Dawn's Light
Tommy Jarvis woke to the soft chirping of sparrows and a thin shaft of sunlight slicing through his curtains. The digital clock on his bedside table glowed 7:23 AM in bright red numbers. The apartment was quiet except for distant city traffic, a hum that felt both comforting and relentless. He rubbed sleep from his eyes, muscles still heavy and warm under tangled sheets. As he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, wooden floorboards creaked under his weight. Morning light painted the walls in soft oranges and golds, a cinematic glow that made even the small, cluttered room look alive.
In the bathroom mirror, Tommy studied his reflection: a mop of dark hair tousled as if he'd slept on a helicopter pad, freckles dusting his nose like constellations. He splashed cold water on his face. The icy droplets shocked his skin, making his heart tick faster. He hissed softly, tasting the cool sting on his tongue. The day's first deep breath filled his lungs with the briny scent of toothpaste and minty freshness. He looked at his eyes: green flecks catching light, and practiced a tentative smile. "You got this," he told himself, voice steady but warm with nervous excitement. Today was no ordinary day: today was the field trip to Oscorp.
Breakfast was a noisy, hurried affair. The clatter of cereal spoons, the hiss of a toaster popping bread slices up, and the buzz of a stale evening news broadcast on the kitchen TV blended together. Tommy's mother, a nurse working nights, sat slumped at the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee, whispering softly into her cell phone. He slid into the booth, pushing toast across his plate with one finger. The crunchy sensation under his teeth made him close his eyes in pleasure; butter and strawberry jam melted sweetly in his mouth. He listened half-attentively to his mother exchanging good mornings with hospital colleagues before turning her focus to him with a tired smile.
"Big day, huh?" she said, eyes still a bit glassy from sleep. Her voice was hoarse but kind, like the comfort of a worn-out quilt. She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "Oscorp field trip… just try to behave, and remember your sunblock."
Tommy grinned sheepishly and spread more butter on a toast slice. "Yes, ma'am, will do! Don't worry." he replied, swallowing carefully so as not to drip jam on his shirt. A tingle of thrill ran up his spine; the idea of strolling through Oscorp's halls of science felt like stepping into a superhero movie set. Even if it was just a tour, it was huge for a geek like him. Oscorp was legendary, rumored to be behind some of the wildest tech in Manhattan.
After breakfast, he gathered his backpack, an encyclopedia on entomology (because he liked insects and spiders), and a trusty old camera. He double-checked he had his music player and earbuds (just in case the bus ride got boring). The apartment door shut behind him with a click, and the morning air bit gently at his cheeks as he walked to the elevator. In the lobby, the elevator mirrored reflected a taller, straighter version of himself. He straightened his shoulders, readying to walk into the day.
Ride to Oscorp
By 8:15 AM, Tommy was striding down the sidewalk toward Midtown High's charter bus pickup. A line of sleepy teenagers milled around the street corner, clusters of mismatched sneakers and backpacks forming the kaleidoscope of adolescence. The city was fully awake: taxi horns honked in the distance, newspaper stands clattered, and the muffled thump of a bus engine idled nearby.
His friends Maya and Liam stood waiting together. Maya waved energetically when she saw him, brown curls bouncing. "Morning, Tommy!" she called, eyes bright. She wore her favorite red hoodie and a nervous, excited grin. Liam, tall and lanky, gave a half-wave; he scrolled on his phone, earbuds hanging loosely around his neck. Liam's voice carried barely above a whisper as he joked, "Great, Jarvis, you remembered you didn't have to wake up early on Saturday." His tone was teasing but warm.
Tommy chuckled and ruffled Liam's hair playfully. The three of them sat close together on the bus bench. The interior smelled of vinyl and morning coffee. The engine's rumble vibrated through the plastic seats. As the bus lurched into motion, he pressed his forehead against the cold glass, watching the city blur by: street vendors setting up carts, bicyclists weaving through traffic, skyscrapers piercing the clear blue sky.
Inside, the field trip adviser, Mr. Crane, barked instructions like a drill sergeant. "Remember, everyone: stick with your group, no wandering off. Behave!" The tone was overly serious, but Tommy smirked. High school field trips were always part learning, part adventure. He pulled out his entomology book and flipped through pages idly, heart thumping with anticipation.
