𝙸𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 (𝚆.𝙼𝚊𝚡𝚒𝚖𝚘𝚏𝚏)

VII. The Only Light In The Darkness

Oregon.

In the bleak of night, a man stumbled into the ports of a boating operation. Entrenched in dark clothing, he paraded down the boardwalk, but with each passing step, the lanterns near him would suddenly fizzle out, and the light died inside.

It wasn't just the light either. The boat that had just docked near the port had lost all source of light, leaving it covered in darkness. The man knew what he was doing, and he didn't care about it one bit.

"Another example of this administration's lack of transparency..." A voice on a nearby radio expressed concern about the recent HYDRA uprising within the U.S. Government.

"You can't seriously be blaming the president for this!" Another voice argued, defending President Matthew Ellis.

"Those who let SHIELD operate without oversight should be held accountable."

The man, Marcus Daniels, ignored the politics. He was stuck in the Icebox for so long, he could care less about anything. He was free from the confinements of SHIELD, thanks to John Garrett and Grant Ward.

Daniels spotted a lobster fisher nearby, hauling lobster traps into the back of his truck. Seeing an opportunity, he marched to the fisherman, and killed the light once more.

"If your party held the White House, would you be taking this position?"

"If my party held the White House, we wouldn't be in this position."

"I need a ride." Daniels commanded the fisherman, his voice cold and uncaring. The fisherman was too engrossed in the news, and looked to Daniels. "What?" He asked.

"I need a ride. To Portland." Daniels clarified.

The fisherman sighed, just having hauled the trap back into his car. "Sorry, dude," He answered Daniels' statement. "I'm not going 200 miles out of my way to give you a ride."

"Okay." Marcus replied, but still stayed where he was. The Fisherman grew weary of this man, but paid no mind. However, Daniels raised his right hand, and with a heavy breeze, the truck became nothing more than a dead piece of metal.

The fisherman looked at his engine, which was now dead. "What the..." The fisherman exclaimed, looking to Marcus. "Alright, I give up. How'd you do that?"

Daniels silently paraded towards the fisherman, now face-to-face with him. "Like this." Daniels gently placed his hand upon the man's shoulder.

The fisherman's eyes turned black, and gasped in fear, feeling his life drain away. His face flushed gray, and with a deep exhale, he dropped dead to the ground.

Daniels stepped over the now dead man, and commandeered his vehicle. As he sat inside the vehicle, he turned the key to start the ignition, and the radio started up again.

"We cannot allow HYDRA and their allies to rise again." The radio exclaimed, but Daniels reached for the dial and turned it continuously until he found his desired radio station.