Disclaimer: I own nothing!

IIIII

Hidden in the cover of the trees at the end of his neighborhood block, Peter watched the bus leave towards the school. Once again, without him in it. Though this time, unlike most days. Peter had chosen to miss the bus instead of getting bullied off it by Flash and his crowd. Ned had called him last night to warn him that Flash was preparing a rather vicious prank, and it would probably be best if Peter missed the bus.

Knowing Ned as well as he did, they'd been best friends since before school. Peter knew that if Ned said the prank was vicious, it was probably worse than what he was actually saying. Hence why Peter had purposefully missed the bus and hidden in the trees. Choosing to skip school entirely instead of walking or asking his aunt to drive him. The latter of which would only make her ask questions. Questions Peter really didn't want to answer.

Leaning back against the branches, Peter rested his head, staring up into the sky. He wasn't sure why, but today he was feeling off. School and Flash's never-ending torment of him aside. Peter couldn't help but feel as if something was wrong. It was weird, especially since he'd never felt this way before. Yet today, that sick twisting feeling in his stomach. The one that caused him a headache without actually having a headache, like a phantom of one, just wasn't going away. It was part of the reason he'd decided to skip school entirely.

Hearing a car starting up, Peter glanced in the direction of his house, catching sight of the back of his aunt's car driving away. No doubt back to the hospital, which meant she wouldn't be back until late tonight. Long hours and random shifts. Just one of the perks of being a hospital nurse. Something Peter usually disliked as it meant he didn't get to see his aunt much. But today, he was rather glad she was gone. It meant he could head back home instead of looking for something to do outside the apartment until school was out.

With a little bit of difficulty, Peter grabbed hold of the branch beneath him. Dropping himself down from the tree, the force sending a little shudder up his legs from the impact. Wincing, Peter shook it off, then trekked back to the apartment. Avoiding looking at the neighbors and other tenants in the building as much as possible. If he was lucky... Which he never was... But if he was this time. The neighbors wouldn't recognize him, and May would return late enough that no one would be up to mention they'd seen him. It was a dodgy shot, and in all likelihood, he'd be caught in the morning. But that was then. At least he could enjoy the day for now.

Closing the apartment door behind him, Peter made his way to the bedroom and powered on his laptop. As Ned was currently in school, Peter would be alone until later in the afternoon when the other boy could hop online. So until then, Peter would have to amuse himself and pass the time until he could think of something he wanted to do. Not a hard task. Not at all.

Scrolling through a few random web pages and articles. Peter clicked on one flashing with the picture of the avengers on it. Eagerly scanning the page for anything new about the hero group. Unfortunately, it was nothing more than an ad. So he found himself closing it, only saving the picture the ad used before moving on. It wasn't too bad of an image, and he could add it to his collection of photos he had of the Avengers.

It was something he'd started two years ago when the hero group first appeared and took the world by storm. Peter had only been fourteen then, but he'd immediately become hooked. Reading and watching anything he could get his hands on about the Avengers. In fact, it had gotten so bad at one point in Peter's room. The floors, walls, and ceiling had been stapled with images, posters, memorabilia, and action figures of the Avengers. Of course, as Peter's favorite inventor and hero, Iron Man made up the bulk of his collection.

Unfortunately, that was no longer the case. Not because Peter was growing up or any such nonsense. But because their apartment had flooded without them in it during some city-wide battle the Avengers were in a few months ago. Peter and May were forced to relocate to another apartment in queens. All their stuff and his collection totaled.

Seeing another article, this one with a more catchy title - 'How to get powers IN REAL LIFE.' Something obviously fake, though, that didn't stop him from clicking it. Peter found his screen going black, then white, before green lines of text started scrolling across the page almost quicker than he could read them.

Do you wish to have powers?

Have you seen the Avengers?

Do you think they got their powers naturally?

Ha!

It was from us!

Do you want the same?

Just say yes!

Sign and enter!

