Author's Notes: New chapter guys! It's a little bit bland in my opinion, but sets up the next chapter superbly! Lots of fluff and action in the next one, just bare with me! Enjoy, and a big shout out to all my lovely reviews! Lady of Myth and Legends, you are a gem for your in depth reviews! I love all of you! Now, read away! - Dave
Chapter Ten: Back to school
...
Norman awoke at his desk a day later, forehead pressed against the cool oak surface. He groaned and rubbed his aching scalp, feeling like two industrial sized clamps were tightening around his skull. He shook his head once and blinked, seeing the single earpiece on his files of paper. he raised an eyebrow and gently picked it up between finger and thumb. He turned the large pointed device around in his tweezers grip, mouthing a "What the..."
The boltgun metal grey device was very long and pointed, certainly not meant for normal human ears, OSCORP printed on it's side. He set the bluetooth device down and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, mind searching for any sort of clue to this device's whereabouts.
He was snapped from is thoughts when a knock at the door sounded. He cleared his groggy throat and slicked his short hair back, confused when he felt a slight bald patch and found a pile of dead frayed hair under his desk. His eyes widened in shock as his hands slid from his scalp. Whispering cackles and evil voices reverberated off the aching inner sanctum walls of his skull, electrolytes fuzzing around his trembling brain.
You missed Christmas, Norman...shame...you'd be spending it alone anyway if it wasn't for me!
Norman...the power we feel...we can be unstoppable!
Don't give it all up!
We still have to get our revenge, Norman!
The volume of the voices rose higher and higher in his head, a high pitch whine echoing in his eardrums. The overlapping laughs and Diablo voices made beads of cold sweat trickle from his brow. His heart thumped irregularly and he swallowed over the bulbous lump in his neck. The door knocked again, more urgently. Norman's breath turned cold and his eyes blurred as the creeping black death in his veins lapped up his neck again.
Don't let them win!
Norman sharply snapped out of his trance and swallowed hard to calm his body to normal rhythm. He ignored the patch of hair on the floor and how his skin felt rough and bumpy, almost like a snake's skin before shedding. He slid his fingers over his damp neck and pulled his shirt collar up over it.
"C-Come in." he managed, looking up from his desk at the door. The wooden door swung open and two people barged in, frantic looks on their faces. The lead researcher of Special Projects, the name 'Sandra James' cast into the silver of her rectangular name badge. Her white Oscorp lab coat was creased and had small chemical stains, long bags folding under her tired eyes, a frown on her lips, showing how long her hours have been. Her oil slick black hair was pulled back into a tight bun.
The second member, A man named 'Ivan Clarke' stood behind her, broader and taller in his white lab coat, a few Bunsen burner scolds to the fabric. His bald head was slightly prickly with growing needles of hair and his face was covered in five O'Clock shadow.
"Sir, sorry to barge in like this." Sandra apologised immediately as she clutched her pad to her chest, her heavy English accent eclipsing ever word in crisp calm yet frantic tones. "But we have an emergency."
Norman's eyes flit up and he stared them down. "Emergency, wha-what kind of Emergency?"
"The man who was meant to be funding our research, a Mr Francis Dalais?" she looked up at Norman to confirm. He gave a tilt of his nose, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Sir...he's dead." she gulped, nodding to solidify fact. Norman's eyes expanded and he gulped, running a hand over his short haired scalp.
"Wha...Wha...Dead?" he looked up, eyes full of incredulous demeanour. She nodded sharply. Then Ivan stepped forward, flicking through pages of his pad.
"A-And sir, Special projects has a situation of urgent proportions. The entire project and floor has been locked down." he looked up, gulping as Norman stood sharply from his desk, hands pressed into the wooden tabletop. Norman searched the air for words, gaping like a fish.
"Wha...what do you mean, what happened?!" he snarled at Ivan. He staggered back and dug a hand into his coat pocket, eyeing the carpet.
"Sir...the Glider and specialised suit?" He looked up as Norman nodded him to continue. Ivan dug his tongue into his cheek, eyes looking around the office. "Sir...it's been stolen."
"Stolen? How-How can something top secret, be stolen!" Norman roared, eyes ramming down towards the table, widening when he lay vision on the elongated earpiece.
