❛ If we hadn't run ❜

After Peter Parker had showed up on Mr. Silas's doorstep, my life had found a new upside down. It had found a new upside down once I was taken by Forefront, and then again after the Battle of New York. Then again after the massacre. But when Peter Parker showed up, I found a new hope in the human race. Someone wanted to help me that had no relation to anything Forefront had. Mr. Silas agreed to help me, yes, but he was no stranger. It was a small world and Mr. Silas just so happened to be the man who saved my life as an infant and then his daughter worked for the company that I was taken by.

But Peter... with him things were different.

I rarely smiled since my friends' disappeared but Peter had made me laugh more than once. It was nice to have someone teach me how to be a teenager. Mr. Silas could only do so much to educate me about the world beyond Forefront's world, so with Peter I was able to actually learn things about people my age.

But it still had been difficult to get along with Peter sometimes because he didn't understand any of the slightest of what I had been through, and when he did try to understand he ended up making me feel bad about losing two of the most important people in my life. When I had Kathryn's file sitting in front of me several nights ago it was a very awkward evening because the entire time he continued to stare at the folder beneath my fingers and I couldn't muster the strength to open it.

She was my sister, and Marcus was my brother. And now they're both dead.

After Peter Parker had learned the details I shared about my past, he made it his primary duty to watch me very carefully and make sure I was safe. It was almost as if Spider-Man was my personal guardian, and I honestly couldn't complain.

Today was the first day I decided to go back to the destroyed compound and search for anything out of the ordinary. I had searched nearly an hour before I heard a strange noise and left with no new discoveries. It was disappointing, but at the same time relieving to know that Forefront had not returned to the city. And if they had, they didn't come for me, at least not yet.

It was nearly nine at night when I started my trek back to Mr. Silas's - which I was still very surprised he let me leave but I convinced him I would be okay and Peter Parker would be watching over me - and I still had a while of a walk to go.

Once I had passed Delmar's Deli, I noticed a boy wearing red and blue observing me from the top of an apartment building and I let out a sigh of relief. If Forefront were to try anything on me right now, Peter Parker would save me. Or, I could blast them sky high with my powers but that's an alternative solution.

After I had dropped my eyes from Peter Parker's, I looked forward where I was walking and stopped abruptly. There, maybe two feet before me, was a person dressed head to toe in black clothing. The person had blonde hair cascading down their shoulders and I froze, dozens of fears entering and filtering through my mind.

The girl didn't move, she stayed put with her head ducked down and her feet planted. I considered going around her, or maybe crossing the street, but if this was Forefront then there was no way out.

I glanced up at Peter Parker who was now standing on the rooftop edge as if he was going to leap at any moment.

When I glanced back to the girl, her head was up and her hood was down.

I gasped loudly, my hand flying up to cover my mouth. The girl smiled softly at me and I found myself running to her and leaping into her arms.

She laughed, her arms wrapping around my back as mine did the same and we swayed on our feet for a long moment, just embracing one another.

I didn't think this was possible. In fact, I knew it wasn't.

"H-How are you here?" I whispered as I pulled away, my hands still wrapped around her forearms to keep her close. She smiled wide and brushed a strand of hair from my face, "I haven't seen you in so long, Aniya. You're okay, oh my gosh, I'm so glad you're okay," she chuckled.

"I'm so happy you're okay, too, Kathryn. But how? I watched you die, I saw it all!"

Kathryn sighed and looked down at her feet, watching her boots glimmer in the moonlight, "Okay, come here. I'll tell you everything."

I allowed my friend to pull me into the alley and after checking it was clear, she folded her arms across her chest and took a large breath. "When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. This organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. found me and saved my life. I couldn't stay with them because of some alien thing going on, I didn't get the details, but they sent me her to help you. They knew about Forefront, they were the ones who invaded the compound. We were running from the wrong enemy, Forefront was the enemy and we were running from S.H.I.E.L.D. when they wanted to get us out of there."

Kathryn's eyes met mine as she finished her anecdote and I sighed, "If we hadn't run..."

"Then we would all be safe," she filled in. "An agent of their's shot me because I ran, they thought I was an enemy. So it was only fair they brought me back."

I nodded and looked around, trying to make sure no one was listening in. "What did they want you to help me with?"

"They know we're the Lost Children, A. And I know you're looking for Luca and Jax and I want to help you, they're my family, too."

"I'll talk to Mr. Silas," I said quickly, totally on board with getting her help. "S.H.I.E.L.D. already has, and they agreed not to get in our way - or rather, your way. So... Can I help? Can I help get the boys back and we can try to move on from this?"

I nodded with a smile. I was ready to engage in a happy conversation when I remembered the loss of another Lost Child. I looked down, my feelings overcome by grief. "I-I'm so sorry about Marcus. I was so upset and the others had to -"

"Marcus is okay," she interrupted with a smile on her face. "What?"

"He's okay! He, uh, yeah! He's okay. They thought he was dead, but they were able to start his heart again. Or I think, I don't really understand all that medical jargon. But he's fine."

My heart raced with you at Kathryn's news. I thought I had lost all four of my friends, but now I was sure two were okay. I smiled as wide as I could and let out a joyous laugh. "Where is he?"

"He's waiting for me in an alley over there. I told him I would talk to you first and then we would go meet up with him, so long as you said yes."

"Oh my God,' I gasped and smiled, "He's alive! You're alive! This is amazing! Oh! I- oh my God, you guys are alive!" I shouted in surprise and glee. I put my hands on my head and bent my knees and dipped my head before snapping up and laughing. Kathryn laughed and have me a welcoming hug.

As Kathryn released from the hug she grabbed my hand, "Come on! Let's go get him! Come on, come on!"

I looked up as Kathryn pulled me along down the sidewalk and tried to find Peter Parker, but he was nowhere to he found. I realized he must have gone to stop a crime, so I continued on happily and let my night get better as it went along