Silk was pretty angry with Black Cat. For the heroine, it wasn't the best time to fight her, but she needed to let out her rage somehow. She dodged the thief's attacks swiftly, aware of what she was capable of. However, she hadn't counted on Felicia's feline flexibility, who grabbed her by the neck with her legs, knocking her to the ground.
— You think I don't know what you have with Spider, huh? — said Black Cat, as her claws came dangerously close to Silk's neck. — The only reason Spidey got involved with you was because of that spider that bit you both. — She grinned maliciously. — Otherwise, you'd be nothing to him — she growled.
Silk frowned, bothered by the thief's words. Using her super strength, she managed to get up from the floor and threw Felicia against some ventilation ducts.
— And what are you then? — she asked, getting ready as Black Cat stood up. — I'll tell you: just a despicable thief who only knows how to betray — she said sarcastically. — And he died with that image of you.
— You know nothing! — Felicia yelled, furious.
— You're pathetic, Cat. That's why you only got the mask… and not the man. — She smiled, triumphant.
Felicia clenched her teeth hard. Memories began to flood her mind like daggers:
"I love you."
"Felicia, sorry, it was just a joke. See? It's just a tracker."
"— Silent like a cat —"
"— Cunning like a spider —"
"Cat, you're a light to my eyes."
Without thinking, she lunged at the heroine, trying to kick her in the face — but Silk blocked the attack. Felicia was frustrated, and her blows became faster, more desperate.
"Wanna go out with me?"
"I want something real with you, Felicia."
"I like you. I really like you."
She didn't notice when she started to cry. Still, she didn't stop. Her frustration only grew as she failed to land a single hit on Silk. She stepped back and turned away. She was exhausted — and wouldn't let them see her crying. She wouldn't give them that pleasure.
— You won't run! — Silk growled, firing a web.
Without thinking, Felicia jumped off the building, dodging the web. She used her grappling hook and swung away. Silk watched the thief vanish. Then she noticed Felicia had left the jewels behind. She walked over, picked them up, and looked again in the direction Black Cat had disappeared.
— Damn coward...
.........
Japan
His body ached from the intense training with The Hand. He heard a light knock on the door and closed his eyes, regretting giving his address to Emma. Then he heard the door being opened — she probably had picked the lock.
— Peter, where are you?
He sighed upon hearing that. He heard the door to the bedroom open.
— What happened to you? — she asked.
— I... I'm just tired — he said.
— So why aren't you in bed? And why don't you have a shirt on?
— First, because my body hurts — he confessed. — And second, I like being shirtless. Want me to cover up?
She didn't answer. She simply helped him up from the floor and laid him on the bed, sitting on the edge right after.
— You have a lot of scars — she whispered, running her hands over his abs.
— Yeah... hazards of the job — he replied.
She noticed a scar in the middle of his chest made of four lines. It looked like it had been made by an animal.
— And this one? — she asked, touching it.
— That one's from the Lizard — he replied. — I've got other, smaller ones — he turned face down. — Those were from Black Cat. She always attacked me from behind — he explained, lying on his back again. — And one on my calf... she did that one too.
— Who is Black Cat?
— She was someone very important to me... but I don't care anymore — he replied coldly. — Not about her, not about the other heroes. As far as I'm concerned, they can all die.
— Peter...
— Emma — he looked her in the eyes. — I don't care about anything that has to do with them anymore.
— They did what they could...
— Who?
— The Avengers — she informed him. — Cap, Black Widow, and Madam Web...
He growled at the last name.
— Get this through your head, Emma — he growled — the Avengers are the most hypocritical group there is.
— They were late...
— That doesn't surprise me — he whispered, turning to his side.
— We were late too — she admitted. — Not just the Avengers. Logan, Hope, and I were late too. When we arrived, Cap was carrying your... lifeless body. — She lay beside him. — I'm sorry I didn't make it in time — she hugged him.
— It doesn't matter anymore — he replied. — In the end, it wasn't your fault. But that doesn't change anything — he growled.
— What do you mean?
— It doesn't change the fact that after I died, no one brought justice.
— The Goblin is in prison.
— He doesn't deserve prison. He deserves death — he growled. — And I had to die to realize that.
— You've changed... — she got up from the bed.
— Blame the world — he whispered. — It makes you open your eyes in the worst way.
— Does it bother you? That you've changed? — he turned to look at her.
— No... it's just surprising — she replied. — I knew you with other ideals... and now you're... an anti-hero — she whispered. — But I'm glad you're alive.
She lay beside him again and hugged him tightly.
— I feel like this is an opportunity — she looked at him. — A kind of sign the world gave me.
— I don't understand.
— Peter, before all of this happened... I was interested in you.
........
New York
Jessica Drew and Cindy Moon arrived at Madam Web's house. She was in the front yard with her daughter.
— Julia — they both called out.
She looked up and whispered something in the girl's ear. The little one nodded and quickly ran into the house.
— Girls, what are you doing here? — she asked.
— Tsk — Cindy scoffed, crossing her arms.
— You know why we're here, Julia — Jessica said. — It's about Peter...
Julia turned her face away at the mention of his name.
— We have questions — Cindy interjected. — And some complaints too — she confessed.
— I don't think...
— No ridiculous excuses, Carpenter — Cindy interrupted.
— Why did the Central Totem die? — she asked. — Why didn't you do your job?
— Girls, we're in the street... — she reminded them — let's talk inside.
— Speak up, Julia, 'cause it's getting hard to stop Cindy from punching you — Jessica said.
— I tried — she replied. — I swear I tried to do my job, but...
— But...? — they both said.
— But I was scared — she confessed. — I had already seen how Peter would end up, but facing the Goblin alone... terrified me — she sighed. — So I went to find the Avengers. We left quickly, but the bad weather didn't help... and my visions were strange.
— Strange?
— Yes, Jessica. They were weird. I saw another figure with a red hood, and then Peter... It was like they were merging.
— Like an image overlay? — Cindy asked.
— Yes, exactly like that.
— And what does it mean? — Jessica asked.
— I don't know — she replied. — Maybe... the destruction of the universe.
Both girls crossed their arms.
— I'm sorry — she whispered. — But since that day... my powers have been failing.