Oh yes, oh yes it was us Norman, you and me, Goblin and friend!
The sinister voice sung in his head, cackling. He shook his head and let two fingers slip the stack of papers over the earpiece. "How was it stolen?" he looked up at them. Both Sandra and Ivan were nervously eyeing different directions, unable to face Norman's ragged texture.
"No idea sir, but all the vials of the muscle enhancement serum were stolen too. We believe that whoever did this, was the thing that attacked the festival on Christmas Eve." Sandra gulped, looking down at the newspaper on the corner of Norman's desk. Bernard must have brought it in early in the morning. Norman followed her gaze and placed his finger tips on the paper, spinning it round to face him. The Daily Bugle had a huge photo on the front cover of the green glowing Glider flying over fiery explosions. He noticed the blurry enhanced image of the man atop the glider, barely even recognisable. Suddenly his memories returned and he gulped hard, till his throat ached.
"You are dismissed. I want you both to focus on restarting the Extremis project." he pointed at them as he walked over to his window, hands falling behind his back. He watched the sun rake it's golden glow over New York. His eyes focused on the reflection in the glass, seeing the blotchy scars and bruising patches. He shuddered and tried to ignore it.
"Sir, the Benefactors shut it down, they won't allow it." Ivan countered.
"Then find a way Ivan, that's what I pay you for. You both can leave."
"But the suit and Glider-"
"Will be returned, don't you worry about that. I'm sure Spiderman, will be seeing this...man...again, very soon." Norman stared out the window as the voices lifted in his brain.
Ah yes, that Spiderman. He ruined everything! He stopped us getting revenge. We need to kill the Benefactors, and if he intervenes again...Spiderman will die!
Norman felt a grin curl his lips, then stopped it, shaking his head as senses returned. "No, no I can't do that! I'm not a bad man." Norman sighed, turning from the glass to see a very confused pair of workers. Sandra raised an eyebrow.
"Err...sir?"
"I said dismissed. You can both go home for the day, it's Boxing day for Christ's sake!" he snapped, pointing to the door. They both hurried out, leaving him to his sinister thoughts. He slumped down in his chair and lifted the earpiece. "I'm not a bad man..."
No...but we are. Together, we are...unstoppable!
Norman gulped and set the device down, closing his eyes tight. Maybe the voices were right about Spiderman. Maybe the web slinger was a threat to his attempts to cure his deathly illness. He needed the Benefactors gone to restart the project, he wanted them gone for humiliating him and stopping him from his cure. He shook his head and heard a faint tap of knuckles on the open door.
"Bernard, you can go home too, just leave me to listen to my..." Norman looked up to see the one person he never expected. The teen had a thin frame, clad in a black winter trench coat and long fringe of brown hair swinging across his brow. The pale skin and small demeanour of his son. "...Harry."
"H-Hi Dad." he managed as Bernard lugged his suitcase passed. Harry gulped and rubbed his neck. Norman stood from his desk.
"What are you doing here?" he hugged his son, patting his back. Harry chuckled weakly.
"Well...I...I hadn't heard from you in ages, so I came to Manhattan. I needed a break away from Boarding school." he shrugged. Norman scoffed.
"All you do is break. Kids..." he rolled his eyes, walking back to his desk.
"Merry Christmas to you too." Harry sighed, defeatedly. Norman didn't respond, too busy eyeing the device on the desk. "You look worse, Dad...are you okay-
"You shouldn't have come, Harry. For gods sake, I put you in Boarding school to give you an education!" he roared.
"No, you put me there cause I'm a failure to you, and you wanted me gone!" Harry countered, lips creased into a snarl. Norman spun round to face his son.
"You...know nothing about the sacrifices I made for you!" Norman bellowed. Harry only wanted to spend Christmas with his Father, and not even five minutes into laying eyes on one another after five years, they were fighting.
"I know you sacrificed everything for yourself! Including Mom!" Harry roared back, small pale fists at his sides. Norman scoffed and shook his head.
"Still a child. You know absolutely nothing about me, or what I sacrificed, what I lost!"
