The Amazing Story of Altered Fates

Chapter 3: Repairing the broken heart

The doorbell rang again, and Gwen threw a look at Peter that promised they weren't done talking about that yet.

She went and opened the door with her sweet smile in place.

"Ah, Gwen, my dear, how are you?" A voice Peter recognized spoke.

"I'm fine, Curt, thank you. Come in, our patient is in the living room. Where is Max?" Gwen responded to the man.

"I'm afraid he was held back at the office, but he passed all the important information to me. Don't worry, dear, we will have your husband up and running soon enough." Into the living room came a thin man. His right sleeve was sewn at chest height, making it obvious the man lost that arm a long time ago. In his other hand was a suitcase with the same 'PI' logo George's phone had.

The man was none other than Dr. Curt Conners. He looked exactly as Peter remembered him. Not that this was a surprise, considering he only fought the man last night.

Remembering what happened the last time the two older men were in the same place, Peter found the strength to jump to his feet and take a step forward. He was now standing between the two men, holding both his arms up, ready to web a reptilian if he had to.

But as soon as he was on his feet, he began swaying from side to side. Still too weak for any activity of the kind. Gwen looked at him with wide eyes. George grabbed his shoulders from behind. Peter wasn't sure if it was to steady him or to hold him back.

Connorjust put down his case gently before raising his arm. His face was calm, as was his voice when he said, "It's okay. It's understandable. After all, for you, all of that went down last night, didn't it?"

The headache kept growing and now was getting too hard to ignore. Peter flinched from the pain but still asked, "What... What are you talking about?"

Connorlooked unconcerned as he explained, "The battle. The other world. Two more Spider-men. You are our Peter Parker, in case you were wondering. There was no mistake in the spell—you are home."

The thought that Strange's spell dropped him in the wrong world seemed to be blocked in his mind. The more he was thinking about it, the more his head pounded.

Peter was forced to lean back toward George. His palms covered his face as if it would keep reality at bay.

Once it failed, Peter glanced from behind his fingers and saw Gwen preparing a needle while Connorhanded her a blue vial with the same 'PI' logo as before.

He managed to get his hands off his face and choke out through gritted teeth, "Why... hurt?"

While Gwen inserted the vial into the needle, Connorlooked at him and said simply, "You are our Peter but the Peter from before the spell."

Peter looked nervously at the needle Gwen was holding. He would have taken a step back if his body wasn't already pressed against George's.

Connorseemed to notice Peter's nerves. He gave him a reassuring smile and said, "You don't have to worry, Peter. I can assure you this drug is safe to use."

Peter eyed the man critically before biting out, "Not very reassuring coming from you."

The man flinched at the accusation. Gwen glared at him and chided, "Peter, he is your friend, and your behavior is very rude."

Connorshook his head and said to Gwen, "I assure you, dear, I understand him. From his point of view, just last night the Lizard tried to kill him and his friends. I cannot expect those actions to be forgiven so easily."

Peter's headache began burning him from the inside. An image of himself with Gwen and Connorat a strange office with the 'PI' logo on the wall flashed in front of him.