Spider-Man | Doesn't Need Help

CHAPTER 4

  Immediately after opening my eyes, I felt a searing pain in my stomach. I cringed, clutching it, but almost immediately moved my hands to my face, as that was where I felt the pain and the trickle of blood from my nose. Specifically, I felt someone kick me in the face.

"Get up, brat!" "Oh, so I know who kicked me." Although it was easy to guess. "You live here and you still don't know the rules? You were supposed to be gone by now!"

I won't lie, but I was a little surprised, not fully understanding what he meant at that moment.

The rule that I wasn't supposed to be home from eight until at least five, was that what he meant? But I had to wake up for school soon; I always did. It was impossible for me to oversleep, and besides, my alarm hadn't yet gone off, which I'd definitely set the night before.

Preferring not to anger my guardian any further, I quickly started to get up.

"S-sorry..." I stammered. "I'm leaving now."

When I was standing up straight and wanted to leave, I felt myself being hit again, this time on the cheek.

I deserved it.

I didn't even touch my stinging cheek, but looked up at Mr. Adams, because I suspected that was what I was getting for now.

"Look at me when you're talking to me." I nodded slightly, indicating I understood. "Now get out of my sight."

I quickly grabbed the backpack I always carried with me and grabbed my phone.

As I headed for the exit, Adams grabbed my arm and practically shoved me out the door of my room. Without hesitation, I ran down the stairs and exited the building, or rather, what remained of it.

I set off towards downtown Manhattan. Along the way, I pulled out my phone and checked the time.

"What's wrong?" I muttered to myself, frowning and still pressing the handkerchief to my nose.

It was well after eleven. This was completely unlike me; I'd never slept that long. Besides, even when I was incredibly tired, I always had a wake-up call programmed into my head to avoid situations like this. Besides, the alarm clock… I was completely lost in my mind, because I wasn't entirely sure I'd even set it.

I had no memory of what happened after returning from the kidnapping.

It was really strange because I had never experienced anything like this before.

I removed the handkerchief from under my nose, with considerable relief, realizing that my nose seemed to be okay.

I sighed loudly, feeling my stomach growl. I hadn't eaten anything in three days, and hadn't had a drink in over a day.

As soon as I was near any store, I knew I had to go.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Only then did I look at the woman, whom I had obviously bumped into on purpose.

An old woman, about eighty years old, short, round and with short gray hair, dropped bags full of groceries.

The sight of it made my stomach rumble again.

“Nothing happened, sweetheart.” She smiled warmly at me, bending down to pick up what had spilled out.

I swallowed hard, holding the old woman's wallet behind my back.

“I’ll help you,” I said, crouching down and starting to put everything back into the bag. “Here.” I handed her the paper bag.

I watched for a moment as the woman reached for it, but I quickly withdrew my hand, looking into her eyes.