PREVIOUSLY: After revealing his secret identity to the United States Government per the Superhuman Registration Act, Peter Parker found himself at odds with Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, and his registration agenda. The decision to leave Stark's side made Peter a fugitive, forcing him into hiding in a sleazy motel with his wife, Mary Jane and his Aunt May.

Returning to said motel one evening, after the conclusion of the super hero civil war, Peter was met by an attempt on his life. He acted quickly enough to save himself and Mary Jane from harm, but the bullet meant for him instead struck Aunt May. Frantic to save May's life, Peter rushed her to the hospital. Not knowing how else to help her, he resolved to do the only thing he could: hunt down the men responsible. Little did he know, though, that the trail leading to the shooter would also lead right to the man who took out the hit.

The transfusion proved to be useless, as Aunt May's condition continued to deteriorate. To make matters worse, a detective by the name of Delint was sent to the hospital to investigate the alleged drive-by shooting that left Peter's beloved aunt comatose (a story fabricated by Mary Jane when Aunt May was admitted to the hospital). Delint confronted MJ and was in the process of arresting her when Peter came to her rescue. Seeing as they had been discovered, Peter concocted a plan to move Aunt May to another hospital. The plan included stealing an ambulance, falsifying transfer documents, and impersonating a nurse. Luckily, the plan went without a hitch and Aunt May was safely moved to (alas) a more dilapidated hospital. At issue's end, Peter realized that he had committed a total of nine felonies to get Aunt May transferred to the new hospital. He had essentially become a criminal, the one thing he had set out to fight in the first place.

In Amazing Spider-Man #544, Peter Parker is forced to go to Tony Stark to ask for money to help keep his aunt out of the hospital's charity ward. Tony initially refuses to help Peter but has a change of heart, upon returning home, and has his butler, Jarvis, deliver two million dollars to the hospital in order to cover the medical expenses. Believing that the money will buy Aunt May more time, Peter heads out in search of a way to save her, even if it means storming the gates of hell himself.

As he ponders where she went, a man sitting on a nearby bench calls up to him, offering help. Peter explains about the little red-haired girl and the man responds that it is not unusual on her part to do that: "Oh yeah, her. That's just how it is. One minute she is there and the next she is gone". Somewhat confused by the man's response, Peter asks who he is. The man does not reveal his name but indicates that he works in software design and testing of computer games, such as first person shooters, space combat games and super hero stuff. It's something he fell into when he came out of high school. Peter comments that it sounds like a fun job. The man stares silently for a few seconds and tells Peter that the reason he got into games like that is because they provide guys like him the opportunity to be a hero whereas, in the real world, that is just simply not an option. It's not like he could just pick up a gun or a sword, or whatever, and start defending humankind. Peter replies that games are not real, that they don't exist (in the physical sense). The man does not argue his position, but points out that if he could change the world and save lives – like the heroes of the games he creates – he would be the happiest guy on Earth and would never ask for anything else or need anything else; he would be grateful: "Because the rest of the world never gets that chance". Realizing that the man just isn't going to get him closer to finding the little red-haired girl, Peter stands up and prepares to leave.

Just then, a red limo pulls over nearby and a man inside the limo tells Peter that he's seen the red-haired girl he is looking for. He then instructs Peter to get in the car, so he can help him find her. Peter jumps in the limo and they get going. The man, who seems to possess several gadgets, offers Peter something to drink. Peter politely declines the offer, citing that, as a rule, he chooses not to drink. The man replies that he used to be the same way and comments how strange it is the choices they make and where they lead them. Before Peter can say anything, the man explains that he came from that part of town and went to school not far from there. At school, the man explains, he used to get beat up all the time because they hated him because he was smarter, different. The guys that used to beat him up got the glory, the girls, the applause on the football field, the prom queen, whereas he got the boot. Things changed, however, when he first started inventing all kinds of things and made his first million by the age of nineteen. Most of the kids that used to bully him now work for him, and they still hate him, though now, he's given them a reason. Peter comments that he must be happy that he's gotten everything he's ever wanted. The man points out that Peter's statement is not entirely accurate. There is one thing, or rather one person – a woman – he once knew from high school, that he lost. She was all he ever really wanted. Having said that, the man calls attention to the fact that they have arrived at their destination. Stepping out of the limo with Peter, the man points ahead of the car and tells him that what he is looking for is down there; he then tells Peter he will show him the way. As they make their way in that direction, the man tells Peter that he would trade everything he has for that one woman he ever truly, honestly loved; not for what he can do, not for the money, just for him. He knows he'll never get that and that saddens him. With that said, the man stops and tells Peter that he cannot go any further with him and explains that the little girl will be waiting for him further down the road. As Peter continues walking in that general direction, he comments that it doesn't seem to be the right way. Before Peter can say further, some sort of mist envelops him and a voice is heard telling him that she is there now, as she's always been. Turning around, Peter is stunned to find himself facing a lady dressed in red.