"Because you won't tell me. I'm just another burden to you." Harry looked away, gulping heavily as his lips pressed to a frown. Norman ignored the jab and went back to his desk, sitting in his chair and flicking through notes. Harry stayed in the doorway.
"Where will you be going to school then? I won't have you frittering away your education." Norman snarled, eyes never leaving his notes. Harry scoffed.
"I'm attending Midtown Science High School." he added emphasis to each word, trying to sting his Father. Norman never even flinched.
"How'd you get in there? By waving your father's money around?" Norman huffed, shaking his head disapprovingly.
Harry scoffed and fought back the tears of how cruel a man his Father was. How could he not remember that this was who he was? Why did he still beg for his approval? Maybe he could show his Father that he wasn't a failure, that he was trying to be like him, only better. Harry was here now, he might as well stay and make an attempt, even if his Father won't. He stopped on his way out, looking over his shoulder.
"You know Dad...I came here trying to rebuild some sort of relationship between us...whatever died with Mom." He watched as Norman's shoulders sagged. "I just wish you could see yourself in the mirror...and see through the mask you hide behind." Harry sighed, walking out. "Merry Christmas Dad." he spat. Norman sighed and dropped the papers, running a hand along his brow.
A son? Hah-Hah-Hah, another Osborn! You are too fun Norman! The Goblin voice cackled around the room.
"Shut up! Leave Harry out of this. I'm not doing that again, forget it. I'm not killing anyone else." Norman sighed, shaking his head. The Goblin laughed again.
Yes you will...You love the power you feel when we combine! You can have everything! With me, you can live forever. All we need to do, is kill the Benefactors!
Norman began to listen to reason, suddenly snapping his head out of the sickening dream. "N-No, No, I killed...No, you killed Francis! I-I-I won't be a part of any more bloodshed." Norman sighed.
Norman...they win if you don't help me. Think of what we can accomplish together! We can kill them, and we can live forever! Why are their lives worth it? They happily trod and stamped on your hope! Now...take away theirs...
Norman nodded to himself, eyes fixating on thin air. "What about Spiderman?"
He gets in the way again...then we have no choice...but to squash the bug.
"Okay...B-But just those bastard Benefactors, right? N-No innocent people?" Norman begged the airy voice.
No...only the targets. Only the people who hurt you Norman. Spiderman will only be a concern...if he interferes again.
Norman gulped and nodded to the ghostly voice. "Okay...what do we do?" he whispered, hoping Harry doesn't hear.
Look at the Newspaper, Norman!
Norman flicked the pages open and settled on the page in question. He spread his fingers across the paper and jabbed a finger.
There. The Benefactors will be holding a memorial service for that evil bastard Francis, in the New Year. We strike then!
"Okay...Okay...We stop them. We're doing good, right?" Norman looked up at the ceiling.
Oh, of course Norman. These people destroyed the research that would cure you! They need to die!
Norman grinned. "Yeah...they do."
...
A New Year, a new term of School. Peter huffed as he skateboarded down the elongated halls of Midtown Science. His hair was it's usual windswept self and with his earphones blaring music into his drums, he relied solely on his Spider senses and reflexes to weave the board around people. His hood was up and his hands were dug into their respectful pockets, his mind millions of miles away as he looked down at the new bag across his shoulder.
Christmas day had flown by without a hitch, Peter spending the day with Aunt May and Gwen with her family. Throughout the calm relaxing day, Peter did find himself texting and phoning Gwen back and forth, unable to be apart from her sultry tones and her stunning sense of humour. Peter was more than happy, and thanked Gwen repeatedly on the phone for his Christmas gift.
Gwen had gotten him a brown leather shoulder strap bag, with his initials printed onto the buckle in golden metal. The stitching was flawless and it had this distinct intoxicating aroma only affiliated with leather. The scent was soft on the nostrils and yet so exciting. The rich leather scent evoked memories of the best moments in life, it comforted with its warm fragrance and subtly smooth yet rough texture. Peter had smiled warmly at the bag sat atop ripped apart wrapping paper and ran his fingers over the sculpted gold initials.
I love that girl so much.
Peter then spent the evening having a traditional Christmas meal with his Aunt, a few stolen glances at the empty third chair from both of them. They smiled sadly and changed the subject to a happy venue, enjoying a day, just one, to relax and catch up with his beloved Aunt.
