The shadow Hunter

chapter 4

"Can someone explain what the hell a shield is?" I demanded from the room of scientists. It seemed like every scientist working in the building had been notified and brought to the room. They all chattered excitedly under their breathes with each other. Finally Agata stood forward. "A shield, someone who is immune to the effects of others gifts. And even in some cases the shield becomes visible and, if trained, can be used to stop physical attacks. The change of pattern in the brain is untraceable." I stared with shook at her, what she was saying simply couldn't be true. Yet again, i was standing in a room with a person who had super speed and someone who had telekinesis and telepathy, so maybe it was. "Wanda's powers wouldn't work on you because the mind stone has forced your brain to create a block." Her words washed over me as i tried hard to process them. Agata's words finally sunk in. "And, these shields, there are others?" I asked. "None currently that we know of. They have been mentioned in Greek mythology, although they would have been born with the ability,  and there have also been mentioned in old transcripts but the ability for an abnormal brain to be able to create it's own barrier, it is a rare thing." Agata spoke with such excitement but i wasn't sure whether to be happy or confused.  There was a long silence as the idea was processed. The chatter from the scientists started to lower. "I think that is enough for today, they can go." The head scientist waved me, Pietro and Wanda away. "But we have so much to work on tomorrow!" He said with glee although the idea to me was not gleeful. The guards gripped at our arms as they brought us back to our cells. 

The lights were off and the cells silent. Wanda and Pietro were both asleep but i couldn't. I was a shield, was that meant to make me special? It just made me feel more alone, being the only one of my kind. "Alena?" A voice whispered. I rolled over on my bed to see Pietro leant against the glass. "Pietro, i thought you were asleep." I muttered to him. He shook his head. "Couldn't sleep." He said. "Me neither." I told him. He smiled slightly. "I know, its weird when it first starts. When my abilities were discovered, it felt odd, almost lonely. And i felt like i was a weird monster" We stared at each other in silence for a while until we both realized what we were doing and looked away awkwardly. I told him i was tired and I pretended i was asleep but i had a feeling he was still watching me from the other side of the glass. Eventually i started to drift off and as i was slipping away, i knew he was still there, because i heard him mutter something. But i was too far gone to hear what he said. 

I tossed and turned all night. My mind filled with the same noise. The same laugh that sounded like glass on sandpaper. The same face. I woke with a start as the harsh movements of guards woke me. The usual. After the guards took us to the shower cubicles, gave us clean clothes and our usual porridge, we were instantly taken up stairs. I had suspected this after yesterdays revelation. We weren't taken to the room from yesterday but a bigger room. Apart from it's size, it looked exactly like the labs. The scientists beamed with excitement, from behind the glass screen, when we were taken in. The man from yesterday leant forward to speak into a small microphone. "Alena, if you could walk to the middle of the room." The voice came out of speakers positioned around the room. I slowly walked out into the middle of the floor. "Ok, now face the wall." I turned to face the white wall ahead of me.  "Ok, now Pietro?" Pietro tore his eyes away from me and stared at the scientists with confusion. "Could you stand at the wall, opposite Alena, please." The three of us furrowed our brows. I hadn't thought Pietro's powers would come into the equation, i assumed my mind would only stop mental attacks. Cautiously, Pietro walked to the wall and turned to face me, our eyes locking. "Ok, Pietro, what we need is for you to run towards Alena." I didn't see how this was testing my shield abilities. Pietro looked nervous. "With my super speed?" He asked. 

"Yes." The scientist said. He shook his head and looked from me to Wanda. "No, i can't do that." He announced. "Why not Pietro?" The scientist asked. Pietro still was shaking his head. "Because, i can't fully control it, if i run at her i will knock her over with such a force i could...i could really hurt her." I don't know what they were thinking and how this would help in any way. Pietro was right, he could hurt me. "The girl won't get hurt. Do it." Pietro looked at them unconvinced and his eyes fell to me. His jaw was locked and his lips pressed together. "It's ok, Pietro, I trust you." Three words. Three words i hadn't said to anyone before. Even as the words came out of my mouth it surprised me. For a moment i stood there shocked as the words hung in the air.  Pietro looked at me with concern. He gave one glance to Wanda who shook her head but it was no use because we would have to do this. Pietro started to plant his feet, getting ready to run. My body tensed as Pietro took his starting step and i prepared my self, waiting for impact. He moved so fast, he disappeared and for a moment nothing happened. But then i felt a wave of something, energy, a force and Pietro bounced back from where i stood and hit the floor.