Hi everyone! A little longer chapter this time. We finally get to meet the main villain of this story, and it's time for some of the secrets to get revealed between the two.
Anna opened her eyes and wanted to rub them because everything was bright and blurry, but realized her wrists were chained to both sides of the hospital bed she's been laying. Pulled on both chains while trying to sit up, making a clanking rattling sound echoing in the room.
"Good morning, sunshine!" She heard it from somewhere at the end of her bed, blinking fast to clear her eyes. "You've been out for quite a long time. Remember me?" A short, gray haired man in a white coat asked, while taking a few steps toward her. He adjusted his glasses on his nose to see her better.
"Dr. Moon..." Her voice was rough from dryness, but even with blurry vision she could recognize him easily. This voice was unmistakable.
"I wasn't sure you will remember me, it's been so long. By the way, we made sure your hands are tied up well this time, so you won't be able to do the same shenanigans as before."
Anna looked around as her sight started being normal again. They were in a hospital room, but she would put her fingers on that this wasn't Metro General. More like a private, secret facility. There were bright neon lights blinding her from the ceiling, the room wasn't too big, but enough to host her hospital bed with several monitoring devices on the two sides, a trolley tray a few feet away from her and a desk by three small windows high up on the wall. The doctor was standing by the door, eying her with delight.
"Where are we? Did you take me back to Austin?" She was trying to find any proof of their location, but the windows were covered with small griddle bars, so she couldn't see outside. The sun was shining through them, signaling it's already daytime. She was out all night, or maybe two, she wasn't sure.
"Do you think we only have facilities in Texas? No sweetheart, we're still in New York, if that makes you feel better. I got on the first plane when I saw you in the news. Very nice of you helping taking down such a big crime organization, the news travelled fast all over the country. After that it was easy to find the place in Hell's Kitchen where you work." He walked around her bed. "Why does it matter to you anyway? It's not like you're going out on a sightseeing."
Anna's eyes fell onto the tray next to her bed with all sorts of medical knifes and syringes on it, and she started pulling on the chains again to get out.
"You're gonna wear yourself out doing that for long. Don't waste your energy, not gonna work. I thought I will never catch you again, you were hiding quite well for years, until now, so I made sure you won't be able to escape this time and stay here forever. And we can continue everything where we left off, and this time I'm gonna find out where your powers coming from and how to transfer them to another person. You will do good for the society."
"You're crazy! If you would want to do good with it, you wouldn't hide from the government, nor would need to force me into this. Do you think I asked for these powers? I would give anything to help people. But good people, not people like you. I know what your plan is, creating super soldiers for your own good, and I'm not gonna let that happen." Anna was angry, she knew exactly what type of person Dr. Moon was.
"Oh, a lot of organizations would pay big money for those super soldiers. And by the way, how exactly planning on stopping me? Those chains would keep a beast restrained. Smile instead, we have many happy years ahead of us." He turned around to leave, but stopped for a second. "Or if I'm lucky and get what I need, maybe I can get rid of you sooner."
Anna swallowed, and felt all the scars on her body from the past fire up, remembering all the torture and experiments they did on her when she was a kid.
Dr. Moon walked out of her room and called for the nurse on duty.
"What's your name?"
"Sheila." The brown hair woman in her late twenties replied.
"Sheila, would you do me a favor and print out all the documents related to Anna and Nora Sanders? I need to go through my old notes, and don't have them here in New York printed out. They should be in the archives on the server."
"Of course." Sheila said and did as she was told. After dropping off the big pile of papers at the doctor's office she walked in to Anna's room to check on her.
She was surprised to see her all tied up to the bed, being pale from the sedatives. This just didn't seem right, but she didn't know the background or reasons for this girl's restraints.
She checked on her vitals, then turned to her. "Would you like some water?"
Her kind voice was full of worry and caring, and Anna was wondering what she's doing here with people like Dr. Moon. Unable to talk she nodded and the nurse handed her a glass with a straw in it.
She read her name tag. "Thank you, Sheila." She whispered as her throat felt less dry now.
The nurse nodded and walked out of the room.
Matt was barely sleeping since Anna got missing. It's been three days now, and he's trying to search for her through the city at night, and digging in documents for the same reason during the day. He still felt that lingering guilt that she left because he lied to her. But what if that's not the case and she needed his help. He ruled out both the Italian mob and the Russians, and was sure that it wasn't Fisk behind all of this either, so if she was really taken then whoever took her must be from her past.
"I found another Anna Sanders. She was born in Austin, Texas in 1996. Do you think this could be her?" Karen asked Matt after going through a bunch of women's records online with the same name, trying to find anything helpful in her past. There were way too many Anna Sanders in the country, and since she moved quite often it's very hard to track her. "It says graduated in high school there around the same year she would have, but no other info." Karen buried her face in her palms. "She's like a ghost, there's literally no records on her anywhere. No social media accounts, no pictures, nothing. How is that possible?"
Matt thought about it. Only people would stay hidden who were running away from something and don't want to be found. But as far as he knew, the Russians only came into the picture two years ago. So who she's been running from? He already filed a missing person's report at the police, but none of them were hopeful about the men in blue finding her.
Matt suddenly stood up. "I'm gonna go to the bakery and talk to her friend there."
"That's a good idea." Foggy commented.
"I know she's not with her, and not sure how close they were, but maybe she knows something." Without any words he left the office.
Lucy first thought maybe Anna slept in after their date and they spent the whole day in bed, so didn't want to bother her. The second day she tried to call her, finding her calls go straight to voicemail, so thought maybe she forgot to pay her cell phone bill, which happened before. Since the Russians were all behind bars there were no reasons to worry too much. But the third day came and she didn't show up at noon for her shift. So she decided she's going straight to Matthew Murdock's office after she's done here. She didn't have to wait that long because the well said blind lawyer showed up at the bakery's door.
"Lucy?" He asked her hopefully walking up to the counter, touching the side of it with his cane.
"Yes. I assume you're Matt?"
"Yes, nice to meet you. Can we talk?"
Lucy untied her apron and walked him to one of the corner tables, then pulled a chair out for him to sit.
"Anna is missing. Have you heard anything from her in the past 3 days?"
Lucy's heart started hammering fast. "Oh my gosh, I was hoping she's with you!" She lowered herself on the chair across from him. "I... I tried calling her multiple times, went to her apartment every day."
"Did she tell you anything where she could be? Maybe she had to leave town suddenly, or did she have any enemies?" Matt was asking questions fast, too fast for Lucy who was still in shock.
"No, I don't think so. She mentioned going out on a date, a date with you actually. So she didn't even show up for that?"
"No, she didn't. Do you think she changed her mind about it?"
Lucy thought about it, remembering Anna was so happy, but then also troubled by something.
"I don't know, she acted a bit weird the day before it, she looked excited, but then when no one was watching her I caught her crying a few times. Do you think she would just leave like that? Maybe she wouldn't show up for the date if she didn't want to, but wouldn't disappear like this for days I'm sure of that."
Matt's heart sped up, why would she cry before their date? Could he be the reason of her disappearing? There were times he thought he made a mistake kissing her, bringing more danger and secrets into her life, but he just couldn't help. If she really figured out his secret... This made him feel guilty, beating himself up being this weak and letting his feelings overtake his mind and asking her out. He could imagine how she must felt... excited for their date, then finding out that the same guy just pushed her away a night before. The guy who has been lying to her for months. No matter what happened he needed to find her and make sure she's safe.
"Does she have a favorite place to go when she's sad or upset?"
"Yes, she loves nature, and here in New York there's only one place where she finds something close to it, Central Park."
