THE RAVEN | avengers

[34]

ACT 1
Chapter 34
Captured

Pain.

That's what Raven felt as consciousness slowly returned. Her body ached, her muscles screaming in protest as she shifted against the cold metal slab she was strapped to. She opened her eyes, blinking against the harsh light overhead. The smell of disinfectant and blood filled the air, and her heart raced as she took in her surroundings.

She was in a sterile room, the walls lined with medical equipment. A few feet away, a group of scientists stood around a table, speaking in low voices. Her blood. She could see vials of it, a dark crimson against the stark white surface. They were analyzing it, discussing its properties.

One of the scientists noticed her stirring and quickly called to the guards stationed at the door. They approached, their eyes cold and calculating.

"Awake, are we?" one of them sneered, leaning down to meet her gaze. "You won't be for long."

Raven's mind raced, searching for an escape. She had been in tight spots before, but this... this was different. They wanted her alive, but only long enough to dissect her, to turn her into something they could control. Viktor had warned her about this — warned her that there were enemies who would stop at nothing to get their hands on her.

And now, here she was.

Trapped.

A scientist stepped forward, holding a large syringe filled with a glowing liquid. "This will sedate you," he said calmly. "We'll need more samples."

Raven's eyes narrowed, adrenaline flooding her veins. They had underestimated her. She wasn't just some experiment they could poke and prod. She was a weapon, and they were about to find out exactly how dangerous she could be.

The moment the syringe touched her skin, Raven acted. With a burst of strength, she snapped the restraints holding her down, grabbing the syringe and plunging it into the scientist's neck. The man gasped, stumbling backwards, his eyes wide with shock before he collapsed to the floor.

Chaos erupted. The guards rushed forward, but Raven was already on her feet, her hands moving in a blur as she disarmed them. A quick series of strikes left two guards on the floor, their guns now in her hands. She fired off a few shots, sending the remaining scientists scattering in terror.

Her body ached, but she didn't slow down. She moved with precision, eliminating anyone who stood in her way. As she reached the door, more guards poured into the room, their weapons trained on her. But she was faster. She dodged the bullets, flipping over one of the tables and using it as cover. Her mind worked quickly — she needed a plan. She couldn't fight them all, not in this state. But she didn't need to. All she had to do was survive long enough to escape.

Spotting a ventilation shaft in the corner of the room, Raven made a break for it. She kicked the grate open, slipping inside just as bullets ricocheted off the walls behind her. Crawling through the narrow space, she could hear the shouts of the guards below, their heavy footsteps echoing as they searched for her.

Two days. They had her for two days. And they wouldn't get another second.

She moved quickly through the vents, her mind racing. She had to get out, had to get back to Mikhail. She was praying that he'd be waiting. But first, she needed to destroy everything — every sample, every piece of data they had collected on her.

Raven dropped down into another room, her feet landing softly on the floor. The lab was empty, but the computers were still running. She quickly scanned the screens, her eyes narrowing as she saw the data they had gathered. Without hesitation, she grabbed a nearby gas canister, tipping it over the computer servers.