Maya Stark

Chapter 77: A threat

The tension between the three of us was very high as we sped walk the streets of Jada. I don't actually think any of us knew where we were really going. My thoughts were racing at a hundred miles an hour when my phone started to ring. It was Pepper.

'Hey, Pepper, I can't—'

'Something happened,' she said, voice shaky.

I stopped walking, color draining from my face. 'What happened? Is everyone okay? Is Morgan okay?'

'Yes, yes,' Pepper said quickly. 'We are okay. Uhm, someone named Karli asked me to get a message to you.'

'Karli?' I said, voice urgent.

I hear Pepper take a deep breath. 'She knows where we live Maya. She threatened Morgan. She thought you were working with Walker, and I tried to tell her you most definitely weren't. She said she's trying to decide if she should kill you. She wants to meet. She left her contact information.'

'What happened?' Bucky asked.

I hadn't realized that Sam and Bucky had stopped walking with me. Both of them looked concerned.

'Karli threatened Pepper and Morgan,' I said to them quickly. 'Okay, Pepper, I need you to not worry too much, okay? I can take care of myself, especially against Karli. Karli won't hurt you; she just needs to make sure I show up. It would be pointless for her to. Just be ready to move just in case, okay?'

'Maya, are you going to be okay? What's going on over there?' she asked.

'Don't worry about me,' I said quickly. 'Just focus on keeping yourself and Morgan safe. I have Sam and Bucky here. They'll keep me safe. I promise to figure this all out. Nobody will ever hurt you two.'

'I know,' she said, softly. 'Stay alive.'

'You know I will.' I hung up quickly, texting the number Pepper sent me. 'Karli wants to meet,' I said aimlessly to Bucky and Sam as I started to walk again. 'She left a contact number.' Karli replies back quickly with her location and a short text. 'She said come alone.'

'Yeah,' Bucky scoffed. 'She must be insane if she thinks you're going alone.'

'Yeah, Maya, we're coming,' said Sam.

I nod, not really paying attention to them. She went after my family. The only family I have left. The last piece of him I really had was Morgan. She made a big mistake.

The three of us suited up for what felt like the first time in forever and then we headed to the rooftop above North Plaza where Karli said she was. I was quiet but I noticed Bucky and Sam sharing looks that they figured I couldn't see. They were worried; I was angry.

'Karli!' I screamed when we got there. She appeared up on the balcony, leaning on the railing carelessly.

I made a beeline for the steps and Bucky and Sam were right on my heels. I walk up quickly.

'You threatened my family?' I say when we get to the top. Sam and Bucky hang back as I walk to Karli, who straightens and looks at me. 'That's how we're going to play this?'

'Maya, I would never hurt those two. I just wanted to understand you better. I thought about threatening that little boyfriend of yours until I realized you've barley talk to him since the blip.' My jaw locks and I resist the urge to punch her. Karli eyes Sam and Bucky. 'I see you, uhm, didn't come alone.'

'You were delusional if you thought those two would let me out of their sights,' I said. 'You have to end this now.'

'I don't wanna hurt you,' she said. 'You're just a tool in the regimes I'm looking to destroy. You're not hiding behind a shield. You don't even like the shield; I see that now. If I were to kill you, it'd be meaningless. I was gonna ask you to join me. Or do the world a favor and let me go.'

I was silent for a moment and then glance back at Sam and Bucky. Bucky was watching me rather intently, doing that staring thing. Sam was looking at his arm like he was tracking someone. I hated that my minds' first instinct was to agree. I thought she made good points.

'Maya,' Sam said, urgently. I looked back to him. 'It's Walker.'

Bucky reacted quickly, jumping down from the balcony. Karli followed, kicking him mid jump into a wall. Bucky groans as he hits the ground. I lower myself next to him, using my powers to slam Karli into a pillar behind her. Sam lands next to me as Bucky stands up.

'I'll send you the location. Go!' Sam said to Bucky who takes off running. He turns to me. 'Stay behind me, alright?'

I nod and follow him into the air.