"I will go there and look around." He wasn't expecting to find her there though, not after three days, but he didn't have any other lead. "Do you have any idea why she would feel nervous being seen on TV?"
"What? No, I don't know. Maybe she was just shy? She was always a very private person... but I.. I don't really know what you mean there."
"Do you know anything about her past, Lucy? Anything what could help us locate her? Previous boyfriends, bosses, her Dad's friends?"
"No, she hasn't had a boyfriend in a long time. Have you gone to her Dad yet?"
"Yes." Matt replied. "But he can't talk, and he was barely reacting to what I was saying. His mind isn't clear."
"Obviously he's an idiot, after what he's done to her."
Matt thought about that. Anna mentioned he sold her once when she was 8 years old, but after a long time she got away somehow. He bet those people, whoever they were, weren't happy about Anna's escape.
"Has she mentioned you who he sold her to when she was a kid?"
"Sold her?" Lucy moved her hands above her heart. "No, I had no idea he sold her when she was a kid."
Matt started getting frustrated, nobody knows anything about her. He's running out of time, who knows what's happening to her, if she's still alive. He realized he's gripping his cane too strong with his hands, because it made a sad cracking noise.
After the bakery he rushed to Central Park and scanned through every square inch of it. Other than a few homeless people and fitness enthusiasts, he didn't find anything.
The next two days passed him extending the area of his search over the city, which was a big job and took up all nights.
His mind wandered to one of their conversation. They were here in his apartment after hers got trashed, drinking beer and talking about their past. He recalled her talking about moving a lot in the country, state to state, but never asked why. She always sounded like it was because of the change of scenery, but what if it was something else? Could be her way to escape from a painful relationship, like he caused her? Or could be to run away from something or someone else? Either way it was, he saw a possibility that she's not in state of New York anymore, and he lost her forever. He tossed and turned on the couch for the short time what's left from the night.
The next morning he was at their office early, checking the records on Anna's Dad now. It took him all day to dig everything out. Found several arrests, mostly in Austin, and some here in New York. All were drug related, except one. He got arrested for breaking in to a science laboratory, called Sci-Tech, in 2004. He read more articles about the company and Rob Sanders, finding he worked there until 1996, when he got fired. So why would he break in 8 years later?
"Wait a minute!" He yelled out to himself as realized she was born in 1996 when her Dad got fired, and broke in to the facility when Anna was 8 years old, exactly when he sold her to someone. Maybe that's the place he sold her, then guilt hit him and broke in to rescue her?
"Karen!" He called out from his office. "Could you please look up a company for me called Sci-Tech?"
Karen walked up to his door. "Sure, one second. But Matt, you really should take some rest, we both worried about you." Matt hasn't slept much, most of the nights he was out looking for Anna and the dark circles started to be more and more pronounced under his eyes, even his glasses couldn't hide them anymore.
"I can't... not yet." Matt said with a big sigh.
"I get it, but you can't search for her while tired like this. Some rest will help to see things clearer."
Matt sighed, he sure did feel exhausted to the bones. "I promise I will rest tonight, just can't until I figure this out."
Karen smiled and turned around to start her research. She wouldn't be able to sleep either if Foggy went missing. After an hour she started humming, so Matt walked out from his room and stood in the doorway, waiting for her to elaborate.
"This is weird." She started. "The laboratory is owned by a company called Gigacorp, which sounds very fictional, they are a private company, but receive funds from the military for some research if this is correct. Their headquarter is located in Austin, Texas, but they have laboratory here in New York and in LA as well. I can't find any details about their experiments, or what exactly they're researching, seems like classified, but their lead scientist in Austin called Dr. J. Moon, he's been in this position for at least 20 years."
Matt froze. Dr. Moon, that name sounded familiar to him. He was sure he didn't hear about this company before now, nor he met that guy, so he must have heard the name from Anna. Of course, that night when she had a nightmare and sprained his wrist, she was frightened by this so called Dr. Moon.
"Thank you, Karen. I will check them out tomorrow, first thing in the morning. What is their address here in New York?"
Karen gave him the address, and they said their goodbyes as it started getting late. Karen pushing hard that Matt should head home as well to sleep. He wasn't intended waiting for the morning, nor to sleep just yet, changed clothes at home and Daredevil headed out into the night. Hoping they didn't take her back to Austin.
Anna felt weak, so far they've been drawing blood from her - lots of blood-, trying to do all sorts of tests with it, she also went through the CT machine several times, and they hooked her up to some weird medical equipment. She was sure they're also giving her some sedatives, because her mid felt all foggy. Dr. Moon walked into her room with a few other people on his heel.
"Sorry my dear, seems like your blood is nothing special. I was hoping we could just transfer that to other people to gain your abilities, but it's not coming from your blood."
"You have already tested my blood when I was a kid." She replied frustrated.
"Yes, but that was like what? 17 years ago? Maybe more? Technology changed a lot since then, we have to do all the tests again. Plus, you matured and changed, probably got stronger even. You were nobody when you were born, then all of a sudden... ta dam, your power appeared!"
Anna furrowed her brows. "What do you mean I was nobody when I was born? What do you know about my birth?" Anna asked, desperately wanted to know about it.
"Oh, of course, you don't remember, since you were a baby. What do you think where were you born?"
Anna's heart started racing, was she born in that facility? In a lab? She was told that her Mom died giving birth to her, and she felt guilty about this in her whole life, but maybe that was a lie and she's just some twisted experiment?
"Am I even human?" She asked all confused now.
The doctor just laughed. "Of course. Your Mom died just so you can live. But when we tested you, found no evidence that you're anything like your Mom was."
"What do you know about my Mom? Did you know her?"
"Of course I knew her, she was almost as good as you are now. She made a bad choice marrying Rob, but it all turned out to my luck. Without your Dad, I would never met Nora, and never knew about this amazing power she had."
Anna's heart was racing even faster now. Her Mom, she was in the laboratory. Was she kept there against her will, same way as she? She had abilities, same as hers. This was more information she learned about her mom than she was ever able to find out in the past decades. She needed to learn more about her.
"How do you know my Dad?"
"Hahaha, he really didn't tell you anything? He really hated you, huh? Well, you were the reason why his wife died."
Anna felt her stomach turn and nausea taking over slowly.
"He worked for me, he was a scientist. Married to your Mom, then got obsessed with her abilities. He asked me for help to find out more, so he brought her in to the lab. She was already pregnant with you then. Unfortunately he didn't handle it well when she died, blaming you and himself for it, so turned to drugs. And it was a complete downhill from there." He stepped close to the medical tray on the table and started searching for something. "This is the short story. I will tell you more later, if you cooperate. Now, we need to know what's inside you, what makes you so powerful."
Anna swallowed hard when noticing the surgical knives brought in by the interns.
"Please, don't cut me again."
"I'm afraid we don't have other choice. But you can stay awake for the whole procedure. Actually, I need you to stay awake, so we can monitor your brain function while we do the tests." He stopped for a second. "And after this test we can start plan B."
"Plan B? What's plan B?" Anna panicked, plan B never sounded good.
"Well, your Mom gave you her abilities. So it can be transferred by birth."
Anna swallowed, and Dr. Moon continued. "Plan B is the long slow way, but can be run parallel with other tests. We make you pregnant, you'll have a baby, and we will have two amazing people to experiment on. It just takes such a long time, what I do not have. Even if we do this the more scientific way. So that's why it's plan B."
Anna started panicking. "No!" She begged. "Don't do it, please!"
"Shush now, we need to work on this test first."
Two men showed up in the room, dragging a bleeding woman with them, tossing her on a chair next to her bed. She wasn't conscious, and her head fell down on her chest. Anna widened her eyes.
