The Elgen's Lilith

Chapter 1

Despite their demanding job, my parents were usually at home when I got back from school. If not, well, one of my uncles or my aunt was; and if that wasn't possible, we spoke a few days before.

Today there was no one.

"Um, hello?" I called. "Uncle Bruce? Aunt Tasha?" My voice seemed to echo around the entire tower. At once, I was uncomfortable and antsy.

I wandered into the kitchen area and opened one of the cabinets. Thor's box of PopTarts was untouched, which was odd, because he usually cleaned it out before big missions. Where could they possibly be?

That's when I noticed the piece of paper on the counter. A note was scrawled out in Dad's messy handwriting, and a few hundred-dollar bills were paper clipped to it.

Peter,

I can't exactly tell you what's going on, but you need to RUN. Get as far from New York as you can, and we'll come and get you once it's safe. Trust NO ONE. (As soon as you read this, keep it somewhere safe. I can't risk letting them know you're here.)

-Dad

My heart sped up. I was suddenly reminded of a conversation Dad and Pops had that morning, debating whether to send me to school or not.

It must've been about this. Whatever this was.

I tucked the note into my pocket and dashed for my room. After digging out an old bookbag, I rapidly began to pack. My Spiderman suit was carefully tucked into the bottom. Outside, it began to rain.

Just then, I heard the elevator open, and then Pops' voice quietly say, "Pete? It's safe to come out...your dad will be here soon..."

I froze. Right away I knew something was off. Pops never called me Pete; that was always Dad's job.

Slowly, I spun a web and attached it to my windowsill. I didn't have long. Angry footsteps were approaching, and they sure didn't belong to anyone I knew. "JARVIS, lock my door," I whispered. "Don't answer. Just do it!"

"I don't know sir, maybe this is unwise," JARVIS replied, even though I'd asked him not to. "For you see, if I do that then your guests wouldn't be able to come in. Sir? Why are you jumping out the window? Sir?"

"Just do it!!!" I whispered harshly.

"Oh, alright, but I still don't fully understand."

As JARVIS obeyed my command, I firmly secured the web and slung the bag over my back. I kept worrying that it would fall, or the web wouldn't hold me up as I scaled down the tower; but I had to do something to get away. Still, I couldn't help but wonder who my Dad was talking about in the letter.

It took longer than expected to climb down. Nearly an hour. As soon as I was on the ground, I hailed a cab, scared out of my wits. Where were my parents...and where was the rest of my family?

*****

Back inside, an angry man slapped Steve Rogers-Stark, even though it didn't hurt him much. "He got away! How could you let him?" the man cried. Anger burned everywhere on his face.

"I didn't. Peter's just smart," Steve explained calmly, earning another punch.

"I can't believe this. What's the boss going to say? I'll earn just as much punishment as you, Rogers!"

Steve glared at the man. "Rogers-Stark," he corrected. "I'm a married man, Andrews."

"Like I care," Andrews snapped. "Your fate isn't going to be pretty."