Chapter Text
Peter likes the library because it’s quiet and nobody expects him to talk.
Aunt May lets him sit on the floor while she reads. Uncle Ben points at pictures and makes up voices that don’t really match. Peter laughs anyway. He doesn’t care if they’re wrong.
When they leave, the doors open and the sun hits him in the face.
It’s warm. He likes that too.
“Can we get ice cream?” Peter asks. He tugs on May’s hand. “Please?”
Ben laughs. “You just had breakfast.”
Peter looks at May. He waits.
She sighs like she’s thinking, even though she already decided. “Fine. One scoop.”
Peter grins and runs ahead, then stops because he knows better. He waits on the sidewalk like he’s told.
The ice cream truck is parked down the street. May walks toward it. Ben stays behind, distracted by a phone call. Peter watches ants crawl into a crack in the pavement.
Two women pass by. Strollers. Sunglasses. Normal.
“He’s smaller than expected,” one says.
“That’s fine,” the other replies. “Easier.”
They don’t slow down. One hand reaches out and grabs him.
Peter yelps. He twists. Someone covers his mouth.
“Stop,” he says, but it comes out wrong.
The stroller is empty when it rolls past the ice cream truck.
A needle presses into his arm. It hurts. Just a little.
He thinks of Aunt May. He thinks she’ll turn around any second.
She doesn’t.
May comes back holding two ice creams.
“Peter?” she calls.
He isn’t there.
Ben ends the call too fast. He looks around. He says Peter’s name like he already knows something is wrong.
They see the van when it’s already closing.
Ben runs.
May screams.
The shots are quiet. Clean.
Ben goes down first. May follows.
No one reacts. People keep walking. The truck keeps playing music.
The van drives away.
Peter doesn’t wake up.