"She's dying, and it's up to you to help her. We will extend your chain by a few inches so you can reach her, but don't try doing anything stupid." He motioned to the men with guns with sedative darts pointing at her. "I need you healing while I do the tests to see what's going on."
"No... please..."
The other two doctors placed some weird device on her head which was connected to a monitor to show her brain functions.
"Or you rather let this poor innocent woman die? She has a husband and two little kids waiting home."
"You're sick."
"This is science. You're doing a greater good, so stay still, or accidentally I cut into something what will really hurt. I have to attach this device to your heart to know more what's going on. Like an open heart surgery, so stay still."
"You know that I can't heal myself! Why are you cutting into me? You could monitor my heart some other way, couldn't you? This doesn't make any sense!" Anna tried protesting.
"Maybe you just don't know that you can heal yourself. We can never know until we tested everything. Your mom was able to do it, so you should too. Maybe you don't care about yourself enough to put the effort in to heal yourself? Or there wasn't a big pressure to do it? Have you ever been in a situation close to death? But we will get back to that later. Now let's get this over with."
Her mom was able to heal herself? That's all she focused on, and wanted to ask more about her, but felt a sharp pain under her ribcage, and she wanted to scream as loud as she could. But no, she can't. She didn't want to give Dr. Moon the pleasure hearing her screaming, also Daredevil would hear that, and she definitely didn't want him to get involved in this. Come here to her rescue, running straight into these dangerous people. She can't do that to him, especially not after what he said last time. She wasn't even sure if he would show up, but just in case she forced her teeth together painfully and only a quiet growl left her throat.
Matt was on his way to the laboratory when he heard it. Painful, but muffled screams from Anna. He would recognize her voice from miles, unmistakably. It was quiet, but he was tuned to it so much that he was able to hear it, and it was coming from not too far, exactly where he was headed. She's alive! He thought and started running faster. When he got there he jumped into the laboratory's building through the glass skylight window on the roof, triggering the security alarm on that floor, leaving shattered glass pieces everywhere. He knew exactly where Anna was, four stories underneath. She was quiet now, but he could hear her heartbeat from this distance, so headed toward the West side stairway. Within a minute the security guards showed up, giving him not much of a challenge. They never expected Daredevil would show up here, or actually they didn't expect anyone coming for her, so the security on site consisted of non trained, soon to be retiree company security men.
He kicked the door in to her room hard, which broke into two pieces. All the doctors around Anna rushed to the corner of the room in panic, the one behind her with a drill about to put a hole in her skull dropped the tool and lifted both hands high. Dr. Moon stepped closer to her and moved his surgical knife to her throat.
The two guys with sedative darts shoot at Daredevil, who avoided the darts easily, knocked out both men, and slowly walked closer to the bed.
Anna was surprised and panicked at the same time to see Daredevil, didn't expect him to find her, or even look for her, but made a weak smile at his direction. She was close to passing out, but gained some strength from the adrenaline kicking in now that he came to her rescue. One security guard showed up at the door behind him, pointing a gun with shaking hands. Matt didn't have to turn around to notice him, so he just threw one of his batons to the opposite direction of the guard, ricochet it from the wall. The guard laughed. "You missed!"
Matt turned toward him at the moment the baton came back flying and hitting the guy's temple. He fell to the ground unconscious. "Did I?" He smirked and grabbed the flying stick in the air.
"Who the hell are you and what do you want here? This is a medical facility." Dr Moon asked with also shaking hands.
One scientist next to him answered with frightened voice. "This... this... is Daredevil." He swallowed hard. "He's the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, saving the innocent... and hurting criminals." He slowly turned his eyes on the masked man. "Please... don't hurt us, we're just doctors."
"Doctors, keeping this woman here against her will. Let her go!" Daredevil instructed Dr. Moon with serious tone.
"I can't do that. She's important. And she needs to go through this surgery. You're interrupting an important medical treatment."
Daredevil made a step closer. "If she's so important, then you don't want to hurt her. Put down the knife and let her go." His voice was low, raw and frightening.
Daredevil threatening voice made the doctor to hesitate. He wasn't a criminal who shoots or kills people, he was a scientist. An evil one, but still, not a murderer - He usually relies on the company's private military team for that -, plus he wanted Anna alive, she worth nothing dead. He slowly lifted his hands up, then took a step away from her bed. Matt rushed up to her, smelling blood. They already cut into her flesh, but weren't able to complete the procedure, so it wasn't life threatening. He was focusing on her breathing, it was uncoordinated, and he smelled the sedatives they gave her, but she was alive and that was the most important thing. While he was busy freeing her hands and ankles out from the chains the doctor stepped to the desk to push the silent alarm button underneath.
"So is that true what my man just said? You only save innocent people, Devil of Hell's Kitchen?" Dr. Moon teased him, trying to keep them here until the reinforcements arrive. "Then maybe you're freeing the wrong person now." Matt stopped, listening to his heartbeat, knowing he's telling the truth. "Oh, so you didn't know that?"
Anna looked at him terrified, then moved her eyes to Daredevil who just stood there frozen for a second, tension visible in his jaws.
"Please... " Anna started, but the doctor cut into her words.
"Maybe next time do some more research on who you're saving. She's not innocent."
"Everybody deserves saving." Matt said. "It doesn't matter what they did in the past, they should get a second chance. Everyone..." Matt said, and untied her last restrain.
"I would stay away from those hands if I were you!" He yelled, and Matt's hearing picked up several men from the military approaching, so he didn't waste time on asking the doctor what he meant on that.
"Anna, we have to leave. Do you think you can stand up?" He asked fast.
Anna nodded, and carefully found her balance, pulling her hospital gown closed around her body. She's been tied to the bed for more than 5 days, lost a lot of blood and got some weird medication, so she was a little unsure of her movements, but managed to stay upright. She checked on the wounded woman, making sure she's healed enough to survive.
"We can't leave her here, they're gonna kill her." She said, and Daredevil lifted the woman up.
"Ok, let's go." He said, and without turning he threw his baton to his back knocking the doctor out straight on his forehead, then reaching one arm up to catch the flying stick coming returning.
"How did you...?" Anna watched him amazed, it's like he had a 360 degree vision.
He smirked, then grabbed her left arm while holding the unconscious woman on his other shoulder. "Come on, we have to leave, they are coming up with the elevator."
He was leading her through the corridor, but one room to their right caught Anna's eyes, and she froze. "I can't leave. I'm sorry." She said, "Not yet. I know you told me not to do reckless things, but this is important." and started rushing toward the room.
"Anna?" He hissed, then followed her.
He found her squatting in front of a filing cabinet, searching through the papers. "Do you think you can hold them up for a short while? This is really important, I'll explain it later."
He made an uneasy expression with his mouth, didn't like the idea of sticking around for too long, but nodded. He put down the woman carefully next to Anna, and headed back to the aisle.
The first group of soldiers stepped out from the elevator, facing the Devil's fist right away. They started fighting, and some of the guys were pointing their machine guns at him, trying to decide if they can take the shot without killing one of their own.
These guys were trained and wearing body armors, which protected them some, but the weight also made them slower. Matt was taking them down one by one, kicking one man hard to fly back to the elevator pushing the others behind him back as well. Then he pushed the close button and kicked the console. It sparkled and the guys trapped inside. There were still a few around him keeping him busy, who arrived from the stairway.