After Christmas had finished for another year, Peter got ready for Gwen's Auntie's wedding. Though he was nervous to his absolute core, it all melted away when he arrived at Gwen's apartment, Helen letting him in with what seemed like a warming smile as he adjusted his suit collar and blue tie.
His senses fell into overload as he saw her. His Tux suddenly felt like a furnace, as did his face, which was bright red. His fingers grew clammy and nervous sweat beaded along his brow. A euphoria of astonishment hit him in crashing waves of uncontrollable Teenage hormones, and elapsing episodes of gaping like a fish followed shortly after.
Gwen...his Gwen, clad in a second skin of figure hugging and flattering pink. The dress was gorgeous on her. The neckline wasn't low cut, but it revealed just enough skin to make any man look twice. Her thin waist sunk in and then curled outwards as her curvaceous hips carried on down until they formed her stunning legs. The pink dress was flatteringly snug, but after the hips and at the thighs it loosened into an ankle length skirt of light pink, a slit up the left side revealing her creamy leg, making his throat dry like sandpaper. Golden hair tumbled down her bare shoulders and pink lipstick finished the insanely beautiful addition to Gwen's appearance. Her mascara was soft and light, her eyes standing out against the black in two large gorgeous lakes of white, green irises plunging Peter into an ocean of beauty, threatening to hold him under till he drowned.
Once he finally managed to break free of those wonderful eyes and her stunning body, she greeted him with a defeated huff and sag of her shoulders, moaning about how she hates skin tight dresses. Peter could only stare at her, dumbfounded by how lucky he was to have this stunning woman.
The Wedding went by perfectly, with Peter stood at the back snapping photos for them during the ceremony and the after party. He smiled at Gwen as she stood by the alter with the other Bridesmaids, a bouquet in her hands and a roll of her eyes indicated how she felt. He helped her through the day though, making her laugh when he shouldn't and cheering her up during the celebrations when people spoke sadly about George Stacy, the first Stacy family gathering since his demise.
Peter slammed into something and stepped off his board, shaking his head from the long visit into his memories of the Christmas break. The barrier in question turned around, short buzzed blonde hair, his large muscular physique clad in a Spiderman shirt and his shorts revealing his defined calves as he spun on heel. Uh-oh. The angered frown on his face melted into a grin when he saw Peter.
"Parker!" Flash chuckled as he playfully punched Peter's shoulder. The large once-be Bully chuckled as he wrapped an arm around Peter and tussled his hair with his knuckles. Peter could only wince and grin as Flash had some catching up to do after a few weeks.
"Hey-Argh-Flash!" Peter managed to emit, finally breaking free of Eugene's grip. Flash just laughed and grinned as Peter sorted out his hair and flicked his board up into his grip. "How was your break? Take anyone's lunch money?" Peter grinned, feeling bolder around his new best friend. It was odd to see Flash as a friend, since it happened so fast, but they were in fact friends. Peter would still stop cold when he saw Flash approaching down the hall, but that old mentality of fear was slowly rubbing away.
"Hah, nice one Parker." Flash grinned as he waved goodbye to his friends, the Jocks walking off with the Red head Mary Jane in tow. He leaned against the locker beside him. "Nah, I went up state, hang out with my Uncle and Aunt, just...chilled. Kicked back." He grinned at Peter. Peter nodded and looked to his locker opening it and stowing his board inside. He looked at Flash and nodded at him, repeatedly. Flash raised an eyebrow.
"The shorts? It's January, dude." Peter chuckled as Flash laughed, scratching under his jaw.
"Yeah...Don't...Don't tell anyone..." He leaned forward, checking the coast was clear. "But I heard that Mary Jane, digs leg muscles. Like...really digs em, you know? Been hittin the gym to try and beef these boys up." He chuckled. Peter nodded, scratching at an itch on the back of his head.
"Y-You like Mary Jane?" Peter rolled his eyes.
"What? Dude she is ho-t!" he popped the 'T' with a tap of his tongue to the roof of his mouth. Peter chuckled over a toothy grin as he grabbed his books for first class. "Why, you not like her?"