Immediately, Peter clicked yes, then began filling out the information required. Address, card information, and his own details. Of course, as he wasn't stupid. Nor was that hero crazed to believe what this clearly fake and unbelievable article was trying to make him believe. Peter was entering in phony information. Both with the card number he'd randomly generated and liked to use from time to time and the address. The only accurate info he'd entered was his age, fifteen, and that he was male.

Carefully reviewing everything inputted and finding no mistakes, Peter tapped the enter key and found himself staring at a loading circle. "Great, so this is what Ned was talking about."

Last night, besides the warning. Ned had told him about a prank going around the internet about getting powers like the Avengers. Only once you were done filling out the requirements an infinite loading screen would appear. Supposedly someone had let it run for two weeks, and nothing had changed. Not only that, there were even live streams about it, with people refusing to believe the whole thing was fake. Claiming that everyone else would be sorry when they got powers like the Avengers.

Pulling up a live stream, Peter entered it to check what he'd done was the same prank going online. Seeing the same loading circle, he sighed and closed the whole thing. Shutting down his laptop. Yet another attempt to get powers foiled, not that he'd really expected a positive result. Yet it was disappointing all the same.

Sighing, Peter got up from his chair and flopped onto his bed by his desk. Staring up at the ceiling in thought. Feeling drained and a little bored after the little prank. "What to do, what to do, what to do..."

Hours later

Groaning, Peter tiredly pulled out his phone to check the time. Rubbing his eyes as he focused on the screen before sitting up in disbelief at the text saying it was eight at night. He'd somehow slept the entire day away, which wasn't the worse thing in the world. He'd been bored, after all, and sleep was better than nothing. However, he had a class tomorrow, which he hadn't planned on skipping again. Which also meant he'd either have to force himself to sleep or stay up all night and go to school exhausted.

Mentally berating himself for making such a stupid mistake, Peter got out of bed and headed for the kitchen. Hoping his aunt was back and had made something while he'd slept. That hope was dashed, however, as soon as he saw the spotless sink. An impossibility if May had cooked without him around to clean.

Flicking on the light, or rather attempting to do so. Peter frowned, glancing at the still-blackened room. It was only eight, yet with the pulled curtains and now no light. The fuse probably shot again. The apartment room felt strange. Shaking his head and chalking it up to the apartment, still feeling unfamiliar after all these months. Peter stepped around the counter corner right into a wet puddle.

"Seriously?" Jumping back, Peter ripped off his sock, letting it fall to the floor as he wiped away the liquid from his foot. He never liked that feeling when wearing socks or even shoes. Glancing back at the light switch, Peter stepped forward, then stopped remembering the power was out, and attempting to turn it on again would do nothing.

So going with option number two, Peter pulled open the curtains by the sink, the natural light filling the room and brightening it. A much better and easier light to use than his phone. Another option he'd considered. Though from his experience, holding a phone light and cleaning was more of a pain than any real help. Turning around, Peter looked down at the spill, thoughts of how he was going to clean the mess filling his mind. Those thoughts vanished when he noticed the strange copper color of the liquid on the floor. The red hue and sheer amount of it spread across the kitchen floor like some grapefruit had been pulverized and thrown onto it.

"What was she doing this morning?" Peter muttered to himself. He was unable to think of why his aunt would leave such a mess behind or what she was attempting to do. Picking up a rag, then grabbing a few more after a split second of consideration. Peter got onto his knees and began soaking up the liquid. Red smeared against the wooden floor of the apartment, looking like something straight out of a serial killer movie he'd once seen with Ned last Halloween.

Chuckling at the thought, Peter continued cleaning up the mess. Having to get more rags as the spill seemed to grow the longer he was cleaning. Spreading all the way from the entrance to the kitchen and bending around by the chairs to the dining room table. Dumping a particularly soaked rag into the pile next to him, Peter was about to grab a new one when a glint of something on the floor caught his eye.

