Hey guys, sorry I'm late! I was trying to upload the story on Saturday but I got held up with something. Oh well here's the new chapter. It starts off from one year ago. Basically the reason Calliope ended up in prison and why she got mad at Clint. Hope you guys like it. Like always I don't own Marvel only my OC's.

-Dream-

Darkness was the only thing I could see all around me. Even when I brought my hands right front of my face, I still couldn't see them because it was just that dark in this room. I tried to light up one of my hands with my powers so I could get some light in here but nothing happened. I tried again but it still wouldn't work no matter how much effort I put into it. I started to panic as I ran through the void trying to find someone to help me escape but it was useless. I couldn't find a single person out here who could help me. I was all alone and scared in this endless pit of darkness with no way out. I tried to scream as loud as I could but it did nothing to fill the silence around me. SOMEONE LET ME OUT ALREADY!

Suddenly I saw a speck of white light in the distance and without hesitating, I ran towards it. I kept running trying to reach it but the closer I got to it the less I actually wanted to face it. My running slowed to a jog then to a walk as I felt my heart ache the closer I got to the white light. My heart was burning with sorrow and I didn't understand why if this light is supposed to save me from the darkness. That's when I realized this light wasn't my salvation it was my destruction. I ran from the light.

I realized that the dark, the shadows, they kept me safe from the light that wanted to hurt me. I knew now that I would rather be in the dark where it's safe than go into the light where there is nothing but pain. I kept running but I quickly noticed that the light was beating back the darkness until there was nothing but light surrounding me. As the light engulfed me I felt searing heat spread throughout my body until I finally passed out from the immense pain.

-Past: 1 year ago-

As I slowly woke up from that odd dream I noticed something was different. I still hadn't opened my eyes yet mostly because I was in that groggy sort of state where you wake up slowly first your mind then your body. Yeah, that's me at the moment but that isn't what's bothering me it's the fact that I can hear the beeping of a heart monitor somewhere nearby and I could smell rubbing alcohol as well. Why in the world can I hear a heart monitor in my room? Is someone watching TV nearby? And what's with the rubbing alcohol? Okay first I need to remain calm because freaking out will not get me anywhere. Once I had calmed myself down I opened my eyes to see what exactly was happening. I pay no heed to the bright lights that bombarded my sight since it didn't bother me. In my dream, I couldn't see in the dark but in reality, neither the dark nor the light affected me. The scientist that experimented on me long ago wanted to create someone who was perfect. That's how I ended with enhanced vision among other things. It's actually the one thing I'm grateful for.

From the looks of it, I'm in the hospital or at least it looks like one. I haven't been to many hospitals and the last time I was in a hospital I was only a little girl and I don't remember much about it. I've seen a few on TV but that's about it. At least it looks nice and very high-tech so that's a plus. I'm not used to having nice things so this is definitely an upgrade but that also means it's gonna be expensive. I just don't have the money for all of this.

As I continued to look around I noticed that there was a lot of equipment surrounding me but nothing was penetrating my skin. It was just a bunch of stickers with wires placed on my chest and my pointer finger. I try to take a closer look to see what else they might have put on me but my body starts hurting so I stop moving. Why am I in so much pain? What happened to me? Why am I in a hospital? I don't need treatment my body heals itself so what's the point of me being here. Something must have happened to me but I have no clue on what that could have been.

Wait a minute where is my family? I've been freaking out about myself this whole time and I completely forgot about them. How can I be so selfish? Okay, I need to stay calm and think. What was the last thing that I remember before waking up here in the hospital? All I could think about was that stupid dream I just had. I tried again to remember what happened to me even if it did aggravate my steadily rising headache. Where was my healing factor when I needed it? Okay, focus what happened Calliope? Okay I was saying goodbye to someone important and there was so much sorrow in that goodbye it hurt. There was so much pain as if it filled my very being and swallowed me whole. Then nothing it goes blank which is irritating because I need to find out what the heck happened to my family. Christina and Christopher could be in danger for all I know. I start to panic once again as the endless scenarios fill my head instead of memories that I need to remember.

Next, to me, I hear the heart monitor beeping faster due to me freaking out and I try to calm down because freaking out and alerting everyone that I was freaking out was not going to help me at all. It doesn't do me much good because in the next second people come running in my room and I quickly close my eyes so I wouldn't get caught. I hear a familiar voice asking them if I was okay but the doctor keeps telling him that they aren't sure. They say something about me being new territory for them so they weren't exactly sure how to treat me let alone help me. Well that's very comforting. I hear more beeping and people talking over one another as they check me, and it takes everything in me to not scream at them for poking and prodding me when I'm in so much pain. Finally, they tell the man that it seems as if I'm alright for the time being and that they will keep an eye on me. He thanks them and I hear people leaving and the door closing behind them but I keep my eyes closed because I'm not sure if everyone left or someone stayed behind.