In the meantime Anna was going through the documents, finding the years of 2004, 2005 and 2006, with her name on them. She grabbed the folders, then searched back to 1996. Her eyes grew wide when she recognized her name there as well. So they really have records of her from the year she was born? The doctor must have telling the truth that she was born in the lab. She almost closed the drawer when another name caught her eyes. Nora Sanders. This folder was bigger and heavier, so she looked around for a bag in the room to stuff all the papers she collected. When she stepped out from the room Daredevil was just running up on the wall while doing a backflip and knocking two guys out at once. He was almost finished, only one left, but five more were coming at him from behind. While he was fighting three of them at the same time, the other two drew their handguns out and a loud shot echoed in the building. Anna moved her hands on her ears to cover the ringing sound and saw the others doing the same for a split second. The shot was painfully deafening and she looked at Daredevil in panic, who's head was bent forward, but his hand wasn't covering his ear, instead touching his left side.
"No!" Panic ran through her body as she realized he must have been shot.
The five soldiers started punching him, and Daredevil's blocks and counterattacks were uncoordinated and much slower than usual since he wasn't able to rely on his hearing hundred percent after the loud shot. He was able to avoid a couple head punches, but several went in to his ribs and stomach. For Anna she thought he was getting out-powered because he got shot. She knew she needed to do something.
"Hey!" She yelled at the men, and three of them left the masked man and started running toward her. She smiled, this is exactly what she wanted, now Daredevil only had to deal with two men at the same time. She rushed back to the room where she was before and shut the door closed, turning the lock inside. The three men were banging loud on the door, and she heard the wood cracking. She knew it won't hold them up for long, but hopefully enough time for Daredevil to finish with the other two and come to help her. She bent forward, grabbing her ribs as the cut started bleeding again from her little run.
The gunshot noise gave Matt a huge disadvantage, since he was relying on his hearing which got compromised for a short while. He was able to avoid getting shot by the bullet directly, but he knew it scraped his side. After a minute his hearing started to recover, and knocked out the two men he was fighting with and threw his baton to one of the soldiers at the door trying to break in. He got knocked down unconscious and the other two turned around, pointing their guns at the masked man. They fired without hesitation, and Anna's heart skipped a beat at the loud noises again. The banging on her door stopped and when she ran up to it to peak out she saw them laying on the floor next to the others. Daredevil was kneeling by them, his back facing her. She walked up and touched his shoulder gently. He shivered, and lifted one hand to cover hers.
"Just need a second, this ringing will stop soon."
Anna nodded and locked her fingers in his. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault. You got shot because of me." She felt the guilt was crushing her. "I tried staying quiet and not to yell... I'm sorry, didn't want to drag you into my problems again, and then doing something stupid like making you stay longer than necessary and getting shot." Her eyes wandered to his side, shirt torn and blood streaming slowly. "But... I swear I wasn't looking for trouble this time, they found me..."
He stood up and faced her, ignoring the pain and aches in his body. A smile appeared on his face. "Looks like if there's trouble, you're always there."
Anna rolled her eyes, but smiled back. Yeah, she definitely attracted trouble.
"I wish you would have called for me sooner though. I have been looking for you for five days now." He said, lips thinned.
"Five days? Wait... so... you're keeping tabs on me? Or how else you noticed I went missing?" She felt confused. He told her they're not a team, no relationship or connection. She liked that he cared about her this much, but then she had no idea why pushing her away? "I have to stay away from you, and from any trouble, but you have the right to watch over me? Please help me understand you, because I feel so confused." She shook her head in disbelief.
"I promised you to keep you safe, and I would do anything for you."
"You can't protect me forever, not from everything."
"Of course I could."
Anna laughed. "So you want me to live like that? Avoiding you, and anything dangerous?"
"You would live!"
"What life would that be? I don't want to stay away, and especially don't want to be caged! I'm sure you couldn't live like that either." A quiet growl left her throat. "You're such a complicated man."
Matt felt like she just stabbed him with a knife. He heard this same thing before, and hearing it again hurt more than he realized. He didn't want to fight with her.
"What I meant on that roof was we can't work or be together, because it's dangerous for you. But I will always come to save you. I'm Daredevil, this is what I do. And, you don't have to worry about me."
"So.. you saying I can't decide myself what danger I'm willing to risk? You can worry about me, but I can't worry about you? I get that you don't want any relationships with me, but we've known each other for months and went through so much, we do have a connection. You like it or not, which means I'm worried about you as much as you do." Anna swallowed, and lowered her face. Seems like they changed, and every time they're together they fight with each other about this same topic. But why? What happened? "You have no idea what you just walked into... these people are dangerous, and now they know you're helping me. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate your help, but you shouldn't have come here."
He stayed quiet and she wanted to add something, but Daredevil tilted his head, and she knew he's hearing more men approaching. Without a word she grabbed his hand, and they ran back in to the room for the woman and the bag full of documents.
"Let's go!" He yelled, and lifted the unconscious woman and Anna shouldered the bag, and they were off toward the stairs.
"We need to go up to the roof, they're coming from below."
Anna nodded and they left the building through the same route he came in, and she didn't make any protest about the height or the jumps.
The cold air woke up the woman they've been carrying on their shoulders. She looked at both of them panicking.
"You're safe now." Daredevil said.
"He... he came for us and saved us." Anna said, while the woman slowly removed her arms from their shoulders, standing by her own now. "Do you remember anything what happened to you?"
She nodded. "Yes, I don't know why those people took me and did those things to me..." her tears started streaming down her face. "I didn't do anything wrong, I never made anyone angry."
"I'm so sorry..." Anna hugged her, and she hold on to her strong. "But you're safe now, we're going to the hospital. What's your name?"
"Miranda." She answered between sobs. "Thank you so much for saving us..." she looked at Daredevil.
"Everything is gonna be fine, Miranda."
They stopped at the back entrance of the hospital. Anna walked in to the lobby with Miranda and made sure she'll get taken care of.
"What about you?" She asked Anna when she was about to leave.
"I'm ok. They didn't hurt me... I was lucky Daredevil showed up before they touched me." She lied and forced out a weak smile.
Miranda nodded and turned her head toward the nurse who just called her name. "Good bye, and please tell Daredevil again how much I appreciate his help."
"I will. Good bye, Miranda."
She walked back outside to the dark alley where the Devil was waiting for her.
"That what you told her wasn't entirely true. Maybe you should be checked on as well, I know they cut you."
"And maybe you should stop listening to private conversations?" She gave him a teasing smile. "I can't go to a hospital by the way, you know that, plus I'm ok. The cut isn't life threatening, I can take care of it later."
"Are you sure?"
Anna nodded. "What about your bullet wound?" She asked, feeling guilty about it. "Let me help you." She said and reached her hand out toward him, but he stopped her.
"It's just a scrape. I was able to avoid it, and gonna be fine. You are exhausted."
Anna made an uneasy expression. Both of them were stubborn.
"Why those people took you?" He asked seriously, but she turned away, still feeling hurt that he wants to distance himself completely.
"They want something from me. But please let it go. They're too dangerous and I will take care of this from here, I know what to do now."
"And what is that exactly? I can help, whatever it is. That's what I do."
"But I don't want you to help me this time. Please, you have no idea..." She looked down to her hands. "This isn't your fight, and remember that we're not a team anymore. That's the advice you gave me, right? They don't hurt or keep there anybody else, Miranda got kidnapped because of me. Just drop it, please."
He swallowed, he deserve that. He's gonna drop it, just for tonight, because he really didn't want to argue with her.
"We can't go to your apartment. That's gonna be the first place they will look for you." He said.
"I know." She said. "I'm still staying with Matt, actually. At least, I hope he will still have me." She was watching him closely, waiting for some sort of confirmation on her theory that they were being the same man. "I have no idea what he thinks where I am, but hope he's not too angry that I just disappeared."
