Tony Stark

May Parker trampled up the steps from another long day at work. I saw her from a distance and called out to her. "Ms.Parker?" She stopped at the mention of her name and looked up the stairwell followed by looking over the railing. She spotted me and Pepper at the bottom of the steps and stopped.

I took off jogging to her with a wrapped present in my hand. Today was my interns, Peter Parker, birthday. We decided to suprise him with a gift and a visit after school. Pepper fell behind as Happy joined her with another gift in a bag.

I met the single aunt on the steps. She smiled at me and held out her hand. We both shook hands, but she embraced my fiancee, Pepper Potts.Over the time they had bonded and created a beautiful friendship. "Hello, Mr.Stark, Pepper, and Happy. What a suprise! You did get the invits to Peters party, right? That's not until this Saturday."

Pepper spoke up before I could answer. "Yes, we know. Tony thought he would give Peter an early present and suprise the kid on his birthday." We continued up the stairs to the 5th floor. The elevator wasn't working in the building. Apparently, Spider-Man broke it while fighting off some goons. The owner of the building was furious but told us Spider-Man drops in every week and pays a hundrend dollars to help fix it.

While we traveled up the stairs I thought of the things I was going to say to Pete. Obviously I was going to wish him a happy birthday, then give him the gift. Next I would pull him in his room and ask about the elevator and where he was getting that money. My thoughts were cut off when we reached the door.

"Peter should be home already. I told him come straight home after school since he dosen't have work today." May reached her hand in her over-sized brown purse. She felt around a little until she pulled her hand out, clutching to her keys.

The door unlocked with a loud click. She pushed it open while she slid her keys back in the bag. Me and Pepper locked eye contacted and started talking about our day while May stood in the doorway. She screamed.

My attention was turned to the apartment. My hapiness fell from my heart as I looked at the inside. The place was decorated in red. The walls were splattered with red paint at random. The table had a red table cloth tied with red ribbions to the chair. The table was also set with classic red platstic party plates and cups. Red silver-ware. A knife, fork, and a spoon at each seat. Red streamer doused the rooms with its presence. Everywhere you looked was red except on the table was a black cake. "Stay out here May. Pepper stay with her. Happy come with me, but be careful."

We coustiously walked in and observed the room farther. I walked to the table and saw the cake. Writtin on top of it was "Happy Birthday Peter!" A nice and casual saying on a birthday cake. But this cake was different because when I looked closer, the words were written in an unusual looking frosting. I dipped one finger in it. The weird frosting sat on my finger tip as I pulled it closer to my face. I smelled it first before tasting a small bit of it. It tasted like blood.

I pulled out my special glasses and put them on. "FRIDAY? You there?"

"Always, Mr.Stark." The Irish AI responded.

"Scan everything in the room. Take picture of everything I see. Also, analyze this cake and put the results on the screen in front of me." The AI began her busy work as I sneaked off to Peters room. His room was the exact same as the living room and kitchen. Red paint, streamers, and decorations.

On the four corners of his bed was one ballon tied on the end. It didn't appear to have helium in them since they drouped down towards the floor. I made my way to one of them and poked it with my finger. It was definitly some kind of dense liquid. "Good God, please don't let this be what I think it is." I whispered under my breath. The results of the cake scan popped up before me. I immediately started reading them.

"The red frosting for the words was made by mixing Peter Parkers blood and vanilla frosting, sir." FRIDAY said in a hushed voice. "Would you like to know the frosting brand?" I didn't even know FRIDAY was capable of doing that, but at the moment, I could care less.

Happy entered the room. "May just called the police. They're on there way. Peters highschool or friends haven't seen him all day. They're fileing a missings persons case." He left the room in a hurry. I sat in the room in silence. After a couple of minutes I gathered the nerve to pop one of the ballons. Out poured the sticky, warm liquid. I whispered FRIDAYs name. She knew exactly what I wanted to know.

"It is Peter Parkers blood." If an advanced mechanical AI could have feelings this would be a wonderful time for comfort.

I left the room slowly from shock. May and Pepper were embracing as Happy spoke to many police men. They all froze when I walked in. The only sound was small whimpers from May. "The ballons... they're filled with blood. The red frosting...is colored by blood."

