INNER DEMONS

🕸️ INNER DEMONS 🕸️   The ego is a marvelous double-edged sword. It provides us with the confidence to take on our most excruciating goals but at the same time, it blinds us to our flaws and the darkness that resides within. We all have negative energy that takes certain…criteria to ignite. However, you couldn’t tell Peter Parker this. Now at age 20, he was on top of the world. The boy next door turned New York City’s very own superhero had everything he could have asked for. Fame, recognition, admirers, you name it. If you asked him, he would certainly say he was invincible, but he would soon learn he is anything but. His elder Avengers definitely took notice of this attitude shift, particularly Stephen Strange. If anyone knows what happens when you play around at the edge of the world, it is him. The sorcerer supreme had several tricks up his sleeve and he knew the exact one to show Peter back to the path of righteousness. He only hoped his spirit would not be beyond repair in the end. “Inner turmoil?!” Peter scoffed and laughed at the idea that there was anything wrong with him. He stood in the middle of Stephen’s main corridor with his arms crossed looking to the side. The doctor knew it would take more than reason to get Peter to see he was fighting evil for all the wrong reasons. Luckily, he came prepared. “I will not take this attitude from you, Peter. You know you’ve strayed from the right path. It’s not all about glory and praise.” Peter again laughed at Stephen’s face, his hands now adjusted to his hips as he channeled his ego in the face of Strange’s concern. Magical energy formed around Stephen’s arms. This conversation was headed nowhere fast. “This is for your own good, Peter. I only hope you make it back out okay.” Rings of magical energy appeared above the young man’s head and around his feet. However, he didn’t notice them until it was too late. Stephen made a quick, elegant gesture and the rings of energy collapsed into each other. All Peter saw was a flash of light, and then nothing. Everything was pitch black for a moment until he saw the ground a distance away begin to glow with a faint light. It was as though a log fire had been lit, but there were no logs. “Alright, Stephen, you’ve scared me. Haha. You can bring me back now.” Peter casually approached the light. There was someone there, but he couldn’t make out who it was until he was right behind it. “Alright, Stephen,” Peter said to the figure kneeling before the light. “This isn’t funny anymore.” The dark