Daredevil stayed quiet. Of course he will still have her, he wanted to hug her so badly, keep her close, telling her she's safe now. But he can't. Only Matt can do that, at least he's hoping she will still allow him. He can't play with her like that. And this isn't the time to reveal his secret, not now when those scientists know Daredevil is helping her. At least they know nothing about the blind lawyer, except the fact that he represented her during the trial with the Russians. And how could he be angry at her?
"I walk you there." He said quietly, leading the way through the rooftops. When they arrived to the back alley of Matt's building, Daredevil faced her, noticing she started bleeding again.
"Please, just let me help you with your wound at least, most likely your cut needs stitches."
Anna thought about it for a second, but it just didn't feel right.
"I don't think you help stitching up every wounded victims you save." She raised her gaze. His lips twitched and his jaws tightened, then changed to his usual neutral state. Exactly how Matt conceals his emotions.
She wanted some proof on her theory, so decided to push him a little. "Matt asked me out, just before they kidnapped me. I just thought you should know." She looked at his face and noticed him thinning his lips. That annoying mask... but she realized that she can see through it now easier. It was a guilty expression mixed with hurt. Why would he feel guilty?
"So... are you two together?" He asked her, head tilted, honestly interested to hear her answer.
Anna laughed nervously. "No, I don't think so, but... I'm not sure." She rubbed her forehead, knowing that she has to leave New York and leave Matt. "Especially now that I disappeared without a word, just before our date actually. Not the best start of any relationships." She sighed deeply. "I owe him an explanation for sure, and after that I have no idea what's gonna happen. What would you do if you find out the woman you like has secrets?"
The edge of his lips turned upward. "I don't think I'm in a position to judge anyone for not being completely honest... I have my own secrets as you know. But I would hope that she would trust me enough to tell me the important ones."
Anna laughed, so true. "So you're usually hiding the fact that you are Daredevil from your girlfriends?" She was watching his reaction carefully, but to her disappointment he turned away from her and took a few steps toward the dumpster.
"As I said before... I'm a vigilante. People knowing me put them in danger."
She saw his fists clenched tightly a couple times, then turned back toward her with a recomposed look, neutral expression on his lips. He was angry again, but he wasn't angry at her this time. Then who?
"So are you sure you don't need help?"
"Thank you, but I will be fine, really." She gave him a quick thank you hug, and walked into the building.
Anna knocked on the door, hearing no reply. She didn't have her keys with her, had no idea where her backpack or phone went with the rest of her stuff that night of the kidnapping. She lowered herself on the floor by the door, pulling her knees up, and holding the bag with the documents close to her body. Her mind wondered about Daredevil and Matt, trying to put the pieces together, but feeling tired. Not that it mattered much anymore. She's leaving.
Daredevil climbed up to his roof access and changed quickly, dumping the bloody black clothes to the usual chest in the closet. He cleaned the blood off of his face fast and made a hiss as he lifted his left arm to check on his new wound. It was still bleeding, but not horribly, so quickly covered it with a gauze pad and taped it down. Pulled on Matt's lawyer outfit with a suit jacket to cover the bulge of the gauze, got rid of the bloody evidence and tossed the medical kit back to its drawer and rushed back to the roof, just to come down into the building on the other end.
Anna almost fell asleep sitting on the floor when startled by footsteps coming from the stairway. She jumped on her feet, seeing the blind lawyer walking toward her.
"Matt!" Her eyes started being watery right away.
"Anna! I thought I lost you!" He found his way to her and finally hugged her close to his body, the moment he's been waiting for all night, ignoring the sharp pain when his ribs from tonight's fight reminded him how good some of those military guys could punch. His fingers ran through her hair, and planted a kiss on the top of her head.
"Let's go inside."
He unlocked the door and they walked in to the apartment. Anna put the bag on the coffee table and lowered herself on the couch, eyes watching him move. He walked normal, no limping or side lean.
"Are you ok? What happened? We've been looking for you everywhere, I was so worried!" He asked while sitting down next to her.
"I'm so sorry, Matt. I wasn't completely honest with you." She didn't even know where to start.
"It doesn't matter, you're here now." Matt tilted his head. "I... I thought maybe you changed your mind about us and ran away." He let out a miserable laugh.
Anna's heart rate sped up, and Matt felt like he's sinking all of a sudden. She did want to leave him? She really did change her mind about their date?
"Matt? You're ok?" She asked worriedly as his face turned more and more white.
"I'm good, just... I was so worried..." he repeated it again, and Anna realized what just happened. She knew exactly why Daredevil tilting his head that way, and he must have picked up her heartbeat. So, she was nighty percent sure now that this is Daredevil next to her. What game was he playing with her? Why did he push her away like that and then asked her out on a date, then pushed her away yet again? She felt confusion, disappointment, and anger in her chest, which made it easier to talk. She felt so bad so far telling Matt about her plans, but now that she suspected this is the same man who sent her away, she didn't feel sorry at all.
"You were right." She said quietly, and Matt couldn't breathe. She was telling the truth.
"Why? Did I do anything wrong? Hurt you somehow?" He asked carefully, feeling nervous about her reply and expecting her to start yelling at him soon, telling him that she knows who he is.
But instead of fury, she just smiled.
"No, Matt. You didn't do anything wrong. You are the kindest man I've ever met. But..."
He tilted his head, listening intensely, his heart was pounding loud in his chest.
"It's just... building a relationship on lies is never good."
He froze, his breathing stopped and she saw the panic started rising in his eyes, reaching an unbearable level. She really knows his secret.
"I'm so sorry, Anna... I was trying to..." He said after a long minute, but couldn't finish.
She looked deep in his brown eyes, and the pain and guilt were back, pushing the panic to the background.
"Matt... you did nothing wrong. I wasn't honest with you. It's all my fault."
His brows drew together in confusion.
"I'm leaving New York." She said, clear and loud, and the words hung in the quiet air.
"Why?" He asked after a long silence, truly afraid of the answer.
She rubbed her palms over her face, not sure how much she should tell him. Just enough for an explanation, then hurry out of this city. A voice warned her in her head.
"I don't like it here in New York, need a change, I'm sorry."
"I don't believe you." Matt said seriously, like he would really be able to tell she's lying. She raised an eyebrow.
He didn't want her to leave, he didn't want her to disappear from his life, he needed to keep her here. He lost her as Daredevil because that was the safest for her, but he just can't lose her as Matt, he still had some chance to keep her close. He knew though that possibly he shouldn't. But just the thought of her running away and having to deal with these scientists by herself hurt him, and found it as a good reason to convince himself he's doing the right thing by holding to her.
"We looked into your Dad's past." Matt started. "I know about the laboratory."
"How?"
"He got arrested in 2004 for breaking in to the lab in Austin." Matt said and Anna moved her hands to her mouth to cover her surprise. She didn't know he did that.
"Why would he break in there?"
"That's what I wasn't sure about either, until I pieced the dates together. You mentioned he sold you to some people when you were 8. He worked at that same laboratory until they fired him in 1996, when you were born. So... Karen looked into SciTech, and told me their lead scientist there is Dr. J. Moon."
"So?" The blood drained from her face just by hearing that name from Matt, but tried her best not to show her shock.
"Dr. Moon. I remember your nightmare, Anna."
She swallowed hard and feeling her palms were getting sweaty.
"Your Dad sold you to them, and you were kept in a laboratory, right? But then apparently he felt some guilt and tried to rescue you."
Anna's heart was throbbing loud, her Dad did care about her after all.
"You said you escaped from them later..."
Anna nodded, not bothering to reply. She was feeling like drowning. Her worst nightmare was about to happen, form right here in front of her eyes. She was trying to keep Matt out of her mess, but he voluntarily stepping into it.
