❝ makes you wanna
run and hide ❞

024. the statue of liberty

𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓. It didn’t ask for permission, didn’t second-guess itself — it simply consumed. Spark by spark, flame by flame, it moved with unrelenting purpose, devouring everything in its path.

Ingrid was no different. Patience wasn’t just a foreign concept to her; it was a nuisance. Stillness felt like shackles, binding her, stifling her. Like fire, she thrived on action, on movement. The idea of waiting, of doing nothing, set her nerves on edge, a relentless itch beneath her skin.

And yet, here she was, forced to pace the cramped lab of Midtown High, waiting for a signal from Peter, all to grab some mystical artifact and continue doing nothing. The oppressive silence in the room made her chest tight, her fingers twitching with the urge to move, to act, to do something.

Her boots thudded against the tiled floor in a steady rhythm as she paced, the sound filling the suffocating quiet. Each step matched her breath, an attempt to stave off the growing tension coiling inside her. It wasn’t working.

Ned and MJ weren’t helping. They were uncharacteristically quiet, their usual banter absent. MJ leaned against a desk, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable but focused. Ned, meanwhile, sat in a swivel chair, nervously fiddling with the sling ring like it might combust in his hands.

The silence felt heavy, unnatural, like the calm before a storm. Ingrid let out another long, weary sigh, her breath fogging up in the cool, sterile air of the lab. She shot a glare at Ned’s hands, as if his fidgeting was to blame for her growing frustration.

“Ned, could you not?” she snapped, her voice sharper than intended.

He froze, holding the sling ring in mid-air like a child caught red-handed. “Sorry,” he muttered, though his fingers resumed their restless movements almost immediately.

Ingrid gritted her teeth and resumed pacing, her boots echoing louder now, a steady beat against the rising tension. The unspoken weight of what lay on the other side of the mission gnawed at her, though she refused to acknowledge it. If she did — if she let herself think about Peter, about the battle raging wherever he was — she might lose focus entirely.

The faint buzz of a portal opening broke through her thoughts like a spark igniting dry kindling. Her head snapped up, heart pounding as a glowing circle of light bloomed in front of Ned. He blinked at it in disbelief, his mouth slightly agape. Even after successfully opening a few portals, the shock of his own abilities hadn’t worn off.

MJ straightened beside him, her stoic mask cracking just enough to reveal a small, relieved smile. The tension in the room seemed to lift for a fleeting moment, like a breath held too long finally exhaled.

Through the portal, the sounds of battle were unmistakable — clanging metal, bursts of energy, and distant shouts that sent a shiver down Ingrid’s spine. Her breath caught as she scanned the chaotic scene, her pulse quickening. The moment froze, a beat of hesitation, before Peter’s voice sliced through the noise.

“All right, Ingrid, heads up!”

His tone was rushed but firm, snapping her out of her trance. She barely registered the artifact flying through the portal until it smacked into her palms. Her fingers curled around it instinctively, clutching it against her chest like a lifeline.

“Got it!” she yelled back, her voice strained but steady. Her eyes darted to the portal again, searching for Peter, but he was already gone, his voice fading into the chaos as he fought alongside the other Spider-Men.

MJ’s voice brought her back to reality. “Ned, close it!”

Ned jumped, clearly startled. “Oh, right!” he yelped, fumbling with the sling ring as if he’d forgotten its purpose. He threw his hands up, mimicking the sweeping motion Doctor Strange had done in front of him countless of times. His brows furrowed in concentration, his lips moving as if reciting some silent mantra.

Nothing happened. The portal remained wide open, a gaping window into the chaos beyond.

They stood there, frozen, staring at the chaos unfolding on the other side. Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the Statue of Liberty in stark relief. The sounds of battle seemed closer now, sharper, as if the portal were inviting the war to spill into their quiet little lab.

MJ's gaze darted between the glowing circle and Ned, her voice tinged with urgency. "Uh... Ned, it’s not closing."

