The clock ticked closer to noon, and the sunlight slanted in from the tall windows of the Midtown High art studio.
Seeing that it was almost lunchtime, Jack Kadere put down his brush and casually announced, "Alright, that's it for today. Class dismissed!"
"Wait, already?" Skye, who was acting as his assistant, glanced at the wall clock and whispered, "Jack, class isn't over yet…"
Technically, they still had a good twenty minutes left.
But most of the students didn't seem to mind. In fact, some even looked disappointed. Jack's classes were wildly popular—not just for his looks but for the way he made art feel exciting and accessible. Even students who couldn't draw stick figures now cared about line weight and light source.
A striking student with platinum-white hair raised her hand and spoke confidently, "Professor Kadere, your lesson today was fantastic. Could you maybe go a little longer?"
"Nononono." Jack held up a finger and waved it in mock denial. "Even a beautiful student can't stop me from enjoying my lunch."
The girl smirked, clearly amused. "I get it. Just thought I'd ask."
Jack threw on his dark coat and slung his satchel over one shoulder, ready to bounce. "You did great with the Crown Jewels piece, though," he said as he walked past her. "I'll give you a few more tips next time."
As the classroom cleared out, the white-haired girl lingered—and approached, accompanied by another student.
"Wait up, Professor." Her voice had a velvet drawl. "I'm Felicia Hardy."
Jack stopped and turned just as Felicia flashed a dazzling smile. She was tall, curvy in a way that demanded attention, and carried herself like someone used to getting what she wanted.
"This is my friend, Cindy Moon." Felicia motioned to the girl beside her. "She's into art too. We were wondering if we could maybe study with you privately."
Cindy bowed her head slightly, her soft brown hair framing a more modest, delicate face. In contrast to Felicia's confident charm, Cindy's vibe was refreshingly quiet—almost serene. Her pink lips curled into a shy smile.
Jack looked between them. Two completely different types… and yet both spider-aligned?
He smiled politely but mentally raised an eyebrow. Private lessons, huh? You're not just here for the charcoal tutorials, are you?
Felicia leaned in slightly. "We could come together," she added with a wink.
Jack's mind stalled for a beat. "Together" as in—?
Painting. Definitely painting.
Cindy nudged Felicia gently. "Felicia, stop it," she muttered, flustered. "You're embarrassing me…"
But Jack had noticed Cindy in class before—not just for her looks, but her artwork. While Felicia painted gleaming crowns and extravagant gems, Cindy's sketchbook was filled with intricate spiderwebs—dense, overlapping layers of silk that somehow gave off a sense of both tension and depth. It wasn't just technical skill—it was symbolic. Unsettlingly so.
"Actually," Jack said smoothly, "I'd be honored to guide two such promising artists. If you're serious, we can set something up. I work out of the Fifth Street Gallery part-time, or you can book time at Sunnyvale Manor's conservatory. I don't recommend my Lower East Side apartment unless you want to be interrogated by two very overprotective girls named Gwen and Jessica."
From across the room, Skye crossed her arms and muttered, "Here we go again. Let's see how long it takes for Gwen to sniff this out."
Felicia exchanged contact info with Jack, flashing another teasing smile. But when it was Cindy's turn to shake hands, something… unexpected happened.
The moment their hands touched, a sharp electric jolt seemed to pass between them—no, not electric. Instinctual.
Jack's spider-sense buzzed to life, sharp and focused.
And judging by Cindy's sudden stiff posture, hers had too.
She froze. Her pupils dilated slightly, her breath caught—and then she looked up at Jack, eyes wide and strangely… drawn to him.
Cindy Moon. She's… Silk.
"Cindy?" Felicia looked concerned. "Are you okay?"
Before she could answer, Cindy did something completely out of character.
She leaned forward, clasped Jack's hand with both of hers… and then stepped up on tiptoe.
And hugged him.
Tightly.
Skye and Felicia both gawked. Jack himself stood frozen, unsure of what just happened. Cindy wasn't trembling or panicking—she was calm. But there was an intensity in the way she held on, as if drawn to him by something deeper than logic or attraction.
