Chapter Ten
Everyone sat around the table eating in relative silence. Ellie could feel the tension in the room. Even though Loki didn't argue with her anymore about her decision, she knew full well that he was still upset. He just didn't vocalize it.
"My dear, are you sure this is what you want?" Frigga asked.
"Mother," Loki said warningly.
"I am sorry dear," she said turning to Loki. "I just want Ellie to know how much we want her to stay with us."
"I am sure she knows, Mother."
"Alright, I will stop." Frigga said holding her hands up.
"I'll come back and visit as often as I can." Ellie said. "I need to get back and finish. Everyone probably thinks I'm dead."
Loki flinched when Ellie said that.
"We look forward to your return," Frigga said.
….
Ellie sat in her little apartment feeling very lonely. She had been home for almost three weeks. There had been no word from Loki or anyone else. Jane had come back with her and went back to her research but she called every day. Ellie tried to slip back into her life, but it wasn't easy. All sorts of groups came and questioned her about what happened after she disappeared from the hospital. SHIELD was the most persistent. Ellie told them how Thor had come to take her back to Asgard to heal her at Jane's request. They kept asking her questions about how Loki was being punished for his crimes but Ellie insisted that she knew nothing about that. For obvious reasons, she could not admit the truth.
The devastation to New York was extreme. Ellie had not realized the extent of the damage the Chitauri had caused when Loki brought the army in. For the first week, she had begun to reconsider her feelings towards Loki. She was surrounded by the hate that everyone felt towards him and found it very hard not to be influenced. It was a constant battle every day with her feelings. The second week Ellie fell into self-loathing. She hated herself for being mad at Loki and then battled with herself because she loved him. Finally in the third week, she fell into acceptance of her love for him. Standing firm on the basis that he had done horrible things, but he had changed. Loki could still be stubborn and impulsive, even mischievous, but he loved her.
Getting back into the swing of school was no easy task for Ellie. She had been gone for almost a month and making up for lost time took all her time and energy. Amidst her emotional rollercoaster, Ellie worked hard and managed to get herself back to where she needed to be in her schoolwork. The internship was a whole other matter. Her fellow interns all wanted to know about where she had been and how they had healed her. Even though she had lab work to do, all the other interns kept asking her about Asgard and Thor. Had she met the other Avengers. Was Loki locked in a cage or been executed. After the first day back she was already sick and tired of all the questions. If people didn't stop she knew she was going to have a complete breakdown. Whenever anyone brought up Loki, she would feel a small pang in her chest.
So after three weeks she was definitely missing Loki.
….
Every day at the same time, Loki would go to Heimdall and ask him to look in on Ellie. Every day the answer was one of the same. Ellie was working, studying or taking a nap. To Loki it seemed as though she went right back to her old life as if she had never spent any time with him at all. He missed her terribly and could not stand having her so far away. Even though they had only been truly together for a few days, knowing she was not somewhere in the palace made his heart ache. Knowing he could not just go to her made his body ache.
"Calm yourself, brother!" Thor finally yelled one night at dinner.
Loki kept making things move on the table or disappear altogether. He was feeling restless and did not know what to do with himself. His family had welcomed him back with open arms and tried to make him feel as though nothing had happened, but now that Ellie was gone, Loki was finding it harder to forget the past. The days were long and he was quickly running out of ideas to entertain himself.
"I am sorry," Loki mumbled.
"Tomorrow we will go hunting," Thor said. "You are in need of a distraction. Let us go and hunt some bilgeshnipe. Hopefully that will bring you out of this melancholy."
Loki looked at Thor in surprise. He did not expect his brother to make such a suggestion but was happy for it. They had not hunted together since they were young. A hunting trip always led them into some kind of trouble and Loki welcomed it.
…..
"Loki has found a woman," said Helbindi.
"A woman?" questioned Byleistr.
"Yes. And she is now on earth."
"Hmmmm. Now there is even more pain we can inflict on the outcast."
"An eye for an eye," Helbindi nodded with approval.
…..
