It should come as no surprise that Eddie's plan was a total and complete utter disaster. We didn't even get past two of the officers last night before they stopped us and questioned our business in the area. Eddie tried to bullshit his way around it, saying that he was on rotation on the floor, covering for a nurse who called in sick. He claimed someone had reported a mess that needed attending to in one of the rooms.
The cops dismissed us almost immediately. Thankfully, they somehow believed we both worked in the hospital. The officers were apologetic but stated they couldn't have any unauthorized visitors in the patient's room. They explained there was a small list of people who were cleared to enter the room, including a few hospital employees. They said we could ask our respective supervisors to be added to the list, but until then, we would need to go elsewhere.
Eddie was quick to apologize before we made our way out of the hospital. He drove me home, explaining that he didn't want to keep me out late on a school night. He promised he would call his lawyer informant in the morning and see if there were any strings he could pull. I was holding out hope that he could work his charm to get us added to the list of people cleared to enter the taxi driver's room so we could speak with him.
The plan was for Eddie to go back to the hospital sometime today and interview the driver while I was at school; we would meet up later and continue brainstorming ideas to prove Dr. Connors was the lizard from the bridge the other night. The task was seemingly near impossible without any solid proof.
I wanted to believe Peter yesterday when he explained his reasoning behind why he thought Connors was the creature destroying the city. But his word was not enough to publish a story with nothing to back up his accusations. I continued to think of any possible loopholes to printing a story about the connection between Connors and the lizard sighting on the bridge.
I stopped by Peter's house this morning. I went over there hoping to convince him to write and submit a story to be published in the opinion section, but May explained he had already left for school. I didn't see him after my lonely walk and had zero luck catching him in between classes. It wasn't until later in the school day that I was walking through the hallway and saw a familiar mess of brown hair standing near his locker.
A smile grew on my face as I approached Peter. I was so relieved to see him standing in the hallway. Just seeing the back of his head was enough to reassure me that nothing had happened to him. I was beginning to worry that he had been injured in his attempt to get a photograph of the lizard and that was why he hadn't returned any of my calls or texts from yesterday.
I opened my mouth to say hi but froze when I realized Peter wasn't alone. My smile quickly faded as I watched Peter's lips glide over Gwen's. Oh. The two were locked in an intimate embrace, their mouths parting and colliding as they exchanged a passionate kiss against his locker. Oh.
My entire body felt like it had been run over by a train. The books I had been holding for my last class of the day seemed to slip from my hands, crashing on the ground near my feet. My ears were ringing as I took a step away from Peter and Gwen.
Peter's lips detached from Gwen's as he turned around to investigate the noise. His eyes grew wide as they made contact with mine. He opened his mouth and took a step toward me. He was clearly speaking to me, but I couldn't hear anything he was saying.
My legs continued to walk away as Peter followed after me. I panicked and looked around for an immediate escape. There was a bathroom to my left. I lowered my head and rushed into the stalled sanctuary, knowing Peter wouldn't follow me inside.
I ran over to the sink, trying to catch my breath and stop the tears that were threatening to fall. I closed my eyes, attempting to blink away the pain. You're okay. You're okay.
I tried to rationalize the scene I had just interrupted between Peter and Gwen. I knew they had been together for a while. I had assumed they had done more than just kiss.
I knew all of this, and yet, I couldn't help but feel shocked seeing them together in the hallway like that. He looked so completely enamored by her. His face- he was so content. He was kissing her like she was the oxygen he needed to survive. He was- stop. You're making this worse for yourself.
I brought my hand to my mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that were filling up the empty space in the bathroom, echoing off the cold tile floor. It felt like something intrusive had dug into my chest and ripped out my heart and lungs, leaving my rib cage empty and barren. I lowered my hand to the sink, trying to focus on the cool smooth ceramic in an attempt to ground myself.
Come on, Em. You can do this. Get your shit together.
I tried to remind myself that he was with Gwen, who was amazing. You should be happy for him. She loved and supported him; she was kind, funny, and thoughtful. And Peter loved her. But he doesn't love me.
