Truth Be Told

Chapter 5

The constant ticking of the clock was all Vanessa could hear during her day of working. Her hands ached from signing and checking all the papers she didn't finish the first time she was hired. Her fingers felt like they were going to fall off from all the typing. Vanessa finally let out a tired sigh and sunk down into the rolling chair's cushion. She looked at the clock again. 3:52p.m. In about 2 hours she would be out of this prison. Vanessa wasn't even sure she typed in the right information, but she didn't care. A message from the phone speaker came on , which interrupted Vanessa's thoughts. It was a male's voice. "All employees gather for a meeting with Mr.Osborn in the next 5 minutes. I repeat, 5 minutes. Thank you." Even if that wasn't for her, she got out of her seat , picked up her finished files and walked out.

Almost the enitre building was heading into the elevators, at least that's what it looked like to Vanessa as she walked down the hallway and watched through the glass windows. Suprisingly, they were able to fit in. Vanessa didn't like being in a crowded space for obvious reasons. The awkwardness, and her feelings towards people were the main concepts. "Oh c'mon! Why do I have to stay and everyone else get's to go?" Vanessa heard a voice ahead of her. It was Max. The same guy she met with Gwen on the elevator. She walked down the hallway and turned to hear the conversation. "But its my birthday-" Max spoke in a hurt tone. "I know, that's what makes you special." A male voice spoke from inside the elevator. "But-" "Happy Birthday Max," were the last words Vanessa heard before the elevator doors closed and Max was left alone in front of the elevator. Vanesa awkwardly walked over, he heels clicking the ground. Max heard them and turned to look at her. "Hi Max," she said giving a small but warm smile. "Oh, hi..uh..Vanessa?" She nodded "You still remembered my name?" he asked shocked "Of course! Why wouldnt I?" she asked confused. "Nothing, just you know, not many people do," he said, keeping the same hurt tone. "Yeah, I could tell from how the guy treated you earlier." Vanessa said nodding her head a little. "Oh you heard that?" he asked, somewhat embarrassed. "I did. Sorry..." she said but Max just shook his head. "No, no its fine. I mean, I should be heading down to the electric room to fix something right now. Have fun at the meeting." Max gave a friendly nod while turning to walk away. Hesitantly, Vanessa walked over to the elevator to press the button, but she stopped herself. "Hey Max!" She called out to him. He stopped and turned to her. "Do you need any help? I could come with you if you want?" she offered giving a freindly smile. Max looked at her bewildered but gave a sheepish smile. "Really?" Vanessa nodded "Uh, sure! Thanks!" He said. "But you're going to miss the meeting, " he added but Vanessa was already putting her stuff down walking over to him "Its fine. Im sure there will be plenty of meetings later on," she retorted playfully. Max chuckled "Yeah, I guess. Thanks, again," he said smiling and showing his crooked teeth. She smiled "Don't mention it."

It was awhile before Max and Vanessa made it into the electrical room. There were computers and technological supplies everywhere and lab work liquids spread out on the tables. The lights were glowing neon blue along with the white lights which bothered Vanessa's vision. What made it worse was there was a huge tank full of electric eels swimming around. Just by staring at them through the glass when she walked over made a chill run down her body. One snarled at her before it swam away into the darkness. Vanessa cringed,  "Why does Oscorp keep these things?" she asked Max. "They're used in different experiments," he said while walking up some stairs. Vanessa stayed on the lower grounds, looking around the lab. "Why?" She asked with bewilderment. "Well, its complicated," he said while walking up to the electricity cables area. She followed. Max took out his phone to tell someone to turn off a section of the area. "No! I need you to-" Max spoke but then was cut off./Vanessa made her way to the top with him. "What's wrong?" Max let out a sigh, "Well the electricity is still on and I need it off so I can put the cables together and get them working again," he said putting his hands on his hips. "I can do that , I'll go down and press the button you tell me to press," Vanessa spoke, making her way towards the stairs again. "It's not that easy Vanessa," Max said and when she turned to face him, he was already climbing onto the railing. Vanessa panicked. "Max, What are you doing?!" She said making her way towards him. He held up his hand. "It's ok, I'm fine. All im doing is fixing the wires." Max slowly walked on the railing, keeping his balance. "Max you're gonna get yourself killed," Vanessa spoke worriedly. "Ill be fine Vanessa, just watch," he said calmly which was suprising considering Vanessa's heart was beating hard and loud. She could hear the thumping inside her ears and it just made her tense up in fear. "Happy Birthday to me...Happy Birthday to me..." Max sang to himself quietly. His hands were already reaching for the cables. Vanessa's eyes were wide and her breathe was held the entire time she watched him. She swallowed hard "Please be careful." Vanessa said as she wrapped her arms around herself, hoping to calm down the shaking of her body. "Happy Birthday to Max..." His hands held the cables now. "Happy Birthday to me," Max sang before connecting the electric wire cables together. Max shut his eyes tightly and Vanessa caught her breath. Nothing happened. He let out a sigh in relief along with Vanessa. Max set the cables back up and Max's screams filled the lab. His body shook as the electricity rattled through him. Vanessa gasped loudly and ran over to help him but the railing broke and Max fell into the tank of electric eels. "Max!" Vanessa yelled as she ran down the stairs and over to the tank. She clasped her hands over her mouth and let out a soundless scream as she witnessed the eels attack. Countless bitting and numerous shocks, all striking him at a racing speed. Vanessa banged on the glass "Max!" she yelled. She continued to bang and yell out while her breathing was out of control.Vanessa sobbed. "No! Max!" she cried out. She stopped her banging. "Help!"  she screamed "Somebody please help!" Vanessa turned back to look at Max. Her eyes met with a pair of glowing blue eyes. She began to hypervantilate. Looking around for someone or something to use, she caught sight of a telephone on a wall. Vanessa quickly ran over and dialed 9-1-1 before bringing the phone to her ear. "C'mon, C'mon, C'mon please! Please!" she cried into the phone. A woman picked up, "911 what's your emergency?" "My friend is dying! please help!" Vanessa yelled. "Please send hel-" An explosion of glass and water erupted and Vanessa was sent back into a metal shelf with empty glass containers. It all seemed to happen so fast: The shattering pieces falling along with the metal shelf, collapsing over her body. Vanessa's vision went black as her body laid in the sea of glass and blood.