"They're still after you, aren't they?"
"Matt, please. You don't know these people. They're dangerous, more dangerous than the Russians were." She stood up. "I really appreciate what you have done for me, but I'm leaving. I shouldn't have had come back here, I just wanted to say goodbye, because you deserve that much."
Matt was suddenly in front of her, and for a second she thought he's capable of teleporting or something, because she didn't even notice him standing up from the couch. But before she could question what just happened he closed the small gap between them, moving his hands up on her biceps.
"I can't let you go. I can't lose you."
"Matt..."
"Anna... please. Let me help you."
She raised her gaze, looking straight into his deep brown eyes full of worry and pain.
"You don't know me. You shouldn't risk your life for someone like me." She failed. Both Daredevil and Matt knew about those people, and they'll get hurt if they don't stop hunting them.
"I know enough to tell that you are a good person, and worth the risk."
"You're not gonna think this way if you learn the full truth." She lowered her head, didn't have more strength to look into his eyes anymore.
"Whatever it is you can tell me, remember?"
She nodded slowly. Maybe he will let her go easier if he learns the truth. So took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
"I was walking home from the bakery, five nights ago, to..." she started scratching her palm again as she usually did when nervous. "to tell you I can't go with you for a dinner and leaving town."
Matt was quiet, but she saw his jaw clenched in pain.
"I wanted to save you. I wanted to keep you away from my problems. I wanted to leave you, and leave town. And I still think that's what I have to do."
Matt furrowed his brows and she continued.
"Matt..." Her voice was shaking now. "You deserve the truth about me, the complete truth. An explanation for all of this. But you have to promise me that you won't do anything about it."
Matt stayed still, frozen.
"Please?"
Eventually he took a deep breath and nodded. "I promise."
There was a few minutes of silence and Matt had to fight the urge to stay patient. Anna walked back to the couch and sat down exhausted. Matt followed her.
"I'm not that innocent girl as you think of me." She said quietly, but for his super hearing it was crystal clear.
He sat there quietly, didn't want to push her, just waited patiently until she's ready to elaborate.
"I... I killed someone." She said eventually, looking straight into his dark eyes.
His mouth twitched, and wrinkled his forehead. "What happened?" He asked carefully, this wasn't what he expected to hear.
"I was 11 years old..." she started, but stopped to collect her thoughts. Matt watched her with all of his senses.
"After my Dad left me at that laboratory, they did experiments on me. Most of them were painful, and I wanted to get out."
He nodded and made a disgusted face. He still thought that was one of the most evil thing a Dad can do to his child.
She moved her eyes away from his face, ashamed. "I was there for 3 years."
He inhaled sharp, 3 years? 3 years in a place like she was just rescued from? 3 years of experiments?
Anna watched his reaction, he was shocked what he was hearing. She took a deep breath and let it out.
"I didn't want to lie to you, Matt, but these people are dangerous. You're very important to me, possibly the most important person in my life, ever." She was crunching her fists in her lap. "Even if you're gonna think I'm a monster. I just wanted you to know the truth, because you deserve it. I'm a killer, a monster, I took a man's life."
"Anna, you're not a monster. How could I think that?"
"Oh, yes, I'm a monster." she laughed miserably.
The thought of Daredevil flashed into her mind, when they were in the laboratory and he said everyone deserves saving, and everyone deserves a second chance. She was hoping he is indeed the same man and thinks that way. So took a deep breath in and said it.
"I have abilities." Her heart was racing, she was extremely nervous. "I.. I can heal people, but not like doctors. I can heal a deadly wound in minutes." She was hesitating, and Matt heard her heartbeat speeding up even more. "But at the same time, I can also do the opposite."
He was confused, and furrowed his eyebrows. "You mean you can make them sick?"
Anna was scratching her palms red now. "Not just sick. I can cause pain, and also I can kill someone, just by touching them." Her tears started falling on her hands, but she continued. "I didn't know about it until I killed that doctor. I swear to you, I had no idea I'm capable of such thing! I didn't want to kill him, but he was hurting me and I just wanted him to stop." She was sobbing now, and Matt moved closer and put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm a monster, Matt! What else could do such a horrible thing like that?"
"Hey, it's ok. You were protecting yourself, it was self defense."
"But if I would have known how to control it, he would be still alive. He didn't deserve to die! Or.. or.. if I was a normal person..."
"Anna, look at me." She slowly lifted her head to meet his eyes. "It wasn't your fault. They kept you there against your will, tortured you. You were just a child."
She didn't expect to hear this. He was way too kind, so forgiving, someone she didn't deserve. "So, you don't think I'm a monster?"
"Of course not. Not for a second."
She felt like a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. He doesn't hate her. But that also meant it won't be easy for her to leave.
"So, what happened in the past five days?"
"Those same people found me and kidnapped me." She swallowed. "I... I didn't kill anyone this time, it was Daredevil who helped me escape. Have no idea how he was able to find me." She replied and her eyes moved to his left side, remembering the bullet wound. His jacket was on and she didn't see any blood.
Matt nodded. "And why they bought you from your Dad when you were 8?"
"My Dad knew about my healing ability. I didn't know how back then. But I just found out that my Mom was the same as me, able to heal people, and those scientists kept her prisoner as well. Until she died." She hesitated for a minute before continuing. "My Dad was a scientist, worked at that laboratory with Dr. Moon, and they did experiments on my Mom. I found papers there about me, even from 1996, when I was born. And I also found a folder about my Mom." She pulled the bag closer on the coffee table. "Matt, my Mom was in that laboratory when giving birth to me. When she died. My Dad didn't handle it well, and turned to drugs, I guess that's when he started changing in a bad way. They dropped me off at the orphanage when I was a few months old, because I didn't show any powers. But my Dad knew that as I get older I will be just like my Mom, so later on he picked me up from the orphanage and took me back to the lab."
Matt couldn't find words, his anger was growing. Toward her dad, toward those scientists.
"Do you know what they want from you?"
"All I know for sure is that they have been trying to figure out where my power is coming from, and how to transfer it to other people. They got even more interested in me after they found out I can also kill with it."
"So these guys are the real reason why you were moving around the country, right?"
"I'm trying to stay under their radar, to be invisible. But sometimes I fail, and they find me."
"The news reporters... and the tv camera..." Matt realized how they must have found her here in New York.
This was a lot to take in and Matt had to stay patient not to ask millions of questions now.
"We will figure something out." He promised.
"No, Matt, you can't tell about this to anyone, it would put them in danger. Dr. Moon will use my friends and people who know about this. You promised me you won't do anything. Please."
"I promise I won't tell anyone, but I can't let you leave." If anyone, he could keep a secret. "I can help. Do you trust me?"
"Yes, of course I do. But there's no other way. This is the only one what has been working over the years, disappear and stay hidden. I have to leave, the sooner is the better, before they'll figure out you're involved with me and come after you. It's just a matter of time."
"They won't, I promise. I'm very good at keeping secrets." Matt said seriously and she realized how much he meant that.
"You can stay here as long as needed. It's not safe to go back to your apartment."
Anna nodded and sat down on the couch, feeling exhausted and drained. She knew she's gonna pass out soon from tiredness.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it, but only for tonight. I will leave in the morning, I meant it when I said I don't want to drag you into this." She rubbed her eyes. "I probably head to bed now, feeling exhausted still from those sedatives they gave me."
He nodded, then she saw Matt tilting his head, focused on something. She was about to ask what he's hearing when he spoke up. "Are you bleeding?" He asked.
"Oh, maybe, I must have reopened the cut again. It's not too deep, I go and take care of it, don't want to bleed over your place." She stood up to walk to the bathroom. She had no idea how but Matt was right behind her. He was fast again, much faster than a blind man supposed to be. He knew she was lying about the cut not being deep.