"I know you're awake kid you can open your eyes now." so someone did stay behind it seems, but their voice sounds familiar and even comforting that maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to open my eyes after all. I open my eyes and look at the man sitting beside my bed in one of the chairs I assume they leave in every hospital room. He looks worn down but healthy even if he's been a bit roughed up. Then again this is Clint we're talking about so why am I surprised.

"Hey, Clint what's up?" I ask him and it was only then that I realized how hoarse my voice sounded.

"I'm fine kid how are you? You took a beating I got worried that you might not even wake up." He told me as he scooted his chair closer to me.

"I'm in pain which is a first in who knows how many years." I told him truthfully before asking, "What's going on Clint? What happened to me?" I wasn't too worried about my sister and boyfriend anymore now that I knew Clint was here. He would never let anything happen to them. He knows how much they mean to me.

I notice Clint freeze in his seat as he looked at me completely shocked by what I asked him. Now I'm starting to get worried again but I kept calm and asked my question again. It seems like he finally snapped out of it but he still doesn't speak as he grabs a nearby glass of water and drinks it.

"What do you remember so far?" He asked me as he puts the glass back at the bedside table to my right.

"That's the problem nothing. The last thing I remember is saying goodbye to someone and then pain and for some reason I-I don't know." I was starting to freak out again but this time Clint was here to help calm me down. Once I was calm enough he gave me some water to drink reminding me that I needed to stay calm. I'm glad Clint is here. I don't know what in the world I would do without him.

"Thank you," I told him.

"Don't mention it, kid." Clint said as he put the water back in its place, "So you really don't remember what happened?"

"No, but can we talk about that after I see my family? I just really want to see them right now."

Clint didn't say a word as he gently took my hand in his and held it. Although I'm confused by his actions I allow him to hold my hand. Clint isn't a very affectionate type of guy so there must be a reason why he's wanting to hold my hand. We sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity until he finally spoke.

"Calliope I'm so sorry."

"I don't understand what are you sorry about?" I asked Clint because in my point of view Clint hasn't done anything wrong to apologize for.

Clint took a deep breath before went on to explain everything that had happened two days ago. How we found Aardwolf and his goons, saved the day, and how I lost the man I've been in love with for years in the process. Clint also explained to me that in our final showdown Christopher and I rammed into each other which caused a huge explosion that destroyed the surrounding buildings but luckily no one died. Everyone else had been evacuated by that point so that was good. Ten minutes after the explosion S.H.I.E.L.D. came back to check up on the situation but the field was so badly contaminated with radiation that it took hours for them to reach us. The reason it took them so long was that they had to decontaminate the area as they went along. Leaving that much radiation in one place was not a good idea.

When they finally managed to find us they noticed that both Christopher and I were badly injured and unconscious. But that wasn't what surprised them. What shocked everyone was that even when we sustained many injuries and were unconscious when they found us we continued to heal ourselves and absorb the radiation that surrounded us. Carefully S.H.I.E.L.D. took us back to one of their secured facilities to heal from our injuries and to keep us from hurting ourselves or each other when we woke up. Apparently, Christopher woke up yesterday but he still isn't himself and most likely will never return to his previous state of mind. They are currently transporting him to a more secure facility where they will begin treating him but I can't let that happen.

"Don't touch him." I told Clint, "We made a deal that if we helped you guys none of you could experiment on us. If he won't die then just hold him so he won't hurt anyone ever again."

"Kid we can heal him." Clint tried to tell me but I cut him off.

"Can you tell me without a doubt in your mind that you can heal and reverse the mutation that caused him to try to kill me?" I ask Clint.

"No. I can't tell you that."

I smile at him as I say, "Then don't try Clint. Christopher and I have gone through most of our childhood being experimented on and I won't allow anyone to do that to him as an adult. He doesn't deserve that and if he can't even recognize me then who's to say he's still in there. I've seen it happen before Clint, some people may remain physically but mentally they are no longer with us. Don't give false hope when I know in my heart that there isn't any left. To keep everyone safe… to keep him safe… lock him up… and promise me no one will touch him ever again."

