Someone to Save

Chapter 22: Objects at Rest

Do you ever have those times when you wake up and you seem to be fully functional, but when you try to move you realize you can't and you have sleep paralysis? Now imagine what it would feel like times 10. I've been laying here for a week now. It's been two months since Harry was hurt and on my watch. I think I've finally accepted that it was out of my control. I'm better now. or at least I will be once I'm put off bed rest. Aunt May has come every day to see how I'm doing. I suspect that she's always known that I was Spider-man, but never said anything.  A tutor has been coming in as well to make sure I stay up-to-date with all of my classmates. If you told me a week ago that I'd still be in this room I would have laughed, but now that it's been a week of nothing I don't really mind it. 

Doc is always here at noon. Right on the dot, almost as if on purpose, but when I ask about it he always shrugs it off as if it were just a coincidence. Nope. He's definitely messing with me. Fury has yet to visit me. I assume he hasn't  because of his conversation with Doc. Should I say something about it? Actually, no. I've been sitting here for weeks now and I haven't done any training whatsoever, so even if I did I'd probably get knocked down. 

It's now been two months. I stay at home to finish recuperating. Aunt May is usually trying to find an excuse to stay home with me. 

"Peter are you sure you're okay with me going with the girls today?" she asks, concern evident. She doesn't try to hide it anymore. 

"Aunt May, I'm fine. I was fine yesterday and I'm fine today. You should go and hang out with your friends!" I reassure her. She smiles and shakes her head. 

"Alright. There's leftovers in the fridge!" she shouts as she goes down the stairs. I find the strength to get out of bed and I walk deliberately over to my desk. I finally finish all of my schoolwork. According to Doc I can go back to school next week. I've never been so relieved to go back to school and be normal for once in my abnormal life. Putting my work away into my backpack, I got ready for another day of house arrest. 

Get clothes on. Brush my teeth. Walk downstairs. Eat breakfast. Sit on the couch until my legs go numb. Get lunch. Back to the couch to see if anything has happened in the news. See another headline that goes something like "Where is Spiderman?" Wait for Aunt May to get home. Get dinner. Get pajamas on. Go to bed.

I go through the list in my mind again after living through it for the past two weeks, sitting down on the couch. After a few minutes I hear a knock at the door. Confused, I get up and look through the window and see a SHIELD standard issue SUV. Opening the door I see my team. Or rather not since I've been out of commission for a while. 

"Hey Webs! You ready to get back to school?" Luke began. 

"I suppose. I mean, it'd be great to get out of the house for real," I said, "what are are you guys standing there for? Come on in." They are all tense. Even though we've been texting each other they keep their distance from me. I appreciate the sentiment but would it kill them to call me and say hello once in a while! They walk slowly and drift over to the living room, all somehow fitting on the couch facing the TV. 

"Do you guys want anything to eat or..." I walked over to the kitchen. 

"Sure man. Whatever you want," Sam said with a small smile. He got up and came over to the kitchen as well to help me get some snacks. I handed him a bowl of chips and tossed some water bottles at him. He dodged them but then caught them. I see a glint in his eye as he stares at me. He soon begins to laugh and I laugh along to break the awkwardness. We make our way back to the living room where the team is sitting cozily on the couch, watching some comedy. 

"So how's the make-up work coming along?" Ava spoke up, "you can look at my notes if you need to." 

"It's going pretty well. I think I have a much better understanding of these topics since I've been out. Thanks for the offer though" I say as I sit on the armchair next to the couch. We spend the rest of the day actually catching up without the former awkwardness. Soon the day is over and they go back to the Tricarrier. I eat dinner then go upstairs. Aunt May comes back home after another hour. We wish each other good night and go to bed.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm floating. Fleeting away. Weightless.

I try to move but it feels as if I'm in a sea of gel. My body won't listen to me.

But the scene changes. I'm there. In the cafeteria. 

It's happening too fast.

I see a figure but it disappears, reappearing behind me. Everywhere gets darker.

Where am I? I hear someone laughing. From the left? Right? Behind me?

By my neck, I feel someone's breath. Something warm glides on my cheek. When it leaves my face is wet. 

Wet? 

I blink and there's a mirror a few yards away from me. I walk closer. Closer. Now I'm at the mirror. 

The wetness on my cheek drips down to the nothingness below me. 

Red.

There's red on my cheek. It's disappearing into the nothingness below. Some is on my body. The red begins to get deeper by my feet, rising until it consumes me. I'm floating in red.