The room was much nicer this time. It was stark white, with a cushy queen-sized bed and a proper bathroom in an adjacent room A few books were stacked in the corner on top of a small television that only played two channels, neither of which were closely related to the outside world. If it hadn't been for the impenetrable glass wall that allowed anyone to see what was going on in the room, it would have been almost homey.
After skimming through the books for several hours and then tossing and turning for several more, exhaustion and the fall of adrenaline finally allowed Annie some sleep. She dreamt of the kidnapping happening all over again, only instead of her standing there like a rock she had found the sense to run. She didn't know where it had come from, but it made her feel slightly better in the morning.
There was a change of clothes waiting for Annie the next day: a simple white t-shirt and jeans. There was a slot in the wall big enough for things like a tray of food and folded clothing, but not large enough to fit a hand through.
At least the guy is semi-considerate. Sort of, she thought as she showered. She couldn't be seen showering, Loki had given her books to read, her breakfast hadn't been terrible, and they had supplied clean clothes. She had to remind herself she was a prisoner and not a guest in some fancy hotel.
Outside the glass, waiting for her was Loki, still in full armor. "Do you ever change? Or wash your hair? I swear there's more grease in your hair than in a pile of bacon," she asked with faked distaste.
"Do no think taunting me will ease your escape," he said.
She shrugged her shoulders. "You never know. Why are you being so hospitable anyway? From what I've heard you should be torturing me to get what you want."
He chuckled. "I thought it obvious. I prefer willing servants. Bars and cockroaches are reminders that you are not here of your own choice. Distractions are your friend."
"And you think a swanky room with hot showers and a couple of old smelly books will make me magically forget that I don't want to help you in any way, shape or form?"
"No, but it will remind you that I am not entirely a monster and you might be more inclined to help me. Besides, you do not seem to have any trouble with this 'swanky' room or the 'smelly' books as you put it."
"You do realize I'm never going to get comfortable now that you've said that, right? Not that I was going to, but now it's for sure."
"We'll see about that."
Her expression turned to that of wariness. He was a bit confident in his ability to turn her. "What are you doing here anyway? Most people enter someone's room with a purpose, especially you."
"To activate your ability, to see how far you can go." Annie's defenses immediately went up. He laughed without mirth. "What, do not tell me that you thought I would simply leave you here to rot? No, I've made it quite clear I wish to use you and your ability."
"And what makes you think that I'll even pretend to try and use this telepathy power that I supposedly have?"
"Because of this." He bent two fingers toward the hallway and a young woman was dragged in by Barton, her hair a ratty mess of blonde, cheeks wet with tears, blue eyes bloodshot and her clothing ripped.
"Please, please let me go," she begged, her voice hoarse. She'd probably been screaming since she had been kidnapped.
Annie's eyes flicked to Loki, huge with shock. "Why isn't she under your control? Who is she?"
He grinned maliciously. "I thought that the life of a woman in a similar position as you would create a…sympathetic situation for you. A bit of motivation," he explained. He nodded to Hawkeye, who pulled out a knife and held it to the young woman's throat. Annie ran to the glass wall, ramming into it to try and break through.
"Don't you dare hurt her!" she shouted, staring the girl in the eye and wishing she could save her somehow.
Think it, Loki's voice said in her head, Beg me with your mind to save her.
You fucking bastard, you let that girl go right now you fucking monster, or I will kill you the second I get out of here, she shouted at him in her head.
"I'm waiting," he taunted. The knife pressed tighter into her throat.
"Help me!" the woman screamed, cut off by Barton's hand covering her mouth.
I'm trying, God I'm trying, just hold on! Annie refused to let an innocent life die because of her.
Loki sighed. "Perhaps this is not enough motivation for you." Barton stood up and put the knife to his own throat, Loki taking the young women and put the scepter to her throat. "You seem fond of protecting your colleagues. Perhaps this will be enough for you to display your power."
"You monster!" she screamed. She looked desperately between the two people. Her colleague and a stranger, their lives threatened by an insane man. She closed her eyes and concentrated on sending one message.
Just don't hurt them. Please for God's sake don't hurt them she pleaded. Her eyes opened after hearing the clang of a knife dropping. Barton was looking at his hands as if it was alien, like he didn't understand how the knife had ended up on the floor. Loki smiled.
"Was that so difficult?" he questioned. The girl began to sigh in relief, her face relaxing, thinking she was out of danger. Loki grimaced at her and sliced his spear across her throat. Her eyes widened for a moment before she collapsed to the ground, her eyes staying open as her blood stained the white tile. Annie screamed and pressed herself against the glass wall, pounding against it to get to the dying girl.
"You fucking liar! You just killed her in cold blood!" Annie kneeled down and watched as the light left the girl's eyes.
"I never said I'd let her live. Even if I did I am the God of Lies, so what do I care?" he said flippantly. "Get someone to clean up this mess. I do not enjoy blood sitting here."
"You want me to think you are not a monster, and yet you do this? What the hell are you playing at?"
He turned around. "Balance, my dear Anastasia. Balance is the key to all control," he said before leaving, leaving Anastasia confused with a dead body in front of her.
"I'm sorry, I am so incredibly sorry," she whispered to the girl in front of her. Annie didn't even know her name; she was just a nameless girl dead for the cause of a villain. A sob escaped her lungs before she hushed it down, keeping her strong demeanor on. There had to be cameras watching her every move.
Her mind immediately began to analyze the situation, using all of the investigative skills she had from her science background. Slowly it occurred to Annie that maybe Loki wasn't lying, maybe she did have some sort of power. She had seen crazier things, of course those were all on a microscopic level, but telepathy or even telekinesis certainly wasn't a reach. How else would Barton have dropped that knife? He was an assassin; it was not like he had butter fingers. If she truly did possess the power of the mind, as did Loki…
Annie kept her expression neutral, but inside she was screaming with joy. An idea was rooting itself, growing into a full-fledged plan. It would take time, yes, but if she developed it properly, oh yes it would be her ticket out of there. She lay down on her bed and began to meditate, the first step she knew of to gain control of her mind. It would be the key to her escape. The girl's death would not be pointless.