Unexpected Adventure
Prologue
Violet's back hit the wall. Hard. Her immediate thought was I'm dead, but the sudden pain forced her back to the reality that she was indeed still alive. Odd, she thought, as she winced through the pain that seemed to fluctuate between her lower and upper back.
The coppery taste in her mouth alerted Violet that she was bleeding. Where is the blood coming from? The woman painfully lifted her arm – the one that was not broken – to touch her face. Confirming the blood was from an external wound slightly calmed Violet's nerves.
But not for long.
A strong hand gripped her throat and lifted her off of her feet. It took great difficulty for Violet to comprehend that the life was being choked out of her. So tired. Just let it happen. Her vision began to blur and her good arm was getting tired of weakly fighting her attacker.
"You want me to end you, don't you?" Her attacker hissed. Violet could barely make out his face. He was just a dark figure in a dark room that was fixated on the woman in its grip. "Just say the word, I'll set you free. Just be with me. It will all be okay." His voice sounded so human, yet, his strength was terrifyingly godly.
Never, Violet thought. She must have said the word aloud as her attacker grew angry and tossed her on the floor. Again.
Violet, on her side, carefully cradled her broken arm and looked up at her assailant.
"Do it," the woman whimpered. Her gaze turned dark and she narrowed her eyes. "Do it."
The man's hand was illuminated with a red, fiery light. He extended his arm toward Violet. She closed her eyes and waited.
What happened next could not be clearly explained – Violet did not reopen her eyes to watch Death finally claim her. Instead, Violet heard a thundering bang and felt debris hit her face. She could feel people surround her. Not sure if a bomb had gone off or if she was being rescued, Violet delicately moved herself until she felt the wall.
More sounds of fighting and shouting occurred. Violet leaned against the wall and opened her eyes.
The warehouse was almost crumbling around her. The roof was about to cave in and she watched her attacker stand proudly with his arms open. The people who Violet assumed were there to protect her were shooting at the man. Violet's vision began to clear and she saw that her saviors were a group of women. The women were dark-skinned and were attired in dark combat attire.
To further surprise Violet, she watched as a new figure entered the fight. As the guns were only useful in entertaining Violet's attacker, the new figure took his turn.
Violet recognized him to be the Black Panther.
The Black Panther ordered the woman away and two of them scurried to Violet's side.
One of the women crouched down to Violet's side. "We must go. Now. Move."
With the help of these women, Violet rose to her feet.
Her vision blurred again and Violet was grateful someone was able to catch her. So tired. So confused. Let's just go.
Violet could hear her attacker laughing while the Black Panther failed in detaining him.
She opened her eyes to get a clear view. Violet watched the Black Panther dodge the red light shooting from the attacker's hands. The Black Panther's movements were so quick and elegant, it was hard to make out if the Black Panther had been injured at all.
The woman on Violet's right urged her to continue moving. "We must go."
Violet looked around to see the destruction continue. The women who came to her aid were trying to move Violet safely from the warehouse.
Instead, Violet watched the Black Panther try to take down the attacker, but to no avail.
The women sent to protect Violet became frustrated when Violet suddenly turned around and limped away from the exit.
"No, you must come with us!" someone shouted at Violet.
Still cradling her broken arm, Violet glared at her attacker still laughing at the Black Panther and shooting the red light out from his hands.
"No more," Violet whispered to herself. She raised her good arm toward the attacker.
The Black Panther landed on his feet easily, again having avoided the attacker's power. He looked over at Violet whose hand was directed at the man.
The man, still hidden in the shadows, turned to look at Violet.
Similar to the man's red light, Violet's hand was suddenly lit up, but with a gray light.
"NO MORE!" Violet shouted angrily as the light shot from her hand and successfully claimed her attacker. Her power, in just the one shot, was seen by the Black Panther and the Dora Milaje as more powerful than the man they had just been fighting.
Surrounded by a tornado of gray energy, the man's eyes turned red and a horrid yell escaped his lips before bursting into dust.
The Dora Milaje looked confused as each woman turned to one another, trying to understand what had happened.
The Black Panther turned toward Violet. Violet could not see his face but felt that he too was trying to make sense of the event.
Violet turned back to stare at the spot where the man had once been. She pursed her lips, laughed abruptly, and then immediately passed out.