บท 12: Not fated.

[Peter's POV]

As soon as we got off the bus, my eyes locked on the Oscorp building. It was huge—a tall tower of glass and steel that stretched into the sky like it was touching the clouds. The way the sun hit the windows made it shine so brightly that it was hard to look at for too long. Up near the top, the glowing green Oscorp logo stood out, almost like it was reminding everyone who owned the place.

I'd seen it on TV before, but seeing it in person? It was something else. Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. Back in my last life, I'd lived in a small town in India where even a three-story house was rare. Standing in front of something this big made me feel... small.

"Alright, kids, stay together and follow me!" Mr. Henry called out, pulling me from my thoughts. He was our substitute teacher today—a cheerful guy with a big smile. He was the kind of teacher everyone liked, so it made sense they'd send him to keep us in line. Our group could get pretty rowdy, especially with people like Flash and Harry around.

We went through a security check at the gate, where they handed us visitor passes. None of us paid much attention; we were too busy talking and looking around. A young lab tech came to meet us. She smiled and said she'd be our guide for the day.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Gwen asked, walking up beside me. She was smiling too, her eyes wide as she looked around. She seemed so excited, like a kid in a candy store.

"Yeah, I guess," I said with a shrug. I tried to sound like I didn't care too much, but my eyes were busy scanning the area.

She gave me a look, clearly unimpressed. "You guess? Come on, Peter. This place is amazing!"

I smirked, leaning closer to her. "I don't know... I'm waiting to see if there's something with a little more... bite."

She frowned, confused for a moment, but then rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the guide. Gwen wasn't the type to let my teasing ruin her fun.

The guide explained how the tour would work: the first half was focused on technology, and the second half was about medicine and biology. As she talked, we walked through different labs, each one more advanced than the last.

By the time we got to the main research lab, everyone was impressed. This place looked straight out of a movie. There were glowing tanks filled with colorful liquids, and strange machines making low humming sounds. Screens all around showed complicated data I couldn't even begin to read.

Most of the group was focused on the guide, listening as she explained all the cool projects Oscorp was working on. But I stayed at the back, my attention on something else. I was studying the room—the doors, the cameras, and anything else that seemed important.

"Isn't that cool?" Gwen asked, nudging me and pointing to one of the machines.

"Yeah, sure," I said with a grin. But my mind wasn't really on what she was saying. Oscorp was impressive, sure. But I wasn't just here to enjoy the tour.

There was something in this building I was going to come back for, and I needed to make sure I was ready.

The guide led us to the next exhibit, a room filled with glass enclosures.

"These genetically enhanced spiders are one of Oscorp's proudest achievements," the guide said, clearly proud. "They can produce webbing stronger than steel and adapt to extreme environments. Truly a marvel of science."

Most of the students rushed to the glass, pressing their faces close and gawking like it was the coolest thing they'd ever seen. I stayed back, letting my eyes wander over the room. My attention wasn't on the spiders; it was on the layout, the cameras, and any potential blind spots. I mentally mapped out how I could slip in undetected when the time came.

"Looks like it's radioactive or something," Gwen mumbled, leaning closer to one of the enclosures. Her voice was soft, almost like she was talking to herself.

Leaving her to her thoughts, I wandered to another corner of the lab, where several displays focused on regeneration. Creatures like salamanders and lizards floated in tanks. My heart skipped when I spotted something familiar. Is that...

The creature was dark with greenish markings, around 15 to 45 centimetres long, resembling a lizard. It looked exactly like what I'd been searching for, something crucial for my next evolution.

While I studied the exhibits, I heard Gwen cry out suddenly. Her voice was sharp with pain, cutting through the chatter in the room. I turned toward her quickly, concern flickering across my face as I walked over.

"What happened?" I asked, my tone calm but curious.

"Uh... something bit me!" she said, her voice strained. She rubbed the back of her neck where a small red mark was already forming.

I glanced at the enclosures the guide had been explaining earlier. He'd mentioned 15 radioactive spiders. My eyes scanned the display, and I noticed something off—there were only 14.

Did she get bitten by the missing spider? The thought flashed through my mind as I crouched and searched around her. No spider in sight.

"Peter, I think I—" Gwen mumbled, her voice shaky, but I wasn't paying much attention to her words.

I sighed in frustration when I couldn't find the spider, turning my attention back to Gwen, I studied her carefully. "Are you okay? How do you feel?" I asked, already guessing what was coming.

"I think so," she said, though her voice was unsteady, and her face was pale.

Her skin felt warmer than usual when I touched her shoulder, and her breathing was shallow. "You're burning up. You're sick. Let's get you home," I said firmly.

Honestly, I wasn't interested in the trip anymore. If the spider had bitten Gwen, then it wasn't me who'd gained its power. She might become a version of Ghost-Spider, and if my knowledge of alternate realities was correct, the original Peter Parker was supposed to die at her hands.

'Great, just my luck', I thought bitterly.

"Am I cursed or something?" I muttered under my breath as I told the teacher Gwen wasn't feeling well. After getting permission to leave, I turned and spotted a dead spider on the floor.

"There you are, you little bastard," I mumbled, picking it up carefully. Sliding it into a container, I took one last look around the lab, memorizing the layout, and then guided Gwen outside. We caught a taxi since we lived close to each other.

"Gwen, take care of yourself, okay? And if anything unusual happens, call me," I told her as we reached her house. My tone was firm.

"Peter, it's just the flu or something," she replied, but there was a flicker of happiness in her voice at how much I seemed to care.

"You'll find out soon enough," I said with a teasing grin. Without warning, I pulled her into a quick hug, brushing my lips against her neck just long enough to make her gasp.

"PETER! NOT AGAIN!" she yelled, her face flushed red.

"Whatever. Thanks for the fun day," I said with a wink, walking away before she could yell at me more.

By the time I got home, it was 5:14 p.m. Aunt May wouldn't be back until later, so I decided to cook dinner and prepare for tonight. My mind was already running through everything I'd seen at Oscorp.

What version of this universe am I in? Wasn't I supposed to be Spider-Man? No spider-sense, no powers. This whole thing is a mess.

---

[1:30 a.m. – Oscorp Building]

The cold air brushed against my face as I leapt from one rooftop to another, landing lightly against the glass of Oscorp's tower. My hands stuck to the surface as I crawled upward, careful to use just enough strength so the glass didn't crack.

Reaching the top, I slipped through the ventilation ducts, moving quietly as I navigated toward the main office. My enhanced senses helped me avoid guards and cameras, and soon, I was inside the room.

It looked like any other office—desks, computers, the usual clutter. I powered on the main computer, only to be greeted by a password lock. Not a problem.

Grinning, I pulled out my custom laptop and connected it to the system. Within moments, the virus I'd uploaded shut down the building's cameras and alarms for the next hour. "Done," I said softly, putting the laptop away.

Now it was time for the real prize. I headed for the lab with the spiders and exotic creatures, my heart pounding with anticipation.

The radioactive spiders were still there—all 14 of them. I used my system to appraise them.

[Appraisal]

[Radioactive spiders, mutated by radiation.]

I frowned at the description. "Can I fuse them? Will there be any side effects?" I asked the system.

[No, the host cannot fuse with them. The mutations are unstable.]

"Figures," I muttered, already expecting that answer. "NNevermind I can fix that later. The research data I stole will come in handy."

Turning my attention to the corner of the lab, my eyes lit up. There it was—the real reason I came here tonight. Something that would make me almost unkillable.

Grinning, I activated my appraisal skill as a blue panel filled with information appeared in front of my eyes.

[Appraisal]

...