figure slowly rose. However, it was exactly Peter’s height. It slowly turned around only to show the young man a spitting image of himself. It was as though he was staring at himself in the mirror. This other Peter was dressed in an all-black suit and tie and had an emotionless look on his face. It was as though he was there but at the same time wasn’t. “And are you supposed to be this ‘inner turmoil’ of mine?” “… İ̸͖̗̬̖̮̬̪̙͚͕̬̗̩͎͑̇ͅ ̸̰͚̌͐ḩ̶̨̧̝̻͙̤̤̘͇̫̗̼̠͗͑́̊̎̿̅̎́a̴̖̒́̄̿̋̀̾͊͐͌̓́͌̊̚͜v̶̛̭̺͚̦̔̋̂̈́͊͗̋̚ȇ̴̞̙͙̜̖̳ ̷̜̤̠͚͓͇̌͆̐̿̉̈́̓͐̀̍͆͘͝m̸̛̞̤̭̹̈́̒̉̍̾̀̀͝a̴̛̗̲̳͔̺͍̝͙͐̏̈̕ͅņ̷̠̫̺̝̦͇̥̰͍̼̩͚͉̍̈́͗̃̎̋̄̎̊̉̔̑͘͠ÿ̸̜̙͖͚͚̝̙̤̬̳͕̇̑ ̵̧͙̱̭̅͐̉͊̽͋͝ͅn̵̙͈͇̲̻̱̱͒̊̈́̌͌̎̈̓̕a̸̛̰̝̣̺̜̝̙̰̓̊͑͆̀̉͜͝m̴̛̪̫͈̣͓̳͕͇̆́͆͌͐̓͜ę̴̮́̔̿̓͆̉̒̌͘̚͝s̴̡̛̘̠̱̭͙̪͙̙̫͎̾͛̊͑̉̇̈́͆̊̂̎̕͠.̵̨̙̹̪̿” Peter’s expression immediately changed to concern and fright. This person’s voice sounded like his but at the same time the most frightening thing he had ever heard. He took a quick step behind him as the light in front of them both grew slightly brighter. “What the hell…Strange, if this is some trick, it worked. Take me back!” He shouted as loud as he could, but his voice was immediately swallowed by the darkness around him. “S̶͙͙͖͙̮̝͈͌̉͒̓̏̑̐̄̃͑t̸̥̰̞͆̈́̂̽̈́͌e̴̳̰͍̳̺̦̼̻̦͍͉̲̲͒͋̿̈̋̐͒̏̆̃ͅͅp̵̥̞̦̜̙̖̤͙͙͓̤̉͒̇́͠h̶̡̢͈͍̻̦͕̖͔̥͐̅͑͐̿̂̌͂̈́͑͒͝ͅͅȩ̷̡̱̱͖̘̻̑͒̍͊͒͑͐͆̓̒̓͆͝ṅ̸̤͓̦̞̳̗͖̠͇̀̋͗͑̒̊̒̇̈̏͋͠͝͝ͅ ̸̡̮͖̺̹̳̠̾̑Ś̴̖̣͔̪̫̎͗̍̉͐̈̽͐͆̂̈́̚t̴̛̩̮̙̠͍͌̎̅̓̌̀͆̌̃̆̋r̷̫̬̝̲̥̫̩̻͋̐̽̈̈́̽̍͋̀̔̓̓̕͜a̶͎̗͈̜͙͒̾̈̄̏́́̒́̓̀̎̽͗͘ņ̴̧̢̛̪̤͕̬̗̱̅̂̏̽̅̽͛ͅg̷̢̧̙͖͎̮̣̊͗͠e̷̱̙̦̠̗͇̱͐̒ ̸̨̦͇̩̘̣̤͕̝̞̮̲̃̈́̇̓̿̔̓̂̿̅͛̚͠ͅḭ̵̢̡̡͖̼͙̗͔̯̮̫͙̗́̿̐͝s̶̨̧̠̯̳̱̮̆́̓͑̉̑̾͜͠ ̸̬̭̭͎̻̭̟͕̥̇͝͝ń̵̢͉̼͇̘̼̝͕͒͒͊̄̃̀͆͝o̵̧̗̼͉̣̹͉̖̕ț̷̨̛̱̲̣̳̻̦͖̠͛̆̓̽̅ ̷̪͔͍̦͉̯̮͗̈́͛͛̽͗̓̍͆͑̇͘ḧ̶̡̛̩̣̺̤̺̠͇͒̐̈́̎̒͛̍͂́̇͒͒͠e̸̟̭̚r̵̡̝͎̖̗͓̰̗̃ë̴̢̛̩͚̞̪̘́̽͒̀̇͛̾̀͗́͠͝.̴̧̜̣͉̘̤̯̅̆͠” The phantom in front of him stood completely still, continuing to shield any shred of emotion in his expression if there was any, to begin with. Peter couldn’t lie to himself. His fright was quickly soaring through his body. “What do you want?” His breathing was now heavy, panting at a fast pace. He was now on the verge of a panic attack in this vast darkness that was slowly being lit by the growing light in front of them. “İ̴̘̒̊́͐́̈̍̉̍̆̕ ̷̨̧̹͈̜̟̲̯͎̺͌̿̈́̾̈́̾̇͑̊̒̀̾̚͜͝ͅa̴̧̨̢̛̠͉̻͇̯̖̖̩͗̌̍̾͜m̷̯̖͎̣͇̀̆̍̿̄̂̂̉͗ ̶̫̼͓̫̗͇̘̼̟̘̓͂̐͜y̷͙̞̪̜̣̱̳̟̭͗́͂̑̀̄̓̓ͅŏ̴̟̞̼̙̹̻̩̦̝̪̟͍͛̂̿́̏́̾̌̌̇̕͜u̷̢̨̪̬̖̯̤͇͎̓̈́̊̆̑̄͂̀̀̋̽̋͘̕ṙ̸̡̬̬̼͇̬͂̀̈́͑̀͆̚͝͝ ̸̧̛̠͔̣̫̗͇͙̓̌͠d̷̘̉̏͋̓̅́̋̀͛͂̿̓̕͠͠ā̸̢͕͖͓̝̣̩̔͂̏̏͐͒͠ŗ̸̭̦̱̥̙̯̤̩̝̆̊́͑͛ͅk̵̢̛͚͖̝͔͓͙̝͇͇̭̹̪̄̂̾̀̅̀̉́̈̍̆n̴̢͓͎̣̩̤̪̟̖͈̝̪͛̂̌̃́̈́͌͋͂͘͘͝e̵̯͌͋s̵̛̠͕͇̘̦̏͆̀̐̒̔̕͠s̶̡̢̹̣̠͕͎̥̭̳͆̿͋͐̓̓̀͐ͅ.