. . .

. . .

The early morning sun barely peeked through the towering buildings of New York City as Gwen swung through the streets, her white and black suit cutting a sharp figure against the sky. Her backpack was secured tightly across her back, a reminder that she still had school in less than an hour.

"Just one quick patrol," she muttered to herself. "No biggie."

But as she rounded a corner, her Spider-Sense flared, pulling her attention to the street below. A thick plume of smoke and the unmistakable sounds of chaos followed.

"Of course," she sighed before diving down into the action.

The villain, a hulking figure in a tattered trench coat, was wreaking havoc—throwing cars aside with ease. Gwen recognized him from the news: Tar-Pit, a crook who'd been experimenting with some sort of chemical goop that hardened on impact. He noticed her swinging in and fired a blast of his signature goop at a nearby car, sending it careening towards an innocent bystander.

Ghost-Spider flipped midair, webbing the car and making a net to catch it before it hit the civilians. "Tar-Pit, right? You need a better morning hobby! Maybe have a coffee."

Tar-Pit grunted, flinging a thick glob of the sticky substance in her direction. Ghost-Spider leaped out of the way but miscalculated, and the goop caught her mid-torso. It slammed her into a nearby wall, sticking her there like glue.

"Ugh, gross!" Ghost-Spider grimaced, struggling to pull herself free. "You're gonna make me late!"

Tar-Pit laughed. "What's the rush, Spider-Girl? Gotta get to school?"

Gwen clenched her teeth, yanking at the sticky mess that pinned her down. "Something like that," she muttered. "Okay, fine. No time to be polite."

With a sharp tug, she tore one arm free and flicked a web directly at his face. It hit with a splat, blinding him just long enough for her to pull her legs free as well. She dropped to the ground and launched herself at him, landing a solid punch to his gut.

"I really don't have time for this!" she growled, delivering a series of quick strikes to keep him off balance. Tar-Pit roared, sending another wave of goop her way. Gwen dodged, but a glob caught her leg this time, slowing her down.

"Okay, let's wrap this up," she quipped, firing web after web at him, tangling his arms and legs until he was cocooned in sticky strands. He tried to break free, but Gwen was faster. With a final web, she swung him into a nearby light pole, securing him there with a firm webbing around his waist.

Gwen wiped the sweat off her brow, glancing at her watch. "Oh no, I'm so gonna be late."

She sprinted to the nearest rooftop and swung herself into the air, her sticky leg slowing her down. "Gotta get to school, gotta get to school..." she chanted under her breath, desperately hoping the goop wouldn't harden any further.

By the time she landed on the school roof, she was covered in streaks of dried goop. She checked her reflection in the window, grimacing at the mess.

"Great. This is gonna be fun to get out." She grumbled about her suit. Slipping into the building just as the bell rang for class Gwen readied herself for the day.

The school hallway bustled with early-morning energy, students chatting and locker doors clanging open and shut. Peter stood in front of the glass display case, a new photo in hand, carefully aligning it with the others already pinned up. The image was of the school debate club, their faces bright with enthusiasm—aside from me—captured perfectly in a moment of laughter and camaraderie.

As he stretched to place the photo, a sudden, sharp impact hit him on the side of the head. Stumbling slightly, he blinked, his senses reeling, then turned to see none other than Flash, smirking broadly from across the hall. Flash was barely containing his laughter, tossing the basketball from hand to hand as if it were a casual greeting.

"Sorry," Flash said, his voice dripping with faux innocence and amusement. He held up a hand in a mock display of apology, clearly savoring the disruption.

Peter sighed, straightening his stance and forcing a polite, resigned nod. "Morning, Flash," he replied, doing his best to let it roll off his shoulders, though a small flicker of irritation tugged at his expression.

Flash's grin only grew wider, and he shot the basketball into the air, catching it effortlessly on the rebound. "Good morning, Parker!" he called out, his voice overly cheerful and loud enough to draw a few looks from passing students. Flash's laughter echoed through the hallway, a reminder of his unspoken status in the school and his habit of making Peter the target of his entertainment.

Peter watched him for a beat, resisting the urge to snap back. Instead, I who was watching from a few feet away at my own locker stepped in.

"Hey, Thompson!" I shouted, the jock turning back to face me. "The hell are you picking on people for? Didn't your parents raise you right? Oh wait, you do this to get their attention, don't you?" I called him out, watching his face fall.

