Fear of Losing Control (Book #1 in the Infinity Chronicles)

Chapter 19 Living Nightmare

"So, you claim Thanos has the reality gem?" Thor asks Loki as we walk down the tunnel, now free from prison.

"Yes, last time I was here he did," Loki replies bluntly. He's turned stiff again.

"How did you guys know we were here?" I ask Thor.

"Thanos sent a message to us saying that he had you captive."

"Wait, Thanos sent you the message?" Loki asks.

"Well, yeah," Thor says as if its nothing.

"Then it's a trap," Loki tells him.

"What do you mean?"

"Thanos wanted you here. Why do you think you found us so easily and just simply opened the door to our cell?"

"He would have already gotten us by now."

"No, Thor," Loki says, "This is what he does. He builds up your hope and pride so as to make you suffer when you fall. He wants you to think that you did it and then he catches you at last minute, right when you feel as if your free."

"Loki," Thor says nonchalantly, "It's fine. We've got Sif and the warriors three for back up here."

"No, that's not fine. That's just more prey for him to torture."

"Loki you mustn't worry," Thor tells him, "We've got this."

"I agree," comes a roaring voice from out of no where. Thanos. His voice seems to echo throughout the halls. Yet he is no where in sight.

"Loki dear, you mustn't worry," it's mocks, "But I'm afraid you do not have this, Thor."

Suddenly the ground beneath us opens, sending us sprawling down a shoot in the floor. All the way down I hear Thanos' ringing laughter. He's here, he's watching us.

"Well, that was nice," he says once we come out the bottom of the shoot.

I look around and see that we are in a room, much like the one where we were tortured, and Sif, along with the warriors three sit there, tied to the beams that reach from ceiling to floor.

"But let the real fun, begin," Thanos growls.

"Thanos, enough!" Thor yells at the air.

By the look on Loki's face, he just did a mental face palm at his brother's pride and stupidity.

"Oh, trying to be brave, are we?" Thanos hisses, "Your nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man! But not here. For this is where you worst nightmares come true."

A hand from behind Thor, reaches out and grabs the side of his face, causing him to fall on the floor unconscious. He is in a living nightmare as I was.

"Who's next?" the creature behind us hisses. Thanos.

He reaches for Loki but then stops his hand when it is inches away from his face.

"How about the pretty one first!" he growls and throws his hand at me.

I feel my legs fall out underneath me and the room begin to spin.

"No!" I hear Loki scream.

Just before I close my eyes I see Loki collapse beside me, his eyes full of terror.

Soon all goes black, and I am in a living nightmare, again.