CHAPTER EIGHT
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This morning, Mae never takes a glimpse of day's light.

Almost just when her tears dry, when she let out soft chuckles from Peter's goofiness (and also his efforts to make her smile), Mae tries to slumber soundly this time, holding belief over her father's speedy recovery. Not even ten minutes later, her phone begins to buzz— and even though her ringtone is soft-sounding, to her ears, her phone rings frantically.

Her sister is on the other end of the fall. Finally, she thinks to herself, before sliding the green icon on her phone screen. She never even gets the chance to greet her sister as Sarah intervenes with impatience. "Are you awake?"

Sarah's voice is tired. Mae frowns, her heart pounding. "Yes," She responds. "Any news on dad?"

Mae can listen to her sister's heavy sigh, making her more delirious than she already feels. "He's fine Mae, but ..."

Mae's forehead crumples, her heartbeats echoing in her ears. She can feel saline tears lingering in her eyes for the second time that night. "But what?" Mae croaks.

She hears a shuffle from Sarah's end, and then, her mother's voice— mellow but firm. "Mae," she calls, and Mae suddenly realises how much she actually misses her family. "Are you doing okay? I'm so sorry I couldn't reach you earlier, darling. I really am. How are you, Mae?"

Clear tears lament over Maya's voice and Mae softens upon hearing it, but only for a mere moment. "That's okay, mom. The only thing that matters in you're here now." Mae truthfully responds.

Maya exhales with relief, as though she's letting something heavy off of her chest. Maybe she is. "Okay," she says, her voice steadier. "I need you to get down to the entrance in ten minutes. We're gonna come pick you up, Mae."

Mae furrows her eyebrows, "Pick me up?" She asks confusedly, sure that she misheard her mother. When Maya confirms, Mae's eyes automatically widens with visible shock. "And go where?" The range in her voice rises, making her surprise more obvious.

There's a pause from Maya's end, and Mae can already sense the burden in what's coming next. "S.H.I.E.L.D."

Mae doesn't even make an effort to restrict her loud gasp— her shock and disbelief gliding effortlessly. "S.H.I.E.L.D?" She repeats in disbelief, not listening to Maya's confirmation. Mae's tears disappeared for the moment, just like that. She had always, always wanted to visit the place where her mother works as a secret agent, a place where Maya Evans is hailed as hero. However, those wishes were never hers to be fulfilled, she learned a while later. That has been Sarah's right. And Mae had accepted to live with that long before, even if it stings her. (But then again, that isn't the only thing that continually stings. Her scorching bones are a constant reminder of that).

Her rejoice over the need quickly vanishes as reality decides to check in with her. She can't just get into S.H.I.E.L.D. There is another, a more critical reason behind this. Mae connects the dots faster than she realises this. "Dad...." She inadvertently says out loud.

Maya sighs. "Yes, Mae, your father... He's okay right now, although— I think it's better if you're here. Just try not to worry too much, okay?"

But how can she not? Her father means the absolute world to her. Despite this, she nods her head, and then quickly realising that her mother can't see her, she mumbled an okay.

Once the call ends, Mae disappears into the bathroom, the tiles of the bedroom creek under her footsteps. Splashing water over her face, she tries  not to look as pathetic as she does, with her eyes now puffed into swollen ovals and red lines stroked over the whites in her eyes. She puts on a smile, thinking it would help. It does, only a little bit.

With utmost discretion, Mae tiptoes carefully out of Gwen's room. Her phone sticking out of her pocket. She wonders how she would be dropped off at S.H.I.E.L.D— she doesn't even know where the headquarters are.

When she reaches the entrance she finds Sarah's car and rushes in, the wave of grief suddenly washing over her without warning. She gets in the car, and doesn't waste a second to engulf her elder sister in her arms, once again struggling to keep in her wild tears.

"Hey Mae," Sarah says, her voice hoarse. But Mae's lips curve into a grin, hearing the smile in Sarah's voice. God, she had missed her sister. Sarah is the first to let go, a crooked smirk on the corner of her lips as she studies Mae. As expected, Sarah's eyebrow raises in judgment, and Mae knows it's because of the painful condition of her face.

"You look like shit." Sarah bluntly comments and Mae automatically smiles, recalling how this was exactly what Peter had earlier said too. "I'm aware of that, thank you." Mae says with visible sarcasm.

"Are you ready to go see S.H.I.E.L.D?" Sarah asks, the grin on her face wider now. Mae's insides scream, NO, but Mae nods yes, putting a smile forcefully.