̷̨̨̛͖̣̗̯͎͔̥̮̽̏̈͌̽̈́̅̅̊̑̍̈̒͘͜” “You’re a sick mind trick!” “Ǐ̶̧͕̯̫̙͈̖̰̥̳͚̃̾̃̓̒́̋̈́͘͝ ̵̳͍̪̇̔̑͆͝͠a̸̢̭͇̜̘̦̻͎̻̬͉̥͊̅m̵̖̠̺̗͓̥̗̼̈́̔̈ ̷̙͓͓̩͚̿̄̎̓̍́̓̏͊̀̇ą̴̛̝̝̣̪̞̦̻̝̟̝͓̎́̑̐͗̌̏͑͂l̴̡̛̰̙͍͔̙̺̪͇̿̈́́̽̐̓͆́͌̔̂͘͜͠l̷͚̺̺̘̅͒̑͗̓̅̓͌̇̀̓̑̕͝ ̵̢̛̲̯͙̮̜̫́̓̒̈́́́͆͛̍͜ǫ̷̛͍̰͆̾͛̈̉̔͌͝f̴̛̼̘̣̮̭̮̻̝̃̈́̆̀͐̑͌̒͒͘̕͜ ̸̰͇̱́̆̈́̆̚ỳ̷̧̳̊̎͝o̴̩̓͗͊̏̉̚ũ̸̡̦͍̲̳̘̮͗̈́̃͌͝ŗ̸̜̥̟̝̹̳̗̪͍̬̗̖̙͎̍̾̽̓ ̴̦͔̘̣̜̀͊ͅd̸̝͎͇̝̤͍͋̊̀͆ͅe̶̢̧̢̱̮̪̖̻̾̐̆͋̓̈́͊͆͂͜͝ͅm̸̡̨̠̱͉̮̮̻̝͓̲͈̪͛͗̓̓̔͐͒̓́͗̀̈́͘͝͝ò̷̖͐̌̽̂n̸̡͈̭̪̹̮̱̣̥̺͉̓̊̾ͅs̵̤̤͚̠̗͉͔̗͙̭̣̯̞͇̋̈́̒̋̏̒͌͗.̷̧̳̜͒̌̌́̂͗̕̕” “I have no demons, the world loves me!” “I̴̭̺̯̮̮̘̞̝͓̳̗̯̪̋̀̂̀̌͠ ̴̢̧̥̙͔̤͉̘̠̟̙̻̲̇̔̅̀̀̀͌͂̽͜͝a̸̳̳̱̳͇͚̳͛̃̏͂m̴͖͖͍̻̳̥̐͆̐͌͛͛͂ͅ ̶̧͖̱̙͎̦͕̠̠̝̼͕̝̦̀̈́̕y̴̡̢̧͖͎͇̺͖̪̎ơ̴̡̥̜̺̫̥̹̯̹̳̻̈̿͑̐̑̄́͑́̂̕̕͝ų̷̱̪̥̳̞̖̺̗̼̹̀͠͠r̶̼͔̲͛͌̓̊̽̂̓͛̀̌͘̕ ̴̨̨̻̦͔̘̺͓͕̦̥͈̘̤̫̚͝m̶̨̨̟̞̲͈̯̹̭̮̝͗̄͊̒̈̊̑̂̾͌̕͘͝͝u̶̢̟̞̰̭̭̹̥̻̜̾͋́̇̔̾͘͠ͅr̷̳̪̣̱͈̩̅̀̔̆͐̎̚͝͠͝d̴̨͎̻̳͆͊̿͑̆͒̉͆̑͐̄̈́̈́͘ę̸͎̠̤̹̦̦̈́͗̍̈́͋ͅr̸̗̥̼̂͐͗̋͒̈́̒̏̓̍̓̕ǫ̶͕̯̱͇͖̿̃̋̏̍̔͂̑̎̂̊̀͒̆̚ͅü̵̢̟̟̱̥̙͔͔͓̖̝̘̭̇̌͐͂ͅş̵̪̙͚͇͙̑́̇́͠ ̴̡̡̠̺͙͚̫̭̎̇͆̀̈̐͒̄͠͠i̶͓̯͚̟̩̩͂̍͒͌͑͋̌͆̃͜n̸͖͗̀̌̓̊̑͗͆͝t̸̨̢̛͉̯̜͖̤̞̭̭̖̝͖̀͌̋́͗̿͒̔͝ͅê̸͇̱̜̋̾́̂͛̈́͌̐͂̐͆̕̕͝n̸̨̛̰̲͚͙̠̬̣̊̔͌͗̍̌̀̎̆̀t̸̢̨͍̬͖̖̲͑̾̆̈́̇́̃̚.̵̡̢̬͓̲͍̞͚̙̰̱̹̍̌̓̎̀͂́̄̈̎̃̉̈̆͝” “I wouldn’t murder anyone!” “…Ň̶̢͎̗͎̦͔͇͚̆̍́̃̆̎͒͆̅̆͜ͅo̶̡̢̤̩͓̺͚̯̬̳̺̎́͌̓̊̐̂̄́͗͋t̴͎͉͔̬̟̰̞̺̯̪͇̭͋̒̓̈́̎͠ ̵̛̳̫̐͑̔̂̋̀͒̔͐̆͘͜ȅ̷̡̧̬̪̠̰̣̥̬̫̽̐̉̀̒̃̉̎̋͜v̴̳͔̘͙͍̹̘̘̯̿̇̑͌̂̚͜e̸̡͎̬̥̘̤̪̬̮͎͈̟̓̓̂̊̀̽̐̏͆͘͜͜͝͠n̸̗̳̥̖̬͇̄̓͊̌̄͂̀̈̎͊̏̓̕̕ ̴̡̭̙͖͎͙̜̫̰̱̐̾̓̚͜Ų̵̺͇̝̣̪̜̦̓̆̃̓̅̏̍̌̔̚͠n̴͚̳͚͌͛͛͐̀͂̆̂̕ç̶̛͉̯͔̰͇̺̥̥̂̆̅̎̽́̈̿͠͝l̸̢̦͈͇̣̞̓̾͆̐͠ę̴̹̘̪̳̭̻̩͚̌̃̑̆͑̏̄́̈́͂̒̅͠ ̴̨̪̮̰̝͙̬̮̘̖̳̦̪͂̅̀̊͑͑͆̐̑̎̊͝B̶̨̨͕̙̱̦͓̖̦̼̞̻͉̄̽́͆̉ę̵̮͓̥̭͕͇͕̅̉̎̐͠n̷̙̳͈͋́̔͊̎̍̂͆'̷̳̞̜̯̥̫̱̬̠̞̜̗̥̯̉̓͆͆̉͋̏̂̄̾̉̿̽̎̍ş̶̛̟̪̤̰̞̇͆̀͌̈́͠ ̵̻̻̃̾̽͂͑͒͗̇́̓̎̓̈́͠k̸̥̓i̴̢̢̺͖̻̫̺̩̞͍̋̎̀̓̅̿̔̀̉̅̏͘͝l̵̰͚̄͊̓̊̑͛͐̒̅̋̐ͅl̸̢̧̨̬̻̜̻͍͙̥̰̅̑͒̒̇͑̋̋̈́̋͆̔̕͝͠ę̶̡̧̢̪̙̥̳͉͙̝͇̰̭̒́̿͠ŗ̷̧̳̞̥̗̘̘̹͙͇̬͙͆?̵̯͐͐̀̓̃̀̊̇͒͘̚̕ͅ” Peter locked eyes with his doppelganger, now sweating profusely as his panting and heartbeat were at a rapid pace. “What…?” “Í̶̢̦͔̞͚͍͇̗͔ ̴̨̱̯̤͎̫͕̈́͒̃̇̾̂̅̓̆̍̚͝ͅą̵̛̳̫̪̰̗̉͐̓͋́̍̏̐̑̇̏̅̕͠ͅͅm̷̡̜̘͖̤̹̝͓̮͈̹̄̐͋̓̀͝ ̵̡̧̛̛̤͎̻͇̖̝̱̻̹͔̦̬́̌̒̑̾͒̉́͐͐͝͝ÿ̸̥̣̻̭̥̉̔̈͘͝o̵̧̲̟̜̺̹͎͊̔́͋͂͂̇̀̕͝ụ̶̣̻͖͈̑̾̓̀͑̎̏͆̒̾̃̓̃r̴͙̰̰͇̫̘͓̋̃̋̃͐̂͗͜ͅ ̷͓̱͍̰̣͙̝̱͉̬̜̠̈́̿̓́̔̈́̕͜t̴̯͙͉̻̪͎̪̊̂̿̊̓͒̆͂̾̕ȟ̵͉̜̜̘̰͉̾̅̅͆̆͌̇̆̈̍o̸̢̻̙̟̜̗̖̳̮̾́̔̿̾͗̾̉͘̚͜͜ů̷͚͎̮͈̱̠̞̮̩͉̌̇̔̈͆̿̔͐͘g̵̺̼̓̓́̀́̊̕h̸̨̨̍̄̀̓͌̾̏͘͘t̵̢̻̦̖̝̖̳̹̾͐̋́̅͑̔̽̆̕̚͝͝s̸̙̱̆̌͒̀̀̇̈́͌̊̓͝,̶͖̟͇̣̥̜̩͓̤̾̒ ̶̯͔̜̥̭̱̹̙͈̘̦̬̈́̇̓̋̍y̴̠̦̱̤̘̺͓͚̙͔̤̬͚̐͛͒͛̈́̑͜͝͝ͅo̴͚͈̥̮̠̗̯͎̳̳̊́͒͌̇̾́̉̚̕͘ͅų̷͍̀̌̈̔̈́̆̀́̉̌͂͐͂͗̌r̴̡̮̬͎̖̞̻͍̖̻͔̣͋̇͐͒̃̿̀͛̒ ̶̡̯͚͙̟̪̦͕̩͍̞̹̍͛̐̓͆͑́̑̇̿̊̚f̸̧̛͙̘̦̻͎̮̭͍̬̤͇̊̄̃͊̂̀͝e̷̡̱̹̝̭͖̱͗͛͗͐̿̋̃ȩ̵̗̙̟̝͒̍̌̿ḻ̴̡͍̫̳̹̈́̑̈́̃̉͌̑̌̐̌̈́̕i̸̻̠͌́͊̔͋͘͝ņ̴̱̼̼̻̇̈́̓̀͋́́̈͋̏ģ̷̨͉̮̻͉̮̻͇͇̘̞͋͜ͅͅş̵̛̥͙͚̖̝̊̀͠,̸͎̤̔̑̉͆̓̈́́͌̆͊̀͑̃̚͝ ̸̯͆͗͋̏̀͂̃̿͝ỷ̷̢̩͙̪͎̘͗ͅȏ̴̡̯̤̈͛͐̏̀͌͋̈́͐̉̍͜͠ų̸̹̯̱͓̮̻̰͔̼̹̪̜̜̄̈͒́͂̈́̈́̑͒̊̆͋́̕r̴̲̱̜̣̝͕̼͆̑̀̂͌͛̇͐̀͘͠ ̴͈͖̺͔̭̺̀̃̒͜ͅl̷̢̻̱͕̠͚͈̺̖̦̝̘̪̋̓̉͒͂͆͗́̐́͋̓͆͛ͅo̷̡̼̱͎̹̗͑̉̈̓́̍͋̚͜ͅͅv̶̳͛̐̊ę̶̨̛̹̞̹̩̪̰̜̊͌͋͒̏̈́́͝ͅs̷̢̖̠͔̣͇̬͖̫̯͆̅,̷̮̹̼͇̪̯͚̒̏̽̄̓̅̎̎͝ͅ ̶̧̘̹̪͙̝͓̺͌ͅͅa̴͈͉̾̌̑͑̽̕n̶̛̮̮̗̩͕͙̉̂́̾͗͆̈́̃͌̿͒̄̍͝d̸̡̢̛̫̯̥̩̱̹͕̠̰̯̪́̑̂͊̆̍̂͠ ̶̲̻̗̗̖͉̙̝̺̹͕̀͆́́̇͐̓̐́̈́̉͌ͅŷ̵̠̦̏õ̷̘͇̦̖̙͙͎̲͚̫̖͍̂͝ǔ̷̟̣̲̣̙̞̬͉͓̩͑̈́̓̓̈̃͘͜͜͜r̵̰̤͉͈̳̺̾̐́́͒̃̎̋̉͒ ̸̡̡̦̹̘̯̘̫͚̙̭͇̥͉̉̂͌̈̓͌̂̈́̓͆͝l̸̢̼̮̗̪͔͈̜͓̎͋͂ǒ̵͉̩̹̣͕̟͉ͅͅs̸͖̲͖̼̦̰͈̼̤̦͋͂̈̓̚͜͝s̶̢̨͔͎̗̥̟͇͂̈́̃̕ę̶̨͕̺̦̹͖̱͚̬̈́̈́̈́̓̈́̚͘̚͜͠͝s̴̖͈̞̾͌.