Pepper turned her head to me. He fearful eyes bulged in her head. We made eye contact for a breif moment before she asked the question everyone was thinking. "Is it...?" But she couldn't finish her sentence. The tears in her eyes and the lump in her throat prevented her from it.

I nodded slowly at the ground. "It's Peters. All of it's Peters." May wailed something alful into Peppers shoulder. I caught Happys lifeless expression of horror. Maybe I shouldn't have told them that with May in the room, but I think she deserved to know the truth. After all, I have been lieing to her a lot for Peter. The police officer called for back up. So did I.

Some detectives showed up after Rhodey and Vision came flying to the door. "Details. Now." Rhodey said as he limped through the living room.

"Pepper, take Ms.Parker to the compound with Happy. She can't be here." Pepper whipped her tears from her face and helped May stand up from the floor. The crime scene was taped off and a crowd started forming outside the door. Four officers blocked the view from the neighbors.

An older gentleman approched the three of us with a frown. "Listen, Iron Man, Vision, and War Machine... it will help us a lot if you leave. This is a case for the police. Not superheros."

I turned at him pissed and confused. "What? There is blood from a child that I have a personal connection to! We are NOT going anywhere. I want you to tell me everything you know about this. Any similiar cases?"

"You're not going to ask for finger prints?" He growled.

"Of course not! I've already scanned for them!" Rhodey laid a hand on my shoulder and I released some of my tension. "Look, I'm more qualified-"

"More qualified? What do you think we are? Stupid. We are the task force, the law in this land. Not you. Now, I suggest you-" A younger man with blood hair and green eyes came up behind the older man.

"Peirce. Go take the pictures I ordered you to take. And stop acting like these men are our enimies. That's an order." The old timer glared at us once more. We all watched as he moved to Peters room. I didn't want anyone going in there. It was a special place at the moment. "Now, let's get down to business." If I was in a good mood I would state the rest of that Mulan song, but this was not the right time.

"Gentlemen... my name is Samuel Barton. I'm the lead detective on this case at the moment and I was wondering if-"

I inturupted. "Wait. Case? You mean this has happened before?" I put my hands in my pockets and cocked my head to the left, waiting for an answer. Samuel sighed and rubbed his forehead. He looked around the room observing everything. A larger crowd had formed outside. Many officers blocked the door as we talked. The red decorations made him shiver and I could see the hurt in his eyes.

"I'm afraid so Mr.Stark. We haven't told the public yet. This is the 7th case. Parents come home to find their house decorated similar. The child is missing and the childs best friend goes missing. Seven kids have died from this. We found their bodies where they hung out the most."

"And their friends?" Rhodey asked.

"Haven't seen them since. If you're not gonna step back from this, I can give you the complete file on the case. More information too. To be honest we can use all the help we can get."

"Vision... go to Neds house right now!" I screamed. Vision understood and flew out the window. "Rhodey, go to Harry Osborns house. Protect him." Rhodey called his suit in the window and suited up. On his way out he broke through the wall a little bit. "I'll fix that." I mumbled. "Do you-do you mind coming with me? Tell me all you know about this." Samuel nodded yes. He told the men what to do, "Just like last time." He said. We walked out and to a car I had FRIDAY send to me. After we were in and the car was on full lock down, we continued our talk.

Peter Parker

How did I get in this creepy party room? I'll tell you:

I woke up with enthusiasm. Today was only Tuesday, but it was my Tuesday. This meant only a four more days until my birthday party. Of course it was only my three closest friends: MJ, Ned, and Harry, like every year. But this year was slightly different. Tony Stark was going to be there! I jumped out of bed to find red streamers all over the place. "My favorite color" I thought.

At first I thought it was a prank from May. She snuck in my room early this morning before work and quickly flung them everywhere. But I quickly changed my mind when I went to the kitchen. Red paint was dripped on the walls. Red streamers danced across the cieling. The table was half way set as well.

My senses screamed at me and I jumped high to the cieling. Below me was a man with a potato sack over his head. The only thing that showed was his blood shot red eyes. I think my favorite color is now blue.

I dropped to the floor and put up my fists. He laughed at me. "Come now child. My family wants to help you celebrate your birthday. Come with me. We'll have fun." He whispered in a voice that sent chills up my spine. But I wasn't going without a fight. And a fight we had. He shoved me in Mays room and shut the door. I heard the lock click behind him and I started to panic. Many punches and kicks were sent his way. Nothing I did seemed to work.