I reached out and turned on the sink, lowering my hand to collect the water that was rushing out. I bent forward, bringing my face closer to the faucet, and splashed water on my skin. The liquid felt brisk against my skin, slowly waking the rational part of my brain from its slumber.
I turned off the water and pressed my hands into the edge of the sink, allowing it to bear all of my weight. I closed my eyes, my head hanging low, as I attempted to collect my wits. I focused on my breathing, pushing any thought about Peter out of my head just as fast as it threatened to enter.
A loud groaning sound came from somewhere behind me. Without moving from my bent-over position against the sink, I peered between my arm and torso, staring down at the ground in the middle stall where the sound was coming from.
"Sorry," I exhaled, trying to even out my breathing. "I didn't know someone else was in here," I explained as I pushed myself up and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
My eyes quickly darted to the image of the stalls behind me; they were beginning to shake violently as the groaning sound continued to grow louder. The toilet seats started rattling from the motion. What the hell are they doing in there?
I turned around, gripping the sink in fear, and pressed my lower back into the ceramic. I leaned my head closer to the ground, lowering myself to get a better view of the person's feet in the middle stall.
Without warning, the tile around the toilet in the middle stall cracked. The toilet and most of the surrounding floor disappeared below, leaving a large gaping hole in the middle of the bathroom.
I let out a small shriek as I jumped back, finding safety underneath the sink, and positioned myself in the corner of the bathroom. At the exact same moment that I took refuge under the sink, a large scaly claw shot up from the hole in the ground, gripping at the tile.
A giant green lizard proceeded to climb out of the hole and swiped the air with its arm, destroying the bathroom stalls in one swift motion. Its claws ripped through the metal as though they were made of toothpicks. The creature opened its mouth, releasing a prehistoric roar that sent shivers down my spine.
I brought my knees into my chest and threw my hands above my head, protecting my neck as I watched one of the bathroom stall doors come crashing into the sink. Glass from the mirrors lining the wall cascaded to the ground, sprinkling onto the floor around me.
I slightly lifted my head to see the lizard's reflection in the shards of the broken mirror. A white fabric was torn from its body as it turned and stomped toward the exit, its tail nearly missing my foot.
The creature crouched into a running stance and charged at the door. It lifted its arms above its head, anticipating the impact from breaking through the wall. Cement, drywall, and wood went flying as the lizard made contact with the doorframe, pushing through the wall with enough force to knock itself off balance.
Screams erupted from the hallway as chaos broke loose inside Midtown High. The sounds of fearful terror were muffled by the deafening bellows from the creature as it entered the crowded hallway.
I tried my best to push myself to stand, but my body remained in its curled-up position.
Come on legs, don't betray me now.
My eyes lazily watched the countless students run by the bathroom door, screaming as they exited the building.
Get up.
We had spent years practicing drills for emergency disasters, but nothing had prepared us for something like this.
You need to get out of here before that thing comes back.
The screams began to fade as more and more students fled the scene. The creature continued to roar, but this time it sounded like it was struggling.
I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths before forcing myself to stand. My eyes darted to the giant hole in the bathroom floor, catching a glimpse of the white fabric that had been torn from the creature's body. I could faintly make out the letter 'O' on the tattered garment.
I took a step closer to examine the cloth but was quickly distracted by a body sliding across the floor in the hallway.
"Emerson," Peter's voice yelled. "Get out of there! Go, run!"
My eyes grew wide in horror as I watched Peter's back collide with the cement wall outside the bathrooms. I moved to the broken doorframe and tried to rush to Peter's aid.
A slimy, thick green tail swiped at me, sending me flying down the hallway, away from the bathroom and away from Peter.
The creature turned to face me, growling loudly and baring its teeth as it stalked toward me.
I skidded to a stop, slamming into the row of lockers. I opened my mouth to scream, but my throat was too dry. I tried to push myself away from the creature, scooting across the floor in an attempt to escape.
A blue backpack went hurling through the air, making contact with the lizard's head. The creature slowly turned around and swiped at the air where Peter had last been. Before I could comprehend what was happening, a pair of hands were lifting me to my feet.
