Bless The Broken Road

PART FOUR: Taken Part II

Whatever Professor Petrov injected into Peter's burned like hell as it ran through his body, shutting down his muscles until he was no more than a heap on the floor. Peter simply couldn't do anything but lay on the ground, his vision coming and going as he felt his heartbeat slow down. He desperately wanted to cry but it was like his body was no longer controlled by him. He was in a state of paralysis and there was nothing he could do but gaze upwards at his smirking teacher.

"You must be internally panicking right now," Professor Petrov looked gleeful as he glanced down at the 11 year old child laying on the floor by his feet. He pocketed the needle before crossing his arms over his chest. "Tell me, Peter Stark, can you feel your heartbeat slowing down? Soon it will beat once a minute— which is undetectable for Doctors and everyone else who tries find a heartbeat alike. It'll be like you're dead."

Peter wanted to scream, he wanted to open his mouth and yell obscenities that his Dad would no doubt ground him for. He wanted to spit at the cruel man standing over him and maybe even punch him in the face for good measure. Peter was never the violent type but he could overlook that given the situation.

But Peter couldn't do what he wanted; he couldn't do anything. All he could do was lay on the floor, his back starting to ache as the muscles straightened out and froze, and watch as his teacher rambled on with that deep accent he had. Just like Professor Petrov stated, Peter could feel as his heartbeat slowed down . . . pretty soon it was doing just like the man had said: one beat per minute, no more or less.

Peter had no idea how he was alive or what the hell had been in that needle to cause such a reaction.

"Don't you worry though," Professor Petrov carried on, oblivious to Peter's internal struggle. "It won't actually kill you— Tetrodotoxin B was created by Dr Banner himself in order to help prevent turning himself into the Hulk. It wasn't very effective, let's just say but it works wonders for this purpose."

Peter wanted to shuffle away as his teacher ducked down, his narrow lips and dark eyes looking far more threatening in the close proximity. A cold hand reached out and Peter wanted to cry as the man placed his thumb and index finger over his eyelids, gently pushing them down so all Peter could see was black. "Be a good boy now, Mr Stark. The plan will go more smoothly if you comply— not that you have a choice."

With his eyes closed, the fear started to bloom up in Peter's chest. It was like his body had completely shut off, his mind was still working but no matter how many signals his brain sent to his body, they were all ignored. He could only imagine what it must look like: a young boy collapsed on the floor in an awkward angle, his chest not rising up and down and once they touched his neck, they'd notice the absent of a beating heart.

He was dead to the outside world but internally, Peter was alive and begging to be freed. All he wanted was his Dad. His Dad would know something was up— he could always tell when Peter was faking sleep. Surely Tony would be able to see through this?

Peter wasn't sure how long he laid on the floor for but he knew Professor Petrov had walked off a while ago, judging by the sound of heavy shoes moving away. When the sound of feet returned, it was accompanied by screams and the sound of people crying.

"Oh my Goodness!" The cry of Mrs Hobbs pierced through Peter's heart as the woman fell down to his side, shaking hands pressing against his neck. They pressed again and again until a few tears fell onto his face and the woman stepped away with a loud and broken gasp.

"I just found him like this!" Professor Petrov's voice came back, no doubt having arrived with Mrs Hobbs a few second ago. "I noticed he was missing and when i went to find him, he was unconscious on the floor! What do we do?"