.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwMCJPG2qq
"Okay, well... now I am. Don't do it, Harry."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1ncFUx8Eq
Harry rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Just sit back, Parker, I've got this."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VsrplBmT9
I watch him swagger over to Felicia's desk, placing his hand on it like he's auditioning for a teen drama. Felicia's face morphs from bored indifference to... well, disgust. Classic.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEXzUlOVjA
I turn away before I have to witness the train wreck. Instead, I try to refocus on last night's run-in with the Lizard. Dr. Connors, again. He'd gotten away—again. Seriously, is there some kind of bad guy handbook on escaping? Because if there is, I'd like to borrow a copy. I've only been doing this Spider-Man thing for six months, but every time it feels like I'm on the edge of flunking my superhero midterms.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaN2mnkem5
And my ribs? Don't get me started. I'm pretty sure they've all been individually introduced to every wall in the city.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZccYQrK25
"Yo, Peter! Got someone I want you to meet," Harry calls out, snapping me back to reality.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnIxOYDTBR
I turn and freeze. There's Harry, grinning ear to ear with Felicia... hanging on his arm. Like, hanging. Her head's resting on his shoulder, and she's practically glued to his side.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsfBSV2cPt
"I think we've met," I say, trying not to sound as awkward as I feel. I avoid looking directly at her, like she might turn me to stone or something.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gUl3ULgHb
Harry's beaming. "Well, let me officially introduce you to my girlfriend." He looks so proud, I half-expect a choir to start singing in the background.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW1kiKoC8i
Felicia gives me a half-smile and extends a hand. "Nice to meet you. Hope we can get along."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkbYx8vQX8
I shake her hand, trying not to let it feel as weird as it does. "Uh, yeah. Same."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssJKDyHEyJ
"You got any plans tonight, Pete?" Harry asks.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwXN0x9zu5
Plans? I mean, Peter Parker doesn't. But Spider-Man? Oh, he's got a full schedule, courtesy of one giant, rampaging reptile. Can't exactly let Dr. Connors keep running around the sewers turning people into Jurassic Park extras.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5b30d4HT2
"Actually, I—"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IoVm9c25a
"Perfect!" Harry cuts me off. "You can come by my place at nine. I wanna show Felicia that project we've been working on." He squeezes her tighter, grinning.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQIUoWUNGV
I open my mouth to protest. "Well, I was actually—"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAZnEvTTs4
"I don't know, Harry," Felicia purrs, giving me a sly look. "Peter seems like a pretty busy guy. Probably doing someone's homework or something."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmOvjwV25O
I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to say something snarky.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrnk53HRw5
Harry, oblivious as always, laughs. "Nah, Peter only does my homework."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANA1u9dHKV
Felicia leans into him, her smile growing. "Come on, Harry. I thought tonight was supposed to be just us."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGZWdkXLmj
Harry looks torn for half a second before grinning again. "Yeah... but Pete's my best friend. He's gotta come. Right, Pete?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XERBFe4Gw
And now I'm stuck. He's giving me that look. The one that says, "You're my best friend. Don't leave me hanging." How am I supposed to say no to that?
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynffMRhDrX
"And also," Harry adds, "he makes a mean lasagna. Figured he could whip up something for our first official couple meal."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoe2UqiPCt
I let out a long, defeated sigh. "Yeah... sure. Just for tonight."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOqKgbqLlg
Harry beams, and Felicia throws me a look that's somewhere between amused and smug.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnOVN2Q47L
Spider-Man's getting the night off.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cpNZkB1Th
But is this really the right thing to do? The city's got a Lizard problem, and here I am agreeing to play third wheel. Maybe I can sneak out later.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YImvfkTNq
Besides, how much trouble can a giant lizard get into in a few hours, right?
