Insider

Twenty-six

I stood up despite the dizziness, but kept my knife pointed at Trish.  Somehow, I found the button that opened the double doors.  We stepped into a room covered with S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and in the centre Crimson Night- all of who which surrendered.  Eyes were on me, nothing was spoken as I led Patricia Cruz into the middle of the room.  The silence was eery, and at the same time victorious.  I scoured the room for dead bodies, found none.  My heart, which was beating erratically, felt a pang of something that I had not experienced since...

Papa teaching me history in the woods.  Oliver and I dancing at the gala.  Happiness.

Trish got on her knees, her whole body trembling.  We both looked and felt like shit.  If you were in the room, you could've heard a pin drop.  Somehow the seventeen year-old girl who has spent her whole life running finally found something.  Somehow the seventeen year-old girl would now be able to rest.

Rest.  I wanted to rest, but I couldn't.  Rose and Jasmine needed to be safe first.  But when I looked upon the faces of Sam, Sharon, James, and Shuri, I saw an assurance that the two girls would be safe.  They would never have to run again.

The room spun, flashing lights dotted my vision like a circus.

Sharon said something about how when Criz was mixed with other toxins, it would be like having a chemical reaction in your body.  I wondered if this was it.  I fought to control my breathing, to open my eyelids, and to keep standing.  No use.

I thought I'd be sad, but I was actually beyond happy.  After all these years, I found peace. 

Everything seemed to move in slow motion, as if time was really stopping.  I smiled crookedly one last time at my newfound family.  To them, I was not an outsider.  My legs gave out beneath me, I crumpled to the ground.  James lunged to catch me.  

I just let silence and darkness slowly overcome me.