"She cheats on every guy she goes out with, or she gets cheated on. Not really relationship material." Peter scoffed. Flash chuckled and nodded to himself, still leaning against the array of lockers as people bustled by. "But...if you like her, I say...go for it, no harm in trying, I guess." Peter shrugged, wetting his bottom lip over the top one. Flash nodded.
"Gee thanks Parker, glad I came to you for relationship advice." he grinned. Peter laughed flatly, shaking his head.
"How is Gwen?" Flash crossed his larger arms. Peter nodded to him in a fast repetition.
"Huh? oh-yeah-no-yeah, she's-she's good. She's great, actually." Peter grinned to himself. Flash smirked and nodded to him.
"Lucky man, Parker. Lucky man." Flash gave Peter a punch to the arm and walked off. Peter rubbed at his arm as Flash bowled away, high-fiving Jocks as he walked by them. In reality the punch was nothing, his superhuman strength shielding the blow, but Peter had to keep up his appearance of being...plain old Peter Parker.
"Catch you later, Parker! We're playing Basketball as Lunch, you in?!" He called, arms outstretched into a challenge. Peter grinned.
"Heh, yeah...Yeah, I'll see you then." he laughed, shaking his head and turning back to his locker. he stowed the last of his books and pencils in his bag and shut the door.
"I thought we were hanging out at lunch?" Gwen said, startling Peter as he leaped out of his skin. She'd been stood behind the door, waiting for him to close it, his predicable ability to drop into his own little world making it all too easy to startle him. He caught his breath and shook his head, a grin spreading across his face.
"Y-You really suck." he grinned. Gwen lifted a hand from her hugged books and tapped her creamy chin.
"Hmmm...see-I-I thought that-you know-having Spidey Sense would make you- I don't know, less jumpy, hmm?" she cocked her head to the side, a sarcastic curl to her plump lips. He dryly laughed and faced her. She looked as beautiful as ever, ponytail and fringe just as when he - or was it she? - first asked one another out in the awkward exchange in an empty hallway. Her short black skirt reached her thighs and left a band of creamy skin before her knee high boots concealed the rest on their way down. Her black top and white belt completed the look and he leaned forwards pecking a kiss on her lips.
"Mmm, hey to you, too." She grinned, licking her lips. He smirked and stood up at full height, hands dug into his pockets. He watched as her eyes danced over his features, and he knew all too well what she was doing.
"No cuts or bruises, Gwen. I'm in good condition today." he chuckled as she sagged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
"Well, that's a first. But then again, I guess Spiderman is on a break, seeing as his suit is...is..." Her speech faltered as she noticed his downward gaze. "...trashed..." She raised an eyebrow at his lowered stare. "Pe-Peter...wha-what are you staring at?" she followed his eyes to her legs, raising her eyebrow.
"Just...it's winter, how are you not cold?" He shrugged. Gwen scoffed and shrugged back.
"I'm a woman. We're enigmas." she smirked, walking passed him. "Even the Amazing Spiderman can't understand us." she grinned as she happily took his hand in hers. He cackled under his breath as he walked with her, swinging their arms together as they walked. They both weaved around students as the bell rang out across the school. A few windows were still boarded up from the Lizard fight months ago, but funding for windows was last on the school's concerns, especially when it came to repairing a whole school.
Gwen squeezed his hand as they swung them like pendulum, back and forth between them.
"So..." Peter started.
"So?" Gwen humoured, swinging her hand, and his in the process. He smiled happily as they walked through the halls of the school, heading towards the first lesson of the year: English language. She clutched her books in her opposite hand and peered up through her fringe at him. He looked at her and she shrugged her shoulders and eyebrows, attempting to squeeze the words out of him. "So...what, Peter?"
"Oh...Yeah...I umm...was wondering if you-umm-you wanted-wanted to come over tonight. Aunt May's making chicken and...I umm..." He interrupted his sentence with a chuckling grin as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "I need help with a...project." he grinned at her, rubbing his head with a free hand. Gwen nodded to herself, lips pressed into a pondering expression.