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Mae's jaw has fallen on the floor when she finally reaches S.H.I.E.L.D's headquarters. Her dark eyes transformed into fully blown circles, and Sarah had the audacity to laugh at her surprise. Why wouldn't she be blown away? the S.H.I.E.L.D HQ is a literal ship flying mid air— a vehicle that's bigger than Mae's mind can even comprehend and the science behind it all is turning her whole mind into shreds. S.H.I.E.L.D is no joke. Men and women in uniforms walk around the platforms, clearly not as astonished as Mae with the complexity and beauty of it all. She had never seen something more exquisite and never expected to. Only hours ago she saw the Lizard on T.V, dangerously gigantic, deadly intentions in its devilish eyes. And now, this. The night has turned out to become a tumultuous rollercoaster.

Mae smiles to herself, imagining Peter's reaction if he saw any of this. She wishes she could show it to him.

"Mae!" Silvery and mellow, her mother calls her, sprinting towards her daughters. Upon seeing her mother, Mae is lavishly reminded of how much they are alike, yet so different and rushes into her mother's arms. She smiles into their embrace, the feeling of security engulfing over her and Mae cherishes that.

They pull apart and Maya hold her daughter's face, her forehead creases as she studies Mae. "Oh..." She says softly, but the horror in her voice is present. Mae wants to scold herself for 'looking like shit' at the moment, but she couldn't stop her tears from flowing earlier that night. She smiles as wide as she can, hoping to assure her mother that she is in good health. "I'm okay, mom, don't worry." She insists, holding onto her mother's arms.

Maya makes an effort to hold her visible tears and smiles back sorrowfully at her daughter, nodding her head. "Okay," she softly says. "Would you like to meet your father?"

Mae's heart drops. She doesn't know if she's ready.

But she bobs her head. "Yes..." She says, "I am."

Following their mother's lead, the Evans sisters' footsteps echo in the steely walls of the carrier. Bile rises to Mae's throat, something unfamiliar gnawing at her. She wants to ignore it desperately, but it lingers on like a hand latched onto her. Like a second skin.

They wound up in the MedLab, just as Mae has expected. Her heart bangs against her chest without sorrow, pleading her to turn around, as though it already knows what is to come. But Mae shakes it off— definitely, there's something that isn't right, but her remaining family assure her that everything is okay, and she doesn't question that. There's just a downside that she's about to face, and she hopes that she is ready to, although deep down, she knows that she isn't.

The stark white walls are almost blinding, you won't even believe that it is three in the morning. Daylight is already engulfed in here during dusk, rendering everything active. The familiar smell of hospital greets her nose and Mae flinches, being way too familiar with it— she's been in hospitals for longer than any other average teenager. And now, imagining her father in this place, it hurts her.

Hospital beds crowds the hall, some vacant, some with injured patients. Mae can't spot in any of them, and then she realises that's because he isn't there. They walk across the hall to meet another few doors at the end, and by the direction Maya walks towards, Mae already dreads what's to come next.

Maya knocks, addresses herself to the automated lock, and then, the Evans trio enter the Operation Theatre.

Mae holds her breath to her throat the moment she crosses the threshold, the sight of the bed alone nauseating her. She feels her insides churn, waiting to spew out. She stands five feet away from the bed where her father lay, her heart beat halted. She clutches the hem of her shirt like it can take away the pain and fear she feels, but mostly she's just numb. Unresponsive to her surroundings. Only thing clear is the vacant void within her that slapped her violently, entering her body without warning, without asking her first. Covered in fluffed white blankets, his chin tilted slightly as his head sits awkwardly on the pillow, Harry Evans is almost unrecognisable. The life on his face that Mae has grown so accustomed to— disappeared. Eyes closed, she is blind to the light it shone on her everyday and that makes her feel cold, like ice has taken over her usual sunny demeanor. Tears fall, tracing her skin with frosty liquid. Mae knows he can't be, but Harry Evans so jarringly looks dead.

"He's not dead." Sarah intervenes in a steely tone, th bluntness still there, as though she could read her mind. Unlike Mae, Sarah isn't one for emotions. Mae catches Sarah swallowing in worry, but she present like she can't see that. Forehead wrinkled, she says— "He's in a coma, Mae. So he's okay... kinda."

Kinda. It simply echoes in Mae's head like a nightmare. "C-coma?" She asks, fear crawling over her like a ghost possessed her. Her eyes pivot to her father on the bed again, her heart wrenching.

"When he was pushed into water," Maya says, her eyes never leaving Harry for a second. "He was already injured. The Lizard... it smashed an empty car on his. He wasn't conscious in the water— he couldn't swim."

Mae's everything halts at this new information, the tears unstoppable. Her heart churns, chokes under some force's ungodly grasp that she has to put her hand over her chest as though it can stop the hurt. But nothing can. Her father could have died.