"Can we do this after school? I'm gonna be late! I can't be late again or I'll get a detention. So, let me leave and we can continue this-" He pulled out a gun and shot at me. I was quick and dodged the bullets. The gun was odd. First, it looked like a toy gun. Second, it was silent. No sound came from the gun, not even when it fired.

Five more shots were fired. The fifth hit me in the shoulder. I dropped from the cieling like I did in the kitchen. But this time I was down forever. The bullet was some kind of paralyzer. I couldn't feel anything. I stared as the large man walked to me and slammed his fist in my head. My vision started to blurr and eventually darkness cralwed from the top of my eyes and spread like a disease to the rest of my vision. Everything went black.

So, now I'm here. In a room filled with broken toys, black ballons, bouncie balls, and small, rusted tables for two year olds. The room was a dull, dirty yellow color with different sized dark green circles spread across it. It looked like an abandoned and haunted nursury at a local daycare center.

My hands were tied behind my back. My feet tied together at the ankles. I was laying on my right side with my legs bent on the floor. The floor was hard like cement. I was in the center of the room. It was extreamly uncomfrotable. My head was throbbing in pain as well as my shoulder. Not to mention the oder in the room. The smell was intolerable. I rolled over on my back slowly and looked to see what was behind me.

When I saw what was there I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell and holler for help, but I couldn't. Nothing was coming out. All was quite as I silently stared at seven dead bodies sitting at a small tea table. Each one looked like they had only been dead for a couple of hours. But I knew otherwise. The stentch told me that.

If I wasn't so weak I would easliy be able to break these ropes. Ropes and chains. I struggled against the floor to sit up. I decided I was going to ignore the seven dead teenagers and think of a plan of escape. No one was coming for me for a while. May wouldn't know what happened to me and Mr.Stark would track my suit straight to my room. That left them on a dead end. Unless they find some miracle lead.

A door opened next to the dead people. I didn't even realize that door was there. Who would when your staring at you-know-what...

The same man walked in the door. He had on the same old potato bag over his head and black suit. Yeah, a serial killer had on a suit and tie. A red tie. Gosh, I hate the color red. I'm changing my suit color right when I get home. If I get home. He shut the door behind him. A shiver ran up my spine when he came over to me holding a plate with a single cupcake. "Happy Birthday, Son. We'll have your party when the rest arrive."

I gulped down the saliva that had gathered in my mouth. He pulled out a lighter and lit the candle that was on top of the chocolate frosting. Then he pulled out a pocket knife and cut the ropes that bound my hands together. I pulled my arms around my body and rubbed my wrists. I knew if I tried to escape I wouldn't get far. I'd have to wait until I'm stronger. I looked at the man dead in the eyes and spit. He shook his head and laughed.

"Come on my boy! Stop this foolishness. Blow out the candle and eat it." I didn't move. "I said eat it." He grabbed my hair and yanked my head forward. I blew out the candle all right. My face smashed into it. "Now look what you did! You stupid pig! Eat the cake." He placed the smashed cupcake in my hands and held the knife to my neck. I had no choice but to eat the cake.

After I was finished he laughed. I put my head down, not wanting to look at him. Once again he yanked my head up by my hair. I grunted at the force. I could just sense his smile under that covering. "You see James over there." He pulled my head to look at the bodies. Then he pointed to a boy who looked about 17 years old. There was a huge hole in his cheek. The next thing the evil monster said was what I feared. "He helped me make that cake. That crunchy flavor was his idea." The pocket knife he had jabbed me in my right side. He pulled it out and spit in my face.

I started gagging, trying to throw up. He sliced both sides of my face. One long, deep cut on each cheek. Starting at my ear and ending at my chin. "A scar to remind you what you just ate." Then once agian I was alone. I was alone and throwing up. I refused to keep that in my stomach. My body refused to keep anything down.

After I emptied my stomach, I scooted back and leaned back on the cold wall. A silent prayer slipped through my lips. A prayer for portection, help, and survival. "Please," I whispered. "I don't know what this guy is going to do to me. Please let Tony Stark find me soon." It would be soon. But not soon enough.