Chapter Eight! Hope you like!

"Please, stop."

He laughed. "No." His hand rose, enveloped in a deadly red glow.

Pain tore through me. I screamed, the otherworldly sound echoing as if it were mocking me.

He laughed, a sound laced with insanity and pleasure at my torment. "You will never escape."

I forced my head up, blood flooding my gaze and staining it red. "And you'll never be rid of me."

"Oh, dear Daniel. I will always be with you, and you will always be with me." His hand rose again, and the fatal light enveloped me again. Blood boiled, rage simmered—I was furious, frightened, and devastated. He was going to enjoy every moment of this: my pain, my rage, my exhaustion, my grief. This was exactly how he'd finished my parents…

…and he had made me watch.

He had made me watch, helpless and bordering on the line between life and death, unable to do anything while my family and friends died before me.

And he had laughed and enjoyed every moment.

"Reminiscing on the past, Daniel? I can hear your thoughts." He was close, so close; his fangs bared and stained with red. Had he really…?

He grinned, feral and insane, like a rabid beast preparing for his next attack.

But then something happened. Th world shimmered, as if were stretching. He stumbled, and part of my strength returned, enough to fill me with a small amount of adrenaline, enough to knock enough sense into me to get up and run.

The land around me wavered and blurred. I couldn't tell if it was the blood in my eyes or me waking up. God, I really hoped it was me waking up. Even though this was a dream…

…it was all too real.

But why was it so quiet?

I froze.

He was following me.

"Daniel…"

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't breathe.

"Daniel…I'm coming for you…"

My chest constricted, forcing all available air out of my body. My heart threw itself against my ribs; a meaty fist pounding against a wall of bone.

He was coming.

He was going to find me.

The ground lurched, as if coming from an eternal slumber. I stumbled, the force of it only making me more lightheaded. Black spots darted in my vision and my head swam.

No.

I forced myself up.

No.

Stay strong.

Keep fighting.

The world blurred once more. A shadow passed over me and I was lifted to my feet.

It was him.

It was him.

He was here.

It was—

I jerked awake, breathing heavily. Where was I? How did I get here? I tried moving but then I realized I was restrained.

No, no, no. They had found me, they had found me. How? How did they—?

"Kid?"

I froze, staring. I then realized I couldn't see; the world was completely black. It only increased my panic even more, and I struggled against my bonds, my heart beating wildly and my breath coming quicker.

"Calm down." The voice came again, calm and soothing. It sounded like a man. "Nothing will happen. We just want to talk to you."

No, no, no. They had found me. They'd recreated the lab. They were going to finish what they had started. My body broke out in a fear-driven sweat. Couldn't breathe, no air, not enough—

"Take the blindfold off!" the voice ordered.

"But—"

"I don't have time for arguments! Do it! Now!"

There was a moment of silence, and then the black was taken away. There were no white-clad men and women. They were all dressed in strange outfits: a tiny woman in a black and yellow dress; a man in a red, white, and blue jumpsuit; a huge green monster; a man in a black panther suit; a man in a purple archer outfit with a quiver on his back and his bow in hand; and a man in a red and black suit covered by a long white lab coat. It was obvious he was a scientist.

"Hello?" The scientist spoke, coming closer. My body went into overdrive and I fought to get away, get away.

"It's okay." He held up his hands, which held no scalpels or knives. "We're not going to hurt you."

I stared, trying to catch my breath. "I…"

He shook his head. "Don't talk. Just breathe. You need to calm down."

I shook my head, my hair falling into my eyes. My mind whispered: If they were going to hurt you they would have done so already. Breathe. Relax.

The scientist noticed my slight relaxation, and a warm smile spread across his face. "Good. Now, we have a few questions. Can you answer them?"

Nothing will happen. Nothing will happen.

I nodded.

The teen was breathing heavily. His hair covered his eyes, and a cold sweat drenched his body. Hank had never seen someone so scared, so wary of everything around.

"How are we going to talk to him about you know what if he's too terrified to talk?" Hawkeye demanded.

"Just don't get in his face," Hank responded, "And let me handle this." He turned to the teen, approaching slowly.

"Can you tell us your name?"

"Can he even talk?" Hawkeye snapped.

"Enough," Hank hissed, glaring over his shoulder at the archer.

