Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse

2 - Lashanie Von Humboldt

A groan escaped Lashanie's lips as consciousness flickered back to life. Her head throbbed like a drum solo gone rogue, and her body felt like it had been tangled with a particularly enthusiastic vine monster. Disoriented, she blinked blurry vision at the scene above her – a dizzying kaleidoscope of fire escapes and laundry lines strung haphazardly between buildings.

The realization hit her like a bucket of cold water – interdimensional travel. That last experiment with the trans-dimensional portal stabilizer hadn't quite gone according to plan.  Pushing herself up on wobbly arms, Lashanie winced at the protesting ache in her muscles. 

Tentatively, she reached up and peeled off the mask that swathed her face. It was sleek and black, mirroring the rest of her suit - a second skin of midnight blue that hugged her curves and shimmered with an otherworldly sheen. It was the culmination of months of research, a practical marvel designed for interdimensional jaunts. 

Lashanie grimaced at the state of her clothes.  They were the civilian wear she'd thrown on before activating the portal – a simple t-shirt and jeans – now hopelessly ripped and snagged. Luckily, she'd always been a planner. Rummaging through a battered backpack slung across one shoulder, she retrieved a spare change of clothes - a black t-shirt and joggers, far from ideal for a super-powered heroine, but better than what she had on now.

Pulling them on quickly, she scanned her surroundings. The alleyway was narrow and grimy, reeking of overflowing dumpsters and something she sincerely hoped wasn't sewage. Not exactly the grand entrance she'd envisioned for her arrival in this new dimension. 

Taking a steadying breath, Lashanie forced her throbbing head to focus.  First things first - she needed to assess the situation, gauge the local threats, and find a way to blend in.  This dimension, wherever it was, clearly had a very different aesthetic compared to her vibrant, tech-powered home world of Xylos.  Lashanie gritted her teeth, a spark of determination flickering in her eyes. This interdimensional hiccup wouldn't hold her back. She'd adapt, she'd explore, and most importantly, she'd find a way back home.

The nausea returned in a wave as Lashanie recalled the portal activation. It wasn't supposed to be this violent. The stabilizer, her magnum opus, was designed for smooth interdimensional travel, not a chaotic pinball ride through the fabric of reality. Images flashed behind her eyes – swirling colors, a sickening sense of freefall, and then... darkness.

Lashanie took another shaky breath, focusing on the rough brick wall in front of her. It helped ground her, pulling her back to the present. She was in an alleyway, alright, but this wasn't Xylos. Not even close. The air was thick with the smell of exhaust fumes and something vaguely sweet, like... pretzels?

A distant siren wailed, punctuated by the rhythmic thrum of what sounded suspiciously like... hip hop music? Lashanie hesitantly peeked out of the alley. The street scene that greeted her was a mix of familiarity and wrongness.

Fire escapes clung precariously to the sides of buildings, laundry lines strung with mismatched socks and faded t-shirts added a haphazard charm. But the buildings themselves were different. Taller, grander, plastered with a dizzying array of advertisements. A giant, red Coca-Cola logo loomed above a bustling corner store.

Lashanie recognized the overall feel – it was Brooklyn, alright, but a Brooklyn she barely remembered from childhood visits with her aunt. This Brooklyn smelled different, sounded different, felt different. It was a heightened version, a Brooklyn on overdrive.

Frowning, Lashanie replayed the moment the portal destabilized. Maybe it wasn't a random malfunction. Maybe, she thought, with a dawning realization, the instability was intentional, a failsafe guiding her to a specific location. A location where she might find something, or someone, to help her get home.