"You need to get out of here," Peter said sternly.
The creature turned to follow the sound of his voice and let out an ear-piercing cry as it began charging at us.
Peter instinctively wrapped his fingers around my arm and pushed me behind him, blocking the creature's path to me with his body. "Em," he yelled without taking his eyes off the lizard that was quickly approaching, "You need to get out of the building. Go. Now!" he demanded as he pushed me away from him.
My back collided again with the lockers behind us while Peter manuvered around the lizard's claws. I blinked several times, trying to regain my focus as my head crashed into the metal. I brought my hand to my head, trying to steady myself as I watched Peter dodge another swipe from the creature.
He jumped in the air, flipping over the creature's tail, and started luring it in the opposite direction of where I was standing. "Emerson," Peter screamed, his voice sounding coarse. "Get the hell out of here. Run!"
"Peter, look out!" I screamed as the creature shifted its movement at the last moment and slammed him into the wall.
"Go!" he yelled, motioning with his hands in the air. "I'm right behind you. Go!" His eyes softened as they met mine, pleading for me to leave.
I took one last look at him. I nodded my head slowly and began to turn and move toward the nearest exit. I made it all of three paces before Peter was sent crashing into the trophy case.
The lizard had thrown Peter with such force that his body went straight through the drywall into the science lab on the other side of the wall.
"Peter!" I screamed, my vision becoming blurry from the tears that were streaming down my face.
The creature turned, snarling, as it stalked after Peter, no doubt to finish the job.
"Nowhere to hide, Peter," a cold, chilling voice boomed from somewhere inside the lab.
Something thin and white shot out from the room, latching onto Peter's backpack.
My head tilted, following the movement of the backpack as it soared through the air and into the room. I took a step toward the lab, flinching when I heard another loud crashing sound. This time, it sounded like glass was involved.
I took another step forward but quickly froze to shield myself from a small explosion going off in the room.
"All these souls, lost and alone," the lizard growled. "I can save them. I can cure them. There's no need to stop me, Peter."
I poked my head around the door into the lab just in time to see one of Peter's shoes fly through the air and make contact with the creature's head.
The lizard roared in anger as Spider-Man emerged from a hole in the back wall of the classroom.
Spider-Man crossed his arms, shooting a web at two lights that were hanging above the lizard's head, and quickly pulled down. The hanging lights were torn from the ceiling and crashed into the creature, causing it to scream in frustration.
Spider-Man took the distraction as an opportunity to climb onto the ceiling and attack the lizard from above. "You're not thinking straight, doc," he yelled as he shot out webbing to try and contain the beast.
Spider-Man landed on top of the creature, shooting out more webs, but the creature kept tearing right through them. The creature took hold of Spider-Man's body and attempted to throw him off, sending them both flying into the hallway.
I quickly hopped through the doorway, into the room where they had just left, careful to keep myself hidden from the fight taking place in the hallway. I cautiously walked over to a large, smoking hole in the wall, wafting the air in an attempt to clear the debris around me.
I looked down and saw Peter's backpack unzipped in the middle of the floor. His clothes were scattered around the open bag. Well if I had any doubt about Peter being Spider-Man, they were surely gone now.
"Oh my god," a concerned voice called out from somewhere behind me. "Are you okay?"
I turned around to see Gwen standing in the doorway, her green eyes wide as she approached me. She reached out her hand, gently caressing my face as she searched for injury.
"What happened?" she asked, shaking her head. "Never mind. We need to get you out of here. Let's go," she said as she draped my arm over her shoulder and led me toward the door.
My eyes landed on a row of lab coats hanging on the wall as we exited the room.
Lab coats. The white fabric.
"Gwen," I said as I turned to face her. "I need to go back to the bathroom before we leave."
More screeches erupted from down the hall, indicating that Spider-Man and the lizard were still battling somewhere in the school.
She had a concerned look on her face as her eyes darted between me and the sounds of the screams.
"They went that way," I said, nodding in the direction I had seen Peter and the lizard struggle. "I'll be fine. I can make it outside if you want to-"
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" she asked, reaching down to pick up a large trophy off of the floor.
