I stare at the factory, wondering for the thousandth time why Loki has picked this place out of all places. It looks like it'll fall down on top of us any second now. Loki would probably survive a building falling on him, maybe that's his plan.
I glance across at Peter who's looking at me. I wait for an encouraging or determined remark, but he stays silent which just highlights how terrible this situation is. I don't bother asking Peter if he wants to stay behind, as much as I'd like him safe, I know he'll gladly risk his life for MJ. He'd do it a hundred times if it was necessary. I just hope Clover and MJ are unharmed and relatively safe, I have no idea what Loki wants.
Peter starts walking into the factory and I follow him, we both agreed there's no point in a sneak attack, Loki's too smart for that and he knows we're coming. I don't know how he knows but he obviously knows how much I care for Clover and how much Peter cares for MJ. Granted, if it was just MJ, I'd still come to save her.
We walk through the grass, it's almost up to my knees. Seriously, when was the last time anyone came here? I glance around, there's nothing but factories and old looking houses around. There's no cars or no people walking around, I have no idea if anyone lives here anymore, it doesn't seem like it.
Peter opens the door cautiously, we both glance around the room for Loki. The walls are white with painting peeling off, the floors are wooden and look like they'll give way if anyone steps on them. There's no Loki, at least not that we can see. My eyes fall on Clover and MJ who are sitting on the floor against a wall, I raise an eyebrow. The MJ and Clover I know wouldn't just sit down, they'd fight to escape, to come back home.
"No illusions, Loki, please, we just want to make sure they're okay" I say, he's the god of mischief but surely, he's not completely heartless, he's saved Thor's life apparently. He's also tried to kill him so I'm not sure if that's a good observation.
The room changes slightly, Clover and MJ are handcuffed to a wall, their ankles tied together and duct tape over their mouths. As much as I want to sprint to them, to free them and get the hell out of here, I know we can't do that. Loki's powerful, too powerful.
The hairs on the back of my neck rise and I jump around, seeing Loki right behind me. I jump back three feet, Loki smiles slightly at my reaction.
"Scared?" he asks, I roll my eyes but don't respond, I'm not here to argue with Loki, I'm here to find out what he wants in exchange for Clover and MJ's freedom, whatever it is, we probably can't afford it but I know we'll do it anyway.
Loki's tall and almost the opposite to Thor. Despite not knowing Thor well, he's always given off a warm vibe, like he genuinely likes people and wants to help. Thor is also blond and smiley whereas Loki is dark and guarded and I can't tell what he's thinking or feeling.
"Let them go!" Peter demands, clenching his fists. Peter thinking that he can scare Loki into letting our friends go is pretty funny, if I wasn't so stressed, I might actually laugh. But nothing's funny now considering four lives are at risk.
"Certainly" Loki says, I wait for it. "If you do something first." There it is whatever he wants is about to come to light. I close my eyes, maybe we should've brought Tony, Steve, and Thor with us, then we might actually leave with our friends. Or just Thor and Tony, despite our lives being in grave danger, I can't bring myself to wish Steve was here.
Loki's eyes focus on me, and I look away, Loki always scared me growing up, he had so much powerful and used it in all the wrong ways. Looking back, I wonder if subconsciously I was worried, I'd end up the same way.
"I want Scarlett" Loki says, his eyes not leaving mine. I blink. Scarlett? Surely, he doesn't mean my Scarlett, does he? Well, she's not my Scarlett anymore, I guess. I glance at Clover, then at MJ, and finally at Peter. I can't help but feel this is targeted at me, out all of people, Loki is asking me to bring Scarlett to him.
Despite my best efforts, my memories of Scarlett come flashing through. All the times we'd lie on her bed laughing at things, all our fun times at the lakes, Scarlett not hesitating to save my life on missions, the time I got burnt saving her. I immediately try to think of Scarlett smashing my head, murdering Mystique in front of me, and not hearing me out in the forest. I can't stop the good memories from appearing, it would be so much easier if I could forget Scarlett as easily as she did me.
"Fine" Peter says. He doesn't look at me, though I'm not exactly going to argue with him. Scarlett was my best friend; Clover is the girl I'm currently in love with. If it has to come down to it, I will pick Clover every time. "Let them go."
I glance at Clover, nodding slightly. I need her to know I'm coming back, that I'll accept this price for her life. I can't live with myself if she is trapped here thinking I'm not returning.
"They get freedom when you bring Scarlett" Loki says. Peter lunges at him but Loki suddenly disappears. MJ and Clover disappear too, I gasp. Was this all an illusion? I blink, hoping it was just a trick of the light and MJ and Clover will still be there, they aren't.
My heart sinks, Loki could be anywhere. How do we know he'll keep his promise? I close my eyes, remembering when Natasha said I had to realise I was fighting the x-men's ideas, not the x-men themselves. This is different, I'm basically killing Scarlett.
I whirl around as the door opens, a part of me foolishly expecting to see MJ and Clover. I don't. Steve, Thor, and Tony are at the door, none of them look particularly impressed.
"Loki!" Thor booms, I glance around the room, nothing changes. Loki's gone.
YOU ARE READING
Beautiful Ruins
Action"Maybe there was a fleeting moment where I wanted to be a hero and believed I could be one, but the truth is I'm not, I won't ever be. My past does define me, it made me a villain" - Storm. Fifteen-year-old Storm is the daughter of Black Widow and I...
