After that, the symbiote remained perfectly still for several moments. The mission was over. Everyone who posed a threat to Peter had been eliminated.
Just as it was about to give control back to its host, a faint whimper of terror echoed from behind it. A woman, who had witnessed the entire scene, stared at the creature with a face completely twisted in fear.
Without the slightest hesitation, the creature leaped several meters through the air and landed directly in front of her. The young woman let out a muffled scream, completely paralyzed.
Her mouth opened as she tried to speak, but no sound came out. Fear had frozen her completely. Just as the creature was about to devour her like it had everyone else, an image suddenly flashed through its mind : Uncle Ben.
The vision pierced its mind like a blade driven straight through its heart. The monster froze instantly and stumbled back a few steps, deeply disturbed by something it couldn't even understand itself.
Taking advantage of that brief moment of hesitation, the woman finally regained control of her body, struggled back to her feet, and ran for her life, desperately trying to put as much distance as possible between herself and the horror she had just witnessed.
The symbiote remained motionless. It didn't utter a single word, but the expression on its face revealed deep confusion. After several moments, it finally launched itself forward, making enormous leaps that carried it dozens of meters at a time. It quickly left the park behind before landing against the side of a building.
Its massive claws immediately dug into the concrete as it began climbing the skyscrapers at a terrifying speed, crossing New York from rooftop to rooftop until it reached a place that, by all logic, should have meant nothing to it...
The cemetery where Uncle Ben rested.
New York — Cemetery — Night
The cemetery lay in absolute silence. Not a single soul was present. The living alien slowly walked among the countless gravestones, as though guided by an invisible force.
Without the slightest hesitation, it headed straight toward Uncle Ben's grave... or rather, Peter's uncle's grave. It made no sense. The symbiote knew perfectly well that it had never met this man.
So why had it come here? Why had it found itself standing before this grave as though it had always known where it was? Why had it hesitated to kill that woman?
And above all... why did this man, whom it had never met, feel strangely familiar?
After standing in silence for several long minutes, staring at the gravestone, the symbiote finally gave control back to its host. Its enormous monstrous body gradually shrank before disappearing completely, leaving Peter lying unconscious on the ground, directly in front of his uncle's grave, in the middle of the cemetery.
The Parker House — Night
Meanwhile, night had long since fallen by the time Gwen finally returned home. She walked slowly through the streets of Queens, exhausted after what had felt like an endless day.
As she drew closer to the Parker house, the events of the day replayed over and over in her mind, but one memory surfaced more than any other: her conversation with Eddie Brock earlier that afternoon while they shared a drink on the terrace of a restaurant.
Eddie's words echoed through her mind once again with unsettling clarity.
— "I told you all of this, but I'd like you to keep it a secret and not tell Peter I talked to you."
— "...Why?"
— "You've seen how Peter is with me. If he finds out I told you all this... I don't know what he'll do."
Eddie had worn a worried expression, almost nervous. He had genuinely seemed afraid that Peter might discover their conversation... or at least, that was exactly what he wanted her to believe.
Because, without even realizing it, Gwen was far more perceptive than he imagined. She had seen right through his little game.
Even so, she had decided to play along, putting on a worried expression herself and deliberately clouding her gaze to make him believe he was completely in control of the situation…
When in reality, it was the exact opposite.
The memory slowly faded as Gwen returned to the present.
Arriving at the house, she quietly opened the front door and immediately found Aunt May, who had just poured herself a glass of water in the kitchen. The moment she saw the young woman, she greeted her with her usual smile, as gentle as it was warm.
— "Well, look who's here... sweetheart!"
— "Hi, Aunt May! How are you?"
Despite all the thoughts still racing through her mind and everything that had happened throughout the day, Gwen did her best not to let any of it show. The last thing she wanted was to worry Aunt May.
After everything Aunt May had done for her and all the kindness she constantly showed, Gwen preferred to keep her troubles to herself and put on the most natural smile she could manage.
— "I'm doing well, as always!"
Aunt May's eyes discreetly drifted past Gwen, as though she expected someone to walk through the door right behind her. When she realized once again that Gwen was alone, her smile faded slightly.
Peter still wasn't there.
— "Isn't Peter with you?"
— "Uh... no. He's still really busy. He's over at Harry's."
TO BE CONTINUED.