"You got something you wanna tell me, Murdock?" He came to a stop in front of me, towering over my frame, but I did not back down.

"Yeah, grow up." I shot back before closing my locker and walking off, leaving Flash stood in shock.

Peter turned back to the display case, giving the photo one last nudge before he stepped away, a small smile on his lips. Despite how much I seemed to dislike him, I had his back when it counted.

. . .

Gwen, Sophie, and I slid into our usual spot in the bustling school cafeteria, trays loaded with whatever looked the least questionable today. Gwen plopped down first, eagerly unwrapping her sandwich, while Sophie leaned in with barely contained excitement, her eyes bright.

"So," Sophie began, practically bouncing in her seat, "they just announced this year's musical. It's going to be Six! Can you believe it?"

I raised an eyebrow, amused by the enthusiasm radiating from both of my new friends. I'd never been much of a theater kid, but I could appreciate the excitement.

"Six? What's that about?" I wondered, giving them a curious look while taking a sip of my water.

Gwen laughed. "It's all about the queens telling their stories—and this year's gonna be a competition for those lead roles." She nudged Sophie with a grin. "And this one right here is already set on which one she wants."

Sophie's face lit up, her hands clutching her tray as if she could barely contain her excitement. "Oh, I have to be Catherine Parr—the one who survived! She's strong, smart, and, like... practically unstoppable. It just feels right." She paused, glancing shyly at me and then at Gwen. "I mean, that's if I get the part."

"Survived, huh?" I leaned back, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "You've already got the confidence of a queen. I think you'll pull it off."

Gwen grinned, nudging Sophie. "See? Maggie thinks you're a natural. And honestly, you're probably gonna nail it."

Sophie flushed with pride, her eyes lighting up with determination. "Thanks, guys. I've already been practicing the songs at home... maybe driving my mom a little crazy, but hey, what are parents for?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Well, with all that practice, you're practically already wearing the crown. Just make sure to tell me when the show is—I'm definitely coming to see you dominate the stage."

"Absolutely," Gwen added, raising her drink in a toast-like gesture. "To Queen Sophie!"

Sophie beamed, raising her drink as well, and I joined in, all three clinking our water bottles together. For a moment, the world outside the cafeteria faded, and it was just the three of us, living the lives of normal teenage girls.

On the other side of the cafeteria Peter and Harry  stood in line, their conversation light as Harry teased Peter, "Dude, Thompson's such a tool. You gotta start standing up for yourself. Scary Maggie won't always be around."

Peter shrugged, balancing his tray with a smile. "If that's the worst thing that happens to me today, I'm coming out ahead."

They joined MJ at their usual table, and just as Peter raised his fork, a sudden chill ran down his spine—his spider-sense was flaring. He glanced at Gwen, seated a few tables away with Sophie and I. Gwen's eyes widened, and I shot to my feet, my expression hardening. But we weren't fast enough.

The cafeteria wall exploded inward, sending debris and students flying. Gwen reacted first, rolling as she hit the ground roughly, while Sophie caught her breath, looking to her friends with concern. I groaned and pushed myself up, glaring at the destruction and ignoring the sting of the dozen small cuts I had gained from the shattered glass. My ears rang loudly, but as I turned, I saw the source of the chaos—three villains stood before the school, led by a man in purple levitating our principal, Mr. Morita.

"Attention, students! Your principal has something to tell you," the purple-clad wizard announced, his voice echoing across the room.

Mr. Morita, trembling, stammered, "Students, the school is now under the control of the-the—"

"The Frightful Four," Thundra finished.

MJ, always quick with a quip, called out, "Uh, there's only three of you." Harry instantly standing closer to her as the villains attention was redirected.

Ignoring her, the Wizard floated higher. "Before our fourth was captured, we learned that Ghost-Spider attends this school. Unless she reveals herself, we'll tear this place apart brick by brick. Klaw."

Peter's heart pounded. Ghost-Spider—Gwen—was at risk, but the villains didn't know her identity. Yet. As Klaw stepped forward, generating a high-frequency sound that made the ceiling crumble, Peter shot a look at me, while I crouched near Sophie and Gwen, ears still ringing from the explosion. His mind raced—he had to protect his friends. But the villain's next move wasn't directed at him and he couldn't let them discover who he was.

"Go, get her out of here." I told Sophie as she looked to me with concern. "I'll be fine, go." I ordered with a sharp look. Sophie nodded, her and Gwen sneaking out amidst the chaos of screaming students.

