HEY! I am sooooooooooooooo sorry for going M.I.A. for a million years. I have been working on a new story though, and it's going to be long. Here is the first chapter! Any suggestions for this and other stories are greatly appreciated!
"Tell me everything you know! Now!" the man yelled and backhanded me in the face. I contained the scream trying to rip out of my mouth and spat blood on the floor.
"I told you, I don't know anything." I slowly say, the pain increasing with every word. I tried to wriggle my hands out of the ropes, but they were stuck tight.
"It's okay if you won't tell me now. I've got all the time in the world." he replied, cracking his knuckles.
"Cliché villain-talk much?" I snarkily ask. "Should I be worried about a snake pit or evil robots? Look, I really don't know anything. Just because I live with the Avengers doesn't mean I get to hear all of their super-secret superhero stuff..." I try to explain, and receive another slap to the face.
"Don't get cheeky with me, foolish girl! You don't have to tell me now." he said. "We'll just keep you here until your little family shows up. Or until you die, whichever comes first." he threatened.
I spat again and licked a cut on my lip, which was promptly swelling up. Two more men walked in the dark room, undid my ropes, and blindfolded me, and then proceeded to drag me through some hallways to a dungeon-y cell thing. They threw me down on the cold concrete next to a nasty blanket and some sketchy puddles. I struggled to sit up and rubbed my wrist.
"See you in the morning my dear..." the man said in a creepy sing-song voice and left. I shuddered and crawled the five feet to the other side of the small room. Upon closer examination the puddles were apparently blood. An animalistic noise escaped my throat and I began hyperventilating. This can't be happening...This can't be happening...This can't be happening...I repeated over and over. I'm really gonna die here...they won't be able to find me...
After a long while I had calmed down enough to fall into a fitful sleep. I had wadded up the blanket and used it as a pillow, purposefully not thinking about what could possibly be staining it.
A loud crash jarred me awake. I shot up and glanced around until I remembered where I was. One of the men who threw me in here was at the door. He had a crowbar, and I guessed he smacked it against the bars of my cell.
"Bathroom break." He said. "Get up." He ordered me. I painfully stood up and followed him to a room down the hallway. It was an impossibly small bathroom, but I was just glad there was one. I closed the door, and I could tell he was still standing outside. When I went to wash my hands, I saw that there wasn't any soap, so I scrubbed my hands under the lukewarm water for a long time to try and compensate. This gave me time to notice a tiny, dirty window. A little sunlight was able to peek through, so I knew it was daytime. I've been here a whole day already... I mused.
After being escorted back to my cell, I saw that a glass of water and some bread had been set down on a plate in the corner of my cell. I sat down next to it. I sniffed the bread. It didn't smell funny, like poison or anything, just stale. I tentatively nibbled on the small hunk. It didn't taste weird and I didn't start gagging or foaming at the mouth, so I ate the rest quickly. I did the same with the water. Nothing happened, but I chose to sip it slowly and saved about half to drink sporadically. Who knows how often I'll be fed...
I sat up against the wall. I memorized the pattern of stains on my ceiling for what felt like hours. I stood up and stretched my legs, and also examined my surroundings. There were multiple cells in the hallway I was in, and even one connecting to my left. I was against the wall on my right side. The only light sources came from a dim bulb flickering in front of the bathroom and one down the hallway. The bathroom was about ten feet away, and another door down the other side of the hallway. That must be the only entrance or exit. I thought.
Clint would be proud of my observations. I thought with a small smile. A while back, the Avengers taught me some strategies for if I ever got in trouble. "Always observe your surroundings. It can help you escape later on." He had instructed. I didn't really pay him much attention at the time.
The thought of my family made tears flow freely down my face and I went to sleep with tears soaking the blanket.
I was woken up some time later. I had lost all concepts of time by this point. The same man who took me to the bathroom was at my cell again.
"Follow me." was all he said. I gulped and trailed behind him. We stopped at the door. "Put this on." the man ordered, and handed me a blindfold.
"Wh-what?" I stammered, instinctually shrinking against the wall.
"Put. This. On." he said, his voice ten times more gruff than before.
I sucked in a breath and fumbled with the blindfold until it was around my face. The man grabbed my right arm and began dragging me so forcefully through hallways I cried out. After a few minutes, he shoved me down into a chair and ripped the blindfold off. I was momentarily blinded by a light overhead. Once my eyes adjusted, I saw that I was in the same room I was interrogated in earlier. This can't be good.
The man tied my arms back again, so violently that I felt skin break on my wrists and bleed. I didn't bother to protest. I turned my head farther to my right, and saw a small cart with what could only be described as "instruments" on it. I shuddered.
"Hello again." the man who beat me the other day said. I whipped my head around. He walked up to me and grabbed my face, turning it.
