Grant Ward - Prey

Part 10

Jessica's pov:

Ward had me training for a few days to make me stronger. It seemed to be working, I felt both physically and mentally stronger. He wasn't there to guide me though, he told me he had to go on a mission and that I had to stay behind to train.

I had a Hydra guard who was instructing me. He was boring but he obviously had some training that he could pass onto me. I couldn't fight him, he just made me use the punching bag. The guard did teach me how to get out of a hold though. He taught me how to get out of it and how to counter it which could be useful.

"How long have you been apart of Hydra then?" I asked, still throwing punches at the bag. He never replied, he'd only talk when he needed to and that wasn't for small talk. Ward was the only one who would talk to me. He seemed to care for me and look after me more than Hunter ever did. I won't lie, it did upset me that a complete stranger who was supposed to be pure evil had more heart for me than my own brother but maybe he wasn't evil? Maybe Hydra were the good guys and everyone had been lying to me. I couldn't imagine Hunter evil though. I suppose after not seeing him for many years he could have changed.

"Agent Ward told me you can have a break now" The guard said looking at his watch. "Stay here" He walked out of the room shutting the door behind him. I walked and sat down on a bench nearby examining my knuckles. They were bruised and they bloody did hurt but it didn't even come near the amount of pain and hurt I felt inside. I couldn't stop thinking about how Hunter just left.

I kept trying to tell myself he had to leave us behind for our own safety but the amount of hate I felt for him now kept dismissing that thought. He made the choice to join them and he knew it would have meant leaving us all behind but he still chose it. It was like he didn't even care.

Someone walked into the room with a tray of food. It seems as if they got a new chef because recently I've been handed edible food. I just thanked the guard and took the tray, eating and drinking until there wasn't nothing left of it.

I wasn't sure if I ever wanted to leave Hydra now. At first It was terrifying and I was in so much pain but that soon changed. It may not be the most comfortable and lively place but it seemed like a home to me now. I knew that if I never met Ward at the funeral then me and Hunter wouldn't have met again. Ward was the only reason Hunter started talking to me again, he tried to bring us closer together. I owed so much to Ward but I never knew how to thank him, especially since my brother tried to kill him.

"You need to go back to your room" I blinked hard and looked up to see a guard at the door. I didn't even realise he was there, I was so lost in thought that I never even heard the door open. I nodded and started walking back to my room, the guard keeping close behind me.

When I got to my room I opened the door myself but gasped when I saw Ward standing in there. I walked in quickly and the guard shut it.

"I've heard you've been working hard" He smiled slightly and walked closer, revealing a bruise around his eye.

"What happened?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Nothing to worry about" He gently lifted my hands up and examined my knuckles. "Was it worth it?"

"Definitely" I smiled slightly. "I feel a lot stronger"

"Good" He slowly let go of them and studied me. "What's wrong?" I knew what was wrong and I was waiting for him to get back for advice. I never thought I'd ask him for advice but he's just trying to look after me.

"Ward, the punching bag seems to help with the pain. Emotionally, the pain has seemed to fade but..." I paused and frowned shaking my head. "It's just been replaced by hate. So much hate that even punching won't help. I thought it would but it seems to be growing"

"What's the hate focused on? Me? Hydra?" He raised an eyebrow and I shook my head. "You need to use that hate on what's causing it"

"I cant" I whispered and he looked at me confused. "Because all this hate is focused on Hunter. Because he wasn't there for me!"

"That's understandable" He laughed slightly.

"No. You don't understand Ward. You've been there for me more than he has! I've been here what, a week or two? Maybe more? He blanked me for years! And he tells me you're the evil one!?" I felt anger rise up inside me again and the hate was like a pressure point on my brain. It was agonising and I needed to get rid of it now.

"You know what you have to do" He sighed cupping my face gently in his palms. "You need to face him. You need to get rid of all that hate however you choose to do so" He looked at me sadly. "I don't want it to consume you"

"I can't leave here. I can't get rid of it" I started tearing up but he hushed me and kissed my forehead.

"You can. With me. We've finally found him" My eyes widened as I stared at him. "I won't hurt him, I won't even look at him until you've done what you've needed to do" He told me and I nodded slightly. "Training wise, you're ready. They won't hurt you because they'll be after me"

"I won't let them hurt you" I spoke up quickly and he shook his head about to speak, "No. You've been protecting me and looking after me here so now it's my turn. You keep with me and they won't try anything" I told him and he looked surprised for a moment. I owed him my life, I would do this for him.

"Fine. I'll stay with you and if anything goes wrong just say. I'll be right there with you" He smiled slightly but I quickly hugged him. He was doing all this for me. He was even going to stay by my side during the hardest part of what I had to do, confront my brother.