Chapter 12: A Blade Behind A Smile

Author's Note

Finally an update! Please review and tell me what you guys think of this chapter.

-CookieMonster4242

Fitz had managed to decode a total of three videos. The three videos were relatively short, about five minutes each, and the quality was bad too. The image was blurry and unfocused, but gave a rough idea of what was happening.

One video was enough to devastate the entire team.

Simmons was straight-out crying by the three minute mark.

Ward couldn't bring his eyes away from the screen. His black eyes were wide in horror as the sound of muffled screams resonating around the small control room.

On the screen was the image of a small figure cowering at the corner of the room. A man entered, and judging by the obvious blonde hair, it was Ray Hertz. The man stepped towards to the figure, his chuckling sounding loud and clear. The image changed abruptly to the picture of the same figure thrashing while its head was held in a basin of black water.

Gross.

The figure was let up and its head lifted out of the water, confirming Ward's greatest fear.

Skye. That figure was Skye.

His breath was caught in his throat as the first video ended and Fitz clicked on the second.

Skye was chained on a metal table. Two figures cloaked in white surrounded her and Ward watched as they put cut after cut into Skye's abdomen. He watched as Skye's face contorted with the pain, unable to scream or escape.

His vision snapped to one of his childhood. His younger brother thrown into the well. His helpless face as he beckoned for help.

A figure entered the frame and Ward recognised the colour of that hair. Blonde hair.

'STOP THE VIDEO. STOP IT NOW' Coulson shouted and the frame paused, Skye's face of utter pain and fear frozen on the screen. That face will haunt Ward's face for a long time. He knew it.

The entire team was silent as the reeled from the shock of the contents of the video. God. It was only a few days, about a week and this much happened.

'Dismissed.' Coulson muttered before he disappeared up the stairs to his office and May followed after him.

Fitz led the crying Simmons to the couches and Ward fetched her a cup of hot English tea.

Fitz sat near Simmons's hunched figure and murmured into her ear while Ward eased himself into the airplane seats.

His eyes stared out at the horizon and his mind drifted to what he had just seen.

Skye. Skye's face as she went through that kind of torture.

Here he was, always calling her a traitor for leaving them, saying she betrayed the team. He felt like a fool.

He knew Skye as well as Simmons, in fact, he knew her better. Simmons could trust Skye, why couldn't he?

He sighed and ran a hand through his short hair.

God, he wished there was something he could do to help Skye but he had missed his chance. If he had been kinder to Skye, he could have prevented this whole thing. Simmons was right, he was being cold to Skye. He couldn't get past her betrayal.

And that led to Skye going through torture at the hands of others.

Those assholes, what he would do to them if he got his hands on them- wait.

Ray Hertz.

Ward stood up abruptly, the sudden motion startling the Science Twins. He looked apologetically at Fitz, who nodded, and stormed into the interrogation room.

The blonde man glanced up from his place on the floor and took in Ward's angry expression.

'Heh, so you idiots finally found out how comfortable Skye was in our hands.' The smug grin plastered on his black and blue face.

Ward wanted very much to punch that man until he was unable to smile ever again in his life. He wanted very much.

But that won't solve anything.

Ward hoisted the limp man up by his shirt, holding his face a mere inch away from the other.

'I'll make you pay for this. I'll pull out every bone from your body, every single bone and have you watch as you bleed out onto the floor, then I'll release you covered in honey into a nest of ants and enjoy your face of terror. I'll make you regret everything you've ever done to Skye and have you go through them, one by one. Just wait, pretty boy, that time will come soon. Your time is almost up.'

He threw the blonde harshly against the wall and stomped out of the room, slamming the door heavily behind him.

A loud and long sigh escaped his lips as he made his way to his bunk. Putting hins face in his hands, he sighed again. He felt so helpless.

There was nothing he could do. He couldn't help Skye at all.

Wait, Skye!

If she was indeed under the hands of Ray Hertz, then why was she not at the base when he infiltrated? Could she have escaped? She must have escaped!

He bound out of the door and almost crashed into May. He skidded to a halt before the woman and blurted his theory.

'Skye must have escaped! She was not at the base because she escaped! She must have escaped May!'

The expression of shock on the Calvary's face was brief and the normal poker face came back into place.

'I know. Fitz has found traces of Skye in the town near the base and Coulson is contacting the HUB for clearance to do a complete search of the area. Advantages of Skye being classified as a wanted fugitive of S.H.I.E.L.D.' her monotone voice declared but Ward could detect a trace of relief in the sentence.

At last, Skye, we're coming to rescue you, he triumphantly exclaimed in his head but that thought was immediately crushed after Coulson came rushing down the stairs, obviously disturbed by something.

'S.H.I.E.L.D. has found Skye.'

…..

Skye followed after the woman in a business suit trotting in front of her.

Accompanied by two armed guards.

She felt unusually uneasy, but she quickly focused on the more predominant feeling. Happiness.

She was finally seeing Coulson, Simmons, Fitz, May and Ward again! Her bare feet were cold as she tried to keep up with the woman and she glanced around. She was in a long, long corridor, not unlike the one she had escaped from. She flinched slightly when one of the guards noticed she was looking around the ordered she face front.

She was led into a small room, with a metal table and chair in the centre. Must be some sort of waiting room. The S.H.I.E.L.D. logo was emblazoned on the wall and Skye was forced to sit on the chair and place her hands on the table.

The bracelet on her wrist was immediately connected to the table and Skye found it impossible to lift her wrist from the table surface.

The woman, a blonde, noticed her attempts and smirked.

'Quit trying, Number 1034, you can't overpower the magnetism.' Her voice was high pitched and annoying, to say the least.

She cleared her throat and began to read from the tablet in her hand.

Her next few sentences left Skye dumbfounded.

'Skye, Code Number 1034, you are now hereby under arrest by S.H.I.E.L.D. upon the charges of multiple counts of treachery and escape of charges. You can either face arrest and cooperate with our investigations or face further interrogation.'

The only word that passed through Skye's blank mind was 'What?'