"So, who is our mysterious wall crawler?" The Wizard asked as Peter and I made eye contact across the room. "A teacher? A student? A cafeteria lady? The janitor? They seem reluctant to talk. Klaw make them listen to reason." Wizard ordered again.

A high frequency sound was turned on all of the students, making me clutch my ears with my hands to dampen the sound. "Stop it!" I shouted out loudly, anger rising up while the other students cowered with fear.

"Huh, definitely not Ghost-Spider." The Wizard scoffed at me, unimpressed.

"I'll crush the runt" Thundra claimed, waiting for a fight.

"Don't crush her. Make an example of her." The Wizard explained, gesturing to Klaw again.

Klaw aimed the sound waves at me, and I collapsed to my knees, clutching my ears. I clenched my  jaw, trying not to scream, my body shaking as sweat formed on the palm of my hands. My heart began beating faster, more rapid. A scratch tickled the back of my throat, begging for me to scream but I held my mouth shut, trying to focus on anything else, something stable, but the sound was too much. Peter's heart sank, seeing me so vulnerable and in pain broke something inside him.

"Stop! I'll talk!" Peter shouted, stepping forward despite Harry's attempt to hold him back.

The Wizard grinned. "Well, do you have something to say, boy?"

Peter eyed the tray of food on a nearby table and smirked. "Listen up! Everyone needs to hear this. Food fight!" He hurled the tray, hitting the Wizard square in the face.

"Ow! Ah!"

Chaos erupted. Students hurled food, and Peter rolled under a table to dodge the flying food. He ran over, making a beeline towards me where I laid on the floor. I lay trembling, my eyes squeezed shut and hands curled into fists. Gently, he touched my shoulder, and I flinched, my senses overwhelmed. He instantly saw the unfamiliar look of fear in my eyes and without a word, Peter helped me up and pulled me towards the lunch counter. He only paused to pick up my headphones off the ground. Peter hopped over the counter with ease, reaching out a hand to help me over next.

He let me slide my back down the wall, sitting with my back against the counter, the chaos behind me. He placed my headphones over my ears, already muffling the sounds.

"I can help—" I started, my voice weak and shaky.

"Shh. I've got this, just take care of yourself." Peter whispered, wiping the stray tears from my face before he clicked play on the music, letting it forcefully overtake my senses. Once he was satisfied that I would be alright he darted aside to change into his Spider-Man suit.

"Too alarmin' now to talk about. Take your pictures down and shake it out. Truth or consequence, say it aloud. Use that evidence, race it around."

In the bathroom, Gwen frantically suited up as Sophie waited for her. "This is crazy! How did they know? How did they find me?" Gwen's voice trembled as she pulled at her Ghost-Spider suit, a tracker falling to the floor with the bits of tar still stuck on. "Oh no. Peter was right—I have a lot to learn about responsibility."

They had no time to waste. "Dude, don't point that thing, it might go off." Gwen swung back into the fray, using her webs to pull Klaw's arm, forcing him to blast himself with his own soundwaves. She quipped, "It really stinks to be you today." He fell to the ground, stunned by his own power. "Actually, it probably sticks to be you everyday."

"There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes. There goes my hero. He's ordinary."

Peter flipped through the air, landing a swift kick on Thundra. "Hey, Little Miss Muffet!" He smirked as she stumbled back. "The spider just kicked your tuffet."

As the villains regrouped, Wizard snarled, "Ghost-Spider, at last."

He sent Thundra charging toward Spider-Man, raising a table over her head and smashing it in his direction, but Spider-Man dove out of the way in time. Ghost-Spider was busy dodging sound waves from Klaw while Sophie ducked from levitating objects hurling towards the students, even subtly blasting a few with her light blasts.

Spider-Man turned back, catching Thundra off guard and webbing her up tight to keep her in place while he helped the others. He jumped in, webbing the Klaws robotic sonic powered arm to aim at Thundra and knock her back. Next he kicked Klaw back to crash into the Wizard who had used floating objects to protect himself from the hit. Peter ran headfirst, running along floating tables to reach the Wizard.

"Looks like I'm off to see the wizard."he claimed before webbing a table and throwing it at the wizard, smashing him back into a wall. "Oh yeah!" He cheered out.