Ellie sat in the lab late one night trying to catch up on her data entry. She never seemed to get any of her work done when others were around. Not only was the work mindless but it helped to keep her mind off of Loki as long as others didn't keep distracting her. Glancing at the clock she practically flew out of her chair when she realized how late it was. It was almost twelve thirty and she still had to walk home. Ellie had an early class and she didn't know if she would be able to drag herself out of bed in the morning if she didn't get home soon.
Shutting down her computer, Ellie gathered her things and started to shut all the lights off. After locking the lab door, she made her way downstairs and outside. It was later than normal for her to make this walk home. Ellie glanced around and then started making her way down the block. She felt like something was off. Was it just the late hour that made her nervous?
Six blocks was all she had to walk home, but tonight it seemed so much longer. Ellie had this creepy feeling crawling up her spine. Moving her feet faster, she was practically jogging. There was nothing behind her when she checked but the feeling would not go away. Up ahead she saw the little children's park that was right next to her building. Ellie let out a sigh of relief knowing she was almost home.
As she hurried through the darkness in front of the park, Ellie felt her feet leave the ground as a big pair of arms reached around her. Before she could even scream, a large hand covered her entire face. She felt herself being pulled back into the park where she was tied up and gagged. Ellie could not fight off whoever had her. They were way too strong and from what she could tell, they were very big. Just before she was knocked unconscious, a hood was thrown over her head.
….
Thor and Loki trudged through the forest in search of the bilgeshnipe. They were usually easy to find, but today the two must have traveled further away from the palace than usual. Something kept nagging at the back of Loki's mind. It was as if something was not right, but he could not get a handle on it. Just when Loki was going to speak his mind, Thor heard the tell-tale signs of the beasts they were looking for. The look on Thor's face was almost childlike. Loki shoved the feeling out of his mind and followed Thor into the bushes. The herd was in a small clearing only a few hundred yards away. Thor and Loki circled the herd in opposite directions. To kill one of the bulls was a true test of manhood, so they had made a bet on who would make the first kill. Loki knew that Thor had strength on his side, but he was smaller and faster.
Loki gripped his club and spear in his hands while waiting for the opportune moment. The herd would protect each other and the young ones were the priority. The animals milled around eating and the young ones played while Thor and Loki waited. That unnerving feeling began to resurface in Loki's mind. The herd shifted and a large bull was left alone close to where Loki hid in the bushes. At the ready, Loki charged the animal and struck out with his club to cause the bull to turn. He lifted his spear in preparation to pierce the animal's heart, but the bull had other ideas. It quickly spun around and kicked with its massive hind legs, barely missing Loki's head.
Loki ducked and rolled out of the way, getting back on his feet a few yards away from the animal. Just as he was about to lunge at the animal again, it hit him. Fear. But it was not his own. It was Ellie's. He knew it deep down in his soul. The fear hit him so hard and fast that he dropped to his knees and clutched his chest. The bull turned on Loki and charged him fast. Loki could not get up to defend himself. But the bull never saw Thor flying in from the side. Thor brought his spear down hard into the bull's body hitting it directly in the heart. The animal fell inches away from Loki. He stared at it lying there heaving one last breath, the fear still gripping his heart. What was going on?
"Are you alright, brother?" Thor asked walking over to Loki and offering him a hand up.
"I do not know." Loki replied as he staggered to his feet trying to shake the awful feeling.
"What happened? You looked like you had the upper hand."
"I was ready to strike when I had the most intense feeling of fear. But it was not my own. I think it was Ellie." Loki said with his hand still clutched to his chest.
"How could you possibly feel that?" Thor asked confused.
"I do not know. But I feel something is wrong."
…..
Ellie lay in a corner with the hood over her head. She was still tied up, but had worked the gag out of her mouth. The floor was freezing and she began to shiver. People were talking in another room, but she could not hear what they were saying. Where was she? She was getting so cold and it was getting hard to breath with the hood on. Ellie just wanted to start crying, but she knew it would do her no good.
"Hey!" Ellie yelled out. "Hey!"
The voices stopped and then there was silence.
"Hey!" she yelled even louder.
