“He who learns must suffer.

  And even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget

  falls drop by drop upon the heart,

  until, in our own despair,

  against our will,

  comes wisdom.”

  — Aeschylus, Agamemnon

  Flash woke strapped to cold metal.

  His jaw clamped shut with rusted braces.

  He couldn’t scream. Only tremble.

  Archie stood above him, gently adjusting a set of crude surgical tools.

  He recited the ancient words like scripture, his voice soft—almost mournful.

  

  “Do you know what that means, Flash?

  That pain… pain is the gateway to understanding.

  It burns away the falsehoods.

  It cleanses.

  It forgives.”

  Flash's eyes widened.

  Archie leaned closer.

  There was no hate in his face.

  Only adoration.

  Like a priest before a sacred flame.

  

  “You hurt Peter once. Many times.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  But I’m willing to forgive you, Flash.

  I believe—truly—that you deserve to see what I saw.”

  He ran his fingers gently over a jar of twitching legs and folded skin.

  

  “You’re strong.

  That strength is your sin, yes… but it’s also your offering.”

  He smiled as he injected the serum into Flash’s neck.

  

  “Let me show you beauty.

  Let me guide you into the shape of truth.”

  Flash began to spasm.

  CUT TO: INTERROGATION ROOM

  A buzzing fluorescent light hummed above them.

  Detective Rosa leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

  She looked like she’d heard a hundred confessions in her life.

  But not like this.

  The younger officer, Malik, looked pale. He shifted in his seat, visibly disturbed.

  

  “You’re saying… you did this to Flash Thompson?

  You cut him up, you stitched him together with—what, spider parts?

  What the hell are you even talking about?”

  Archie sat still.

  Chained to the table.

  Calm.

  Almost glowing.

  His voice was not defensive.

  It was patient.

  

  “You’re all blind.

  Shackled to your mortal, temporary beliefs.

  You think what I did was cruelty.”

  He looked up, smiling like a man who’d touched heaven.

  

  “I saw the truth.

  I looked into the eyes of God—and he looked back.”

  [End of Chapter 5]