The Invention Left By A Little Stark | Book 2

24) Burger King & Confessions

It was a long thirty minutes before Hope finally began to stir again.

Her limbs twitched before her mind caught up and her jolt of movement sent a ripple of nausea through her chest. She blinked, only to find that the light above her was so bright it was blinding her all over again.

The good news was that she wasn't tied anymore. But this realization had come in fragments. Her wrists were raw but free, her ankles were no longer biting against harsh material, and her breath was now shallow but unimpeded.

The couch she appeared to be lying on was absurdly soft, like something you'd find in a therapist's office. And, as she very slowly sat up, her memory flickered. She remembered something covering her eyes and the sour taste of panic.

What the hell happened?

Where was she? Where was Darren? Why did it feel like she'd been asleep for years?

And then, sharp but kind, a voice filled the room. "Hello, Ms. Pym."

She jumped, looking around the room for the source of the voice, but found herself unable to find it.

"My apologies for startling you. If you can wait for a moment, I will inform Sir that you are awake."

"Sir?" She questioned, the slow realization now setting in. "Wait... JARVIS?"

"Yes, Ms. Pym?"

"It is you." She tried to look around again. "Where's Tony? Did he have something to do with this?"

Not her eyes had adjusted to the light, she was able to deduce her surroundings. She recognized it to be a lab of sorts, and a very advanced one at that.

"Mr. Stark was not personally involved, I assure you." JARVIS told her.

"Then why am I here?"

"I cannot answer you at this time. But you are safe."

"Where's 'safe'?"

"The Avengers Tower, New York City."

Hope swallowed the lump in her throat as she very slowly straightened herself up on the couch. Why was she in New York? How did she leave San Francisco? When did she leave? How?

And then, fractured, part of her memory came back. She remembered a large robot - AI - using something on her before the world turned black. Twice, it happened.

"JARVIS, how long have I been out?"

"A few days." He replied. "It is May 30th."

"A few days?!" She panicked, letting out a heavy exhale as she readjusted herself on the couch. "Are you sure Tony didn't do this? There was a great big AI robot and it was all very Stark-y. Where is he? I need to speak to someone!"

"Please try to remain calm, Ms. Pym."

"No! I'm supposed to be on the other side of the country! I was with Darren Cross. We were..." She faltered, unsure of how to explain that particular situation. "We were busy. JARVIS, please."

Silence filled the lab.

She didn't know how much time passed but it couldn't have been longer than a minute before eventually JARVIS spoke up again.

"Sorry for the wait, Ms. Pym. I was informing Mr. Stark that you are now conscious. I inquired as to what I should tell you."

She scoffed. "Why don't you tell 'Mr. Stark' to get his ass down here and tell me himself?"

"He understands you will have many questions and he wishes for you to have patience as he collects some refreshments for you. He is aware you will be hungry after so many days on the road. Once he returns, he will tell you everything."