Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

Chapter 6: Echoes of Oscorp

The rhythmic thwip of Peter's web-shooters echoed through the cold night as he swung across the city. The adrenaline from the fight still surged through his veins, but his mind was racing with questions. Oscorp's involvement, Felicia's cryptic motives, and the creature itself—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he couldn't quite put together.

What was that thing?

As he approached his apartment, Peter landed softly on the fire escape. He glanced around, making sure no one was watching, then slipped inside through the window.

The familiar clutter of his bedroom greeted him: stacks of books, crumpled notes on his desk, and a half-finished science experiment he'd abandoned weeks ago. He peeled off his suit, wincing at the bruises forming on his ribs.

"Another night in the life of Spider-Man," he muttered.

The Next Morning

The sunlight streaming through the window was almost too bright as Peter woke up, groaning. His body ached, a reminder of the previous night's battle. He glanced at the clock and realized he was already late for work.

"Perfect," he grumbled, throwing on a shirt and jeans before grabbing his bag.

Peter worked part-time at the Daily Bugle, snapping photos of Spider-Man to sell to J. Jonah Jameson—a strange arrangement, but one that kept the lights on.

As he rushed out the door, his phone buzzed.

MJ: Are we still on for lunch?

Peter's stomach sank. He'd completely forgotten about their plans.

Peter: Of course! I'll meet you at 1. Promise.

He slipped the phone into his pocket, guilt gnawing at him. MJ deserved better.

Oscorp Tower

Across town, in the sleek boardroom of Oscorp Tower, Norman Osborn sat at the head of a long table. His sharp suit and piercing gaze commanded the attention of everyone present.

"What happened last night?" he demanded, his voice cold and calculated.

A nervous scientist at the other end of the table cleared his throat. "There was a breach in the research facility. Subject Chimera escaped containment."

"And Spider-Man?" Norman asked.

The scientist hesitated. "He… neutralized the subject."

Norman's expression darkened. "Neutralized? Do you have any idea what you've cost me? Project Chimera was years in the making."

"We still have the core data," the scientist said quickly. "We can rebuild—"

"No," Norman interrupted, rising from his seat. "We need results. Now. Spider-Man has interfered for the last time."

He turned to a shadowy figure standing in the corner of the room.

"It's time to move forward with the next phase."

The figure stepped into the light, revealing themselves to be none other than Dr. Curt Connors.

"As you wish, Mr. Osborn," Connors said, his voice steady but his eyes filled with unease.

Midtown Manhattan

Peter met MJ at a small diner near the Daily Bugle. She was already seated at a corner booth, sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone.

"Sorry I'm late," Peter said, sliding into the seat across from her.

MJ looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Late? Peter, you're half an hour early. What's gotten into you?"

Peter chuckled nervously. "Just… trying to be better about time management."

MJ smiled, but there was a hint of skepticism in her eyes. "Well, color me impressed."

They ordered lunch, and for a brief moment, Peter felt like a normal guy. They talked about MJ's latest audition, her frustrations with the theater world, and her plans for the future.

But as much as Peter tried to focus on her, his mind kept drifting back to Oscorp.

"You're distracted," MJ said, cutting through his thoughts.

"What? No, I'm not," Peter said quickly.

MJ gave him a knowing look. "Come on, Pete. I can tell when you're off in your own world."

Peter sighed. "It's just… work stuff. You know how it is."

MJ didn't look convinced, but she let it slide. "Just don't forget that you don't have to carry everything on your own, okay?"

Peter nodded, appreciating her words even if he couldn't fully embrace them.

Later That Night

Peter sat at his desk, poring over news articles about Oscorp. He needed to understand what they were up to—what Project Chimera really was.

His research was interrupted by the familiar chime of his phone. It was a call from Felicia.

"What do you want?" Peter asked, answering the call with a hint of irritation.

"Relax, Spider," Felicia said, her voice teasing. "I thought you'd want an update."

Peter leaned back in his chair. "On what?"

"On Oscorp," Felicia said. "You're not the only one looking into them, you know."

Peter hesitated. "What did you find?"

"Not over the phone," Felicia said. "Meet me at the warehouse on 23rd. Midnight."

Before Peter could respond, she hung up.

The Warehouse

The warehouse was dark and abandoned, the perfect place for a secret meeting. Peter arrived just before midnight, scanning the area for any signs of trouble.

Felicia was waiting for him, leaning casually against a stack of crates.

"Right on time," she said, smirking.

"Cut to the chase," Peter said. "What did you find?"

Felicia handed him a flash drive. "Everything Oscorp doesn't want you to know about Project Chimera. It's worse than you think."

Peter plugged the drive into a portable reader, scrolling through the files. What he saw made his blood run cold.

Oscorp wasn't just experimenting with genetic mutations—they were weaponizing them. Project Chimera was part of a larger initiative to create an army of super-powered soldiers.

"This is insane," Peter said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Welcome to the world of corporate greed," Felicia said.

Peter clenched his fists. "We have to stop them."

Felicia raised an eyebrow. "We?"

"Don't play coy," Peter said. "You wouldn't have given me this if you didn't want to help."

Felicia shrugged, a sly smile on her lips. "Maybe I just like watching you squirm."

Peter ignored her, his mind racing. Oscorp's plans were bigger than he'd imagined, and he was running out of time to stop them.

End of Chapter 6