I have a feeling you all are going to hate me by the end of this chapter. The cliffhangers are terrible. But if it helps, I am going through the same suspense as you guys are. And that's why I'm posting every day. I can't stand cliffhangers like this!
Chapter Nineteen
Hannah's P.O.V.
My body ached as I opened my eyes to a dimly lit room. My head especially was throbbing terribly; like I had been beaten with a baseball bat. I jerked my hand towards my head, only to be stopped quickly. I noticed that I was tied to a chair and there was a small puddle of blood near me. Where was that coming from?
"Looks like someone finally decided to wake up." A voice boomed, echoing loudly in the tiny room. I turned my head every which way, only to stop because it hurt so much.
"Wh-what?" I asked in confusion. "Who's there?"
I heard a chair squeak across the floor behind me and some large footfalls approach. I was met with a man who was quite tall for an average fellow. He had black hair and I couldn't make out the color of his eyes because of the lighting. His mouth was curved into a small smile that made him look confident, cocky even, as he looked at me.
"Hmmm...you're not much, are you?" He said, looking at me up and down in disdain.
"What?" My thoughts were slow as I tried to recall what had put me in this situation. And who this guy was. I didn't have any recollection of his face.
"A child. The Avengers chose a helpless child to stay with them. Like picking a perfect target, I should say." He said to me.
"I'm not a child." I protested. His laugh gave me chills.
"Seventeen? Hardly an adult." He started to circle around me...like a shark looking at its prey. "Anyways, your age has no matter to me, seeing as your value is worth much more than gold to me at the moment."
"And why is that?" I asked curiously.
"Why, haven't you figured it out? Or has that head injury prevented you from remembering who your precious aunt and uncle fear at this very moment?" That's when it occurred to me. The car accident. The guys in the black van. The Dark Hand. Now it all made sense. They had kidnapped me and brought me here to get revenge on my aunt and uncle.
"If you'd think they'd come for me, you can forget it." I spat. "They were sending me off to a foster home far away from them. They could care less." He chuckled.
"You are indeed a child." He said, a smirk on his face. "You have no concept of how much your aunt and uncle really do care about you, even to send you to the farthest ends of the earth to keep you from me. A futile effort, seeing as you're here anyway."
"You're wrong." I responded sadly. "They don't want me."
"Oh?" He was unaffected by my sincere attempts to persuade him otherwise. "Then why, dear child, would they make such an effort to send you away?"
"To get rid of me for good. I'm nothing but a burden."
"Oh, believe me, you're everything to them. I've seen." So he had been spying on us; him and his team of cohorts. "I've never been one to see the Black Widow show that much affection to anyone, much less Hawkeye so protective. Yes, you, child, mean the world to them."
Although this man was currently the one putting me in this predicament, I couldn't help but consider his words. After all that my aunt and uncle had done for me, why would they send me away? To keep me away from this guy? I could hardly blame them. And lying to me about foster care? They were only trying to protect me from any thoughts on being sent to that horrible place.
That's when it hit me. They loved me. More than anyone else in the world, they loved me. And I had responded by slapping them in the face when they were doing all that they could to keep me safe. What had I done? I just told my uncle that I hated him! And for what? For it to end like this?
"You'll see how much they care." The man kept going. "But only for a little while."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"You're dying." He said matter-of-factually. "That car accident left you with a nasty gash on your left side. It doesn't look to bright for you in a few hours or so." I looked at the left side of my body in response, only to find my clothes stained with blood that was also dripping down to the small puddle of red liquid on the side of the chair.
"You're never going to get away with this. My aunt and uncle are going to kill you before this is all over."
"I really think I will get away with this. In a few hours, your aunt and uncle will be dead, and I'll be happily leading the Dark Hand against S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world as we know it. Yes, I say my plan will work out perfectly." He seemed rather cheerful, walking behind me and resuming his place at I assumed a chair behind me.
