Chapter 1

The first thing I woke up to was the sun starting to peek into my window. The curtains danced with the wind that was flowing into my small one bedroom apartment that I had in Richmond. The sounds of the city started to echo in the tiny room as well as in the entire apartment building. Along with that came sensing everyone that was below and around me, mainly people heading to work. My alarm was the second thing I noticed which was yelling at me to turn it off. I rolled over in bed and reached out towards my phone. As I focused, I felt the familiar humming in my head as my phone floated across the room into my hand.

6 am. Perfect.

I make my way up to a sitting position in bed, mentally preparing for what is about to happen today as well as a small meditation session trying to ground myself so I do not become overwhelmed throughout the day. I slowly wiggle my way out of bed to stumble into the bathroom. I turn on the shower and study myself in the mirror which was covered in scratches and marks from the previous renter.

The first thing I noticed was the prominent dark circles that were under my light blue eyes that seemed to be getting darker with each passing day. The combination of lack of sleep and working 18 hours of the day did not help much either.

Neither did the nightmares that I have been having.

I sigh as I look at my light brown hair which was starting to stick out in different directions due to some amounts of hair spray I had put in the night before indicating that I needed a wash.

Great. An extra thing that I have to do.

The mirror started to fog up which was my sign to hop in. I took in the warm water and relaxed, trying to tune out everything else. Just focusing on the water as it massages my muscles after a stressful day at work yesterday. After a quick shower, I threw on my usual attire which was black pants with a tan top that I could throw on my uniform on top of it. I throw my hair into a ponytail in order to keep it somewhat put together throughout the day except for some baby hairs to frame my face. I start to walk to my dresser but in the process I stumble over things that were scattered across the floor.

Noted, clean apartment asap.

I found a good pair of socks and looked at the photos that I had framed on my dresser. A couple of pictures of me as a baby that I would assume my parents took before leaving me on the orphanage door step. I smirk at the photo of me on my 5th birthday with cupcake icing on my nose with the other orphans around me laughing, envious of the pure joy that I once experienced. I slowly made my way over to what could be classified as a kitchen which was only one counter that was sandwiched between my fridge and oven. On my one counter was my coffee machine which was preset to be ready when I came in. Coffee was the only thing that made my mornings better.

I sit on my bed to savor my coffee and try to mentally make a checklist in my head for the day.

Easy, drink coffee, put on shoes and go to work.

Just like how it was everyday. Nothing crazy.

I leave my apartment and start walking to my job which is called the Starbird Cafe. As I walk, I always think about these abilities that I have and cannot explain to anyone else or people would put me in a mental hospital. For as long as I can remember, I could sense people around me whether they are in danger or dangerous. When I harness that energy and focus, I can move objects or people with it. I walk past crowds of people everyday. In turn, I can sense their energy as it follows them to their daily destination. I guess you can call it energy or the force, it's weird. I smirk at that thought.

I have had these powers for 25 years and the closest thing I can call it is the force. Very official Clara.

I shake my head at that thought.

After 30 minutes of walking deep in thought I finally made it to the cafe. I knock on the door waiting for Dusty, the cook, to let me in. He always arrives first in the morning and he was the owner who always looked out for me at work. When I was 18, the orphanage kicked me out to make room for other kids. I had no experience or a roof over my head or a penny to my name. One morning I was sleeping outside the cafe and Dusty took me in and gave me this job. I could not be more grateful to him and it showed when I worked. I sigh and look around at the city behind me as I wait. The hustle and bustle of the city humming loudly in my head, almost like a bee buzzing.

After a few minutes, I see a silhouette of a big man walking towards the door and I know it is Dusty. He was wearing his usual white apron with a large gray T-shirt underneath. As always, he is rocking a thinning head of hair which has streaks of gray in it. Over the years, the lines in his face have become more prominent with age and the stress of keeping the cafe open.

Same old Dusty.

He unlocks the door for me and I step into the cafe which had the similar smells of bacon and hashbrowns that he had started in the back. "Thanks Dusty, were you doing laps around the building?" I smirk.

Dusty looked on edge, as though he was trying to figure out what to say. I could tell something was wrong.

"Dusty? Is everything ok?"

Dusty shakes his head, "Yeah, Clara I'm ok but there is someone here to see you."

I tilted my head, "What are you talking about? The cafe doesn't open for another half hour."

