ANTEBELLUM: XXI

RAMSEY BIANCHI

MIDTOWN SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ALL BUNDLED UP OUTSIDE THE BUILDING, PARAMEDICS AND POLICE OFFICERS WERE CHECKING UP ON EVERYONE WHILE ALSO TAKING STATEMENTS. Hazel's eyes made contact with a platinum-blonde girl wearing a cream coat, I hurriedly made my way toward Gwen, who was dialing someone on her phone. Drops of sweat rolled down the side of my face as I pushed everyone out of my way, Connor took out his notepad before starting to interrogate every student who was willing to talk. Gwen spun around at the sound of my heavy footsteps, I was still wearing my track shorts with the school's P.E. shirt.

"Ramsey? -Hey! Peter?" Gwen quickly cut herself off just as Peter picked up the phone call, I stared at her with worried eyes. "Where are you?"

"Can I talk to him?" I pleaded, my heart throbbing at the thought of him being injured or going after that giant lizard, Gwen held out a finger.

"He's fine. He's in the sewers, tracking him." Gwen passed on the message, but her words did nothing to calm my nerves over Peter. "Yes, I do it all the time at OsCorp."

I paid close attention to their conversation, not having a clue what was going on, but I was determined to help in any way I could. "What-What's in OsCorp? Is the lizard going over there?"

Gwen stared at me with her big blue eyes, behind her blue curtains there was a new emotion, and I'm certain I've never seen Gwen look so fearless and determined in my life. My best friend has always been a good girl, focusing on her studies and leading a tranquil life, I was the opposite, which sometimes had me wondering how exactly did we become best friends?

"Okay, got it. On my way." Gwen hung up, she looked around as if to check no one was paying attention to us before pulling me by the arm. "Let's go help your boyfriend."

I frowned as we hurriedly walked side by side, the school fading behind us as we made our way to OsCorp. "He's not my boyfriend-and will you care to explain to me what's going on? What's in OsCorp?"

Gwen sighs, glancing at me before whistling at a taxi. "The antidote."

"Wow, uh, the antidote for what?" I asked, feeling so out of place.

Gwen sighs as a taxi made a stop by us, we got inside and Gwen gave the man the directions. "I'll tell you everything at OsCorp, okay?"

The ride to OsCorp felt like an eternity, the whole ride I felt extremely anxious and nervous, which was very unlike me. But there was something bad, I felt it within my very bones and heart, it told me whatever was in OsCorp was bound to rain hell on our lives. Gwen remained composed, her baby blue eyes were serene and thoughtful, and she seemed steady, unlike my heartbeat.

Sneaking inside OsCorp was no problem, Gwen had everything under control and all I had to do was follow the determined blonde teenager. Our steps were quick and steady, none spared them a glance, which surprised me. One would believe they would be more careful with who walked in and out of OsCorp, but clearly, they were all rather busy enough to pay attention to an unfamiliar Latina girl.

Gwen grabbed my wrist and yanked me down an unfamiliar hall, which was absurd to describe since the whole place was unfamiliar to me. "We gotta hurry, Dr. Curtis might be on his way."

"This seems bizarre." I hissed, Gwen halted them both in front of the elevator. "A man as brilliant as Dr. Curtis, what motive does he have to do something as crazy as this?"

The elevator ding, and the door slides open, allowing the girls to enter simultaneously. Gwen pressed the number of the floor they were going to, once the doors closed she leaned on the glass wall of the elevators and let out a sigh. "I am just as shocked and confused as you are, I've known him for a long period of time, he's a good man. I don't understand what he could possibly want to achieve. "

I let out a sigh, my hazel eyes averted down to the first level, people walked across the open room with no knowledge of what was going to happen. "Look at them, oblivious to what's happening." Gwen glanced down. "Shouldn't we warn them?"

Hazel's eyes met baby blue, Gwen narrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. "Not until it's certain. Spreading panic might get us in trouble, and right now we need to get to the lab, that's our mission."

"But the people-"

Gwen cut me off, she spoke with finality. "-Peter said he'll keep us posted, if Dr. Curtis is coming here he will call me, and we will set the fire alarm off. Okay?"

