Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 4: Tangled in the Web

The creature lunged at Peter with inhuman speed, its massive claws swiping through the air. Peter flipped backward, narrowly avoiding the strike, and landed on the wall.

"Okay, definitely not your standard Oscorp experiment," he muttered, firing a web to slow the creature down.

The web stuck, but the creature tore through it effortlessly, letting out a guttural roar that reverberated through the room. Its body was a shifting mass of darkness, constantly reshaping itself, as if it couldn't decide on a final form.

Peter's spider-sense screamed as the creature charged again. This time, it moved faster—too fast. Peter barely managed to dodge, and the creature's claws slashed through the metal wall behind him, leaving deep gashes.

"Alright, big guy," Peter said, firing a barrage of webs to keep it at bay. "Let's see if you like a little sticky situation."

The webs hit their mark, wrapping around the creature's arms and legs. For a moment, it seemed to work—the creature stumbled, struggling against the bonds.

But then it began to glow again, its body pulsing with an eerie, red light. The webs dissolved, and the creature seemed to grow larger, more menacing.

"Great. Of course that didn't work," Peter muttered.

The creature swung its arm, and Peter barely managed to duck. The force of the swing shattered a nearby console, sending sparks flying.

Peter knew he couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed a plan—and fast.

Meanwhile…

Felicia Hardy sprinted down the hallway, her heart racing. She wasn't one to back down from danger, but whatever Oscorp had created was beyond anything she'd ever encountered.

As she ran, alarms blaring around her, she couldn't shake the image of Peter facing that thing alone.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath.

Felicia wasn't used to caring about anyone but herself. But Spider-Man? He was different.

She skidded to a halt in front of a security terminal and quickly began hacking into the system. If she couldn't fight the creature, maybe she could at least give Peter an edge.

"Come on, come on," she whispered, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Back in the lab…

Peter leapt onto the ceiling, trying to put some distance between himself and the creature. He scanned the room, looking for anything he could use to his advantage.

His eyes landed on a set of canisters labeled "Cryogenic Coolant."

"Bingo," he said.

He fired a web at one of the canisters, yanking it toward the creature. The canister struck its chest and ruptured, releasing a blast of freezing mist.

The creature howled, its movements slowing as frost began to form on its body.

"Looks like you're not a fan of the cold," Peter quipped, firing another web to knock over a second canister.

But before he could pull it toward the creature, his spider-sense flared. He turned just in time to see the creature's arm stretch unnaturally, slamming into him and sending him crashing into the wall.

The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he slumped to the floor, dazed.

"Okay, that one hurt," he groaned, struggling to get back on his feet.

The creature loomed over him, its red eyes glowing with malevolence.

At the security terminal…

Felicia finally broke through Oscorp's firewall. A map of the facility appeared on the screen, along with control options for various systems.

"Let's see what you've got," she said, scrolling through the options.

She found a listing for the lab Peter was in and activated the emergency containment system.

Back in the lab, steel shutters slammed down over the windows and doors, and a series of automated turrets emerged from the ceiling.

Peter blinked. "Uh… that's new."

The turrets opened fire, blasting the creature with high-energy lasers. The creature roared in pain, its body convulsing as the lasers tore into it.

Peter took the opportunity to fire another web at the remaining cryogenic canister, pulling it toward the creature. The canister exploded on impact, enveloping the creature in a cloud of freezing mist.

When the mist cleared, the creature was frozen solid, its monstrous form encased in ice.

Peter let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding.

"Well, that was fun," he said, collapsing against the wall.

The steel shutters lifted, and Felicia appeared in the doorway.

"Nice timing," Peter said, giving her a tired smile.

Felicia crossed her arms. "I wasn't about to let you have all the fun."

Peter glanced at the frozen creature. "This thing needs to be contained. Oscorp can't be trusted with it."

Felicia raised an eyebrow. "And what are you going to do? Take it home with you?"

Peter sighed. She had a point.

Before they could decide what to do, the floor beneath them began to tremble. Cracks spider-webbed across the ice encasing the creature, and its red eyes glowed brighter.

"You've got to be kidding me," Peter said, his spider-sense flaring again.

The creature shattered the ice, letting out a deafening roar.

"Time to go," Felicia said, grabbing Peter's arm.

They sprinted out of the lab, the creature hot on their heels.

They burst into the main corridor, where Felicia led Peter toward an emergency exit she'd scoped out earlier.

"Over here!" she shouted.

Peter followed, glancing over his shoulder to see the creature gaining on them. Its form shifted and stretched, making it faster and more relentless than before.

Felicia kicked open the door, and they burst out into the night.

"We can't let it escape into the city," Peter said, stopping to face the creature.

Felicia hesitated. "Spider, you can't take that thing on alone."

"I don't have a choice," Peter said, his voice firm.

Felicia stared at him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's finish this."

The creature emerged from the building, its monstrous form silhouetted against the city lights.

Peter and Felicia stood side by side, ready to face whatever came next.

End of Chapter 4