Chapter 4: A New Threat
Chapter 4: A New Threat
Bella glances back toward the speeding car, her face still pale with shock. The driver has stopped now, getting out and frantically apologizing to a crowd of onlookers. But my focus isn't on the driver or even on Bella at this moment. It's on Edward Cullen, standing under that tree, watching us like a hawk.
He doesn't move, doesn't say anything, but the intensity in his gaze is unmistakable. He knows something is off about me. I can see it in the way his eyes narrow, as if he's trying to figure out what I am. For a brief moment, I consider confronting him, but then I remember—this isn't the time.
"Peter? Are you sure you're okay?" Bella asks, pulling me back to the present.
I force a smile, turning away from Edward and focusing on her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just glad you're okay."
She smiles back, but there's a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. She's not just shaken up from the near accident—she's confused. I can almost hear her thinking the same thing Edward probably is: how did I move so fast?
Before I can come up with a good excuse, the school security staff arrives, and the commotion of the accident pulls everyone's attention away. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful for the distraction. But as Bella walks away, still shaken but unharmed, I glance back at Edward one last time.
He's gone.
Great. Now I've got a vampire telepath who's probably going to start snooping around. I've got to be more careful from here on out. If Edward starts digging too deep, things could unravel fast.
---
That night, I lie awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. The events of the day play over and over in my head. I keep thinking about the car—how easily I reacted, how instinctively my powers kicked in. A part of me is impressed. I saved Bella, and I didn't even need the full 616 Spider-Man integration to do it. But another part of me knows that it was too close.
I almost revealed myself.
"System, can you run a full analysis of today's events?" I ask, needing some clarity.
[Analyzing… Event: Car crash near Bella Swan. Outcome: Bella Swan saved. Threat level: Low. Potential exposure: High.]
No kidding, I think grimly. Edward definitely noticed something. I need to get ahead of this. I can't afford to let him figure out that I'm not from this world.
"System, do you have any countermeasures for telepaths?"
[Affirmative. Mental shield protocols are already in place. However, continued proximity to Edward Cullen increases the risk of detection. Stronger telepathic defenses are recommended.]
"Great. Can you enhance the current defenses?"
[Enhancing mental shields… Process will take 12 hours.]
I exhale, feeling a little more at ease. At least I won't have to worry about Edward reading my mind, for now. But I still need to play this carefully. Edward isn't the only threat. There's the rest of the Cullens, and eventually… the Volturi. I'm not ready for them yet.
As I close my eyes, trying to get some rest, the system chimes again.
[Integration update: 45% complete.]
Good. The faster I can integrate the 616 Spider-Man abilities, the better off I'll be. But as I drift off to sleep, a nagging thought lingers in the back of my mind. Even with these new powers, am I really ready for what's coming?
---
The next day, the air around Midtown High feels tense, like the calm before a storm. Bella doesn't say much about the accident, but I can see the questions in her eyes whenever we cross paths. Edward, however, is nowhere to be seen. His absence puts me on edge. If he's not at school, where is he? And more importantly, what's he doing?
System, where is Edward Cullen right now?
[Edward Cullen is currently at the Cullen residence, location unknown.]
Damn. I was hoping for a more precise answer, but I'll take what I can get. It's clear he's laying low, but for how long?
During biology class, Bella and I exchange glances, but she's quiet, her focus drifting off as the teacher talks about photosynthesis. I can't blame her. I'm distracted too, half-listening as I mentally map out my next moves.
Suddenly, I feel a faint buzz in the back of my mind. It's different from my spider-sense. More like a subtle pressure, like someone trying to poke at the edges of my thoughts. Edward.
I tense up immediately, instinctively activating the enhanced mental shields the system put in place overnight. The pressure fades, and I exhale slowly, realizing what just happened.
He tried to read my mind.
"System, report."
[Mental shield successful. Edward Cullen's telepathic attempt was blocked.]
I glance over at Bella. She's still looking out the window, unaware of the invisible battle going on beside her. Edward's absence makes sense now—he's testing me, trying to figure out what I am from a distance. He's cautious, but persistent.
I grip the edge of my desk, trying to stay calm. If Edward is this suspicious already, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the Cullens get involved. I need to act fast.
---
After school, I make my way to a secluded part of the woods behind the school. The sun filters through the trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor. I stop at a clearing, far enough from the school that no one will see me.
"System, is there any way to establish contact with the Cullens without exposing myself?"
[Direct contact with the Cullen family increases the risk of exposure. However, host could approach through indirect means—gathering information, observing from a distance, or leveraging Bella Swan as a point of contact.]
I frown, pacing the clearing. Using Bella as a bridge to the Cullens could work, but it feels risky. She's already suspicious of me after the car incident, and getting closer to her would only raise more questions.
No, I need to handle this myself.
"System, what's the status of my powers? Is the Super Soldier Serum fully integrated?"
[Super Soldier Serum: 100% integrated. Physical abilities enhanced. Spider-Man 616 template: 45% integrated.]
I nod to myself. I may not have full access to my Spider-Man powers yet, but with the Super Soldier enhancements, I'm faster and stronger than any normal human. I can use that to my advantage.
"Time to go on the offensive," I mutter to myself. "Let's see what the Cullens are hiding."
---
That night, I find myself crouched on the roof of a nearby building, watching the Cullen residence from a distance. Their house is a sleek, modern structure nestled in the woods, far removed from the rest of the town. From here, I can see the faint glow of lights inside. But no movement. It's too quiet.
"System, scan for any signs of activity."
[Scanning…]
The system hums in my mind, processing the data. After a few moments, the response comes.
[Edward Cullen is currently inside the house. No other Cullen family members detected nearby.]
Interesting. Edward's home alone. This might be my best chance to confront him.
I leap from the building, my enhanced agility carrying me effortlessly across the rooftops. Within minutes, I'm standing at the edge of the Cullen property, hidden in the shadows of the trees.
"Time to see what Edward Cullen is really made of," I whisper, stepping out of the shadows and heading toward the house.