"I promise kid." Clint told me, "There is something else I have to tell you…"

I laugh a little under my breath because what else can he tell me at this point, "What is it this time?"

"It's about your sister, Cristina."

My heart dropped when Clint spoke her name because here I am mourning the loss of Christopher when something could be happening to Cristina. I start asking about a million question none of which Clint is willing to answer and that only causes me to panic even more.

"CLINT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BABY? ANSWER ME!" I scream at him begging him to tell me the truth.

"Calliope, your sister is dead. She died during the attack there was nothing anyone could have done for her." My world froze in that instant and then came tumbling down all at once. My sister is dead? Clint explained to me how it happened from what I had told him during the battle, from other agents, and from what the camera's caught in the warehouse. I could barely process it and I just felt so weak and light-headed. The next thing I knew Clint was calling my name but it was too late and I fainted.

-1 week later-

It's been a week since Clint told me about my sisters dying and Christophers' mutation. I'm finally being released later today by S.H.I.E.L.D. now that they're certain I won't go crazy like Christopher did. Plus the last of my injuries have fully healed so that great… yup just awesome. Who am I kidding it doesn't matter in the end.

I miss my family. I know I should at least try to move on with my life for their sake but it's just so hard. I'm starting to remember more about that day. I don't know whether I should be grateful for the return of my memory or horrified by what happened. I think I'll stick with being horrified by the situation and the screams that I heard that day. I haven't really had the energy to do much these days either but then again it's not like I have much to do. At least Clint is still here.

Like he promised he stayed by side and never left me alone. It was nice to know that I still had someone by me that I could trust. Clint's been helping me get back on my feet and he's even helped me organize a memorial service for my sister even if the only the people who will be there is Clint and myself but that's okay. According to S.H.I.E.L.D. I can't invite my sisters' friends from school or anyone else who cared for her but I don't mind in the end. It's not like I really wanted them there. I never really liked my sisters' friends they were always so… annoying.

"Hey kid, you got a minute?" Clint asked as he entered my room disrupting my train of thought.

"Got all the time in the world," I muttered and it's true because without my sister or my boyfriend what else do I have to invest my time into. No one that's what. Yeah I still haven't recovered from their lost and I know it will take some time to recover but I'm glad I'm not alone. Who in the world would ever want to stay alone?

"This is the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury, he's here to discuss a few things with you?" An African American man appeared behind Clint who seemed to favor the color black above all else. He wore a black trench coat with a black shirt, shoes, and pants. Even his eye patch was the color black.

"You must be Calliope Rodriguez, I heard a lot about you the past few days." Furry finally spoke although from the sound of his voice I wasn't too sure what to make of this situation or this man in general.

"What is it that you wanted to discuss?"

Fury motioned with his hand for Clint to leave the two of us alone. After shooting me a final parting glance Clint left the room to us so that we could talk in private. Fury took Clint's usual seat and I sat on the edge of my bed facing him waiting for him to start.

"I came here today to talk to you about your situation, or more like the options you have left at this point." Fury tells me and although he sounds sincere I can't help but feel like something is wrong. "In the beginning, you were given the choice to either help us with this dilemma and receive compensation as well as a home and job provided by S.H.I.E.L.D.-"

"Eh, I don't remember you guys approaching me as kindly as you're currently describing it. Let's be honest you guys threatened me Furry so don't try to hide that part." I corrected him, "I was told that either Christopher and I help you and become a part of S.H.I.E.L.D., which meant you guys having complete control over us or you'll detain us as possible threats to the public and take… my sister away from me."

"Fury"

"Excuse me?"

"The name is Fury not Furry in case you didn't get that part."

"I said, Fury." I saw Fury take a long deep breath before speaking to me again. It's fine by me he can take his time. I tend to have this sort of effect on people.

"In any case, I apologize if it seemed like we were threatening you when we first arrived to give you the job. Sometimes my people forget that just because there are people like you that are enhanced that doesn't mean they're automatically the bad guy. I'll talk to them about that." Fury acknowledged as he got up from his seat and stood behind it to face me, "In any case, the job got done and as promised we will compensate you for your time with us. I know it's been difficult but we still need to finalize a few details before we move forward."

"Like what?"

"Exactly where you want to live and what you want to do from here on out." Fury explained to me and I sat there in shock because what am I going to do? I couldn't go back home because well I just couldn't. I can't walk in there without breaking at the thought that no one I love will be there to welcome me home. I'm all alone.

