SPIDERMAN [JMJ]

6

Ken raced through the city streets on her motorcycle, the engine roaring beneath her as she made her way toward the crime scene. Her mind was still spinning from her conversation with Wenny, but she couldn’t afford to think about it right now. The alert on her phone had warned of an armed robbery downtown, and her responsibility as Spider-Man came first.

She pulled into a quiet alley and quickly changed into her Spider-Man suit, her mind now fully focused on the task at hand. Swinging into action, Ken shot a web at the nearest building and launched herself into the air. The wind rushed past her as she navigated the familiar streets, her senses sharp and ready.

It didn’t take long to reach the scene of the crime. A group of masked men were robbing a jewelry store, their getaway van idling outside. Ken landed silently on the roof of the store, observing the situation below. She could hear the muffled sounds of the men shouting inside, ordering the staff to hand over everything of value.

Alright, let’s do this, she thought, her muscles tensing.

Without hesitation, Ken swung down and crashed through the front window, landing in a crouch. The robbers froze, momentarily stunned by her sudden appearance.

“Well, well,” Ken quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Looks like I crashed the party. Didn’t anyone tell you stealing isn’t cool?”

The men recovered quickly, raising their guns toward her. “It’s Spider-Man! Get her!”

Ken dodged the first shot with ease, flipping out of the way and launching herself toward the nearest robber. She landed a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying backward into a display case. Another robber fired at her, but Ken was already moving, leaping to the ceiling and shooting webs to disarm him.

The fight was quick but intense. Ken moved with practiced precision, taking down each robber with swift, calculated strikes. Within minutes, the men were webbed up and lying in a heap, groaning in pain.

Ken dusted off her hands, satisfied with the outcome. “Guess you guys won’t be making it to the getaway van.”

Just as she was about to leave, the store’s owner—an elderly man—emerged from the back room, his face pale with fear. “T-Thank you, Spider-Man,” he stammered. “You saved us.”

Ken gave him a nod, her heart softening slightly. “Just doing my job. Stay safe.”

She shot a web at the ceiling and swung out of the store, disappearing into the night. As she made her way across the city, the adrenaline from the fight slowly began to fade, and her thoughts drifted back to Wenny.

Why does she keep trying to get close? Ken wondered, landing on a rooftop to catch her breath. She had spent so long keeping people at a distance, building walls around herself to protect both her secret and her heart. But Wenny was different—she wasn’t backing down, no matter how cold Ken acted.

Maybe I should just tell her the truth, Ken thought, but then quickly dismissed the idea. No. I can’t drag her into this life. It’s too dangerous.

But even as she tried to convince herself, Ken knew deep down that she was already losing control of the situation.

---

The next day, Ken arrived at school feeling the weight of the previous night’s events. She hadn’t slept well, and her body still ached from the fight with the robbers. As she made her way through the crowded hallways, she kept her head down, hoping to avoid any unwanted attention.

But, of course, Wenny had other plans.

“Ken!” Wenny called out, catching up to her by the lockers. “We need to talk.”

Ken sighed, knowing she couldn’t avoid this conversation forever. “What is it?”

Wenny crossed her arms, her expression serious. “What happened yesterday? You just ran off without explaining anything.”

Ken shifted uncomfortably, trying to come up with a reasonable excuse. “I had... an emergency.”

Wenny raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “An emergency? You do this all the time—disappear without any explanation, like you’re hiding something. What’s going on with you?”

Ken clenched her fists, the weight of her secret pressing down on her. She wanted to tell Wenny the truth, to explain why she always had to leave, why she kept pushing her away. But the words wouldn’t come.

“I... I can’t tell you,” Ken finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wenny’s expression softened, but there was still frustration in her eyes. “Why not? You don’t trust me?”

Ken shook her head, struggling to find the right words. “It’s not about trust. It’s about keeping you safe.”

Wenny frowned, confused. “Safe? What are you talking about?”

Before Ken could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. She breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the interruption.

“I have to go,” Ken muttered, turning away.

Wenny grabbed her arm, stopping her. “This isn’t over, Ken. You can’t keep running forever.”

Ken looked into Wenny’s eyes, her heart aching with the weight of her unspoken truth. “I know.”

And with that, she pulled away, disappearing into the crowd, leaving Wenny standing alone, more determined than ever to uncover Ken’s secret.

TBC.