"New York City, one of alleged greatest cities in America. That's because people don't really know about the darker side of this city. Crimes, muggers, thugs, and rumor has it there were actually supervillains. You know how people tell you that you have these great responsibilities? Well, I heard that Manhattan had someone who had great responsibilities around sixty years ago and seemed to have disappeared about twenty to thirty years or so, but as if I really believe all that. At least I did before one day my life changed around forever."
A school bus pulled up to Empire State University. The school bus was form Midtown High School and there was one student that was in particular. He was fifteen with short brown hair with his bangs hanging over. He wore jeans with a black shirt and wore bomber jacket with brown sleeves and black in the back.
"My name is Paul Porter and this is my story. It all starts when my class took a field trip to ESU."
"Paul!" Paul looked behind him to see a guy with short brown hair and wore a white shirt under a blue sweater-vest and khakis.
"That's Harris Harper. I'm not really a social guy, but he and I are actually good friends. I saved him from a bunch of bullies when we were kids and we've been hanging out since."
"Isn't this exciting?" Harris asked.
"We're here to see a bunch of spiders. How exciting can it be?" Paul said.
"Not just that. We're here at Empire State University. This gives us a great chance to take a look at our future." Harris said. Paul didn't seem to care, but he did when someone bumped their arm against him. They saw it was a guy with black hair and wore a Midtown High jacket and had a blonde cheerleader holding his arm. Both in green and white, school colors.
"How nice. The two freaks of Midtown are planning their future." The two walked over to another pair wearing the same clothes. One was African American male and the other was another brighter colored blonde with her hair in a ponytail with a green ribbon.
"As if the best campus would let those two in." The girl said.
"Nice man." The two men high-fived each other.
"That was Thomas Lancer. He's been a real jerk for years. He thinks he's all that because he's our school's quarterback. The rest are his entourage. The blonde leeching his arm is Jean Gosmin, his girlfriend. The snarky one is Amanda Aller, the captain of the cheerleaders. The last one is Ray Ritsin, Thomas' best friend."
"We've got a better chance than you, Thomas." Paul said. "Colleges look for students, not meatheads like yourself."
"Is that so?" Thomas said as he walked over for a fight. "You want to make something of it?" Both of them looked ready to rumble.
"Mr. Lancer. Mr. Porter." Both of them looked over to their teacher, Mr. Coles, who had a disapproving look. "I'm expecting ALL my students to be on their best behavior while I'm here." Both of them backed down and just continued on.
"Do you think Thomas will ever grow up?" Harris asked.
"I highly doubt it." Paul said.
"Okay, class. Our first stop will be the college lab of Dr. Wesley Walters." The teacher said. The students followed to a lab where they are studying up on both animals and radiation. Dr. Wesley Walters was a scientist who had short chestnut hair and was working on some experiments. He took notice of the group from Midtown High coming in.
"Aw! You must be the students from Midtown High." Walters said as he shook hands with Mr. Coles. "I'm Dr. Walters. I'm so glad you could all join us."
"We're all happy to be here." Mr. Coles said.
"Yes. As you can see, we're in the process of studying animals and radiation. We're trying to see how they're all affected by such things." Walters said. "If I may avert your attention for a moment, I like to introduce someone. He was a graduate of Empire State University and excelled in science. Please meet Mr. Peter Parker." All of them turned to see an old man who looked to be in his mid-seventies wearing black and walked around with a cane.
"Hello. It's a pleasure to meet all of you." Peter said. "Not only am I graduate of ESU, but I actually went to Midtown myself. I couldn't turn away when I was asked to be here."
"Great. We're going to a boring old man's stories." Jean whispered.
"He's probably older than some of the fossils here." Thomas said.
"If you could turn your attention here?" Peter said as he gestured to some small cases where there was one spider in each one.
"Eww. Shouldn't those belong on the bottom of a shoe or something?" Amanda said.
"These spiders have been exposed to some of the radiation we've experimented with and it's made them faster and stronger." Walters said.
"Surely brings back memories. I saw similar experiments in my youth." Peter said. Paul took a look, but they didn't seem that interesting to him.
"I bet you feel right at home with the rest of these creeps, huh Porter?" Thomas said.
"No, but with your brain as big as they are, this probably seems interesting to you." Paul said. Thomas got annoyed and just shoved Paul out of the way. Paul just hanged back and leaned against a table. "This is a waste of time. Maybe I should just drop out." As Harris looked through, he saw one cage was empty.
"Excuse me. There appears to be one missing." Harris said.
"There is?" Walters said and had a look. "I suppose that one is still being experimented on."
"I suppose, but in the off chance it's roaming free, we better be careful." Peter said. As the two scientists were speaking, Paul wasn't really listening and didn't notice the missing spider was just above him. It lowered itself down on Paul's hand and bit him.
"Aw!" Paul screamed and shook it off with everyone's attention to him.
"Paul, is something wrong?" Mr. Coles asked.
"It felt like something bit me." Paul said. All of a sudden he was becoming nauseous and could barely stay upright and was trying to hold back on vomiting. Walters and Coles helped him out. "Oh man. I don't feel so well."
