The Spider:AHero’s Awakening.

The city never sleeps. And neither do my nightmares.

Swinging across Manhattan at 2 AM, I could still hear the whispers. The symbiote's voice curled around my thoughts like a snake, hissing temptations I didn't want to admit were getting harder to ignore.

"You are weak without us… embrace us… become more…"

I landed on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, leaning against the ledge and taking deep, shuddering breaths. My hands trembled.

Karen's voice cut through the silence. "Peter, your heart rate is elevated. Should I alert Mr. Stark?"

"No," I muttered. "I'm fine. Just… thinking."

"Studies show that dwelling on internal conflict can lead to—"

"Not now, Karen," I snapped, rubbing my temples. "Just… not now."

I looked out over the city, watching as lights flickered in the distance. Somewhere down there, Norman Osborn was plotting something bigger than I could handle.

And I couldn't shake the feeling that it was all coming to a head.

The next day, Midtown High.

"Peter, seriously, are you okay?"

MJ's voice snapped me out of my daze as we sat in the cafeteria. Her brows furrowed with concern. "You've been spacing out all day."

I forced a smile, pushing my untouched lunch aside. "I'm good. Just, uh, school stress, you know?"

"Peter," she said, leaning closer. "I know you. And this isn't school stress. Something's up."

I hesitated. I wanted to tell her. About Osborn, the symbiote, everything. But how could I?

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.

[DAREDEVIL:] "Oscorp moving a shipment tonight. Meet me at Pier 39. Be ready."

I sighed and stood up. "MJ, I have to go. I'll… I'll call you later, okay?"

She watched me leave with a worried expression. "Be careful, Tiger."

Pier 39, Midnight.

The docks were quiet, the air thick with salt and tension. Daredevil stood perched on a shipping container, listening to the distant sounds of Oscorp guards patrolling.

"You're late," he said without turning.

"Yeah, traffic's murder," I muttered, landing beside him. "So what are we looking at?"

Daredevil gestured toward a group of armed guards unloading large, black canisters from Oscorp trucks. "Symbiote samples. Osborn's moving them off the grid."

I sighed. "Alright. Standard smash and grab?"

Daredevil shook his head. "No. We do this quietly. No mistakes."

I nodded. "Stealthy Spider it is."

We moved silently, sticking to the shadows. I took out two guards with web-shots while Daredevil incapacitated another with a quick baton strike.

It was going well. Too well.

Then, my spider-sense went haywire.

I turned just in time to see Rhino charge through a stack of crates, roaring like a freight train.

"Surprise, bug!" he bellowed, his massive frame barreling toward me.

I barely dodged, flipping over him as he crashed into a forklift. "Man, don't you ever get tired of this?"

"Never!" he snarled, charging again.

Daredevil jumped in, striking fast, but Rhino shrugged him off easily. "Spider-Man, focus on the shipment!"

I nodded, flipping over to the nearest truck and webbing a canister. "Karen, analyze contents."

"Analyzing… Peter, this isn't a sample. It's the full symbiote."

My stomach dropped. "Oh, great."

Before I could react, the truck's back door burst open, and Venom emerged, towering over me with that terrifying, jagged grin.

"You cannot escape us, Parker," it hissed, tendrils writhing.

I stumbled back. The whispers in my head grew louder.

"Join us… become one…"

I felt my knees weaken. It was too close. Too strong.

Daredevil threw a baton, knocking Venom back temporarily. "Parker! Stay with me!"

I shook my head, forcing the voices away. "I'm fine! I'm fine!"

I shot a web at a crane hook and swung up, creating distance. Daredevil and I exchanged a nod, moving in sync. I focused on leading Rhino away while Daredevil handled Venom.

But the whispers kept gnawing at me.

"We could destroy them… together…"

I gritted my teeth. "No. No way."

Rhino lunged again, and this time, I used my webbing to tie his feet to a mooring post, sending him crashing into the water with a tremendous splash. "Enjoy your swim, big guy!"

Daredevil landed beside me, panting. "Venom retreated. We need to go, now."

I glanced at the stolen canisters. "What about—"

"No time," he cut me off, pulling me away.

We disappeared into the night, Oscorp's remaining guards scrambling to recover the damage.

Back at the safehouse…

I sat on the rooftop ledge, my mask off, staring at my trembling hands. The whispers were still there, quieter, but present.

Daredevil leaned against the wall behind me. "You almost gave in, didn't you?"

I exhaled slowly. "I don't know how much longer I can fight it."

He stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "You're stronger than it, Parker. You're more than the darkness."

I looked at him, doubt clouding my thoughts. "What if I'm not?"

"You are," he said simply. "But you need to trust yourself. And trust your friends."

I sighed, staring out over the city. "Osborn's not going to stop. And neither is Venom."

Daredevil nodded. "Then we don't stop either."

I put my mask back on, taking a deep breath. "Yeah… let's end this."

Meanwhile, at Oscorp…

Norman Osborn watched the footage of our battle from his office, a sinister smile creeping across his face.

"Fascinating," he murmured, rewinding the part where Venom lunged at me, the symbiote reaching out like it knew me.

Dr. Octavius stood beside him, arms crossed. "The symbiote wants him. We should consider an alternative strategy."

Osborn's smile widened. "Patience, Otto. Spider-Man will fall… soon enough."

He turned toward a containment chamber, inside of which the symbiote pulsed angrily, as if sensing my presence even now.

"And when he does," Osborn whispered, "he'll embrace the darkness."

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