The Purging of Asgard

Chapter 13

Loki gets to his feet, pulling you up with him, being sure to stay in front of you, acting as your shield from Hela. 

"Honestly, I think I should be commended for my patience. Have you any idea how long I have waited for this?" She says, leaning on your front counter, that's when you recognize her,

"You... I know you... You're a regular." It took a short while to place her, her fierce expression so different from the usually mild, sweet, smiling features of 'little Thor's' mother. But now there is no mistaking the two women are one and the same. You had seen her every week and not even known it.

"How? How are you here?" Loki asks in disbelief, keeping you safely at his back.

"Well, Dear Father, it seems I inherited far more than just your rage. When you ran me through, stabbing me in the back like the coward you are, I discovered something fascinating. I did not truly die. I awoke seven days later in my own halls. No sign of a wound. Reborn." 

"Reincarnated." He says, blood draining from his face. What else had she inherited from him? "But how did you come to be here?" He asks, trying to distract her as he gently nudges you to make toward the door. 

Hela produces a handgun from her waistband, and without hesitation, she shoots the shelf next to your hip, stopping you in your tracks. You yelp, checking to see if you or Loki have been hit, but it seems to have just been a warning.

"You cannot outsmart me again, Father. Today, I will get what I want." She raises the gun again, "I just wanted to say hello again before I say goodbye." 

You see her finger tightening on the trigger and tackle Loki to the ground just as you hear a shot go off, but it hits the ceiling, embedding itself in the plaster. Hearing a struggle, you look up to find a familiar camel-colored coat on your rescuer. 

The Collector? 

"Mr..." You realize you don't even remember his real name, "...sir, what are you doing?" You yell, afraid of what is coming,

"My lord, it may be wise to remove yourself and your wife to a more secure area."

My lord? 

"Balder," you hear Loki breathe, "you're alive."

"I shall endeavor to explain later, should I make it out of here," he struggles valiantly with Hela, who seems to be much stronger than she looks. 

Another shot goes off, again into the ceiling. He wrenches her arms to the side and head-butts her, square in the forehead.

She staggers, losing her grip in her disorientation. Balder grabs her arm, pulls her down to the floor, pinning her onto her stomach with his own weight. 

"I would suggest you move as little as possible." He growls at her as she squirms. He presses the muzzle of the gun to the base of her skull. "Don't. Move." He presses her arm farther up her back, earning a gasp of discomfort.

"Balder." You say to no one in particular as you make it to your feet. You are trying to wrap your head around all of this. It seems like you never left Asgard after all, but you remember seeing Balder fall. You saw Hela killed by her own father. What is happening in the other realms that you were all here?

"It is good to see you are well, My Lady," he says to you softly, "what would you like done with this one? Shall I dispatch her?" 

"No." Loki speaks up, coming to stand behind you. "She would just come back. We need a more permanent punishment." 

"No one move!" 

"Drop the gun! Sir! Drop the gun and let me see your hands!"

Police. 

You fall to your knees, raising your hands, discreetly telling Loki to do the same,

"Why? We haven't done anything." He mutters,

"But they don't know that yet. Just get down."

When you see them cuffing Balder you realize they have the wrong impression.

"It wasn't him!" you call,

"And who are you?" The cop asks turning to you, keeping a firm grip on Balder's cuffed hands,

"I'm the owner of this store and this," you nod to Loki, "Is... My husband. You've just arrested the man who saved us." You tell the officer to check your purse behind the counter, so he rifles around until he finds your wallet, checking the ID closely,

"She's tellin' the truth, let the man up."

"It was her." Loki says, pointing to Hela, her scowl deepening,

They cuff Hela, pulling her up from the floor. She smiles at you and you feel your blood turn cold. This isn't over.

One of the other officers takes your account of what happened as Hela is led out. He informs you that a customer in a nearby shop heard the explosion when the front window was blown in and called the police after they heard the gunshots. After answering so many questions that you had lost count, some of which you're sure had been repeated, the police head out, asking you to come by the precinct the next day to give a formal statement. 

You close the door behind the young officer and turn back to Loki and Balder, heaving a sigh. 

You open your mouth to speak, but you're stopped when you hear a commotion outside. The cops are barking orders, several break off into groups and start running down alleys or streets, guns drawn.

You step out the door, slowly walking toward the car Hela was forced into. An officer was standing in the open door calling for back up and an ambulance, though you knew the EMTs wouldn't be needed. The officer doesn't quite block your view of the young policeman in the front seat, his neck split open, blood flow already halted. Hela is no where to be seen.