HellFire's Rider Of Vengeances

Chapter Three: A demon meets an angel

                    Snow fell heavily on Sokovia, blanketing the war-torn landscape in a deceptive veil of tranquility. Two Hydra agents, disguised as S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives, dragged an unconscious Clarke through the biting cold and into the depths of an underground compound. Her black combat boots scraped against the concrete floors, leaving a trail of scuff marks as the agents hauled her by her shoulders. She was dressed in black pants and a black and red skin-tight tank top, her attire clinging to her athletic frame. The agents came to a halt before a towering figure, a man standing six feet two inches tall with a bald head and a face marred by extensive scarring. A monocle perched over his right blue eye, which glared down at Clarke with a mixture of disdain and superiority. "Throw her in a cell," he commanded, his voice thick with a heavy German accent.

                    The agents bowed respectfully before continuing their grim task, dragging Clarke past a young woman and a man who stood nearby. The woman, only a few inches shorter than Clarke, possessed a strikingly beautiful figure. Her long, dark, wavy, auburn hair framed a face with bright green eyes that sparkled with curiosity. As Clarke was pulled past, she felt an intrusive presence attempting to pry open her mind. Instinctively, the Rider within her lashed out, causing the woman to stumble backward into the arms of the man beside her. The man, significantly taller than both women, stood at six feet with a cross-country athlete's lean, muscular build. His wavy silver hair caught the dim light, adding an ethereal quality to his appearance. Concern etched across his features, he held the woman close, his blue eyes filled with worry.

                    "What is it? What did you see?" he whispered urgently, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of machinery.

                    The woman shook her head, her eyes still fixed on Clarke as the agents dragged her away. "I don't know," she murmured, her voice tinged with unease. As Clarke disappeared into the shadows of the compound, the storm outside raged on, shrouding Sokovia in a cold, unforgiving embrace.

                    The two agents unceremoniously threw Clarke into a cell, the transparent door sliding shut with a hiss, locking her inside. For a moment, silence reigned. Then, with a groan, Clarke pushed herself up, brushing off the dust and grime with an air of annoyance. She slipped an earpiece into her ear. "Did you get everything, Jarvis?" she asked, her voice low and steady.

                    "Yes, Miss Blaze. I have mapped out everything you have seen so far, but it seems I can't hack into their systems. Strucker's technology is well beyond any other Hydra base we've encountered," Jarvis replied, his tone calm and precise.

                    "What about a manual upload?" Clarke inquired, moving towards the cell door.

                    "Yes, I believe that would suffice, Miss Blaze. If you can upload me into their network, I can dismantle their security," he explained.

                    "How long until the team shows up?" she asked, her hand suddenly igniting in flames, transforming into a skeletal hand. Clarke ran her fiery fingers over the door's surface, melting through it with ease.

                    "An hour at most, Miss Blaze," Jarvis responded.

                    "Then we better get moving," Clarke said, stepping through the molten remains of the door. She moved stealthily through the dimly lit halls, her senses on high alert. Peering through a few doors, she saw scientists conducting horrific experiments on humans and animals. The Rider within her clawed at her mind, enraged by the sight. "Easy; once we get the security down, they will all pay," she whispered, her voice a cold promise. Clarke continued down another hall, skidding to a stop as a door in front of her opened. Two agents walked out, their backs to her. They strolled down the hall, oblivious to her presence, as she tiptoed to the door and slowly opened it. The room was empty, with various security screens and a console bristling with buttons and levers. Clarke slipped inside, locking the door behind her. She moved to the console, pulling a flash drive from her bra and inserting it into the port.