Tap tap tap!
Thanks to Kyougoku Makoto's combat experience and the lizard serum's double boost to his hearing, Peter instantly recognized the visitor—Gwen.
Peter wasn't surprised by Gwen's sudden arrival.
It was something he had more or less expected.
For Gwen, after a setback, it seemed the only person she could confide in was her childhood friend—him.
With that thought, Peter walked out of his bedroom, went downstairs, and pretended to look for a late-night snack.
Just then the doorbell rang at the perfect moment.
Peter turned and opened the door.
"Gwen?!"
He put on just the right expression of surprise, his voice pitched so that the two elders eavesdropping in the living room could hear.
Almost the instant he spoke her name, Peter noticed the TV volume in the living room being quietly lowered several decibels.
He rolled his eyes mentally.
Uncle Ben, Aunt May, at your age you're still this nosy!
While Peter grumbled inwardly, Gwen outside first exhaled in relief, then leaned close to his ear and whispered:
"Take me to your bedroom—don't let Uncle Ben and Aunt May follow."
Peter nodded knowingly, his deep gaze flicking over the wound on Gwen's abdomen before turning back to call out:
"Aunt May, Uncle Ben! It's Gwen—she's stuck on some homework and wants my help. I'll take her upstairs!"
"Oh, and she's on a diet lately—don't make her any snacks or she'll get mad!"
In the living room Uncle Ben and Aunt May exchanged a knowing smile full of "we understand."
"All right, you kids study hard, we won't disturb you," Uncle Ben said with a wicked grin, raising an eyebrow at Peter and even turning the TV volume up a notch… Click.
Only after the door was locked did Gwen finally relax, nearly collapsing into Peter's arms.
From Manhattan Bridge all the way here—who knew how much blood she'd lost.
An ordinary person would have gone into shock long ago.
Seeing her pale face, Peter wasted no words, pulling a pre-packed first-aid kit from under the bed.
He motioned for her to sit on the bed and gently lifted her top.
On her fair, smooth abdomen three ghastly claw marks were stark against her skin.
It was the first time they'd been this intimately close; Gwen could feel Peter's warm breath on her stomach.
A strange tingling spread from around the wound, warming her cheeks.
"How did this happen?" Peter asked casually as he swabbed the cut with alcohol.
The sting made Gwen hiss softly, scattering the flutter in her chest.
She gathered her thoughts and recited the story she'd prepared:
"Did you see the news about Manhattan Bridge?"
"I… happened to be there and ran into that Lizard Monster…"
"I saw him about to kill Ms. Saji—the secretary from Oscorp we met before. I tried to help and got hurt by mistake…"
Her voice dropped, thick with self-reproach:
"Then… Ghost-Spider saved me. She was amazing and drove the Lizard Monster away, but Ms. Saji still died."
"Peter, am I useless? If I'd been braver maybe I could've saved her…"
Listening, Peter silently grumbled.
You silly girl, still protecting your superhero image every second.
Aren't you afraid I'll fall in love with that elusive Ghost-Spider?
He finished cleaning the wound and said seriously:
"Gwen, it's not your fault."
"You did everything you could and got hurt in the process… don't be so hard on yourself."
While wrapping the bandage he guided her gently:
"Think about it: in all that chaos the Lizard Monster singled out Ms. Saji—what does that tell you?"
"It was probably a revenge killing."
"Since his goal was to kill Saji from the start, even if you or Ghost-Spider saved her for a moment, the monster could've attacked other people to distract you and then finished the job."
"So don't blame yourself. As long as you know you did your best, that's enough."
His words lifted a weight from Gwen's heart.
His reminder also made details she'd missed click into place.
A name surfaced—Dr. Connors!
If her guess was right, Oscorp could still be in danger.
"I get it, Peter. Thank you!"
Once he finished bandaging, Gwen dared not linger; she thanked him and, afraid her father would notice she'd sneaked out, hurried home.
Watching her disappear into the night, Peter knew she was heading to Oscorp to check.
He didn't follow.
He knew she'd find nothing.
Too much time had passed; Dr. Connors had surely left with the serum. She'd arrive only to find an empty lab.
And he'd already hinted she should put her safety first; if she couldn't win, she could still escape.
Just as he expected, Gwen's trip to Oscorp came up empty and she left dejected.
But neither Gwen nor Peter realized that as Gwen swung away on her web-line, two pairs of eyes in the darkened top-floor office of Oscorp Tower watched her go.
"Huh? So there really are more of our kind."
Beneath the Green Goblin helmet his lips curled in a greedy smile as he stared at Gwen's retreating figure.
He was certain this self-styled "Ghost-Spider" was a perfect specimen.
"You should've let me keep her," Connors grumbled beside him.
"No, acting now would scare the prey."
The Green Goblin's eyes glinted with calculation as a two-birds-one-stone plan formed:
"Instead of tipping them off, tomorrow we'll pay a visit to Peter Parker's school—Midtown High—and wait for our chance!"