Blackness. All he could see was blackness, that is when he actually had the strength to open his eyes. The only light that shone down on the miserable, cold world came in the form of pinpoints of distant white stars in the vastly infinite sky floating above.

The cylindrical cell that held the fallen God of Mischief was carved of an unknown stone that had been raised upward from the ground by the mysterious power of Thanos. Chains constructed of a foreign metallic substance bound Loki's wrists and ankles to the cold, stone floor. He wore only his black trousers which had been torn at his ankles, knees and thighs by his hourly tortures; each tear in the fabric revealed the painful bleeding wounds beneath. The heavy bindings cut into the pale flesh beneath around his wrists and ankles, staining his skin a sickly red hue.

He was forced to kneel in the blossoming pool of his own blood. A stream of fresh blood ran from his lip, down his chin; dripping crimson rain onto his exposed bruised chest. His long black hair was drenched in his own blood and sweat as it clung to his face and neck uncomfortably. His eyes were purple and swollen shut blinding him to the identity of his ruthless assailant.

The hiss of the falling energy field of the cell door caused Loki to flinch with agonizing anticipation of the events to come. Visitors were never welcome inside the hellish prison of Thanos' own malicious design.

"You have failed us former 'King' of Asgard." The hissing voice snarled at Loki through the darkness, his grey six-fingered hand gripped a weapon that resembled a leather whip that had been combined with the steel of a heavy mace. "As punishment you will suffer pain as you have never known. You will shed every drop of traitorous blood your weak body carries as penance for your failure."

Though Loki could not see he could feel the whip being hoisted high into the air by the hand of his attacker. The leather and metal of the surface of the brandished weapon connected with Loki's chest nearly cleaving his flesh from his ribs just below his heart. Loki stifled his cry of pain, his dwindling pride was the only strength he had left. Again and again the weapon made direct contact his his skin. Each strike left a deep bleeding laceration on Loki's vulnerable body without mercy.

Debilitating cuts of varying lengths and depths covered his exposed body: Shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, arms, legs, hands...

The blows were so powerful that Loki would struggle to pick himself up off the ground after each debilitating impact. As he refused to simply give in to the brutality that he knew would eventually claim his life he forced himself to endure the relentless punishment without an utter of complaint. At this point it was his unbreakable will that seemed to be the only thing keeping him alive.

"Pitiful waste." The Chitauri attacker had grown tired of the beating and lowered his weapon. He reattached the whip to his belt as he kicked Loki as hard as he possibly could in the defenseless man's chest without restraint.

Loki fell to his side feeling each individual broken rib as the insufferable pain stung with every breath he dared to take. He gasped in short fast breaths only to be overwhelmed by an uncontrollable coughing fit in between. Drops of blood flew from his bleeding mouth, speckling the floor and his lips with red dots.

Taking his leave the Chitauri restored the energy field that secured the doorway to the lone cell. Loki was again alone in the darkness of his prison, writhing in anguish on the bloodied floor of his cell.

His breath slowly returning to his aching lungs, although a part of him wished it hadn't. With the pain gradually subsiding Loki turned his limited gaze upward toward the ceiling of the lonely cell. A small hole in the ceiling allowed the distant stars to seem closer. Loki gingerly tried to open his eyes more but the swelling was so severe that he could only expose one blurry eye to the cosmic light. He licked his dried lips, the metallic taste from his blood made his stomach turn. He dared to find his voice, to muster the strength to speak in a desperate bid that someone could hear his final confession.

"Brother... I am a fool."

The blissful release of unconsciousness stole Loki away into perpetual blackness. He drifted weakly into his restless slumber on the cold blood saturated floor of his cell.

"Forgive me..."


"Sif, what has happened?" Thor approached his dear friend. He could see the distress in her eyes and it made a knot tighten in the pit of his stomach.

"Thor, I come bearing a message." Sif announced proudly. "From your Father." She stepped toward her wayward friend, stepping from the balcony and into the room.

"My Father?" Thor was taken aback by her words. "Is he ill? Is Asgard in danger?"

"No." Sif looked down at the floor as she tried to find the will to tell Thor the truth. "It is not your Father or home that is in danger."

"Then what? What troubles the AllFather?"

"Thor," Sif finally lifted her gaze to look into Thor's eyes. "It is your Brother."

"My... Brother?" Thor stumbled on the words as they fell from his mouth. Jane's eyes widened with disbelief while Thor's eye filled with long overdue tears and faint smile creased his lips. "Loki?"

Sif nodded somberly. "Loki still lives."

"I do not understand. This is joyous news." Thor's voice cracked with a mixture of happiness and great sadness as he gaze his friend an uneasy smile. "Where is he? Where is Loki?"

"We do not know." Sif admitted shamefully.

Thor's smile disappeared. "What?"

Jane chimed in on the conversation. "But we saw Loki die. He died saving us. How is this even possible?"

Sif turned her gaze toward Jane trying to hide the jealousy she felt toward the Midgardian as she had pined for Thor's affections for herself. "Again, we do not know."

Thor rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Sif, how can you be sure that Loki has survived the Dark World?"

"Heimdall has seen it-" She paused not wanting to tell Thor about Loki's imprisonment. "He is far. The Chitauri have taken him and are living beyond the Nine Realms."

Thor felt his heart surge with anger. "What am I to do? Why tell me this?"

Sif looked at Thor with unwavering hope knowing that if anyone could save Loki, it was him. "You are to return to Asgard. Heimdall will instruct you further."

Thor looked at Jane, the inner-conflict was evident in his eyes. He didn't want to leave behind the woman he loves but he couldn't bear the thought of his Brother being held captive and beyond help.

Jane put her soft hand on Thor's strong arm to reassure him as she spoke. "Go. Loki needs you."

He nodded with gratitude. "Thank you Jane."

Raising his strong hand into the air Thor summoned Mjolnir into his grasp. Hammer in hand he walked over to the platform on which Sif had arrived and held Mjolnir high into the air. A flash of lightning and a crackle of thunder filled the air as Thor's silver tinged armor covered his body, his red cape billowing in the breeze behind him.

"Let us be off." The look of concern in Thor's eyes had been replaced by one of determination. Sif smiled and nodded. She joined Thor at his side and looked upward. "Heimdall, open the Bi-frost."

The energy beam returned transporting both Thor and Sif back to their home of Asgard, leaving Jane alone in the tower to watch her love flew off toward a far off world.

Jane watched as the warrior duo quickly disappeared from sight. She walked out onto the balcony and looked up into the blue sky. They were gone. The wind blew her brunette hair about her face and neck. She tucked the loose strands behind her ear and whispered to herself. "Please, come back safe."

...to be continued...