"Yeah, I know!" Ned shot back, his voice a mix of frustration and panic. He flailed his arms wildly, trying to replicate the precise motions. Nothing happened, except for the sweat starting to bead on his forehead.

Ingrid’s heart pounded in her chest, each beat a drum urging her to move. The temptation to leap through the portal and into the fight clawed at her. She forced herself to stay rooted, clenching the artifact tighter. “Why isn’t it closing?” she demanded, her voice sharp.

“I don’t know!” Ned’s voice cracked under the pressure. His hands froze mid-motion, his confusion as palpable as the energy humming from the portal.

Ingrid and MJ exchanged wide-eyed looks, both trying to make sense of the situation. Ingrid’s jaw tightened, her voice dropping into a dangerous calm. “Ned… have you even closed a portal before?”

Ned flinched under her intense stare. “No? No.” His answer came out in a rush, like he hoped saying it quickly would make it sound less alarming. “I mean, I’ve opened some!” he added defensively, as if that counted for something.

Ingrid’s brows shot up, her eyes narrowing. “So you didn’t close the ones before?” Her voice rose, laced with incredulity.

Ned hesitated, shifting on his feet. “They sort of closed on their own,” he admitted, his voice tapering off into a sheepish mumble.

For a moment, Ingrid just stared at him, waiting for him to laugh and tell them this was all some ill-timed joke. When no such laugh came, she threw her hands up in exasperation. “I can’t believe this!” she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the lab.

Ned’s shoulders slumped defensively. “I didn’t even have time to try and close them before—”

“Okay, okay!” MJ interrupted, stepping between them with her hands raised, her voice firm but calm. “Let’s not freak out. We can fix this.” She turned to Ned, her tone softening. “Come on, Ned. Just… try again. Focus.”

“Right. Okay.” Ned took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders as if preparing for battle. Slowly, he raised his hands, moving them in deliberate, circular motions.

The room held its collective breath, every pair of eyes fixed on the glowing portal. Seconds ticked by. Nothing. The portal remained defiantly open, its energy crackling faintly in defiance.

Ingrid let out a sharp exhale, forcing herself to focus even as MJ’s rushed encouragements and Ned’s frantic motions buzzed around her like static. Her gaze was locked on the portal, her mind filtering out everything but the chaotic scene playing out on the other side. The Spider-Men swung and darted across the fractured skyline, their movements punctuated by bursts of light, distant explosions, and the unmistakable sound of battle.

Every yell, every clash, every surge of energy seemed to pull her closer to the edge. Her boots scraped against the floor as she took another step forward, her fingers twitching at her sides. She didn’t belong here, standing idly by in a quiet lab. She belonged out there — fighting. One more step, and she’d be through.

"Alright, we’re gonna do it again,” MJ said, her voice strained as she tried to steady Ned’s trembling resolve. “We just keep trying. We’ve got this. It’s fine.” Her words tumbled out, rapid and desperate, more for herself than anyone else.

Ned nodded, his breaths shallow and erratic. “I got it. I got it...” His voice wavered, each syllable more uncertain than the last.

“Close it,” MJ repeated firmly, though her own nerves betrayed her in the tremor of her voice. “Just close it.”

Ingrid barely registered their words. Her attention snapped back to the portal as a flicker of movement caught her eye — a figure emerging from the chaos, its form becoming clearer with each second. Her heart dropped. She knew that hunched, reptilian gait. The Lizard.

Her hand shot up instinctively, halting Ned mid-motion. “Stop,” she ordered, her voice low and urgent.

“What? Why?” Ned asked, his hands freezing in the air.

Ingrid didn’t answer. Her eyes remained fixed on the green-scaled figure now charging toward them on all fours, its jagged claws scraping against the cracked concrete of the battlefield. The air around her felt heavier, the lab suddenly stifling in its stillness.

