Brother Avengers

Brother Avengers Chapter 21

For the FIRST TWO sections, I listened to "Prince Caspian Soundtrack: Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance."

For the THIRD section ONWARD, I listened to "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe soundtrack: The Battle." Couldn't have picked the titles better myself;) Listen while you read. You will not believe how much more thrilling it makes it.

Enjoy!

VVVVV

Chapter 21

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world.
It knows no law, no pity,

It dares all things

And crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."

-Agatha Christie

Jane followed right behind Sif down the darkened hallway. Marie's fingertips brushed the back of Jane's arm—Pepper's footsteps padded almost silently behind Marie. Jane's breathing came in short, shallow breaths, her eyes darting back and forth as they hurried on.

As soon as they had slid out of their cell, Sif had immediately led them out of the dungeons via a small side door only used by guards during shift changeover. The four had climbed up a narrow, twisting stairway, tensely groping their way along in the pitch blackness. Finally, they had eased out into a taller, long, open corridor lit only by one flickering torch every hundred meters. They slipped along like single-file shadows, hugging the wall, saying nothing. Jane was suddenly thankful she wore no shoes—her feet made no sound. She stayed right behind Sif, trying to get her bearings, but she couldn't. She had never been to this part of the palace.

They whispered swiftly down the long hall, then turned right as Sif turned, down a small set of steps and into a dark alcove. Sif slowed, then faced them. Jane, heart pounding, stepped up near her. Sif glanced at all their faces, then held out her arms and pulled the four of them into a huddle, keeping Marie between herself and Jane. Jane wrapped her arms around Marie and Pepper's waists, hoping they could not feel how badly she was shivering. She could only see shadows of their faces in the dim blue light, but she could feel their heartbeats, their breaths, as they all pulled in tight together.

"The palace is dark," Sif whispered, barely making any sound. "I fear for the safety of the king and queen."

Jane's heart jolted.

"What could have happened to them?"

"Remember the net weapon that bound us up?" Sif reminded her. "I am afraid it may also work on the All-Father."

Jane went cold.

"Then what are we going to do?" Marie asked. Sif drew in a short breath and let it out.

"We will do whatever it takes to keep Doom from getting the tesseract."

"If he doesn't have it already," Pepper muttered.

"Doom doesn't have it yet—if he did, we would not be standing here," Sif said. "He must not know where it is."

"But you do," Marie realized. Sif nodded.

"I do."

"You have a plan?" Pepper assumed.

"We dare not break into the main vault ourselves and try to move the tesseract," she said. "We could easily do as much damage as Doom plans if we make a mistake—besides which, the Destroyer would kill us. But perhaps we can stop Doom from entering the vault."

Jane felt Marie's arm tighten around her. Jane swallowed.

"What did you have in mind?" she asked.