Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Phoebe and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe during these dark and gloomy days.

Listen With Your Heart Chapter 28

The attack on the school came without warning. All was peaceful at Midtown Science High School until suddenly the Lizard monster that everyone's been conversing about all over the city shows up. So unexpected that Peter isn't even prepared for it. Not once did he ever consider that Dr. Connors would ever be insane enough to attack a place filled with helpless students. It doesn't make sense at all until he hits the realization that during their fight the previous evening that Peter had accidentally left his camera behind. The camera that had his name and information on it with instructions to return it to him. Peter had been unable to go back for it because the rough currents in the sewers had swept him away to safety as the Lizard was doing everything it possibly could in order to murder him.

A rookie's biggest mistakes is being unobservant and misplacing even the slightest detail. One that has seriously put everyone, not just him, in major jeopardy.

All hell has broken loose.

Students and teachers alike are scattering, fleeing left and right as they try to get as far away from the Lizard as possible as he barrels into the hallway from the girls bathroom. The hallways are absolutely fit to bursting in the stampede. Only three students are slow in the uptake to make their way out.

As the Lizard scans the crowd for his intended target he and Peter lock eyes. In an instant the Lizards eyes are focused completely on him as it hisses, and his body posture tenses as if ready to pounce.

Not breaking from the stare off, waving frantically at Gwen and Phoebe behind him, Peter said "Go! Go!"

Gwen and Phoebe take hold of each other's hands so as not to lose each other in the chaos. The last thing Phoebe sees as she follows Gwen outside is Peter charging headlong towards the Lizard.

By the look of things the whole of the student body have made their way safely outside the building. Because they'd been at the back of the pack distracted with Peter, Gwen and Phoebe were some of the last ones out. In light of this no one really noticed them that much since the teachers followed the evacuation the moment all the students in their minds had reached a secure place.

Phoebe can't get Peter out of her head. It's nagging her over and over again. He's inside fighting the Lizard all alone with no backup. She can't just leave him behind.

As if her feet are reacting to what she's thinking, moving beyond her control, Phoebe's legs sprint back inside through those doors.

"Phoebe, where are you going?! Phoebe," shouted Gwen, trying to stop her before it's too late, but she's already too far ahead leaving her no other choice.

Peter's ongoing battle against the Lizard has taken him to the 2nd level walkway in the school. He'd attempted to restrain Dr. Connors by the tail, but his opponent swiftly took care of that dilemma. He detached the tail causing Peter to go flying while still hanging on to it. Dr. Connors didn't even give it a second glance. Thanks to the reptilian genes now flowing in his veins the tail immediately regrew.

"Disgusting," said Peter, tossing it far away from him.

The impact from the roll has kind of discombobulated Peter temporarily as he rushes to refill his lungs with air. Nonetheless there's still an adversary to face. Dr. Connors grins upon seeing Peter on the ground. As he quickly closes the distance between them Dr. Connors raises a clawed hand over his head to swing at the boy. Just as he's about to do it someone else intervenes on Peter's behalf.

Something hard and heavy slams into the back of Dr. Connors back. Not hard enough to actually physically hurt him, but plenty of force behind the blow where he can most definitely feel it.

"Leave him alone!"

Initially Dr. Connors had a ready snarl on his lips, fully ready to terminate the interloper. That is until he heard the voice recognizing it instantly as does Peter whom has a clear view of the person where he is on the floor.

Both men freeze, having no clue what to do next.

Dr. Connors is the first to react to this unexpected addition. Eyes wide in alarm Dr. Connors slowly turns around discover the one person above all he hoped never would see him in this state. Throughout all of this it's easy to forget certain details that would normally stick with you.

Like the fact that even a normally calm and obliging person like Phoebe has a temper to match her kindness whenever angered.

Despite not possessing any powers like these two do Phoebe remains a force to be reckoned with especially with a pipe that came loose during the skirmish held firmly in her hands. There's a substantial amount of fear in her eyes but refusing to show it she stands strong. Not really expecting to be able to take this monstrosity on, but make a distraction where Peter can get the advantage.

Tightening her grip on it in semblance of a baseball bat, Phoebe repeats "I'll say this only once more. Leave him alone!"

Neither of the men dare to speak a word, not knowing what to do in order to fix this.

Getting frustrated, feeling a false sense of bravado given she hasn't been attacked yet, Phoebe said "I said-."

"Phoebe," said Dr. Connors, speaking in a lowered tone of voice where the distortion created from the reptilian genetics in his veins are almost nonexistent.

Because of this Phoebe is able to easily recognize the voice much to her horror.

The pipe clatters onto the cement as it drops out of her numb fingers.

Staring straight into the Lizards eyes, caching the similarities around the contracted pupils in the middle, shaking her head in denial from side to side, Phoebe said "No, it can't be." She then turns desperate eyes on Peter, begging him to say her suspicions are wrong. "Tell me it isn't true. Tell me it isn't true!"

There's no use denying it no matter how much pain Peter wants to spare her from.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," said Peter, feeling so much shame and regret for not being honest with her sooner so she wouldn't have learned the truth in such a terrible manner.

Suddenly pieces that have been misplaced for weeks seem to all come together. Her father's persistent research into reptilian DNA, disappearing for days at a time, his unkempt and ragged appearance, and then the Lizard reeking havoc all across the city.

All this time it's been her father.

It hits Phoebe all at once.

Phoebe collapses onto her knees, falling forward with hands clasped over her mouth as her breathing starts to rapidly pick up pace. Not hyperventilating, but pretty damn close to it.

Reaching out a scaled hand towards his child, Dr. Connors said "Phoebe-."

Gwen then chooses then to make her entrance wielding a trophy as a weapon, attacking Dr. Connors the same way Phoebe did. With his attention fully turned on her Peter takes action, restraining Dr. Connors in sturdy webbing. As Dr. Connors is breaking free of his bindings string by string Peter makes it top priority to get Gwen and Phoebe out of danger. Peter uses the trophy to break the neighboring window. He then attaches separate lines of webbing to each of them and throws them out the window. The opposite ends of the webbing are locked on the window's so the girls don't hit the ground and instead dangle in the air a few feet above.

A little while later after law enforcement comes to cut them down Gwen and Phoebe find a small area where they can be out of sight for a little while to talk in private.

Confronting Gwen on what she just found out, leaving no room for excuses, Phoebe demands "Did you know? About my father?"

Swallowing thickly under the weight of what this realization means for her friend, deciding to divert from any more deception, Gwen said "Yes. Please understand, Phoebe, I only just found out."

"The night Peter came in through your window," guessed Phoebe, remembering how Gwen and Peter had shut up the seconds she stepped back into the bedroom the previous night.

Gwen nods.

So many emotions are raging through Phoebe right now she doesn't know how to handle it. So tears escape and drip from her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," murmured Gwen, hugging a devastated Phoebe as she silently cries into her friend's shoulder.

Authors Note:

I don't know about the rest of you, but I was stunned and in disbelief as soon as I learned of Chadwick's passing. It's so sad for both his family and fans. He was such a good man.

At last! At long last! The 100th story is finally created! Ah! I'm so happy and proud with myself. The goal has been reached, but that doesn't mean I'm not opened to continuing to receive other story suggestions in the future. I'll always be open to them. Feel free to let me know what they are and if they click then I'll get right to it. Glad to have and am thankful for all your support.

Watching Justice League: Dark Apokolips gave me a certain idea. What do you guys think of me combining my characters Audrina from Heart Of Atlantis and Danika from this one once we get to this new movie?

Also, I still haven't figured out what Danika's superhero name should be. I really need this figured out because the following chapter after this one will be where her superhero name is chosen for this story. The choices are now down to Tempest and Twilight.

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

I've been meaning to get back to this one for a while now and only now I've managed to find time and inspiration for it. I'm very satisfied and happy about it. Apologies for it taking so long. I've been debating on how to go about it for a while and finally figured it out.

