Spider-Man : BloodWrath

Controlling chaos

FLASHBACK

THE RAFT

Peter sat at the same cold metal table, his one arm cuffed to it as before, dressed in his orange prisoner jumpsuit with the top half tied around his waist, revealing the white tank top underneath. The eyepatch covering his lost eye was a constant reminder of what he'd been through, and the grim set of his jaw spoke volumes about how much he hated being back here.

Across from him, Emma Frost sat with a look of calm determination, though her sharp gaze betrayed the weight of the task ahead. Maria Hill stood by the door, arms crossed, observing with a stoic but supportive expression. This time, Hill wasn't going to leave him alone. She had insisted on staying, hoping her presence might help keep him grounded.

Peter clenched his fist on the table, already bracing himself for what was to come. His mind had become a fortress, filled with walls built by trauma and anger. He hated the idea of anyone, even someone as skilled as Emma, poking around inside. But he needed this...he needed to prove his innocence, even if it meant reliving the worst moments of his life.

Emma's voice broke the silence, calm but firm. "We're going to try again. I need you to trust me, Peter."

Peter didn't respond at first, only giving a slight nod, his eye narrowing in focus. He forced himself to remain calm, even as a knot of anxiety twisted in his chest. He hated this. Every second of it.

Hill, standing nearby, gave him a reassuring look. "We're here for you. Just hold on, okay?"

Peter didn't reply to her either, just staring down at the table as he prepared for the mental invasion.

Emma reached out and gently placed her hand on his, her blue eyes locking onto his. "I'll be as gentle as I can," she promised, though they both knew there was no real way to avoid the pain this process would bring.

Peter tensed as he felt her presence slip into his mind. At first, it was a soft, subtle intrusion, but then it deepened. He could feel her pushing through the barriers, the walls he had built, trying to navigate through the chaos of his thoughts and memories.

The pain hit him like a slow burn, and Peter's jaw clenched tighter as flashes of his past started to surface. Scenes of battles, losses, and betrayals assaulted him. Otto Octavius taking over his body. The Avengers turning their backs on him. Losing May. Losing...everything. It was too much.

Emma pressed further, delving into the memories, trying to reach the part of his mind where the truth about the mind-swap with Otto was buried. She was getting close...she could feel it. But then...

Peter's entire body stiffened, and a wave of anger washed over him. His mind rebelled against her intrusion, and just like before, Emma suddenly found herself trapped, stuck in a mental web that began tightening around her. The buzzing sound of his thoughts grew louder, overwhelming both of them.

"Peter, focus," she said, her voice strained. She was trying to hold on, trying to push through, but she could feel herself being pushed out. "You need to let me in..."

Peter gritted his teeth, the pressure in his skull intensifying. His fist slammed against the table, causing it to shake, but he forced himself to stay seated, even as his heart raced. He couldn't let this overwhelm him again. He had to keep control.

And then, just as Emma was about to reach the core of his mind...the part where the memories of the mind-swap with Otto lay...it happened again. A forceful pushback. Emma's body jerked, her connection to Peter's mind severed with a violent snap. She gasped as she was flung out of his mind, her head reeling from the impact.