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Proof of Existence

Chapter 10: Bittersweet Reunion

Gwen swiped the key card and sighed in relief when the doors opened. "Come on, follow me."

"Won't there be people here?"

"Don't worry. Only Felicia knows what I'm doing. Menken isn't around. And to all these other guys I'm just their regular colleague, Gwen Stacy."

Peter chuckled. "Brilliant and hot, not a bad combination if I do say so myself." He then eyed her curiously. "So, did you know him? Max Dillon, I mean."

"Not exactly. I met him once in the elevator, a while back." She answered. "By the way he was a mega Spiderman fanatic but that's neither here nor there."

"So is he really... dead?" Peter asked as they walked down the hallways.

"I'm not sure. Knowing Oscorp that could be a strong possibility. I think Harry must've figured it out." Gwen paused when they reached Harry's office. "Here we are."

Once opened a bitterness crept onto her when she took in her surroundings. Majority of Harry's stuff was removed and had been replaced. Shaking it off to focus on the task at hand she pulled out the hard drive. Momentarily she held it in her palm. This was the one thing Harry's father had left him.

"What's that?"

Gwen led him towards the desk. "This is our ticket to hopefully getting some answers."

Peter watched as the screen came to life once the hard drive had made contact. "That is some sweet desk!"

"What is all this?" Gwen asked as several files came up at once. "These are... weapons."

He narrowed his eyes. "The' hell is Oscorp working on? Keep looking. There has to be something else."

She furrowed her brows when she landed on a familiar filename on the screen. "Special Projects? Felicia mentioned that this was what Harry had been investigating."

"Could be a lead." Peter exclaimed.

"That's strange," Gwen murmured. "It says here this was approved by Harry. But I was working with him for hours and when I wasn't he was hauled up in the lab... I just find it very unlikely that he had worked on something else like this during the very small time he had free."

"So, someone has been using his name without his authority?"

"Menken." She growled. Without wasting anymore time she opened the file. A video popped onto the screen and a female mechanical voice spoke.

"Special Projects. Accessing archives. File: 713."

A video depicting the accident played. They watched as a figure had fallen onto a glass container full of robotic eels.

Peter frowned. "These people are sick. They're trying to pin this on Harry?"

Gwen quickly clicked onto another one of the videos.

"File: 171. Subject: Dillon, Max."

"Is that... Max?" She gasped.

It was a horrific sight. No longer was he that unkempt, quiet, yet good natured guy. Instead he was now some sort of blue, electronic being. There were machines holding him in place inside some water container. This made her feel sick to her core.

"...And then I'm gonna kill the light. So everyone in this city is going to know what it feels like to live in my world. A world without power." Max spoke.

His eyes held a burning fury and his voice was laced with hatred. To think that such an outcome like this had come to a man who kept to himself. How could they even do such a thing? How could they hold him as if he were some lab rat?

A shiver ran up her spine and her blood ran cold. Was this what they were doing to Harry? Was he out there being held against his will? Before she could even research more the screen closed down and the mechanical woman spoke again.

"Warning. Your user access has been revoked."

They looked up to see a tall security guard enter. The man's eyes went from the screen to them. "What do you kids think you're doing? Who the hell let you inside!?"

"The question is what are you doing!?" Gwen spat with absolute disgust. "You are experimenting on people there! How dare you— How dare you try and pin this on Harry!"

The security guard's eyes enlarged momentarily before becoming frantic. "You saw that? Oh God, I'm dead!" He grabbed onto their arms. "Look I'm sorry, you're kids but, you... you weren't supposed to see that! Why were you in here!?"

Peter easily shoved the man's grip off -surprising him in the process- before placing a protective hand around Gwen's shoulder. "You heard her. Start talking! What's going on here? Where's Harry Osborn?"

"That's none of your business! Now just come with me and no one gets hurt!"

The security guard charged again but Peter grabbed his arm and firmly held him in place. "There isn't time to waste. Tell us where Harry is!"

He winced at the unexpected strength. "I— ack! I can't! I can't tell you! I'll be killed!"

Peter released his hold. "What?"

