-The first night is always the hardest-

  Downtown TB—Shiromori Residence, Ryu’s Room

  My body was exhausted. My mind wasn’t. Events kept replaying in my head like a movie reel on repeat. Mom was in her room, and I could hear the rustle of her bedsheet as she slept.

  Ming and Asri were safe at home–I made sure.

  I inspected the phone I swiped. Missed calls. Messages from gang members. A lock screen kept its secrets.

  My body wanted to hunt them down, but what for?

  I was lucky I had Ming before. Don’t want to imagine if she wasn’t.

  My own phone chimed. Her name was on it.

  Speak of the devil.

  “Hey Ming.” I answered, tossing the stolen phone on my bed.

  “Hey… were you busy?” her voice was softer tonight.

  “No, just laying around. Are you okay?”

  “No. I’m just… I’m just worried.” I could hear her shaky breath.

  “Hey, you’re safe now.” I sat up.

  “Yeah. Still, what you did was reckless.” She let out a dry laugh.

  “I’m sorry… for what I did. For–”

  “Hey don’t be. You’ve always been like that since we were in junior high.”

  “Oh man. Don’t remind me of my teenager phase.” My face was buried in my hand.

  “Remember the bullies who kept hiding my notebook?” she giggled. “You beat them up so bad that their parents got involved.”

  “Yeah. I remember–Asri even stole their homework. They had to run laps around the school track” I shook my head.

  “Yeah. They never bothered us again after that.” She paused. “You’ve always stood up for people, Shiromori. Don’t apologise for that.”

  “...I went too far today, Ming.” I rubbed my face. “I heard that gun and… I couldn’t think straight.”

  “That shows how much you care about your friends.” she said, her voice calming. “What did your dad always say?”

  “There’s a difference between defending and hurting people. Protecting is right–losing yourself is not.” I quoted Dad. “He always said that–right after he whipped me for fighting.” I chuckled, shaking my head.

  “Plus, that’s what Asri and I are here for. We’ll make sure you never go overboard.”

  “Thanks, Ming. You always know what to say.”

  A pause.

  “I’m going to bed now. You should too.” Her voice sounded rushed.

  The call ended.

  I looked at the stolen phone. More messages were popping in.

  I hate it when she’s right. But she’s right.

  I’ve always made sure my friends were safe.

  Now I could do more.

  My fingers searched for a specific name. The call didn’t ring for long.

  “Yo, Asri. You up?”

  Downtown TB—Asri’s Apartment

  Clang!

  My shoulder slammed into the fire escape..

  I hopped over the railing. Asri was already waiting by the open window.

  “Knew you wouldn’t use the front door.”

  “Maybe I should’ve.” I braced my shoulder–the slight discomfort already fading.

  “You said something about hacking a phone?” He had his palm out.

  “Can you do it?” I handed him the phone.

  “Watch me work.”

  He slid into his chair, connecting the phone to his computer. A script was opened. He started typing, his finger glided across the keyboard like a pianist.

  A few minutes later, he called me over. His monitor mirrored the phone. “Now we not only have access to the phone, we can even track who’s texting or calling this phone.” A few keystrokes later, a map popped open–a red pin in the middle.

  “You really are a coding freak.” I exclaimed, patting his back. I was ready to step out before he stopped me.

  “Dude, you’re not planning on going in just like that, are you?” He stood up.

  “Uh… why not?” I turned, facing him.

  “So… what, you’re gonna swing in, beat some thugs, and swing away?”

  “Yeah, that’s the plan.”

  He shook his head. “If you do that, genius, your face’ll be on the news tomorrow–front page probably. I thought you didn’t want Ming to know you’re a freak now.”

  A ski mask was thrown. I swiped it mid-air.

  “Made you something. Nothing fancy. Just a ski mask with an earpiece in it. Connect it to your phone. I’ll keep you updated from here.”

  I looked at the mask, and back at him. “Dude, I look like a criminal!”

  “Better a criminal than a human spider freak.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “I prefer human arachnid.”

  “Call yourself that if you want to be laughed at.” He sat back in his chair. A smirk formed.

  “You got a better name?”

  “I told you. Spider man. Maybe a hyphen.” He rubbed his chin. “Spider-Man.”

  “That’s… not too bad.”

  “Better than human arachnid.”

  Spider-Man. Yeah. I can vibe with that.

  I slipped the mask on. My phone already connected to the earpiece.

  “Can you hear me?” I asked through the earpiece.

  “Kinda fuzzy, but yeah I hear you.”

  “Hey, you got safety goggles?”

  He tossed me one.

  “Thanks. Should help when I swing.” I snapped it in place. “Hard to keep your eyes open with the wind.”

  I hopped onto the fire escape. My heart kept beating against my chest. Prickling sensation covered my hands and feet.

  Thwip!

  The webstring stuck to the corner of a nearby building. My grip tightened against the white strand.

