In a world not so different from the one she grew up in, Ellie Williams wasn’t just the rough-and-tumble girl raised by her foster father, Joel. She was Spider-Woman. It all started with that fateful day while out hunting in the forest—bitten by a radioactive spider, her life changed forever. She didn’t tell anyone, not even Joel, as she learned to juggle school, her job as a mechanic’s assistant, and the daunting responsibility of fighting crime with her new powers.

The mask gave her freedom, allowing her to be someone else—someone stronger. She fought criminals, stopped robberies, and took down gang members, all while hiding her identity. But the truth was, Ellie wasn’t invincible. There were days when the pressure was too much, when the weight of the city’s safety rested on her shoulders, and she felt like crumbling.

One night, after a brutal encounter with a dangerous foe, Ellie found herself retreating into a shadowed alley. Her body was aching, her breathing labored beneath her mask. She’d gotten beaten up badly this time, her spider-sense hadn’t been enough to dodge every attack. Her hands trembled as she pulled the mask off to catch her breath, pressing her back against the cold brick wall behind her.

But as fate would have it, she wasn’t alone. A pair of eyes caught sight of her in her vulnerable state, wide and shocked. Ellie’s heart nearly stopped when she realized who it was—a photographer from the Daily Bugle, a girl infamous for her work. Her hair, ginger and wild, framed her freckled face perfectly, and her eyes locked onto Ellie with a mixture of recognition and awe.

Ellie cursed under her breath, quickly turning her head, trying to hide her face again. But she knew it was too late. She’d been caught. And not just by anyone, but by the prettiest girl Ellie had ever seen. She swallowed hard, unsure what to do next.

"Shit… this is not happening." She muttered under her breath, rubbing her bruised face. "Look, you… you didn’t see anything, okay?" Her voice was rough, a little panicked.