"Oh...okay...A project, huh?" she smiled knowingly at him. He gingerly laughed, eyes darting around the emptying hall. Gwen leaned over and whispered hot breath into his ear. "Does this...project...include red and blue Spandex?" she laughed softly as Peter nodded comically fast. "Then yeah, I'm free!" she beamed at him. He smiled and tugged his hand free of hers, Gwen pouting unhappily as she pawed the air to try and reclaim his hand. He wrapped the arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him, kissing the top of her head.
The feeling of her soft, silky locks brushing his lips and the sweet scent of her wonderful fragrance smothering his nostrils scent a happy curl to his smile; Warm fruity shampoo with a kick of tangy hairspray igniting his senses. He lifted his head from hers as they neared her locker.
"Awesome. Aunt May'll be happy to see you." Peter nodded as she let go of him and spun the combination lock. His hands dived into his Hoodie pockets. Gwen smiled and peered over at him.
"Well, I can't wait to see her. If I'm correct, and I always am - she said-she said something about baby photos at Christmas, hmm?" Gwen grinned as Peter's head sagged forward in defeat. "Could be...hmm, interesting." Gwen pouted in thought as she flicked through the book she needed for English. Peter huffed and pressed his sunken forehead against her shoulder. Gwen giggled and shoved his shoulder. He staggered back with a grin and she saw an anomaly on him, quick to point it out.
"Peter. Sleeve." she looked into her locker. He raised an eyebrow then saw that his left sleeve had bunched up at the forearm, exposing his wrist and web shooter.
"Oh cra-thanks, Gwen." he huffed, tugging the sleeve down and checking the hall for anyone who saw. Luckily, the hall was mostly empty. Gwen shut the locker and shook her head, eyes rolling. He scoffed and followed as they headed to their first class, unhappily pealing apart to avoid being lectured on public displays of affection.
He let her walk into the class first, following closely behind. The room was still filling with yawning, miserable students, all abysmal to how fast Christmas break had flown by for another year. The Teacher sat at her desk, eyes raking over the notes for the lesson plan. Mrs Stone's silvery locks were coiled up in a bun and long rakes of crows feet crept out from the edges of her aged blue eyes. Canyons of creasing wrinkles curl from the corners of her mouth and her nose as she read the plan to herself.
Gwen hugged her books to her chest and neared the Teacher. "Good morning, Mrs Stone." Gwen smiled at her. The elder looked up and beamed back at her.
"Ah Gwen! Hello my dear, how was your Christmas?" she asked gently. Gwen puffed air through her lips and shrugged.
"It was...It was hard." she narrowed her eyes to solidify her statement and she nodded with her chin held high. Her husky voice faltered only slightly, but the smoky tones of her raspy voice returned soon after. Peter stood near her, hands in his pockets. "First Christmas since Dad..." Gwen gulped and shook her head, raising and jutting her curved chin out again. "First Christmas without him and it was...yeah-hard. B-But we had fun though! Yeah...erm, you-how-how was your Christmas?" Gwen rubbed behind her ear. Mrs Stone smiled sympathetically and cleared her throat.
"It was lovely thank you, dear."
"Good...well...I'll umm...I best get to my seat." Gwen nodded with a smile as she turned to her desk among the rows of others. Gwen walked passed the desks of limp students, arms hanging over the tops and gossiping girls, chatting about the holiday antics. Gwen huffed as she perched in her seat and laid her books out across the desk. She took out her pen and instinctively began to chew the plastic tip as she glanced across her notes.
She flit her eyes up as Peter began finishing his conversation with Mrs Stone, evident by his swivelling heels and comically fast barrage of nods, constantly repeating "Yeah-no-yeah" in a low whisper. Gwen smiled as she balanced the plastic pen lid between her pearly teeth. She'd studied Peter's mannerisms ever since she noticed him, stepping in to help a kid who Flash was bullying, taking the punches for a boy he had yet to even speak to. Her knowledge and vast revision on Biology meant that she sussed Peter Parker very early on. Then she discovered his secret, and he became all the more complex...to her excitement and frustration.