"Danny," the teen choked out once he caught enough breath to speak. "Where am I?"

"You're in our home, in the medical bay," Hank continued.

"How did I get here?"

"You mean you don't remember?" Hawkeye interjected, approaching the teen despite Hank's warning. "You mean that you don't remember trying to kill us?"

The teen's body shuddered, his breathing quickening as he tried to get away from the archer.

"Clint," the scientist snapped. "Don't –"

"You can shut it, Pym," the archer growled. He faced the teen once more. "How do you not remember?"

"I just don't," Danny hissed. "I can't."

"Don't play that card with me. You just don't want to."

"I don't know what you're talking about." The teen was grimacing, and Hank noticed his teeth lengthening.

"Hawkeye—"

"You mean you don't remember taking down one of our most powerful members?"

"No. I'm trying to tell you that." His hands were clenched into fists and slight tremors racked his body.

"If it were me, I'm sure I would recall the time I tried to murder Earth's mightiest heroes."

"Clint," Hank warned.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" Hawkeye whipped around, his ice-colored eyes blazing with a light that hadn't been seen since his days as an assassin. "This kid can't play dumb like I can. He knows something and I will get it out of him." He faced the teen again, a maniacal grin on his face. "Isn't that right, Danny?"

The teen was shaking violently, his breaths wild and uncontrolled. His long black bangs hung in his face, obscuring his eyes.

Eyes that had yet to be seen.

Hawkeye moved even closer to the kid, leaning dangerously close. Oh, how that movement that held so much danger, so much rage...so much pure and unadulterated devotion to exploiting secrets that were better off hidden.

Hank pulled out his ID card. "Panther, Cap, Thor—get over here. Now."

"What ails you so, scientist of Midgard? You sound troubled."

"Hawkeye's lost it. He's yelling at the kid, and I know that he won't be able to cope well. He's too sick to fight and his body is attempting to restart."

"We will there shortly," Panther reassured.

"Make it fast." Hank shoved the card away, approaching the archer and putting his hand on his shoulders, pulling him back.

"Let go of me, you no good excuse for a scientist!"

"Hit me one more time, and so help me, you'd better hope you have hands in the end." He manipulated the Pym particles to grow larger, enough to give him more strength and to keep a better hold. He should've known this would happen. Hawkeye hadn't had sleep for days and was already cranky enough. Now, he was exhausted and furious, traits that didn't mix so well for someone like him.

The door opened. Captain, Panther, and Thor entered.

"Take him," Hank growled, shoving him at Thor and approaching the teen. He was shaking violently, his breathing uneven.

"Danny, listen to my voice. Calm down. Hawkeye didn't mean anything."

"Calm down?" he hissed, sounding slightly insane. "Didn't mean anything?" He shook his head. "Shouldn't…need…to…"

"Yes, you do. Your body is attempting to restart; your heart is in overdrive."

"I know. I can…feel it…"

"So calm down."

He growled in response, a sound that sent chills down the scientist's spine. Nearby, Panther turned, his eyes narrowing.

"Panther, what is it?"

"Doctor Pym, I strongly advise you to move away," the Wakandan instructed.

"I'm not going to, and you know why." He took a deep breath, calming his nerves and temper. "Danny, do you remember how you got here?"

The teen shook his head, scowling. They all noticed his razor sharp teeth, and were wary, including Thor.

"What sort of manner of beast is this?" the Asgardian demanded, staring in shock.

"Beast?" The teen bared his teeth in a feral scowl. "I am no beast. You think I am a beast?" he growled at Hank.

"No, we don't," the scientist responded, sending a glare at Thor. "We think you are perfectly normal."

"Normal?" The teen froze, his head turned in the direction of the scientist. "You think I'm normal?"

"Yes."

He didn't respond, his breathing slowing. "What do you want to know?"

Hank nodded to Cap and Panther, who moved forward. Danny let out a sharp breath, his hands clenching into fists. Hank noticed.

"Danny, I'm not going to be the one asking the questions. They will. Their names are Steve Rogers and T'Challa Mbaru, also known as Captain America and the Black Panther. They won't do anything and won't harm you."

"I've been told that before," the teen hissed. "It didn't end well."

"We will not do anything to harm you." Panther stepped forward, his voice calm and reassuring. "We simply have a few questions to ask you."

