Arachnoblast: I'm Fourteen This is Ridiculous

Chapter 5: Study Buddies

Harry was up and ready for school, fully expecting to pass through the usual massive, empty mansion before walking out to the car, where Charles waited to chauffeur him to school. Instead, he found his father, Norman, lying facedown on the sitting room floor.

"Dad?" Harry asked, running to Norman in a panic. "Are you alright?"

"Harry," Norman mumbled, looking up. "I'm—I'm fine. Just feeling a little off lately."

Grunting with exertion, Harry helped his father up onto the couch. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"I'm...not sure," Norman said hesitantly, brow furrowed.

"Have you been there all night?"

Norman stared at the floor, speaking slowly. "Last night I was...I don't know. I can't remember."

Just when Harry was about to question Norman further, the doorbell rang.

"Are you expecting someone, Dad?" Harry asked.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Norman replied, his brow furrowed. "Bernard, could you get that?"

"Right away, sir," the dutiful butler replied.

"Harry, you hurry to school," Norman ordered. "Can't let your grades slip any lower and still expect to progress to Junior year."

"Alright," Harry sighed gently, heading to the door as Norman slowly stood, swaying unsteadily. A woman hastily walked into the room when Harry reached the doorway to the foyer, temporarily blocking his exit.

"Mr. Osborn, I have troubling news," she announced.

"What is it?" Norman asked, head tilted slightly.

"Dr. Stromm is dead."

"What?" Norman straightened, taken aback.

Harry's jaw dropped. He knew that his father's work was dangerous—all science was to some extent—but he had never heard of such a severe lab accident happening at Oscorp.

"How did it happen?" Norman asked, now fully alert.

"He was murdered. His body was found this morning in the lab," the woman answered. "But that's not all."

"There's more?"

"The flight suit and the glider have been stolen."

Norman sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Harry, get to school. I need to take care of this."

"But Dad," Harry protested. "You're clearly not feeling well. You need to take a break and—"

"Now, Harry." Norman insisted irritably.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied quietly, looking down as he walked out the door to the car.

When Charles dropped him off at school, Harry told him not to worry about picking him up for lunch that afternoon.

"Are you certain?" Charles asked. "I could drive you to any restaurant of your choosing if you simply don't want to eat at home alone."

"It's less where or what I'm eating and more who I'm eating with," Harry smiled sadly. "Bye, Charles."

"Goodbye. Have a good day."

Harry turned and rushed up the front steps to Midtown High, sprinting to his first class just before the bell rang.

"Cutting it a little close, huh?" Peter grinned. "Wanted to make sure no one saw the limo?"

"Something came up at home," Harry explained.