Gwen snapped from her thoughts as Peter sat in the desk behind her, jutting his shoulder and dropping his bag beside the chair. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. He grinned back and glanced down at the book. Gwen couldn't help but smile to herself as she turned back to face the front of the class, her mind busy on him. After all they'd been through together, how there relationship had blossomed like a spring flower, Peter was so much more than a puzzle to solve to her now. He was an adventure to experience, a drug for her to grow addicted to, a euphoria for her to feel as it pools in her stomach and flutters like a frothing sea of Butterflies. Even though she'd lost a great deal over the past few hectic months, her emotional state of mind a train wreck, she couldn't help but feel optimistic for the future. Gwen couldn't help the beaming smile that curled up her cheeks.
...
Norman walked slowly around his Living room, oak floors and deep cherry wood walls coating his vision in a brownish gold hue. Ever since the revelation on Boxing Day, he'd locked himself away and busied himself with ideas for how he was going to survive this plague in his blood. Harry was heading into school - late - but he had other pressing matters at hand.
His head throbbed and he sunk his shoulders downwards. His shirt collar was peeled open and his bare haired chest was drenched in sweat. Beads of rolling water run down his forehead and dripped off his brown onto his dampened shirt shoulder. His white shirt was turning an almost translucent grey and he was slowly burring a trench into the wooden floor with his pacing.
What? You know what you have to do...
"Shut up a moment. I'm thinking." Norman hissed at his alter ego. The Goblin voice scoffed in his ears.
You know what you have to do, what you want to do! As long as the Benefactors live, you will die...You will never be cured...
Norman sighed and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. He grit his teeth. "Can you just let me think!" he cursed. "I don't even have the suit or the Glider, or the serum any more...god knows where it all is..." He rounded off the list on his fingers. The Goblin cackled, echoing across the oak balcony's and bookshelves, the smell of polished oak taking a sinister turn to a stench of warped iron.
A blob of blood splat on Norman's sleeve, a panicked hand lifting to stop the nose bleed. He gulped over the lump and tried to stifle the ragged drumming of his heart.
You're out of time to think this over Norman. Francis's memorial is coming up...our last chance to get them all! We act tonight!
Norman gulped and nodded as he lowered his red smeared hand, eyes fixed on the bookcase in front of him.
Go ahead Norman...you know what lies behind. You opened the safe on jolly old Christmas Eve...
Norman felt a strained swallow ache across his throat. He slowly staggered towards the bookshelf, feeling the Poltergeist activity of his alter ego pulling his puppet strings, walking him towards the shelves. Norman's eyes quivered and his hand involuntarily lifted to the red book in between the rainbow of hardbacks. The book slid back and a mechanical click sounded, cogs meshing and grinding as the wooden oak cabinet slid open.
Norman staggered back with wide eyes as the door of books slid aside. The pitch black room behind it beckoned him forward with unseen curling hands of sulphuric green smoke. Norman gulped and felt his legs stagger forwards, stepping into the blackened room, slippered feet sinking into the rolling sea of green gas.
Norman peered up as the pitch black abyss above flickered to life as track lighting blinked on. His eyes adjusted and he swallowed hard as the room lit up. He looked forward and stopped in his tracks, shaking his head as his lips curled into a terrified grimace.
"No...No, I never could have...no..." Norman shook his weary head as he looked upon the landed Glider and incomplete Goblin suit stood upon it, left side uncovered of green armor, showing the exo-skeletal pistons and bolts beneath. The black under suit had tears and snags from the fight with Spiderman, green Oscorp paint scratched from the armor. Norman paced up the steps and stood before the headless suit, large green pouldron on the right arm being a coaster for his hand to sit upon. He looked down and saw the right earpiece attached to long wired stalks, protruding from the neck-hole. The left earpiece, was currently in his pocket, taken from his desk where it perched earlier on in the week. All his fears of it not being a dream had been proven truth here and now, as he stumbled upon the Goblin lair in his own home.
Now, we suit up! We take back our lives Norman! With my help, you will be cured!
Norman looked over at the stainless steel desk of green liquid filled syringes. He gulped and broke his eyes away. He knew he had to kill the Benefactors if he had any hope of curing himself. The blood trickled down his nose and he felt the creeping fingers of black veins climb up his spine. "We start tonight...right?
Yes Norman. We kill them all tonight!
Author's Notes: A rather boring chapter, I know, but we need a few fillers, right? Next one will be better, I promise! Love you all! - Dave