Chapter 1:
You leave town tonight. He had said with a hint of a threat…no animosity. He sounded like a father. Her father. Thor looked over at the sleeping figure in the chair next to her. She was silhouetted by the dancing flames of the pyre next to them. He sighed getting up. If her stayed any longer, he would never leave. And he gave his word. He left the jacket that he had draped over her an hour earlier to keep her warm. He looked at her fondly; he smiled. A small, sad smile. This was the first and maybe last kindness he would ever experience for what may be a long time.
"Thank you Jane." It was a whisper, but she still stirred. For a moment he was filled with both dread and hope. But she did not wake. He sighed. It was for the best. Thor walked toward the trap door, that led to the inside of Jane's lab. He began down the steps, only looking back once, to see her one last time. Then he shut the door over him. He walked down the steps, as softly as he was capable of, until he reached the cold hard floor of the lab. He looked around; the room was dark, save for a few lit machines. Thor looked to his left, and saw Darcy in the little room she slept in. The door was open, just a crack to reveal some light. Thor tread quietly across the lab, until he reached the glass doors. He looked around him one last time, before slowly opening the door, and walking out into the cool night air. He shut the door behind, ever so gently, and began to walk.
Thor knew not where to go, what direction to take, or what he was going to do when he did find somewhere. All that he knew is that he gave his word. Thor looked to his right, at the small steel box that Jane called "a temporary living arrangement", then looked forward, and walked further into the night.
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At that moment, in the middle of the white tent, while the men in black suites and scientists scurried about, the mighty Mjolnir budged and jerked, sending rocks flying from its mound until it….shot up straight into the air, and disappeared into the night sky.
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Thousands of miles away, in Norway just outside a sleepy little village, a storm began. It rained harder than it had ever rained, the black sky was lit up with lightning, and echoed the loud booming of thunder. And from the storm, something shot out from the clouds, towards the village. It flew past the little town, towards the woods surrounding it; past the mighty oaks, the large rocks and into an ancient cave. The object settled in a loan stone, sitting in the middle of the cave, deep in the darkness. And then the storm settled, and stopped.
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Thor had walked for nearly a day, when he was offered a ride. A couple had driven up to the side of the road, in a strange vehicle, with an open back. It looked like a horseless wagon. The one driving the vehicle was a man and he was the one that had offered the ride. Thor was wary of these people; the man was dirty looking, with yellowed grin that Thor did not trust. And the woman was no better. But…he needed a rest for a little while. They asked him where he was going. He told them he was not sure. This made the dirty man's grin much wider. It made Thor's skin crawl. The man told Thor that he and his "girlfriend" were heading over to a place called Albuquerque, and that he was welcome to join them. Thor honestly felt he had no choice. He did not know this place. He had nothing to give but the clothes off his back.
But he still had his strength; Thor was sure he could take on these two, if such a need may rise. Thor consented, and hopped into the back on the vehicle. The man began driving, and Thor tried to get comfortable. And that was how it was for the rest of the day. The sun began to set, making the sky a blood red. Thor watched, as the road became more crowded with these strange vehicles. The traffic wasn't great, but it gave Thor something to watch for a while. When the sky became black with night, Thor looked up, and tried to find home. It was difficult. These stars were so different. Just then the vehicle jerked abruptly to the right. Thor was startled, but only for a moment. He had grabbed a hold on the sides of the vehicle and held on, as they entered what appeared to be a rest area. The vehicle stopped abruptly. Thor listened to the couple inside they're voice muffled but loud. It was the sound of an argument. Just then, the Grinning Man came out of the vehicle and circled round.
"Alright stranger, get the fuck out and turn out your pockets." Thor was confused. The man was carrying some sort of weapon, a metal club from the looks of it. Thor tensed up, but replied in a calm voice.
"I'm sorry."
"I said get the FUCK OUT!" Thor jumped at this. The man was clearly looking for either two things; his coinage, which he did not have, or a fight, which he was ready to give. Thor jumped out of the vehicle back and approached the man. The man was moving around, a lot. This made Thor smile. This one is very…fidgety. Thor's smiling did not make the man happy.
"The fuck are you smiling at boy?" This made Thor frown. Boy? Just then, the man swung the club at Thor; Thor dodged it, backing away. "Alright now I want your cash and whatever shit you got on you, alright! Just hand it over, nice and easy and maybe I'll let you go."
"I do not have what it is you are looking for thief. If I did do you honestly believe I would be walking on roads and accepting rides from strangers?" Thor explained calmly. He was actually quite surprised at how calm he was right now. Father would be proud. Either way, this news did not seem to appease the thief.
"I don't a give a fuck about your problems man!"
"I told I have nothing. Just leave me be, and we may forget about this."
The man laughed. So there was no other alternative. The man swung the club once more, but this time Thor caught it in his hand. This shocked the man; he tugged at it, trying to pry it loose from Thor's hand, but it didn't work.
"The fu-" Thor punched the grinning thief in the nose; his eyes crossed and he went down in a minute. Thor heard a scream behind him, and then the woman came out of the vehicle.
"Oh my God, Terry!" She ran over to her lover and cradled his head in her lap. The man, Terry, moaned but that was all the came out of his mouth. The woman looked up at Thor, rage on her face.
"You!" She pointed accusingly, as if he were the monster. Thor raised a brow. He looked at the club still in his hand. He should keep this…
The woman then gasped. Thor looked back at her; the woman's expression one of fear.
"Please don't hurt us mister, we…we didn't mean nothin'…"
"I do not harm maidens, no matter how wicked they are." Thor explained, changing his grip on the club. He now held the skinny end of the club, the way the grinning man had earlier. "I will leave you and your lover now," He announced. He looked around him. "This…Albuquerque, you called it…it is close yes?" The woman, still scared, merely nodded.
"It's just down there, about five more miles ahead." Her voice was trembling.
"Thank you…fair maiden ,"If you could call her fair. Thor began walking in the direction the woman had pointed, not looking back. The sky was dark, the air was cool, and he still had quite a journey ahead of him.
