Chapter 23: Don't Say You're Sorry

"Boom!"

Strands of flame shot up into the sky

Above the flames roiled steel roof panels, wood and shredded paper, and a pungent odor of oil and smoke filled the air.

The entire playground was illuminated as if it had been lit up by lightning for a moment.

Moments later, the shockwave of the explosion surged towards the surroundings.

The trash placed on the playground whizzed by, followed by a wave of heat.

Gwen, who had just gotten out of the car, reached out to try and block the heat wave, but was pushed backward.

A pungent odor came from his nose and Gwen's mind reeled.

What happened next was like a slow-motion playback.

She saw flames rising in the distance, a burning stage, and a police car in the distance with the faint sound of piercing sirens.

And then there was Peter, who came into her sight in slow motion.

His arm reached out and tried to grab himself.

"Snap!"

Peter took Gwen's hand and held her unconscious.

Sparks erupted from the explosion towards the two, and Peter turned slightly to the side, blocking it with his back.

Looking down at Gwen, who had fallen into unconsciousness, Peter scooped her up by the waist.

Glancing back at Frank, who was completely dead, he carried Gwen towards the entrance of the playground.

After the dust had settled, the NYPD officers, finally arrived late.

George. Stacy jumped out of the car as fast as she could and ran toward the burning playground, heedless of the danger.

"Get on the phone! Gwen! Answer the phone!"

Growling in a low voice as he ran, he looked down at the cell phone in his hand.

He kept trying to dial Gwen's cell phone, but it never connected.

Finally making it to the entrance of the playground, he saw Gwen's best friend, Glory.

"Hey Glory, have you seen Gwen?"

Anxiously waiting, Gloria saw George Stacy. Stacey and let a big part of her heart drop.

No sooner had her words left her mouth than she heard a deafening explosion.

The heat wave came from inside the stadium outward.

The two of them subconsciously stepped back to avoid the heat wave that lashed at their faces.

"Gwen's still in there!"

Glory coughed, covering her chest as she turned toward George. Stacy shouted.

"Shit!"

Hearing that his daughter was still in there, George gritted his teeth and threw his cell phone hard on the floor.

"Get out of here, Glory, it's still dangerous.

Taking off his clothes, George draped his jacket over Glory before kicking open the wire door and preparing to rush inside.

But a figure that soon appeared in the firelight made him freeze in place.

Peter, who was covered in black clothes, held Gwen in his arms and slowly stepped out from the flames that were swirling up.

Behind him were sparks flying everywhere, and drops of water spraying down.

"The sound of burning flames, hissing hydrants, and sirens in the distance created a reverberation in the stadium.

Glory stood still and watched Peter emerge from the flames, as stunned as George.

"Peter . .... Peter?!"

George. Stacy looked at Peter standing in front of him, hugging Gwen

He could never have imagined this image in front of him in any way.

Peter holding his daughter, walking away from the flames that engulfed everything.

"She's fine, she just fainted.

Peter lowered his head to gaze at Gwen's face, his stony face relaxing for a moment before looking up to George . Stacy said.

Somewhat stunned, taking Gwen from Peter's hands, George,Stacy opened her mouth to say something.

But Peter didn't linger and simply turned away.

Cars with flashing red lights and sirens gradually converged on the area.

Fire engines and ambulances were also coming this way.

GEORGE. Stacy hugged Gwen and put aside the idea of calling out to Peter for the moment. The most important thing right now was to make sure his daughter was okay.

...

Gwen gasped and awoke from her nightmare.

She felt as if she was trapped in seaweed at the bottom of the ocean and was having trouble breathing.

At first, she desperately struggled to tear off the seaweed that was wrapped around her head and neck, but suddenly she heard strange sounds.

Sharp and shrill sounds reached her ears!

A shark with its bloody forked mouth suddenly swam down the seaweed to him.

A smell of corruption burrowed into her nostrils and permeated her entire body

Startled awake, she struggled desperately to get up, but opened her eyes to see Peter.

Peter was leaning over looking at her with his hand pressed against her shoulder.

"Don't move or the gauze will open."

A thin layer of gauze covered her right ear.

Peter, at the moment, was helping her press on the yellow gauze that had accidentally come off.

Gwen blinked, smelling the familiar odor coming from Peter.

"I . ..... wasn't sleeping?"

She whispered to Peter.

"No."

"Not in a dream either."

"Doesn't look like it to me."

Gwen rose slightly, letting her back rest against the pillows as she surveyed her surroundings.

White sheets and the pungent smell of disinfectant.

One should be in a hospital.

With mixed feelings inside, Gwen didn't know what to say and blurted out, "I'm sorry."

Peter looked over at Gwen and raised an eyebrow, "Why did you say sorry?"

"It's complicated and it's all my fault."

She said guiltily.

Frank had come to school because of himself.

If it wasn't for herself, there wouldn't have been so many students killed and she wouldn't have gotten Peter involved.

"Since it's complicated don't think about it.

Peter didn't want to ask further and cast his eyes to the window view, "You might as well lie here and rest.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"A day."

"What about Frank?"

Her main concern now was the culprit, had he been sanctioned.

Peter sat down in one of the chairs next to the bed and said, "He's dead, that was a powerful hit you made.

"I ....."

Gwen took a deep breath as a pain shot through her chest.

The wound here would have been from the impact of the steering wheel as he drove himself.

"I don't think that impact, it shouldn't have been fatal to him, it was you, you did it, didn't you, Peter?"

Gwen's eyes burned into Peter, as if she wanted to see the secret in him.

Peter shook his head, "No, of course it wasn't me, Glory can prove it, you drove in like a madman."

Gwen was a little speechless, but soon she glared at Peter "Do you think I would believe that?"

"Would."

"I don't think I would, because I'd probably be the dumbest woman in history if I believed I could do it."

Gwen looked at Peter and said, "I know what I'm capable of, I ... just a lucky girl."

"You're more than just lucky, Gwen."

Peter said as he stood up, "I have things to do, I have to go, get well and don't think about it."

Gwen lay on the bed, watching Peter leave in a daze.

Half a minute later, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Feeling the warmth of the sun shining outside, she lay down "It's a nice day."