"Do you have any place in mind?" I ask Fury because clearly I no longer knew what to do with myself.

"I have a couple of places you can choose from." Fury stated, "One in particular that I think you would benefit from above all else."

"And that is?" without answering my question Fury reached into his coat and brought out a manila folder and handed it to me, inside I noticed it was my high school transcript.

"You may not be a genius but you are a pretty smart kid."

I looked up from my Test scores to face Fury once more and I ask him, "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Not just any regular person can work for S.H.I.E.L.D." Fury remarked, "But then again you're not like most people. What I'm suggesting is that you take a standardized test and if you pass it I will personally give you a letter of recommendation to join one of our S.H.I.E.L.D. academies."

"But I haven't finished high school yet?"

Fury rolled his one eye at me and I never felt so much sass hit me in my entire life, "Don't worry about that you aren't learning anything useful at your school anyways. You'll graduate early and I'll make a few arrangements to make tutoring available for you. That way you won't be behind by the time the next semester starts. Math, English, science, and history information as well as techniques that the academy expects every student to have."

"And that's my only option?"

"No, but it's the best one that I have for you. You're a minor meaning you have to go to school and follow a set of rules."

"But a minor such as myself can risk her life playing the hero?"

Fury lets out a sigh as he says, "We had no other choice but to involve you two. When we first discovered you and Christopher we were only going to ask you about your powers and how you got them. Afterward, we were going to put all of you in a better home with a guardian and call it a day."

"Until you found out how powerful we are." I snapped back.

"Again we had no choice but to involve you two. We had reports that Aardwolf had a radioactive bomb that he was going to unleash on the public. When you two popped up it was almost too good to pass up so yes we had no other choice but to ask you for help."

"You knew," I ask Fury.

"What?"

"You knew about the bomb this whole time! It wasn't a surprise, you people knew about it right from the start!" I yelled

I heard Fury curse under his breath as he tried to fix the situation, but it was too late because now I knew this whole thing had been a lie. Wait a minute if Fury knew did that mean… no of course not Clint doesn't know anything about this. He would have told me the truth right from the start. Then again there was a certain amount of information S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn't willing to give us that only Clint knew about, and that could have been information about that bomb. I need to find out the truth.

I flew past Fury and swung the door to my room wide open. I could hear people talking all around me but I didn't care. Within seconds, I found Clint racing towards me with a confused expression written all over his face.

"Did you know?" I ask Clint as my voice shook. Clint gave me a confused look before shaking his head asking me what I was talking about. The amount of hurt and confusion that was filling me to my core was unbearable. I needed to know the truth here and now.

"Did you know about the bomb from the very start?" I asked Clint this time keeping my voice steady. Clint's eyes had widened due to shock as he looked over my shoulder to where I assume the director was standing.

"I was under the impression that she already knew. You told me you had to remind her what happened since she temporarily lost her memory. I thought you told her about the bomb. It wouldn't be the first time you did something like that." Fury explained somewhere behind me.

"So it is true!" I yelled bringing Clint's attention back to me, "You knew this whole time about that bomb! You knew it was filled to the brim with radiation and you didn't tell us!"

"Kid I-"

"NO, ENOUGH WITH THE KID STUFF JUST ADMIT THAT YOU KNEW ABOUT IT!"

Clint took a step back when I yelled at him, he must have been surprised that I had lost my temper. I have never yelled at him before, but I couldn't help it I was just so angry and hurt. Nonetheless, he admitted to knowing about the weapon this whole time. He explained to me how S.H.I.E.L.D. found out about the bomb a couple of weeks ago and the chemical mixture that was inside of it. He also told me that once S.H.I.E.L.D. found out that we possess the ability to absorb radiation they would use us to stop the charge should they run out of time to disable it. They didn't tell us because they weren't sure if we could be trusted with that information. They believed that we would use it for ourselves.

"Calliope I wanted to tell you this whole time but I couldn't."

Tears filled my eyes, but I didn't let a single one fall as I asked him, "Did you know that Christopher would turn out like this?"

"NO- I- we… we thought that the chemical cocktail that was inside the bomb would fuse naturally with you guys. We had no idea that Christopher would mutate and would go on a rampage trying to kill everyone in sight." Clint said quietly

"Trying? No, Clint, he didn't just TRY!" I yelled once again, "Because he did kill HER! MY BABY SISTER IS DEAD BECAUSE ALL OF YOU KEPT A SECRET FROM ME AND CALLED A HAIL MARY WHEN IT CAME TO ABSORBING THAT RADIATION! None of you even tried to figure out if it would do us any harm because you didn't care about us or if we would suffer from it."

