Present of the Past || TONY STARK fanfiction

CHAPTER 29: ''A stranger in a strange land''

My legs moved faster than my brain could process. Hugh's grip on my wrist was tight as he pulled me forward. "Hugh!" I was out of breath. "Where are we going?" I squeaked. My lungs felt like they were burning. How is that possible? You're a superhuman? The voice in the back of my head kept repeating.

"You wanted answers, right?" he asked, he had a big smile on his face. For the short time I've known him, I've never seen him so pleased.

"Yes, I do. But I can't breathe. Please slow down" He slowed down but didn't let go of my wrist. This might be some leftover symptom from when I was kidnapped. And you know died for a week, the voice in my head chimed.

"My apologies," he said. "But, we're almost there" The only thing coming from me was a whistling sound. It felt like both of my lungs were collapsed. It was the same feeling I had during elementary school in P.E. I was never the best runner, my lungs would always give out halfway through class. I'd have to go to the nurse and she would call my dad. Which would mean that that same day, I'd get a beating I would never forget. He always wanted a boy, right?

We walked into a library. Closets full of books. If I wasn't fighting for my life, I would've stopped and checked out as many books as I possibly could. I remember Tony teasing me about the amount of books I'd buy. However, he never knew the reason. For most of my life, I was alone and didn't have anything else to do. I barely had any friends, so all I had was books. It wasn't until I met Howard that I started gaining friends.

I looked around and found an empty chair and sat down. I placed my hand over my chest, finally being able to catch my breath. Hugh looked genuinely worried. "Are you alright, Your Highness?" he asked. I nodded and waved him off.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. Just short of breath. I still haven't fully recovered, I think" I reassured him. He looked at me, still unsure. I shook my head again. "We're here for answers, right?" I took one deep breath and leaned back in the big chair. Hugh nodded. "Well then" I nudged. "Show me" Hugh smiled and ran off to get whatever. He looked like a kid in a candy store.

After a few minutes, he returned. A bunch of books in his arms. He dropped them on the table loudly, I jumped up, and Hugh shifted on his feet, like a child high on sugar. "I got all the books I could find on Avelora and its history" he took a deep breath and beamed proudly, a smile from ear to ear.

I smiled through the pain. My head was pounding. "Let's take a look, shall we?" he smiled and nodded but still looked around, unsure, like someone would tell him or something. I tried to reassure him again. "Nothing is going to happen," I said. However, I wasn't sure about that statement either. He shifted on his feet. "You know," I sighed. "I could tell everyone to leave. I can do that now" I joked, however, he didn't get it.

"No," he said, panic in his eyes. I raised my eyebrows in amusement.

"Hugh, that was a joke"

"Oh," he sighed. "That's funny" he lied. His face was dead serious. I just sat back looking at him, still amused. I grabbed a book and started reading.

"Brother Anslem who stumbled upon the town in the year 764. He described it as a place of unparalleled beauty with crystal forests teeming with life" I quoted in my best voice. But for some reason, it didn't make any sense and didn't feel right.

I touched the paper and it felt too new. I pushed this one aside and grabbed another one. This book said and looked the same. I could feel my anger boiling up. He sensed my anger and looked up. He had an equally confused look on his face. "This is either a new edition or someone is lying" Hugh nodded in agreement.

"This is not the book I read as a child" Hugh looked sad and it fueled my anger. I stood up and the chair behind me made a loud scraping sound against the tiles. I grabbed all the books on the table.