Chapter 95: A Glowing Man

New York — Streets of Manhattan — End of the Day

The sun was slowly beginning to disappear behind the buildings of Manhattan, gradually allowing the evening light to take over the city. The streets were still crowded, filled with passersby crossing paths without really paying attention to one another, each continuing on their way amid the usual noise of New York.

In the middle of the crowd, Gwen walked alone, her bag on her back, and no one around her could have guessed what she was carrying inside: Spider-Man's suit and web-shooters.

Yet, contrary to what the situation might have suggested, Gwen wasn't amused at all. Far from it. She moved through the different crowds with a particularly thoughtful, almost absent expression, as if everything around her no longer really mattered. Her mind was somewhere else.

The memories of what had happened several hours earlier at the Connors' laboratory gradually began to resurface. She thought back to their work session, the analyses they had carried out, their discussions, then the moment when Professor Connors had finally told them they could go home. And above all, she remembered feeling that sudden sting in her hand before discovering the spider she had just crushed.

But that wasn't the only thing occupying her mind.

Gwen also thought back to what she had just done at home. Entering Peter's room, taking his suit, his mask, and his web-shooters without asking him anything, then leaving the house almost immediately. The more she thought about it, the less proud she was of what she had done.

— "Shit… I shouldn't have stolen Peter's stuff. That really wasn't smart… okay, fine, I got bitten by one of the spiders from the laboratory. But… maybe nothing will happen to me? No… how can I say that when those spiders were created based on the one that bit Peter and gave him his powers But does that mean I'm going to become like him? Would I have superpowers too?"

At that last thought, something changed slightly in her expression. A small smile slowly began to appear on her face as her imagination gradually took over all her worries.

The more she thought about the possibilities that could open up to her if the bite really had the same effects on her as it had on Peter, the more her mind began to race.

— "Imagine if I could spin webs and fly too? Or even climb walls or lift buildings?! But then I'd have to make myself a suit too, right?"

For a few moments, Gwen allowed herself to become completely carried away by those thoughts. There was something incredibly exciting about the idea. Being able to travel through New York like Peter, move between buildings, possess superhuman strength, and do all those things that, not so long ago, would have seemed impossible to her.

Just imagining all of it, she seemed to have almost forgotten the reason she had been so worried only a few seconds earlier.

But that excitement didn't last.

A much more serious thought quickly pushed all the others aside.

— "But if I really do get powers… would I have to fight like Peter too and protect people at the risk of my own life against people who want to kill me…?"

That question immediately brought everything to a halt.

Gwen suddenly stopped in the middle of the street. Around her, the passersby simply continued moving, some walking around her without giving her more than a glance, while she remained perfectly still in the middle of all that activity.

Much less pleasant memories then began to resurface. Gwen thought back to the many times Peter had told her about his fights, his injuries, and all the dangerous creatures or people he had faced since becoming Spider-Man.

But they weren't just stories he had told her. She herself had witnessed, directly or indirectly, some of what that life could really involve.

She remembered the confrontations, the impossible situations Peter had found himself in, and the way everything could change in a matter of seconds.

Getting shot at, facing a bladed weapon, having to stop a car in midair, making an immediate decision while several lives depended on him…and sometimes even having to accept the possibility that he might not manage to save everyone.

The more Gwen thought about all of it, the more the superhero life lost the incredible image she had imagined only moments earlier. Behind the powers, the webs, and all the extraordinary things Peter was capable of doing, there was above all an immense amount of danger, stress, and responsibility.

And faced with all of that, a question slowly began to take hold in her mind: Was she really up to it?

Her hands began to tremble slightly as all those negative thoughts started to influence what she planned to do in the next few minutes.

She could still turn back. Go home, give Peter back what she had taken from him, tell him what had really happened at the laboratory, and apologize. Or she could continue in the direction she had chosen when leaving the house and go through with the completely crazy idea that had driven her to steal his equipment.

As she remained still in the middle of the crowd, unable to decide what she should do, something suddenly caught her attention.

Among all the passersby who continued walking past her or crossing her field of vision, Gwen spotted someone. Yet unlike the other people around him, this individual seemed strangely difficult to make out.

His silhouette appeared almost blurry, as if its outlines refused to remain perfectly clear. Gwen didn't know who he was, or even why her gaze had immediately fallen on him. But there was something about him. Something strangely alluring, almost like a soft light that seemed to be calling to her from the middle of the crowd.

Then the mysterious silhouette slowly began to move away.

A sudden fear of losing sight of it swept through Gwen. Without really understanding why, she immediately started walking again, then quickly picked up her pace before eventually running through the crowd, apologizing whenever she slightly bumped into some of the passersby along the way. The glowing silhouette continued forward until it entered a building open to the public, and Gwen followed it without hesitation.

Inside, the strange presence began climbing a gigantic spiral staircase. Gwen immediately rushed after it, climbing the steps as quickly as she could.

Yet every time she felt like she was getting close enough to finally make out his face or simply the true outlines of his body, the silhouette suddenly seemed to be a little farther away.

It was almost impossible to catch up with. As if it moved away just before Gwen could reach it.

And despite that, it never completely disappeared. It always remained close enough for the young girl to keep seeing and following it.

After several long minutes of climbing without stopping, Gwen finally reached the top of the staircase. In front of her was a door. Still guided by the strange presence she could see on the other side, she opened it and stepped directly onto the roof of the building.

The area was filled with various pieces of technical equipment. Several ventilation units and air conditioners occupied part of the space, accompanied by numerous pipes and a large water tank. Cables also ran across certain areas of the roof, while several antennas rose farther away above the surrounding buildings.

The door slowly closed behind Gwen, but she paid no attention to it. Her gaze remained entirely fixed on the mysterious glowing silhouette now standing a few meters in front of her.

Gwen slowly moved forward.

And the closer she got, the more the strange blur surrounding the person seemed to begin fading away. The outlines of his body gradually became clearer, finally revealing a real human figure.

It was a man, and he was wearing a police uniform. A uniform Gwen knew particularly well. Even his hair seemed familiar to her…far too familiar.

The man turned slightly and she saw his face: Her father.

The surprise struck her immediately. Gwen remained completely frozen, unable to make the slightest movement. Her lips parted, but no real words managed to come out. Only a few hesitant sounds, almost smothered by the shock of what stood before her.

Then a scream suddenly rang out somewhere off to the side. Gwen abruptly turned her head, torn from her stupor.

— "What was that?"

TO BE CONTINUED.