"Yeah," I said slowly. Before I could utter another word, Gwen had taken off down the hallway, trophy in hand, as she went to help Peter. All I could do was stand there, admiring her bravery for running into battle like that.
I took a moment, convincing myself that Peter could handle himself and that Gwen would be okay. I tried to focus my mind on returning to the bathroom to search for the fabric that had fallen from the creature's body when it emerged from the hole in the floor.
I started walking toward the bathroom when my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. I reached down to pull out my phone and hit answer without looking at who was calling.
"Hello?" I gasped, stepping over a large piece of the broken wall from the bathroom door.
"Emerson. Oh, thank fuck you answered. Where the hell are you? I'm outside. I don't see you in the crowd of people."
"Eddie?" I questioned, shaking my head as I cautiously approached the broken bathroom stalls. "I- I'm still inside the school."
"Why the actual fuck are you inside the school?" Eddie yelled.
"I- I needed to check something," I said quietly, squinting my eyes as I looked down the large hole in the floor. A torn, white lab coat was stuck to a crushed pipe. The name 'Oscorp' was clearly printed above the chest pocket.
"Emerson, if you are investigating that damn lizard instead of getting to safety," Eddie scorned, "I swear to god, I will come inside that school and drag you out of there if I have to. Get out. Now."
I let out a frustrated sigh and pulled the phone away from my ear. I quickly snapped a picture of the lab coat and texted it to Eddie. "Check your messages," I said as I put the phone back up to my ear. "It's him. I think we just got the proof that we need to out Connors as the creature."
"Fuck Connors and fuck the proof," Eddie yelled. "Get yourself out of that damn school- excuse me. Excuse me? Yeah, my friend. She's still in there. Yeah. No, I gotta go in the- get your hands off me!"
"Eddie?" I asked, my voice growing louder with concern as I started walking out of the bathroom. "Where are you? I'm walking out of the building now."
"I'm near the tables outside. They have paramedics lined up checking people," he stated, sounding worried.
"Okay," I exhaled, nodding my head as I increased my pace. "I'll meet you-"
My sentence was interrupted by the sounds of a very aggravated lizard roaring as it came barreling down the hallway. It was headed right toward me at full speed.
"Em? Em? Are you okay?" Eddie's voice screamed from the speaker on my phone. "Jesus christ. Em?"
I turned around and started sprinting as fast as I could to the exit. I could hear the lizard clawing at the floor as it closed the distance between us.
Somehow, I made it to the door just in time to turn around and see the lizard slip into the bathroom and disappear from view.
I pushed open the metal door and brought my hand up to shield my eyes from the bright light as I stepped outside. The scene I was about walk into could only be described as pure chaos.
There were ambulances, firetrucks, and cop cars parked as far as the eye could see. Some were parked on the lawn outside of the school. Adults and students were running around; it was difficult to tell the teachers apart from the paramedics. There were triage stations set up, tending to anyone injured during the intrusion.
My eyes scanned the faces of people rushing by, searching for any that I recognized. I spotted a distressed Flash sitting on one of the tables near the front of the school.
He was sitting on top of the table, his feet resting on the bench. He had his fingers interlocked and was bouncing his leg as he stared straight ahead at the ground.
I let out an exhausted exhale and made my way over to where he was sitting.
As if he could feel me approaching, he lifted his head and his eyes met mine. He immediately pushed himself off of the bench and ran over to meet me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight embrace.
"I was so fucking worried when I didn't find you out here," he cried into the nape of my neck, pulling me in tighter to his body.
I collapsed into his hug as a pained groan escaped my lips.
Flash quickly pulled away, resting his hands on my shoulders as he looked me over. "Are you hurt?" he exhaled, a worried expression spreading across his face. His eyes grew wide when they looked toward my forehead. "What happened? Oh my- hey, we need a paramedic over here!"
"Flash, I'm okay," I said, shaking my head. I stumbled forward and placed my hand on his chest for support to hold myself up. "I just need to sit down."
"No, you're not," he said as he helped lower me to the ground so I could sit. "You're bleeding," he explained, nodding at my forehead.
