Spider-Man: Fear Itself

Chapter 9

At exactly seven o'clock, a low hum reverberated through the air, and the massive containment shield flickered into life, surrounding all of Manhattan like a transparent dome. The city within the shield seemed eerily quiet, as if holding its breath, knowing that at any moment, Mysterio's threat could become reality. Outside the barrier, the hustle of the evacuation and chaos of the city came to a sudden halt as everyone watched in awe and horror.

A mix of medical personnel, NYPD detectives, and Spider-Man remained inside, cut off from the rest of the world. For the first time, many of the heroes—assembled outside the shield and in SHIELD's command post just over the Queens border—felt the chilling weight of what Spider-Man had chosen to do. He was truly alone now.

Inside the command post, Steve Rogers paced, his eyes locked on a massive display showing a digital representation of the shield's perimeter. SHIELD agents were busy at their stations, relaying data and monitoring communications. The Avengers, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four were scattered around the room, all tensely watching, unable to do anything but wait.

Steve pressed a finger to his earpiece, opening the comm line to Spider-Man. "Spidey, it's Steve. We've set up here just outside the shield. I'll be here all night, making sure you have everything you need."

For a moment, there was silence on the other end. Then Spider-Man's voice came through, colder and more focused than ever. "Good. But don't waste your time. You cannot open that shield for anything until this gas is stopped. No matter what happens."

Steve exchanged a glance with Carol Danvers and Natasha Romanoff, both of whom had been listening. He knew that tone—it was the same one Spider-Man had used earlier, when he had made it clear that he was going in alone. But this time, there was something even darker behind it, something Steve wasn't willing to let go.

"That's not going to happen, Spider-Man," Steve retorted, his voice firm. "If you need backup, I'm coming in. Gas or no gas. You're not alone in this."

On the other side of the comm line, Spider-Man paused, his voice dropping even further in temperature when he responded. "You can't come in, Steve. I'm serious. My life isn't more important than the lives of everyone out there. If you open the shield and the gas gets out, millions of people will be affected. You cannot take that risk."

The room grew quieter as Spider-Man's words echoed over the comms. Several of the heroes exchanged worried looks. Steve's face tightened. "Spidey, your life matters too. You're just as important as the people on the outside. Don't—"

Spider-Man cut him off, his voice sharp, with an edge that made even Steve pause. "No. It's not. I've always known what I signed up for, Cap. I'll stop Mysterio, but the shield stays closed. No one's coming in after me, no matter what happens."

Steve's hand tightened into a fist as he struggled with the weight of those words. The coldness in Spider-Man's voice had them all worried, but more than that, the way Spider-Man so casually dismissed his own life—it was like he had already accepted what might happen to him.

Carol, standing beside Steve, looked over with concern. "Did he just say...?"

Natasha folded her arms, her expression grim. "He doesn't think his life is worth saving. He's made up his mind."

Jessica Drew, standing in the corner of the room, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, had been silent since the conversation started, but now, she took a step forward, her voice strained. "He's been like this ever since he walked away from the teams. It's like he's decided he's not... part of this anymore. Not part of us."

Steve shook his head, frustration clear on his face. "We should've seen this coming sooner. He's been carrying too much on his own for too long."

Before anyone could respond, a bright light suddenly shot into the sky from within Manhattan. It was unmistakable—the giant spider symbol beamed into the clouds above the city from a spotlight on top of an NYPD precinct.