Chapter Six

The light that hung above flickered, as it swung on the remains of the cord that once held it fixed in place. It was as tired as the chip paper that once lined the walls, which had long since fallen into disrepair. This little room in the furthest corner of the property had once more action than a few lingering shadows that now crept through it's halls. S.H.I.E.L.D had no further use for this early outpost of the fringe of New York City.

It had been forgotten, listed only within the archives for sites still owned by the organisation and remember by the few who used to call this home base. Agent Maclain had been an Agent of the smaller New York base once upon a time. Those days had long since past in a blur of fast paced missions and excitement as she climbed the ranks.

She had never thought that she might find herself back at the beginning. Shaking her head, as an empty and tired laugh past through her thin lips. The old days had been hell, they were better left in the past where they belonged. She wanted to simply forget but those who embodied those moments in history still remained.

Lila Wright was one of those individual, time clung steadfast to her and just wouldn't let go, then of course then was Captain Steve Rogers. The image of the war torn man fighting for his country. Oh how she despised him so. He represented all she desired to forget. There was nothing wholesome about the world left behind, the war had only woken the urge for chaos and destruction in humanity. It had not shaped a new future, one of peace and prosperity that they had been promised.

New weapons had been born. Captain America was nothing more a glorified weapon in human form. "When will this end, this worship and idolisation of enhanced weapons born out of desperation and despair" She spoke her word full of frustration and venom for those who walked freely amongst the unsuspecting human population. All whilst remaining herself that there was one less now.

Smirking, proudly to herself at the very thought, she shuffled the papers upon the desk in front of her. Into the silence came three knocks at door announcing that Maclain was no longer alone. The malicious hatred had to be put aside for now at the very least. "Enter" She quickly answered, not wanting to wait much longer. There was no doubt in her mind, there were questions that needed answers. Answers that only Lila Wright could prove.

The door soon opened, she did not raise her gaze. "Thank you Agent, that will be all" She waited for the sound of the door closing before she spoke again.

"I take it Miss Wright that you have been treated well. After all you are but a guest here" The word were void of emotion, masking any contempt. She raised her gaze away from the documents to meet Lila's. "Please take a seat"

"I would rather stand for the time being" She answered, just as coolly. This was her chance to gain the information that she was after. Why had she had brought in? Why had she been watched and for long?

"If you insist Miss Wright. I can imagine that you have burning questions in regards to Agent Cade" Came in response. Lila kept her gaze focused upon the older woman's face. To her, it was almost as if she had found herself face to face with a statute. There was nothing there, no emotions, no ticks to give away the game. Agent Maclain was a hard one to read.

"We have indeed been watching for some time Miss Wright, Agent Cade was latest in a line of Agents assigned to your case." Lila's eyes widened in shock, how long had this been going on for. Years? She could not even bring herself to guess. Who else had wandered in her path at the wishes for a mysterious shadow firm. Passing back intelligence on her comings and goings.

She took a step closer "Why? I am no-one of importance. I just want to be left alone" Her voice rose up, the anger welling up from within. "Who would deem me worth watching!" She could no longer hold back, Lila needed to know the truth but all followed was a breath of silence.

"You were born on the 5th August 1826, that would make you one hundred and eighty four years. If my math is correct Miss Wright?" This was not the information that she was expecting.

"No-one can be that old..." She trailed off when she realised that she didn't know who she addressing. Lila would not deny or confirm for the sake of her own safety. "But you are Miss Wright. We are aware exactly who you are" This was going nowhere fast. Lila felt as if this woman was leading her in a game, a round in circle to string this out for as a possible. To see if she would break and give in.

"I ask again, who are you? And who do you work for?" Lila stood behind the chair, gripped at the top of the back rest. She spoke with conviction, her gaze never once moving from Agent Maclain's.

I am Agent Maclain. It is seems I have forgotten to introduce myself" Only one question had been answered but it was a start at least. The response had been given in the same flat tone, hiding everything and revealing nothing. "All will be made clear in time" She spoken again, this was something that Lila hadn't expected but still she couldn't relax, not yet.

"Ok, Agent Maclain why am I here?" She pushed, trying a different tack. She was getting nowhere with her previous question. Maybe this one would yield a better response.

"You saved Agent Cade's life in the midst of a disaster zone. However your heroism was caught on film and has gone viral" Agent Maclain placed photos from the file on the table for Lila to see. Each showed shots of her. Though a few were fuzzy, they still played out her actions. This news shook her to the core. She was standing in the spotlight for all to see.

"We are grateful for the fact that you saved one of our own but we cannot ignore this" She waved her over the photos to further highlight her point. "We at S.H.I.E.L.D can help but we require assistance in return. What do you know about Elise Wolf and her artistic visions?" Once more Agent Maclain removed something from the file but this time it was singular aged document. What was placed on top on the photos was familiar to Lila. What was she found herself re-examining was a piece of her past that she clung tightly to, from the day her friend's will had been read out.

That drawing had been part of a set, one that made little sense to her at the time. It had been bestowed upon her. The whole collection had, but this particular drawing she treasured. Elise had told her that she felt it needed polishing up, that it wasn't perfect. Lila begged to differ. Each drawing held detail but yet there was always a secret message. One that only Elise might be able to understand. To see that it hadn't been lost in the ruins of the apartment, warmed her heart. The rest she knew were safe, locked away in several different safe boxes in cities in several states across the country. Just to be safe.

"She was my friend, I know little of the full message behind each drawing" Honesty coated each word that Lila said. She had no real reason to lie. "Only what Elise choose to tell me. This is where the future begins"