"I CARED!" Clint yelled back at me, "If I didn't care about you I wouldn't be here now. I was going to disable the bomb so you wouldn't have to, but I got knocked unconscious before I could even try."

"That doesn't mean you trusted either one of us because in the end you still didn't tell us the truth. If we had known what type of radiation was in that bomb, that it was deadly and unstable, we would have never gone near it. Now my sister is dead because the man I love killed her after he was exposed to something so toxic as that bomb. All because you couldn't tell us the truth." by now tears were freely streaming from my eyes as I faced Clint, and to think that I actually thought of him as a friend when he was keeping a secret this big from me. How could I have been so stupid to believe he ever cared for us and not our powers. He was using us this whole time, they were all just using us as pawns, and what's worse is that I let them. Never again.

"Fury." I called out still facing Clint, "I have my answer."

"You do?"

I turn to face him resolve written all over my face, "Put me in prison, solitary confinement."

"Kid you can't be serious!" Clint yells as he put a hand on my shoulder, but I simply brushed him off and took a step forward.

"This is what you guys wanted, right? To keep me contained, that was the other option I was given except I'm changing it. You will put me in a high-security prison in solitary confinement." I told Fury.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. never wanted to put you in prison. If you were proven to be a threat then yes we would have done that, but since that isn't the case and if you had refused the other options we would have placed you in an observational facility until you came of age. Not prison." Fury explained to me, but I knew better than to trust a government agency and as recent events showed S.H.I.E.L.D. is apparently no different from the rest.

"That's what you all say up front," I let out a bitter laugh as tears continued to stream down my face, "but we all know that's a lie."

"I don't understand how going to prison is going to solve any of this." Fury remarked

"It's simple, really. I'm giving up on this world. I give up on you, on Clint, on everyone really. The next time you're inches away from dying don't call me! I'm through sacrificing everything I love for you selfish, stupid, pathetic people. I hate all of you!" I conceal my face with my hand as I continue to cry, "You killed them, they were all I had, and you killed them!"

"Kid I'm sorry-"

"NO SHUT UP!" I whirled around to face Clint once again as I scream, "YOU PROMISED TO PROTECT HER! YOU TOLD US WE WERE A TEAM! YOU LIED TO ME! YOU LIED TO US… she died, and he might as well be dead, so I'll just die with them."

"Giving up won't bring them back."

"I never said it would you traitor. I said I'm going to die with them! I hate this world, it has never done anything for me except cause me pain." I look Clint in the eyes as I spoke my next few words, "I hope the next person this world decides to come for is you."

-4 days later-

"So this will be your new home Rodriguez until you decide to accept our offer. It's always on the table." Fury tells me as the prison begins to process me and get my documentation in order. "Look I know we messed up but you don't need to do this."

I kept looking forward as they processed me. Ever since I found out what happened, I've been in a haze. I don't know how to process any of this. It's like, something is on my chest adding pressure to it. I haven't eaten in days or had anything to drink really. It's like I no longer want anything. No, it's more like it's too much of a hassle to waste my time doing anything. The only thing I've actually put any effort in doing was laying my sister to rest. He tried to come and show support, but I kicked him out. He didn't deserve to be there when I said goodbye to my sister one last time.

Due to the contract, we had with S.H.I.E.L.D. no one is allowed to touch or experiment, on Christopher and me during our stay in their facilities. In the future, if I wanted to, they will allow me to visit Christopher at the prison he was staying in. For now, I decide not to because well, the memories were still too fresh. Although, I no longer blame Christopher for what happened that day. The only ones I blame is S.H.I.E.L.D. and him.

I can't even say his name anymore. Just thinking about him sends unbridled rage through my whole body. It's best if I forget all about him and everyone else it's not like they matter anymore… it's not like I matter. I'm not even a person I'm just a weapon meant to be exploited. If only there was someone out there who could notice that I'm a person too.

It was that kind of wishful thinking that got everyone I ever loved killed so I might as well do the one thing I know the world will hate. I'll take away their weapon and put it out of commission for good. I'll just sit by myself alone, that way no one can ever use me again. No more pain for me. Only darkness.

Authors note: I hope you guys like the chapter! This one was actually very difficult for me to type. I was trying to make sure I described everything without rambling yet putting enough detail for you guys to understand. Hopefully I did a good job. Well until next time bye guys!