After I said that, almost on cue, I sensed someone coming our way. I walked towards the back corner of the restaurant, making sure I was in front of Dusty. Not a second later, a smaller looking man walked around the corner. He was sporting a nice suit with a bag in his hand. I immediately had my guard up and I dropped my bag.

My voice was on edge but I held my ground. "Who the hell are you? How did you get in here?"

" My name is Agent Coulson and I am here on the behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D. Your friend let me in after I asked him nicely."

I look back at Dusty, making sure this Coulson guy was telling the truth. Dusty nodded in agreement, confirming the story. I look back at the man.

"What the hell is S.H.I.E.L.D? I have never heard of it. Get out now before I call the cops."

The man, Agent Coulson, put up his hands showing me his palms. "Look, I know this is a shock to you. To be honest, I never thought we would have to make contact with you."

I cross my arms in a defensive stance. "What do you mean 'make contact with me'? How do you even know me?"

Agent Coulson sighed, "Let's sit and talk so I can catch you up with things."

I laugh, "Yeah right. I'm not going to sit with you when I do not even know you. How in the world do you even know me?"

"Because we know what you can do." My body went numb and I froze in my tracks.

What does he mean by 'we'? I never told anyone.

Coulson broke the silence, "Why don't we discuss this further?" He motioned towards Dusty.

Confidential.

I look at Dusty. "Dusty, I'll be ok. Can you leave us for a few minutes? If you hear me scream, call the cops."

All he could do was a nod of the head and practically ran for the kitchen.

"What did you say to him?" I asked.

Coulson walked over to put his bag on the table, "I told him the world needs help and I needed to speak to you," I gave him a skeptical look and he sighed, "and some other things."

I cautiously picked up my bag and walked over to one of the tables and sat down. He was honest but I do not trust this guy farther than I can throw him. Well, physically throw him.

"You get five minutes."

Coulson sat across from me in the booth. He was unusually calm, almost like he was following a script.

He has done this before.

"I understand this is all new for you. Like how I said earlier, we never thought we would have to contact you which is why we kept our distance. We have been keeping tabs on you and keeping other interesting parties off of you as well."

I looked at him and crossed my arms, "How do you guys know about me?"

"St. Mary's Orphanage. They got a hold of us and told us some interesting stories about a little girl who was making her toys float when she was playing. We have been observing you ever since."

I focus on his words, observing every small move he makes, "Your agency likes to chase ghost stories and believe crazy people. It is a waste of time."

Coulson smirked, "We have not wasted our time and this isn't the craziest story we have heard. We know who you are and what you can do. That is why I am here."

Coulson reached into his bag and pulled out a vanilla folder and dropped it on the table which made the table raddle.

"Let me give you some context. There is a being who goes by the name of Loki. He is after one of our items which is called the Tesseract. Recently, Loki has arrived and compromised many of our agents." He crossed his arms and I could tell it was a sensitive subject. He opened the yellow folder which had stacks of papers in it and on top was a picture of a glowing blue cube.

"The Tesseract," he pointed at the picture, "deals with a mixture of low levels of gamma radiation and an energy source which we do not understand. That's where you come into play." He looks up at me and points towards me, "Dealing with energy is your specialty."

I shift in my seat. My mind's going a million miles a minute. A demigod? That is way above my paygrade. I wanted to laugh in his face but he was being dead serious and was telling the truth.

I let out a breath that I just realized I was holding. I put my hands up, "A demigod? That is way above me."

Coulson smirked, "Not as much as you think. We have other people coming in as well and you won't be the only freak."

I look out the window, horns and sirens coming from all different directions.

"I am not a soldier. I am not trained for this type of thing. I am a civilian."

"We know that. That is not what we need you for. We need you to figure out what is coming off the cube that is not gamma radiation."

I bite the inside part of my cheek, deep in thought. Weighing the options that I have in front of me.

"Look Clara, I wouldn't be here if there was someone else. You are all we have. If there was someone else, I would be there with them."

My voice was monotone and my mind was deep in thought.

"Is this dangerous?"

The agent let out a sigh and a sympathetic look, "I would be lying if I said no."

I look at him studying him. Dealing with an object of foreign energy is dangerous for everyone around it and they ask the one person who is a civilian who can use energy. He was sincere about there being no one else. The government does not call on civilians unless they are desperate by the looks of him, they were. I look out the window again to see the city, all the people that were in danger now because of Loki and this cube.

I'm in. When do I start?"