Shockwave: Avenger N.o 7

5. Not the police

I apologise now for my characterisation of Natasha as it may be a bit off.

"We need to move. Come Nox and... whatever your name is.", Lisk barks letting go of my hand, in what can only be described as slight disgust, and marches over to the door to floor 13.

"Quentin. My name's Freya - Quentin.", I mumble to myself in slight annoyance. But nonetheless, I trudge obsequiously after her toward the... door. Shouldn't we be leaving via the stairs? I look to said stairs then back at the door. Then again.

A bear-like paw clamps itself in an iron grip around my shoulder. I look up to it's owner. Knox's smiling face looks back. "Lisk's always got a plan. I wouldn't worry about it - Freya.", he says trying out the new name on his tongue. I involuntarily shiver. The next man who tries to chat me up I am so gonna kill. Without trying to appear overly rude I shake his hand off and approach the door. I place my hand on it's white wood and tentatively push.

Floor 13 consists of just one room. If room you could call it with only 2 sides and a floor, all of which are noticeably blackened by the explosion. London's skyline stretches out before us with incredible clarity, nothing is there to separate us. No brick, no glass. Nothing between us and a 50m drop to the concrete slabs below. The faint sound of traffic can only just be heard, partly because of the the crisp wind gently batting my hair from side to side. Euphoria. I think that's how I'd describe it. Like you're standing on the top of the world ( despite the fact that we're not actually that high up ).

"Woah.", I manage to say.

Nox walks past me and begins conversation with his superior. I try and focus on thinking my own plan through, that is until I hear footsteps behind me. Barely audible but I can tell that whoever they belong to is well practiced in stealth. Wait, how on earth do I know -

CRASH! The door flies of its hinges straight into me. The force of the impact knocks me flat and my head smashes into the surprisingly warm floor. From my vantage point on the floor I can just about see someone flip over the prostrate door and land on one knee just in front of me and then stand up. All I can see of them is their black skinny clearly feminine boots. A she then. Or maybe a cross-dresser. The previous events seem so surreal I honestly wouldn't find this surprising.

"Hands up. Or whatever they say in these situations.". Nope. Definitely female. And Russian. 

"Police. I did tell you Nox.". Thwack. Moving as little as possible I try to see were my two 'companions' are. They stand side by side roughly 3 meters away, at least that's were there legs are.

"Oh I'm not the police.", the intruder says sauntering forward, slightly arcing to the right. Nox and Lisk both side-step to the left.

"You're not here about that Toby boy are you. Such a shame. Such a sham. Ah ha ha.", Nox snorts. Well that hurt.

I manage to kneel up then throw the door off my back. I stand up and look the formidable duo squarely in the eyes. "Actually that's why I'm here.", trying to muster as much grace as I can.

"WHAT?", they say in unison.

The 'not the police' officer gives me a curious look. She stands legs shoulder-width apart, holding two pistols out in front of her; one directed at Lisk and the other at Nox. Her hair is short and red in colour and she is dressed in a black all in one that hugs her curvy frame.

"So you just thought that a random citizen coming into a recently bombed building with no reason is perfectly normal then?", I say crossing my arms and giving the two idiots a condescending look.

"So you are a S.H.I.E.L.D agent!", Lisk says triumphantly.

"No. I'm a random citizen who came into a recently bombed building with a reason. Massive difference.", I say matter-of-factly using my hands to indicate the 'massive difference'. My exultation is short-lived, however, because at this moment I suddenly realise I should probably have been paying more attention to what was going on and joining the whole walking around in a circle thing. Lisk and Nox have side-stepped all the way back to the door.

The next thing I know Knox's sweaty hand is clamped around my mouth and his arm hooked around my neck with his other hand pressing against my shoulder. He's in the position to snap my neck!

All my confidence is drained from me and I become as still as possible, absolutely terrified that he'll kill me; but inside my mind I couldn't be more active. In my mind I'm jumping up and down screaming at myself. Telling myself what a fool I am and asking why I couldn't have just gone to work today like a normal person. Why couldn't I have just told Toby I liked him, maybe he might not have died. If I hadn't stolen that biscuit from the biscuit tin - oh this is getting ridiculous.

Lisk's cool voice brings me out of my reverie. "If S.H.E.I.L.D doesn't want another innocent civilion's death on their hands I suggest you do exactly as we say.".

"And what makes you think I'll do that?", says the Russian.

Lisk turns to face me, a mirthless smile plastered across her face, pulling put of her pocket a silver circlet decorated with various buttons, about the size of a human neck. And funnily enough the cool of the metal slithers around mine.

"This-", she says indicting to the circlet now wrapped around my neck, "-is a bomb. Uniquely designed to fit around a person's neck in case we got into any trouble. If you choose not to cooperate then-", she let's the word hang tantalisingly in the air, "I will feel no guilt in setting it off and watching from above the destruction and chaos that will ensue. As an entire district burns.". Que stereotypical evil laugh. "So. Will you do as we ask?"

The agent pauses before raising her hand to her ear and saying uncertainly "Fury?". She waits then nods. The two pistols are drawn again. "S.H.I.E.L.D has thought about your question and the answer is no. Leave now or regret it.".

The two criminals look at each other. They nod. "It's us or the girl.", drawls Nox. He presses a button on the circlet and let's me drop. The two sprint to the now doorless doorway.

I land heavily on my side. The wind being knocked out of me. My eyes are drawn to my only possible saviour now kneeling next to me looking intently at the circlet.

"But Sir- ", argues the agent, hand to ear once more. And again she nods. My heart sinks. She gets up and she too runs through the doorway.

"No. Please. Help me. Help. Me.", I scream. But she's gone.

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Hello fellow agents. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and that 'Tasha seemed you know OK. Feel free to comment on what you thinks going to happen next but be warned I am going to update soon because it is a really short chapter next in comparison.