Bang.
The office door buckled inward.
Norman raised his head, the Green Pumpkin Device in his hand giving off a faint hum.
A second impact followed immediately.
Bang!
The lock flew off.
Benjamin ducked his head and charged in, his ten-foot body wedged in the doorway, sewage from the underground pipes still clinging to the scales on his shoulders. Behind him, Pete crawled backward up the wall, while Chris dragged a torn-off Security Robotic Arm and slowly blocked the corridor.
Peter stood between Norman and them.
"Good evening." He raised both hands, aiming his webs to either side. "I suggest we all calm down first."
Benjamin's yellow, slit-pupiled eyes fixed on Norman's chest.
"Hand him over."
"I understand the request," Peter said, "but could you put your claws away first? This is an office, not a slaughterhouse."
Pete bared his teeth.
"He killed us."
"He turned us into this." Chris raised his newly grown left arm, dried blood still clinging between its scales. "We only want him."
Norman suddenly laughed.
"Only me?"
He raised his hand and aimed the Green Pumpkin Device at the ceiling.
Peter's Spider-Sense erupted.
"Norman, don't-"
Bzzzt!
Every alarm in the building shrieked at once.
This was no ordinary alarm.
Pane after pane of glass shattered in the noise, and light tubes burst in showers of white sparks. The floor suddenly sank six inches. A long fissure split the center of the office, and flames erupted from it.
The shock wave hurled Norman toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Peter lunged after him and grabbed his tie.
They slammed into the wall together.
"Are you insane?" Peter roared.
"I can't let them take me." Norman coughed up blood, veins bulging across his face. "You think the police will give me a trial? They'll just lock me in a