Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 85: Aftermath and New Beginnings

The air outside the wrecked lab felt oddly still. The usual hum of the city had dulled into an eerie silence as Peter and Harry made their way through the streets of Midtown. Despite the adrenaline from their fight, neither of them spoke much. Their bodies ached, and their minds were still trying to process what had just happened. Erebus had been destroyed, but the reality of what they had uncovered at Oscorp was beginning to sink in.

Peter couldn't help but glance over at Harry. The weight of the battle had taken its toll on them both, but Harry's expression was unreadable, lost in thought. Peter understood, though. They'd been through so much together, and the fight with Erebus was just the beginning. The real battle was still ahead.

"Are you sure about this, Pete?" Harry asked after a long pause, his voice quiet but firm. "Are you really going to go after Oscorp?"

Peter hesitated, looking up at the darkened skyline. Oscorp Tower loomed in the distance, an ever-present reminder of the corporate behemoth that had its hands in everything—science, technology, and now, apparently, unspeakable horrors.

"I have to," Peter said, determination hardening his voice. "We can't let them continue. If they were able to create Erebus, imagine what else they're working on in those labs. No one else is going to stop them. We have to."

Harry nodded, his jaw set in a firm line. "I know. I'm with you. But this time… we need more than just brute force. I'm not sure we can take down something like Oscorp alone."

Peter's gaze darkened. "We're going to need help. But we can't trust anyone else just yet. Oscorp is too dangerous. They'll stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden."

Harry walked beside him in silence, understanding the gravity of Peter's words. They had been fighting alone for too long, but as Peter had said, Oscorp was no ordinary enemy. And this wasn't just a fight for New York City anymore—it was a battle for the world.

The two of them walked for what felt like hours, the streets emptying as the night deepened. Peter's mind kept drifting back to that night in the lab, the brutal power of Erebus and the cold knowledge that it was only the tip of the iceberg. Oscorp had created a monster, but they had only scratched the surface of what the corporation was capable of.

"You think they'll come after us now?" Harry asked, breaking Peter out of his thoughts.

Peter thought for a moment, feeling the familiar tension in his chest. "I'm sure they already know who we are. If they're smart, they'll try to eliminate us before we can do any more damage."

Harry gave a half-laugh. "They'll regret that. No one takes down Peter Parker."

Peter smirked, despite the heaviness of the situation. Harry was right, though—no one had ever really defeated Spider-Man. And now, with all that had happened, Peter wasn't about to let Oscorp off the hook. He had too much to lose.

But the battle wasn't going to be easy. He couldn't just swing into Oscorp's headquarters and expect to come out unscathed. He needed a plan—a strategy that would hit them where it hurt.

They reached Peter's apartment building, the familiar sight of the old, crumbling structure offering little comfort. It had been a long day, and they still had so much to figure out. Peter's exhaustion hit him hard as he unlocked the door, stepping inside to find Aunt May sitting at the kitchen table, looking concerned.

"Peter, where have you been?" Aunt May asked, her voice filled with worry as she stood up. "I tried calling you all night. Are you okay?"

Peter smiled weakly, trying to hide the exhaustion in his face. "Yeah, Aunt May. I'm fine. Just… a long day."

She eyed him carefully, clearly unconvinced. "Peter, I know when something's wrong. What happened? You look like you've been through a war."

Peter let out a sigh, collapsing into a chair at the table. "You could say that," he muttered. He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts swirling with everything that had happened—the fight with Erebus, Harry's involvement, the growing shadow of Oscorp, and the questions he still didn't have answers to. "We've been fighting a new kind of enemy. And I don't think this is over."

Aunt May's face softened, her concern deepening. "Peter, you can't do this alone. Whatever it is… I know it's dangerous, but you can't carry this burden on your own."

Peter swallowed hard. "I know, Aunt May. But I don't know who I can trust anymore. Oscorp has its claws in everything. And I need to stop them before they hurt anyone else."

Aunt May sat down beside him, her hand gently resting on his. "You've always had a big heart, Peter. But you have to remember that you're not alone in this. Harry is with you. I'm here. You have people who care about you, no matter how tough things get."

Peter looked up at her, the weight of her words sinking in. She was right, in a way. Harry had been by his side through everything, and even if it seemed like the world was closing in, he didn't have to fight this alone. But the fear of losing those he cared about gnawed at him, threatening to pull him under.

"I just need to make sure I don't lose anyone else," Peter whispered.

Aunt May nodded slowly, her voice gentle but firm. "You won't, Peter. You'll figure this out. Just remember that you don't have to do it alone."

Peter leaned back in his chair, exhausted but feeling a little lighter. He wasn't sure what the future held or how they were going to take down Oscorp, but one thing was certain—he wasn't going to give up. Not now. Not ever.

The next few days were a blur of planning, research, and quiet moments of reflection. Peter kept his distance from MJ, afraid of dragging her into the mess that was growing around him. Harry had thrown himself into helping Peter track down any leads on Oscorp's secret projects, but every time they thought they were getting close, Oscorp seemed to cover its tracks even better.

But the danger was growing, and Peter knew that the clock was ticking.

One night, as Peter was perched on a rooftop, overlooking the city, his phone buzzed with a new message. He opened it, finding a cryptic note from an anonymous source:

"The truth is hidden in plain sight. Look closer, Parker. They know you're coming."

Peter felt a chill run down his spine. Whoever this was, they knew more than they were letting on. And as much as Peter hated the idea, he realized that someone else was out there—someone with their own agenda, pulling strings behind the scenes.

The battle was no longer just against Oscorp. Now, it was against something far darker.

End of Chapter 85