̵̜̲̺͈̮̩̹̣̩͔̥̼̈́̈́̈́̃̀̿̈́͑͑̌̀̕̚̚ͅ” Peter clenched his chest as he tried desperately to control his emotional state. He was now in a full-blown panic attack with no exit in sight. “I̵̡͕̤͉͍̙͓͓̻̪̜̗̮͗́̓̄̓̀͊͌͘͜͝ͅ ̶̠̗̘̆͋̈͗̾͆̋͐̈̑̈́̕ã̷͍͉̹̖͎̍̿̄̋̉͌̃́͑́m̷̡̧͇̭͔̙̜͚̰͇̆́̓̀̽͐̚ ̴̠̗̬̻̬̹̫̝̬͛̊̇̓̆̈̑ͅē̷̛̻͍̱̻̍̈́v̷͚͓̥̞̐̌͋́̂̂e̴̢̬̰̮̙̮͒͌̏͊͑͌r̸͎͍̪̄̉̈́y̶̦͚̝̩͓̤̺͆̾͆̆̾̇̄̏̅͝͝͝ͅt̷̡͉͓̬̤̘̪͋̾̃̊̃̚͜h̸̰̞͇̪̪̠̬̠̽̾͌̅̔͝͠͝i̸̛̲͍̤̫̣͓̔̆̃͋͂͠͠͝n̶͎̤̭̞̱͓̆̚g̷̻̟̼͋͊͠ ̵͉̜͙͔̗̤̤̪̠̌̑̀̉͐͌̑̏͜͝t̸̢̨̲̫̬̥͖̙̻̣̼̋͘͝ḥ̶̯̹͙̱̎̇́̔̉͆̒͆̓̋̕a̷͍̹͈̬̞̥͍͕̰̭͓̔̑̀͐̅͒̂̀͒̈́̍̚͠ţ̷͙͚̰̬̫̤͈̼͙̂̀͒̓̓͜͝ ̴̡̲̲͍͙̼͇̖̭͚̹̰̤̍̈́́͑y̶̙̘͙͔͚͔̹̿̌̂ǫ̵̨̗̯̩̭̦͓͎̠̫̏̐́̆͋̐̕͜͝u̴̡͕̝͚͑̓̄̑̒̎̑͌́͛͌̄͜ ̸̬̗͍̳̞̀̓͒͆̋̍̊̓͌͌̾͜͜͜͝͠͝ͅà̸͇͉̘̬̭̃̃̽r̶̖̝̰͙͉̃̉͠e̵̙̟̻͗̇͂̈̍͘ͅ.̴̘̹̤̥͙̙͍̺̯͙̔̃͜” The Peter in front of him hadn’t moved an inch. His face was still as emotionless as ever. As sick as it was to think of it, Peter thought of him as someone divine. A being that could not lie even if it wanted to. A form familiar to him because if it showed its true form, it could not be comprehended. Yet, it was no more than Peter’s inner core; his victories, his failures, his high times, and dark times all embodied in emotion so raw it could not be expressed. “W̸̡̡̨̧̡̧͇̲̠͉̃͐͂̐͗̑̏̈̏͋̓̄͠e̸̡̝̳̦̝̽ ̶͈͛̊̅͒h̷̢̲͎͕͙̪̦̘̥̥̞̱̗̩̒͆̿̏̐ȧ̴̡̛̤͈̺̺̬̱͎̟̀ͅv̶̡̺̼͈̘̺͕͍̤̦̘̄e̵̤̯̹̟̭̥̋̽̉͐̎̌̀̍̿͑ ̵͇͙̮̹͐̈͒̈́͝h̶̫̻̤̼̹͇͈̞̺̞̳̝̮̺͎̔̃͊͝͠â̵̢͇̱̖̤̙͓͓̮̦̬̰̦͊̕t̴̰͑̐͒ȩ̸̡̡͙̬̖̦͎̯̿̒̾̃͋͌͌̀̀̌͜ͅḍ̵̳͇̟̣̲͈̪͙̪̊͑́̊̇̈́̐̑̔͐́̽̕̕̚ ̴̨̪̟̺͙̖͍̩͕̝̬̘̲͈̱̄̀̒͊̓̓̋̽̓̂̇̍̇̕͘t̴̥͕̖̮̗̆̑̀̒͂̓͜h̵̨̟̣̫͎̺̰̙̤̺̫̬̝́̔̉̽̋͋̃͘͝ą̶̰̳͍̭̮̯̩̱̬̞͍͇̬̈́̅̅͗͐̉̅̚ͅţ̷̹̬̮̰̠͋͗̌̍̾̒ ̵̨̲̬̮̊̈̆̈́̆̽͑̀̅̄̕̕̕͝ͅm̶̯̥̻̮͔̜̠̱̖͖͎̳̳̼̜̾̃̅̓̈́̑͝͝a̴͎̞͎̼̙̋̀̉̓̎̀͗̔̀̿ņ̸͚̺̤̭̮͓͈̓͂̋̏̍̔̔̀̎͝.̶̰̫̟̝̻̘̜̽̆̅ ̵̙̝͇̬̱̘̲̣̖̪̭͠ͅT̷̢̢̖̩̝͙͍͙̟̪̪̼̰̈̀̄̈̽͘͜͠͝h̸̡͚̹͕̠̪̰̙̘̺͉͈̖͉͚͊e̷̩̼͇͍̣͑̂͂͛͐́̾̒͆͋́̐́͝ ̷̝̜̪̗̼̫̗̦͖͖̦̘̪̟͋̉̈́̊́͐͋͜ọ̴̡̼̭͛͆̈́͂̕n̵̛̥̏͂͊̌͐̉̑̈́̾e̵͉̘̳̹̗̱͉͕͙̜̼̺̦͂̈́͗͗͗́͝͠ͅ ̴̖͎̳͓͔͇̻̳͙͕͕̰͙̑̈́̆̌͂̀̚̚͠w̶̛̤͗̅̄͂̉̈̆̊̌̀͗̇̕ḫ̷̨̯͖͔̞̓̀̃̾̓̐̔͑̔̐̒̍̕͝͝ó̸̠͎̙̭̰̙͍̊̋̑̕ ̶͇̥̻̫͍͇͌́b̵͓̘̲̬̫̣͎̟̱̩̳͖̤̒̿̇́̉̍͜r̶̨̛̥͚̖̩͖͈̺͉̎̽͗̈́̌̑̓͘͝͠͝ͅo̷̡̬̰̮̝̗̮͉̹͙̙͛̇̌́͆̀͋͛̑̇̀̚͝k̶͎̭̠̘͓̙̘̖̙͔͉̅͝͠e̸̦͚̣̻̤̾͋̄ͅ ̴̧̛͕͈̭̜̥̖̦̹͔͕̐̍͘͜ͅu̴̱̻͚͇͇͈̲͚̅̀̃͆̓́̆̀̆͑͝͝s̷̢̻̭̥͔̰̲͓̪̔̆̐.