I pulled my eyebrows together and lifted my hand to my head, wincing as my fingers made contact with the skin above my eye.
"Don't touch it," Flash instructed, shaking his head as he gently pulled my hand away from my face. He looked over his shoulder and yelled, "Hey! We need someone over here. She's hurt pretty bad."
I looked down at my hand, gasping when I realized it was covered in blood.
A few seconds later, a paramedic came running over to where we were sitting on the ground. She threw her bag on the grass next to me and bent down to begin examining me. She gently pushed my hair out of my face and studied the cut on my forehead.
"This is bleeding pretty seriously," she stated, shaking her head. "I'm going to apply pressure and see if that stops it, okay?" she said, looking up at me.
I nodded my head and braced myself for the sting of the gauze as she lifted it to my injury. I closed my eyes, trying to distract myself from the throbbing sound bouncing inside my head.
After a minute or two, the paramedic lifted the gauze, checking to see if the bleeding had slowed down. "I can't tell how deep this is. Head wounds usually bleed a lot," she sighed, shaking her head as she reached into her bag for a clean bandage. "You might need stitches."
"Emerson? Oh, fuck. Are you okay?" Eddie's voice called from somewhere behind the paramedic.
The paramedic's eyes grew wide as she stared at me. "Emerson?" she asked, shaking her head. "You aren't Liz's kid, are you?"
"Um," I said, blinking several times. "Yeah," I nodded my head slowly. "That's my mom."
"Ah shit," the paramedic said, closing her eyes. "Okay," she exhaled, sounding relieved. "Hey, Cameron," she called, turning to look at a paramedic who was helping another student behind Flash. "Call Liz back and tell her we found her kid. She's okay."
"Got it," the paramedic named Cameron said.
"What the hell were you thinking staying inside there?" Eddie scolded as he bent down next to where I was sitting on the grass. "Is she going to be okay?" he asked the paramedic. Before she could answer him, Eddie's expression dropped when he noticed Flash standing nearby. "Hey man," he said, standing to address Flash. "Why the hell didn't you get her out of there when that thing started tearing apart the fucking school?"
"I wasn't with her," Flash said, standing up straight. "She had class on the opposite side of the building from me last hour."
"That's no excuse," Eddie yelled, shaking his head.
"Follow the light, Emerson," the paramedic instructed as she shined a light in my eyes and began moving it from side to side.
"As soon as people started screaming and running, I tried to get through to go find her," Flash explained, his voice sounding far away as he recalled the moment the lizard entered the school. "I was almost to the other side of the school before a teacher stopped me and made me go outside with the others. I didn't have a choice."
"You always have a choice," Eddie spat, crossing his arms as he turned his back to Flash. "You should have gone back in after her."
"I- I tried to," Flash said quietly, lowering his gaze to the ground. "Charlie and a few of the other guys had to hold me back."
"Okay, good," the paramedic said, nodding her head. "I need you to remember these words, okay? Blue, giraffe, cookie, beehive. Got it?"
"What?" I said, blinking as I shook my head at her.
"Remember those words," she said as she continued to examine my head. "Do you know where you are?"
"Midtown," I stated, looking around at the chaos behind her. Eddie and Flash were still arguing, yelling at one another.
"Good," she nodded. "What's your name?"
"Emerson Jay," I said slowly, narrowing my eyes at her. "What's yours?"
"Lisa," she explained, smiling softly. "Do you know what just happened?"
"Yeah, uh," I nodded slightly. "I- I was in the bathroom when this- this lizard came out of the ground and started attacking the school-"
"You were there when it came into the building?" Eddie yelled, sounding worried as he bent down next to me.
"I, um," I stuttered, closing my eyes as I tried to recall the events that had just taken place.
"I need you to back up so I can finish examining her," Lisa insisted, shaking her head at Eddie.
Eddie said nothing, but held up his hands and slowly backed away.
"Emerson," Lisa said sweetly, softening her gaze. "Can you repeat back those words to me I told you earlier?"
"Um," I said, shaking my head as I tried to recall the words. "Blue," I said hesitantly.
