Capítulo 15: 15. Resolve
Peter's Point of View
The gym smelled of sweat, the echo of a bouncing basketball filling the space as Gwen and I sat on opposite benches. She was staring at me for the last minute, waiting for me to go first. I laughed inside at her, she thought that she was the one who deserved an explanation.
"I've got a story for you," I began, tossing the basketball from hand to hand. My voice sounded casual, but my mind was spinning, carefully piecing together the lie I'd spent hours crafting.
Gwen tilted her head, her green eyes locking onto mine. "What kind of story?"
"An interesting one." I paused, letting the tension build. "What if I told you, a week after Oscorp, while at the library in a book, I found a map?"
She nodded, curiosity lighting up her face. "Okay, and?"
I began, spinning the ball on one finger for effect. "It was an address, directions and a layout of an old building—an old building in Hell's Kitchen, condemned and falling apart. I figured I'd check it out. Maybe find something valuable."
Her brow furrowed, intrigued. "You actually went in?"
"Of course I did," I said with a grin. "The place was a wreck—holes in the floor, broken beams everywhere. But I followed the directions and in one of the rooms, I found this book. Old, leather-bound, covered in symbols I couldn't understand."
"And?" she pressed, leaning forward.
"And when I opened it, something… happened," I said, lowering my voice for effect. "It felt like the book came alive. This energy wrapped around me, like it was pulling me into the pages. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Then, just as suddenly, it stopped. And ever since…" I shrugged. "I've been stronger. Faster. Like my body's on overdrive."
Gwen stared at me, her expression shifting from amazement to something more cautious. "That's… incredible. But also kind of terrifying."
"It was," I admitted, adding a touch of vulnerability to sell the story. "I didn't know what was happening at first. But now? I think it's made me better."
For a long time she said nothing, her gaze distant. Then, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Peter, there's something I need to tell you as well."
I already knew what was coming, but I played dumb. "What is it?"
"Remember the Oscorp field trip?" she asked. "That spider exhibit? One of them bit me. At first, I didn't think much of it, but then… things started happening. I could climb walls, stick to ceilings. My reflexes got faster, my strength increased. And then I realized—"
"You're the mysterious person who save those people the night those monsters fought," I finished for her, my voice steady.
Her eyes widened. "You knew?"
"I had my suspicions," I admitted. " i was there that night, i thought i could help, but when i saw you there. The way you've been acting lately… it all added up."
Relief washed over her face. "I'm so glad you figured it out. I've been keeping this secret for ever since, and it's been killing me. I just… I needed to tell someone."
I forced a smile, even as I feel some resentment towards her. She gets to be the hero, and I'm the one left to take the bloody path. But I pushed the thought away. This wasn't the time to be petty.
"I'm glad I decided to not to hide what had happened to me as well." I said softly. "It's good to have someone to share this with."
She smiled, and for a moment, the tension between us dissolved. Before I knew it, she was leaning in, her lips brushing against mine. The kiss deepened, the gym fading away until there was nothing but the two of us.
---
Two Weeks Later
Every other night for the last two weeks, we had snuck out. Stopping muggings, burglary and other small time criminals. Now was ti.e to increase the ante.
The rooftop in Harlem was cold, the wind biting through my hoodie. Gwen crouched beside me, her ski mask pulled up just enough to reveal her determined eyes. Below us, on the opposite building, the drug lab was a hive of activity. Dozens of men stood guard, armed and ready to defend their empire.
"This is it," I whispered, pointing to the building. "A pimp tipped me off about this place." I said sarcasticly.
Another lie. I'd pulled the location from the police database after weeks of tracking the Triad leader who ran this operation. I knew exactly what was inside—dozens of emaciated forced laborers, processing heroin under the watchful eyes of their armed captors.
"What's inside?" Gwen asked, her voice tight.
"Slave labor. People forced to package and process heroin for the Triads. The guards are armed, and they're not afraid to shoot." I turned to her, my expression serious. "We can't let this continue."
Her brow furrowed. "We should call the police."
I shook my head. "You really think they don't have cops on their payroll? Operations like this don't get this big without inside help."
"Then we tip my dad," she argued. "He'd act."
"This isn't his precinct," I countered. "By the time he gets a warrant and organizes a raid, they'll be gone."
Gwen hesitated, her resolve wavering. "Peter, we can't just—"
"Then what's the point of all this?" I snapped, my frustration finally breaking through. "If we're not going to act, why are we even here?"
She recoiled slightly, and I immediately regretted my tone. But I couldn't let her reluctance derail my plans. I would force her to wake up to the reality of this world. Maybe if she realized the ugliness of people, she would understand that sometimes extreme measures were needed. Maybe I would be able to open up some more to her about what I really did.
"Fine," I said, standing abruptly. "Do it your way. Call the cops."
"Peter, wait—"
But I was already gone, disappearing into the shadows. Or at least, that's what I wanted her to think.
From a nearby rooftop, I watched as she panicked and retreated into the night. Once she was out of sight, I activated the Void Walker Ring, its power cloaking me in darkness. It had been the same ring that made it hard for people to recall my features and distorted camera images of me. I had added more essence while focusing my intent.
Now the ring also hid me from the other sense, such as smell and sound. I also now blended into the shadows. Even before I never used the ring at in public, now I had to be extra careful, especially around Gwen.
I slipped back into the building, unseen and unheard.
The circuit breaker was my first target. A quick flick, and the entire warehouse plunged into darkness. The workers screamed, their cries drowned out by the shouts of the guards.
The first thug never saw me coming. I snapped his arm with a single strike, muffling his scream before driving the Sanguineista into his chest. The life force flowed into me, a rush of energy that made my senses sharper, my movements faster.
The second guard put up more of a fight, firing blindly into the darkness. I disarmed him with a kick, breaking his leg before finishing him off. One by one, I hunted them down, my enhanced vision giving me the upper hand in the pitch black.
By the time the guards outside realized something was wrong, it was too late. I used the confusion to ambush them, their bodies crumpling silently in the shadows.
Finally, I reached the back of the warehouse. A heavy metal door blocked my path, but I had come prepared. Pouring a flammable concoction I had prepared in chemistry class over the door, I set it ablaze. The metal glowed red-hot before finally giving way.
Inside, two more Triads cowered, their weapons trembling. I stepped forward, the Sanguineista glowing ominously.
"No one escapes," I said, my voice cold and final.
They didn't.
The room was filled with stacks of cash—more than I'd ever seen. I grabbed a duffle bag, filling it to the brim before leaving the building. As I stepped outside, the flames consumed the warehouse, the smoke rising into the night sky.
From a safe distance, I watched the inferno, the sirens growing louder in the distance. Pulling out my phone, I sent Gwen a text.
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you. Did you make it home safe?
Her response came a few minutes later.
I did, but I'm angry. At you for leaving, and at myself for not having the resolve to act. I tipped my dad off with the phone we took from that mugger. I hope it helps.
I laughed softly. At least she'd listened to me about keeping the phone. Shaking my head, I turned away from the burning building, the weight of the duffle bag comforting against my shoulder.
It had been a profitable outing. The Triads were gone, their operation destroyed. And I now had a little nest egg for later down the road when it was time to leave the Brants.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder