Chapter 8

Kat recollected a story on the news two years ago about a weird man that dressed up in some funky costume. She had laughed out loud. But now that he was standing in front of her, things weren't all that hilarious. The mask that had looked so cheesy on TV looked much more ominous now that it was mere inches from her face. The abnormal yellow eyes slid upwards to reveal dark ones not unlike Harry's.

"Such a curious little kitten, aren't you?"

She recoiled as he carelessly flicked a strand hair from her face. Kat lunged forward to attack, but Harry tightened the hold around her waist. Norman laughed at the sight.

"I'd love to break such a strong spirit, but I haven't got the time, spiders to squash, innocents to kill. That sort of thing, ya know?"

He was leaning against the iron railing, speaking conversationally about these horrors like it was the weather. He's crazy, was the only thought that entered Kat's mind. Norman flicked a careless hand at Harry.

"She's all yours son. Make me proud."

Harry spun her around to face him. His face was a cruel mask, mouth twisted in a sinister sneer. He still retained his crushing hold on her as he slipped off his gloves and settled his hands on the small of her back. He loved the silkiness of her blouse. His hands traveled upwards, trailing along her back, her shoulders and finally to her neck. So delicate. He traced the fragile collarbones, reveling in the softness, her slight withdraw from his touch. He could nearly wrap on whole hand around it. What would happen if he squeezed? So he did. She cried out in terror. He liked that sound. So he did it again. She made a new sound, a raspy choking noise. Not as pretty as the first, but it'll do. His hand clenched harder. Kat fought him uselessly, tearing at his fingers, digging her nails in him. Harry didn't flinch. He could feel the life drain out of her, her resistance grew weaker. Intoxicating, he thought. As she fought bravely on, he leaned forward, lips brushing her ear.

"A kiss before dying."

He moved his mouth to hers, surprised that she kissed back with her diminished strength. It startled him so much that he relaxed his strangling hold. She slumped back in his arms with a last gasp. He stared at the lifeless figure with renewed emotion.

"What…? What did I do?" He whispered.

"What you had to." Came the reply.

His father came up beside him, gesturing to the young woman.

"You didn't need her, Harry. I'm the only one you need. Now that I'm back, we can destroy Spider-Man."

His son offered no response. He only gazed at Kat's inanimate form. Norman narrowed his eyes and gripped Harry roughly by the shoulder.

"Leave her. She'll be found soon enough."

Harry gently placed the girl on the metal walkway and stood. Norman patted his shoulder genially.

"Good boy. Now let's-"

He was cut off by a vicious punch that sent him flying over the railing. Harry smirked as the Goblin splashed into the deep water below. Slowly, he climbed down the steps to stand next to the pool where a sputtering, furiously cursing villain broke the surface.

"That was uncalled for."

Norman dragged himself out, peeling off the disguise. He rubbed his jaw where the blow had landed, then put it back on.

"But well done, Peter will be feeling that one"

At the mention of his best friend's name, Harry pulled his fist back for another hit. Norman caught it easily and replied with a swift strike of his own. The younger man veered off sharply to the side, dimly aware of the knee that connected to his stomach. Norman then grabbed his dazed son and pulled him toward the rebuilt wing. He stepped on it and gunned the engine.

"It's time for a crash course in ethics!"

The Goblin howled enthusiastically as the pair zoomed out of the cavernous room through the single round window. Shards of glass pierced Harry's unprotected fists as he shielded himself, shocking him into awareness. Norman had him by his collar, leaving him dangling helplessly...until he let go.

"This should teach you to respect your elders!"

Norman called gruffly to the plummeting figure. A strange whistling noise was all Harry heard as he fell back to earth. Then crack! It wasthe sound of hisrough encounter with a tree branch. Pine needles slapped his face, twigs snapped underneath him as he bounced from limb to limb. The ground greeted him forcefully. Every muscle screamed out in pain, Harry joined them.

"I thought you were over this weakness thing. Or do I have to beat it out of you again?"

The Goblin landed a few feet away, leisurely striding to the fallen young man.

"Harry, Harry." Norman scolded, shaking his head.

"You brought this on yourself. You just couldn't stay away from that girl, now she's dead. You hit me, you get beat within an inch of your life. Are you seeing a pattern?"

"I should've never listened to you!" Harry yelled.

Even though his wounds were gradually healing, he still winced as he boldly stood.

Norman sighed. "Always the slow learner, aren't you?"

He nailed a speedy kick, causing Harry to tumble back into a clearing. It wasn't a forest they were battling in, but a cliff's edge. Harry was made aware of this when he stumbled to the ledge. A harsh drop was mere feet away.

"I'm through with being nice."

Norman's malicious voice cut through the roaring of the ocean as he appeared from the woods.

"Now it's either you join me or join your girlfriend in the hereafter."

He stretched out a hand. Kat… Harry thought of her. Even though he had only known her barely a day, he loved her. Now she laid cold, cold as Norman, cold like himself. He couldn't stand to bring her face to memory. He couldn't stand to live either. He glanced at his so-called father. Living would mean he would have to put up with that creature. The one who never loved him, who never showed he cared. Why should he help him? Why did he ever listen to his warped subconscious?

All the insecurities came pouring forth. He didn't want to see that monster's face, not on Norman, not on himself. But where would he find peace? Harry stole a look at the frothing ocean far below. Like a siren's song, it lured him. Killing Peter was not going to stop the anguish. He knew what had to be done. A few shaky steps were all it took to reach the lip of the precipice, a couple more to simply walk off. Down, down he went, falling into the cool sapphire waters. Strangely, it felt as though he was being lifted. And there he went, both falling and flying into oblivion.

Days Later

It was an agonized, slightly sobbing Norman Osborn that addressed his fellow shareholders. He pressed a tissue to his eyes every now and then as he recounted the unreal events of the past days as well as his disappearance.

"I was so ashamed of my illness that there was no choice but to fake my own demise. I couldn't anyone, especially Harry."

He paused to hold his head in his hands.

"The small town was perfect, Dr. Harvey could help me and nobody would know."

Norman picked his head up and slumped dejectedly in his chair. He spun around to the glass wall behind him, allowing a fleeting smile of victory before continuing the tale.

"But Harry recently found out and went looking for me. When he got there, the shock of seeing me drove him to madness. He strangled Miss Harvey before leaping to his death."

The bewildered executives glanced at one another, stunned into silence. They were surprised and saddened at the loss of their young supervisor, but seeing his thought to be dead father nearly surpassed it. With coolly calculated smoothness, Norman swiveled to face the group and cleared his throat.

"Now let us have a moment of silence for my beloved son and the late Miss Kathleen Harvey, both taken at such a young age."

The members obliged, closing their eyes and leaning their heads forward. Osborn did the same. That's when he heard it. The low chuckling came from the other end of the room. It seemed to weave throughout the air, growing in intensity until it was shrill maniacal laughter. He glanced around at the others. But they still had their heads bowed, showing no signs of ever having heard the ruckus. It sounded again, this time behind him. Norman swung defiantly around. He came face to face with the image of his departed son. The younger Osborn smiled.

"Now is that anyway to remember your son?"