If it had been Gwen or Skye pulling something like this, sure, he wouldn't have been surprised. But Cindy?
They hadn't even talked yet.
Jack's eyes narrowed slightly. It's the spider totem connection. Like Gwen… but stronger?
Her warm breath hit his collarbone for several long, surreal moments before she finally, visibly, calmed down. The overwhelming desire in her eyes—whatever had driven it—slowly faded.
She exhaled shakily, cheeks flushed crimson. The moment passed.
But Jack wasn't the only one left speechless.
Felicia stared at Cindy like she had just sprouted fangs. Was this the same girl who blushed when the lunch lady said hi?
"Cindy…" Felicia narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "I underestimated you. So that's how it is, huh? Full-on tactic deployment right from the jump?"
She arched a brow. "You barely know him and you're already locked on like a heat-seeking missile?"
Jack cleared his throat, trying to ease the tension. "Let's not start a Cold War, okay?"
Felicia gave Cindy a teasing glare. "And here I thought I was the bold one. Girl, you just speedran a whole rom-com arc in sixty seconds."
Jack didn't deny it—Cindy had practically glued herself to him. He tried to play it cool, but even he was thrown.
Just then, Cindy blinked as if waking from a trance. Her eyes widened in embarrassment. "I—what did I just…"
She touched her lips reflexively. Then, in a flustered blur, she turned on her heel and bolted for the door.
Only to spin back around two seconds later, grab Jack's wrist, and bark: "Come with me!"
"What the—wait—?"
Jack was yanked out of the classroom before he could process what was happening. She was stronger than she looked. Spider-strong, in fact.
As she dragged him off down the hall, Jack couldn't help but think, Okay, this is either the beginning of a thrilling romantic subplot… or a deeply confusing lawsuit.
"Where are we going?" he asked, half-running to keep up.
Cindy didn't answer. Her hand gripped his tighter.
Back in the studio, Skye and Felicia exchanged glances.
"…That escalated," Skye muttered.
"She's running off with him?" Felicia blinked. "Like, actually?"
"Not on my watch!" Skye stomped toward the door. "Hey! You can't just steal my—my teacher! Get back here!"
Felicia chased after her. "Cindy! You're going to get detention! Or expelled!"
Skye shouted one last desperate plea down the hallway: "You can't just seduce faculty! That's against school policy!"
—
Meanwhile, across campus…
Peter Parker sat alone beneath the shade of a tree, scrolling through his phone with furrowed brows. His thoughts weren't on girls or homework for once—but on lizards.
Specifically, one very large, very green lizard he'd seen in videos online that morning.
The creature's claws, strength, speed—it all pointed to one man.
Dr. Connors.
Peter had been helping him with lab work after school. The research had involved genetic regeneration… and lizard DNA. Peter's mind whirred.
He looked back at the news footage again. That has to be him. It explains everything.
Unlike the online commenters fawning over the "Knightress's" fancy kicks, Peter's eyes locked on the raw power Connors now possessed.
Superhuman strength. Accelerated healing. Enhanced reflexes.
Peter's heart pounded.
If I had that kind of power… Thompson wouldn't bully me. MJ would actually notice me.
I could finally matter.
He tapped out a message to his former mentor:
Peter: "Dr. Connors, how are you feeling? Are you okay?"
The reply came quickly—and erratically.
Dr. Connors: "Peter... feeling better than ever! Powerful! Strong! Arm grew back! This is the FUTURE. Human EVOLUTION!!"
The erratic capitalization and grammar made it clear: Connors wasn't in his right mind.
But Peter barely noticed. His thoughts were already racing.
Peter: "Can I try it too? I want that kind of strength."
Dr. Connors: "Yes… YES. You helped me. You deserve it. I'll share it. Humanity must EVOLVE! I have… a plan…"
Peter didn't even finish reading the last message.
He didn't care about plans. He cared about what Connors was offering—a way out of being invisible, weak, mocked.
Suddenly, a blur of movement caught Peter's eye.
Four people dashed past his tree.
First, a girl dragging a guy by the wrist. Then two more girls chasing them.
Skye shouted: "Cindy, let him go! You can't just kidnap teachers!"
