Run
Peter sat in his bed, wearing his three-sizes-too-large cloths that he was given three weeks ago. He knew that if he were to go down now, he would end up being beaten by Puck again. His foster father was such a violent alcoholic. How did the child protection services even agree to this man taking care of a child? The guy beat him almost every three days since he got custody of him. Peter never knew what he did to offend Puck. He'd never seen the man before the day he walked into the orphanage, where he seemed to have chosen Peter as the perfect punching bag for the foreseeable future. The social workers didn't even question it, letting him leave with Peter the day he came. Honestly, he didn't even know if Puck was his real name.
But back to the problem at hand. Peter really didn't want to face another beating. Not so soon after the last one. But he was a growing boy, and he needed food. He hasn't been able to get his hands on anything for two days now. Maybe if he is sneaky enough, or after Puck drinks himself to sleep? Then he could walk into the living room to get the food his growling stomach has been demanding for.
He knew Puck came back at about 10. Normally on these late days he would buy food on his way back, and leave them out on the table when he fell asleep. Peter could sneak in, get food, then retreat into his room. Better yet, he would sneak straight out and go to his secret hideout. He could last about two weeks there. That's a good plan, right?
So at about 1 A.M., Peter walked down the stairs, careful not to step on the third and fifth boards that he knew may creak. Making sure that his too large hoodie won't drag and get caught in something, he crept down, and peered into the living room.
To his disappointment, Puck apparently did not buy food on his way back today. Still, there was something on the table in front of Puck's passed out form on the couch. And...was it glowing?
Against his better judgement, Peter crept forward towards the table. As the light from the seemingly glass container grew, so did his curiosity.
Curiosity killed the cat you know, a small voice in the back of his head said.
Yeah, but satisfaction brought it back, he retorted.
You're going to regret this, it said.
What's life without a few regrets? He thought as he got closer to the table. He could almost make out a shape in the container with his poor eyesight.
You're 9 Peter. You know nothing about life.
Well, I'm a very smart 9 year old. So there. He finished his mental conversation as he picked the glass container up. Carefully, he examined it, taking note of the logo displayed. His jaw dropped in amazement as he saw the spider. It was the most beautiful creature he has ever seen. It was two times, if not three times as large as a normal spider. Trying to remember every species of spiders on the creepy creatures encyclopedia he read months ago, he looked at the spider for any distinguishing features other than size and color. But with most of his attention on the exotic spider, he failed to notice the blow coming until it was too late.
“ne’w ye’wr com’n”
Puck slurred, as Peter landed hard on the floor.
Crap
Puck continued slamming his fist into Peter’s small frame, yelling and cursing some nonsense about someone’s nose, and hitting the jack pot.
As Peter tried to place the container with the spider somewhere where it doesn’t risk being broken, Puck reached out, and ripped it out of his grasp. Then, unexpectedly, he smashed the container right next to Peter’s legs.
Seemingly in slow motion, Peter saw the spider fly out, and land on his arm. Feeling as if he was seeing a horror movie and not experiencing it, he watched as the arachnid climbed up his shoulder and behind his back to where he can’t see it anymore. A second later, he felt an extreme stinging sensation in the back of his neck.
It bit me!
He realized, as Puck swung another fist at him, jerking his nine year old body down to the floor. He felt, more than heard the crunch as the once beautiful arachnid was crushed under the force of Peter’s body colliding to the floor.
Puck didn’t notice in his drunken state, dragging the boy up and shoving him towards the window. Peter could feel the burning sensation where the spider bit him spread. He knew spider bites hurt, but not this badly.
As Puck approached Peter once more, there was a loud BANG of the door being kicked down. The two occupants of the room whirled around to look at the entrance, coming face to face with three identical males in a black suit.
“The human that is known as The Thief from Kraang is here in this room. Come that which is known as ‘quietly’ and Kraang will keep pain to minimum!”
Even in his dazed state, Peter could detect all kinds of wrong from these guys. Why was Puck involved with them?
“Why? What do you want!”
Puck replied in a slight panic, all traces of alcohol seeming to leave him. Seeing his nervous state, Peter decided that now was the time to get moving closer towards the window with the fire escape.
“The one known as The Thief has taken that which is known as a mutant from Kraang. Kraang will take back that which is known as a mutant and The Thief to avoid that which is known as detection.”
Just then, the guy on the right found the broken glass on the ground, and the remains of the squashed spider.
“The one known as The Thief has exterminated that which is known as a mutant. Kraang should verify if that which is known as the mutant was the only mutant in the place that is known as the apartment.”
“Kraang understands” The guy on the very left said, as he pulled out a device that scanned the room with a pink light. As the light passed Peter, though, it glowed red, and started to make loud noises.
“The child that is in the place known as the apartment is also that which is known as a mutant. The one known as The Thief is not that which is known as a mutant, so Kraang will exterminate the one known as The Thief and take the one known as the Mutant Child back for study.”
““Kraang understands and agrees”” the three men agreed, and began to open fire at Puck, not even listening to a word of protest.
At that time, Peter knew he couldn’t help Puck. So the moment one of the laser lights hit Puck, Peter jumped out of the window. Ignoring his pounding headache and burning sensation all over his body, he ran down the fire escape, and made his way quickly over to one of the locations he knew was safe.
If the guys, the Kraang? had laser guns, a voice in the back of his mind said, then they probably have something of DNA tracking device.
Right, Peter thought as he ran. Go to somewhere with water. Lose them, then go back to the hideout.
As he stumbled his way towards the river, he groaned to himself.
This is going to be a long day.