Spider-Man really did save his life.

"His body was deprived of oxygen. We don't know how long he was underwater before Spider-Man saved him. But... He's okay, for now. We can only hope he'll get better. I know he will." Maya dwells in further, her hand tightly clutches her husband's and Mae sees how she tries to control her tears. Maya Evans has always been a factual person, never someone to reside with things like hope or fate. But now, she will hold on to even a glitter of hope if it means to save her father. What a beautiful tragedy this was.

"Have you identified the Lizard?" Mae rasps, she doesn't put an effort to constrict it.

Maya shakes her head, "No. Not yet. But we will."

"We have inputs everywhere trying to figure it out," Sarah informs. "Obviously this is something so... bizarre. But if anything, I assure you that S.H.I.E.L.D has faced many situations like these before. It's only a matter of time before we find and arrest the Lizard."

Mae raises her eyebrows in disbelief. "Arrest?"

Sarah shrugs, "Or execute. Depends."

Maya sends Sarah a look that shuts her up. She wears a comforting smile when she meets Mae again. "Honey, you deserve to know what happened to him and I'm sorry that it took us so long to get you know. It took us a lot of convincing to do... but we got permit. And what's important now is that you're here with us."

Mae feels her heart swell with adoration for her mother. "Mom, I love you." She simply says, wearing a grin that meets the sun itself. The delight she feels now that she's back with the people she trusts the most make her sullen eyes almost invisible. "I know that must have been hard, convincing your boss, I mean. But thanks, this means a lot."

Mae turns to Sarah, a tease tainted on her face. "You too, Sarah. Thanks."

Her older sister winks at her in response. How typical of Sarah to not express her emotions through words.

They all turn to Harry at the same time, the trio feeling a similar grief, but hope at the same time. Maya faces the large clock on the snowy wall behind Harry. "Mae..." She calls out, and the guilt is evident. Mae looks over, her heart feeling like it's going to drop again. "I'm sorry, again. But, you have to go back now."

She exhales sadly, but Mae understands. She was simply not meant for the life the rest of her family had the privilege to live with. So she nods her head understandingly, this time successfully keeping her dormant tears in. "That's okay mom, really. I'll see you soon."

But the uncomfortable stir from her mother makes Mae want to crawl into a corner and stay there forever— like a useless void. And in the hollow silence, Mae realised that she truly is the sacrificial lamb in the family. "We might have to stay here for longer than we intended, Mae." Maya says, her voice shaking with unshed tears. "With your father's condition, and—and the Lizard. I'm so sorry."

And then, she breaks into uncontrollable tears.

"Mom!" Mae and Sarah rush to their mother's aid. Her face scrunched up, tears flowing down relentlessly. All her life, Mae had never seen Maya so broken, so desperate, it physically hurts her to see her mother in this state. And all Mae can do is helplessly watch, and comfort her with mere words. She pulls her and Sarah into a tight embrace, passing through every ounce of hope that is embed in her. Hope that her family will become whole again. "It'll be okay, mom." Mae manages to say without breaking down. "You don't have to feel guilty about anything at all."

With heavy hearts, she had to bid farewell to her mom and sister, giving a kiss on her father's temple, hoping for his recovery as she's dropped back at Gwen's place. Back to where she has to pretend like she's leading a normal life.

At four A.M, Mae can hardly think about sleep as she stares at the idle ceiling above her, deep in thought. Spider-Man.... Her mind automatically wavers. He really did save her father, and the gratitude for that flushed all over her. She goes back to the conversation she had with Peter only hours ago, about their own secret plan to hunt down the Lizard. Mae already knew that they would need Spider-Man, but now she's more sure than ever.

She decides on it before finally closing her eyes. Spider-Man will be a part of their plan, and she will convince Peter too. No matter what. Mae will not let her father's almost-murder go unresolved.

A/N:

AHHH IM SO HAPPY WITH THIS CHAPTER! i can't pinpoint exactly what i love abt but i just love everything abt this chapter tbh 😭😭 yes, there's not much petermae content here but this story is not all about the romance between our babies! there's so much in this story that im excited to explore and we've only just begun, I CANT WAIT TILL PETERMAE ACTUALLY GO OUT AND KICK ASS TOGETHER !!

also side note: thank you SO SO much to everyone who's reading and supporting SUNFLOWER! i am so grateful 🥺 this book has gone from 4K to 5K reads within a span of two WEEKS and it makes me so happy that you enjoy reading this as much as i do writing this! PLEASE LEAVE YOIR THOUGHTS ABT THIS CHAPTER! 💖