Chapter 4 ~ Seeing You Everywhere
Never Let Me Go – Florence + The Machine
Surprisingly, the green energy project went quickly and efficiently. Lithia worked round the clock, often doing entire sections of the project within a few days while others working within those sections predicted many weeks. She still insisted that they be kept on, thus making the other sections rather crowded but quickly finishing these sections. What had been predicted to take many years before any progress would be viable only took about 5 months. With the project nearly complete, Lithia petitioned the company to give everyone a month off. "Years were predicted to get this done. Might as well drag it out to at least 6 months." She offered. "Besides, these people have worked their tails off to try and keep up with me. They deserve a break."
The board agreed but also decided to have Lithia give a press conference to explain how the project was going. Once again, her favorite Norse god was watching when she appeared, quickly hushing the press. "I have some things I must cover, so please, hold all questions until the end." She said firmly.
"Now, the green energy project is developing much quicker than anyone could have anticipated. Preliminary designs are functioning well in simulations and we are ready to make some models for further testing. As a result of this quick progress, I have decided to give everyone involved on this project a month off before starting work on the models." She paused, taking a moment, slightly toying with the press.
"I'll take a few questions at this time." She said and the room erupted with noise.
She pointed to an older gentleman from a local California newspaper. "Will you employees be paid for this time off?" he asked, slightly amazed that she called him first.
"Yes they will." Lithia replied before noise bombarded her again and she pointed to another reporter.
"Will Stark Industries be hiring new positions to make up for the slack of this time off?"
"That has already been covered." She replied. Again the noise.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Tony. She moved to the side and Tony addressed the press, answering more questions. Tilting her head, Lithia blocked the sound of the press out so that everything was muffled. She observed the press when, suddenly, everything froze.
Only an instant passed between the freeze and Lithia hitting the ground. What happened in that instant made her heart race, eyes water, and mind hope. In the back of the crowd, the only person moving was him. His hair was black as she remembered and his eyes were that same emerald green that made her heart melt. Her stomach dropped when their eyes met and he smiled. The instant passed, the noise and the movement rocking her senses, making her loose her balance and collapse.
Her head was spinning and she fought off nausea and vertigo to bolt her head up, her eyes desperately seeking those eyes and that smile. "Lithia!" she heard Tony's concerned voice, making her slowly swivel her head toward him. "You okay kiddo?
Lithia looked back into the crowd before answering, "Yea…. Yea I think I'm fine… I guess I missed breakfast and got lightheaded or something… I'll be fine…" she said as Tony helped her up.
One of the board members came up to the podium and said, "That'll be all for the day." And security guards started ushering the press out of the room.
A chair was brought over and Lithia sat down, still feeling light headed. Tony barked a few orders before kneeling down in front of Lithia. "You're looking really pale Lithia." He said.
"I'm alright… really, I am." Lithia insisted, hardly believing her own words. "I just need some food."
A plate of food was brought and she ate it sparingly. It was clear that Tony was concerned but knew better than to press Lithia for answers right then. He would wait a while before asking more questions. With the press conference over, Tony decided to take Lithia out for frozen yogurt.
Usually, Tony and Lithia had the same taste in frozen treats, however, this time, Tony went the crazy route while Lithia got plain chocolate with sprinkles. "Okay, what's eating you kid?" he asked.
Lithia gave a slightly exasperated laugh. "Seriously Dad, I'm alright." She said, eating her treat.
Later that day, Lithia felt the need to clear her head. Changing into her jogging attire, she snatched up Tiny Hulk's leash and clipped him up. Deciding to take the long route, Lithia set off, her iPod playing upbeat and energizing music as she jogged. Tiny Hulk bounced at her side for a few strides before settling into his jogging gait. The road stretched out before them and all too soon, the familiar headstones of the cemetery made Lithia slow.
A figure, standing near a grave caught her eye. He was dressed in a long dark green coat and had a fancy looking hat on. Again, like the worlds froze and time slowed, the figure turned and Lithia was met with those eyes and that smile. And, once again, when everything came rushing back at her, she fell down, skinning her knee. Hissing in pain, Lithia sat down to examine her bleeding wound. Tiny Hulk whimpered near her, making Lithia look at her dog. "I'm alright TH." She said, rubbing his ears.