̷̛̹̠͍͕̯̳͕̝̂̓̍̅̊̃̎́” Ben was Peter’s first father figure; the man who taught him what the righteous path was. His murder broke his spirit in ways unimaginable. It was the very catalyst that set him out to become the Spider-Man. Peter fell to his knees, shaking his head as he tried to deny that he ever wanted to kill anyone. “No…he deserves to be held accountable by the court of law-“ “T̸̢̡̧̩͉͔̳̩̭͖̜̟̩͖̮͗̽̍̿̐͑̓̍͘̚͝ͅH̵̢̡̼̰̟̖̯͉͓̟̎̒̒́̅̈́̓̑̈̐̑́͂͘͝E̸̢̢̛̮̝͉̭̬̲̠̖̘̞̼̖̗͌̒̃́̍̀̇͌̇̉͊̓͂̀́̏̐̽̀̀͝͝ͅ ̵̧̢̛̠̠͓̰̤̩͍̰̹͉̫̞͙̞͈͉̫̆͛̽̿́̾͗̊̋́̂̑̀̅̍̈́̅̈̕̚͜Ơ̸̪̤͕̺̳͇͓̱̗̎̓̈́̄̓͝͝ͅŅ̴͕̹̯̰̭̼̬̽̑́̿̔͝ͅĻ̴̧͍̮̮̼͍̠̝̱̗͈̼͓̻̊̐̓̓̈́̌̂̍̇͜͝͝Y̵̞̬̥̝̠͔͎͓̅̀͌̔ ̶̡̧̬̤̝̙̻̫͙͔̮̻̳̝̙͆̋̐̋͌̃̍́̓̓J̶̧̛̥̳͕̟̻̭͕̯̺̟̮̬͓̩̦̞͕̀́͂̐̿͂̄̌̾̓̽͑͒͌̓͌́̀́̉̿͝Ư̶̬̥̻̱͖̮̂̾͗̋̑̃̈́͌̉̏̌̇̓̉̎̎̅̂͒S̷̡̨̧̰̹̘̤͇̮̫̜̼͈͖͕̝̣̅̔̅̉́̇̈̍́͌̆̔̎͘͝Ţ̸͔̫͈̰̞͉̳̙͇̞̮̝͆͛̚͠I̶̢̭͇̹͍̘͎͉̞̗̺̖̖̯̠̯̹̜͉͛͂̀͂̊̾͛̆̄͌̄͐̀̌͆͂͌̕͝͝Č̶̼̱̺̣̕ͅỄ̵̫̟̳͕̺͙͙́̐͝ ̷̠͓̝̈́̎Ḭ̴̢̨̡̟̮̭̼̥͕̫͚͓̮͇͎͔̠͙̻́̌̂̐̈́̇̽͛S̷̲̻̉̽̋̔̾̓͊̀͋͂̌͂̅͛͛̓̈́̍́̊͝ ̶̡̛̛̖̣̣̪̹̘͉̥͙͚̤͎̼̲̤̮͎̪̬̘̪͈̐͒͒͋͜Ȟ̸̳̙̖̺͔̯͈͎͖̬̘̳͚̲͉̺̈́̒̔̃̂̂̓͂̒̈́̀̅̈͊͆̉͗͂̀̚͠ͅI̴̡̦̘̥̼̝̲͇̩̮̎́̇̓̑S̸͚̭̹̤̭̟̖͖̤̊̉͛̀̇͗̂͛̂̅͋͊̂̃͆̉̇͊̃͠ͅ ̵̨̛̘̥̄͌͌͆̈́̇͗̆͒́̍̄̈́̑̏͘͘͘͜ͅḐ̶̡͙͉̩̗̞̼̳̩̙̩̞̭̔̆͗́̌̓̽̿̋̾̄̈́̓͌̋͐̈̓̅͐̚͝E̷̳̭̞̲̗̠͍̼̲͈̻̗͂̇̉A̷̬̰̘̭̅͂̅̎̂̀̉̀͑̀̋͘Ṭ̷̡̧̛̝̯͔͖̻͇̻͔͈̮̼͍̪͚̄̽̌͆̉̀̋̀̓̓̀̐͜͠ͅḢ̷̠̆̾͆̎̌̀̎͒̾̈́͘̕.̴̣̘͇̱̲̉̐̂̂͆̀̈̌̾̆̈́̈́̀̾͠” The other Peter’s voice screeched across the receding darkness. His voice echoed where the former Peter’s voice couldn’t dream of even reaching the skies. Parker, still sweating, looked up to find something straight out of a horror film. His doppelganger now had piercing red eyes, his face slowing forming a blotchy red complexion as horns grew from his forehead. His hair had also grown to shoulder length and was a shimmering pitch black. Yet, through all of this transformation, he still looked like Peter in nearly every other way. Peter quickly crawled backward. The scream sent shockwaves through his whole body. His demonic other self still showed no emotion, yet his head was now cocked to the side as though he was about to do something unexpected. “Ṯ̸̛͈̖͈͕͈͇͉̈͋̔̃͛͒̊̈̓̀͛̋̍̉̓̍̒͜͝͠ḩ̵̨̖̤͖̻̞͕̩̾̓̐́̑͐̑̋͂̈̈͊͆̃̾̃͆́̍̕͝͝͝e̶̡̨̗̻͇̲͈̪͎̦͖̖̅͂̑͛͌͑̀̾̀͆̍̐͒́̿̚ͅ ̷̛̛̤͇̤͉̭͐͌̈́̏̄̎̔̌͑̓̎̎̑͆̃̀̚͝͝o̸͚͈̼̲͚̲͍̻͈̙͇̪̦̲̬̤̺̗͌̓͐͂̿̓̊̋̌͐̊̀͝͝n̸̨͓̘̺̟̯̾̍̎̋̅̑̄͒̉̒͐̊̾̀̂́͋̈́̏͜͜͠͝l̴̺̖̥̯̯̬̥̹̼̦̼̼̮̀͠ỳ̵͕͉͈̗̬̼̼̄̐̊̊̿̀̋̈́̂͒̋͋͘͜͜ ̷̢̢̙̱̫͖̼͓̹͎̞̹͇̳̳̟̏̃̅̊̈́́̀̆́̓̌̓̃͌̀́̊̃̓̐̃̊̑̕j̵̢̡̻̺̳̙͓̪͍̮͙͕͓̥̗̦̐̾͛̒̓̃̅̎̄͂́͑̈̈́͋û̴̯̘͔͉̜̘̘̀̂́̋̊̕ͅs̴̛͖̩̺̘̫̯̩̠̜̝͔͍̝̅̀̆̚̕̕ͅt̵̢̨̧̧̮̤̞̮̯̺͇͓̯̯̮̣̤͇̖̟̀̄͗́͋̊̀̐̑̀͌̅͋̏̈́̿̂̔̈́̚͝͠i̵̮͕͓͖͎͂͂͊̐͌͗̑͋̉͊͊͊̏̕͠c̵̡͚̟̲͓̟͔͉̬͕̟̐̒̈͆̚e̸̡̧̛͓̱̣͉͇̘̞͇̓͛̏̉́̌̑̔̋̓̒̊̿͋̏̋̔̄̕͝͠͠͝ ̷̛̬̰̯͉͕͚̦̩̳̟̣̮̈̊́̈́͝ͅi̷̙͙̲͙̤̯̟͔͉͕͈͕̹̞͗̀̏͊̈͜͜͠s̶̛̗̻̫̖̠̥̤̻̣̅̉̇͐̂̌̀͂̾̍͜͠ ̴̠̞̠̰̾̅͌̀̄͘͝ḏ̵̟̻̺̼̖́́̅̾̄͌̈́̿̈́͑̄͌̌̉͠ͅe̸̻̬͙͎͔̹͙̦̯̥̦̬͕̼͑̊̾̓̒̕ǎ̸̲̮̰̮̱̲͉̘̲̞̖̩̮͎̣̘͓̞͚͇̥͚̝̖͂́ṭ̸̡̡̙̜̬̠̩̭̙͍͙̬͔̱̝̫̙̝̻̲̭̮̈͂̍̓̽̆̽͝ͅḩ̴̡͎͔̳̭͙͎͇͖̗̀̈̈́͋̆͛̂̈́̈́͋͊̚̚͝.̶̨̢̢̡̱̙̲͔̦̞͓͇̗̖̩̠̣̭̗̇̏̄̆̽̆̔̊̽͐͜.̷̨̜͓̣̫̋̽̏̓̓̀̄̎̄̋͗̀͑̍̀͂̚̕͘̕.