Retaliation

Chapter 31 Relapse

I was in an unknown location. I could hear the sound of rushing water from outside. I looked around and saw a massive hole in the side of the building I was in, below us was a raging river with dangerous-looking rapids.

I loud scream brought me out of my trance. I saw Bucky followed by Tony get thrown hard into a wall, both struggling to get up. I saw a tall, muscular figure walk out from behind a huge pile of rubble. Dots of red blood shone on her black and white suit. Even though I haven't seen her true form in a while, I instantly recognized her light green skin and dark purple eyes which quickly changed into a glowing white. She approached the two defeated men, sharp bone slicing from her knuckles ready to finish the job with a stab. 

"Hey!" I shouted without even thinking. She turned to me, her eyes returning to normal just for a brief moment to meet my gaze. Her expression was blank and cold. There was no hint of Jasmine behind those eyes, I was looking at Bombshell. 

In a ditch effort to save the boys, I called out to her further. "Come on, I know you recognize me! I know I'm the one you're after, come and get me!"

I instantly regretted taunting her as she took a few menacing steps toward me before she full-on sprinted. Within a few seconds, she was on top of me and swung her fist in my direction. I just barely managed to dodge the brunt of it but her bone claws still managed to nick me in the side. Before I could register her next move I was struck hard in the chest and collapsed onto the ground, blue blood spewed from my mouth. I could hear a commotion going on around me.

I tried to open my eyes but my vision was blurry. My chest was in extreme pain, my limbs felt cold and numb. I tried to lift my head but I was too weak to do so. I could see the faint outlines of rubble and silhouettes fighting in the near distance.

A figure approached me, I didn't recognize who it was at first but my vision eventually focused. Ryan pressed her hands against my chest trying her best to stop the bleeding, her hands being coated in blue. Just over her shoulder, I could see a glowing figure fighting like a rabid animal. It was hard to make out the details but I saw the figure run up on somebody and lodge their fingers into their mouth. The figure then ripped off the bottom jaw, bones and all, and throw it with force on the ground. Green blood splattered everywhere as the unknown figure fell to the ground.

The glowing figure didn't stop there, it ran up to another victim and punched the person so hard that their entire body flew in the air and smashed up against a pillar. They tried to get up but the glowing figure was instantly on them again, she was about to punch when more soldiers appeared out of nowhere. A few figures approached and lifted their guns but the glowing figure pounced on them and stabbed at their faces and throats.

The glowing figure stopped and turned to look at me. Her purple eyes meet my blue ones. She looked angry and confused. A beat-up Bucky and Tony ran up to me, shielding me while Ryan tended to me. She glared at us like a snake watching its prey, analyzing all of us. Her eyes eventually landed back on me. She slightly crouched down indicating she was about to lunge full force. From her back sprouted two gigantic reptilian-like wings. With the combined power of her energy buildup and her wings, she rocketed toward me. Her eyes locked on.

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I woke up on the bed in a sweat. I frantically got up and called for Jasmine, she had stuffed herself underneath the bed on the floor. I only knew she was under there because she was holding my hand that I had hanging over the short-framed bed. It appeared she was asleep before she heard and felt me move. Her eyes shot open and a worried look appeared on her face as she saw how distressed I was.