Reaching forward, Peter picked it up and found himself holding his aunt's ring. An old gold banded diamond ring his late uncle Ben had gotten May for their anniversary. She'd never once taken it off, at least not that Peter knew. His aunt had never truly been the same since Ben's death almost two years ago.

Neither had Peter, for that matter. Uncle Ben had been special. Someone he could talk to about anything. No matter how bad the topic, without worrying about embarrassment or fear of judgment. Sure with the man's job, something he never spoke of except that it was confidential. Peter had never really gotten to know the man as well as May. Even if they'd technically raised him since his parents died when he was eight. Yet, all the same, Peter loved his uncle.

Unfortunately, as the late Ben used to like to joke and say. The Parker luck had struck during the Avengers war against the aliens above New York. Uncle Ben had gotten killed while helping people in queens get to safety shelters during the attacks with those who hadn't evacuated in time.

Wiping the ring clean, Peter pocketed it. He'd have to remember to give it back to his aunt when she came home. That is, if she hadn't already noticed she lost it. Getting back to work, Peter scrubbed the floor for a few more minutes. Then without realizing how close he was to one of the dining chairs. He banged his head right into it.

"Ouch!" Sitting back, Peter rubbed his forehead. Then glaring at the chair, he moved it aside only to freeze. His mind blanked for a few seconds as Peter found himself looking into the glazed eyes of his aunt. The woman was still dressed in her green nurse outfit. Only it was now laden with dark red slit-like wounds spread across her upper chest and stomach. The blood practically made it almost impossible to tell when a wound began and ended. "...A-Aunt May?"

Springing forward, Peter ignored what he knew now to be blood covering the floor. Feeling for his aunt's pulse. A pointless action with the amount of blood still covering the wood floors. There was absolutely no way his aunt could still be alive. But all the same, Peter did it, tears already falling down his face as he felt the coldness of May's skin. No heartbeat, no warmth, nothing.

"No, no, no, no. May y-you can't be g-gone..." Peter cried softly, picking up the woman's head and lifting her into his lap. He'd just seen the woman that morning. How was it possible that less than twelve hours later, she was dead? In fact, why was she even home? May should have been working at the hospital. Eight was far too early for her to be back.

Feeling something squishy pressing against his palm, Peter turned May's head. Bile immediately filled his mouth as he saw the sunken skull of his aunt. Leaning his head away, Peter threw up, acid lurching up his throat as he released the contents of his stomach, tears mixing in with the bile. Something that only got worse as Peter realized a detail he'd missed. His aunt was home... He was home... May was dead on the floor... Which meant he'd slept through her getting murdered. Someone breaking into their apartment. Killing the woman before leaving, all with him none the wiser.

Hands shaking, Peter reached into his pocket and, getting out his phone dialed 911.

"H-Hello?"

"Hello, this is 911. How may we be of service."

Three months later

"Why, why did you have to do it? Haven't you done enough to harm my family?"

"I didn't do any-" Peter tried to explain himself but was cut off.

"Don't joke around, Mr. Parker. My client has very clearly stated what happened. Ms. Viper's testimony. The security footage. The body of your aunt in the apartment you both share. Not to mention the device you stole, which was found hidden in your bedroom closet at the scene of the crime. All have been recorded and seen by the judge. The man in a neatly pressed suit spoke calmly, shuffling his papers around on the wooden desk in front of him. A few people in the crowd scattered around the courtroom, nodding at his words.

"I didn't kill my aunt! It was her! She killed my aunt and put the device in my room!" Peter yelled, glaring at the black-haired woman sitting beside her lawyer, the smug smile that flashed across her face was infuriating. Especially as no one else seemed to notice it and instead believed he'd killed his Aunt May.

Of course, logically, he knew that Ms. Viper probably hadn't killed May, and accusing the woman wasn't helping his case. Still, though, Peter couldn't help it.