̵̡̪̤̲͇̗͇͑̌̓̇͊̐̆͌̒̅͛̀͜͝ͅd̶̢̙̈́̔̀͐̀͊̈́͑̾̈́͐̈́́͊̿͆̚ę̷̡̺̼͕̘̱̤͔̠̘̜̱̭̊̈̐͂̊̒̓̔́͛͝a̶̧̛̘̱̦͍̹̹̱̼̭̗̩͔̺͌́̈́̐̾͛̏̓́ͅt̸̢̙̱̟͙̘̦̗͕̼̹̻͇̾̈́̀̿̿͌͊̓͐̊̾͛̚̚͜͝͠h̵̥͆͆̍̍̔̉̇̾̉̂̒́͌͑̂͋̀̚̕ ̶͎̝̣͓͔̮͈͈͔̳͕̼̼̬̜̘͎͑͑̈̇͗̿̄͂́̀̊̅̎̆̍̿̿̈́̿̿̏͘͜͜͝͝ͅb̶̨̯͚̘̮̫̻̘̠̘͚̱͈̠͉̙̹̺̕͝ͅͅͅy̶͙̟̲̒͑͌̎͋̿̄̀̐́́̄̑̂̽̓͂̑͐̂̈́͘̚͘ ̵̧̛̝̪̜͚͙̩̾̿̓̂̀̂̍̏̀̕͠ͅS̶̢̻̙̪͔͇̯͍͇̳̘͍͎̺͕̓͒̒̅̌̔͑́͑͊̏͘͝͠ͅp̸̢̡̛̛͙̳͙̱̥̺̤̥̦̻͚͍͙̯̪̞̮͈̠͎̲͋́̈̑͂̒͗͊̎̐͆͒͐̑̎͝i̵̢̢̧̱̭̯̰̠̟͚͈͈̲̙̬͙̠̞͉̻̼͉̖͆͊̌̈̉̔̿́̂͌͒̑̅͠d̶̨̥̱̲͔̻̤̰̥̝̹̽̃́͊̔̌͒͋͋̕͝ė̸͖̗͒r̶̨͍͙̖͖̹̱̜̩̰͉͚̘̤̝̥̠̈́͂́̃͋̇̈́̄̒̀͋͗̓͒̔̈͘͠-̷͈͈̠̭͇̩̹̟͔̱͓̳͆́̑́̃͘͜M̴̬̟̱̒́̆̊̈́̉̿͗̀̆́͘͜͝͠a̴̧̢̡̯̰̮̱͇̼͚̞͉̦̟̥̲̹̞̤͉̤͑̋͛͋́͌͐͗̊̉̀̔n̶̢̰̳͉̳̻̙̳̝̯̫̝̥͎̭̠͋́͊̑͠.̸̡̨̞̣̲̪͖͙̺͚͎͙̝̥̙͍͙͐̎̈́̒͘͘͝” Peter quickly got to his feet. “No, there’s always a way!” He clenched his fist, finally standing his ground for the first time. It was at this moment his doppelganger finally showed his very first ounce of emotion. He smiled a wicked grin and screamed a maniacal laugh as his horns grew longer. “Y̴̡̢͍̖͙̝̼̫͍̪͚͊͛̊͜ò̷̢̥͓̰͒̀̋̉̊̓͑ų̴̡̛̝͈̣̭̬̙̳̱̫̼͇̻̝͈̺͚̤̖̙͇͑̿̇̾̊̃̏̂̾̌́̿͒̔̽̓͝͠ͅͅ.̷̧̹͈̺̞̫̬̤̌.̶̣̞͉̮̝̟̗͙̠̼̅̿̓̿͐̓̋̕.̷̧̛̜̘̥͍͉͓͖͔̙̓̆̍̊́̽̉̄̀̔̓̋̉͗͘ͅa̸̛͕͓̐̽̓̀̅̏͗́͂̀̆̀͂̔͒̍́̍̒̽͝͝͝r̵̢̙̮̣̮̱͇̪̞͚͍̫̠̩̝̰͙̫͓̻͇͆̓͌̓̒́̚͝ͅè̶̛͔́̆̇ ̶̛̛̳͑̑̀̈́̎̍̽͗͋̎̎̎͑̑̍̌̾͆̈̃͠w̸̛̫̜̫͇̝̫̺̳̤͖͕̠̒̾̀̃̎͑̈́̏͆͒̄͋̕͝ȩ̶̧̡̢̨͕̪̳͎̠̲̩͍͉̮͎͉̮̟͚͚̽̆́̋͒̏̍́͘͝͠ą̸̨̡̱̗͓͖̯̫͔̜̫̪͛̑̈͊̍̏͌̈̏̌̀̿̆̂̋̓͊͊̐̂͘ͅk̶̨̡̨̡͕͍̙̜͈͎̻̊́̔̒̀̾̊̇̂̄̽̑̚͝͝.̷̢̡̧̳̬̪͉̭͉̝̟͔̬̐̎͗́̚̕͝͝ ̶̢̧̘̫̮̫̝̥̘̭̮̩̻̼͔͖͇͆̃̄̉̅̍̈́͑͛̌̽͘͜ͅͅY̷̮̘̗̟̯̺̼͙̼̮̭͇͙͚͌͗̊̆̎̈́o̷͇͚͉̤̘͎̹̿͆̾̾̃͒͒̀̐̐̿͗̍̈́̐̚ͅǘ̴̢̧͍͎̬͖̮̳̠͕̗͍̥͓̭̱̣̮̊͗͊̓͛͂͜͝͝ ̸̳̘͔̈̌͊͊̽͊̎̌́̍̌̏̇͝c̵̛̣̯̰̭̬͒̇̔̀̆̚̕͝a̶̹͊̈́͗͑͗̓̃͂̈́̿̐̀̇́̊̏̏̋̃͆́ͅń̴͙͖̮̺ñ̵̢̢̛̛̛͚̠̥͓̹̤̟̣͆̔̓̊̇̽̒͋́̔̅̃̎̆̿͒̐͜͝o̴̡̥̘͈͓̠͈͈͚͈̟̣̬̪͚̗͈͑͂̐̽̏̉̓̄̾̓̒͆̈́̓̂̕͠͠͠͠ṱ̵̢̢̧̨̺̞̳͈̺̼̤̘̯͈͕̥̘̯̥̦͌̀̀̈́̈́̅͋͊̓̊͋̽̀̕ ̴̢̙̫͔̬̘̯̦̠̭̙̬͛̽̑͆́̀̆̎̎̀̄̈́̂͋͂̄́̆́̈͝͝͝͝ͅͅẗ̵̢͉̬̼̟̤̙͔̗͖̟͖̝̒́͝o̸̤̝̜̐̽͌̓̔̒̄͂͊̈́̐̾̄͋̓̎͌̿̕ư̸̢̧̨̡͇̜̱̬̞͖̹͇̰̣̝̩̱̩̣̾̔̌̔̈̐̂͒́̿͘͝c̴̨̢̠̼̲͕͍͈̠̰̰͕̰̜̭͌̆͋̑͗̕ͅh̴̨̛̼̺͉̪̊͗͐͗͗́̈́̑̒̈́̍̐̉͒͌ ̴̛̙͕̈́͗̄̾͛̑̄͂̅̂̈́̕̚͠͠m̶̱͉̯̥͈͚̰̖̩̼͈̫̂̊͆̈́̏͛̆͜͝e̵̛͔̍̆̐̾̅̈͋̈́̔̅̏͆̈́́̿̅͗̆̓͆̕͠.̷̨̢̳̤͑” Peter immediately swung at his doppelganger as he disappeared in instant. The shocked man quickly looked around. His panting still heavy and fast. After looking around for a moment, he thought he was finally alone. He sighed a massive breath of relief and turned to his right as he immediately saw him. He was there beside him, his face directly in front of his. The demonic character still grinning his creepy smile, which now sported sharp fangs. His horns were longer, his hair now with white streaks and his hands pitch black with long, pointed claws. He no longer looked like Peter. He looked like evil incarnate. Peter shakenly opened his mouth to say something, but the bright landscape had suddenly went pitch black again as though someone had blew out the sun. Peter couldn’t see anything around him and he was too stricken with fear to take a single step. The demon’s voice came to him from afar yet also from