Chapter 6 [Minutes Earlier]
Strange appeared in the empty hallway. His eyebrow raised at his surroundings. Curious. I would think that there'd be more staff even at this time of night. He cast a cloaking spell over himself. His costume gave way to a nondescript shirt, tie and white coat. Yes. Much better! He looked at the charts with each room he passed.
Chill cut through him. By the Hosts of Hoggoth! He shivered. Heavinesssagged down over him like a soaked blanket. He knew the feeling well…
…in Death's presence….
No! Not on top of everything else! He rushed toward the source and stopped at the doorway. Hope evaporated like Steam from Boil's heat.
May coughed in her sleep. Pain contorted her lips into a grimace. Sweat dribbled down her forehead. Her heart struggled to beat. "Pe…Peter…Why? Why?"
A slender hooded figure floated several inches off the ground. It considered May's troubled rest. A bony hand extended toward her brow.
"STOP!" Strange strode into the room.
Disdain sniffed from under the being's hood. Voice rustled akin to Old Leaves on Fall's chilled earth. "Stephen Strange. Do not challenge me."
"There are those who'd suffer if you take her." A wave of his hands dispelled the disguise.
The figure snarled. "And the woman will suffer if I do not. She does not have much longer to live, Strange. Despite your vaunted mortal methods, her heart slows. She will pass on. The universe demands it."
"The universe or your pride, Death?" He edged closer to May's bedside.
"Pride?" Sarcasmchortled from the reaper's mouth. "I am not like you. Once more, you interfere in matters that do not concern yourself, Mortal. I reap souls when it is their time. I do not favor one soul over another. Do not seek to interfere. Actions are in motion. This universe has diverged from the one you knew." Menacehissed through Death's teeth.
ENOUGH! DEATH! I WILL DEAL WITH THIS BOTHERSOME MORTAL! THE BALANCE WILL BE PRESERVED!
Strange felt himself being transported away.
Death shook its head. "Pity." It touched May's forehead. "Be at peace now, Mortal. Your mate awaits you."
"Ben." May smiled. Her eyes twinkled. Then she fell limp against to the bed. Her eyes closed. She rasped her last. "Peter…"
Death felt Flash's approach. "Not yet." It melted away into the darkness.
Barely three seconds later, Flash rushed into the room. He's followed Strange's voice down the hall. Now he saw and heard no one. "This is where that guy was! I know it." He saw May. "Mrs. Parker?"
Display read only a flat line running across itself….
"What the Hell?" Flash rushed over to the patient. His fingers groped for a pulse first at her wrist and then along her neck. "This is crazy! There's got to be a pulse! There has to be!"
Sadly his fingers found nothing of that nature.
"Like Pete and Gwen are going to need this? COME ON!" Flash rushed back outside. "Nurse! NURSE!"
Bad News would be a burden….