He moved fast. Crossed the open space in three steps. Knelt down. Scooped up the crushed spider in one smooth motion.
The body was damaged but mostly intact. Venom sacs looked undamaged. Fangs were visible.
Alex transferred it to the container. Added preservation solution from a small bottle. Sealed it tight.
The whole process took maybe five seconds.
He walked back to the blind spot. Tucked the container deep into his camera bag.
Wrapped it in a cloth so it wouldn't shift or make noise.
Then he continued toward the hallway like nothing had happened.
Found the storage room. Grabbed a small ladder. Carried it back to the observation deck.
Connors was still examining the vent when Alex returned. "Good. Set it up here."
Alex positioned the ladder. Connors climbed up and inspected the ventilation shaft carefully with a flashlight.
"Nothing here. Must have been a shadow." Connors climbed down. "Where's the specimen? I need to photograph it before security moves it."
He walked over to where the spider had been.
The floor was empty.
Connors frowned. "Did you move it?"
"No sir. I went to get the ladder like you asked."
"Then where..." Connors looked around.
"Did security already collect it?"
"I don't think they've arrived yet."
Connors pulled out his phone. "This is Connors. Did someone from your team already collect the specimen from the observation deck? No? Then where the hell did it go?"
He hung up and examined the floor more carefully. "It was right here. I saw it. Definitely dead."
Alex joined him. Looked at the same empty spot. "Maybe someone from cleaning services? They might not have known it was evidence."
"Cleaning doesn't come through until evening." Connors rubbed his face with his remaining hand. "This day just keeps getting worse."
Security arrived two minutes later. Three officers. They spread out and searched the observation deck thoroughly. Checked the corners. Looked under benches. Examined the ventilation.
No spider.
"Could it have been alive?" one officer asked. "Maybe it crawled away?"
"No. I saw it get crushed. Definitely dead." Connors shook his head. "I'll have to review security footage. Someone must have moved it."
"We'll pull the tapes," the lead security officer said. "Get you a copy within the hour."
Connors dismissed Alex. "Go home. I have to deal with this mess. Write up an incident report tomorrow. Just the basic facts. What you saw, when it happened, how many students were present."
"Yes sir."
Alex left the observation deck and headed to his office. Once inside with the door closed, he pulled out the specimen container.
Specimen 15. Dead but preserved. Its body was crushed but the important parts were intact. Venom sacs. Fangs. Genetic material.
This was it. The spider that bit Peter Parker.
And nobody knew Alex had it.
He stored the container in his locked desk drawer. Then he sat down and thought about Peter.
His friend had been bitten. The venom was in his system right now. Working. Changing his DNA at the cellular level.
But Peter hadn't told anyone. Had hidden the injury. Acted like nothing happened.
'Smart,' Alex thought. 'Or maybe just scared. Either way, it makes things easier for me.'
If Peter wasn't seeing doctors, wasn't being monitored by medical professionals, then Alex could observe the transformation without interference. Could collect samples without anyone questioning why he was so interested in Peter's health.
His phone buzzed. Text from Peter.
"That was crazy. Did you see that spider? Thing was huge."
Alex typed back carefully. "Yeah, wild. Everyone okay?"
"Yeah. Flash killed it before anyone got hurt. Lucky."
Peter wasn't mentioning the bite. Was keeping it secret.
'Perfect,' Alex thought.
He responded: "Want to hang out tomorrow? Could use some normal time after that chaos."
"Sure. After school? My place?"
"Sounds good."
Alex put his phone away and opened his computer. Pulled up the security camera logs.
The observation deck footage loaded. He watched the whole incident play out. The spider descending. Students panicking.
Spider land on Peter.Flash crushing the spider. Dr. Connors evacuating everyone.
Then he watched the aftermath. Connors on the phone. Alex pointing at the vent.
Connors investigating. Alex leaving to get the ladder.
And there. A gap of about eight seconds when both Alex and the crushed spider were off camera. When Alex had moved through the blind spot.
The footage showed him returning with the ladder. Setting it up. Connors climbing. Coming back down. Looking for the spider that was already gone
.
'Nothing suspicious,' Alex analyzed. 'Just looks like the spider disappeared during the confusion. Cleaning services or another staff member probably. That's what Connors will think.'
He accessed the incident report system. Filed his documentation.
"Incident Report: Field Trip Disruption -
October 15
At approximately 9:30 AM, during the Midtown High field trip tour, Specimen 15 (Cross-Species Genetics Program) escaped containment and appeared on the observation deck. Students were immediately evacuated per safety protocols.
No injuries reported. Specimen was neutralized by accidental contact (student stepped on it).
Area was secured by Dr. Connors and security personnel. Specimen remains were not recovered. Likely removed by cleaning or maintenance staff before documentation could occur.
Present during incident: Dr. Curt Connors, Alex Carter (Oscorp Junior Analyst), 30 Midtown High students, 3 supervising teachers.
Recommend: Review of containment protocols for aggressive specimens. Enhanced security during future tours."
Alex saved the report. It was honest except for the part about who took the spider. But nobody could prove otherwise.
His phone buzzed again. Text from Gwen this time.
"Is Peter really okay? He looked weird after that spider thing."
Alex responded: "He seemed fine to me. Why?"
"I don't know. Just a feeling. Keep an eye on him tomorrow?"
"Will do."
Gwen was perceptive. Too perceptive sometimes. But she didn't know about the bite. Only Alex had seen it happen. Only Alex knew the truth.
He packed up his things. The specimen container stayed locked in his desk. He'd transfer it to better storage at home tonight.
Tomorrow he would visit Peter. Start the real observation. Begin collecting the samples he needed to understand how the transformation worked.
Alex left Oscorp and walked toward the subway. The sun was setting behind Manhattan's buildings. The city lights were coming on one by one.
His mind was already planning. Calculating. Preparing for every step of what came next.
Peter would experience symptoms soon. Maybe tonight. Definitely by tomorrow. Enhanced strength. Improved reflexes. Strange new sensations.
And Alex would be there. Watching. Learning. Documenting everything.
Not to hurt Peter. Not to expose him. Just to understand. So that he can pace a path for himself too.
'This is what survival requires,' Alex thought. 'Information. Preparation. Staying ahead of what's coming.'
He descended into the subway station and caught the train home.
In his bag was a spider that would change the world.
And only Alex knew it existed.
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