Fractured Mind

Chapter 12

It had been a very stressful two weeks.

Peter had helped Mary Jane make funeral arrangements for her aunt. Mary Jane's parents had stayed in Anna Watson's house for a week, helping Mary Jane get through the tough time. Madeline, Mary Jane's mother, had insisted she come back home with them. Her father didn't seem too keen on the idea, but that didn't stop him from throwing Peter disdainful looks.

After her parents left and the funeral was over, Mary Jane didn't feel like leaving the house for several days. Peter had called her work to inform them of what happened, and they said they would give her another week off because of the circumstances. Aunt May and Mary Jane had become much closer over the last two weeks. Aunt Anna had been very dear to both of them.

Mary Jane hadn't asked Peter what he was hiding from her yet. He wasn't sure how much longer he was going to be able to avoid it. He sighed, laying on his bed and tossing his beanie up in the air. Aunt May and Mary Jane were busy cooking lasagna downstairs.

His phone started to buzz on his computer desk. He didn't make a move to answer it though; the only two people he cared to talk to were downstairs.

Harry hadn't left Peter's thoughts over the last couple weeks. He just couldn't understand why Harry would murder Mary Jane's aunt. Hadn't he taken away enough from him already? He understood that Harry felt betrayed by him, but when was enough going to be enough? Why did he have to make other people suffer? Why couldn't he just come straight for Peter?

Bzzzz Bzzzz Bzzzz

Agitated, he hopped off his bed and walked over to his desk to check who was calling. It was an unknown number so he rejected the call. As he was walking back to his bed, the phone rang for a third time. He paused and hurried back to the phone to answer it.

"What!?" he yelled into the phone.

"Hey, Pete. It's me," a voice said calmly into the phone.

Peter paused before answering, "Harry?"

"Yeah," Harry answered back. Peter waited for him to continue, but nothing else was said to him. Peter's blood began to boil. Why would Harry be calling him after what he had done to Mary Jane's aunt?

"You obviously had a reason for calling me, so spit it out," Peter said gruffly into the phone.

"I need to speak to you," Harry stated apprehensively.

"Well, talk then," Peter responded.

"Not on the phone. Can you meet me?"

"Meet you? Why would I want to meet you?" Peter scoffed.

"It's important," Harry growled, "meet me at old Times Square Fairgrounds in fifteen minutes."

"That place is abandoned, Harry. It shut down a few years back." Peter lowered his voice, "what is this about?"

"I know it is! Just— just meet me there okay," Harry paused, "leave your little girlfriend at home to finish making dinner and you'll be home in time for your lasagna." Harry laughed as he hung up the phone.

"What the...?" Peter pocketed his phone. He grabbed his shoes and hoodie and threw on his beanie and headed downstairs. Halfway down, he paused and ran back upstairs and went to his closet.

"Where are they?" he whispered to himself. Finally he found the box that held his Spider-Man costume and web shooters. He pulled the web shooters on under his hoodie; he wanted to be prepared if Harry was up to something.

He ran downstairs again but paused at the entrance of the kitchen. Mary Jane was just putting the lasagna into the oven and Aunt May was washing some of the dishes to clear up space in the sink.