Ned’s eyes widened as he finally noticed. “Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no—”

MJ was the first to break the suffocating silence. “And that is a lizard, and we should…” Her voice trailed off as panic set in.

Ingrid didn’t let her finish. She shoved the artifact into MJ’s arms, the motion sharp and deliberate. “Run,” she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

MJ and Ned didn’t need to be told twice. They bolted, their hurried footsteps echoing through the lab. Ingrid, however, didn’t move. Her feet were planted, her body coiled with tension. She raised her hand, summoning a surge of fire that erupted from her palm and engulfed the Lizard in a blaze of orange and red.

The creature screeched in pain, its guttural cry reverberating through the portal and into the lab. Ingrid didn’t flinch. She watched as the flames licked at its scales, waiting for it to fall. But as the fire died out, the Lizard stood tall, smoke rising from its charred body. Its eyes burned with fury, locked onto her.

Ingrid clenched her fists, determination settling in her chest like a weight. She darted forward, her movements fluid and precise. Her fist connected with the Lizard’s jaw, a sickening crunch echoing in the room. She followed it up with another burst of fire, aiming for its torso. But it was like punching a wall. The Lizard barely staggered, its massive form looming over her.

Before she could launch another attack, spmenody stepped through the portal behind her. A familiar voice rang out. “Ingrid!”

Peter. Her Peter.

He crashed through the portal, colliding with the Lizard and sending them both hurtling into the tiled wall. The impact shook the room, cracks spidering out from where they hit.

Peter pushed himself up, positioning himself between Ingrid and the creature. His chest heaved as he shot her a look over his shoulder, blood trickling down his temple. “I got it!” he shouted, his voice carrying a reassuring edge despite the chaos. “Run, Ingrid!”

Ingrid spared another glance at him as he wrestled with the Lizard before she returned to Ned and MJ, the three of them running towards a portal. Ingrid jumped through it first, pulling Ned and MJ, who's knuckles turned white from her grip on the artifact.

The scaffolding groaned beneath Ingrid’s boots as she pulled Ned and MJ through the narrow corridor, her grip ironclad on their hands. Ingrid’s heart hammered in her chest, each step vibrating against the precarious wooden planks. She didn’t know where they were going — only that they had to keep moving.

Behind them, the sound of splintering wood sent a chill down her spine. Ingrid chanced a glance over her shoulder and felt her stomach twist. The Lizard was relentless, barreling after them with terrifying speed, his claws ripping into the scaffolding as he closed the distance.

“Keep running!” she barked, her voice sharp and commanding.

Without warning, she skidded to a halt, letting go of Ned and MJ. They stumbled but kept moving forward, their steps faltering only when they realized she wasn’t with them.

“Ingrid!” MJ called, but Ingrid had already spun around, facing the narrow passageway.

She thrust her hands forward, summoning a vortex of flames that erupted in a fiery blaze. The corridor lit up in hues of orange and red as the firestorm roared to life, the heat searing the air and filling her nostrils with the acrid scent of burning wood and metal. The Lizard shrieked, his inhuman cries echoing against the cavernous structure.

Ingrid stood her ground, her flames dying down just enough to see the creature still standing, albeit hunched and visibly drained. Sweat trickled down her temple as she prepared to strike again, but before she could act, Ned’s panicked voice rang out.

“I got it!” he yelled.

She turned to see him flinging his arms in a wide, frantic circle. A portal sparked to life in front of him, sending a deluge of seawater cascading through. The sudden wave extinguished the smoldering wood and slammed into the Lizard with force, sending him sprawling to the adjacent scaffolding.

Ned’s triumphant grin matched hers for a fleeting moment before her attention was pulled elsewhere. In the distance, she caught sight of a familiar object dangling by webs from a nearby railing. Her heart leaped.

“The water bottle!” she muttered, pushing herself forward.

“Ingrid, what are you doing?” MJ shouted after her.

Ingrid didn’t stop. Her legs burned as she sprinted toward it, reaching out and snatching the bottle free from its sticky perch. The instant her fingers closed around it, Peter’s voice echoed from below.

