Back again a lot sooner this time because the muse hit quickly with this chapter. I'm so appreciate of the positive feedback I got for the last chapter. I've been in a slump writing wise and I finally feel like I've gotten my mojo back (*knocks on wood*). Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Melinda rounds the corner quietly taking in the sight in front of her. Two figures stand on the far end of the alleyway. A taller man pins a woman against a wall with a bulky arm pressed against her throat. The man is a good five inches taller than the woman hovering over her as she cries for help.
"Hey!" She calls out bringing attention to herself. She points her pistol at the man glaring at him. The man twists pulling the young girl in front of him pressing the blade of his knife to her throat.
"Help me please." The girl cries. She doesn't look to be barely over 20. Dark eyes plead with her even in the dim light of the mood. She grits her teeth now stepping even closer out of the shadows of the brick wall.
"No." The man whispers pulling her even tighter. "You leave me the hell alone!"
"Let the girl go." She demands.
"You're not bringing those psychos back to me! Not again! I paid my debts!" His words slur and she briefly wonders if he's under some kind of alcohol induced hallucinations. She's never seen this man in her life.
"Let the girl go." She repeats stepping even closer.
"Fine!" He shoves the girl to the ground holding up his knife. "But you tell Ward and his gang that we're through. Not my fault they didn't get to finish the job before the cops found you." He insists again. He turns to run but Melinda is on him in an instant. She grabs the drunkard by the collar shoving him against the brick.
"You were there last night." She seethes. The memories are still too stubborn to come back to her. She can't bring any to light. "What the hell happened?"
The man lets out a wheezing laugh lips splitting into a sarcastic grin. "You're shitting me right?" She shoves him again rougher this time, forcing the air from his lungs. "Hive got you sweetheart. They lured me in and paid off my tab 'fore I got into a fight with the bartender when the bastard cut me off. Their price was to distract you."
"Why me?" She growls.
"Dunno." His eyes harden now as he suddenly sobers. "But I ain't sticking around to ask." He flips her quickly catching her while she's off guard. He smacks the gun out of her hand sending it skittering across the floor. One hand comes to clench around her throat while the other presses the knife to her stomach. "Do you know how much trouble you have caused me." She considers spitting in his face calculating her next move when suddenly a gunshot blasts through the air.
The man's eyes widen as he suddenly falls limp against her. "Oh my god." A meek voice whimpers. The girl stands with shaking hands as she carefully drops the pistol on the ground once more. "I meant to hit him in the shoulder. I didn't mean to." Melinda approaches the girl quickly being sure to kick the gun out of the way first. "He was going to hurt you." She sobs tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Hey." Melinda soothes holding a hand out to touch the girl's shoulder gently. "What's your name?"
"J-Jemma Simmons." She sniffs. "I was on my way home from work when he pulled me into the alley. Said if I didn't give him my money he'd kill me. I didn't have my wallet but he didn't believe me and I- I!"
"Breathe." She insists forcing the girl to meet her eyes. "Breathe with me okay?" She takes slow breathes as the girl attempts to follow in suit. "I'm a cop okay? You'll be fine. I'll take care of it." She promises. The smell of copper quickly fills the air. Melinda bites her lip as it makes her head spin. Why the hell is this affecting her now? She's been an agent for 28 years and she's faced more than her fair share of bodies. "Go." She commands.
"But I-"
"Go!" Even to her the demand feels like a threat as the girl, Jemma, runs off to safety. Melinda's world tips as she walks to the body of the man who'd robbed her. She flips him over so he's facing the sky. She digs through his pockets with a frown. She almost laughs in success when she pulls out his wallet. She flips it open finding his ID staring back at her. "Sunil Bakshi." She reads aloud.
She tries to swallow as the sudden dryness of her throat becomes obvious to her. She takes another deep breath trying to soothe the aching in her chest but it only seems to make it worse. Her lungs feel like they're on fire as the smell of copper surrounds her. She wants to scream as her jaw aches. Anything to numb the pain. She has to make it stop. She needs to do something.
Her teeth dig into his shoulder as a ragged sob leaves her body. More pain blooms in the same spot on her so she digs her teeth in deeper. Memories flash before her closed eyes as the taste of his blood hits her tongue.
The failed mugging.
The gunshot.
Being thrown against a wall.
Teeth digging into her shoulder and wrist pulling until she felt like she was sinking forever.
Maria begging her to stay awake.
She pulls away suddenly trying to get as far away from the body as possible. Crimson covers her face and the front of her shirt. She needs to get it off. She needs to get away. She nearly trips over her own feet as she shoves his wallet into her pocket. She grabs her pistol as well as the bag she'd abandoned at the front of the alleyway when she came in. She runs as fast as she can until her lungs ache and her legs feel as though they're about to give out.
An incessant ringing breaks out over the thoughts rushing through her mind. She digs her phone out of her pocket answering.
"Melinda?" Phil's voice calls worriedly. "I've tried calling you six times. Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay." Again his stupid compassion. He's going to get himself hurt one day. "Melinda? Are you there?" She takes a deep breath leaning her burning forehead against the cool brick.
"Something's wrong."
Okay disclaimer, I realize Bakshi is WILDLY out of character. That I am positive of but to be honest I didn't even decide that the drunkard was Bakshi until he was dead. At that point I'd already published chapter one and just stuck to the fact that he was drunk and rolled with it. I also wanted to stick with someone Jemma canonly killed. So uhhh sorry?