"Please...I really don't know anything." I pleaded with him. "I don't even know what you want me to know..."
He let go of my face. "Ah yes, you're right...just stabbing you over and over without getting down to specifics won't really get me what I want. Tell me, what do you know about Medicorp?" he asked, and picked up a scalpel-looking thing from the cart, and almost casually flung it into the wall. It stuck straight out and wiggled a bit before remaining still in the plaster.
My eyes flew open wide and I whimpered. "Uh...All I know is that it is a pharmaceutical company that creates vaccines and medicines...that's it I promise you, that's all I know!" I begin to sob. "Please stop...If the Avengers knew anything else, they didn't tell me. Why am I here?" I asked, sniffling and coughing.
He laughed a chilling laugh. "You know what? I believe you when you say you don't know anything...but you'll find out why you're here soon enough." He said. He turned to his henchman standing attention at the door. "Take her back to her cell. We are done for now."
The man holding me hostage walked out of the room without another word. His goon untied me and blindfolded me again, and dragged me back to my cell. He didn't throw me down this time, which was a plus. I thought about what the man had said, about Medicorp. Why would he hold me hostage over a pharmaceutical company? And what did he mean about how I'll find out why I'm here soon enough. That's not exactly comforting...
I scooted over to the corner of my cell and sat against the wall. I picked up the leftover water in my glass and took a microscopic sip before pouring the rest over my bloodied wrists. It stung horribly and I sucked in a breath. I grabbed the blanket and went to sleep, exhausted.
I woke up a while later after the henchmen banged the crowbar against my cell. I stood up.
"Bathroom break." He said, exactly like the last time. I walked to the door and went inside. After doing my business, I stood on the toilet and rubbed some of the dirt off the window. A skyline in the distance. I was surprised. I thought I was in the middle of nowhere. I didn't recognize any buildings, like the Space Needle or Empire State Building, so I still couldn't figure out where I was.
I stepped down, careful not to make any noise so the man wouldn't figure out what I was doing. I scrubbed my hands under the water and left the bathroom and walked back to the cell. This time the man just watched me take the ten steps or so to and from the restroom. Interesting. Maybe he realized that I'm not much of a threat.
I came back to another hunk of bread and a glass of water. They only gave me this two times a day, and I was starving by this point, and wolfed down the bread. I still saved half my water though. I thought about where I could possibly be until I dozed off.
I was sitting in the corner of my cell again, using a nail I found to etch designs in the wall. I refrained from the cliché tally marks, deciding it was too depressing to begin counting the days I had been kept here.
Suddenly, the two men burst through the entrance door dragging somebody else through the hallway. They were putting up a noisy fight, whoever they were. I numbly watched, the lack of food and water taking its toll on my body. I was exhausted. They threw the person in the cell next to mine and left without a word. The person groaned and sat up.
"Gah!" He yelped after seeing me watching him. "Who are you?" He asked, crawling over to the bars connecting our cells. They were wide enough apart to where he could reach through.
I crawled over to meet the mystery boy. "I'm Beth. I live with the Avengers." I quietly said. "I've been here for awhile. Why are you here?"
He sat back. "I have no idea. This man had me tied to a chair-"
"And was asking you to tell him everything you knew? Asked you about Medicorp?" I interrupted.
"Uh, yeah. Exactly that." He replied. "Why did they kidnap us?" He asked, dumbfounded.
I chuckled. "I know they kidnapped me because I live with the Avengers, why did they take you?"
He sighed, realization passing over his face. "My mom is a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. Maria Hill."
I gasped. "No way! I've met her. Come a little closer so I can see your face..." I requested.
The boy scooted closer to the bars. I studied his features for a moment and then it clicked. "Hey! We know each other! We met at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Ball a while ago!" I exclaimed. "You're name is Joseph, right?"
He laughed a little. "Oh yeah, I remember you, Beth. Yep, my name is Joseph. We danced and Thor walked over and told us we made a "most excellent couple"..." He said and laughed.
I burst out laughing too. "Oh yeah! I had forgotten about that!" I said.
After a moment the laughter stopped and we remembered where we were. We fidgeted for a bit. "Did he hurt you?" I finally asked.
Joseph shook his head. "Nope. He just screamed a lot...how about you?"
I scooted as close as I possibly could and gestured to my lip and I showed him my wrists. He sucked in a breath.
"He slapped me a few times and threatened to stab me. The second time he dragged me in there his friend tied the ropes so tight it broke the skin." I answered. "By the way, you get a hunk of bread and a glass of water twice a day. And a bathroom break twice too. That room over there has a toilet and sink, but no soap. I haven't had a shower since I've been here. There's a window in the bathroom. I looked outside and saw a skyline in the distance. Not a familiar or easy to recognize one."
