WHERE WERE YOU?!

- COME WITH WHAT YOU GOT! PARKER! -

The building was huge, Wanda and I thought it was most likely that they had placed the bomb on the top floor, we could not waste time searching floor by floor with the time above us, so we theorized probable sites.

Wanda and I decided to enter through a blind spot in the building where the Flash and Luke were located. They had cameras at their disposal that were all over the structure, like a real villain's simulation.

We decided to enter by the fire escape, and right in the middle of the building, BOOM! a detonation destroyed the top of the stairs, we were about to fall, Wanda reacted quickly and opened a hole in the wall with her energy. It took me, it made me float like the first time we met.

-Ah, that was close. -

-Thank you Wanda, a little more and we would have had a hard fall. -

- Ahem, it was nothing. -

It was strange, my spidey sense would usually have alerted me, but not even a buzz...really was strange.

-We must continue, let's be cautious, now they know where we are. -

-All right. -Don't you need some light? -

-It's true, it's pretty dark. -

- So...let's use this. -

Wanda unfurled a red sphere, which shone brightly enough to illuminate the entire room. Her power could really do anything.

We advance a little, we go through the blind spots of the cameras, we go up one more floor until...

-We must hurry, it's been more than 3 minutes, I think it's because...-

- PETER! -

As I walked down the hall, before I could finish what I was thinking, the wall on my right exploded, and from it emerged a black claw that grabbed me by the neck and carried me against the wall behind.

A claw that haunted me in my worst nightmares had become real.

-I told you Parker... THAT ONE DAY WE WILL TEST YOUR POWER! -

- Peter! -

- Wanda...agh -

- YOU SHUT UP! -

Flash was clutching hard, only his arms were partially covered with his typical black substance, his teeth were like sharp knives, every time he was this way his appearance changed considerably to a completely terrifying demon.

-Sir...-

-You can call me Stark or professor, as you prefer, although calling me professor would be a bit presumptuous. -

- Well... don't you think you should stop them? -

- It is true! That boy in black is very violent, I'm surprised he wants to be a hero. -

- It's true Mr. Stark... I think you should stop your fight -

- You... REALLY DO A LOT OF QUESTIONS. -

"Child...this is your chance to make things right."

Flash was starting to suffocate me, my vision was getting blurry, I was trying to knock him down, but from his back sprouted black tentacles that had practically imprisoned me against the wall...

-Flash...-

- SHUT UP PARKER! ... I have always resented this part of you ... to seek support from others just because you are powerless! -

Impotent? Of course... I had forgotten... I had always been... Did it go to my head that I had powers? It's confusing...

I remember that very well... the day I thought my dreams had collapsed. And also when the fight between us started.

My parents were still with me, I had just turned 3 and we were about to have a little party just between us.

- Peter! Come on, it's almost time! -

- I'm coming! -

Maybe I don't remember the image of my mother very well, but I do remember that she had a sweet voice. She played with me a lot, that's who I remember most...after all my father was busy with his work.

That day my mom had invited a boy who lived near us. I was quite shy, I didn't have the ease or confidence that the other children had in playing and yet...

-He is our neighbor, his name is Eugene. -

- You must be Peter! Nice to meet you. -

- Ho...hello. -

- Ah! Your Iron Man shirt is great! I have one of Captain America with his shield! -

-Whoa... that's great! -

However, we fit in perfectly. After that, he and I went everywhere, but I used to follow him. He seemed to be fearless, fearless, brave, a born leader. But behind that courage there was a hard truth.

We started going to kindergarten, Flash and I were still together, but some time after he manifested his power. Things turned out for the worst. At first Flash seemed to show off his new power of strength, he was faster, more agile. But the smile he carried...was nothing more than a simple screen of lies.

I was someone incapable, after finding out that I could not have any power, everything fell apart, him, my companions ... even my parents ... I believed that it was all my fault ...

Flash had been with me but ... a mistake ... a stupid mistake was what spilled the glass ...

Remember what I told you about Flash's past? That was something that tormented him since he was born... and with the manifestation of his gift...

-Flash... are you... okay? -

- GET AWAY FROM ME! -

The monster had appeared long ago. Our fight began with the simple fact that when he needed me most...

-Where were you... -Where were you PARKER? -

- Umm...agh -

- When you needed me most...I was always there to support you...I always shook your hand...but...when I needed you...WHERE WERE YOU WERE! -

Flash had also suffered, his friend turned his back on him when he had suffered the most, when he needed a hand ... I just knew how to run. And now on the brink of death ... I see it clearer ... than ever ...

- STOP GOING! -

Wanda reacted, fired one of her energy spheres and managed to get Flash away from me. My body reacted alone, even without air I gave him back the murderous look he had given me, shot two spider webs to get behind him and threw him towards the wall behind us, leaving him lying on the ground for a moment.

-Cough...cough, Wanda! -

I could barely speak, it took me a while to catch my breath but I used what little I had to talk.

- Go and get the bomb, I'll entertain Flash, he's coming for me. -

- But... -

- Prioritize the mission first, if the bomb were real, hundreds of people would die because of us. -

- Okay... but-

-I'll be fine...I promise. -

- Understood -

That was just an excuse to say "Please let me talk to him" this was something that 2 childhood friends had to solve on their own. -

The Flash soon stopped and without me noticing it, he rammed me. My spidey-sense had not sensed it, the entrance, the bomb, the surprise attack, Flash was the only person who had not activated my spidey-sense.

- WHAT'S UP PARKER, THE CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE!? -

He attacked from all sides with those black spikes, I tried to avoid them as much as I could, but he could brush against me on certain occasions.

I got tired of being hit so I decided to attack too, he did not give in and also came with a direct hit, we both hit our faces and repelled each other, lying on the ground at a great distance.

He tore the mask I had worn. Leaving it useless and with poor visibility, so I decided to take it off.

- DO YOU THINK THIS PROVES ANYTHING, PARKER?! WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS WORTHLESS! YOU WERE ALWAYS A COWARD! LETTING OTHERS FIGHT YOUR BATTLES JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE A WIMP! And now you're letting that chestnut play for you. -

- I... -

- YOUR NOTHING! I TOLD YOU! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY BUT NOW WITH THAT SILLY MASK YOU JUST TAKE REFUGE IN FEAR. I GAVE YOU A CHANCE AND YOU FAILED ME! -

-It certainly failed you Flash, it is something I live with day by day, the weakness I had at that time, my inferiority, everything reduced me to regrets ...You among all of us are the one who knows it best ... and that is why I want to remedy things ...-

I was stunned, the fear of my past and present had frozen me, but still I decided to get up. Finally I would face my past, my mistakes ...

-I made mistakes, with MJ, with my aunt, with my uncle ... with you ... but! I'm willing to give everything to repair it! -

I finally decided, backtracking was a thing of the past, I stood up and firmly planted myself confronting him

- I'M NOT LONGER THE USELESS THAT I USED TO BE, I'M NOT LONGER AND NOW I WILL GIVE EVERYTHING I HAVE TO PROVE IT! -

Flash just looked at me from the side, he started to stand up as the black matter enveloped him ... when his voice began to speak ... everything in him changed.

- Are you saying that you are no longer useless? please ... don't make me laugh. -

His arm was transformed into a great dagger, his eyes had become sharp against a white background and his teeth became more and more pointed as if each of them were sharp fangs.

- but if you're serious so much ... COME AND SHOW IT! -

He launched himself fiercely at me ... instinctively I threw a web behind me and retreated ...

I hoped one day to solve things differently ... But... i think this is how best friends resolve their disputes...I guess...