I stood in front of Ward, who was tied to a chair in the basement. Skye was tied up, in a chair a few metres away, being guarded by another agent. I had my gun ready, just in case he tried anything funny.
"Emily. Snap out of it. Whitehall is controlling you." Ward said.
"No. I didn't have a purpose before. I was lost. Now I'm happy to comply." I replied.
"So you're loyal to Hydra." He said.
"I'm loyal to Dr Whitehall." I replied.
"There was a guy we used to be loyal to. He went completely insane, remember? John Garrett?" he asked.
"Not another word." I said, and held up the gun. I suddenly heard gunshots and men yelling. The door to the basement burst open and an agent came running in.
"Dr Whitehall needs you." He said to me.
"Watch him." I said to the agent, referring to Ward, before I hurried out of the room and hurried up the stairs. I burst out the door, onto the landing. I heard gunfire to the right of me and I sprinted down the hallway and stopped at the corner. I held up my gun and swung around, into the hallway, just in time to hear a gunshot and see Whitehall collapse to the ground. I gasped and looked past him, to where the shooter was hiding, around a corner. It was Coulson. I aimed my gun and fired at him but the shots, only hit the stone walls as he disappeared from view. I cautiously stepped away from the safety of the wall, and once I was sure Coulson had gone I dropped down beside Whitehall.
"No." I gasped and felt for a pulse. I found only a weak one and his breathes came in short, raspy gulps.
He looked at me and then closed his eyes as his pulse died away.
Coulson would pay for this. But how did I know Coulson would pay. How did I know who that man was. Suddenly, memories started flooding back into my mind and I collapsed onto my hands and knees, steadying myself as my head pounded and spun. Memories from my childhood returned, along with my years spent in the forest, at S.H.I.E.L.D., at Hydra and finally, when I walked out on Ward, my best friend.
I pulled myself up as my head pounded and stumbled back down the stairs and towards the basement. I stopped in the doorway and stared down at the floor. Ward was slumped against the doorway, clutching his side, panting as blood pooled around him. I slowly bent down beside him and pulled at his shoulder, so he turned over to look at me.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Skye…You here to finish me off?" he panted, looking at the gun I was still holding.
"I don't think so." I said. "Whitehall's dead. Coulson killed him. I know who Coulson is."
"So you remember? You're free." He said, putting his hand on the gun and pushing it away. I looked down at it and then dropped it onto the floor.
"Y…Yeah." I replied slowly.
"Help me up. I can get us out of here." He said. I was about to agree but then I remembered how'd we'd left things, when I'd walked out on him because of how rude and inconsiderate he'd been to me.
"I don't think so." I said and stood up, leaving him looking hurt and confused. I started out of the doorway, ready to leave him behind. The same thing would happen, I'd save him and then he'd try and get Skye back, which would leave me alone.
"Thank you." He said and I stopped, but didn't turn around. "Thank you for putting your life on the line and sacrificing your freedom to save me. You saved my life and I'm sorry for how I treated you afterwards. I owe you everything and I promise to never forget it. If I were you, I would have let S.H.I.E.L.D. take me. But you didn't and for that I am eternally grateful." he finished.
I looked down at the ground. No-body had ever spoken to me like that and I felt a strange sensation in my chest, as if my heart was spreading warmth throughout my body. I looked up, blinking away tears. Tears. Why was I tearing up? Get a grip woman. I turned around and looked down at him. "Help me out of here and then we'll figure it all out." He said quietly.
I walked back over to him and knelt down by his side. "Okay." I said quietly and held out my hand. He took it and I pulled him up to his feet.
