The New Amazing

One Minute More

“Did you see the news?” asked Aunt May after I walked in the door, kissing her on the head. I headed towards the kitchen in search of something to eat. 

“Nope, what’s the big breaking news now-a-days?” I grabbed potato chips from a kitchen cabinet and collapsed on the couch. 

“Harry escaped from jail.” 

I was in mid bite when the chip fell from my hand and I sat up straight, pushing the bag to the side. “What? When? How?”

Aunt May looked to the right, recalling. “He escaped yesterday night, they haven’t released all the details yet but the news said a taser was involved.”

“Did anyone get hurt?” My eyes were wide and my mind was spinning.

“There were only two officers on duty that were in charge of him. One’s arm is broken and the other’s heart stopped from the voltage.” She put her face in her hands. “It’s horrible, Peter. Harry was such a good little boy. What- what could happen to make him such a…”

“Monster?” I finished for her. She nodded her head, her face hidden by her fingers. I got up and slowly walked towards her, embracing her in my arms. “I don’t know Aunt May, I don’t know.”

I mentally made up a poorly devised plan, barely walking through the consequences before I decided to execute it.

Later that night, I dressed myself as Spider-Man, putting jeans and a jacket on top. I left my mask in my backpack, zipping it up before sneaking out my bedroom window. 

Jogging to the hospital, I snuck in the emergency doors as two EMTs were rushing someone inside. I studied my surroundings as chaos erupted around me. Men, women and children were crying in pain, complaining about service, or praying for a family member inside one of the few rooms. It hit me that I probably should have just walked in the front door, but that would have been too easy.

A young nurse approached me, “Excuse me, Sir, you’re going to have to take a seat.” She motioned to an empty chair between an elderly man and a small, crying child.

“Oh, no, I’m not hurt. I’m looking for someone who is hurt though.”

She was becoming impatient, “Who?”

My mind was blank. I never asked Aunt May for a name or bothered to look him up. “Uh…”

“A name, Sir, a name.” She moved us out of the way of a gurney, causing us to bump into the wall. 

“He- he broke his arm. He was apart of the Osborne jailbreak, he’s an officer.”

The nurse narrowed her eyes, “You’re not a reporter, are you? Or a journalist?”

“No, nothing like that.” My camera seemed to gain weight in my backpack. “I was just wondering how he was doing. You see, I was a friend of-”

“If I take you to see him will you shut up?”

I paused a moment before answering, “Yes.”

“Keith Benton,” the woman explained. “He was watching Osborne along with the other officer.” Her voice saddened, “he died from the high voltage of the taser Osborne used. But Keith, here, he fought. Broke his arm and hit his head, almost slipping into a coma about two times.”

“And now?” I asked, moving closer to the large man on the bed in front of me.

“He’s asleep. And visiting hours are over, so you should leave,” she retorted, putting her fists on her small hips. 

“Just give me one minute alone with him,” I said, staring at the man. His pale face was cut and bruised all along the right side, the same side his arm was broken on. There were two circular marks on his neck about an inch apart, most likely from the taser. Or a vampire.

The nurse huffed, “Not a chance, kid.”

I turned my face to her, cuing my puppy-dog eyes. “Please, just one minute?” I pleaded. Her face softened slightly before she sighed, saying, “Just one minute,” sauntering away down the hall.

I stood over the man, snapping my fingers in front of his face. Nothing happened. I announced his name as loud as I dared, not wanting to draw too much attention to myself. Still nothing. Finally, because it was a dire circumstance, I stabbed his broken arm with my finger. 

Keith groaned and his eyes snapped open. “What the-” He seemed to finally notice me and my close proximity. 

I wiggled my fingers at him, “Nice of you to join me, I’m Peter.” I stuck out my right hand then put it at my side when he glared at it. “Anyway, I wanted to ask you a few questions.”

“What time is it? Where’s my nurse?”

I stood up straight, still looking down at him. “It’s about 10 o’clock and she left us alone for exactly one minute, so I need your cooperation.”

He looked me over before nodding. “Good,” I said, smiling. “So you were attacked by Harry Osborne, say nothing if I’m correct.” Silence. “OK, next question, did you hear him say anything when he was attacking you and the other officer?”

“Uh, something like ‘Burn in Hell’.”

“Alright then, how about where he was headed next?”

He looked at me, his eyes glazing over. “It’s not like we sat down to tea and chatted about what we were up to. He used a taser on me, we didn’t have any other words.”

“Nothing at all besides burning in Hell? Anything you can remember would be helpful.”

“Fine, give me a second.” He rubbed his head with his good hand, grimacing as he touched the bandage. 

I counted one Mississippi before prodding him further. “Well?”

“Uh, OK, he mentioned someone. A woman.”

“That really narrows it down.”

He glared at me, “He mentioned a name too, shut up and I’ll give it to you.” Me shutting up seems to be the bargain today. “It was something starting with a ‘g’. Her name started with ‘g’.”

“G? Is that it? That could be anyone! Gertrude, Gabby, Gail… Gwen.”

“Gwen! It was Gwen! He mentioned a woman named Gwen.” 

I stared dumbfounded at Keith, my mind folding in on itself. It couldn’t be Gwen. Not my Gwen. Harry had already killed her, what else would he want with her? Unless…

Footsteps clicked behind me, “Alright, kid, your minute’s up.”