Chapter 5: ALTERNATE TIMELINE PT1
Working at Stan's Pizza Joint wasn't exactly 'Peter's' dream job, but it paid the bills and helped Aunt May with their finances. The familiar aroma of freshly made pizza met me as I went through the door, blending with the bustling talk of customers and the sizzle of cheese in the oven. Stan, the owner of the place, greeted me with a nod from behind the counter, signaling that it was time to get started.
"Hey, Pete! We've got a busy night ahead of us," Stan said, his mustache twitching with a cheerful smile. I nodded, slipping into my work apron and preparing for another evening of tossing dough and dishing slices to hungry customers. Amid the city's craziness, the repetitive routine seemed somehow soothing.
Ok, was that Stan Lee?! In person? Like, the man himself? And he owns this pizza joint? Wow, I can't believe it. That's incredible! It's like one of those cameos you see in movies, but for real. I wonder if he really owns this place or pops in occasionally to say hello. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out and try to spot him next time I'm there.
But then again, I could be wrong and he might turn out to be a regular human of this reality. Anyway, time to focus on the job.
The nighttime rush started, with orders coming in quicker than I could fold them. I went quickly between the kitchen and the counter, sometimes peeking at the clock. I couldn't help but think of MJ—her witty chatter rang in my head. Despite the bustle of the establishment, memories of the day's adventures lingered, painting a smile on my face as I greeted each customer.
Little did I know, the night was about to take an unexpected turn.
"Hey, Pete. Sam and the others are busy with their delivery runs and we got some more delivery orders. Leave the kitchen to Josh and go take care of it," Stan pointed to the pile of pizzas waiting to be picked up.
I nodded, glancing at the first address scribbled on the receipt. Michelle Watson... What the...?! MJ?! Oh, it's probably just a coincidence.
I took the boxes, put them in the bag, then strapped it on the back of one of the delivery cycles, and headed out. I didn't know her address, well, I will find out today.
As I cycled down the streets, my phone rang. It's from May. I put the headphones in one ear and answered, still pedaling hard.
"Hey, May."
"Peter, you busy?" She asked.
"Yeah, on my way to drop off some deliveries. Everything ok?" I asked as I took a left turn. It's a shortcut that this 'Peter' used to take to save some time. I guess his memories have somewhat perfectly merged with mine, sometimes making things weird like muscle memories.
"Yeah, nothing's wrong. Can you buy some milk on the way home later?" she asked.
"Sure, anything else?" I said, weaving through traffic.
"Oh, nothing, just milk. And be careful on the road."
"Yeah, I will."
"Bye, Peter, love you," she said, then hung up.
I pedaled on, eager to get to MJ's apartment and check if it was actually her. However, before I could reach the location, I was interrupted by an explosion nearby. It was close to her address, just two blocks away. People ran out, screaming and pushing each other as the sound of gunfire rang through the air.
Damn, something is going on near MJ's apartment. Whatever it is, I am sure the Avengers will take care of it, besides, I don't have my power, yet. Let me quickly deliver the order.
I drove on, with sirens ringing through the air and a rising sense of urgency gripping my gut. As I parked the bike outside her building, an ambulance pulled up, sirens flashing. And from what I could hear from the nearby crowds, it turns out to be some drug cartel deal gone wrong and they are fighting among themselves.
[Ringgg!] I pressed the doorbell, wondering if it was the right one.
"Coming!" I heard a shout, followed by footsteps approaching the door. It's a girl with long, curly, brunette hair, who opened the door, "Here comes Mr. Rebirth. What a coincidence, huh?"
Ah! Just as I thought, it was MJ.
"Coincidence indeed," I took out the pizza box from the bag and handed it to her, "A little birdie told me a Michelle Watson placed an order for a medium pizza with extra pepperoni."
She chuckled, took the box from my hand, and showed me the online payment code. I entered it into our shop's system and nodded, confirming the transaction was complete.
"Parker. You better stay here for a while. You must have heard the shooting, right? It's not safe," She looked worried. It's the first time I've seen her making that expression.
I frowned, feeling a growing concern in my gut. But I don't have a choice, "Well, I am already late with other deliveries. Don't want Stan to get mad."
"Ok, be careful. See you at school?" she smiled.
"Sure, see ya," I got onto the bike, strapping the pizza boxes securely to the back, and pedaled away.
As I sped toward the next address, I kept my senses alert, listening for anything that may warn me of danger ahead. Soon, I was on the opposite side of town, surrounded by the chaos of the city streets at night. But a nagging worry still lingered in my gut, prompting me to rush the deliveries even quicker.
Alright, this is the last one... Humm... Well, who would have thought my dad from past life ordered two pizzas?! I was eventually going to pay a visit after getting my spidey power, but I guess, today I am gonna have a rough idea about how that old man of mine doing after selling his son to some mad doctors.
Wait!!! Late-night pizza! I remember that night when my cousin Jena came for a visit and we were watching a horror movie at night and Dad ordered pizza that night. I don't remember the exact date, but it might have been around this month.
I will get a rough idea of the situation soon enough...
This is gonna be an interesting one.
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I parked the bike in front of a familiar house. The memories of this place were hazy, but they lingered enough to recognize it. The quaint, old-fashioned design of the home remained unchanged. The once beautiful garden is in complete ruins. Old dead plants, a broken water fountain, and the swing set left to rust.
No, this isn't right. Why the hell is this place in this shitty condition? Don't tell me...
Taking a deep breath, I approached the door, boxes in hand. I hesitated before pressing the doorbell. The sound echoed through the quiet street. Seconds felt like minutes as I waited for someone to answer. Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a man with graying hair and lines etched deep into his face.
"You look like you could use some sleep, sir," I said as I extended the boxes. Yeah, right. Sleep. Fuck! What the fuck am I supposed to say? That I am your reincarnated son whom you left for death? I am glad, I didn't just blanked out... Besides, he looks like a sleep-deprived ghost. Those bags under his eyes...
He chuckled, taking the delivery and nodding at me, "Yes, it's been a rough couple of months," he paid me the order.
I handed him the receipt, "Hope, everything turns out well, sir. Take care," I walked back to the bike, leaving him standing on the porch with a sad expression on his face.
Fuck! Alternate timeline!
What about me? Did the events happen early? Or, is it something else entirely? No, no, no, this won't do. I need to know what happened to me in this timeline. Am I alive or dead? I must know. If it's the same group that killed me in the other timeline, then I will at least have a chance to take revenge.
Too many questions and zero answers. And this broken Dad of mine might be able to shed some light on it.
Now that I know he is alive, I will visit him soon enough. Then, I will get my answers out of him. Take some rest, Dad, soon, your worst nightmare is going to visit you... I wonder what kind of face you will make after knowing the truth? No matter which version you are, someone has to pay...
I got on my cycle, already feeling the darkness closing in around me. I drove down the street, but this time, I didn't speed. My mind was already lost in thought. I wanted to yell at him, ask him why he left me for death. But, I couldn't do it. No, I didn't do it... It wasn't the right time. Yeah, it wasn't the right time...
Past or future or a mixture of reality it doesn't matter... I will find them...
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Next Ch: Alternate Timeline PT2