"You're starting to feel clammy and sweaty." Mr. Coles said.
"This doesn't seem good. I think it might be best to call his parents." Walters suggested and Mr. Coles agreed. Peter was concerned until he spotted the small spider crawling away and knew what happened.
…
Later
A few moments later, a car pulled up to ESU and a man with brown hair and glasses stepped out as Paul was being carried over to him. That's Paul's father: Matthew Porter.
"Paul?! Are you okay?" Matthew asked.
"He seems to be getting sick, but I think he just needs some rest." Walters said as they helped him into the car.
"Thank you for calling me." Matthew said.
"He should be fine. Just make sure he gets some rest." Walters said and Matthew understood. Matthew got back in the car and drove away. As they drove off, Peter watched as if he knew what was going to happen.
…..
Paul's House
"Yes, I know. I know. I'll get to you on that when I can." Paul's mother, Trisha Porter, was beautiful woman that had brown hair that reached the bottom of her neck in a lovely blue dress. Paul and his family lived in a suburban area of New York. She ended her call and saw Paul and Matthew walk in. "Paul? What are you doing home so early?"
"Later, Mom. I'm going to lie down." Paul said and went right upstairs.
"Is he okay?" Trisha asked.
"Apparently something happened on his field trip and he got all sick." Matthew said. "They say he's going to be fine. Good thing it's Friday." Paul went right into his room and collapsed right on his bed. He was all sweaty and was breathing hard. Whatever that spider did to him, it was starting to change him.
….
The City
"Happy Halloween. Happy Halloween. Happy Halloween." Someone who like Halloween was hanging back in the shadows and had his rundown apartment all decorated for Halloween even though it wasn't even October. "Time for some tricks and treats. I wonder which would be better." He heard his door open up and saw someone standing in the doorway. He wore a suit, but his face couldn't be seen. "Who are you? Go away!"
"My! Someone is obviously a lover of Halloween."
"Of course. It's not fair that it has to come by ever year like everyone says. It's every day of the year! Hahah!"
"I see. How would you like to spread some more of that Halloween joy like no one else has?" That certainly caught the crazy man's attention.
…
Paul
As Paul rested, he was having flash images his dreams. They were that of spiders, webs, and even what looked like him becoming a spider. Paul shot up upon his awakening.
"Whoa. Freaky." Paul said and realized he was feeling much better. He also noticed that it was already Saturday. He looked down on his hand and he still saw the bite there. "Weird." Paul got out of bed, but he felt something different for a second. When Paul opened his door, he felt his hand sticking to the door knob. "Aw. Marcus probably just put glue on my door or something." Paul pulled his hand free and went down stairs.
"I'm starting to worry about him, honey." Matthew said as he and the rest of his family were having breakfast.
"You should. Paul's always so weird." There was one more in the family. Marus Porter, Paul's younger brother who was only eight. Everyone called him Mark.
"Mark, that's not nice. Your brother is just under the weather is all." Trisha said.
"It's not just that." Matthew said. "He's always trying to get in fights with that Thomas kid, he never reaches out to anyone, he never signs up for some club or something. I'm starting to worry what our oldest is doing with himself."
"You worry too much." Paul said as he entered the kitchen.
"You're finally awake. We were getting worried." Trisha said.
"I'm feeling much better now." Paul said as he grabbed his stuff. "I'm heading in the city. Beats hanging around here."
"Hang on. I'll give you a ride." Matthew said.
"I'll just take the train or something." Paul said.
"No. I insist. I need to head there myself." Matthew said and went with Paul. Paul knew this wasn't going to be well.
…
The City
Matthew pulled over to the side so he could let Paul out.
"Thanks for the ride." Paul said as he was about to leave.
"Paul, wait. We need to talk." Matthew said. There it was. Paul was afraid of this. "Paul, I'm starting to get worried about you."
"Why?" Paul said.
"For starters, you keep trying to pick fights." Matthew said.
"Are you talking about Thomas? He always starts it and it's time someone knocked him off his throne." Paul said.
"That's not just it." Matthew said. "Paul, I'm worried you're not living up to the potential you have. Some people in the neighborhood think you're becoming a troubled person. You don't seem to amend to anything and you don't seem to care about anything. You might have Harris, but you don't seem to have any other friends."
"So what? It's none of your business anyway." Paul said.
"As long as you are my son, I'm making it my business." Matthew said. "Paul, you have the potential to be something amazing. I just know it. As you know, as you get older, you gain some responsibilities. Yet, I'm afraid you're not living up to any of it. You need to learn to step out of your own little world and into others. I'm only saying this because I'm concerned about you. I know you can be the man I know you can be. The kind of man that could do so much good for others." Paul heard him, but he didn't really seem to care.
"Dad, this is New York. You practically have to look out for yourself." Paul said as he opened the door and slammed it shut and left Matthew to wonder what he's going to do with him.
"That's the kind of guy I was back then. I minded my own business and didn't give much care for anything that wasn't my problem. My Dad was the opposite. He wasn't your stereotypical New Yorker. He tried to help people as much as he could. Guess that's why he likes Mom so much since she helps out with a lot of charities. I took all what he said for granted. I never knew what he was trying to tell me…..until it was too late."
