INFERNO || Bucky Barnes

6

The apartment was quiet. Too quiet. Inferno checked the time on the clock, 2:30 in the morning. Usually she could hear the freight trains being loaded and unloaded at this time, her neighbors above arguing, the fridge running a little too loud. But nothing. It was like Brooklyn and the whole of New York were dead. She swung her feet over the side of the bed and stood slowly. She flicked a flame in her right hand so she could see, but also because she needed to be on guard.

She slowly opened the door to the rest of her apartment and willed it not to squeak. It, by the grace of the gods and forces, did not. She stopped when the door was only an inch or two open. Feet were shuffling in the living room. She needed to decide to do a sneak attack or wait until she knew it was a true threat. She stepped out into the living area and didn't say a word to the intruder yet.

A woman in a tight armored suit and translucent skin stood and studied the newspapers on the windows. Her arms were behind her back and Inferno could see every vein and muscle in them. The rest of her was covered, thank god. Her muscle was a gold color, and the blood that Inferno could see flowing was a blurry white color; like the color of water with a small amount of corn starch in it. She could see, through the woman's bald head, her brain, a web of energy running around in her head. Inferno lit her left hand and pushed the fire out in a stronger and hotter fashion. Now her hands looked like a campfire that someone had just poured lighter fluid on.

"I don't see why you chose here of all places to try to hide." The woman turned around to face her. Her eyes were a bright green color, unnatural and like nothing Inferno had ever seen. "But I guess it was fine while it lasted. It is so great to finally meet in person, Inferno."

Inferno pushed her fires hotter and brighter and stronger. The woman didn't budge.

"Leave and we won't have any issues." Inferno warned, stepping a half step closer. The woman laughed and held her arms to her chest in mock shock.

"Oh wow. Inferno threatening someone? How unpredictable. You and I have similar ideas. We won't have any issues. But we also disagree. I'm not leaving without you."

"Who are you?" The woman pulled a face again in fake shock and hurt.

"Force Croixa never told you about me? Did she tell you about the others? You didn't think you were the only one did you?" Inferno was confused but tried to hide it, according to the woman, she failed. "Oh you did think that you were the only one. How awkward! I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you. It really should have been Force Croixa."

Don't listen to her.

"Oh you should probably listen to me, Inferno." The woman responded to Force Croixa and Inferno could feel the force writhe in anger. But Inferno had other things on her mind, like that the woman could hear the force too.

"You can hear it."

The woman laughed.

"So naive. You don't know a thing do you? Yes I can hear it. But I'm the only one that can hear it from others too. I don't think the others can, at least not the ones I've met."

"Others?"

"Millions of us are across the universe. It is so unfortunate that Force Croixa has given the one with the least ambition the most power. At least, the most power out of those who choose to wield it. Some don't choose to, some don't even know and die without ever seeing what they can truly do." Inferno shook her head at the woman. This wasn't real. This wasn't real.

Don't listen to her, she's lying.

"I'm not though. Isn't that the fun part? Inferno, I'm here to offer you a deal. I've decided that there are too many different sources of power in the universe. Too many different planets with different rulers and systems, almost all of them bound to fail. But there are so many of us. I've decided that we need to come together and unite us all. We can rule together, binding the universe to one fabric of time and space. And you are my favorite choice to help."