CHAPTER 5

*Please note that Elliot Dawes is an OC of mine and that this happens after Avengers Assembled and before Captain America 2, carrying on into that timeline*

I couldn't help but smile at the masked crusader swinging by. It was a little sad, knowing I'd never be in the heart of the action again. No more Loki trying to take over, or Spider-Man swinging by to save the say or knowing that those masked heroes are watching over us, keeping us safe at night and risking their lives for the entire world. I sighed as the taxi driver pulled up at the airport, the city behind us. I paid him, tipped him and left. He sped away, eager to get another customer. Or perhaps see what the web-slinging boy wonder is up to. Spider-Man had one of those unique things about him that made me want to tear him apart and find out why he is who he is. I guess that's just another bucket list item I'll never complete. I headed into the airport and looked around. It was thronging with tourists, visitors and business people. I suddenly felt exposed, marching purposefully through the airport towards my check-in desk. I couldn't help but glance around in a paranoid way. It was difficult to act normal, wearing clothes I don't feel comfortable in and trying to appear like a young girl out to find herself. I joined the long queue for Florida and patiently waited my turn. I casually looked around, as if I was interested in the world. There was a man sitting on a row of chairs nearby reading a newspaper. I glanced over him a few times and determined he was watching me. His eyes were fixed at a point which he could watch me from the corner of his eye. Plus his eyes never moved and he never turned the page. I could feel my heart pounding in excitement and nervousness. He was either a SHIELD member or a HYDRA. Either way, something exciting was going to happen. I was both happy and sad about this. Happy because it would be one little piece of action before I left it forever and sad as it would leave me a longing being a Disney Princess would never fill. Perhaps you should have stay with Steve and explained things, I thought miserably. As the queue moved forward it was my turn to check in. I did it with a slight reluctance. As I moved towards the departures lounge, I realised how much I would miss Steve. I would miss him turning up at my door with fresh milk and takeaway, I would miss introducing him to all the classic movies and teach him how to play videogames. I would miss his old fashioned ways, and dorkiness. I didn't realise I would become quite attached to him until now. I guess I've never really had anyone look out for me before. Maybe you're just destined for a long, dangerous and lonely path. It was a rather depressing thought. I sat in Starbucks and watched New York from the window. I finished my coffee and went to wander around aimlessly. Most of my belongings were currently getting packed up and put on my plane. All I had was a wallet full of money. I walked around the large, near empty departure longue. There was a mother with two young children singing happily about going to Disneyworld, two men sitting discussing something with cups of coffee in their hands. They stood up the moment I passed them, throwing the cups away. I turned round and found myself face to face with two loaded pistols. The little girl screamed and began crying. The mother gasped. From the corner of my eye I saw her shield her children. Panic spread like wild fire and people began running in all directions. And this was before the shots were fired. I thought about all the training I had undergone and my brain just went nope. I had a choice, I could run towards the crowd and risk their lives, or I could run at them and risk my own.

"Elliot Dawes?" the one on the left asked me.

I seized them up. Both taller, stronger and faster than me. It didn't take a genius to determine that. I looked towards the familiar. The mother had her children underneath the seats and was crouching in front of them shielding them and comforting them. She looked at me with a horrified and fearful look. I turned back to the two men. I straightened myself up and tried to remain calm.

"Bitch, I might be," I replied sounding cockier than I felt.

My insides were trembling in fear. I wanted nothing more to fall on my knees and beg for my life. No, if you want beg for your life to those drug dealers, you won't beg now, I told myself sternly.

"You're coming with us," snarled the one of the right.

"And If I refuse?" I said, backing up slightly. "I mean, I have no clue who you are, who you work for and where you're from. Are you to be trusted or are you going to kill me?"

I was babbling again. One of them looked like he would quite happily put a bullet in my brain. I stopped backing up after I put a few paces between us.

"Then you shall have me to answer too," a thick, German accent said behind me.

I froze at that accent. I didn't need to turn round to know who it was. After reading all about him and Captain America's plights, it didn't take much for me to figure out who he was. Fear turned my insides cold and I found myself unable to move. I began to physically shake out of the fear I was feeling. I had temporarily lost all control over my body and that was what killed me the most. The little girl screamed again and began crying loudly. The mother desperately tried to calm her down.

"Will someone shut that child up?" roared the voice from behind.

The man on the right turned and pointed his gun at the family. Something kicked in and I gained control over my body again.

"NO!" I yelled, flinging myself at the man.

I rugby tackled him to the ground. The gun went off but it struck a light, causing it to shatter and rain glass down on us. Without stopping, I propelled myself off him, making sure my boots dug in extra hard. I crashed down the departure longue, stumbling as I went. I didn't stop running, not until three men appeared out of nowhere and blocked my path. I skidded to a halt and lost my balanced. I crashed down heavily on my ass. I was surrounded by men in black outfits and ski masks. Their faces were hidden behind goggles and masks. I knew I was trapped but I knew one thing: I wouldn't stop fighting.

"Do not make this difficult for yourself, Elliot Dawes,"

The German accented voice spoke my name with disgust, as if he disproved of a girl being called Elliot. I looked up and got a good, upside down view, of him, of the Red Skull.