An Avenger's Tale

12|| Kidnapped

My eyes fluttered open and I scanned my surroundings frantically. I was tied up to a chair, the restraints cutting into my wrists and ankles. It was semi-dark inside the room I was confined to. I could see the silhouettes of some objects, but nothing of any importance - nothing that could help me escape.

My body was aching, my muscles burning and I could feel the crinkle of dried blood on my lip, my forehead and my cupid's bow. I tried fighting against the restraints but they only cut deeper, causing me to hiss in pain. My eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness and I could see some modern technology surrounding me. They looked like the technology in my father's lab only not updated and older, a little less advanced than my father's.

The doors creaked open, letting a gale of wind into the room and it made me shiver. A big shadow fell over the entrance, blocking the door for a fraction of a second before he stepped into the room. Somewhere in the distance a light flickered on and I squinted my eyes at the sudden exposure to bright light.

"Finally, you're awake."

Thanos' booming voice bounced off the walls in the room. My eyes flickered open and adjusted to the lighting, perceiving his towering figure standing, large as life, in front of me.

"What do you want with me?" I spat poisonously.

Thanos shook his head and bellowed with laughter. His silence and rejection to reply to my question angered me. He paced in front of me, eyeing me intently. I shuddered under his stare and averted my gaze.

"You're the famous Tony Stark's daughter?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I wonder how much he'll pay to get his precious little daughter back? The Tessaract in return for his daughter. What a prize." Thanos grinned down upon me.

"So what? I'm bait just so you can get the Tessaract back?" I snorted.

"Yes."

"Well, we don't have it."

Thanos' laugh unnerved me. My stomach churned with dread at what he had in store for me. It could be anything. Starvation. Dehydration. Torture. Even death. Thanos lowered his head so that he was eye-level with me and my breathing hitched in my throat at the proximity between us.

"Oh, but you do."

"No, I don't."

Thanos straightened himself. "You're lying, Stark."

"How can you tell? Was it the nose-twitch?" I countered sarcastically.

"You and those Avengers stole it from me. I want it back." Thanos seethed with lukewarm anger, making me guard my next words carefully.

"You can have it back, by all means because we still don't have it."

Thanos smashed his fist into the nearest object, making me flinch, and glared at me, white-hot coils of anger flarring in his eyes. "MARK YOUR WORDS, STARK!"

"I am marking them, Thanos."

"You're angering me, mortal."

"Am I?" I bit back sharply, challenging him.

Thanos walked over to my chair and slapped me across the face, the sound of rock on flesh ringing in my ears. I squinted my eyes at the pain, feeling them well up with tears but I refused to give him the satisfaction. He wasn't going to get the reaction he wanted out of me. I will not bow down to his level.

"Chose your next words wisely." He hissed.

"Or what? You'll kill me? I wouldn't do that if I were you but I'm not, so it's still your calling." I shrugged nonchalantly.