"You know, cream corn is really a good colour on you." Peter looked to Thundra with his comment as she stood from the food counter, covered in the lunch menu. She let out a scream, smashing the table in front of her with anger that caused Peter to jump in surprise. He threw webs at her but she grabbed them and pulled him into the ground.

"Don't the best of them bleed it out. While the rest of them peter out? Truth or consequence, say it aloud. Use that evidence, race it around."

Music still blasting in my ears, I closed my eyes, focusing my breathing. I let the beat of the song steady myself and I nodded with certainty. Opening my eyes I stood up, peering around the corner to investigate the scene ahead. Finding the raging Thundra storming towards a grounded Spider-Man I knew I had to act fast. Catching sight of a nearby lunch tray I slid it over, Thundra stepping on the tray and slipping.

I ducked behind the counter again, pulling off my sweater and revealing my black T-shirt. I found a lunch lady's bag sitting on a table and pulled out her grey scarf for the colder weather. This will have to do. I tied it around my head, hair up in a ponytail as I prepared to join the fight, music still blasting.

"There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes. There goes my hero. He's ordinary."

I stood up from behind the counter and the moment Klaw noticed me his sonic arm was directed towards me. The blast was released but instead of hitting me like I was bracing for, only the aftermath of it hit me. I opened my eyes, looking over to find Gwen laying on the floor, piecing together that she swung in between to protect me. The guilt made my stomach churn, but this was no time to back down, not with Ghost-Spider out. I focused my attention back on the fight, seeing Sophie rush over to help Gwen get back to her feet.

"Oh no, Gwen" Peter worried, struggling to his feet.

"This school is filled with would be heroes" Klaw muttered. I sent him a harsh glare, running up and knocking him back with a solid kick to the face mid flip, landing on my feet. Thundra came up behind me and despite the loud rhythm pumping through my head I spun around and caught her hand before she could hit me, pulling her forward and off balance.

"Kudos, my hero. Leavin' all the best. You know my hero. The one that's on."

While I was busy with Thundra, Peter turned at the sound of screams. What he found was the Wizard levitating a group of students to use them as human shields against Spider-Mans attacks.

"Floating hostages" he grinned, thinking he outsmarted the heroes. "Spider-Man won't dare attack."

Spider-Man's head perked up with an idea, looking over to find me. "Hey, Detective!"

I glanced over, hearing a faint whisper that I focused on. "Kick Thundra this way" with a nod I followed his instructions, kicking the muscular woman his way.

Peter webbed her up, picking her up and pretending to throw her towards the Wizard. This however was a trick to get the Wizard to put all of his protection at the front. He tossed Thundra aside and slid under the Wizard to get behind him.

"Real smart wiz. You left the back door open." Spider-Man webbed his back and pulled him down to the ground. He scrambled to his feet amongst the chairs and tables and Peter swung forward, kicking him back and out of the cafeteria into the hallway.

Spider-Man glanced over at Gwen who was swinging out through the hole in the wall, putting herself out of the fight. His gaze then fell onto me as I blindly fought against Thundra who had yet again broken free from the webbing. She swung at me strongly, but I dodged every hit. Deciding everything was alright in here, Peter rushed into the hallway after the Wizard.

"Spider-Man! Flash Thompson, I'm your biggest fan. Let me help, bro" Flash cheered when his hero entered the hallway he had been walking in.

"Definitely bro" Spider-Man agreed, smirking under the mask. "Step in" he held a locker open and Flash crammed his muscular build inside.

"Now what?" Flash asked with a smile, eager to help.

"Wait for my signal. Jump out and we'll surround them. Remember, wait for my signal" Spider-Man warned before closing the locker with Flash inside.

His spider sense flared and he jumped up into the vents, hiding to let the villains pass. He watched as I crashed through, hitting the ground harshly. As Thundra came to tower over me I did a kip up back to my feet and kicked up a metal bar that had fallen beside me, catching it in my hand.

"There goes my hero. He's ordinary."

"Nighty, night" I said before wacking her over the head with the bar, knocking her out temporarily. I heard a faint thwip, webbing attaching to my shoulder and pulling me up to the vents where Peter's gloved hand covered my mouth. I shot him a glare, shoving his hand away from me before pulling off my headphones, resting them around my neck instead.

"There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes. There goes my hero. He's ordinary."

"Where did they go?" Thundra demanded, waking up to find Klaw and the Wizard joining her. The three looked around confused for a moment before the incoming sound of sirens spiked their worry.