Well, great. I was bleeding to death, my aunt and uncle were in danger, and I was stuck in the room with this lunatic? Could my life get any worse? Well, the answer could be summed up in one word: yes.
Clint's P.O.V.
I was pacing. The thought of sitting still was unbearable. How could I when my niece was being held captive, dying in the hands of some crazy terrorist group? I couldn't help but think that this was my fault that she was there.
If only I hadn't given her up...
"Stop it, Clint." A voice inside me said. "Blaming yourself won't get her out of there." But the guilt was overwhelming. If I hadn't given in to Director Fury, if I had listened to Hannah, if I had just...if I had just...I don't know. If I had just, that's all. I could have prevented everything.
"You're only human." The voice inside me responded. I knew I didn't know that the Dark Hand would kidnap her, but I wish I had been quicker about stopping that car. Or even saying no to Fury when I had the chance.
"Clint." Nat said gently, "sit down." She ushered me to a couch in the Tower. I decided it might be better if I did. I think I was starting to scare everyone else. Never before had they seen me so worried.
"How long has it been now?" Steve asked.
"No sooner than when you asked five minutes ago." Tony replied. "But it's been three hours." He repeated.
As the minutes ticked by, the tension amongst the group continued to rise like a tidal wave. Steve was clenching his fists in frustration. Tony, for once, was speechless, but eagerly awaiting the next move. Thor's hand was wrapped tightly around his hammer. I could only imagine what he was thinking about doing with it. Bruce, well, I think I saw him turn a few shades of green, if that gives any clarification about what he was setting his mind on.
Nat was not taking the situation well at all. Usually so distanced and keeping her emotions to herself, she was the exact opposite as her feelings were getting the best of her. She was gripping my hand tightly, the uncertainty of Hannah's predicament keeping her, as well as me, on edge.
That's when my phone rang. The number was unknown, but we all knew who it was. I nodded to Tony and he began tracing the call at once. I picked up the phone and answered.
"Barton." I answered, rather testily I might add.
"Hello." A voice, one that was quite cheerful, responded back. The sound of the guy made me want to ring his neck at the other end of the line. "I think we both know who each other is, now don't we?"
"Cut to the chase." I barked.
"Ooo, testy." He said, enjoying every second of this conversation. "I don't think such an attitude is good for raising a child, do you?"
"Where is she and what do you want?" I growled.
"Now, now. Don't worry. Your precious niece is fine...for now anyways." I hated to think what was happening to Hannah at this moment.
"What do you want?" I repeated.
"Why, revenge of course. Seeing as how your niece is slowly dying next to me at this moment, I suggest we make this quick."
Dying? This could not be happening.
"I want to talk to her." I demanded. The guy chuckled.
"I'm afraid she's a little tied up at the moment." The man's attempt at humor made me sick.
"Where are you?" I asked. I looked at Tony, who shook his head. He hadn't found them yet.
"The abandoned building west of here, near the old, abandoned fisher's market." Well, that was easy. And I knew where he was talking about.
"Now, let's be more specific." The man continued. "You and Black Widow must come alone. I don't want any of your friends coming around. I have spies everywhere, and if there's so much as a hint of them anywhere, I'll kill your niece in a second. Understand?" I read him loud and clear.
"Yes." I said, gritting my teeth. "What time?"
"Meet me here in one hour. Your niece should still be alive by then. And remember, come alone." He hung up and the group looked at me, hoping for a plan. But I had none.
Please review! Also, I'd like to say something I feel needs to be said. You know how many people speculate about how the media has a big affect on people and how they act? I just wanted to say that this is just a story and is not meant to draw any sort of act of violence from it. Sadly, I fear there are people in this world that take it to heart from TV and reading and go out and do it. Mass shootings and acts of violence are not right and are unacceptable. I know none of you would ever do this, but I thought it would be important to say. If it's really weird or awkward to put this in here for some of you, I'm sorry. But I just find it so sad how people act on what they see in the media, whether from TV or other form of communication. Anyways, have a great day and I'll update soon!