Felicia added: "We're not actually doing this in broad daylight, are we?!"
Peter blinked, dumbfounded.
Wait… was that Mr. Kadere? And—Cindy Moon?!
He rubbed his eyes. The boy had three girls chasing after him.
"Man," Peter muttered, "that guy's life is like… a weird sitcom."
Then he turned back to his phone and messaged Connors again:
Peter: "Where are you right now? I'm ready."
.....
Meanwhile, Jack Kadere was being pulled—half against his will—through the empty hallway by Cindy Moon, who hadn't said a word since yanking him out of the studio.
"Uh… Cindy? I feel like we skipped the part where we sit down for coffee first," Jack said, trying to keep up without tripping. "Or tea. Milk tea's fine too. Gwen loves that stuff."
Cindy didn't slow down. Her cheeks were flushed, and her grip tight. "Don't play dumb with me. I know what I felt!"
Jack raised a brow. "What exactly did you feel? Love at first sight? A chemical reaction? Kismet?"
"I'm serious!" Cindy stopped in a quiet, shaded corridor behind the gym. She turned around, her dark eyes locked onto his. "You've been bitten too, haven't you? By one of them."
Jack's smirk faded. Ah. So it really is about that.
"I mean, sure, I've had some run-ins with weird bugs, but I usually just swat them," he said, feigning innocence. "You talking radioactive spiders or metaphorical ones?"
Cindy crossed her arms and leaned closer. "Sticky hands. Super strength. Reflexes off the charts. You're like me… like Ghost-Spider."
Her tone was serious now. This wasn't flirtation—it was a connection. Something primal. Jack could feel it too. It wasn't just a random crush. Their shared spider-sense had reacted the second they touched.
"Okay," Jack relented. "You're not crazy. There's… something between us."
"I knew it," Cindy whispered, half in awe. "That's why I couldn't stop myself. It's like—I don't know—some magnet. You triggered something in me."
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, I've been told I have that effect on women."
Cindy rolled her eyes, though her blush deepened. "Don't flatter yourself."
Then, more softly: "It's not just attraction. I think… I think we're linked. Like... biologically. Or genetically. When I touched you, my spider-sense exploded. It wasn't like that with Gwen."
Jack narrowed his eyes. "So what now?"
"I don't know." Cindy hesitated. "But I had to make sure. You're one of us. Maybe not the same as Gwen —but you've got something. Something powerful."
Jack grinned. "I am powerful. And very handsome."
Cindy groaned. "You're insufferable."
He chuckled. "So what do you call yourself? Ghost-Spider's taken."
"I'm not Ghost-Spider," she said firmly. "I go by Silk. Or… Spider-Bride. It's kind of symbolic."
"Spider-Bride?" Jack repeated. "You propose to all your fellow spider-types?"
"It's just a codename," she muttered, clearly embarrassed. "Not a marriage proposal."
But before Jack could tease her again, Cindy suddenly froze. Her enhanced senses flared. Skye and Felicia were getting close.
"They're catching up," she said quickly.
Then, without warning, she began stripping.
Jack blinked. "Whoa—wait. I don't mind, but can we talk about this first?"
"Not what you think!" Cindy snapped, tossing her clothes into his arms. "Just hold these!"
Jack found himself standing there holding a small pile of warm fabric as Cindy raised her arms. In a swift motion, gossamer threads of webbing spun from her fingertips, wrapping around her body in elegant patterns. The silk armor formed a sleek, form-fitting costume with a red web insignia across the chest.
Unlike Gwen's synthetic web-shooters, Cindy's spider silk came directly from her body.
Jack's eyes widened. "Huh. Organic webbing. That's new."
"I'll explain later," Cindy said. "This is serious. Our powers… they come with danger. There's more out there. We're being hunted."
"Hunted?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "By who?"
"Not now." She wrapped an arm around his waist. "You're coming with me."
Before he could object, she fired a webline up to the roof of the gym building and launched them both into the air.
Jack held tight, still carrying her clothes in one arm, phone in the other. "Should I at least text Skye? Let her know this is a consensual kidnapping?"