No Safe Place

{3}

Peter lay on his bed awake for hours. There was no way he could sleep, going out as Spider-Man helped a bit but not a lot. He could hear Aaron snoring all night it was annoying at first but he got used to it. At around 8 am there was a knock on his door.

"Pete?" It was Aaron "You awake?"

Instead of replying he walked up and opened the door. Aaron was standing there fully dressed and he looked like he was ready to go.

"I'm making some breakfast, you want anything?"

Peter just shook his head,

"Alright then, but pack your stuff. We're leaving in about an hour so take what you need. You're not going to have much room there, only a small chest of drawers and a nightstand. So you'll only have room for essentials."

"Ok," Peter said closing the door on him. He looked back in his room. His school bag was still there with all his books and his clothes were away in his wardrobe. May didn't have much money so their apartment was pretty bare. Peter grabbed a duffel bag from his closet and set it down on his bed. His first priority was his suit. He couldn't risk someone going through his bag and seeing it. His whole cover would be blown. He found a shirt that was way too big for him, it was one of his dad's old ones. That would do. He folded his suit and wrapped it in the shirt and put it at the bottom of the bag. He then piled most of his clothes on top. He didn't really have many things and by the time he was finished the bag was only half full.

"Peter," came a voice from outside his door "Hurry up we need to go now."

"Yeah, just a minute." He looked around his room one last time, he couldn't believe he would be leaving it. This had been his home since he was four years old. He'd lived here since his parents had died. His eyes started to well up but we quickly wiped them away. He had to be brave. He picked up his duffel bag and put on his backpack full of school stuff and walked out of his room for the last time. But something felt missing like he couldn't leave just yet. Then he passed May's room. The door was open just a bit so he decided to go in, he hadn't been in her room too often so it felt strange to be in there. He looked around, everything was so neat and tidy. Exactly the way she had left it before... before the- No. Peter wasn't quite ready yet. He missed her. He really really missed her. He looked around and saw her closet was left open and he decided to go over and investigate. He looked inside and saw her clothes hanging up but his attention was drawn by a box on the ground, the lid was slightly off as if I had been put on in a rush. He knelt down and took it off completely the contents of the box shocked him. It looked like some of his parent's stuff. A pair of glasses from his dad, some jewelry that must have belonged to his mother. There was also a photo album, he sat down and opened it. It was filled with photos of his parents and Peter, there were also some of Uncle Ben and May. It showed Peter growing up through the years, key moments in his life. It brought a smile to his face.

"Pete!" Came a shout from somewhere in the apartment "Come on! We don't have all day and we need to get going."

"Ok, ok I'm coming!" He shouted back. He looked back at the box before making a final decision, he probably wouldn't have much room where he was going and as much as he wanted to take the box he decided on just taking the album. Once he had the photo album it felt easier to leave. He walked out of the apartment for the last time, leaving behind his old life. Forever.

------

Peter got out of the car and faced what would be his new home for, well he didn't know how long.

"Peter," Aaron said putting a hand on the boy's shoulder "Welcome to your new home. Ms. Brian's children's home." He smiled making it seem like everything was fine. It wasn't. The front door opened and a tall, thin lady stepped out. She had a mean-looking face and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She walked towards Peter and Aaron with a sickly sweet smile plastered on her face.