Maya nudged him. "Nervous?" she asked softly. The bus rocked slightly around them.
Tommy shook his head, trying to sound sure. "Just… excited. Oscorp's supposed to show us their labs and a new exhibit or something, right?" His voice was calm, but his mind was racing a dozen different possibilities. What if they had live demonstrations?
Liam chimed in as he finally looked up. "Probably just computers and boring safety goggles," he shrugged nonchalantly. But Tommy noticed a slight tremor in Liam's usually steady voice. This was Liam's first field trip outside Manhattan; part of him was as anxious as a kid who'd never been on a plane.
The bus ride took them over the Queensboro Bridge. The cityscape opened up; the East River sparkled under the sun. Tommy felt the old thrill of flying in a car, of the wind in his face (through the open window, even with the heat). The river's salty mist reached his nose, and for a brief moment, he thought of earlier days on the roof building model airplanes with his dad gone now for almost two years. A strange pang of loneliness and resolve tightened his chest. He never would have had a chance to be a hero for his father, Tommy thought to himself. But maybe he could save others. That would count for something.
He let the thought settle in silence. The bus finally slowed to a stop at Oscorp's heavy front gates. The building was a sleek white tower, gleaming like a ship's prow. Security guards in black suits with earpieces clicked radios nervously as the students filed out. Oscorp's logo: a spiraling G, glinted on a sign above. Tommy took a deep breath, smelling the leather of his backpack and the distant tang of fresh paint from the new facility. Everything smelled sharply of anticipation.
The Oscorp Lobby
Inside, the lobby was bright and echoing. A giant digital aquarium with glowing neon fish lined one wall, and a pair of massive glass doors revolved slowly. A holographic receptionist guided them, voice smooth and polite, reminding everyone to stay together. The floor under their feet felt cool and polished; high ceilings swallowed up the noise of chattering students. Even the light felt sterile and artificial, as if it had been carefully designed to focus attention on the exhibits dotted around: a giant DNA helix sculpture that pulsed gently, a hologram showing the periodic table, and posters about scientific breakthroughs.
Tommy's teacher led them to a circle around a low table where each student was given safety glasses, identical to one another: clear lenses and heavy black frames. The ear-ringing announcement of them being the Oscorp "Field Trip of the Month" echoed through hidden speakers. "Welcome, Tommy Jarvis and classmates!" The girls in line giggled as their names were called.
A tall, serious woman in a white lab coat stepped forward. a senior scientist, by the looks of her clipboard and precise bun of silver hair. Her name tag read Dr. Eliza Forrester. "Good morning, young scientists," she said, voice steady and a bit gravelly, like granite mixing with honey. The translation earpieces on her goggles crackled to life, and her voice boomed in perfect English. "Welcome to Oscorp's Research Wing. Today, you will tour our laboratories and learn about our genetic research programs."
Tommy watched her every movement. Under her thin-lipped smile was keen eyes that missed nothing. There was pride in the way she spoke of Oscorp, young minds, uncovering secrets of life itself. Tommy felt a thrill; he was on the cusp of something extraordinary.
As they filed forward, Mia nudged Tommy excitedly. "Look, they have a fly caught mid-flight in that holo-projector!" Maya pointed out a small exhibit where a fly was illuminated by lasers, showing muscle movements. Tommy leaned in for a closer look, heart thumping at real science in action. The fly's wings moved impossibly fast, and a digital overlay showed data points and DNA sequences. complicated stuff. He imagined Oscorp scientists capturing even stranger things behind closed doors.
The tour group moved deeper into the building, down a long corridor with white tile walls and directional signs. Genetics Lab, Animal Testing Wing, Innovation Vault. Each footstep felt measured. Tommy followed Maya and Liam. He exchanged uneasy smiles with them, like co-conspirators on the brink of something unbelievable.
The Hidden Lab
After a few more rooms showing harmless science demos (flower cross-breeding machines, harmless test tubes changing colors), they arrived at an unmarked heavy door. Security badges beeped, and Dr. Forrester whispered to the guards. There was a collective hush among the students. Maya squeezed Tommy's arm. "This is it," she whispered. "Secret lab time."