“Ingrid!”

She rushed to the edge of the platform, gripping the railing as she peered down. Relief flooded her chest at the sight of him—bruised, battered, but alive. He looked up, his mask half-ripped, a small, hopeful grin tugging at his lips.

Without hesitation, she tossed the water bottle toward him. “Catch!”

Peter snatched it mid-air with expert precision. Just as the Lizard lunged at him, teeth bared and claws outstretched, Peter raised the bottle, letting the monster’s fangs sink into its metal surface. A sickening hiss followed as green smoke erupted from the punctures.

The Lizard let out a guttural scream, stumbling backward. Ingrid clutched the barrier tighter, her chest heaving as she watched the creature writhe. Slowly, its massive form began to shrink, the hulking figure dissolving into something smaller, frailer. When the green mist cleared, there lay the dazed body of Dr. Curt Connors, human once again.

Peter let out a shaky breath, leaning against the scaffold bars. He glanced up at Ingrid, his tired smile widening. “We did it.”

Ingrid’s shoulders sagged in relief. A laugh bubbled up from her chest, tinged with disbelief. “You did it, Peter.”

But their moment of victory was cut short.

“We need to hide this thing!” MJ called, holding the artifact aloft. Her voice brought them crashing back to the present.

“No, wait!” Ned interjected, stepping forward. He turned back to the open cityscape and took a deep breath, his movements measured this time. With careful precision, he rotated his hands in a steady circle. To their collective relief, another portal sparked to life.

“Yes!” Ned whooped, his excitement bubbling over.

They all grinned, their triumph momentarily lifting the weight of the chaos. But the celebration was short-lived.

Their laughter faded as the shape of a figure emerged through the portal. Ingrid’s stomach tightened as the light illuminated a familiar crimson cloak.

Dr. Strange stepped through, his expression unreadable but his presence unmistakable. He surveyed the group, his sharp gaze lingering on the artifact in MJ’s hands before snapping to Ned.

Ingrid crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "This is definitely the worst one you’ve opened," she muttered.

The portal snapped shut behind Strange, leaving them alone with his piercing scrutiny. He took a step forward, his voice cold and demanding. "Where is he?"

Before anyone could react, he reached out and snatched the artifact from MJ’s hands with practiced ease.

"Hey! Wait, wait, wait!" MJ protested, reaching for it, but Strange held it out of her reach, ignoring her completely.

"Before you do anything, Mister... Doctor Strange, sir, well..." Ned stammered, his words tumbling out in a panicked rush. "Peter's plan is working."

Strange froze mid-motion, his brow furrowing as he turned to Ned. "What plan?" he asked, his tone sharp with skepticism.

Ingrid stepped forward, her voice firm but tinged with disbelief. "He’s curing them."

Strange’s frown deepened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he moved toward the edge of the platform, the group instinctively parting to give him space. He peered down at Liberty Island below, where the battlefield had transformed into something almost unrecognizable.

The chaos was gone. Instead of fighting, the villains were subdued, sitting quietly, their once-hostile demeanors replaced with calm resignation. Their powers were gone, their minds seemingly restored. The three Peter Parkers moved among them, ensuring that each cure had taken effect, offering words of understanding and hope.

For a moment, Strange said nothing, his expression unreadable as his gaze swept over the scene. But then, almost imperceptibly, his stern features softened. "Well, I’ll be damned," he muttered, the faintest note of surprise in his voice.

He straightened, turning back to the group, his attention shifting to Ned. "You," he said, gesturing with a pointed finger. "Did you just open a portal?"

Ned froze, his face pale. "Uh… yes, sir. I did."

Strange stared at him for a long, tense moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, he simply moved past them.

As he walked away, Ingrid smirked, leaning toward MJ. "I’ve never seen him so thrilled," she quipped, her sarcasm cutting through the lingering tension.