SHADOW [Avengers: AOU]

XIV. Afraid Of Myself

"ULTRON!"

Jacqueline's eyes flew open and she quickly sat up in her bed, with tears streaming down her face. She had another nightmare. This one involved Ultron instead of her parents. She was there during the final fight against the Avengers in Sokovie. But she wasn't fighting anyone or even helping Ultron. With stealthy steps she crept up behind the robot, one hand shimmering green as she used her telekinesis and pulled his core from his chest, wires all still connected inside before draining him of all his power. Her iris's were bright green and the whites of her eyes a darker green as she grinned wickedly at Ultron. His red eyes slowly dimmed and then he was gone.

Taking in her surroundings, Jacqueline saw that she was in the same room as before. Her heart clenched in pain at remembering the look in Ultron's eyes. She pulled her knees up to her chest and began to rock herself back and forth.

It was just a dream, it wasn't real.

"Getting a lot of sleep these days Jacqui?"

She looked up and saw the Source standing in front of her. The woman pulled back her hood while the girl stared at her in hatred.

"You. Using my parents and Ultron--making me think that I," Jacqueline swallowed the lump that began to form in her throat. "Why? Why are you so cruel?" She asked, her voice pained and angry.

"Why are you being so difficult?" The Source asked.

"Difficult?!"

How the hell was she being difficult?! The Source narrowed her eyes.

"Yes difficult. If you were someone else they would have bow down before me the second I offered help wanting the pain to end. I will say though, a part of me admires your stubbornness. It just makes things much more entertaining. How that man--Captain America tried to help yesterday. You just screamed in his face and hid in the corner balled up like a child, "I didn't kill them...I didn't kill them." " The Source mimicked Jacqueline's terrified voice from the night before.

Laughter filled her empty head, as if after all this time the voices had just awaken from their slumber. Now she missed it when it was only her thoughts in her head.

"Ha! You were so frightened. I wonder of what? The dreams? Or the monster you're slowly becoming? You're almost there, all you need is to be given a little push."

She reached out her hand and grasped her shoulder. A cold feeling creeps up her arm. Jacqueline flinched away from her touch, making the Source laugh again before a grin formed on her scaly face, her eyes looked up to the ceiling.

"I see you've met the other infinity stone."

"What?" Jacqueline asked.

She thought back to the day before with Vision. The yellow gem that glowed on his forehead.

No way.

"Vision. That yellow gem is--"

"What do you think?" The Source asked with a raised brow.

"No tell me! You've told me secrets, but not all of them!"

Why wouldn't she just tell her?! Their deal was still up--sort of, though it's been very rocky between the two of them lately. But she had to tell her everything. Their pact was cracked but not entirely broken. The woman snorted, fixing her black gloves.