The reason behind it all came from three months ago when he'd called 911 upon discovering his dead aunt. At first, after he'd given his statement and heard officers talking about him being sent to an orphanage. Peter had thought it was over and that, beside's the nightmares, he'd have to fend for himself until he came of age. That was all until Ms. Viper. A businesswoman who apparently rivaled Stark. Only instead of America, her company was based in Germany.

She'd entered the police station claiming to have evidence that Peter didn't simply discover his May's body. But he'd stolen an incredibly advanced piece of tech and murdered his aunt when she'd discovered it. A completely absurd and ridiculous notion. Nevermind the fact that when Peter had demanded to be told what he'd stolen. The answer was that he knew full well what it was.

Yet, somehow the whole world seemed to be going crazy. Because Ms. Viper was believed, whatever evidence was shown was good enough to bring him to trial. Not only that, but it was a trial for adults. Not even an underage trial like it should have been. What was even crazier was that somehow along the way, a change had been made. So now, if the trial succeeded, Peter would be imprisoned.

Which led to Peter accusing the woman of killing his aunt. A petty attempt to frame the woman as she was doing him with the whole ridiculousness of the stolen technology accusation.

"That is impossible, Mr. Parker. Ms. Viper was on the other side of the world when you decided to steal multi-million dollar technology. The only reason she is here now is because of how serious this is and her lack of security that allowed someone like... well, you to get into her building. You would be back in your cell if it weren't for that." In an almost mocking way, the lawyer sighed and shook his head as if dealing with a child before smiling at Peter. "The only reason this is happening is because she has compassion for you. She's giving you more of a chance than you deserve. Now explain how you got into the building and stole her technology in return for a reduced sentence."

"I told you." Peter gritted his teeth before slamming his hands down on the table, making his cuffs rattle. "I DIDN'T STEAL ANYTHING!"

Tapping the mini hammer against the desk, the judge spoke up for the first time since the beginning of the trial. "Enough, Mr. Parker. Now, if you are done acting like a child. Would you please explain to Ms. Viper how you broke into her building? If not, it's a cell in Ryker's prison for you."

Staring at the judge, Peter stayed silent, then fell back into his chair. Resignation welling up in him. No matter what he said, argued, or tried to bring the judge's attention to. None of it mattered. It was as if the whole thing was for show, and he'd been sentenced to prison the moment he entered the courtroom. And for what? A piece of fake technology? It was outrageous, and never in Peter's wildest imagination could he have thought such a thing was possible. Yet here it was, happening to him and most certainly not a dream. If anything, it was more of a nightmare.

The only good thing, if it could even be considered that. Was that Ned, bless his soul. Had stuck with him and believed Peter without a second of a doubt about him not killing his aunt. If he hadn't, well, Peter wasn't sure what he would have done... No one else, even the neighbors and some of May's friends who Peter had known for years, didn't believe him.

"Well, as it appears, Mr. Parker wants to spend more time in his thoughts alone than here now with us. I declare this trial officially over. I'm sure Rykers will welcome their new guest with open arms."

"Wait, what?" Staring in shock at the Judge, Peter was about to try and stand when two large hands clamped onto his shoulder.

"Alright, kid, back to the truck with you." A guard spoke up, dressed in full kevlar with an odd and high-tech-looking weapon strapped on his back. "It's been a while since we had fresh blood down at Rykers."

"T-That's it?" Peter stuttered slightly. Sure he'd had a feeling he'd probably get sent to prison once the trial was over. But did it really end just like that? No more talks, evidence, or even him being brought out of the courtroom as they made their judgment? Instead, his future was over after a decision made in a few seconds?

Stomach twisting up coldly, Peter tried to ignore the feeling as he was led out of the courtroom. However, he was having more and more trouble trying to focus the more they walked. The knowledge that he was actually going to prison, a place Peter had hoped he wouldn't actually go to beside's everything pointing otherwise, fully began to hit him.

The only upside to the whole situation he could find was that he'd never heard of Rykers. It certainly wasn't a famous prison or in any documentaries he'd seen with Ned... How bad could it really be?

IIIII