"Do you need help?"
She blushed, realizing the cut is under her ribcage, a very private area for her. Just the idea of him touching her there... she wasn't sure if she's ready for that. "No, I got it, thank you."
"Anna..." he stepped closer and her heart rate increased. "Please, at least let me help. I'm blind, but I used to stitch up my Dad after his fights, I know what I'm doing."
Is he really blind?Well, there's a way to find out. She thought, as swallowed hard, and stepped to the side so he can come in to the bathroom. She watched him with narrowed eyes as he reached into the drawer for the medical kit and started pulling out the necessary items. She sat down on the edge of the bathtub as he lowered himself on his knees in front of her and carefully pulled her gown apart. She blushed and turned her face away in embarrassment, hoping he's really blind and not just faking it. Then she felt a cool feeling of a wipe as he cleaned the area under her ribcage. He knew exactly where her cut was somehow. He was hesitating for a second.
"Sorry, I don't think I have anything like a numbing spray."
Anna laughed. "Don't worry about it, this isn't my first."
He raised an eyebrow, and threaded the needle. "Are you sure?"
She nodded without saying a word this time, and just waited quietly, watching his face. He stayed still, seemed like he's waiting for her answer. Well, this didn't work, maybe she's wrong after all and he's not Daredevil? Or he's playing the blind lawyer role way too well?
"Sorry, yes I'm sure."
He carefully put one hand under the cut when felt an old deep scar under his pinky finger, and took a sharp breath in for a second before started the stitches. Yes, this cut is definitely not her first one, and the stitches either. He felt his anger was raising again toward Dr. Moon, what he did to her now and when she was a kid.
He was done with everything fast, definitely knew what he was doing.
"Thank you." Anna said closing her robe immediately, and Matt walked out while she finished brushing her teeth and got ready for the night.
She saw Matt already settled down on the couch. She looked at him in the dark room, only illuminated by the billboard outside. It was a pink light this time, they were showing an ad of a makeup product. His figure was definitely similar to Daredevil, if not identical. In the dark she was probably mistaken them for each other. She had spent enough time with both Matthew Murdock and Daredevil that she knew exactly how they moved, the way they stood, the expression they wore on their faces. That head tilt, intense focus, his gentle touch, the feel of his strong body, his arms holding her close, and the fact he knew she was bleeding... she was almost completely certain it's him. It's jut the fact that Matt was blind didn't fit in the picture. Daredevil wasn't blind, she was certain of that. Her thoughts went back to that gunshot again, debating if she should do anything about it. What if he's really got shot and laying on this couch now injured, without treatment. He was turned to his right side this time and Anna slowly walked up and gently touched his left side covered by the blanket where Daredevil got shot. He didn't jump or complained, but his body tensed up and turned his face toward her.
She whispered quietly. "Good night, Matt."
"Good night, Anna." He replied.
She laid in his bed, going through her memories until a part of her inside went very still. Was this possible? Her heart knew the answer already.
Dr. Moon was pacing in the now trashed lab room.
"Who the hell that masked guy was?" He asked the man standing still in the room, dressed in military uniform. He couldn't believe it was really the Devil of Hell's Kitchen he read about in the papers.
"He's Daredevil, the real one. Everyone knows him here in New York."
"Daredevil, for real? I heard about him before, but always thought he's just a made up hero. What a weird name... why he showed up? And how he knew she was here?"
"Don't know, sir. He's usually after criminals and helping innocent people getting attacked on the streets. He must knew her somehow, otherwise wouldn't showed up randomly."
"I want you to bring him to me. I have to get Anna back, and if you're right about this, he knows her well. Maybe even hiding her right now."
"Yes, sir. Though it's almost impossible to capture this guy. He's a ninja."
"Ninja, huh? Is he bulletproof?"
"I don't think so."
Dr. Moon yelled loud with anger. "Then find his weakness and get him!"
The military guy rushed out from the room, and a woman in blue lab coat walked in, looking around in shock.
"Sheila, dear. Would you mind cleaning up this mess? Anna and that masked man caused us some trouble here." Dr. Moon turned to her.
"What happened to the woman in the other room? I wanted to check on her, but she wasn't there anymore either. Is she ok?" She asked carefully.
"The Devil took her as well. That bastard, I can't believe he screwed everything up."
The woman avoided eye contact with him, and just nodded, then carefully watched his back as he walked out of the room.
Sheila always wanted to be a nurse, helping people, doing good. When she heard about the laboratory and that they're helping soldiers to stay safer during battle she thought it's something she could do and finally found hell call. She lost her brother in Iraq, so it was very personal for her. But since this scientist showed up from Austin, and started torturing an innocent woman against her will, and doing experiments on another one, her world and belief in this company shattered. Daredevil's appearance confirmed her that whatever was going on here wasn't right, and she was relieved that the masked man was able to save them. She hoped this crazy scientist leaves and things be back to normal again.
Dr. Moon rushed to the office down the hallway, just to find the filing cabinet wide open, and several documents Sheila printed out a couple days ago were missing.
"That little shit took all my notes." He slammed his hand on the top of the cabinet, then called out for the military guy.
"I have a better idea..." a wicked smile appeared on his face. "I think I just figured out how to force Anna's full potential out and have what I need."
The tall muscled man watched him with seriousness.
"Keep looking for Daredevil, but in the meantime find someone who looks exactly like him. Same height, same built. Other details don't matter in this particular case." He laughed. "We can execute this plan much sooner than the first one."
Matt woke up from a bad dream, realizing he is home on his couch, and Anna is safe in the room next to him. He ran his fingers through his hair, and quickly put on a t-shirt and sweatpants, carefully changing the gauze over his wound with a clean one, and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. She told him her secrets, trusted him, which filled his heart with warmth. He knew how hard it is to trust someone with secrets like that. While she was missing he realized how much he loved having her around, even if he had to sneak out at nights to do his nighttime activities and sleep on the couch. But she was in a serious trouble this time, and he needed to do everything to help her getting out of it. And keeping her here in New York.
His thoughts wandered to the moment when her heartbeat sped up last night because of him mentioning he thought she changed her mind about their date. She really wanted to leave him before their date. He wasn't sure if she only wanted to leave to keep him safe, or there are other reasons as well. His heart got squeezed strong in pain and hurt, but to be true to himself he had moments when he was struggling with this whole date thing as well. He knew exactly what danger people can get if they're too close to him, especially if they also know his secret. Apparently she had similar struggles.
He smiled as he heard her stretch in the bed, opening her eyes slowly. He heard her smile when she realized where she is.
"Good morning." She walked up to the kitchen counter.
Matt raised his eyebrows realizing she was wearing one of his shirts again, even after Karen gave her some clothes. It made his heart beat faster.
"I hope you like pancakes."
"They didn't give me any solid food, so yes, I love pancakes very much!" She smiled and walked next to him to look into the skillet. "Smells delicious." She reached in and broke a small piece of it.
"Careful, it's hot."
But she didn't care, stuffed it in her mouth with one move. "Mmmm. It's perfect."
She looked at him, noticing his bare arms. She hadn't seen him in short sleeves before, and to her surprise he looked quite strong. Or maybe she shouldn't be surprised? Traced her eyes from his hand up to his biceps, muscles bulging as he moved the pancakes to a plate, waking up the butterflies in her stomach, then moved up to his face, to his mouth what she found disturbingly sexual, when realized he stopped cooking and just standing there.
Shit, he probably asked something.
"Uhm, sorry?" She woke up from daydreaming.
"I just asked if you want maple syrup or chocolate?"