The man gripped his throbbing hand before turning back to them. "I... I was there when Mr. Osbo— Harry, when Harry stumbled onto the same thing you just did. At first I had no idea I was just doing my job, and Menken told me about how Harry had apparently covered up Max Dillon's death. It was only after we confronted him did I find out what had really been happening."

Gwen frowned. "And you just stood by and let this happen?"

"What was I supposed to do?" The man shot back. "I was just some new guy! I didn't have a clue what I was getting myself into when I got the job. I'm not like you. I have a whole family... if I had gone to the police they would've killed them! You don't have a clue what Oscorp is capable of!"

"Oh I beg to differ." Peter spat.

"I'm afraid I can't let you leave. Not after seeing that."

"You expect us to stand idly by while Harry is used for some sick science experiment!?" Gwen retorted, pausing to finally glance at the name tag. "I'll tell you right now that isn't happening, Barkley."

Didn't he get it? Each passing minute could be used to find Harry before it becomes too late.

Barkley looked away. "Listen I get where you're coming from but I just can't. I could get in trouble here, serious trouble. I can't put my family in harm's way. I'll turn the other way so long as you keep quiet about this. That's as far as I'll go. I'm sorry."

"That's it!?" Peter barked. "You won't help us?"

"My hands are tied kid!" Barkley snapped. "Now leave this instant or I'll be forced to alert the entire building! I don't want to catch you two roaming around here anymore."

Gwen couldn't take it. The fact that Harry was someplace alone and possibly dying was simply unbearable. What if she was already too late? What if she would never be able to see him again?

"You're abandoning me just like all the rest!"

Would that really be their last encounter? The thought of him dying with that last memory of her made her feel so empty. The pain it brought was unimaginable. It was out of this world. She clenched her shirt above her heart. She could swear it almost popped out. She had left him with such a cruel final impression. Now she was going to lose him.

Not him. Please. Please not him too.

Out of desperation she ran up to where Barkley was currently walking away. She stood right in front of him, staring him right in the face before leaning on her knees and slamming her hands out in front of her.

"Please! I'm begging you, please, please tell me where he is!"

"Gwen..." Peter murmured softly as he stood in complete shock. Was she really going to such lengths for him? What exactly was Harry to her?

"You don't understand! There isn't much time, he needs my help. He could die! And Harry's... he's important to me. That's why...!" Gwen couldn't finish her sentence as the tears of frustration and desperation began prickling the corners of her eyes before slowly falling down her face.

Barkley took in the young woman's defeated form and it felt as if something were clenching his heart. He sighed before walking past her.

Peter kneeled besides Gwen who was silently shedding tears. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "C'mon Gwen... let's get up. We'll figure this out for ourselves. Okay?"

She nodded slowly and wiped the tears with her arm before allowing him to ease her onto her feet.

"In the warehouse by the docks. Warehouse 46 to be precise."

Gwen froze and turned towards Barkley. "What?"

"You asked didn't you? Well that's where I was told he was being kept. It used to be a storage for Oscorp back during the days when the building wasn't so spacious. Now it's just some secluded dump, or at least to the naked eye." Barkley explained. He then tossed a key towards Gwen. "That should get you inside. There's a basement which is where you'll find him."

"Thank you! You have no idea what this means to me!"

Gwen didn't wait for a response and was already dashing down the stairs and pushing through the exit. Every thought had all but banished from her mind as she bolted through the streets and headed towards the docks. She cut through several alleyways and soon found herself leaning on a brick wall, gasping to catch her breath. If felt as if she had just run a marathon. The docks were still miles away and at this rate she'd never make it in time.

"Yo!"

She raised her head at the familiar voice. There stood Peter now donning his Spiderman suit.

"You're not going to get there fast enough on foot."

Gwen smiled in relief. "Peter..."

The next thing she knew she was hanging close to his chest, arms wrapped around his neck, one of his arms wrapped around her waist, and web slinging past the buildings. This alternative definitely beat the running. It didn't take nearly as long to make it to the docks. They weren't even fully on the ground before she'd pushed off him.

"Gwen are you crazy!" He shouted. "You could've gotten hurt!"

