Tigress ➳ An Avengers Fanfic (Book 1 of the Scepter Chronicles)

15

        I followed them into the infirmary, through the hall, and into a room. Nat was perched on the bed beside Clint. I jerked in surprise, instantly become defensive. Nat stood up. 

        "It's okay, he's back." Clint looked up at me and grinned wryly. 

        "Ah, Caly. Nice moves," he said, and I blushed, remembering how I had blocked his punch. 

        "How are you feeling?" I asked. 

        "Better now that I'm in my own head again." I smiled. Steve cleared his throat, and Clint turned towards him. 

        "You got a suit?" he asked. 

        "Yeah." 

        "Then suit up." 

        "Where are we going?" Nat asked. 

        "Stark Tower," Steve replied, walking out of the room. 

        I raced after him, trying to keep up with his long strides. 

        "Steve, slow down," I yelled, and he paused and waited for me to catch up. 

        "What's going on?" I asked. 

        "Loki is going to summon his alien army from Stark Tower," he explained. I nodded. 

        We entered the control room, and Steve turned around and placed his hands on my shoulders. 

        "Caly, no one here is going to know about this. We need you to stay here and keep us informed. Can you do that?" 

        I frowned. "So I won't be going with you?" I asked him. 

        "No. We'll need you here." I sighed. 

        "What choice do I have? Sure, I'll stay. It's not like I'll be of any use anyways." 

        Steve opened his mouth to reply, but I wrenched my shoulders out of his grasp and raced in the other direction. 

        Why does everyone treat me like I'm five years old? I thought, frustrated. I'm not useless. I can do things. I rubbed my eyes. Like what? my conscience reminded me. I searched for an answer. Nothing. I could do nothing. I was helpless. I always needed saving, and I just got in the way. 

        I kept running, too lost in my thoughts to notice where I was going. I ran headfirst into something. Rubbing my nose, I looked up. 

        A pair of giant, oak doors with swirling designs and elegant brass handles stood proudly in front of me. I frowned at them. I hadn't seen these before, and I had thoroughly mapped out the whole helicarrier. I wondered if I should go in or not. My curiosity got the best of me. 

        I wrapped my fingers around the handles and pulled. The doors glided open, revealing a large room encased in darkness. What is this? I asked myself, staring into the blackness. I reached out a hand and touched it. Black mist swirled around my fingertips, and I drew back. 

        "Calypso," a soothing voice whispered. I shuddered. 

        "Hello?" I called, stepping further into the room. 

        "Calypso." 

        I felt myself walking closer to the mist, but I didn't bother to stop myself. As I neared the edge, the whispering stopped. Black tendrils snaked out, wrapping around my waist, arms, and legs. I yelped as they tugged me into the darkness. I couldn't see anything, but it felt like snakes were slithering all over me. I screamed as a loud bang echoed through the room, the doors closing behind me.