"Yes," Lisa nodded, smiling. "Can you remember the rest?"
"Giraffe," I said slowly, squinting. "Cookie...beehive?"
"Great," Lisa sighed, reaching into her bag to pull out a fresh bandage. "Well, I don't think you have a concussion, so that's great news," she explained as she started to replace the gauze on my head. "Bad news, I think you're going to need a few stitches, or at least something to help this gash close and heal properly."
"She's going to be okay?" Flash asked, sounding concerned as he stepped closer to where we were sitting on the ground.
"Yeah," Lisa nodded. "She's going to be fine. I can patch you up here, but I think your mom would prefer to look at it first. I can give you a ride to the hospital," she stated as she stood up. She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head while she looked around. "Thankfully no one was seriously injured. Seems like you got the worst of it," she explained, turning around to look down at me. "You ready?" she asked, holding out her hand to help me up.
I nodded my head as I took hold of her hand. "Yeah," I grunted, lifting myself to stand. "Thanks. So, uh, you said my mom was working tonight?"
"Yeah," Lisa sighed as she helped steady me and directed us toward the ambulance. "I'll give her a call on our way to the hospital and let her know we'll be bringing you in."
"Okay," I exhaled, shaking my head. Great. She's probably going to freak out.
Lisa helped me climb into the back of the ambulance and directed me to sit on the stretcher.
Flash quickly tried to follow behind, holding onto the door handle to pull himself up.
"Woah there," Lisa said, taking a step forward to gently push Flash back to the ground. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Going with you to the hospital," Flash stated, shrugging his shoulders.
"No, you're not," Lisa sighed, shaking her head.
"Why not?" Flash whined, looking over at me concerned.
"You're a student here?" Lisa asked, nodding at the school behind us.
Flash nodded his head and crossed his arms.
"All students that aren't being transported for injuries are supposed to stay on campus," she explained, sounding sympathetic. "You have to be accounted for, otherwise they will think something happened to you."
Flash exhaled loudly, shaking his head as he took a step forward. "I'm coming with you," he insisted, attempting to climb into the back of the ambulance again.
"Sorry, kid," Lisa stated, shaking her head. "Wait here for instructions. Once you've been checked and cleared, you can meet us at the hospital."
Flash stared at me, his jaw hardening. He closed his eyes and turned around to where Eddie was standing a few feet away. He looked back at me and Lisa, sighing. "He isn't a student here. Can he go with her?"
"You're a student at Midtown?" Lisa questioned Eddie, not believing Flash.
Eddie raised his eyebrows and shook his head several times. "Hell no," he laughed, taking a step forward. "I'm a student studying journalism at ESU. I'm actually her partner at The Bugle," he said, motioning with his hand toward me. "Is it cool if I come?"
Lisa looked over to where I was sitting, waiting for me to respond.
"I have no problem with it," I sighed, shrugging my shoulders.
"Great," Lisa said as she walked to the front of the ambulance. "Let's get a move on," she called over her shoulder.
Eddie nodded his head and made his way to the ambulance. Before he could climb into the back with me, Flash stopped him, placing his hand on Eddie's chest.
"Look after her," Flash said through gritted teeth.
"Don't worry, big guy," Eddie chuckled, patting Flash on the shoulder as he took hold of the handle on the door. "I'll take good care of her," he smiled as he sat on the bench seat across from where I was sitting.
Flash closed his eyes and lowered his head to the ground for a moment, trying to collect himself before responding. "I'll be there as soon as I can," he stated, nodding his head as he made eye contact with me.
"Okay," Lisa sang as she made her way into the back with Eddie and I. "Let's get going," she said as she reached out to close the doors. She paused, looking down at Flash. "She'll be alright. You can see her as soon as you're cleared to leave."
Flash pressed his lips together and nodded his head slightly. He shoved his hands into his jacket pocket and took a few steps away. His eyes remained locked on mine until the ambulance doors closed.
The vehicle began to move as Lisa instructed me to lay down on the stretcher while she cleaned the wound on my head again. I let out a slow exhale as I watched Flash's body grow smaller and smaller as we drove away.