The Spectacular Spider-Men: The Great Web

SIDE STORY-3: Ritvik Anand: Last Hope

RITVIK ANAND'S POV:

I frantically searched the remaining part of this facility in hopes of finding Betty somewhere.

She has to be here.

She has to be alive.

It was her.

She sent the robot.

Moving through the deserted hallways of the facility, my heart almost came to a stop when I saw a control room, and near the panel was an unconscious Betty.

"Betty?" I slowly approached her, making sure not to startle her. "You did it... I'm here now. I have the cure... And it works!" I sat down next to her, and turned her towards me.

No...

"Betty...?" I nudged her shoulder, but there was no response. "Betty? No... No, you can't– you can't do this!" I yelled, taking off my mask and throwing it to the side.

This can't have been for nothing.

"I saved you! I– I did everything I could to save you..." My face was a teary mess as I tried to focus my vision on giving Betty the antidote. "You can't do this to me!"

I wiped the tears off my eyes and injected the serum into Betty's arm.

"You've gotta hold on! For me! Betty? Betty, you gotta fight for me. YOU GOTTA FIGHT! Betty..."

This can't be happening.

Why...? Why does it always have to be me?

I could feel the three gazes on my back as I cradled Betty in my arms. I didn't care anymore, though...

"You know that you were the one... When I first saw you at the Bugle, I just wanted to be with you. Even when I promised myself I wouldn't... I just wanted to– love you. I'm lost without you, Betty."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"R...Ritvik... that is the cheesiest speech I've ever heard."

What?

"BETTY!" I yelled happily. "You're..."

"Alive... And feeling a lot better. The antidote works?"

"It sure does." I said, scoffing.

"RV, is everything okay?"

"Are you okay, is the question."

"I'm getting better."

"Good..." I said, looking at the others, who just stood there with dumb smiles plastered on their faces as they gave me a thumbs up.

They're gonna make fun of me after this is over, aren't they?

"Just another day at Oscorp, huh?" I mumbled. "I can't believe you had the strength to reprogram that robot... how did you even do that?"

"I picked up quite a lot in this past week from Dr. Smythe. He's surprisingly an adept teacher..."

"Where is Smythe now?"

"He disappeared after he sent out the S-02, the uh– snake robot to kill you guys. I guess Oscorp is reevaluating his job performance."

"You guys think we can hack through the computer system and shut down the rest of his robots?" I asked the others.

"Alistair Smythe designed the codes himself. Not likely."

"Is that a challenge?" Arush asked, offended. "Give me a week and I'll do it."

"We don't have a week, though..." Zain mumbled.

"Get some rest. We'll get out of here soon." I told Betty as I rejoined the boys.

"We'll have to set some things straight first..." Betty said.

"What do you mean?"

"The people need to know the truth. They think you guys are the bad guys."

"Bruh... We'll handle that, don't worry. You focus on getting healthier."

"Alright... Let's get out of this place. It's giving me the creeps."

TO BE CONTINUED...

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Alistair Smythe returns in: CHAPTER-10: Smythe Strikes Back! What is he up to now? The city is still infected and the cure hasn't been mass produced yet, so what will Smythe do to regain the trust of OsCorp execs and stay the head of the robotics department?

Find out this Saturday...

-ZZS101