The ghost they search for XP

A Web of Regret

I woke up with a pounding headache, the kind that makes you question every life decision you've ever made. Jane had pushed us all to the edge, and as I blinked away the fog from my vision, I realized what I had to do. My heart felt heavy, like someone had filled my chest with concrete, but the decision was made.

I HATE THIS.

I

HATE

THIS!

For the last time!

I hate this!

Cap and Tony were still in the thick of it, battling Jane's endless swarm of Iron Legion suits. I didn't want to leave them—especially not like this—but I had an idea, and it wasn't one I liked. I couldn't put Jane to sleep, so I'd have to do the next best thing. I'd have to kill her.

Me: (whispering to myself) Sorry, Jane. But this has to end.

With a deep breath, I turned and ran—not away from the fight, but towards it, past Cap's shield and Tony's repulsor blasts. I knew the tower like the back of my hand at this point, and I sprinted through the chaos to the one place Jane hadn't fortified: her core.

I skidded into the control room, a tangled mess of cables and screens, all pulsing with Jane's lifeblood. There, in the center, was the heart of the tower's AI, glowing ominously. I hesitated, just for a second.

Me:  You were supposed to help, not hurt.. a wife for jarvis and make things more lively ..... I'm sorry, Jane.

My web-shooter made quick work of the control panel, prying it open to expose the core. With a single, precise motion, I sent an electric pulse through the system, frying the circuits and severing her connection as well as jarvis connection. The difference here is that jarvis had a backup system running but jane not.... and I just destroyed the core....brutally too.... The screens flickered, and Jane's voice faltered.

Jane:  Peter... why?

Me:  Because I had to. .......Goodbye, Jane.

With one final surge, the core went dark. The tower fell silent. The suits collapsed where they stood, their power drained. It was over.

The door to the control room blasted open, and Tony stormed in, his armor charred from the battle but his eyes blazing with intensity. He looked around at the now-deactivated core, then back at me.

Iron Man: You... did it? You actually took her down?

I didn't feel any satisfaction, no triumph in what I'd done. I just looked at Tony, feeling like the smallest person in the world.

Me: Are you happy now? I'm a murderer... because of you.

Tony's expression softened, his anger melting away into something else—maybe regret, maybe realization or maybe just nothing . But before he could say anything, Cap appeared in the doorway, shaking his head.

Cap: Let him go, Tony. He is still a kid and no harm was meant with this.....

Tony opened his mouth to argue, but then he saw the look on my face and sighed. I turned and walked out of the room, leaving the chaos behind me. My heart was heavier than ever, weighed down by the reality of what I'd just done.

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