in front of him. “R̸̫̝̻̟͎̺̭̺͎̖̲͛͐̋̾̓͂̊̔̍͝e̵̢̢̥̘͉̗̰̘̼͛̉͛͜͠ͅm̸̡̱̳̬͎̥̞̹̗̫͖̒͐̑̃̈͂̐̎̒́͝e̵̥͈͒̑̈́̏̕ḿ̷̮̝̝̫͍̼́̅̉̂̑̇̔͂̕͜b̵͓̖̱̀̀͂̅̋̏̀̑̓͠ĕ̵̩͕͇̱̬̹̘̯̺̫̑̎͆͐͊͝r̵͕͇͊̉̈́̄̎̚,̶̡̫̺͈͚̥̙̙̼̗̂͜ ̶̢̟̯̯͒̓̓Ì̵̧̞̦͖̳̜̖̔̿̇̏̈́ ̸̯͌̅̑͂̊̂̓ä̸̧̰̮͖̳̝̰̞́͐̅͘͘m̵̝͇̗̀̂̈̓̕͝ ̸̛̣͔͚̺͕͈̪͎̙͔̯̉ẹ̸̪͚̥̮̤͚̠͎̻̜͆̐̍́̀͒̊̈́͊̋͝v̵̨̧̨̧̛̫̺̻͇̰͔̻͐͊̈̌̔̌̕͝ę̶͙̖̫̺̼͍̪͆̐̄̀͝r̵̨͔͊͆̾̒̑̃̽̆y̷̼̺̻̔̀͐̈́̈̂͒͗̕͝͠t̴͙͙̳̦̬̬̆̎͋̚h̶̛͗̾͛̈́͘ͅͅi̷̡̳͖͍̫̩̗͖̮̽͑̓̊̐n̸̡̦̘͍̪͈̘͕̮̍̈́̆̕̕͝͝͝g̴̛͎͔͙̭͈̓͐̈́̒͂͗͠ͅ ̶͈̤̠̥͕̠̹̠̹̦͆̐͑̄͋t̴̬͝h̴̢̛͔͕̱̝̪̟̮̆͑͌͌̽̈́͘̚ͅả̷̦̺͎͇͖̼̣̣͒͜t̴͉̔͌̔͛͗̊͐̋ ̶͖̞͈̩͙͓̪͎̹̑̽̔̈́̊͗͂͜͝͝͝ͅỹ̵̧͚͈̱̟̯̹̤̦̌̊̊̄͋͌o̵͙̭̘̭̠̫͉͌́̀̀̔͐̐̃ͅų̵̰̲̻̻͎͇̆̋̓ͅͅ ̵͈̤̗͕̟̫͓̹̟͙̎͊̋́͝à̴̢̩̥͈͇̖̩̬͈͙͛̎͋̀̈̚͝r̶̨̟̩̀e̴̙̣̣̩̼͔̘̩͙̿̓̊.̵̪͕̣͍͖̯̭̲̩̣̋̃̏̒̀̉͠ ̵̝̙̞͎͉͓̱͂̍̀͋͐̎́Ỳ̶̯̝̹̕ô̸̘͉͉̯͌͘u̸̜̺͓͉̞̖͍̎͜͠r̶̪̖̥̀̽̎̂͆̀̕̕ ̵̢͍͓͔̭͚̱̱̊̀̅̊͒̉͠h̷͚͈̫͙̰̱̼͊͐͘o̴̪͐̿̅̈́́̀̓̒̈́͠p̶̙̟͈͌̅͊e̴̖̦̓̿̂̏͛̉͝͝s̶̖͓̗̭̻̣̪̱͇̓̾͆̓̃̈̕͘͝,̶̤̫̹̽̑͆̑͗͐̈ ̸̞̥͎̜̆̈́̄̾͌̐̐̚̕y̶͚͋̋̎̃̃o̵̢̟͓̎͆̊́̃̊̒̅͝͠ų̷̛̻̬̮͓͍͈͙͒͆̃̉͗̀̎͑̕r̶͍̱̲̈̏̉̊̊̃͒̾̏̏̕ ̵̡̛̮̯̗̜͇̝̟̋̓̿̒ͅḋ̵͓̇̐̅̔̓̅͌̚͝r̶͓͠e̴̜̙̅̈́a̶̳͛͝m̶̺͈̙̋̊͂́͘͜s̶̮̳̱̺̙̖͌̾̂̑̇̀̃͜͜͝͠,̶͙̲̞̖̘͖̿͐̒̈͠ ̷̧̡̜̘̮͋̍̄ȃ̶̺̣̭͚̯͆̓n̵̛͙̟͈̯̬̩̩̲̅̃d̶̠͚͙̠͉͎̖̭́͂͌́͊̔͜ ̴̢̡̮͚͔̤͙̫͈̆̒̓͘̕͝ͅy̴͉̔̿̕͘ô̸̟̳̩̗̯̞̭̩͍ų̵̱͚̭̺̫̙̾̄̓͒̓̇̚̕r̸̛̥̦͕͍̄́̊̓͂̊̓̈́ ̷̧̢͓͖̞͈̲̘̝͖͌̉ǹ̷̥̦̬́̓̋̀̈́̀͝i̵̗̦͐̌̾̀͐g̶̞̺̼̘̽̋̏̈̚h̸̤̬̙̃̾̐̃͘t̶̠̯̼̖̚͝m̶̥̱̳̺̻̂͛a̵͎̔̈́̎͛r̶̙̼̟̱̘̙̖͎̜̥͌̌ḛ̸̣͕̪͉̻͙͈̘͈́̈́̽͐͗̾́̃͠s̷͉̘̟̠̈́̈̏͛̄̉̄̇̋.̵̺̪̬͔̖̦̖̘̫̈́̂̓̓̈̅͠” “…” “E̴̡͈̦͍͎̔̌̎̉̃̈́v̷̲̫͔̼̳̥̩̀̀͝e̶̤̱̝̘̿̓͋́̈̅̔͜r̵̙̄̉̓̄͒̌́͋̋͛̈̍ÿ̷̦͔͈̝̻̼̿̿͜ ̷̨̥͇̮̲̩̯̟̫͈̪͕̂̈́͒̀͊d̶̛̖͙̮̥̜̙̥̄͛̒̐͑̿͌̅͠ͅe̶͉͇͈̹̳̬̠̾̓̓̎̍̕ç̷̘̮̫̯̪͔̣̦͘͜i̵͓̘̠̖̽͋̾̋͛̏̀͊̐̎̈̇̕͝ş̸̖͎̼͉̯̞͓̅̂̀̒̎̇͜͜į̸̝̈́̇̇̌̚͘̕͝o̴̧̗̮̟̖̬̬̺̹͎̠͕͙͔̅̽́̂̊̏ń̵̗̠̇͊ ̵̲̹͊͂͑͠y̸̡̺̜̱͙̭̪̻͎̞̘͛̾͊̍́̔̕͝o̴̳̫̭͑͂̂u̴̳̱̼͚̙͔̩̖̐ ̴̛̠͚̙͇͍͔́̍̐̂̽̽̐ḿ̴̨̧̦̤͖͎́̾͜a̵̰̠̼̮̗̽̎̋̐̍̀̔̅̅͊̓̚ķ̶͕̖͉̯̘̎͆ẹ̷̢̫̻̘̗̞̘̹̻̩͖̠̈́̃̽̄̈́̐̽̈͂ͅ.̷̭͓̌̌̀͌̓̐̆.̸̡̰͚̖͓̼̳̭͂͐̀̀͆̈́͊̆̄͗̀̇̚.̴̳̫̦̲̭̿̓̈́̀̋́̅̒͜I̶̡͔̹͉͉̟̜͉̥͈̭̍̆̊͊̔̒̾̾͌̕ ̵̺̓̚ẁ̷͓͉͠í̶̢̛̛̳͂̀͆̒̏͌́̏̚͘l̷̡͍̈́̾̊͒̀̈͂͊͒̃̈́̚͝͠l̸̲͍͚͇̙͖͔̤̼̮̼͇̬͈͌͛̊͆̉̒͆͆̔̍̍͂̋͗ ̸̢̹̗͈̯̼̠̺̮̙̪̩̝̇̾̊̋̉͘͠ͅb̷̧̛̝̦̻͚͙̬̪͕̯̟̻̼̌͛̽̊͒͐̃̕͝é̵̮̝̼̘͙͍̦͈̬͖̞̭̈́̈́͒̃͂̅̅̐͝ ̶̨̹̤͚̣͒t̴̡̨̛̞̝͐͛́̂̋͑̇͗̀̒̐̊ḧ̵̢̟͙͕̹͙̪̺̜̮͍̐́̉̈́̀̄̿̈͌̿̃͜e̶̞̞͎͕̝̱͉̩̠̖͋̑͂̌̅̃̀̋̓̍͆͝r̴̨̢̧̠͇͍̹̫̺͕̞̥̃e̶͇̦̫̞̙̜̥̱̼͊̒̈́͗̄̓͛͝.̸̧̤̱͍̲̟̏͐̊̍͑͝” “…” “Ą̶̠̣̫̞̰͚̻͇͗͋͂̾̒͂̉̑̕ņ̴̭̾d̴̙̬̰͚̦̉̓̉̐̑͋̀̑̍̐͜ ̶̞̙͈̩̄̍ẇ̶̦͔̓̀̆̚͜͝h̷̡̡̭͈̫̘͓̪̣̙̎̃̓͊̓̿̎͝͝ȩ̴̨̭͖̟̰̿͋̈́n̶̮̲͍̼̔͑̀̈̓̿̄́ ̴̛̹̖͕̘̻̭̳̦̦̖̓̈̏̽͊̓́͘y̷̢̨̛͇̯͚̝̦̤̩̓̄̐̀͆͘ŏ̶̱̖̮͔̬̖̗̜̊̎̋͑̋̽̀͝u̷̦͎̅̒ ̶̢̤̮̠̘̓̅͆͐̽̓̕͠m̴͙͆̀̏̋e̷̲̜̯̐̋͛̑͘e̴̛̖͑͂̏͑͗͑͝t̴̢͈͕̫̦̗͇́̀̂̾̽̀̆̿̀͝ ̸̲̥͒̀̚ẗ̴̨̯͈͉͕͙̘͆̏̋͆̐̀̅̂̕͜ḫ̴̠̺͒̇́͛̃͊̈a̷̧̡̛̛͉̱͙̠̱͇͎͌̅̑̈́͜t̶̡̩̩̟̺̲̅̐̽ ̵̧͓̙̲̯͈̈́͜m̶̢͓̲̰̦̳͈̦̻̻̾̊̏̀̇͝a̴̞̱̪̖̺̺̗̥̾̏̆̀́ņ̶̘̣͇̦͕̱̜̟̉͋͘ ̴͖̹̩͕̦̈̔̋̀̈́̾̕̚͝à̴̡̨̱̯̟̰͙̗̊̊̉̊̌̿͋̔͜͜͝g̶̛̹̟̣̻̟̖̕ạ̴̢̠̠̣̤̥̺͓̹͛̊̀̉̓̈́̾͛͌͘i̷̛̙̥̞͙̞̫̓̓͌̄͆͆̚ń̸̙̫̄̀́̽͗͘̚.̴̨̠͕̞̭͎͉͉̈́̀̈͒̃͋̕ͅ.̵̢̡͓͔̮̰̭̤̤̯̺̂̽̀̾̔͐̊̉̀́͘.̵̧̛̠̗̭͎̣͒̀̽̓̌w̴̛̦̳̪̙̱͑̋͒̓̕͘e̶͓̩̍̔̿̈́̕̚ ̶̨̤̱̟͈͈̪̟͛́́̅́͘͜͝ẇ̶̛͈̤̣̝̱͉̹̂͂́̉͝͠ͅi̷̼̤͍͙̗͍̦͙̮̲̊̃̾̉̌̓̀͂̄̆l̸̙̫̃̅̈l̶̝̘̥͔̎ ̵͇̯̰̱̱̋͂̓̀k̴̡̡̤̫̘̇͗͋́̓̚͝į̶̫͙̞̰̤͋̚l̵̨̛̪̩̘̦̝̙̖̽̋͂̅͒̇͝ͅl̷̘̲͉̠̲̩͕̉̀͒́̂̇̇̔͂̏ ̵̡̧̤͔̬̻̤̳͕̖̄̓̀̏̍̂̔͝h̵̢̛̭͙̋͊͐̄̌́̚͝ĭ̷̯͙̝̰̈͑̿̅̔̃̽ḿ̷̡̛̛̜͙͚̑̀.