"Okay," Orihime nodded once, her voice quiet. "I'll be right here." Just in case it was a nasty trap, she didn't want to let down her guard completely. The grief and regret looked so real, though...

The spider creature retreated one step, a spindly leg coming up as if to ward Peter off with a hand it didn't have. "No no no, I know what I did. And I'm not proud of it. I hurt you, I hurt your friends. And I might do it again."

He was grimacing, as though he'd swallowed something that was twisting his stomach, and blew out a breath.

"Pete...the only thing that scared me that night was thinkin' that thing would do to you what it did to me. It wasn't your fault, son. It was never...hah...never your fault. You hear me? Now look, I don't think I've got much time before I lose control again. You. Cannot. Let that happen."