Surprised, Peter comments that it must be some kind of mistake. The woman replies that it is no mistake and that she's been waiting for him his entire life. Peter thinks it is odd that she said "his" life as opposed to "her" life, to which she replies that it depends on how long either one of them lives. Confused, Peter mentions that he's had dreams that are eerily similar to his present situation. The woman rhetorically asks how he knows that this whole thing is not a dream, from which he is about to wake up. Peter jokingly replies that if he wakes up as J. R. Ewing in the shower or Gregor Samsa waking up as a cockroach, then he's going to be really ticked. Before Peter can say further more, the woman explains that there are cultures that believe each individual has dream selves, each as real as their waking selves. Each of them living alternate lives, alternate futures, alternate destinies, and that it is only at crossroads of the dreaming that they can meet those dream selves. Peter replies that he never believed in that sort of thing, promptly the lady to reply that it is "too bad", especially since Peter met some of them on his way there (i.e. the little girl, the computer geek and the wealthy scientist in the limo). Having said that, she starts explaining that destiny is written in tiny and fine details; details which when slightly altered can change the future forever (as she says that, a possible past of Peter is shown where, in this case, he is not bitten by a spider at the science exhibit). She continues explaining that in his first incarnation, that of the computer geek, his rage and resentment turned inward, and he pulled away from society, from a world he cannot control, that will never recognize his potential. Instead, he lost himself in worlds that he can control, because they are not real, thus causing him to lose sight of his own potential. In another reality, he directed that same anger outward, toward proving his worth, his value. But mainly because he wanted to earn enough money to gloat to the faces of the ones that laughed him into the ground. In that incarnation, he proved himself to everyone, except his own self. Stopping there, the lady explains that those are only two of an infinite number of possibilities – alternate Peter Parker's – though she finds quite interesting that in nearly all of those iterations, he ends up alone. Peter asks in which of those iterations he ends up a little girl. The woman replies that that is another story he is not ready to hear yet, nor is she willing to tell it either. Soon, however, she will tell him. Ticked that he isn't getting any answers out of her, Peter remarks that he has no time for games, as he has more important things to take care of, and he has very little time. The lady replies that time is all he has and goes on explaining that he's failed and that his aunt is going to die, and there is nothing he can do about it. "But I can", the mysterious woman adds.

Having said that, the lady metamorphoses into none other than Mephisto, one of the Lords of Hell, and claims to be the only one that can help Peter's aunt. Mephisto explains that, contrary to his own previous statement that certain details that make up one’s destiny are not allowed to be touched by anyone, there are some that can be touched, with the permission of the one involved (meaning Peter in this case). Mephisto adds that, where everybody else has failed, he can guarantee that Aunt May will be saved. Contemplating the offer, though very uncharacteristic of him, Peter asks Mephisto what he wants in return and assumes it's his soul. Mephisto replies that he is not interested in his soul; in fact, he's given up on soul trafficking a long time ago, as he found it to be unsatisfying at times. He now traffics in a more elegant and satisfying currency than souls; he deals in the currency of misery, loss, despair, hopelessness, pain, regret, and sadness. Mephisto will do anything, go anywhere, to hear the sound of a soul in pain. Having said that, Mephisto asks Peter if he is willing to at least listen to the terms of the bargain. Peter replies that he cannot make that decision on his own. There is someone else he needs to speak to (i.e. Mary Jane). Mephisto replies that he understands and, in the blink of an eye, transports he and Peter to the motel where MJ is hiding. Thinking that Mephisto has hurt MJ, Peter rushes to her motel door and starts to bang on it like a maniac; wanting to be let in. By a simple hand movement, Mephisto unlocks the door. As Peter enters the room, he hears MJ's voice telling someone that she cannot make a certain decision without talking to her husband. That someone is none other than Mephisto, who seems to have the ability to be two places at once. As a matter of fact, when Peter turns to see where his Mephisto has gone, he is nowhere to be seen. MJ speaks and asks Peter if Mephisto can actually do what he says he can do. Peter does not respond and proceeds to ask Mephisto what he wants from them. Mephisto answers that what he wants is that which gives Peter joy, that which sustains him in his moments of greatest despair; the source not of his power, but of his strength, his happiness, his dreams and his passion. Mephisto wants his love; he wants their marriage. Peter is about to tell Mephisto where to shove his offer (where the sun don’t shine) when MJ interrupts him and tells him that they should at least hear Mephisto out before making a decision. Before Peter can say more, MJ turns to Mephisto and asks to hear his terms of the offer. Mephisto delivers, as requested: "Enjoy the world as it is for as long as you can. For you will only have it for One More Day. You will not consciously remember this bargain, or this moment, of the life you lived to this point. But there will be a very small part of your soul that will remember, that will know what you lost. And my joy will be in listening to that part of your soul screaming throughout eternity. You have until midnight tomorrow to say yes. At that instant, you will either lose your marriage or your aunt. Either way, the world you know, the world you care about and have fought so hard to protect...will be at an end".

To be concluded in Amazing Spider-Man #545.