The tower was huge. It looked large on the news, but when you looked at it from right underneath, it was a giant looming over you. Charlie took a deep breath and walked into the doors. That red head who was talking to the interviewers greeted her.
"Charlie, I've been told to bring you to your living quarters before you see him."
Charlie nodded but pulled something out of her pocket. A CD case. "I don't know if I'm allowed. But… I wanted him to listen to this. He needs to know what I went through while he went… insane." The woman took the case, smiling. "The others should watch too. Especially his brother."
"I'll make sure he does." They walked into the elevator. "You know… he missed you…"
"Please don't. I want to hear it from him." Pepper nodded and they sat in silence while the elevator climbed the floors. "You're right underneath his floor. He wanted you close."
"That's fine."
"Your things have already been brought."
The door opened and Pepper led Charlie through the hallway to a sliding door that slid open to her room.
"If you'll notice, we've tried to match your style as much as we could. We didn't want you uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable was having me live at that home with no explanation of why I was there or taken away."
"Thor said their father had a reason. He didn't want you hurt."
"By the man I love?"
"It's happened before to many other people."
"Let them explain it to me. " Charlie sat on the bed, Pepper stayed in the doorway.
"I'll bring this to them."
"Thank you. I guess I'll unpack then," Charlie fiddled with her necklace, staring at the boxes around her.
Pepper nodded and left. She went to the elevator and hit the top button where she was brought to the briefing room. Around a hologram of Charlie in her bedroom sat Tony, Thor, Barton, Natasha, Bruce, Steve and Loki. Everyone looked tense, looking at Loki who sat in a chair with his muzzle still on. His eyes were narrowed at Thor before he looked away to the ground, his shoulders falling. Pepper walked to Tony and handed him the CD. "She want you… mostly them…. To listen to this. A compilation she said, so they understand what she was feeling."
Charlie began tearing the tape from the boxes, her eyes welling with tears. How could it have gotten this way? It was all her parents fault. For being deity worshippers. For thinking that a sacrifice would make a difference to their home life.
Her hands were bound as her mother pushed her to the ground before the clearing in the trees. "Mom stop! What are you doing? Bring me home!"
"We'll starve Charlie. The crops just aren't growing. We don't have enough money to move anywhere else. This is the only way."
"Sacrificing me to a deity that doesn't exist? How would this help? Mom stop! This is insanity!"
Her father broke through the trees with large logs and placed them in front of Charlie. "We need to start a fire, catch the All-Father's attention. Then we go through with the rite."
"What is wrong with you? Why are you doing this to me? Do you realize you'll never see me again?"
"They won't kill you sweetie," Her mother cupped Charlie's cheek in her hand, giving a sad smile. "We are just trading you for the crops."
"Do you not hear yourselves? For crops! The life of your daughter for you fucking vegetables! Look around you there's a forest! We could search for food and none of this has to happen!"
Her mother stood without speaking and joined Charlie's father in getting the fire started. Once it began, they held hands and looked up towards the sky. "We are giving you an offer All-Father! Please! Speak with us!"
There were a few seconds of nothing, causing Charlie to laugh at her parent's stupidity, but then a bright light flashed, knocking everyone back and causing the fire to blow out. When the light faded, before them stood a tall man, grey with age and a patch over his right eye. His left eye was narrowed and his mouth set. "What could you want, Midgardians?"
Charlie's father stumbled forward, on his knees. "Our crops are failing All-Father. We wish to give you a sacrifice in order to replenish them so we can get through the winter."
The All-Father leaned to look at Charlie whose eyes were filled with tears as her nightmares were becoming true. Her head bowed and touched the ground as her shoulders heaved. "And why would I accept this wretch of a girl?"
"We only ask for crops-"
"A life for a life?" All-Father stared, contemplating. He walked around the parents and knelt before Charlie, putting his hand underneath her chin. "Why would they do this to you child? Give you to me for their own selfish needs?"
Charlie managed a desperate shrug. All-Father wiped away a falling tear with his thumb. "They don't deserve a beauty like you. Let's take you away from them. You could have so much more at my home." He stood and pulled her up with him, leading her away from the fire. "I shall give you your crops, but they will not give you the satisfaction the life of your daughter would have. You will live the rest of your lives in regret. I promise you." And just like that, it was the last Charlie saw of her parents.