Catch Me // Spider-Man (BOOK 1)

Chapter 17 - Finish me

"An eerie calm has set in over New York city. Apparently some sort of aerosolized antidote was launched from Oscorp Tower, which seems to have counter acted the bio toxins. Residents of lower Manhattan can rest peacefully, knowing that the alleged mastermind of this terror plot, Dr. Curtis Connors is behind bars."

The hours following the events on the roof of Oscorp were shady in my mind to say the least.

Within minutes of Captain Stacy passing away the roof was bombarded with police, FBI, the military, paramedics. They were too late though, it was all too late. The damage had been done. Yes, Connors had been defeated, he could no longer terrorise us, but the victory brought casualties. He'd destroyed even more than I realised. It wouldn't be long until I discovered what it was though.

I made sure that Peter had his mask back on and was gone before anyone could see him. He was hesitant to leave me in the condition that I was in, but with everything going on I couldn't worry about Pete's second identity being revealed as well. He made me swear to go to a hospital to get checked over. I was reluctant of course. Compared to the Captain I was in peak physical condition. Pete wasn't having any of it though. He refused to leave until I agreed. So, it's pretty obvious what my answer was.

Everything after that disappeared in a haze. Once the adrenaline had left my system, the pain set in, bringing itself to the forefront. I didn't realise how badly I was hurt until it was all over. There was burning and aches in muscles I didn't even know existed. There was blood caked in my hair and down one side as a result of my arm injury. My vision kept blurring in and out, to the point where the paramedic on scene was screaming at me to keep my eyes open and stay awake. It was no use. I was empty, I had nothing left. I just wanted quiet, peace, just a few moments where my life isn't filled with pain and drama and sadness. I just wanted to sleep. That's what I did. I let the darkness overtake me. I let myself slip into unconsciousness. I know I should have been stronger, pushed against it. I should have thought about the people I would be leaving behind if I didn't wake up again. Aunt Penny. May. Gwen had just lost her Dad. Could she cope losing her best friend as well? Then there was Pete. What would my death do to him? Would he blame himself just like he did with his Uncle Ben? Would that be the final straw?

In those moments, in that pain filled fog, all those questions and scenarios didn't matter. I just wanted it all to be over. I was selfish. I just wanted it all to be a nightmare.

Luckily I did wake up, a whole day later in hospital. Physically, I was aching all over. I was tired. Mentally, I was in shock, numb. Had all that really happened? Did I really watch my best friends Dad die right in front of me? Of course it had. It was the reason I was now laying in a bed, connected to all kinds of drips and tubes. My arm bandaged to within an inch of its life. Turns out Connors claws had not only ripped through the skin, but had also pulverised the muscles, veins and soft tissue. Doctors said it was a miracle I could still move it, that my bone had escaped any kind of serious damage.

The Doctors had gotten a hold of Aunt Penny in Jersey, who came rushing back to New York. Safe to say she was a complete wreck. After lengthy interviews with police who asked to go over every little detail of what happened, I missed out certain things as you can guess, I was left with one person asking me questions. That person being my slightly manic Aunt.

"Lauren, honey, how did you end up on the roof of Oscorp with a giant frog and that bug man?" She would ask, gripping on to my hands whilst her tear stained face of confusion looked on at me.

"It was a lizard Aunt Penny and that bug is called Spider-Man," I groggily answered in a pain killer induced haze.

"That may be so, but it doesn't answer my question."