…
A Store
Paul just went to grab some soda from a convenient store. He paid the cashier for his soda and was on his way out and the next person went up. A man with a blonde mullet and sunglasses with a green snake tattoo around his left arm. He placed some beer on the register.
"Just the six pack, stranger?" The cashier said.
"Yeah." The guy said, but accidently knocked down some postcards. The cashier tried cleaning them up, but Paul saw the man stealing from the register. Paul didn't do anything about it and just walked out. He acted like he didn't see anything as the thief ran off.
"Hey! He just robbed me! Kid, help me." The cashier said.
"Not my problem." Paul said and just kept walking.
…
Later
Paul was on his way as the day was coming to an end. Paul was acting like nothing happened, but he was surprised that he saw police in front of his house.
"Oh no." Paul said and he ran to check it out.
"I'm sorry, son. This is a crime scene. You need to stay back." The officer said.
"Crime scene? I live here. Is my family okay?" Paul asked. He heard a horn and saw his Mom pulled up with Mark in the car. Trisha stepped out as Mark stayed behind.
"Paul, what's going on?" Trisha said as she was acting scared.
"I don't know. I just got here." Paul said.
"Officer, what's this about?" Trisha asked.
"Your neighbors reported a break in and the one who did it got away." The officer said. "There was also a casualty. I'm sorry, ma'am. Your husband has been shot." That information was a shocker to Paul and Trisha.
"No." Trisha said and was in tears.
"Who did this?" Paul said as he demanded to know.
"We have a description. The guy appeared to be in his thirties. Had blonde mullet hair and had a snake tattooed around his left arm." The officer said. It was the same guy from before. The guy Paul didn't do anything to stop. Paul felt like his whole world was shattered. He had a chance to stop the guy and he didn't.
'That means. It's my fault.' Paul thought. When the officers cleared away and made sure everything was safe in the house again, it was a sad night for the Porter family. Mark just sat on the couch and he didn't do anything, but just sat there.
"Mark, I ordered dinner and it's ready." Trisha said.
"I'm not all that hungry." Mark said.
"Do you know where your brother is?" Trisha said. Paul sat in the dark in his room. He was still blaming himself for what just happened to his father. Trisha went up to check on him. "Paul, I have dinner."
"Why did this happen, Mom?" Paul said.
"Honey, there could have been any reason for this." Trisha said.
"It shouldn't have!" Paul shouted as he stood up. "Dad didn't do anything wrong. He was always there helping others. He….He….I yelled at him, Mom. He tried to tell me something and I wouldn't listen to him. The last thing I said to him was selfish and I was a real jerk." He went to his mother's arms and cried it out knowing that he'll never apologize to his father for what he did.
…
Midtown High
A couple days have passed since the tragedy. Harris was just hanging out in the school and was using a tablet to do some web surfing.
"Sup, Harris." Thomas said as he and his crew came over to annoy him. "What are you doing? Looking up ways to be cool? Like that will happen."
"Get real, Thomas." Harris said, but saw something on the news. "Oh my god! Matthew Porter has been shot dead. That's Paul's dad!"
"What?!" Jean said. They all might be jerks, but they're not heartless. Thomas took a look to confirm it.
"Whoa! It's true!" Thomas said. All of them took notice that Paul arrived and everyone at the school was feeling sorry for him. Paul kept his head down for he didn't want to speak to anyone.
"Poor Paul." Ray said.
"Yeah. I know I don't like him, but even I wouldn't want this for him." Amanda said. Thomas decided to do something and went over to talk to him.
"Hey! Porter!" Thomas called out.
"Not now, Thomas." Paul said.
"I just want to talk." Thomas said, but Paul grabbed him by his jacket and slammed him against the lockers.
"I said not now." Paul growled.
"I heard about your father. I'm sorry. I really am" Thomas said. Paul looked around and saw everyone staring at him. He couldn't handle it the way he thought and just ran out of there. Paul ran a few blocks down and was near a dumpster. All the anger, all the frustration, all those negative feelings he was having were hard to keep back.
"AAAAAAAWWWWWW!" Paul slammed his arms against the dumpster to get some of it out, but when he did, he made a serious dent. Paul might have been strong, but not that strong. He stared at his hands and wondered how he did that.
"That's quite the strength you have." Paul turned around and was met with Peter Parker again.
"I know you. You were at ESU." Paul said.
"Yes and you're the boy that was pulled out. My name is Peter in case you've forgotten."
"Leave me alone." Paul said.
"I heard about your father. I'm really sorry." Peter said. "I also know what that spider bite has done to you. I can help you learn. You've been given great power and you should learn how to use it."
"What? How would you know anything?" Paul said.
"If you want answers, come with me." Peter said and was starting to lead the way. Paul wasn't sure what he was talking about, but Paul has been feeling different. So he decided to go.
"I'm not sure why I went and followed him. It was as if something inside me was telling I should trust him, but I'm glad I did. This is my story and this was where it all began."