"I know that," the teen spat. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Go on."

"What is your real name?" Captain said.

"What makes you think it isn't Danny?"

"Someone as powerful as you couldn't have a name like that. You wouldn't just pick that."

"I wouldn't? I would and can do many things if I am given the chance."

"Forget I said anything," Captain sighed. "Panther."

The Wakandan approached on silent feet. Surprisingly, the teen didn't try to get away and watched, albeit warily, as he approached.

"My name is T'Challa Mbaru. I am the King of Wakanda, a very small and remote nation in Africa. I know what it is like to be persecuted for crimes you did not commit."

Danny stared. "How did you know?"

"I have a way." He faced the others. "Would you care to give us some privacy?"

"Do you think we should go in?"

"No, just wait. T'Challa can handle himself. Right now," Hank said, facing the infirmary, "It's Tony I'm worried about."

The billionaire was lying in a bed with multiple sheets covering him. His breathing was uneven and his pulse was erratic. He was completely motionless and deathly pale, shadows beneath his eyes. It was a completely different version from the loud, annoying playboy they were used to.

"He's deteriorating rapidly. If we don't do something now, he won't make it."

"I believe I know someone who can assist us." Panther appeared in the doorway.

"I doubt the kid will help," Cap said. "He can barely talk."

"He can talk, as you are no doubt aware, Captain." Panther eyed him coldly as he approached the other Avengers.

Hank faced him. "How did the interrogation go?"

"His name is Daniel Fenton, the son of Madeline and Jack Fenton, two world famous scientists who were recently killed in an explosion. He is currently seventeen the last time he checked, and has lived in an apartment with a job at a café."

"My, Panther," Thor mused. "You skills of interrogation are quite impressive."

"It was not an 'interrogation', as you so mildly put it, Thor. It was a mere conversation."

"And he didn't try to attack you?" Captain demanded, crossing his arms.

"There was no reason for him to." Panther remained unnervingly calm as he headed over to Tony's monitor. "I believe he will be able to supply a cure when he is well enough for movement and work."

"And he just told you he would?" Hawkeye growled. He'd been allowed in, as long as Thor was around to restrain him, but was allowed nowhere near the kid.

"A mere conversation, one that involves no threatening or violence, is a sound way to gather information when one is not aware."

I was drifting in and out of consciousness. Apparently—at least, according to T'Challa—I was sick and not really improving, which explained the sudden dizziness, nausea, and headaches I would often get. What had he done to me?

More than you can imagine, dear Daniel.

Get out of my head.

He laughed. You know I can't do that.

Then shut up. You're giving me a headache.

Someone has an attitude.

You think?

"Danny?"

I turned my head to see Hank. He came by regularly to check on me, though his results did not really change each time. My hair was still in my face, and although the fact of not being able to move it was infuriating, the one thing that I was scared of was my eyes. The arrogant Asgardian would label me a beast if he saw them, and so would the others.

"Are you awake? Can you hear me?"

I nodded. The motion only increased the aching pound in my head, but I somehow managed to speak through the pain. "What do you want?"

"Did you really speak to Panther? You told him your name?"

"Yes, and I told you."

"What about your past?"

Sudden rage rose in me, threatening to overwhelm. I growled, shaking my head furiously. "My past is none of your business!"

The room spun, and he laughed in my head. My, my, someone is in a bad mood today.

Can you not be quiet?

'Quiet'? The word doesn't seem to be in my vocabulary.

Then, out of the blue, pain ripped through my body. I growled, baring my teeth and closing my eyes in an attempt to nullify the fire. Nearby, Hank shifted and moved closer.

"Danny?"

"Get out." My voice was distorted, a mix of his and mine. "Get out of my head."

No. No, dear Daniel. I will always haunt you.

"No, you won't!" My arms strained against the restraints. The white-hot fire raged through me, the red fury blinded me. "Get out of my head. Get out!"

"Danny."

A man's voice. Who was it? Why was I here? They found me again. How? My body began shaking. Have to get out.

Get out.

Out.

Okay, I don't know T'Challa's real last name. If anyone does, please PM me it. It doesn't seem to be on the AEMH wiki.

Most likely the last chapter updated until I return from band camp. See you later!