"We're not paid to fight cops, let's go" the Wizard warned before the three of them ran out, making their grand escape.

The scene at Midtown High was a whirlwind of flashing lights and anxious parents. Officers were guiding the shaken students and keeping onlookers at bay. Gwen stood by herself, rubbing her arms as she scanned the chaos. Her dad, Captain Stacy, caught her gaze, and in an instant, his stern expression softened.

"Gwen," he called, his voice low and steady, but with a clear undertone of worry. He approached her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Go sit in the car. I'll be there soon."

She wanted to argue, but the exhaustion from the attack was already wearing her down, so she nodded reluctantly. She gave one last look around, spotting familiar faces as she made her way to the police cruiser.

Nearby, May rushed through the crowd, her eyes solely fixed on Peter, who sat on the curb with a dazed look, MJ beside him while Harry's driver had already taken him home. She pulled him into a tight hug, murmuring words of comfort as she checked him for injuries, her hands brushing through his messy hair. Peter just managed a weak smile, too tired to put on his usual bravado.

Sophie stood off to the side, watching the scene with a lost expression until her mom, breathless from rushing over straight from work, wrapped her arms around her. Sophie's mom held her close, whispering, "I'm here, sweetie. I'm here."

In the midst of it all, Matt arrived, his senses guiding him through the crowd straight to his daughter. I looked worn out, my shoulders slouched, but my tough exterior was intact. Matt reached out, and though I flinched at first, I allowed myself to relax into my father's presence.

"Let's get you home, Mags," he said softly. I just nodded, grateful to be able to leave the chaos behind for the day.

As the teens rejoined their families and made their way home, we were all left with the heavy weight of what we'd experienced. None of us wanted to admit how shaken we were, but the silent understanding between us all spoke louder than words. For now, we'd rest and recover, knowing that tomorrow would come too soon.

. . .

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," Matt assured me, his voice gentle and reassuring as he stood on the other side of the bathroom door.

"Promise?" My voice wavered, filled with a mix of fear and desperation.

"I promise," Matt replied, his tone firm and unwavering.

I had locked myself in the bathroom, the weight of my guilt crushing me. I curled up into a ball, tears streaming down my face as I grappled with the enormity of what I had done. There was no trial for it; everyone had fallen unconscious, and they didn't know that I had caused the death of a good person that day. But I knew, and the burden of my secret threatened to consume me.

"Maggie, come on now. Stop this," Matt pleaded, trying to get through to me as he attempted the door again.

"No," I choked out, my voice muffled by the bathroom door and my arms which I had buried my face in.

"Come on out," Matt urged, his voice laced with concern, desperate to help his daughter.

"No," I shook my head, even though he couldn't see. "It's all my fault. I'm the one who killed her. I killed my best friend."

"Maggie, no. It's not your fault," Matt reassured me, his heart breaking for his daughter's pain.

"I'm never gonna see her again because I'm a monster," I whispered softly, my words heavy with sorrow.

Matt knew he needed to help me, to pull me out of the darkness threatening to consume me. The same darkness that once consumed him. "Hey, put your shoes on, we're going to the roof," he said gently, knocking on the bathroom door before walking away.

I hesitated for a moment before joining him on the roof. Matt had set out two lawn chairs, and we sat together, the night sky stretching out above us like a blanket of stars.

"What are we doing here?" I asked grumpily, my emotions still raw.

"Listening," Matt replied calmly, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of my emotions. And together, we sat in silence, listening to the symphony of life unfolding around us, finding comfort in the simple beauty of the world. "What do you hear?"

"I hear a little boy crying for him mom."

"Do you hear the little girl next door to him laughing as her dad tells her jokes?" Matt posed the question, a knowing expression on his face.

"Yeah" I sighed, shifting my focus to the girl. "I also hear the beeping of a code at the hospital." I pointed out next.

"And three floors up there's the cry of a newborn baby with a strong little heartbeat." Matt added, a small smile growing on his face. "The world may seem like it's full of darkness, Mags, but you just need to look for the light in it and hold on tightly to that light."

"But what if I don't find another light? What if Rachel was my only light?"

"You'll find another light, Maggie. You'll find light in the people around you, Foggy, Karen and I. You'll find light in the life around you, kindness and excitement. I promise there is a light out there for everyone."

. . .

Question of the day: What secrets do you think Maggie is hiding?

Finally an update!! The next chapter will be out either tomorrow or Sunday!

. . .