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGatxO3KGo9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKYyxoMNOF
"Peter, good to see you. How's your aunt?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVEQ659SRw
Mr. Osborn greets us at the door, flashing that easy, practiced smile. There's something about him—he's always so nice to me. If I had a dad like him, life would be... different. The warmth, the money. Yeah, I wouldn't complain.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck9bf5DYcz
I grin back. "I'm good, Sir. And Aunt May's as vibrant as ever. She's still just keeping herself busy at the restaurant."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWUGsIgQws
"That's great to hear." His smile widens, genuine. Then his eyes shift to Felicia, that Osborn charm working overtime. "And who is this?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsxTDMDfSv
Harry nudges her forward with a proud grin. "Dad, this is my new girlfriend."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsVr4AgKdx
Felicia, cool as ever, gives a small smirk. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Osborn."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SCR9aDOFS
"The pleasure's all mine," he says, nodding. "Please, come in. I was just about to start dinner. Harry, any requests?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTHbdn5yaH
Harry doesn't skip a beat. "Actually, Peter's cooking tonight! He's making that famous lasagna of his."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7nC0tKuPn
I sheepishly rub the back of my neck. "Yeah, Sir. Harry wanted me to make my aunt's recipe. It's kind of a hit in our neighborhood."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapVmvKZWvf
Mr. Osborn gives me an approving nod, but before he can respond, his phone buzzes.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3hgrWgyt6
"Excuse me for a moment," he says, stepping past us. As he walks away, Harry watches him with that same look—half hope, half disappointment. The kind of look you only have when you want your dad to just be there. And with Norman? That's not exactly a given.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJODYJI31jq
"L-Let's get inside," Harry says, trying to shake off the mood. As we step into the mansion, I'm expecting Felicia to be wowed by the place. It's not every day you walk into a house the size of a museum, but she barely reacts, just that same smirk on her lips.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTRr2YAXnp
"This is it," Harry says, gesturing around. "Looks smaller on the inside, right?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxPhjjf4zM
Felicia glances around, unimpressed. "Plenty big enough."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIQxS4t4eO
The door behind us clicks open, and Mr. Osborn walks back in, still on his phone. "Son, something's come up. I can't stay for dinner after all." He looks at Harry, then at me and Felicia. "Enjoy yourselves. Anything you need, Harry will take care of it. That goes for both of you."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxmChqyWVT
"Thank you, Sir," I say.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sRGgQUuVr
"Have a good night," Felicia adds, ever polite.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2cQii9Yyz
"Y-Yeah. See you later, Dad," Harry mutters, his voice tight.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvR3eh4Gh5
With a nod, Norman's out the door just as fast as he came in. Harry watches him go, his face falling for just a second before he turns back to us, forcing a smile. "Okay! We've got the house to ourselves. Isn't that great?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrigNww34t
I know that look. He's trying to sell it, trying to convince himself more than us. I've known Harry since we were five—I can always tell when something's eating at him.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInti2u5duc
"Pete, why don't we get started on dinner?" Harry asks, turning to me with that hopeful smile.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAHWyuAvea
"Sure—" My phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen—a police report. The Lizard. He's been spotted. Apparently, they've cornered him at an abandoned zoo.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl6UlnWVFK
No. No, this doesn't feel right. Connors isn't the mindless monster they think he is. If they've found him, it's because he wanted them to.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyOg0mL4Mh
"Harry, something's come up. I've gotta—"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfK16GCUZOG
Harry cuts me off, frustration flashing in his eyes. "No way, man! You're always leaving last minute. Can't you just stick around this one time? My dad's already gone. You can't leave too."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuqxvZwX46
The guilt hits me hard. This is the part of the job no one warns you about—choosing between your life and the life. The one with masks, bad guys and broken ribs. I hate this.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskJ1tQho9N
I look at him, at Felicia, and sigh. "I'm... sorry. I'll make it up to you."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pkyuWJpEk
"Pete!" Harry's voice cracks with disappointment as I bolt out the door, but I'm already gone.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt1VVEwq6z
Sometimes, you can't win them all.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfGEAvvkCi
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAnCOBmX8M
There's something about swinging two hundred feet above New York that clears your head. Maybe it's the streets below, the rush of air, or the distant roar of planes overhead. It's a strange kind of calm, like this is where I'm supposed to be. Destiny, or something. Though, really—who believes in destiny anymore?
