04 | Four

A burning feeling erupted in my chest as I stood on the sidewalk before Peter Parker's high school in the warm sun. My heart was racing faster than it should have been and my right hand tapped repeatedly against my thigh. I was very anxious for this meeting with a boy I had never met and until earlier today I had never even heard of. In the past few hours my head had been filled with information on dozens of superheroes and government officials that all led to me knowing who Spider-Man was. I had to learn everything from the 1940s to the present, starting with James Buchanan Barnes, or the winter soldier as I had learned, and Steve Rogers and their time in the ice and or an evil organization called Hydra, to just a few months ago where a ton of superheroes battled each other in the name of all that was either wrong or right with the government. My head hurt by the end of Mr. Silas's informative learning session and when he asked me if I understood, I just nodded and hoped I would catch on later.

All I needed to really know was that Peter Parker was Spider-Man and followed directions of a Tony Stark, who at this point I still didn't really know who he was.

I sighed and looked forward, trying to replay the 'script' Mr. Silas had told me to recite to this boy. While I waited and thought the words over, a very loud bell erupted from inside the school and my eyes shot up, staring in horror at what was happening. I thought instantly that something was the matter and that the students inside the building were in danger, but when I saw kids begin to pile out of the school with smiles on their faces and books in their hands, I relaxed my clenched fist and a gust of wind was released around me. I didn't even realize I was holding in my powers until I felt my hair flip and at that moment I shoved my hand in my pocket and hoped I didn't slip up again.

As students neared me in massive groups, I lifted onto my tip toes and searched the crowds. I don't know exactly what I was looking for accounting that I had never actually seen Peter Parker, but perhaps I was hoping for an easy connection. "Peter!" I shouted, waving my hand above the people's heads. "Peter Parker!" The crowds died down as students got on their trains but I saw one boy look up from when I shouted the name and he looked right at me in confusion. I waved to him with a smile on my face and he cautiously approached me, taking his headphones out of his ear and sliding them into the side pocket of his backpack. "I'm Peter Parker..." he trailed off, coming to a slow stop in front of me.

I smiled wider than I probably ever have before and extended my hand quickly, so quickly that he took a small step back. "I'm Aniya," I said, shaking his hand as he accepted my gesture. I let my hand drop back to my side after letting go and he raised an eyebrow at me, probably wanting me to go on. "Tony Stark sent me," I continued, his face now showing more surprise and not confusion.

"I know you're Spider-Man, Peter Parker," I admitted, a small smile resting on my lips as I told him exactly what Mr. Silas told me to. The boy took a step back and looked around, "W-what are you talking about?"

"You," I replied, motioning to him. "You're Spider-Man, right?"

Oh, I really hope Mr. Silas didn't give me the wrong guy. If he did than this is all over. I may as well wish my friends a farewell now. My face fell with my question and Peter Parker only shook his head, his fingers tightening around his backpack straps. "No, I'm not. I-I don't know what you're talking about."

He'll probably deny it, but just keep talking and don't let him interrupt you.

Mr. Silas's words echoed through my mind and suddenly I didn't care if the boy in front of me truly was a superhero or not. I needed his help regardless. I trusted Mr. Silas enough to listen to him, and if he was wrong, the fault felt on this Tony Stark.

I cleared my throat and tried again, my hand wrapping around Peter's hand as he began to walk away. "My name is Aniya, Peter Parker. I am a Lost Child of Forefront and --"

"The Lost Children are a myth," he interrupted, his eyes narrowing at me, most likely thinking I am crazy. I shook my head and glanced down at where my hand connected with his arm. I let go and continues, "I can prove it to you. I will prove it to you," I pleaded, begging for nothing more than a chance for this boy to trust me. "You're insane," he said in disbelief, taking a step away from me.

"Please," I begged, "You can call Tony Stark if you need to, he will tell you I'm not lying," I encouraged, wanting him to do what I asked and realize I was telling the truth. He pursed his lips and shook his head before turning around and walking away. I caught up with him before he reached the train station and hopped in front of his body, making him freeze in his place. "Please," I whispered to him, wanting him to see my pain and my desperation. "I asked someone for help and they gave me a name. I asked that person for help and they gave me another name. Now I am here, and I am begging you not to give me another name."

This was it, I needed Peterto trust me now or never. If he chose never then I decided I wasn't going to pester him any longer. I wasn't going to waste my own time trying to convince him in believing in a myth when I needed to find my friends. "I need your help to find my friends. The other Lost Children are in danger and you are the only one who can help me save them."

Peter took another step back, this time raising a shaking finger at me. "You're insane, seriously," he told me. "Something isn't right with you."

I closed my eyes for a second and dropped my head, feeling a contracting pain in my chest. A knot formed in the back of my throat and tears brimmed my eyes, crying desperately to fall. "You know what," I began, lifting my hand to wipe a stray tear from my cheek. "I-I'm sorry for wasting your time. I, uh, I have to go," I excused, turning on the balls of my feet and walking the opposite way of where Peter Parker now stood with an ashamed and almost sorry look on his face.

I hopped off the curb of the sidewalk and walked briskly across the street, hoping to get to Mr. Silas's house quickly and share the sad news that help would be coming to us. I could have sworn I heard Peter Parker shout my name, but I turned a corner too quickly and didn't bother to turn back and look.

Once I was away from the view of dozens of people, I took off running down the street where Mr. Silas lived and let the tears fall down my face. I reached his home and slammed the door behind me, leaning my back against the wood as I took a deep breath and sobbed quietly.

"Aniya? Are you back so soon?" I heard Mr. Silas call from the kitchen. I sniffled and used the back of my hand to wipe my tears before pushing off the door and approaching the hallway to the kitchen. "Yes," I called back, hearing silverware clatter in the sink.

"I didn't get anywhere," I admitted shamefully to him, finally coming into view in the room. He looked up at me and his eyes once full of hope dropped in sadness, now filling with despair. "We have to do this on our own."