"So we could be anywhere in America, really?" Joseph replied. "Excellent."
"Oh, and sarcasm will get you nowhere with these guys." I add. "I gave him some attitude when I first got here and I'm pretty sure that's why my torture has gotten worse..." I say and limply lift my hands.
"Noted." Joseph said. "Basically keep quiet and cooperate or get tortured..."
"Pretty much." I agreed. "I think the reason he kidnapped us is because he wants to know if the Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D. knows anything about Medicorp. I've had time to mull this over, and I've come to the conclusion that Medicorp is doing highly illegal and/or dangerous things and thinks S.H.I.E.L.D. or my family is close to finding out."
Joseph nodded. "That makes sense..." He agreed. "How long do you think they will keep us in here?" He asked staring into my eyes with trepidation.
I sighed. "I have no idea. I've pleaded and pleaded the truth that I don't know anything, but he's just not believing me."
Joseph lowered his head. After second, he spoke and met my gaze. "I'm sure they're looking for us though." He smiled a little. "You don't just steal the kids of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s second-in-command and the Earth's Mightiest Heroes' roommate..."
I chuckled quietly. "How's the other side of the bars?" I asked and gestured to his cell. It contained the same nasty blanket as mine.
Joseph genuinely laughed and examined his cell more closely. "Nice and roomy. With a wonderful bed." He replied and gingerly picked up the blanket.
"If you don't think about the stains you fall asleep faster." I said with a grimace. On cue, Joseph yawned.
I smiled and yawned in reply. "Get some sleep. You'll need it once the starvation kicks in." I suggested and wadded up my blanket.
Joseph did the same. We lied down with the tops of our heads almost touching the bars between our cells. We didn't speak, but just listened to the sounds of each other breathing, unfathomably thankful for each other's companionship.
After what felt like a few minutes, Joseph broke the silence. He cleared his throat.
"Hey, Beth?" He tentatively asked.
"Yeah?" I opened my eyes, but remained still.
"I...I'm really glad you're here with me. And that we are going through this together." He stated, and shifted a little.
I smiled. "I'm really glad that you're here with me, too." I replied, and closed my eyes just a little less scared.
The loud clang of the crowbar woke us. We both shot up from where we were sleeping.
"Bathroom break." The goon said. "Ladies first."
I glanced reassuringly at Joseph before getting up and exiting my cell. I came back to see two plates of bread and two glasses of water. Joseph left, and even though I was famished it seemed right to wait for him to return.
He came back a few minutes later, and the henchman left without a word. Once he was gone. Joseph quickly turned to me.
"I know where we are!" He whispered excitedly. I picked up my chunk of bread and began to nibble. "We're outside of Cleveland. We have relatives who live there and we visit every year for Christmas." He explained and began to nibble on his piece of bread.
I grinned, happy to be making progress. "Oh! Medicorp's headquarters is in Cleveland!" I add.
I noticed that Joseph began gulping his water. "Hey! Stop chugging it!" I say and point at him.
Joseph realized what he was doing and put the water down. "Oops...at least I have half of it left..."
I chuckled. "You're going to want to save about half each meal. For cleaning wounds, and just in case you get thirsty." I suggest, and pour the rest of my glass through my ratty hair. "And, for attempts at bathing. I've also been trying to take quick sink baths during the bathroom breaks..."
Joseph laughed at my dripping head. "Good idea." He said. "So, what do we do now? Sit here and wait until he takes us to be tortured for information we don't have?"
I sighed. "Basically." We shifted positions and put our backs against the other's through the bars. "At least we have each other..." I say in a jokingly sappy voice.
Joseph laughed. It was loud and ringing, and I liked it because it cut through some of the bleakness of this hellhole.
Joseph and I swapped stories from our experiences with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers at an attempt to distract ourselves. We heard the door open at the end of the hallway. My stomach dropped and my wrists started stinging at the sound. Joseph stood as the henchman approached our cells.
He unlocked the door. "Come with me." he gruffed and pointed a meaty finger at Joseph.
Joseph glanced at me, his eyes wide with fear as he stepped out of his cell.
"Don't put up a fight." I reminded him. He nodded at me before the henchman threw the sack over his head. At least I got to blindfold myself...I thought as I watched the henchman shove Joseph along.
I remained in the same position. I guess I had gotten more used to the lack of food because I wasn't super tired, but I did have a headache. I wondered about if my family or S.H.I.E.L.D. were getting any closer to finding us. It seemed like an eternity before I heard the door open again. The goon ripped the sack off of Joseph and pushed him into his cell. Joseph fell to the ground like I did, but he didn't immediately get up.
My pulse quickened. "Joseph?" I asked, grabbing the bars between our cells.
