After the whole ordeal, I didn't head home.
I went straight to the black market in Queens.
I finally managed to purchase a bad boy—a sleek, reliable handgun.
Now I can be more confident in my hunts.
My training has been paying off in ways I never imagined.
I finally pushed the ant strength to a staggering 100x my own weight.
A huge accomplishment, if I say so myself.
And as for the cat? I have completely mastered the transformation.
I can turn from cat to human and back again, though there is still a bit of resistance.
It takes me about ten seconds to shift forms, but I'm getting faster every day.
I learned the hard way that the "nine lives" thing is total bullshit.
But I can do everything else a feline can—balance, grace, and lethal speed.
My connection with Bart has deepened even further.
I can't fully shift into a dog yet, but I can transform my ears into a canine's to track sounds for miles.
I've been hitting the books harder than ever.
Using the brain of an owl through the link, learning biology was fairly easy.
The only problem is remembering it all.
I don't have a photographic memory—not unless I get near an elephant, which isn't happening anytime soon.
Even at home, things are shifting.
For the first time, my cousin actually looked at me and asked how I was doing.
I kept my cool and gave a short reply.
I don't need her attention now, but it's proof that my results are showing.
On the streets, I'm becoming a legend.
Amongst the thieves, the robbers, and the scum of the city, a name is being whispered in fear.
"Pain."
Every kill I leave behind is gory and bloody.
It reminds me of that particular anime character with the Rinnegan.
I like the name. It fits.
After training the stealth and precision of James and Hoot for a few more days, the moment arrived.
The D-Day.
The school trip to Oscorp is finally here.
The spider is waiting, and so am I.