"Oh, chocolate please." She blushed in embarrassment, thanking God he is blind and wouldn't notice her actions. At least, she was hoping he is really blind, she was still unsure of that theory.
"We need to talk." He said after they finished eating.
"I know." Anna looked down at her now empty plate. "Can I go first? Please?"
Matt nodded and put his hands on the table, his red glasses burning into her skin, so she looked back down at her own hands.
"I'm really sorry, Matt. I know how much trouble I caused, and how big of a danger I put you and everyone around me in." She carefully lifted her eyes to meet his still intense focus on her. "I pack, and leave New York with the first bus. You will never see me again, I promise. Those guys shouldn't cause you any problems after I'm gone."
Matt moved his hand to his face and removed his glasses, placing them on the table while fidgeting with them. So she only wants to leave because she wants him and his friends safe? Or there are other reasons?
"Do you really want to leave?" He asked after a short silence.
"I don't think I have any other choice. And it's not like we can do the same as we did with the Russians. I can't testify against them without exposing myself. And with that who knows what other organizations are gonna decide to hunt me down. I can't hide here forever, not without putting you in danger."
"Let me worry about my safety. Would you leave town if it wasn't for them?"
"No, of course not. Finally, first time in my life feels like I found friends here. I don't want to lose you, or Lucy, Foggy, Karen. But they'll find out about you and hurt you to get to me."
"What if we can prevent that?"
"How?"
"First..." He handed her his phone. " Call Lucy, tell her that you're leaving town, and if someone's asking she can tell them you have left, but she doesn't know where. It won't be a lie, and she will be safe." He started. "Then call your landlord, and cancel the lease on your apartment."
Anna watched him carefully, his eyes were serious. "You're staying here at my place, but we'll have Karen wearing a wig and fly to Minnesota with a one way ticket under your name, then fly back under hers." His senses picked up Anna is about to argue, so he lifted a finger up for her to wait. "She's gonna buy the ticket last minute, just before departure, at the airport, so they won't know about it unless they'll check the records later. She will be safe. They know you, Anna, they know that you're running in your whole life. This will be actually what they would expect you to do. And will give us some time to think about a future plan. I know you can't stay hidden in my apartment forever, but this will lead them away from New York for a while, and give us time to figure out a long term plan."
"Why not me flying there and coming back under Karen's name? That way we won't have to risk her life."
"If... if they find her, they will recognize that she's not you, because they know your face well, so they won't hurt her. There are hundreds of women in this country called Anna Sanders, so they won't even think she knows you. Just that they mistaken you with another Anna. But we will do everything to prevent them meet her in the first place. And on the security cameras what they might check on later, she will look just like you."
Anna sat there with wide eyes, he really thought this through. "You will stay hidden for a while, until they give up looking for you here in New York." He finished explaining his plan.
Her mind was racing, trying to find gaps in this plan.
"What we're gonna tell Karen and Foggy? Why am I hiding and why we can't use the law this time?"
He thought about it for a few minutes. "I'm not sure. They already know about the laboratory and those people. Maybe just tell them half the truth?"
"Like they kidnapped me to continue their experiments?" She asked.
"Something like that. Are they experimenting on others too?" He asked.
"I don't think so, but I know they have some soldiers getting experimental drugs to get stronger, but they're all volunteered for this, not forced. The only reason they want me is for my powers."
"We will need to share as much as we can with Karen, otherwise she'll find things out on her own way, possibly putting herself in danger."
"Ok, the only thing I don't want them to know is my powers, nobody knows about them except you, my dad, and..." she hesitated. "...and a friend of mine. Knowing them put people in danger."
Matt raised an eyebrow, he knew she was talking about Daredevil, and also knew about how it feels hiding a secret like that from friends. Anna lowered her head to the table and covered it with her hands.
"Arrg.. I just hate doing nothing. Like letting all of you guys do the work and I just sit here for who knows how long." She rubbed her scalp in frustration. "I'm not sure if I like this plan."
"I know, it's not perfect. Think about it for a while." He stood up, walking toward his closet to grab some clothes for work. "I have to be at court in an hour, but I will leave my phone with you, in case you decide to make those calls. Or you can also reach me after the hearing on Foggy's phone, or in the office."
Anna was watching him in silent. He walked up to her, carefully finding her figure with his hands, then lowered to place a kiss on the top of her head. "Just stay here and be safe. Promise?"
She nodded, and sighed.
"You mean a lot to me, Anna."
Her heart picked up the pace for that and finally forced out a weak smile.
Anna was playing all sorts of scenarios in her head, over and over. She has to leave, just disappear, so everyone she cared about will be safe. But this time it hurt just thinking about it. Should she really stay and put all these people at risk? But Matt sounded like he really wants to help, and imagining herself in his shoes, she would do the same. So after a couple hours of debate she picked up Matt's phone from the table and made the phone calls, what she would do anyways, even if decided to leave town. She hated lying to her friend, but the less people knew about their plan is the better. Canceling the lease was easy, she paid month to month, and thankfully was done with the majority of cleaning in her place. She also called the bakery to quit her job, they will fire her anyway if she won't show up for a few more days.
She sat down by the coffee table, eyeing the bag with the documents. She wanting to know more about her past and her Mom, but at the same time she was terrified what she's gonna find. With a big sigh, she reached out and pulled the bag closer, picking out one of the folders.
After a few hours of reading, Matt's cell phone started ringing. She looked at the screen, seeing a familiar number with Hell's Kitchen area code calling on FaceTime. The bakery's cell phone! Probably Lucy, since nobody would call Matt from there with video chat. She pushed the answer button fast, hoping she's all right.
"Hello, Anna!"
Her blood froze in her body as she heard Dr. Moon's voice and looked down at the screen. He had an excited and vicious expression on his face, and she remembered those movies with mad scientists in them. Yep, he looked exactly like those. She turned her camera off in the instant, didn't want him to see Matt's apartment and lead him here.
"No hello, nothing? Oh well... it's nice of you to call the bakery to quit your job, we've been waiting here all day for your call. Leaving town already?"
"You'll never gonna find me, and leave the employees alone, they know nothing about me, I made sure of that."
"Nah, I figured you would do that, no friendships, no connections to people. Same old pattern. Except this time you made a huge mistake."
"What would that be?"
"You got involved with someone, someone who cares about you so much that he was willing to risk his life to come and save you last night. Ring a bell?"
Anna swallowed. No, they would never find Daredevil, he's impossible to find and captured. He is bluffing. Like Dr. Moon read her mind, he turned the camera around. She recognized the back room of the bakery right away, and what she saw made her heart stop.
Daredevil, on his knees on the floor, head dropped down to his chest, hands tied to his back. He was a few feet away from the camera, but she saw blood around him on the floor.
"No! Leave him alone!"
"I will, if you're willing to cooperate." He laughed. "I need you to do something for me, actually two things."
Anna thinned her lips, forcing a desperate scream in. "What do you want?"
"You know where we are. Come here, and help me with one experiment. Then we will take you back to the lab."
"What experiment? What do you want me to do?"
"You're a question girl today, aren't you? I will tell you more when you get here. But don't make me wait... or he's gonna suffer." He said and she saw his hand waving in front of the camera, signaling to one of the military men standing next to Daredevil. He pulled a knife out from its holster, and drove it straight into his shoulder. A painful cry escaped from the masked man and Anna felt her face all wet, just realizing she's been crying for a while now.
"Stop it! I will be there! Just don't hurt him!" She yelled, then the screen went dark. He hung up on her. She jumped up immediately and without thinking it through or considering her options she dropped Matt's phone on the couch and ran down the stairs, straight to the bakery.