But, like Tony, the dog didn't seem to believe his master. Looking slowly around the graveyard, Lithia shook her head slightly. She must just be having an off day. Getting up again, Lithia and Tiny Hulk set off.
A quick green cloud appeared only to be replaced by a darkly clad figure. Loki watched her jog away from him. He knew she had seen him twice. Why did she not reach out for him or call his name? Slightly shaking his head, he disappeared in a cloud of green before following her like a shadow.
Lithia jogged on, ignoring her straining muscles, the trickle of blood running down her leg, and her still unsettled stomach. Farther and farther she jogged. Soon, she came upon stretch of green grass. Overcome by exhaustion, she rolled to a stop, breathing heavily on the grass. Tiny Hulk was also out of breath and lay near Lithia's side. A few moments later, once her breath had returned and her muscles stopped screaming at her for making them work so much, she roused herself and started walking.
It was beginning to get dark out, and she figured that her parents would worry if she wasn't home soon. With so many things swirling around in her mind, she didn't pay attention to where she was walking. She had taken this road so many times she could walk it blindfolded and backwards on her hands and knees. Her mind was heavily concentrated on trying to understand what was happening to her. Twice now she had seen an image of Loki, and twice he vanished before she could reach out to him, causing her to injure herself when her mind caught up with her body. What was happening to her? Why did her mind insist on tormenting her with these illusions? But, what if they were real, and… for some reason… Loki was tormenting her?
Lithia shook her head. No! Loki would never hurt her like that. But something was off.
Suddenly Lithia stopped. She felt herself being watched and turned to see someone standing in the middle of the road. Her heart skipped a beat as, for the third time that day, everything stood still. Emerald eyes shining in the fading sunlight locked with hazel orbs that were beginning to tear. Lithia could feel her knees buckle as the figure flashed that smile at her, only this time she caught herself and began to step toward him. She reached out to him, hoping that this time if she fell, he would be close enough to catch her in his arms. Then, his smiled vanished and he seemed to be terrified, but Lithia could not hear the words coming from his mouth. All she heard was the faint sound of Tiny Hulk barking madly and the sound of a horn before a powerful force mashed into her front, propelling her body backwards on the hard cement road.
Lithia gasped as the wind was knocked from her lungs, and she was sure several bones were cracked. When she opened her eyes all she could see was someone approaching from the cab of a large truck. It got closer and was calling out to her, but Lithia could not hear him.
He was gone, just like before. As her eyes closed, the last thought she had before the darkness consumed her was, Why do you stay away?
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Darkness slowly crept from Lithia's mind and fuzzy light replaced the darkness. She remained silent, fighting off the urge to groan loudly as her pain receptors and nerves turned on, flooding her with hurt sensations. Slowly, her eyes scanned the room. Tony and Pepper were in chairs, sleeping at odd angles but worry clear on their faces, even in sleep. Out the hospital door, two guards could barely be seen from the tiny window. She felt a weight on her chest and looked down to see a curled Tiny Hulk, sleeping as well. Letting her eyes return to the ceiling, her mind swirled on her last thought.
Quietly, as if to not make a sound at all, she whispered into the air, "Why do you stay away?..." she paused, her lungs hurting with each syllable. "Don't you know I need you?..."
Silence circled her. A sound, so faint she thought her ears were deceiving her, made her gasp and bolt upright. "Why don't you look for me?"
"Loki!" she cried, rousing everyone in the room as well as the guards outside.
"Take it easy!" Tony said, rushing to her side as she frantically dug at the needle in her arm.
Her mind was being pulled in different ways. Sounds or people yelling, blaring sirens and her own racing heart were making her panic. Age old memories of abuse and neglect and hospital stays made her frantic. Finally, like a volcano, she burst. Throwing her head into her hands she screamed, everything around her flying away, things exploding and silence echoing.
Tony had grabbed Pepper just in time, shielding her from the onslaught. They were propelled into the nearest wall by an invisible force. The guards, nurses and medical instruments were also blasted back as Lithia continued screaming. Within that chaos, Tony saw Nick Fury in the doorway. Quicker than a hiccup, he had drawn a gun and aimed it at Lithia. Before Tony could speak, Fury had fired. Lithia stopped screaming when the projectile hit her. Slowly her head raised and looked at Fury. The director actually shivered at her pitch black, soulless eyes glaring at him. Then, she fell backward, unconscious once more.