Spider-Man | Doesn't Need Help

CHAPTER 19

Year 2022

"Position properly!" he yelled, slapping me across the cheek again.

I sobbed loudly as I looked with blurry vision at the man above me.

He smiled and laughed and shook his head.

"Stop whining, Parker." He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and yanked me up so I was back on my feet.

I felt blood running from my nose, I was sore all over, I knew it would be hard to get out of bed tomorrow.

And oh... How I wished I would never wake up at all... - Such thoughts ran through my head when I was only ten years old.

With tears in my eyes I looked at my opponent, who was laughing at me to his friends who were watching everything.

It was so humiliating...

"One more time," Mr. Adams ordered.

At his command, I positioned myself ready to attack, and as soon as I heard the clap, I rushed at the man who was twice as tall and much better built.

Who would have expected that a few seconds later I would be lying on the ground again, holding my sore leg.

Why was I told to fight him!? I hated the orphanage and my previous parents... But this was definitely the worst.

"Mr. Adams..." I began as he began to approach me again.

I wasn't able to say anything else because the man punched me in the face as hard as he could.

"I gave you permission to speak!?" He shouted, grabbing me by the jaw.

"T-they were..."

"This is supposed to hurt!" He lost his patience.

I closed my eyes, trying to wipe the tears from them, as they would be an even greater punishment for me later.

"S-sorry..." I stuttered which made him even more nervous.

But I couldn't just stop on command! It wasn't my fault...

The man leaned towards my ear and began to whisper:

"Last chance, Petey." His tone was terrifyingly calm, but still terrifying. "Last chance, or you can at least knock him out now." He grabbed my hair, playing with the ends. "Or it's over, I'll kill you." I swallowed hard.

Mr. Adams moved away from me, walking over to the other one, who was standing and staring at us with an intense gaze. Edward whispered something to him, and he smiled madly.

Come on Peter, come on. You don't really want to die, do you? I asked myself, slowly getting up.

I had no chance at all! Not with him! Mr. Adams can't blackmail me like that... Right? He'll kill me, he'll kill me, he'll kill me...

As if through a fog I heard clapping hands.

Just like he taught you, Parker.

Take advantage of being smaller, to some extent you can. I am also strong, for that I even got my first ever compliment from my kidnapper.

I didn't take the first step. Now I waited.

I was scared as hell of these people I was here with now, but I had never taken anything as seriously as what was about to happen here.

The taller one, without wasting any more time, made the first move, trying to punch me in the face, but this time, thanks to how focused I was, I managed to dodge, causing his fist to punch the air. He didn't wait for anything, he just tried again, only this time I barely managed to jump back.

"Come here, Peter! Don't be afraid, you'll die quickly, it won't hurt!" He shouted, which made goosebumps appear on my body.

Apparently the expression on my face amused him because he laughed, and that was my only chance.

Taking advantage of the fact that he had lost his vigilance for a few seconds, I ran forward, right in front of him. At that moment his joy disappeared, but that was enough for me. Running, I fell at the perfect moment, so that I had skidded maybe less than a meter, and thanks to that, I flew hard into his feet, hitting him flawlessly. His right foot bent unnaturally, and he screamed, immediately losing his balance and falling.

Fearing that it wouldn't be enough, I jumped on him, pinned him to the ground by sitting firmly on his legs and holding his arms tightly, pressing them to the ground.

"You little son of a b...!" He cursed at me, which didn't really bother me.

Not anymore.

I moved my gaze to Mr. Adams, who was still standing in the same place.

His facial expression didn't change at all, he just looked straight at me, and when our eyes met for a moment, he nodded.

He simply nodded...

And that's it?

But what did I expect? Praise? Really Peter?

"Let's go." He ordered, and without looking at anyone, I got off the man and followed him.

We left the room where my "training" was taking place quite quickly.

I followed him all the way to the ruins of what I called my "home," not daring to even say a word.

Mr. Adams never liked me to walk next to him. He would say that we looked like we were equal, but I was at the bottom.

Once we entered, less than a minute had passed when the man lunged at me.

This time he just kept hitting me, as if he was just taking his emotions out on me. Only this time, I had no idea why.

I didn't say anything, only every now and then a sound would escape my lips, for which I cursed myself silently.

After twenty minutes, Mr. Edward Adams pulled away from me, with my blood on his hands, which to my horror, he licked off his hand...

After all... As befits a psychopath... Right?

"For bringing me such shame today," he even threw at me without looking as he left.

When I was sure he was no longer there, I cried.

I touched my cut lip with my finger, reflexively removing my fingers. I exhaled loudly, wiped the blood from under my nose with my sleeve, and stood up, walking to the bathroom.

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

I felt so damn embarrassed that I was disappointed, even for a moment, when I didn't receive the praise I longed for.

He was right, I had only brought him shame. This stupid win was nothing compared to what had happened at the beginning.

Ugh, why did I have to be so weak...