SHADOW [Avengers: AOU]

IX. What Lurks in The Dark

Everyone has a fear. Some even have more than one.

Jacqueline had once been terrified of the dark. As a child she feared of what monsters would pop out or attack from any dark corner. Would come out from the shadows underneath her bed, grab her legs and drag her down to it.

After Ultron died things were different. She no longer feared the darkness and the shadows since they've become apart of her.

A dark part that she knows she'll never be rid of. Along with the many powers that the scented green gem in her brain possessed.

Now in hiding from the Avengers and SHIELD she uses her powers to remain unseen. And to also satisfy the many voices inside her head.

=•=•=•=

2 months later

New state. New city. Same criminals.

Jacqueline stood on top of a two story building, taking a good look and feel at her surroundings. She could sense the stray animals and people lurking in the darkness of the alleys that occupied the city.

Even though there might have been beautiful sites to see, she rarely paid close attention to the various cities she went off too. Jacqueline never knew where she would shift to next. All she did know was that where ever she went there would be crime a foot.

And that meant there were souls to be taken.

Something or someone had finally walked out of the shadows. Her gaze shift over the edge of the building and down below her. A man had just came out of a small alley who looked to be about in his mid thirties, fiddling with something in his jacket pocket.

A gun? Or a knife perhaps?

The voices in her head urged her to go and investigate. They didn't want to miss their chance at a quick criminal's soul to devour.

He might just be the one for tonight.

Jacqueline flips her hood up before using her shadow to shift down to the concrete and following after him. He was completely unaware of her being behind him. She had learned to be quite on her feet and barely make a sound.

Suddenly the man stop and so did she, only a feet away from him. She waited. For him to do something law breaking. But he never did. Suddenly he backed up and turned, walking right into her in the process. Something dropped onto the floor. The man backed up a good space away and started to apologize.

"No, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going. Lost in thought?" Jacqueline said.

He gave a nod accompanied with a small smile. She looked down at what he had dropped before bending over and picking it up. It was his wallet.

Was this what he was messing with?

"Here," Jacqueline flipped it over, and the first thing she saw was a picture of him with three kids.

Two small boys who looked around the ages of eight and nine, then one tall girl he had his arm around her shoulders who look to be in her teens.

"These you're kids?" Jacqueline asked.

"Yeah. Oldest is turning 16 this month. Finally got a break off work to go and see them. Don't know I'm here, wanted to make it a surprise. They're all I have in this world."

She looked away from the picture and up at him. From they way he spoke about them she could tell how much he cared and loved them. And that look in his eyes were very loving. He reminded her of...