The guards parted, letting the student group pass into a dim hallway. The air here smelled sterile and a little sour, like bleach mixed with metal. Tommy noticed the humming of unseen machines behind thick glass walls and the faraway clack of what might have been a heartbeat monitor or a pressurized chamber. Cameras were discreetly tucked into corners. This was no ordinary exhibit, something about it felt forbidden.
As they descended a flight of stairs, the atmosphere grew colder. An alarm blipped quietly from a console as Dr. Forrester swiped her keycard. The lights in the hallway were a sterile blue. "Everyone," she began, assembling them in front of a heavy steel door with a glass view. "In this lab, we house our most sensitive projects. Please remember: no cameras or phones beyond this point."
Tommy tensed; his fingers itched with curiosity. Maya actually put her phone in the storage bin willingly, but Liam kept fumbling, trying to hide his phone under a notebook. Dr. Forrester caught him with a raised eyebrow, and he finally relinquished it reluctantly.
The door hissed open, revealing a long corridor of glass rooms. Each room held a different experiment: plants growing in fluorescent lights, caged rodents with monitors attached, and, most chillingly, large glass pods labeled Project SP-64 and Project Arachne. In Project Arachne's chamber, dozens of spiders scuttled across a metal grid. They were arranged with wires and sensors attached, their abdomens swelling unnaturally. These spiders weren't normal they had iridescent patterns, almost bioluminescent, and their legs were clipped to fit precisely on the equipment. Oscorp's signature G logo glinted on a plaque inside.
Tommy's breath caught. His heart thundered in his chest. He had studied insects for years, but he'd never seen anything like this. These spiders were monstrous and beautiful, like science experiments come to life. They looked as if they had been dyed in some glowing rainbow and bred to perfection. One of them, quite a large one, turned its head and clicked its mandibles as he stepped closer, as though sensing him. At that moment, everything fell away he felt connected to the creatures in a way he didn't understand. Maya and Liam flinched at the hisses and clicks. A small bird locked in an aviary chirped nervously nearby.
The Spider's Bite
He took a careful step closer, just to see them clearly. A sensor light overhead washed the creature's body in pale light. Don't touch anything, he reminded himself. But he leaned in, fascinated, and sniffed the musky, wet-chitin smell as one massive spider scuttled over a screen to begin spinning a silken web. Its legs brushed against the glass, and Tommy imagined the bone-fine strength of that silk.
Suddenly, a crash! The entire building jolted as something heavy toppled. Sirens wailed in the distance, muffled but urgent. Forrester's voice sprang up, "Out of the way!" Students pressed back as a glass case cracked on the other side of the lab. The mighty engine of some machinery gave a groan. In the chaos, nobody noticed a smaller spider who had fallen from the rack overhead onto Tommy's arm. It was minute compared to the big ones, but distinctly engineered. its back was bright blue, with tiny glowing stripes. Tommy's skin had a faint dew from the morning; the spider wasted no time. Without any hesitation, it sank its fangs into the soft flesh between Tommy's thumb and forefinger.
A flash of pain snapped through him like lightning. The edges of his vision went white. He yelped, pulling back hard. The spider fell away, scuttling innocuously back to the floor. For a moment, shock immobilized Tommy: the pain was instant, intense, as if a needle had been squeezed by a crusher inside him. He tasted copper in his mouth and his hands tensed involuntarily.
Blood welled slowly where the fangs had pierced his skin. It dripped onto the floor with a quiet plop. Tiny droplets glimmered in the fluorescent light. The room spun around him. Maya grabbed his other arm. "Tommy, are you okay?" she cried, voice crackling. He tried to say something reassuring but found his throat dry, tongue thick. The adrenaline burned through him, lacing his veins with icy heat.
Dr. Forrester's sharp voice cut through the alarm: "Get him out! Now!" Two security guards converged on Tommy. They lifted him swiftly by his shoulders. His body felt strangely heavy, his senses suddenly hypersensitive. The cold tile underfoot was frighteningly smooth against the soles of his now trembling feet. Each step echoed like thunder. The alarms wrapped around him with a crisp screech. ears felt pressed as if under water.
