Chapter 2
Peter starts to stir. He’s waking up and his head feels fuzzy, like it’s stuffed with cotton but he can’t figure out why. He opens his eyes but he immediately starts to feel nauseous and squeezes them shut. Everything is a blur. He has a crushing headache and for some reason he can’t remember anything from the past few hours.
He can feel himself rocking and swaying as if he’s moving but he can feel the floor beneath him so he knows he isn’t.
He can hear what sounds like air rushing past outside, along with sounds of traffic, he hears cars honking in the distance and the sounds of tires squealing on pavement, but it sounds slightly muted, like there’s a wall blocking some of it out.
Slowly his mind starts to clear and he realizes he’s in a car. No, not a car, but rather a spacious van. He’s laying down on his side sliding slightly on the hard plastic floor with every movement the vehicle makes. He can make out quiet voices talking in hushed whispers around him. He can’t tell how many, he hears two distinct voices but can also make out breathing from several other people spaced out around him, coming from all directions. It feels like he's in the middle of the vehicle with seats both in front of, and behind him.
When he realizes his hands are tied behind him he suddenly remembers everything and throws his eyes open. He quickly confirms his earlier guess and can make out three rows of seats. Two behind him and one in front of him. His knees are pushed up against the seats in front of him and there’s large gaps between the rows. There are windows on either side but they are heavily tinted so he can’t really see anything outside except for a faint circle indicating the sun is still out.
He can see men around him, they aren’t looking at him but instead having their own conversation amongst themselves. It seems as if no one has realized he’s awake.
He remembers his walk home and how the men seemed to come out of nowhere. They knew his name but he didn’t know how. They don't seem like they know he is spiderman so this must be a personal vendetta. But what the heck could insignificant Peter Parker have done to earn the wrath of all these guys?
He tries to stay still as he attempts to look around the van but he can’t see much between the seats and the legs accompanying each one. He uses his fingers to feel the rope tying his wrists together. He knows he could break through the binding easily but he isn’t quite ready to out his abilities just yet. He needs to get more information before trying to make a break for it. Where is he? Who are these men? Can he actually get out of here?
“Hey!” He hears a man yell. “This kid is awake? Already? How much of that stuff did you give him?” He sounds angry and confused.
“I gave him the normal dose. A dose and a half actually. He should have been out for a few hours.” Another man responds from behind him and he can hear them shift positions, inching closer to him. He can hear knees and ankles cracking as some of the men get on the ground in front of him.
Peter tries to scoot himself back against the door of the van but someone grabs his hair wrenching his head forward, back to the ground. “Where do you think you're going?” The voice taunts. He can practically hear the sickening smile accompanying the man’s words. Peter doesn’t look up.
“Boss, what do you want us to do with him? We’re not even close to being there yet and I don’t want this kid getting any funny ideas. The less he knows the better.” The voice comes from above his head.
“If the regular stuff isn’t working give him a dose of the enhanced shit. You know the one they synthesized in Siberia. That ought to give us plenty of time to get there without the kid interrupting.” The man sounds annoyed, like he has better things to do than deal with Peter’s metabolism.
I’m so sorry I’m not a good enough hostage for you dude. Sheesh, straighten out your priorities. Peter thinks to himself.
The words however, send a wave of fear hurling through Peter and he can feel the hairs stand on the back of his neck. He can’t let them get whatever it is into him.
He decides now is the time to fight back. He tries to get to his knees but he's once again surrounded. The rapid shuffling of feet is deafening to his enhanced ears. Two men put their knees on his back while two more grab each of his arms and legs successfully pinning him down. He starts to thrash his head side to side, trying anything he can to keep them away but when he throws his head back in front of him the needle doesn’t stop and plunges into his neck.
Not again!
He gives out a groan of pain as he feels the mystery drug enter his body and almost immediately starts to feel the effects. His head feels heavy and it falls to the floor. His eyelids are heavy and he’s struggling to keep them open.
He fights as much as he can but he can’t anymore and his eyes roll back as unconsciousness pulls him back under yet again.