Distorted Beauty {Pure Illusion Series: Book 4}

Chapter 5

A/N: Looking back on my previous two books, I hope that I'll be able to start editing soon; I plan on doing this as soon as I finish writing this story. I'm excited what this story brings to the tale we have. To a few of you who have messaged me and slightly guessed it, yes, this does mirror the first book in many ways. Even to some extent the second. There's an obvious reason behind this that will become apparently. Out of all the books, this one is the lightest and most welcoming - aka, it's mostly fluff. We'll just wait till we get to the last lines of the final chapter to destroy ya ;) *COUGH COUGH* you've been warned. 

Sorry for the delay! I was busy with homework and a few other things :) 

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That evening was hardly restful for Iselda; the sound of screaming echoing down the hallways woke her around midnight. It all seemed vaguely familiar, the cries for help, being awoken and the need to discover who was crying out in such pain. She stumbled out of bed, the screams louder than before, waking her fiancé in the process. Jacob mumbled and shifted under his blanket, that was until he realized something was wrong; he heard the screaming as well. He grabbed Iselda's arm as she started towards the door, already having her mind set to find the owner of this voice. 

“Iz…” His hazel eyes pleading for her to stay.

“Someone’s in trouble – I can’t just leave them.” Iselda returned his pleading look with one of her own. She feared that it was Bucky as he had many nightmares, but it made her worry all the same that one of her friends was in such pain that they could be heard in the medical bay. 

His hand slowly dropped from her arm; there was no fighting her when she was determined to do something. It was on e of the things he loved about her and cherished above all else. She was thankful that he let her be her own person, even if he still worried every moment of every day about her.  “If you're not back soon, I’m coming after you.” 

“I’ll be fine.” She whispered, placing a kiss on his forehead. He gave her a lopsided grin that didn't sit right - he looked in pain. His head obviously hurting no matter what he said, but he refused to let anyone know that he was in pain, something sometimes that bothered the daylights out of her. She gave him one final smile, a promise that she would be okay, before rushing out of the medical bay and into the tediously long and winding hallways of the tower.

Natasha had brought her another change of clothes, this time some of her clothes from Jacob’s apartment, for her to change into. She wore a tank top and shorts as she turned the corners, following the sounds of the screaming as if she were a bloodhound. It was when she ran straight into Steve and Bucky that she realized something was really wrong; it hadn't been Bucky calling for help. Iselda wasn't sure if she was relieved or terrified, she had been so sure that it had been Bucky screaming. 

“Are you alright?” The Captain held onto her shoulders, staring her in the eyes. 

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine."Iselda replied, looking back and forth between the two. "What’s going on?” 

“Nothing good I bet.” Bucky mumbled as another scream ripped through the tower.

The three took off in a sprint towards the yelling, checking every corridor and waiting to hear another scream. It was chilling for her to think that they were hoping to hear another scream so they could figure out where the owner of the voice was, but it was the only way. When they turned down a hallway she knew all too well, she heard another scream come from inside one of the rooms; it was coming from the container they were holding Loki in. Steve rushed in, Bucky following as all three took off down the hallway. Iselda was the last to come in, but Bucky was already ushering her away, preventing her from seeing the mischievous god. He pushed her back, blocking her view as the screams made her feel nauseated. Who was Loki torturing?