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb6lVcIvDT
Not that it matters. Right now, I'm heading for the Seneca Park Zoo. Or, more specifically, where the Lizard—Dr. Curt Connors—is currently hiding.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlHIA4etfi
Dr. Connors was a professor at the university I interned at, and honestly, he was one of the nicest people I'd ever met. He and his wife were great. They even had a daughter around my age. She wasn't too interested in their work, though.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcelSAfEoK
I remember him showing me all sorts of experiments. It always seemed so controlled, like they knew exactly what they were doing. The big project was how to use animal DNA to improve human life—genetic enhancement, limb regeneration. Stuff that, at the time, I found pretty fascinating.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsQpVOj9g1
Then...one day, he'd lost his arm in an accident, which cost him not only his job at Oscorp but his family. His daughter died in that explosion, and his wife couldn't forgive him. I'm not sure he ever forgave himself.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOurbhElSz
Then Connors took it a step further. He showed me the serum laced with lizard DNA that he believed could regrow lost limbs.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccY7rhk9mj
He kept pushing forward, kept experimenting, until... well, you know how this ends.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOeN9PDF7m
I reach the abandoned zoo, the whole place empty and silent. Good—at least there won't be any civilians caught in the crossfire.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1W8DRdwNW
Except for me.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH9MwNUmbJ
I swing through the grounds, searching for any sign of Connors or the cops. The place is eerie, deserted, until I spot something—an old lion's den, with its metal bars ripped wide open like something huge tore its way out. Or in.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dSV4EhUuI
I land on top of the den and spot a tunnel inside. "Well, that doesn't look menacing at all," I mutter to myself, peering into the darkness. But this has to be where Connors went. And, hopefully, where the cops are.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedDf5ne7YM
I drop into the tunnel, making my way down its twisting path. The air reeks of damp and decay, and soon enough, I see a faint light ahead. As I step into the dim glow, my stomach turns.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER5ob8JAdh
Four police officers—what's left of them—are on the ground. Their bodies are being picked apart by a swarm of small lizards, gnawing and crawling over the corpses.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRih9RRFCO
"B-Back off!" I shout, stomping around in the muck, scattering the lizards. "Get away from them!"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQCD962Imu
The lizards slither off, leaving the bodies behind. My stomach flips as I kneel beside them, their faces barely recognizable. I lift my mask and vomit, the sight too much to bear. It's moments like this that make being Spider-Man hard to swallow. No matter how hard I try, I can't save everyone.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9bqrnShWu
"I should've been here sooner," I whisper, closing the eyes of one of the officers—the ones who still have eyes, anyway.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MlWT3FHBk
I grab one of the flashlights still flickering and push forward, deeper into the tunnel. Every scratch on the walls, every chunk of meat and bone scattered along the floor makes my pulse quicken. I want to turn back, to run to Harry's place and pretend this never happened.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMKyswLolj
But if I do that, more people are going to die. Maybe even worse than that.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiBH5LpGFx
Finally, I reach an old, makeshift lab, buried in the depths of the zoo. There's a desk, covered in papers, vials, and random, scattered equipment. The air is thick with the smell of rot. I pick up one of the papers—it's a formula, probably Connors' attempt to perfect his transformation. But mixed in with the notes are photos. Graphic photos—internal organs, dissected bodies.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdo3IPQfFz
My stomach lurches again. This is a menu, not a science experiment.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0RALp9Fvj
Before I can react, something slimy and cold wraps around my neck. I instinctively reach up, grabbing it, but the thing tightens, choking me. I yank hard, using all my strength to slam it into the ground. The grip loosens, and as the rest of the creature crashes down, I see him.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhazJXpUJsJ
The Lizard.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOClvbgHFZ9
He towers above me, blood dripping from his sharp teeth, eyes glowing yellow in the darkness. His lab coat is torn, his body monstrous and deformed.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTMeACgH8i
"Not... yet," he growls. "Not... done yet."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxoJfkYgkU
"Dr. Connors?" I gasp, still catching my breath. "Do you realize how many people you've killed? You have to stop! Think about Vanessa—what would she—"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zHIr4Pygi
He roars and charges, slamming me into the wall. His claws rake across my chest, slicing through my suit, and I feel the hot sting of blood seeping from the wound. "Why'd you have...to go and do that?" I mutter through gritted teeth.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdmLtepduN
He swings again, but I manage to shoot a web into his eyes, blinding him. I slide between his legs, webbing his back and yanking him hard to the ground. But he's back on his feet in a flash, hissing and charging again.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexgfstKmlz
I leap up, kicking him in the face, using the momentum to launch myself off. Before he can recover, I slam into his chest with a double kick. An uppercut follows, knocking out a few of his fangs. "I'm not letting you hurt anyone else!" I shout, panting.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U8Mtr9FSV
He stumbles back, leaning against the wall. "How... about... you?" he growls.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei4EmCN3oU
"Uh...?"
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxjcEZphYI
Before I can dodge, he grabs my leg and sinks his teeth in. I scream, the pain blinding, but I kick him in the jaw with my other foot, breaking his grip. He tackles me, smashing me through a concrete wall into another section of the tunnel. His tail wraps around my neck, choking me again as he pummels my chest, each punch drawing more blood.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4wdBAJ7oG
"Dr... Connors..." I wheeze, trying to pry his tail off. "You... have to stop..."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb5lF9XtaX
Suddenly, he hesitates. His grip loosens, and his yellow eyes focus on me—really focus on me.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYNIEKYF7c
Then he peels my mask back, revealing my face.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFc8Ou6Rcf
"Pe...ter?" His voice shakes. "Pet...er..."
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqbJeWpdAW
He drops me, backing away, clutching his head in confusion. "Can't... kill... should... kill..." He looks at me, then lets out a guttural roar and bolts, crashing through the tunnel wall and disappearing into the darkness.
22Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurdlrnGIPR
I slump to the ground, coughing, bleeding, barely hanging on. "Yeah..." I croak. "You better run..."
ns 15.158.61.48da2