  This is it. Tonight, Tri-Borough meets Spider-Man.

  “Good luck. Stay safe.” Asri’s voice tangled in white noise in my earpiece.

  I jumped. My hand pulled hard. At the apex I released.

  Thwip!

  Another webstring stuck.

  My legs kicked, searching for balance. Both my hands held firm.

  Trust my senses. Trust my instincts.

  The city blurred. The neon lights smeared into streaks of colors.

  Bridgepath’s crowded streets buzzed below—warm lights from bars, cafes, and street vendors mixing into a chaotic rainbow. A late-night crowd gathered at a nearby rooftop event, music pulsing through the air.

  I swung past Highpoint’s towers. Their glass windows reflected the city back at me, cold and pristine. Massive billboards flashed ads for tech I couldn’t afford as I swung by.

  Then, Downside. The street lights flickered. Dim. The roads were quieter, but not asleep—never asleep. A few guys posted up outside a bodega, sharing a smoke. A train rumbled in the distance, shaking the worn-down apartment windows.

  Car horns blared as I swung too low—headlights streaked past my vision.

  Someone pulled out their phone. “Woah! Did you see that!?”

  Each swing was awkward. Dangerous–but man it’s exciting.

  “Wooooo–oh sh–!” I let go too early, arms flailing before I shot my next webstring.

  “Let’s go! Yeah!” I dropped onto a rooftop with a roll before leaping off into the night sky.

  “Having fun out there, Spider-Man?” Asri’s voice was barely audible.

  “This is the coolest thing ever!” I shouted, more to myself.

  “Fun’s over. Get your butt to–”

  His voice sounded like a glitchy robot.

  “Can’t hear you, man!” I slowed my swings.

  He tried to speak up, but all I heard was mumbling.

  We need a new kit for our tech.

  “You hear me now?” His voice finally broke through.

  “Barely–but yes.” I dropped onto a wall, leaning on it .

  “I said Old Market Square–a shop is getting hit.”

  “On it, chief!”

  I swung high. Zero gravity–before diving down.

  Thwip!

  The webstring caught, straining against the dive–then it slingshotted me forward, nearly sent me spinning.

  My swing was faster. Awkward. Wild–but faster.

  I barely dodged the billboard, twisting mid-air before throwing another web.

  Didn’t take long–I spotted them.

  Crowbars in hand. One trying to break the store lock–ignoring the store alarm.

  I didn’t slow down. A webstring stuck. My feet locked onto the guy furthest back.

  Crash!

  The garbage can flew. I was rolling on the floor.

  My target spun around. “What the hell was that?”

  “Well, that was an entrance.” I stood up, facing the four robbers.

  “Who the hell are you?” Another said.

  “I’m uh…”I rubbed the weird stain off my jacket. “I’m Spider-Man.”

  “Get lost, freak.”

  Their attention was on me now. I was surrounded.

  “It ain’t Halloween yet.” the smaller one approached, bat in hand. “So beat it, or we’ll bring the beating.”

  “Yikes. Maybe stick to ‘Tough Talk 101’ before trying robber?”

  My spidey sense tingled–the bat lifted high.

  I was already on his side.

  Thwip!

  His face–webbed. I yanked hard.

  He stumbled into my punch.

  One down.

  Hold back. I reminded myself. Protect, not attack.

  Another–bigger this time–charged in. Crowbar swinging wild.

  I was already flipping above him.

  A quick sweep took his leg out–his back hit the concrete.

  I jump. Webbed his face. My fist followed.

  Two left.

  They tried to run. No chance.

  My webs bound their feet. A quick tug face-planted them.

  Sirens broke the quiet streets as I webbed them to a nearby wall.

  The police cruisers turned the corner. Their gaze was locked onto the robbers.

  They never saw me perched above the building.

  “Could’ve warned me about the cops.” I snapped at Asri.

  “Thought I’d keep you on your toes.” His laugh was barely audible. “Anyways, head back. I think I dug something up.”

  I swung away into the dark night. The cold air bit into my thin layers.

  I didn’t mind it. I just stopped my first real crime.

  As Spider-Man.

  The swinging felt much more natural now. A few near-misses, but I felt more confident.

  The city was breathtaking from up here. It felt like my own personal space.

  I was climbing. Falling. Free.

  Didn’t take long for Asri’s apartment to be in sight again.

  I let go of the web–landing straight onto his wall.

  Way better than the fire escape.

  “What’s up?” I casually flipped myself in.

  Asri didn’t look up from his screen. A name glowed on the monitor. "I think I found the local gang’s boss."

  I stepped closer.

  On the screen: "21STreet Gang" — and beneath it, a picture.

  Charming smile. Smooth—like he belonged anywhere.

  But that 21ST tattooed across his chest? That said it all. He wasn’t just the leader of 21ST. He was the reason people whispered that name.

  I didn’t recognize him.

  Not yet.