Am I Peter Parker?

Chapter 6: Threat...

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Earth-65

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As I become aware of the new day that greets me with its dawn, I find Mr. Stacy and Gwen asleep in the room.

The moment I yawn, Gwen rushes towards me in tears, hugging me tightly while repeatedly murmuring "sorry" between sobs. I am surprised by her reaction, not fully understanding what is happening.

"I have so much to talk about, Peter," she says with her voice shaking with emotion.

"So much has happened since... since then."

Mr. Stacy, seeing the scene, stands up with a confused and worried expression.

"Gwen, what's going on?" Mr. Stacy asks, approaching us cautiously.

Between sobs, Gwen manages to articulate a few words. "I thought I'd never see you again. I thought you were taken away, like... Mom," she says, her voice breaking with emotion and fear.

I begin to understand. Gwen has been through some tough times, and my disappearance has affected her deeply. I feel guilty for not having realized her suffering sooner. I hold her tenderly, trying to convey reassurance and support.

Mr. Stacy looks at us with concern, but also relief that I'm back.

"I'm here, Gwen. Don't worry," I murmur, stroking her hair gently. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm fine. Please let me wipe your tears away..."

Gwen nods, trying to calm herself as I wipe her tears away with my thumb. Mr. Stacy leaves us for a moment to give us some privacy, and Gwen begins to speak, her voice still shaking.

"After you died, everything became chaos. My mind sank into sadness and I… I didn't know what to do. Every hour, every second, I thought about you, about whether you were okay, whether you would come back…"

I listen to her intently, feeling the weight of her words. My heart aches at the thought of all the pain my absence has caused.

"Gwen, I'm so sorry I let you go through this alone," I say, my voice heavy with regret. "If I had known…"

She cuts me off, shaking her head. "No, Peter. It wasn't your fault. I know that. But… I need to know what happened. Why did you do it? How did you survive?"

I take a deep breath, preparing to tell her the truth. "Gwen, there are things I've kept to myself and haven't told anyone. Lies that have been hard to keep. But you deserve to know the truth. It all started that night, when the problems with Flash escalated..."

Carefully, I tell her the events that led to my transformation as the Lizard, including my "fight" against the spider heroine and how I felt guilty for forgetting at times who I really am. Gwen listens in silence, her eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and understanding.

When I finish, she takes my hands in hers. "Peter, I always hoped you would face this. But I never imagined this. I can't say I'm not scared, but I'm here with you. I don't want to lose you again."

I hug her tightly, grateful for her support and understanding. "You won't lose me, Gwen. I promise."

Mr. Stacy returns, looking at us with a mix of relief and concern. "Peter, you're like a son to us. No matter what you've been through, we're here for you. Always."

I nod, feeling overwhelmed by the warmth and love of this family that has taken me in. Together, we'll face any adversity that comes our way.

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With Gwen by my side, I know I can overcome any obstacle.

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That's what her Peter would think...

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I now find myself staring at the sun from the hospital rooftop as I try to figure out how to return to my old life without much success in the process.

Am I really living another life?

The differences are as clear as day in this world. One can enjoy the scenery without having to run for their lives from the invasion of a world-devourer like Galactus...

My only "viable" options are to create a portal to my original world or find the cause of my reincarnation and reverse it.

But the main problem with both is the infinite amount of doubts that arise from the mere fact of living a life that is not mine.

Alternate reality?

It's possible.

Alternate dimension?

It's possible.

Alternate timeline?

It's possible.

Multiverse?

Now I think everything is possible...

The amount of theories and knowledge just to solve the first option is enough to stop listing the possibilities in my mind.

Now, looking for a way to solve my second viable "option", the list of things is further from my reality than the first.

Magic?

Now everything is possible...

Mythological gods usurping mortal bodies?

It sounds plausible, I mean, Thor exists...

Did some gamma explosion blow me out of reality?

Hulk came out alive, I don't think so...

Did some wormhole bring me to this world?

Then I wouldn't remember things from another life...

Should I give up on going back to my world?

Of course, if I don't find a way to create a version of the portal, I'll have to stay in this place with a life that doesn't belong to me.

Click.

The sound of the door opening brings me out of my ramblings. Now that my senses have been enhanced by the serum, I no longer need glasses to see perfectly. All thanks to the fight against Spider-Woman, my glasses are shattered.

—Parker, you're not fully recovered yet. You should listen to your friend —the doctor was an acquaintance of Gwen's dad, I don't really know how he knows me.

I ask the doctor:

—How many days have I been in the hospital?

—Since you arrived it's been 6 days.

What the fuck, what the fuck! How is it possible that my perception of time is gone? I perfectly remember waking up and going out looking for Spider-Woman in search of help because of the memories of another Peter. I don't know the reason why I feel so sure that she can help me if she wants.

Every time I try to see more details about my experience before arriving, I get a blank...

This is so wrong. I feel perfectly the sensation of having seen the other's memories up to the fall of the Lizard, but now my brain is unable to remember.

Yes... the serum is killing me.

The few memories of my personal laboratory full of mutagenic serums with OSCORP labels remind me of the day I asked Dr. Connors for them after losing my sanity in the form of the Lizard eating Flash Thompson alive.

"Well, Parker, to make sure you fully recover, I was planning to run some last tests on your blood..." said the doctor, interrupting my thoughts.

My mind returned to the present and I looked at the doctor skeptically. What could those tests reveal that I didn't already know? But, if I wanted to find a solution to my situation, I had to cooperate.

The strange sensation in my body still didn't go away, like a threatened animal, leaving me to doubt another adverse effect of the lizard serum on my being.

"Okay, go ahead," I replied, resigned.

The doctor nodded and prepared the necessary instruments. I felt the needle penetrate my skin, but the physical pain was minimal compared to the mental torment I was experiencing. As he worked, my mind wandered again.

Memories of the Oscorp lab kept floating in my mind. I saw Connors, obsessed with his experiments, whispers of great advances and equally great risks. My own research was not so far from his. We were both looking for answers in dangerous places.

"Excuse me, doctor, what was your name?" I said, my perception still altered.

"Miles Warren... Has Gwen never told you about me, Peter?" he said in a tone unknown to me as he busied himself finishing his work.

The doctor finished taking the samples and left me alone again on the roof. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my mind.

The strange feeling in my body still doesn't go away like a threatened animal leaving me to doubt another adverse effect of the lizard serum on my being.

Miles Warren....

The name of that doctor seems unfamiliar to me in my previous memories as in the new ones I wonder if he is really known to Gwen's father or a threat?