Saving Grace

Chapter One –

Hello. I am Grace.

But these days, I'm not sure who I am anymore.

…

These days, I'm locked away in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Tricarrier. No one knows about this except for Director Fury.

I wish I could go out.

It would be nice to be outside again.

I've been in here for a total of two years, twenty-two days. Three twos.

I miss my family.

Most of all, I miss life.

…

I have a curse. All my life, I've been told it's a gift, but in reality, it's a curse. If it was a gift, why would I be locked away?

…

I have a sister.

Her name is Amber Cardellian.

For the first few months, I had hope she'd get me out.

She still hasn't come.

…

I'm not insane.

You think I'd be, me being locked away for years, but I'm not.

Director Fury talks to me. A lot of the S.H.I.E.L.D agents do too.

Occasionally, I watch videos of other teen superheroes. Director Fury tells me that they're a team.

I'd like to join that team.

…

Many days I stare at the wall for hours, wondering why me.

Why me?

…

In case you were wondering, I don't live in a prison cell. I live in a sweet on the S.H.I.E.L.D tricarrier. It's quite nice, actually.

One bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen stocked with my favorite foods, cable TV, computer. And a full wardrobe.

Not that I'd ever need it, the way things are going.

…

I hear voices. Voices from outside my room.

One is Director Fury's. The other is one I don't know.

"What do you mean you're not sure? Whatever's inside here is our last hope!"

"Parker, you don't KNOW. This thing...is dangerous. Very, very dangerous. It's inside here for a reason."

Oh. Now I'm a thing. Not a person.

"Dangerous is what we NEED, Fury! My team is barely holding up! [bleep], they're barely a TEAM anymore!"

"You don't know what you're dealing with, kid. I do. I know."

"Fury, please!"

"I'm sorry. You don't know what it's capable of."

"At the moment, I can't say I care. We need a saving grace."

I heard banging coming from the other side of my door. I decided to wait to see what would happen.

"Kid, you're not getting through that. It's specifically mutant-proof and extremely-"

Click. For the first time in years, I see the other side of that door.

I see Director Fury and a teenage boy with scruffy brown hair. "I wasn't using force. I was reprogramming it."

Then they see me, disheveled appearance and all. I didn't know I'd be getting out anytime soon, so I didn't really put any thought into my appearance. I wish I looked nice.

I really don't know what to say. I'll just introduce myself.

"Hello. I am Grace."