Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Kitten I
Chapter 8: Kitten I
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Earth-65
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The wind blew softly as I stood on the hospital rooftop, looking out over the city. My mind was still caught up in blurry memories, fragments of a life that didn't seem entirely my own. The lizard serum continued to affect me in ways I couldn't predict. Something inside me was changing, not just physically, but mentally. And with every passing second, the feeling of danger grew.
Miles Warren.
That name echoed in my head like a warning, a latent threat. Something in his tone, in the way he looked at me, didn't feel right. He wasn't the typical doctor who cared about his patient's health. There was something darker behind those eyes, something that made me doubt every word that came out of his mouth. Who was Miles Warren really? And why was he so interested in my blood tests?
As I looked out at the horizon, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I turned quickly, my senses sharper than ever. It was Gwen. Her face showed a mix of concern and relief at seeing me.
"Peter, are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with fear. "I saw you talking to Dr. Warren… Did he say anything important?"
I frowned, trying to decide if I should share my doubts with her. Gwen had been through too much already, but something in me told me I couldn't ignore what I was feeling.
"Gwen, do you really know who Warren is?" I asked cautiously, watching her reaction.
Gwen seemed surprised by the question, and for a moment she hesitated.
"Miles is… a friend of my father. A respected scientist. I don't know much else. Why? Did he say anything strange to you?"
I shook my head, not wanting to alarm her, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. There was something dark about him, something that went beyond being a simple doctor.
"I just… don't like the vibe it gives off," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant, but Gwen noticed the seriousness in my tone.
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I now find myself nervously standing in front of this world's Oscorp tower. With shaky steps, I make my way through the crowd of people entering and exiting the stainless steel and glass giant. With determination, I manage to enter the building, but I feel a chill when suddenly my senses sharpen in microseconds and my perception of time slows to an incredible level. My entire body jingles and, in an instant, I move away from what I perceive as a danger. In this case, it was a platinum blonde-haired girl who fell to the ground with her things. I quickly approach to help her up.
"Ouch," she complains as she stands up and wipes the dust off her clothes.
Her look tells me that she doesn't like that I dodged her so roughly, although she couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry if I made you fall. Here, you dropped your card," I say, giving her back her Oscorp ID. Apparently, she was an intern.
"Don't worry," she answers with a smile worthy of a small child before disappearing into the crowd.
"Wait!" I shout, realizing that his name couldn't be Rodrigo Guevara, maybe he got confused with someone else. But he soon disappears from my sight among the building workers and the interns.
But he soon disappears from my sight among the building workers and the other interns.
"Ughh... I just wanted to tell him that he got confused," I mutter, although I really doubt that I stole it from him or something like that.
I head towards the familiar Oscorp secretary who recognizes me just by seeing me walk in her direction.
"Oh, God! Peter, are you okay? Were you hurt?" she asks me with concern. I heard that your partner died in that monster's attack.
—...—How could I tell him that I'm that monster now?
—Flash was a great partner, just a bit of a troublemaker. He didn't deserve to die for that —I say, feeling more and more disgusted by myself. The memories of my new body are blurry, and the more time passes, the more my memory and brain degenerate.
—Oh, Peter... You must be sad about that. Don't worry, you can talk to me for anything you need. You're a good boy —she says with the sweetest tone I've ever heard, similar to Aunt May comforting me in the past.
—Thank you very much for your concern, but I think I'm strong enough now that a few days have passed —I thank her. Miss Watson stares at my face in doubt.
—Are you sure? Your face is paler than usual —she says, even more worried about my condition. I must admit that my appearance has worsened since the defective serum has started to kill me from within.
—Hm... It might be because of the medicine, but for now I have to talk to Connors —I answer, trying to ignore the annoying interns who watch our conversation impatiently to get in.
—Sure, Peter, but you'll have to wait with the interns until Dr. Connors arrives.
—Of course, there are no preferences even with your favorite —I say as I start to march towards the elevator. I hear her voice once again:
—I still don't believe you, Parker, but you're going to tell me before you leave or I'll tell your aunt! —she finishes her ridiculous threat. I just quicken my pace, ignoring the gaze of the others getting on the elevator. My face doesn't help me hide my embarrassment.
—Superman, I never ask you for anything, but if you're there, save me! —I think.
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.The elevator was slowly going up, each floor marked by the faint hum of the engine, but my mind was somewhere else. I could still feel the weight of the conversation with Gwen and the disturbing gaze of Dr. Miles Warren. Something didn't fit, and my senses were activated the whole time, as if my subconscious knew that danger was near. However, there was more than just unease now: there was desperation. My body continued to change, and the lizard serum seemed to be accelerating an irreversible process within me.
The Oscorp tower glowed coldly under the artificial lights, an imposing structure, but one loaded with secrets. Secrets I needed to unravel before it was too late. As I ascended, Gwen's words echoed in my head: "Why is Dr. Warren so interested in your blood work?" I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell her that something inside me was mutating, that I was no longer the Peter she knew.
The elevator stopped with a soft "ding" and the doors swung open. I walked toward Connors' lab, but I couldn't help but feel watched. Oscorp had always had an oppressive air, but this time it was different. The very air seemed to be charged with tension.
"Peter, what are you doing here so late?" a familiar voice asked.
It was Connors, the man who had been by my side through so many tests, so many investigations. But now, even he seemed to be hiding something. He looked at me with his tired, wary eyes.
"I had to talk to you," I replied, trying to sound casual, even though anxiety was pounding in my chest. "It's about the serum… something is wrong. My body is changing, and I don't know how much longer I can control whatever is happening."
Connors frowned, clearly worried, but before he could respond, a loud bang shook the building. The emergency alarm echoed throughout Oscorp, and red lights began to flash, indicating that something serious was happening.
"It can't be!" Connors exclaimed as he ran to a nearby screen. My lizard senses went off before he could tell me what was happening, and my instincts told me that we should leave immediately.
"What's going on?" I asked, even though something in me already knew.
"It's him…" Connors murmured darkly. "Something's breaking loose. Something even we haven't been able to control. And now… it's been unleashed."
My heart stopped for a moment. Curtis Connors. I knew he was onto something bigger, something darker. He wasn't just a scientist worried about his health. He was a mad scientist, playing with forces even he didn't understand like the lizard serum.
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