『ᴀʀᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇʟ || ᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴠᴇʟ ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Ch. 31: More

My eyes were unfocused as I sat slumped in the chair, my breathing hazy and choppy as my senses were going haywire.

The pain in my body from the torture I've received is overwhelming me, and I just feel weak. I can't push myself much longer anymore.

I'm worried. Scared. Terrified. Something I never like to admit anymore. I've been through hell, my own choices putting me through painful experiences. But I'm worried that I'll submit myself to him.

The wicked grin Louis had as he delivered blow after blow, shock after shock, whip after whip- it's engraved into my mind. I can't forget his yellow stained teeth as he saw pleasure through my pain.

I tugged at the restraints weakly, coughing as a burning sensation filled my lungs. I didn't know what to do.

I'm lost. So lost that I'm teetering between fighting back until I die, or submitting myself and forgetting everything I knew.

I don't want to go through that again. I refuse to go through that again.

That's what I've been telling myself. That's one of the things that is pushing me to go through the pain and not give Louis the pleasure of my submission.

I need to see my family again- my parents deserve to know that I'm not dead. I shouldn't have left things with them. They deserve to know everything that I've gone through.

I leaned my head back against the chair, letting out a slow exhale before tugging at the restraints again. My mind was fuzzy as I thought back to what Louis said at the graveyard.

He mentioned something about taking away what he gave me, didn't he?

I leaned forward, cranning my neck as I looked around the room. The blinking light from the security camera in the corner was off.

They weren't watching me. I bit my lip as my back started to burn, then my wings formed behind me, smashing through the wooden chair and destroying it. I chuckled darkly.

Why didn't I think of this sooner?

I turned my gaze around the room, before walking to the clipboard that hung by the door. I knew what it was for, even if I wasn't fully there when it was used.

It documented what they did to me, and what day it was. The first day I was here was March 7th, and yesterday's torture was March 29th.

March 29th?

I've been here for 22 days?

I pulled off the ear piece in my ear, pulling it apart slowly to inspect the damage. The wiring was disconnected on one part.

I slowly grabbed onto it and connected it in place, hearing a satisfying click and no more buzzing, incoherent feedback. I placed the ear piece back into my ear and whispered quietly, "Bruce. You still there?"

I continued to walk around the room, poking through boxes and medical tools. The room was disgusting- stale blood was in every corner and on every tool.

I glanced down at the bandages that wrapped around the bullet wound on my leg. I brushed my hands over it, shutting my eyes as I exhaled slowly.

"Nicole? Nicole, is that you?"

I raised my head at the voice I heard, walking towards the door that kept me locked inside the room. I peaked through the bars at the top, seeing a familiar mop of brown hair styled in a pixie walk in front of the door, then past it.

"Steph! In here!"

The sound of fast footsteps and the sound of a key turning alerted me to step back from the door. I backed up and watched as the metal door swung open, a disheveled Stephanie standing on the other side as she took in my appearance.

"Oh god. Oh god, oh god, oh god," She cried out, putting her hands on her head as she sunk to the floor, shaking her head repeatedly, "You're like this because of me- I... I did this to you!"

"Steph, quiet. You did nothing," I soothed, sinking down to the ground in front of her, grabbing her wrists and prying her hands from her head, "Don't you worry about me. I'm fine. I just need this collar thing off my neck. You got the key?"

Stephanie nodded slowly, fumbling for the key in her pocket. She pulled out a card before placing it to the device. A satisfying click echoed throughout the room, and it fell from my neck. I let out a relieved sigh as I dragged my fingers over the skin, "Nicki, I'm so sorry. We need to get you out of-"

"I can fight better if I wasn't in shit condition," I hummed, plucking a feather from my wing then gesturing towards her, "Wanna give a helping hand here?"

"Yes."

She grabbed a knife from the holster on her leg, dragging it across her palm. She winced as crimson blood seeped from the wound and dripped from her hand to the ground. I grabbed her hand and placed my feather on it, watching as the white color turned red.

I looked at her and smiled, before getting to my feet, putting a hand down for her to grab, "Come on let's-"

An explosion sounded at the door, and I stood protectively in front of her, hands clapping together and expanding out to form a shield, solidifying it and holding onto it as my eyes narrowed at the figure walking towards the room.

They leaned against the door, and my eyes widened slightly as I recognized the red and golden color of the suit he was wearing. I dropped my hands, raising a brow at him, "I thought I told Bruce not to have you come for me."

"I don't listen to people Nicole," Tony replied, looking behind at Stephanie. She was sitting on the floor, still clutching the red feather in her hand. He gestured to her, "Mage friend good?"

"Well she probably wouldn't be like this if you didn't go exploding something- wait, how did you even find me? I was sure that the electrocutions would've made the feed turn off..."

"It did. Bruce panicked, called some other people and we came here."

I narrowed my eyes, "Called some other people? I told Bruce I didn't want you here, and he got more-"

"That's one way to respond to backup," A familiar voice teased, and I turned my gaze past Tony and to the other people.

Natasha was standing there with her arms crossed, Steve and Clint flanking either side of her. She scanned the golden patches on my outfit before narrowing her eyes. Steve looked me up and down, "Jesus, what did they do to you?"

I grinned at him, "Questions are for a time that's not demanding of us, Cap."