I let out a huffed, feeling like a scolded baby, but nodded eventually. "Alright, fine, but I still think this is very risky, we're teenagers for crying out loud."

Gwen gave me a teasing look, eyebrow arched, and a smirk played on her lips. "I don't know if you're worried or scared, I thought you were all for the risk."

I narrowed my eyes at her, the elevator door dinged open and Gwen walked out, still wearing a smirk. I followed her, I shook my head, trying to get rid of all the bad thoughts that plagued my mind. Peter needed me right now, to be honest. Well, he needed Gwen since she was the one who knew how to make the antidote, I was merely moral support.

"Ramsey," Gwen called for me, I turned to her and jogged toward her.

We entered a huge lab, it wasn't as crowded as I suspected, but there were still scientists walking around and doing whatever it is they do. I walked behind Gwen, shivering slightly from the cold environment, I cursed mentally for not bringing my hoodie with me. I hugged my arms in an effort to keep myself warm as my track shoes carried me behind Gwen.

"Stay close to me, try not to get noticed," Gwen whispered beside me, I nodded obediently and tried to make myself look small.

"You know what would really help?" I whispered. "One of those lab coats. I'm wearing a track uniform, it's hard to blend in with all this white."

Gwen sighed, she shrugged off her lab coat and handed it to me. "Here. Put it on."

I grabbed it and gave her a confused look. "What about you?"

"I work here. That's my cover." Gwen shrugged.

I nodded, putting on the lab coat, feeling warm instantly. "Makes sense."

Gwen makes her way to a section with very serious equipment, she goes through one of the cabinets and gets out a glass tube. I take a seat against the wall, away from prying eyes, I grip the lab coat tighter to my body as I watch Gwen work. She makes her way to the machine and inserts the glass tube before punching in a few digits. I stared at the machine and watched it start a countdown, Gwen looked at me and gave me a nod.

"It's done." She made her way to me, glancing around before looking at me. "All we have to do is wait."

I nodded. "Hopefully, it won't take long."

"Let's hope."

Suddenly Gwen's phone started to ring, getting both of our attention, I spring to my feet and walk beside her to take a look at the ID caller.

Peter Parker.

Without thinking, I snatched the phone off her hands and answered it instead. "Peter? Peter? Are you okay? Are you safe?"

"Ramsey?" He sounded surprised and scared at the same time, and the bad feeling in my chest became stronger. "Ramsey, where are you? Where's Gwen?"

"She's with me, at OsCorp," I answered.

I heard him groan. "No, no, no. You need to get out of there, both of you, especially you." I frown. "Curtis is on his way, I thought I had his plan figured out, but I was wrong."

"Peter. What are you saying?" I asked, my voice heavy with worry.

Gwen frowned and stood in front of me with a curious look. "Curtis isn't just planning on turning the whole city into lizards." I looked at Gwen. "He's also bringing back something from the dead a-a spirit, I don't know. And he needs you for it."

"What?" My voice came out louder than intended. "Why me?"

"What's going on?" Gwen asked me.

"He knows Ramsey," Peter said. "He knows about your powers, and I don't know how he found out about them. So please, please, I'm begging you. Get out of there, forget the antidote, I'll figure out another way."

I glanced at the machine and noticed it was missing 8 more minutes. "It's missing eight minutes, once it's done cooking we'll leave. Gwen and I will evacuate the people."

"No! No! Ramsey, don't do-."

"See you in eight, Skater boy." I hung up and met Gwen's gaze. "Ring the alarm."

Gwen let out a shaky breath. "Oh, God..."

🅷🅾🅻🅰

WE'RE BACK!!!

Gosh, it took longer than expected to
Update this book. I tell you man when life
Gets in the way, it gets in the way.

But here I am, posting a brand-new chapter,
We are nearing the end of this book. I have
The sequel prepared, I will be posting a separate book for The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Just because I've been working on the
Book cover🤣

Anyway, I made a TikTok account, I'll be
Making videos for all my OC's and just
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Stay safe loves💕