Maya and Liam ran alongside the guards, shouting his name. He saw their faces: Maya's blue eyes wide with horror, Liam frowning in concern. "It-its.. j-j..j-just..a- b-bite...I-i..i-im fine...oh god.." he willed himself to believe. But as he was hustled down the corridor away from the glassy eyes of the spider exhibit, something in his gut twisted with a fear he could not name. The door locked behind them with a heavy thump.
Unsteady Ground
Once in the hall beyond, Tommy's knees nearly gave out. The guard had dropped his arm, maybe thinking the bleeding was minor. He touched his wound reflexively. A cool numbness seethed beneath his skin. This is weird, he thought. Nothing is burning, I just… feel different. Suddenly, a throbbing started to gnaw at his hand: like a small animal clawing inside him. He sucked in a breath, tasting antiseptic from someone's too-strong lotion.
The group moved on, leaving a curving trail of students whispering in confusion behind a locked door. Oscorp's hidden labs remained sealed on one side. There was a keen, hidden look on Dr. Forrester's face, and for a moment Tommy saw something dark flicker in her eyes..maybe regret? Concern? Fear? She said nothing; just escorted them to the exit. "Let's stick to daylight exhibits," was all she muttered without a glance.
Outside, into the bright hall, Tommy's world shifted strangely. Lights were too bright, people moved too fast. He clapped a hand to his mouth. His legs wanted to run or climb. A metallic buzz of a vending machine sang far too loudly. The softness of his jacket brushed his skin like feathers he could feel one by one. His muscles felt like stretched rubber bands. If he just snapped them, maybe he could jump across this hall. The thought startled him into a panic.
Maya caught his hand. "Tommy?" she said gently, her lips soft as she squeezed his palm. "You look like you saw a ghost."
His vision refocused. They were back in the main museum wing now, bright and busy again. Students milled around, flicking through pamphlets about genetics. Mr. Crane was giving a history of Oscorp's founder near the door. Liam was stepping away, pretending to drop a piece of paper. The commotion of everyday field trip resumed, as if nothing had happened.
But Tommy's heart hammered. He stood still, listening to his own ragged breathing. I need to sit, he thought. The world felt like it might collapse at any second. Maya guided him to a bench under a glowing microscope display. Tommy settled down, head pounding inside his skull.
He leaned forward, hands resting on knees. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of his neck. His fingertips tingled unnaturally, as if each one was falling asleep and waking up at the same time. He licked dry lips. The corridor smelled of disinfectant and cold pizza from the cafeteria lounge nearby. People passed, oblivious. A teacher turned away, chatting on a radio; a girl with braces giggled with a friend at a biology poster.
Maya crouched beside him. "Tommy… are you sure you're okay?" The concern in her voice was soft and real. Tommy blinked. He clamped a hand on her shoulder. His voice trembled a bit. "Yeah… just dizzy. I must have hit my head when… when I fell." It was a lie, but it bought him a moment.
Inside, he fended off a swell of panic. 'That spider… it b-b..b-bit me… a-an-and I feel weird." His fingers drifted to the puncture site between thumb and forefinger. There was a tiny prick of red, almost healed. But a faint, warm ripple was spreading out from it, like tiny threads of liquid light under his skin. He gasped softly at the sensation..alive warmth..
Maya studied him with worried eyes. Liam wandered back, pretending to straighten his lanyard. "Feeling better?" he asked, suspicious. Tommy nodded vigorously, trying to keep his tone normal. "Yeah, just a bit lightheaded. Probably from running around in there, huh?" He forced a weak grin. The teeth in his mouth felt too sharp against his tongue, as if each could cut at anything it bit. He imagined the jagged edges grazing his bandaged skin. The sensation was oddly pleasurable and terrifying.
The Secret Change
By the time they got back to the bus an hour later, Tommy's body felt different. The pulse in his veins was strong, rhythmic. Each heartbeat felt like a drum in his chest. He hadn't even felt the bus start again, but suddenly it lurched. He instinctively gripped the seat, feeling his knuckles crack with little stars of white. Strange, exhilarating.