̸̛̗̟̱̝̲́̔͗̍̾̓̔̒͋” Peter felt as though he was about to collapse with no where to go. He prepared to shout out to the voice, but he wasn’t given a chance to. The demon had enough and banished him the realm in which he crept. “Ẅ̸̡̨̛͉͈̳̫̟͉̳̯͚͙̙̞͔̱͈̙͖̬̹̲̻̠̹̖̞̻̘̠͍́͑͋̊̾̅͗̒̔̅̃̔̓̈́̇̈́̽͐͂́̅̐̆̆̆̾̀̅̈̈̅͊̿͆̾̐́̆̔̽̋͌͘̚̕͠͝ͅA̸̧̡̨̢̧̧̧̭̤͕̜̠̲̩̫̹̤̞͓͇̯͇̲͉̰̹̜̲̲̼̣̼̳̥̟͔͎̻̺͓͈̠͇̠̯̖̣͔̘̱̥̲̞͉̙̖͎̮͓̦͈̎̽̈́̅͛͋͋̉̋͑́̕͜͝͠͝ͅͅK̵̛̛̛̼̀́͊̈́̑̑͆͐͊̀̒̈́̽̿̀̿̄́̽̃͌̔̐̅͋̏̀̽̅̎̊͗̍̂͛̕̚͝͠͠͠͝͝E̴̙͖̳̞̻͔͎͖̰̩̗̹͑̃̊̄̑̎̌ ̸̨̨̡̧̛͔̫͕̱̭̦̠̫̪͈̳̥̥̳̲̰̝̬̻͇͚̭͓͇̝̦̰̖͙̯̬̫̤͓͌̆͒̌̂̾̑͌̈́̃͑̉̍̋́̂͑͗̍̀͛̚̚͘̚͜͝͠͝͝͠͝Ư̴̢̧̡͇͔͕̟̼̠̙̪̣̙̬͉̝̜͍̼͎͓̗̣P̶̨̡̧̧̢̫̩͎̰̠̯͙̗͉̮̻̯͖͚̮̬̤̹̣͉̞̲̙̹̤̰̺͔̟͍͇͇͉̩̗̤̦̓̽̉̌̈́̂̉̂̅̅͗̒̚͜͜͠͝͠.̴̨̧̨̢̨̡̢̛̛̗̟͕͓̙̻̟̩̳̱̬̼̠͈̠̭̮̝͖̮͇̰͍̮̲̙̥͚̩̝̤͍̖͇͍͖̰̩͕̩̣̩̰̺̹̮̹̿͆̐́̾̍͆̍͊͑̑̿̎̈͒͒̇̿̇̂̊͆̑͌̈́̾̀̎̈́͗͂̉͐̈̽̄̅̀̋̋̇̒͑̉͐̆̀͒̃̈́̽̄͂̇͐̈́̚̕̕͜͜͜͠͝͠͠͠͝ͅ” Peter opened his eyes. He was on the floor of Stephen’s home, soaked in sweat. The sorcerer stood in front of him, having pulled Peter out of the trance he put him in. “Peter…” Strange held a hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure him he was in safety once again. Peter immediately stood up, quickly glancing around the main corridor. Everything was as it seemed before he left. His breathing heavy and heartbeat slowly calming down. “Peter.” The young man frantically locked eyes with the sorcerer supreme. “Are you okay?” Peter looked as though he had seen a ghost. His face pale to the point that he looked like a walking corpse. “I can help you reco-“ “You’ve done enough, thanks.” Peter interrupted Strange. His voice was sharp and to the point. He didn’t know what to make of what happened. He slowly backed away from the doctor, never taking his eyes off him as he reached for the door. “I’m going to go home now.” Parker’s voice cracked as he shakily turned the doorknob. Stephen could only look on as Peter crept outside, slowly closing the door behind him. Stephen turned his back to the entrance as he cupped his chin between his index finger and thumb as thought about what he had just witnessed. “Was his darkness that strong?” There was no way to tell what exactly the young hero went through while in that magical trance, but one thing was for certain. Peter’s inner demon was there all along, waiting for his consciousness to acknowledge its existence. Everyone has those feelings inside, dwelling deep within and waiting to influence us in our darkest hour. Will Peter be able to make the best decision when his time comes? Only time will tell.