The Cries of the Dead (A Moon Knight Inspired Fan-fiction)

Chapter Eight: Needed

(Warnings: Memories of abuse, death threats, violence, strong sexual references.)

"Lia, I thought you'd never answer."

Daniel Jones' voice was so sharp, it felt like Lia was being cut open. That pain caused everything inside her to become rigid.

Forcing herself to focus on breathing, did nothing to stop the memories surfacing. Mostly of their last encounter together - the nightmares she experienced every night since.

Recalling how Daniel pinned her against the wall, and promised to make her a victim once again. Marc rushed to save her, only to die as Lia tried desperately to prevent that happening.

"What do you want?" She asked Daniel, keeping her voice steady. Attempting to sound unphased.

There wasn't a chance that she'd let him hear just how scared she truly was.

"I wanted for you to know that I'm thinking of you." Was his sickly sweet reply.

"Is that why you bombed that cafe? Because you were thinking of me?"

Daniel was silent, but Lia could tell he was smiling. Lia hated that she knew him well enough to even know that.

Pulling her phone from her face and putting it on speaker, Lia managed - even as her hands shook - to send two messages. Only one reply was returned.

"Why are you doing this?" She demanded.

"I enjoy inflicting pain," Daniel confessed. "And making people suffer."

Lia's phone flashed again, a second message appearing. "Yes, I am aware of that."

There was a low hum, before Daniel spoke again. "You were the first, so weak and desperate. So lovely and breakable."

Her stomach lurched. "I am not weak any more."

Daniel didn't hesitate with his answer. "Not with Marc Spector at your beck and call, at least."

Lia hated the irony in that comment. Daniel believed the only way she could be strong, was to have a man save her, and she knew that was correct - at least for now.

That's exactly how events in her life had been playing out. Marc had stepped in all those months ago. He'd kept her safe.

"Does it make you nervous, knowing that your cafe could be next?"

Everything became distant. Even the knock at the door barely registered.

"A word of advice, Lia. Make the most of your days while you still can...they are numbered."

Suddenly Daniel was gone, the line snapping to abrupt silence. Lia was able to move. Though she continued to shake and gasp for air, she grabbed the door handle and opened the door.

Her eyes wouldn't focus on the figure before her, as she tried and failed to still her racing mind.

Marc gently grabbed her face with both hands, the warmth of them almost startling. He stood so close that Lia knew he was scanning every inch of her. As if looking for any signs of damage.

For a second, she considered sending him away. To prove that she didn't need him to protect her, that Daniel had been wrong.

However, she couldn't manage to tell him to leave. Didn't want him to leave.

"What happened?" He demanded.

Lia had sent both Marc and Steven a message, and Marc had been the one to reply. She hadn't wanted it to be Steven this time.