;chapter 21 is here rejoice and enjoy.;

The 3 teens drove in an uncomfortable silence. The idea of knowing Kat could be dying or dead and Dan's new hulk-ish attitude lingered over them.

"Why don't you two try to get some sleep?" Jason said breaking the silence. "I'll wake you in a couple hours."

Dan didn't want to sleep. He was to horrified of having nightmares of Kat. "Alright." He forced out as he laid down across the back seat.

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Aster had finally left with Victor to who knows where. Kat hung her her head, shaking.

There was no chance to escape now. Kat couldn't even lift her head without nearly passing out much less escape and get to New York.

No chance of escape. She'd die in the basement of the very place where her parents died. The Peterson family would all take their last breaths in this horrid building.

She'd never get to see Uncle Tony, Pepper, and Rhodey again. She'd never see Jason, Eri, Charlie, and Trevor again. She'd never get to see the Avengers again. She'd never get to see sunlight or snow or the workshop. She'd never get to see Dan again...

Small tears trailed down her cheeks making small lines in the dried blood on her face. That alone was probably her greatest regret.

Never getting to see Dan's face or hear his laugh or see him attempt to dance with her. The one year of dating had been the happiest of her life. Now she'd die before she could see him again.

Then again, maybe death wouldn't be so bad. She'd get to see her parents again... And her grandparents who she never got to meet... She wouldn't have to worry about anything anymore. No homework, no training, no lectures from Fury...

Her mother's last words suddenly went through her mind for the hundredth time:

"You have to be strong for all of us, ok? Be brave, sweetheart. I love you."

Kat cursed at herself. Giving up is playing right into Sabertooth's claws. He wants her to break down for the enjoyment, then for slaughter.

A new determination set in. It was clear to Kat she wasn't going to leave this place alive, but she wasn't going down afraid.

Kat kneeled there waiting for her torturers to return, practically staring strait into the eyes of death.

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"Hey Dan! Dan! Wake up!" Dan snorted awake to see Jason and Eri standing over him. "C'mon, where in Brooklyn." Jason said stepping back so the son of captain America could get up.

"Why didn't you wake me sooner?" Dan asked stretching. "Didn't feel like waking you." Jason mumbled. Which was half-true. He also didn't feel like dealing with his constant ranting about Kat.

"So where to now?" Eri asked looking in between the boys uncomfortably. Dan thought about this for a while. "We should go find the hotel Kat was staying at." He said breaking the awkward silence. "Maybe we could figure out where she went from there." "Worth a shot." Jason said throwing his back pack over his shoulder.

It wasn't hard to find Kat's car. It was by far the most high-tech vehicle in the whole lot and the licenses plate read: "Stark Industries" in big black letters with a mini iron man standing behind them.

The teens walked into the hotel, looking in every direction just in case Kat jumped out of no where.

The lady at the main desk welcomed them warmly. "Hello." She said. "How can I help you?" "We're looking for Katherine Peterson. She may have her reservation under "Stark"." Jason replied.

The lady typed something on her computer before looking back at them. "Yes, Mrs. Peterson is staying here. But she hasn't been back for over two days we would know she hasn't called for room service or for a morning wake up call since." She said calmly.

"What do you mean?" Dan asked. "She hasn't come back to the hotel for two days now." She repeated.

"Right, thanks." Dan said leaving the building, Jason and Eri at his heels.

"See? What'd I tell you? Kat's in trouble!" Dan ranted as they walked down the street. "Danny there's plenty of reasons why Kat wouldn't have returned to the hotel." Eri reminded him.

"Your unbelievable..." He muttered under his breath.

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After hours of walking, even Dan was starting to loose hope. The sun had set already and street lamps started to turn on. The 3 teens had been searching for hours with no sign of Kat.

They talked to several people, including a man at a flower shop a few blocks from a cemetery that had seen her but none of them knew where she was currently.

It wasn't till the passed an abandoned mansion they got any signs.

Dan gripped his head and fell against the entrance gate as more images of Kat screaming in pain filled his mind.

"Dan!" Eri yelled. Dan slid to the ground in sitting position as the horrid images filled his mind. "There..." He said shakily pointing a finger at the Mansion. "Kat's there... I know it."

Eri and Jason looked at each other uncertainly and helped Dan to his feet. "Please guys..." Dan begged. "She's in there I know it."

Eri sighed and looked at Jason. The young archer nodded "what do have to lose?" He asked picking to lock.

Half way up the driveway, they stopped dead in their tracks at the faint sound of bloody curling screams of pain coming from the mansion.

Jason threw his pack back on the ground and pulled out a loaded, portable quiver and bow as well as slapping on his electro static armbands. "Guess this is where you say "I told you so", huh?" He Asked Dan as they ran inside.

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Aster was moving her hands up and down as Kat cringed in pain. The young genius let out another horrid screech before slumping over unconscious.

Victor stepped forward to Kat, claws ready to slice her throat. The cat-like mutant grinned victoriously. He had been waiting to do this for 13 years.

He was just about to tear her flesh when sudden rumble of thunder caught his attention.

Sniffing the air, he cursed. "We got company, doll." He said turning away from Kat and heading up stairs. Aster looked at the genius "What about-?" "We'll take them out, then finish off red." He answered opening the door.

;thanks for reading please review!;