He groaned and stirred a little before struggling to push himself up. Relief flooded through my body. "What did they do to you?" I asked quietly. He scooted over to me. I gasped.
There was a gash on the side of his forehead, and a lot of blood on his face. "He kept on asking me about lawsuits against Medicorp for 'unlawful experimentation'... After I told him that I didn't know anything for the thousandth time, he...clubbed me over the head." he answered in a low, shaky voice.
I grabbed my leftover water. "This will sting. I'm really sorry." I warned and began drizzling it over the cut while trying to wipe some of the blood off his face. Joseph sucked in a breath and clenched his fists. I poured the last drop over his head, and held his face while trying to wipe off as much blood as I could with my thumb. I ran my fingers through his wet hair to try and squeeze the blood out. After a bit the gash wasn't too bloody, and I could see that it wasn't dangerously deep. I could also see how tenderly I was touching him, but I told myself it was just for medical purposes.
I set my empty cup down and wiped my hand on my jeans. "Luckily, It's not too deep. You won't even need stitches if/when we escape." I told him.
Joseph turned around and grabbed his saved glass of water and carefully pushed it to my side of the bars.
I shook my head. "I can't take your water, Joseph." I said, and pushed it away.
"You need it more than I do." he countered and set it down on my side. He looked at me expectantly until I gave in and took a tiny sip. "Thank you. For everything." he said, and continued staring at me.
I looked down at the water and was taken aback by the blush I felt appear on my face.
"I'm going to sleep. I think it's been about a day since we were woken up. Goodnight, Beth." Joseph announced. He wadded up his blanket and lied down parallel to the bars. I silently did the same, trying to sort through the feelings that suddenly came over me. Compassion. Need? Attraction? Nope! I don't think so! You took care of him and he gave you the rest of his water. No big deal. We are just trying to survive. Nothing more.
It took me a second to realize that without the bars separating us, Joseph and I would be in a very compromising position. My face burned even more. I was startled by Joseph's fingers suddenly touching my own in the gap between the bars. I flinched away slightly, and felt Joseph stiffen and retract his hand. I returned my hand back to where it was. After a moment, he clasped my hand in his bigger one. My breath caught. I slowly turned my head to see him do the same. We stared at each other without speaking for forever, taking in the other's face.
I realized that Joseph was very, VERY handsome. Even with the poorly disinfected gash on his forehead. I noticed that he had deep blue eyes. I swallowed. What's happening?! You can't fall in love at a time like this! I screamed in my head, but my eyes were too busy studying the pattern of freckles on his nose.
He squeezed my hand, and my gaze shot back to his. "When." he said. I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"Earlier you told me I wouldn't need stitches if and when we escaped. As far as I'm concerned, it's when. They'll find us. We're right outside Cleveland for goodness sakes', not in the Amazon. We will get out of here, I promise." he declared, and stroked my hand with his thumb.
Fireworks exploded in my brain and my face somehow got redder. I grinned. Truly grinned. I squeezed his hand in reply. "When." I agreed. "When..." I repeated more quietly, and we turned our heads away from each other. I fell asleep with my hand still in Joseph's.
I whipped my head around, a bad feeling in my stomach. I felt like somebody was watching me, but all I could see were the same old trees dotting the park and the same old guy selling snow-cones from his cart next to the fountain. I sped up a little and continued looking around. What started as a normal shortcut through Central Park was turning sour. Even though I still didn't see anybody creepy, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed. I stopped by a tree next to the path and pulled out my cellphone to call Tony.
Before I could dial, a giant hand placed a rag over my face. It smelled sweet and slightly like rubbing alcohol. My phone dropped out of my hands and everything went dark.
"AHHHHH!" I shrieked. I sat up and frantically scooted away from where I had been sleeping next to Joseph. My chest was heaving and I wildly glanced around before focusing on Joseph and remembering where I was. It wasn't much better than my dream.
"It was just a nightmare, Beth." he comforted. "You're here with me."
I rubbed my eyes. "I think I just remembered how I got here. Do you remember being kidnapped?" I asked. Joseph shook his head.
"The last thing I remember was walking through a retention pond behind my school to get to the McDonalds..." he answered with a dry laugh. "Nothing about actually getting kidnapped."
"I didn't either, until now. I was walking in Central Park, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed. I was about to call Tony to fly down and meet me, and then somebody covered my mouth and nose with what I am assuming was a chloroform-soaked rag. And, here I am." I finished explaining.
"Well, I guess we at least know how we got here. Kind of." Joseph said.
"I suppose. Let's go back to sleep. We would have been woken up by now if it was time." I hypothesized and re-wadded my blanket after it had been flung during my panic.
See the box right down there?