Ellie heard footsteps from the other room. They entered her room but did not get any closer. Whoever they were, they were not going to start this conversation.
"I know you're there." She said.
Nothing.
"I don't know who you are or what you want from me, but I can't do anything about it unless you talk to me."
"It is not you we want," said a deep voice.
"Then who do you want?"
"Someone who does not know we are coming." Said another voice.
"What do you want from them?" Ellie asked trying to fish for information.
"No more questions!" the first voice boomed.
"Well can I at least get a blanket?" Ellie asked defiantly.
"Do not worry. You won't be cold for much longer."
…
"Father!" Loki yelled as he entered the throne room.
"What is it my son?" Odin said looking up at Loki's outburst.
"Something has happened to Ellie!" Loki could barely contain himself.
"Calm down, son." Odin said. "How do you know this?"
"I felt it, father."
Loki explained to Odin what happened to him while he was out hunting with Thor. How the intense sense of fear gripped his heart and he knew with all his being that it had to be Ellie.
"I have to go to her. I need to know she is alright."
Odin looked at his son with pride. He knew what risk Loki would be taking returning to earth after what he had done.
"I will go with you." Thor said putting his hand on Loki's shoulder.
Loki looked at Thor with surprise, because yet again his brother was willing to help him.
They immediately left the throne room to speak with Heimdall.
"I cannot find her." Heimdall said.
"Well, look again. She could not have just disappeared." Loki said forcefully.
"I am sorry Loki, but I have tried. I have not been able to locate her."
Loki hung his head. "Where could she have gone that Heimdall cannot find her?"
"Let us start by looking at her home," Thor suggested. "There may be a clue to where she has gone."
Loki knew Thor was right. He also knew that he had to disguise himself or he would not have a chance to even look for Ellie.
…..
Ellie had no idea how long she had been in this place, but if she stayed any longer she would not survive the freezing temperature. Just as she thought the end was near, Ellie was picked up off the freezing floor and thrown over someone's shoulder and carried to who knows where. After a few moments they stopped and she heard people talking and moving about around her. A lot of people. The next thing she knew she felt this strange pulling sensation and then she was thrown to the ground. The ground was soft and warm against her body. Ellie relished in the warmth that started to make her body tingle with renewed feeling.
It was quiet around her at first but then she heard more and more people. Where were all these people coming from? What the hell was going on?
…
When Loki and Thor returned to earth they immediately disguised themselves in human clothes. Loki did not want to be discovered. After all the unpleasantness, they could be easily recognized. Loki dressed himself in jeans, a leather jacket and baseball cap. Thor dressed himself in a similar way. Walking down the street to Ellie's apartment, they passed the park right next to her building. Loki immediately got the sense that this is where something happened. Loki hurried inside and up to her apartment. He tried the door, but it was locked. Using a bit of magic it quickly unlocked. Loki slowly opened the door and stepped inside. As he rounded the corner into the living room, something came down on the back of his head. He turned quickly and grabbed the object as Jane swung again.
"Jane! It is me, Loki!" He yelled as she struggled to pull it out of his hands.
"Oh my god! I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you." Jane stammered almost in tears.
Thor came around the corner at that moment and pulled Jane into his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Loki." She said again.
"No harm done, Jane. You could not hurt me with that stick." Loki said with a smirk.
Jane looked down at the baseball bat she held in her hand and made an uncomfortable laugh. Dropping it to the floor, she buried her face in Thor's chest. Thor hugged her close for a few moments.
Pulling away from Thor she really looked at them and asked, "What are you guys wearing?"
"Do we not blend in here now?" Thor asked.
Jane laughed and started to open her mouth to reply.
"Why are you here, Jane?" Loki interrupted getting impatient.
"I got a call that Ellie's purse was laying outside in the park this morning. When no one could get a hold of her they called me. At first I thought that maybe she was upset and had forgotten her purse outside, but when I got here, something seemed off. I only arrived a short time ago and I still haven't been able to get a hold of her." Jane explained. "Hold on, why are you guys here?"
