Smoke filled the room, a fire burning through dead alien bodies. Sorrow felt the world around her shimmer, her eyes becoming silver, reflecting her nightmare to the outside world. But she didn't see anyone. She only saw the smoke, heard the vicious screams of monsters and felt their claws ripping down the back, similar to the feeling of a whip.

She clutched her head, trying to block out the sounds, the terrible, ear-splitting sounds of rage and war. She could feel the contention in the air, like a heat wave above the desert. She could see it boiling to the surface, ready to explode while people around her dropped dead, clawing at her feet and begging for help with dry, raspy voices of panic.

But she was frozen. Her feet were sunk into the ashy earth. She couldn't move, and she could feel them trying to get through to her, hearing some voices on the other side of this nightmare, a voice that sounded like… like… Loki. It was Loki. He was yelling something at her. His yells mixed in with the screams of those around her, all full of agonizing pain. Tears streamed down her ashen face, dirt and grime being washed by the shining tears of hopelessness. Complete and utter darkness consumed her mind.

But there was that voice again, ever persistent. But it felt like the voice was slammed back into the recesses of her mind, making her forget what a voice of comfort even sounded like.

And then, there was Him. Brandt. His dark figure slowly making his way through the burning corpses. A grin stretched across his face, his gait cool and even, his eyes narrowed, locked on her. "Sssslave." He hissed into the scorching air. "Look who I always manage to find. My. Little… Sparrow." He grinned, his blonde hair being tousled by the breeze that brought the smell of singed blood.

He was too close all of the sudden. Sorrow felt a scream choke in her throat, forcing itself to stay their. She watched him with wide eyes as he took one. Step. After. Another.

He towered over her, that sadistic grin plastered over his mouth. He reached out, cupping the sides of her face with both hands, his mead drenched breath hitting her like a brick wall. More and more and more and more tears. Her heart thundered in her chest and her body was locked in place. She could not move if she wanted to.

And then, they were on the floor, he was holding her down, still cupping the sides of her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks, wiping away the tears. And then, Brandt disappeared for just a second and she saw Loki. The fires and screaming and death flickered away and she saw the mortal warriors behind Loki, Thor at his side. Loki was saying something, his mouth was moving. She was in some sort of sterile, white room.

She concentrated on his lips, the sounds and words coming from his mouth.

"Do you trust me?" He was saying.

Sorrow gasped out a yes, clutching at his hands, not wanting him to disappear, but he was already leaving her. His hands were glowing and it was Brandt again, his skin black, his eyes red, his hair made of embers. But she focused on his mouth, reading what he was saying. "I am going to help you, Sorrow. Sorrow, look at me. Look at me. I will get it out of your mind. I will help you, but I need you to calm down. Can you calm down for me?"

But Brandt's hand found her throat and she couldn't breathe, smoke choking her lungs. "Brandt!" She screamed, thrashing to get away from him.

Loki held her thrashing body as silver tears ran down her face, her eyes like mirrors. He could see smoke and ash, see his reflection in her gaze as that of her worst nightmare. He heard her scratched voice, screaming that it was Brandt, to stop, to get away.

He ignored the mortals who were in the room. Not all of them, only a few. Stark, Banner, and the Archer, Barton. He didn't know why they were in here at all, and if it weren't for Thor, Loki would have kicked them out as soon as they even stepped foot in the room. Supposedly Stark and Banner were standing by in case any help was needed, mentally or technical. But they only threw Loki off more. Their judging stares on the back of his head, comparing him to the monster they had known in New York all those years ago.

And now, to see him actually care about some form of life.

The only other Avengers were Widow and the Soldier, who preferred to do something useful by staying out of Loki's way.

Sorrow jerked painful. Loki kept speaking, trying to get her attention, but every time he got it, she would lose it again. "Sorrow. Look at me. Calm down. Breathe. It is only a vision. Nothing more. Brandt is not here. He is in prison. He cannot hurt you."

Sorrow's mirror gaze locked onto his. She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving with sobs. "You're not… Loki. You are ash!" She whispered shakily.

"Ash?" Loki asked. "Sorrow, what do you mean by ash?"

Sorrow shook her head vigorously, her gaze falling from his as she started panicking again, wrestling to escape his grip. Loki held her firmly, but her struggle was so harsh that he feared he might hurt her. "Thor! Help me hold her down!" Loki commanded.

Thor hurried to help, holding her down the best he could. "What is wrong with her, brother? Is she possessed?"

Loki sighed. "No. She is cursed. I don't know how this happened, but it has. She is stuck in her worst nightmare."

"What is her worst nightmare?" Thor asked.