Something Worth Saving

Chapter 4

Coulson groaned as he woke up, still groggy from being knocked out. He was met with the sight of May looming over him. "What happened?"

"You and Hunter were knocked out. They took Skye and Trip."

Coulson cursed as he rubbed his head and sat up. "Any idea where they might be?"

"Skye mentioned something about them working for Hydra when she and Trip were inside," May explained. "And when I went in to get you and Hunter out, I saw Raina."

"Raina? As in, flowery dress Raina?"

May rolled her eyes. "Unless you suddenly know more than one Raina, yes."

Coulson sighed, "what does she want with Skye and Trip?"

May shrugged and glanced toward the hallway that led to Vault D. "I'm not the person to ask about that."

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Coulson descended down the cement steps, tablet in hand. He turned on the audio and spoke to Ward. "What do you know about Raina?"

Ward looked up at the man in front of him and cocked his head to the side, raising an eyebrow.

Coulson explained farther, "she took Skye. What does she want with her?"

Ward sighed. "When Garrett was still alive, Raina hung around a lot. She spoke a lot about a whole new species, well ancient actually, and told everyone how she wanted to bring them back. Then later, when I was talking about becoming a monster she said something to me that I thought was unusual."

"And that was?"

"You and Skye aren't so different after all. Maybe you can be monsters together."

"Skye's not a monster," Coulson defended.

Ward nodded in agreement. "That's why I found it unusual."

"So do you think Raina has it in her head that Skye and Trip are the key to bringing back this species?"

"That's the only reason I can think of."

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"Good morning," Raina cooed happily as Skye finally came to.

"Raina, I swear-"

"No, no. Save your energy. Your partner over here has already dealt out his fair share of threats," she smiled as she pointed to Trip.

Trip shrugged and Skye glared at Raina. "What do you want from us and what does my dad have to do with this?"

"It's not what I want," she explained as she stepped back. "It's what your father wants. I'm sure you've already been told the story of your village."

Skye nodded, wanting to forget about it.

"You must be curious about how your father possessed such strength."

"Not really," Skye shrugged, faking nonchalance.

Raina smiled, seeing right through Skye's facade. "Your father just wants what's best for you."

"Kidnapping me?"

"Showing you your true potential." Raina turned to a man in the corner of the room and beckoned him forward. He moved quickly and stood beside her. "Get me what's inside the briefcase."

He nodded and moved to the table behind Raina, opening the briefcase and grabbing the contents inside. He held the strange looking figure in his hand and moved towards Raina again. Before he reached her, he cried out in pain and his arm started blackening. He fell to his knees and was soon engulfed in a black shell, crumbling to the floor.

Raina looked down and frowned. "Pity."

"What the hell did you do to that guy?" Trip asked, alarmed.

"I was giving you a demonstration of the weakness of people below you," Raina said, directed at Skye.

"I don't understand."

"You're part of a better race, Skye. Your mother was one of them and you inherited the gene. Your father hired me to show you your true potential. Everything you could be."

"Well, I don't want to see it. So there's no need to show me," Skye shook her head.

Raina chuckled and grabbed the obelisk, walking towards Trip. She held it out and Trip leaned backwards. "Hell no, get that thing away from me."

Raina grinned and thrust it into his hands behind his back.

His hands immediately started turning black and he cried out in pain. Skye looked on in horror and yelled Trip's name multiple times. Trip was finally completely encased in the black, charcoal-like substance before completely crumbling like the man before him. Skye glared daggers at Raina. "How could you do that to him?"

"Just proving that you will be better," she shrugged. She walked towards Skye and held it out. Skye shook her head, "no way."

Raina smiled and placed it in Skye's hands behind her.

Skye squeezed her eyes tightly and expected pain, but there was nothing. She craned her neck and saw the obelisk glow.

"Just as I thought."

Skye looked alarmed. "What's happening?"

"You're one of us." Raina turned to another man that had appeared in the doorway. "Take her down to the rest of them. We leave tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?" Skye asked frantically as the man started to lead her away.

"The day your life will change."

...I am so sorry for killing Trip.