Loki quickly explained to Jane what had happened. "Ellie is in danger Jane. I can feel it. I need to find her."
…..
Ellie coughed a deep, chest rattling cough. Even though she was now in a warmer place, she still shivered with cold. Her head ached horribly and every time they moved her she felt like screaming. Listening to the voices around her still gave no clue as to what was going on or why they had her. At this point, all she could think about was the cold chills running through her body.
"He is not here," said that awful deep voice that Ellie was starting to despise. "He has gone looking for her."
Ellie just barely heard that bit of conversation over everything else. He was looking for her? Could they be talking about Loki? Was this all about him? Oh, Loki! Just the thought of him warmed her inside. These men must be after him. No matter what he had done, Ellie was going to stand with the man she loved. Ellie didn't know what she could do. Tied up and sick, she was pretty useless. Somehow she would come up with something. But for right now she would rest and think of him. Picturing him in her mind kept her warm and gave her hope. He was looking for her. She knew it. Ellie could feel it deep down. She hoped he could find her considering she didn't even know where she was.
…
"I am going to help you find her!" Jane yelled at Thor. "Ellie is like family to me and I can't just sit here while you gods run around trying to find her."
"Jane this could be dangerous. We do not even know what happened." Thor said trying to reason with her.
"Well, I am from around here and you need me." Jane stated bluntly.
"She is right, brother." Loki put in.
Thor turned on Loki and was about to argue with him, but then stopped himself.
"Jane can help us Thor. The more help we have, the quicker we can find her."
"Alright," Thor conceded. "But you must stay close to me at all times."
"Don't worry, that won't be hard." Jane said putting her arm around Thor's waist.
Thor smiled down at Jane, pulling her closer. "Well, where do we begin?"
"Help me look through her apartment. I didn't notice anything out of order, but maybe you guys can see something I can't." Jane said as she started to look around.
Loki started in the living room area, but quickly moved to her bed. He thought of Ellie and her living in this one room dwelling. It was difficult to picture her in this little place. Walking over to her night stand he rubbed his hand along her bedspread. He pictured her in his mind sleeping in this bed. Sitting down on the edge of her bed, he grabbed her pillow and brought it up to his face. The smell of her overwhelmed him and flashes of the time they spent together played through his mind. Loki went to put her pillow back but noticed a book. Picking it up, he saw it was a journal. He debated whether or not he should open it. Something was sticking out of the end of the book and it caught his attention. Opening the book to that page he found a flower pressed in the pages. Loki immediately recognized it as one from the last night they spent together. Written on the page underneath was his name. Just his name, written in beautiful handwriting. Loki smiled to himself.
"There is nothing here to give us a clue." Thor said interrupting Loki's thoughts.
"Well, her purse was found outside in the park. Maybe we should look there." Jane said.
Loki took one last look at the page and slowly closed the book. He held it up to his chest, not wanting to leave the book behind, but he gently replaced the book under the pillow. The sparkle of something caught his attention. Picking it up, he looked at the thick chain dangling from his hand. Loki thought it looked familiar but could not place from where. It was a long chain with a large, purple stone pendant. He could practically feel her energy vibrating in the stone. Curious. Loki quickly slipped the chain over his head and tucked it under his shirt. The pendant rested right over his heart.
The three left the apartment and Jane locked the door behind her. They made their way downstairs and outside. Jane led them around the building. The park was full of children playing and their parents sitting on benches talking.
"They told me her purse was found right over here in the grass." Jane said walking over to an area of grass ten feet off the main sidewalk.
Loki and Thor looked the area over. They couldn't find any signs that indicated a struggle.
"Look around the park. If this is where she was taken they would have went back into the shadows to hide themselves." Thor said.
The three split up and started to search different sections of the park. Loki was starting to get frustrated when he heard Thor yell, "Over here!"
Loki and Jane ran over to see what he had found.
"Look," he said pointing into the sand around the swings.
"What is it?" Jane asked confused. "I don't see anything."
At first all Loki saw was children's footprints, but as he looked harder he could see the shape of a barefoot. A very large bare footprint.