Right now during this epidemic with the coronavirus that's impacting every nation in the entire world we really do need find whatever sources we possibly can in order to lighten our spirits. Especially those who are unfortunately stuck sick or those locked in self isolation in order to prevent both contraction and spread of the illness. For those of us who have the abilities to do this we have a duty to keep up morale and that's exactly what I wholeheartedly desire these new stories and updates concocted during this time do for you.

I recently put up some other works I've put out at titled Silent Guardians To Gotham, Hachiko: UA Class 1-A's Mascott, Big Hero 6: Mirai Hamada, Mermaids Walk Among Us, U.A. High Schools Own Blue Eyes White Dragon, Sayuri Wren, Fifth Turtle, Crown Jewel Of Gongmen City, The Emperor's Daughter, Glenstorm's Daughter, Dianca Robbins, Morning Star, Reira Todoroki: Daughter Of Fire and Ice, Secret Of Bristol Cove, Predators Redemption, Rava's Journey, Princess Of The Forest, A Revolutionary Romance, Aunt, Fantine Tezla: Hot Wheels Acceleracers, Green Lantern Odette Dupree: First Flight, Magic And the Brave Little Toaster 1, Lavinia: Princess Of Edelweiss, Rorschach's Legend, Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender, The 8thLoser, Naomi Poldark: Mistress Of Nampara, Serenity: End Guardian To The Moors, Dido Cruger: Power Rangers SPD, The True Catwoman Of Gotham, Green Lantern Odette Dupree: First Flight, and Nuala: The White Lioness. I highly recommend them. ;D

By the way, Silent Guardians To Gotham, Hachiko: UA Class 1-A's Mascot, Mermaids Walk Among Us, Big Hero 6: Mirai Hamada, U.A. High Schools Own Blue Eyes White Dragon, Reira Todoroki: Daughter Of Fire And Ice, Morning Star, Crown Jewel Of Gongmen City, Fifth Turtle, The Emperor's Daughter, Rorschach's Legend, Sayuri Wren, Bianca Robbins, Aunt, Glenstorm's Daughter, Mandalorian: The 2ndFoundling, Eira Byrnison, and Watchmen Meets Avengers: The Newest Defender, Rava's Journey, Princess Of The Forest, Green Lantern Odette Dupree: First Flight, and The True Catwoman Of Gotham, are some of the best newest additions to my profile. If you're a fan of the Golden Compass and Watchmen which are the new series on HBO then you will love these. Then if you haven't saw them yet then I recommend that you check it out. Since there are still just recently uploaded I really would enjoy hearing other peoples thoughts on the subject matter so far. So feel free to do so if you have the time.

I have other grand news! I was a patron at New York Comic Con 2019! Ah! I'd been dying to go for years and now I had the opportunity. The Jokers from Impractical Jokers have been here along with Tom Hiddleston and so many others. Over those few days I actually got my picture taken with a couple of other actors/actresses and some really great panels. It really is so exciting there. This is an opportunity of a lifetime so there's no way in hell that I was going to waste a single second of it. No one ever should with something like this. Ever! ;D

For future preferences I highly recommend that you all keep an eye out for when tickets for New York Comic Con are available for purchase again for next year. This is a huge event and you should jump on it whenever you have the chance. Unfortunately this year it appears like Comic Con might be skipped not just in New York, but also in all it's regular places during the course of scheduled events. I think we all know the reason for it is plain as day.

The coronavirus.

Can't exactly blame with how dreadful things are getting in escalation and the fact that places like the Javits Center in New York have been temporarily converted into makeshift hospitals in order to deal with the overflow of people contracting infections from this rapidly spreading virus that might as well be called a plague at this point. Let's keep fingers crossed that an aim is to have this pass us before then so things can get back on track. If it is then New York Comic Con might be exactly what people need in order to lighten their spirits after all this darkness. Stay safe everyone and long to eventually see you there.