She ignored him and ran towards warehouse 46. Once there she jammed the key in and pushed past the doors.

"Harry!"

The sight that met her was appalling. There were containers holding strange looking weapons, empty pods attached to the walls, and chemicals stocked in beakers everywhere she turned to. What exactly were they doing here? It was some sort of sick, twisted makeshift lab.

A hand grabbing her arm caused her to suddenly jump. On instinct she began thrashing about.

"Gwen! Gwen it's me!"

"Peter?"

He placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her. "It's me. Look, this place is pretty huge and we don't know who's in here so don't wander off. Just stay by my side, okay? I'll protect you." She had no idea just how much more there was in that last part of his speech.

Gwen nodded and took a hold of his gloved hand. Peter relished it. He had missed her close proximity. It felt like years since he'd last held her hand like this. Oh how he wished he didn't have his suit on so he could truly feel it.

"It's too quiet here." Peter exclaimed, finding the lack of guards around odd. A sudden chill ran up his spine and his senses were spiking. Without skipping a beat he pulled Gwen towards him and shot a web upwards.

"Whoa what are—" Gwen had no time to react as she was being pulled upwards. They had just barely managed to evade the barrage of bullets flying to where they had just been standing.

"Turrets," Peter spoke once he eyed the machines attached to the ceiling. "I think it's safe to say they're definitely hiding Harry here."

"Peter," Gwen said and pointed to where a door was at the far corner. "That must be the basement."

He swung to where several crates were stacked and peaked stealthily. "I count... 3 turrets, and it looks like a few sentry bots... just two. I'll fry them quick. After I fry the sentry bots I'm going to distract the turrets; while I have the turrets on me I want you to make a break for the door."

Gwen quickly shook her head. "But that's too dangerous. You'll be using yourself as bait."

"I'll be fine. Trust me it'll be a walk in the park!" He replied easily with a grin beneath his mask. "Now wait for my signal, okay?"

"Okay. Please be careful." She said in a quiet tone. "I don't want to lose you." And she meant it.

In response he nodded and gave her a thumbs up before jumping out. As expected the two sentry bots came charging at him. Using his adept web maneuvering he was able to evade the bullets. Quickly he swung his web and latched onto one of the sentries, pulling it upwards before slamming it towards the other one, successfully taking them out.

The turrets weren't any more welcoming as they fired mercilessly at him. Shooting more of his web he managed to clog the bullet holes but not before one of the bullets had grazed his arm. A burning pain echoed in his arm but he shook it off to focus on his task. Peter swung behind one of the turrets causing the opposing one to shoot at it and break it. There was only two left so it would be much easier now.

"Now Gwen!" Peter shouted as he lured the turrets towards him.

Gwen inhaled and exhaled before making a break for the door. She had full faith in Peter as she ran out her spot. Upon reaching she turned to him catching his glance; she gave him a grateful nod before heading inside.

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

The stairs leading to the basement was barely lit and it felt chillier in here then in the storage where she had been only seconds ago. The resentment she held for these people only grew. The nerve of them treating Harry like some sort of animal, no, worse.

Like a criminal.

After what felt like hours which was in reality about a minute, she made it to the bottom. The small light hovering over the ground was enough to for her to see the figure hunched beneath it. Relief washed over her while she rushed towards the figure. He was alive. She wasn't too late.

"Harry!" She called with joy. At the sound he noticeably tensed before moving away from the light, obscuring her vision of him even more. That was strange. It was almost as if he was trying to hide.

"Why did you come here?"

Gwen noted how hoarse his voice sounded. "What do you mean? It was to save you."

A cruel, bitter laugh filled the room. "I'm beyond that already."

"I don't understand?" Gwen asked, trying to see him through the poor light. Unable to bear it she grabbed her phone and used the flashlight installed in it to get a better look at him, briefly wondering why she had not thought of it before.

"Don't!" He shouted.

But it was too late.

An even colder chill ran through her body and her legs suddenly gave away. The phone fell from her hands as she crumbled to her knees. She had seen him.

Author's Notes

And so we finally have our encounter. Only a few chapters left to go now!