He rubbed his fingers. I have to try something. He closed his fist tight. His hand tensed, and then he felt it. the briefest spark: a zing along his nerves. He gasped as if touched by lightning. Leaning his head back, he let the massage that electricity into his scalp, the sensation a humming radiance. The world around him blurred at the edges, only Maya's face clear. She blinked, no clue, as if seeing him for the first time. They don't know what happened to me yet.
The ride home was a haze of overwhelming stimuli. Each thing felt hyperreal: the creak of the bus's turning wheels, the whisper of wind through a cracked window, the scent of Maya's cherry lip balm, all more vivid than ever before. The city skyline dragged by like a sliding picture show on fast-forward. He thought he could hear his own blood pulsing in his ears. It was as if he had opened some hidden dial in his brain and cranked it up all the way.
When the bus finally pulled up at Midtown High, Tommy stepped off feeling unnaturally balanced. As soon as they reached the sidewalk, the Three of them delayed departure, drawn to a cluster of pigeons on the corner. Maya clicked on her camera app. "These are for my nature blog," she explained, crouching to take pictures. She said nothing about Tommy's odd gait when he got off or the way his spine twitched while he waited.
Tommy just breathed. City smells surrounded him: asphalt baking under the day, sweet exhaust, a hot pretzel stand on the corner spraying buttery steam. He realized he was hungry, bone-cold and empty-feeling. For a second, he thought maybe fear had burned calories. Instead of the normal single craving, he felt a dozen hungers: for energy, for adrenaline, for something, anything.
He forced himself to shake it off with a laugh. "I'm starving," he admitted. "Burger? Pizza? Anything." Maya grinned. "Always you and food." Liam wagged a finger at Tommy. "Hey, Mr. Hungry, slow down. Save some food for us, okay?" Despite the jest, Tommy's stomach twisted in unease. He realized his body was changing and hadn't shared a single sign yet with anyone. I have to find a bathroom, check this out, he thought.
Inside the school's restroom, he locked a stall door. He touched his face in the mirror. The hands that reflected back had strengthened, the knuckles slightly bigger, veins branching like art under pale skin. On impulse he flexed a hand. Tremors skittered through the mirror's reflection. His eyes widened..they were more vibrant than normal, gold when the light hit them. "What the hell…" he muttered, voice low.
He watched his hand open and close. His reflection followed instantly, unnaturally fast. The pale fluorescent light of the bathroom flickered, and for a moment, a superhuman clarity shone on his face: sharp jawline, wide eyes scanning himself. His breathing slowed to try to calm his thudding heart. Calm down, Tommy. He splashed cold water on his face again, tasting chlorine and soap. The sensation bit at his skin pleasantly. His reflection's eyes stayed fixed on him, refusing to blink. That sent a tiny shiver down his spine.
Leaning against the sink, he tried to center himself. Think. Just think. His mind raced: oscillating between fear and fascination. Philosophies he'd read in books flickered: "What defines a monster? What makes a hero? Great power." He recalled a phrase once said by a famous man in a story about responsibility. "If I have power, what should I do with it?"
A sudden door opening nearly made him gasp out loud. A teenager, a student , probably, walked in, noticing Tommy splashing. He gave him a curious stare. "Everything okay?" he asked gently. Tommy realized he probably saw him stumble out of the bus. He nodded quickly. "Yeah, just… needed water." The boy eyed his hands, saw the tiny red puncture on his thumb, and gave a sympathetic nod.
"Alright. Just… take it easy, dude." he smiled warmly before walking inside one of the stalls, leaving Tommy alone again. He took a long look at himself: the bite mark was already fading. He took a slow breath. This is happening. He could sense it deep inside now.
Stepping out, he bumped into Maya and Liam in the hallway. "Feeling better?" Liam teased quietly, dodging a wandering freshman. Tommy smiled back. "Much, thanks," he said. But he was anything but. His mind whirled with questions. What had Oscorp done? And what was he going to become?
As the final school bell rang, Tommy Jarvis stepped into the hall and into his new destiny, uncertain and electric with possibility, each heartbeat a drum heralding something new and potentially earth-shattering.